Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The smoke puffs out of his mouth like a dark cloud in the sky. This was his first cigarette in years and it tasted like the sweetest dessert. It tasted like relief, strong and bitter in his lungs.

It also tasted like sadness.

Smoking was all Jin could do right now to stop himself from breaking down outside the hospital.

With one last inhale, Jin dropped the half-smoked cigarette and vowed to never touch another until it’s life or death. That’s what he had promised his grandmother—he wouldn’t smoke unless it was life or death. And this was.

Losing his grandmother felt like the final knockout punch in the match of losing rounds. Jin was on the floor and life was beating him up like he personally offended it. He doesn’t know what he did to deserve it. Or maybe it was just his existence.

He hiked the hospital bag higher on his shoulders and started walking towards his apartment. It was only a ten-minute walk from here and Jin needed to move, to distract himself. He kept his head down and walked down a path so memorized he could walk it blindfolded. He had taken several walks in the past few years, just to grab clothes, food, personal items—anything his dearests asked for. He doubts anybody has ever made this many trips to the hospital as he has in his life.

Or maybe it was Jin and his bad luck always attracted to hospitals. The first to get sick was his mother. The cancer got to her when he was only a child, but she fought for years. She fought hard enough to see him graduate with honor, to see him try to chase his dreams as far as he could. She gave in to her illness with a graceful smile. ‘Don’t give up, Jinnie.’ Her last words to him were as clichéd as her life had been.

She and his father met in university, bumped right into each other and fell in love. At least that’s how his grandmother liked to tell him. They had their ups and downs, dramatic ones with his father’s family not accepting his mother and his father walking out on his family to make a new home and life with her.

He couldn’t see the beautiful life he built crumble into the dust. Three months—that’s how long his father could stay away from his mother. Three months, the longest period of their separation, and in three months of his mother’s passing, his father also passed. His grandmother says he passed peacefully in his sleep, but Jin doubts it. His father grieved every single day he couldn’t wake up to his mother’s face. ‘I have lived for her and now I die for her,’ his father had said after his mother’s passing.

Losing her child and her precious son-in-law was a big blow to his grandmother. His parents had run right into her arms the minute his father walked out of his family. And she welcomed them with open arms and a simple but heartwarming bowl of dakjuk.

‘I will give you love and respect only until you give the same and more to my daughter,’ his grandmother had said to his father as he recalled, chuckling. ‘You should be thankful to have such a loving and protective grandmother. Always love your mother and treat her well. Lord knows what she would do to you if you didn’t,’ he had said with a strange mix of fear and fondness.

And he agreed with his father. His grandmother treated his mother like she had never grown, like her most precious baby. He could recall a fond but painful memory when teenage rebellion had coloured his days and he had dared to call his mother stupid. It was an accident and a thing he said in the heat of the moment, but his grandmother punished him for it like he had committed a crime. She made him work in the fields, gave him leftovers for dinner, and the never ending lectures of respecting your loved ones. She only stopped when Jin had cried and apologized to his mother and grandmother.

These memories brought a tearful smile to his face. He wished he could see his grandmother now, eat her dakjuk one more time.

His grandmother passed within one year of his father’s death. ‘Live your life, Jin. Find love. It makes all the pain worth it.’ How could he live without the only people who cared about him, who even up until his adult life catered to his every whim, tried to give him everything he wanted, and more?

Tears welled up in his eyes, but he refused to cry. One thing Jin hated most, it was crying. It made his face puffy and just unbearably red. He could not look like a pufferfish on the day of his precious grandmother’s funeral. But the thought of his grandmother lying there, lifeless and cold, at a place she hated most in this world…

He shook his head to stop thinking. He had to hurry, only for his grandmother’s relief. She hated hospitals and morgues. She called them the soul-sucking death wards. His footsteps sped up, he had to reach home and call the funeral services.

Jin entered his building and waited for the elevator. Looking at his wonky reflection in the reflective doors of the elevator, Seokjin wondered if someone could be so unlucky that they had to bury three of their family members within two years.

‘Oh well, at least they all had decent last words.’

—

A week later, Jin stood with his laundry in hand, scouring the bulletin board for any kind of work. It was quite an primitive way of looking for a job, but it wasn’t like he was qualified for something professional.

In the wake of his extended absence due to unfortunate events and the infrequency of his general presence, as aptly put by his piss-and-shit-bag of an employer, Jin had been let go from his minimum-wage convenience store job.

Usually, Jin would feel a sinking hole in his stomach—an uncomfortable mix of dread and panic churning inside. But this time, he wasn’t feeling so bad.

He closed his eyes and silently thanked his family members for thinking ahead for him. It wasn’t much, but his grandma and parents had left a little in insurance and countryside properties—not enough to make him rich, or even comfortable by any means, but enough for him to take a break and look for a job he’d actually like and be able to do.

