Chapter Text
Min Yoongi used to be a slightly cocky boy, sure of his rapping and music production skills. That was before he joined BigHit Entertainment. He originally auditioned as a producer. For years they had him making samples until he worked his way to recording guides. However, he made a mistake when he showed PDogg his tracks from his underground days. Now they have him in singing, dancing, and etiquette classes. It hasn't been formally acknowledged, but he knows that they are training him to be a rapper for the group that they have been slowly building. They also have him producing numerous tracks that he suspects they want to adapt and use, he'll be their token idol producer. He's the only trainee in the company with the ability to rap and write his own raps, so Yoongi knows that they want him more because he's there and can do it. It isn't necessarily because they think he belongs on stage or anything.
Being an idol is the last thing he wants, he's not pretty or handsome and the thought of all the fan service makes him cringe. Truthfully, he misses the underground. No one is there for how he looks, they are there for his music and his rap. People don't know who he is outside of Gloss and he'd prefer to keep it that way.
Even with the other trainees, Yoongi has done his best to keep himself unknown. Of course, he has seen the other trainees around before, it's kind of inevitable. He often uses Taehyung's and Jin's fans as a distraction, slips in through the doors of the company while the crowd eagerly pounces on them. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that he hasn't gone unnoticed. He has been dubbed by their fans as the "mystery member." His black wardrobe, ever present mask, and the fact that Yoongi doesn't take the car with the rest led them all to believe that he's some kind of super talented trainee BigHit is hiding under their belt. In reality, he doesn't take the car because the other four live in a nicer dorm, a little farther from his. It's part of their privileges as soon-to-be-debuting trainees, or as a debuted actor and model in Seokjin's and Taehyung's case. So Yoongi takes the bus if he can afford to that day. The way he dresses is simply his preference, he doesn't want them to know him and he likes clothes that swaddle him.
Well, there is some super talented hidden trainee in BigHit, it's not him though. So he can see why they made the connection. According to Pdogg, the kid's name is Jungkook and he's been training since he was 13. Yoongi feels bad for the kid, he's never seen him around so he can only imagine that they have him locked up like some sort pet. Not too far from the truth according to what PDogg says. "It's better now that Jimin has joined the company. Taehyung and Seokjin try, they really care for him, but they don't have a lot of time in between shoots and vocal training. Sometimes Jungkook comes and sits with me, he likes seeing how music is made. I'm thinking about having you take him under your wing. It would be good for you to bond, plus, the student has to become the sensei one day?" He chuckles when Yoongi glares at him, it makes the younger look like an angry kitten. "Seriously though, I hate saying it but the training has really made something out of him. His singing and dancing is insane. I think he could learn to rap too, if there was somebody to properly show him. But Jungkook is super shy, doesn't know how to express himself outside of the idol persona that they've been crafting for years. Jimin has made a lot of progress with Jungkook over the last few months, but they are quite different in personality. You and him are pretty similar, I think. I know you hate the thought of being an idol, but it could help you grow too."
Yoongi snorts. They leave it at that.
His mind on the other hand, has different plans. Every time he gets scolded for being off or for not hitting a note correctly, Jungkook crosses his thoughts. He thinks to himself, "Jungkook has been doing this for years, don't be a little bitch." It helps on these rough days where debuting comes closer but his dreams drift farther.
Despite not wanting to be an idol, that doesn't stop Yoongi from trying his best and pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion. Like right now, he's in a practice room trying the same note over and over again. His singing has definitely improved since he started, the endless lessons doing wonders. 'It's part of the manufacturing process,' Yoongi thinks to himself bitterly. The note is too high for his deep voice and it cracks. He has to stop himself from screaming in frustration. He told the stupid vocal instructor that this note just isn't in his range, but they won't fucking listen. "You're never gunna be able to hit that note," a voice as deep as his, but smoother, says behind him. There's a familiar accent to his words, 'Home,' Yoongi thinks.
The older boy turns around, finds himself surprised when he sees Kim Taehyung. How could he not know that the boy was from Daegu? And what is he doing here? "Aren't you suppose to be in Japan or some shit?" Yoongi blurts out. He can feel the tips of his ears warming in embarrassment and ducks his head down.
Taehyung chuckles, "Just landed, came to check whether Jungkookie was still here or not. For once, he's not but I heard somebody. I was confused, who else would be here? I didn't expect it to be you, mystery member."