As he opened his eyes to look over the board again, they landed on a simple but bright-looking flyer:

LIVE-IN HOUSEKEEPER NEEDED

• Cooking, cleaning, taking care of a family of 8
• Must be available 24 hours a day, 6 days a week (Sunday’s are off)
• Private living space provided
• Should be open-minded and accepting of various occupations and situations
• Negotiable salary
• Contact: [email protected]

It was quite vague for a housekeeping job. It sounded simple enough, but Jin knew—from second-hand experience (his mom was a live-in housekeeper)—that usually the people who needed a live-in housekeeper were super rich, super rude, and super entitled.

But Jin was desperate. Even though his family had left him a good amount, if he didn’t start earning soon, he would end up blowing it all just on survival. He needed this job. And as vague as the flyer seemed, he was sure he could find out more details over email—or through a phone call, if that’s what the employer preferred.

It wasn’t like Jin wasn’t qualified for the job. He had experience, first-hand, this time—cleaning offices, homes, and just about any space a person could think of. It wasn’t his favorite task, but anything for money, right?

Cooking, on the other hand, was right up his alley. The day Jin grew up enough to lean over the counter — he was three and he needed a stool — his father had made him cook with him. His mother and grandmother were hopeless and claimed, with a devilish smile , that it was a family tradition for men to cook. Cooking with his father was one of the few memories he cherished most.

What Jin was concerned about was the phrase open-minded. What could this family be like if they needed someone open-minded? What did open-mindedness entail?

Also, eight people? Could one housekeeper even take care of eight people? And assuming he was the only one, would he be compensated enough?

Jin would take minimum wage, but not unfairly low wages. The one pro, though, was the offer of living space, so he could save on rent and other living expenses. He would just have to lower his expectations.

He couldn’t wait to talk to his potential employer and ask about every possible detail. Jin just hoped this employer turned out to be better than the last one.

—

Kim Namjoon was strange.

Jin had been in constant conversation with his new employer, who had introduced himself as Kim Namjoon. The introduction had only come after a legal-looking document arrived in his email the next morning. It was an NDA, and the email clearly stated that further conversation would only be possible if Seokjin signed and emailed a scanned copy.

It was strange for a housekeeping job, but Jin had assumed they were high-profile clients. Oh, how Jin was wrong.

The minute Jin had heard his name , he pulled out his phone and stalked his maybe-future-employer.

Kim Namjoon wasn’t just high-profile—he was so much more. A young prodigy from a middle-class background, he made a breakthrough due to his dvelopments in music production software. But that wasn’t what he was famous for. Music software developers weren’t niche celebrities. This man was known because of his very public, very gay, and very polyamorous relationship.

It was a moment Jin remembered very clearly—how Kim Namjoon had come forward after a violent stalker revealed that he had not only been seeing one person, but cheating on them with several others, dragging his name through the mud. Jin remembered very well how Kim Namjoon stood before the crowd and did not deny a single part of the claim. Instead, he boldly declared his love for the five people he was seeing—right in front of millions.

This man wasn’t just famous in Korea, but all over the world. After the revelation, many discussions had started around sexuality and relationships—a new lens given to a very different type of life.

That wasn’t the reason Jin thought him strange.

Jin had gathered that he was to look after Namjoon's partners. What he didn’t understand, even after a short but extensive email conversation, was why Kim Namjoon wanted someone like him.

The Kims were comfortable—very well-off—and could hire just about any agency for such menial tasks as housekeeping. Then why post a flyer in a laundromat where only the most desperate and needy lived? Jin didn’t live in a bad area, just one where people accumulated like flies due to cheap rent and even cheaper grocery trips.

What was even stranger was Kim Namjoon’s insistence that Jin visit him and his family.

Kim Namjoon, when revealing his relationship, had only ever mentioned the number of partners—not their identities. So Jin wondered again: how many people would he be taking care of, if the flyer mentioned a family of eight?

Jin was curious. He wanted to know—if Kim Namjoon was dating five people, was it really possible in a healthy manner? And who were the other two?

He couldn’t wait to ask him—but only after Kim Namjoon gave some indication of comfort with Seokjin. He couldn’t possibly ask that of someone he had just met. Even if the guy looked like a honey-skinned summer model with legs for days and biceps as big as tree trunks.

Maybe Jin was exaggerating. Maybe he wasn’t.

One thing to know about Jin: he loved big men. Men that could trap him and keep him there. Men who could push him around , gently but firmly. He didn’t exactly like feeling weak—he wasn’t weak. But there was just something about large men that made his knees weak.

And this was the third thing Jin found strange. Jin had seen Kim Namjoon before and thought him attractive. But the more he talked to the man, the more curious he felt. Jin had never shown such interest in any man, however attractive they might be. So what was so special about Kim Namjoon that intrigued him enough to be so—so—invasive?