Yoongi huffs, he hasn't been approached by the CEO yet, but everyone knows about it already. He's hoping to stall it a little longer, until he can think of a way to show that he's much more suited as a behind-the-scenes person. He decides to ignore the last sentence Taehyung said. "I told the dumbass instructor that this isn't gunna happen. They think I don't know what they are doing, trying to pressure me. Fuck that shit, Im not going to let it get to me. They can eat my ass."
Taehyung lifts an amused eyebrow, then smiles all wide and boxy. "I like you, I hope you can rub some of that attitude on Kookie." Yoongi nods in agreement. Hopefully, not as a fellow member but maybe like his producer friend or something like that? Taehyung grabs the music sheets from Yoongi's hands. He analyzes it with a frown. "This entire song is way too high for you. You originally auditioned to be a producer right? I'll show you how to sing this in a key that's more suited for your voice. You can mess with the track so it fits, maybe we can turn it jazzy, or like slow jam? They gave you this to sing this at the evaluation next week, right?" Yoongi nods.
Evaluations are done once a year. Last year, he was still a producer trainee so he didn't have the same evaluation as the rest. His was done in a recording studio where he had to replicate a song and name all the instruments, plug-ins, and synthesizers used. He is proud to say that he passed is easily.
"Fuckers, they are completely setting you up, it's part of some stupid test. Jin and I had to do it too. We managed to help Jungkookie and Jimin so they were fine, but you've been toughing out their stupid tests alone." Taehyung's brows are furrowed in concern.
Yoongi looks away, not able to take the look in Taehyung's eyes. There's a part in him that misses his parents, feels lonely, and just wants to go back home, that gets emotional at this stranger's concern. He mentally equips a knife and stabs it until it stops screaming. It will be back though, like one of those inferi from Harry Potter.
"Well," Yoongi says to further distract himself from his thoughts, "Daegu bro, let's fuck some shit up." He can't help but smile at the end, all gums and teeth. 'It's cute,' Taehyung thinks to himself.
They stay up all night, Taehyung finds himself staring at the elder a lot. Yoongi has a lot of cute mannerisms: the natural pouty way he speaks and the way he screams in joy when he gets something right. Taehyung enjoys the slur in the other's rough voice, the passion he puts into the lyrics, and they way his cat-like eyes can go from fierce to soft. He hopes to spend more time with Yoongi, wants to learn all his quirks, strengths, weaknesses dislikes, and likes.
Once he manages to snap himself out of his staring, Taehyung figures that he should introduce Yoongi to Jungkook soon. It takes Jungkook a while to get comfortable with someone so it would be helpful for the group, and also there's just something in his mind that nagging him to do it. But Yoongi's voice is soothing and his presence is warm, reminding him so much of Daegu. 'I'll be selfish a little while longer,' he decides.
Instead, he takes his phone out of his pocket, still in service because despite everything his parents love him. Yoongi dials a number he hasn't in years, "Mom," he chokes out in between sobs. His mother immediately begins saying sweet words to him, Daegu accent affecting him immediately.
Later on, Yoongi reflects on the moments leading up to him leaving the company. He realizes how much he had used Jungkook as motivation to get through the idol training they put him through. Jungkook's story gave him strength that he wouldn't have otherwise. Ever since that day in the bathroom, his admiration for the younger developed further. Jungkook had talked and treated him kindly without any hesitation. Whether Jungkook will ever know it or not, he had stopped Yoongi from making a choice that would only continuously hurt him.
Soon after he returns to Daegu, BigHit drops the trailers for their new boy group B-SIDE. Jin, Taehyung, and Jimin are revealed, fansites and fan bases are made for members individually and for the group as a whole. However, Jungkook is remained hidden for quite a while. It makes Yoongi angry that the company still insists on hiding the boy. After all he's been through, its just not fair. Yoongi decides that if BigHit is going to lag on the job, then he will capture Jungkook's hard work. He'll show it off and always make sure to tell Jungkook how well he did and how appreciated he is. This lead to SUGAKOOKIES opening. A lot of fans thought it was weird that there was a fansite for a member that wasn't officially revealed yet, only rumored. He got questioned for it a lot on Twitter, but it was quickly forgotten when the excitement of their debut came.
Yoongi hopes that SUGAKOOKIES can help Jungkook as much as the boy has helped him.