Jin wondered if he’d hit his head. Or maybe the time he spent avoiding all those dates had caught up with him. It had been a long time since Jin gave any man his attention. He used to treat himself like a queen—and any man who didn’t pamper Jin better than he pampered himself was trash in his eyes.

But it had been a long time since any of that had happened. He was now desperate for any kind of romantic interaction.

Jin wonders if he’ll have time for any of this once he gets a permanent job. If the Kims had anything to do with it, he’d have all his Sundays off—and he couldn’t wait to put them to good use. To go on dates, get pampered by men, and be treated well for once.

Or maybe the Kims would help him out. Maybe he wouldn’t have to go anywhere. After all, a man as attractive as Kim Namjoon would have nothing but the most stunning partners.

Jin’s ears burned as he thought about Kim Namjoon and his partners—people he hadn’t even seen—in ways no employee should think about their employer. He took a deep breath and decided. He was going to work for the Kims and nothing else , completely professional.

If he got this job, at least Seokjin wouldn’t be starved for eye candy.

—

Chapter Text

In his twenty-eight years of existence, Jin had never sat in a car this comfortable.

It’s like his body was sinking into the seats. He couldn’t help but roam his hands all over the plush leather of the seats, wondering if strange had been the right word to describe Kim Namjoon.

It had been right, it just wasn’t enough. Kim Namjoon sent a car to get him, a lowly housekeeper he was hiring.

Kim Namjoon sent a car for him.

If this wouldn’t have been enough to arouse Seokjin’s curiosity, then the car approaching the forest trail would be enough.

The driver had veered off the road and into the forest in the time Jin was distracted by the car. The sudden change in his view made him curious and anxious. Was this a trap? Maybe Jin had made a mistake trusting a simple email thinking it was the Kim Namjoon. Maybe it was someone else trying to lure him? After all, only desperate people accepted job offers from a laundromat bulletin.

Doubts about the authenticity of this job and employer began to fill his mind. Jin wasn’t a person who planned ahead; he was more of a go-with-the-flow guy. Maybe this time, this go-with-the-flow attitude had come to bite him in the ass.

He looked at the rearview mirror and made eye contact with the driver, his panicked eyes seemingly displaying his thoughts right on his face. As he was opening his mouth to voice his concerns or maybe even ask the driver to take him back ,even though Jin wasn’t brave enough to do so, the trees gave way to a tall, black metallic-looking gate.

The gate had an intercom next to it, and the driver leaned over to press the button, saying his name and introducing Jin as well. There was a slight pause, and then the gates creaked open loudly , like they hadnt been opened in ages. The car moved ahead into the house, and Jin was, hopefully, at the Kims’ residence.

The car stopped right at the entrance, and Jin stepped out, bowing to the driver. The man offered him a small smile and drove off.

Jin was unsure what to do, standing here in front of huge double doors. Was he supposed to knock or ring the bell or wait for someone to come get him? Will he meet the boss or some other head staff? Because the house looked like it had head staff. Or is this job a whole sham? Did he accidentally sign up to get his organs harvested? But why would someone harvest his organs in a mansion ? Or maybe the front was a mansion and inside was a whole labratory of weird stuff ?

Jin had almost worked himself into a panic when the double doors opened and out came the sunniest man Jin had ever seen.

Yes, sunniest would be the perfect word to describe him because as he stepped out of the double doors and down the porch stairs to greet Jin, the sun seemed to come out with him.

Jin had left the house at ten in the morning, and seeing as winter was just around the corner, he hadn’t hoped for sunshine to come through as the man walked out. It was like sunshine was made for him, just to make his skin glow and his smile brighten.

As the man approached Jin, he was reminded of his manners. He bowed to the man and quickly introduced himself.

“Hello, I’m Kim Seokjin. I’m here about the housekeeper’s job?” Jin hated how unsure he sounded. A few months back and he was his most confident and loving self and would have greeted this man with as much enthusiasm as he could conjure—nothing compared to this man of course. These thoughts put a damper on Jin’s mood, but he shook them off, wanting to not come off as sad and ruining the man’s mood.

“Hello. My name is Jung Hoseok. I’m sorry for all the discretion regarding our meeting and the home address, but we couldn’t risk letting anyone know. Please, please come in, Seokjin-ssi.” The man bowed and gestured for him to follow him. Jin assumed that this man, whoever he was, lived here. The way he had opened the doors, and his comfort in the space, as well as the attire he was wearing, all suggested a deep level of comfort in the living space.

If this was Kim Namjoon’s house, and at this point Jin really meant if, then this guy was either one of his partners or someone who had worked here a long time. Jin had his bet on the partner theory, as Kim Namjoon had mentioned that his partners were the only ones currently living in the house.

For just eight people, this house seemed quite, grand. There was a greenhouse surrounded by flowers towards his right as Jin walked further down the path with Hoseok-ssi leading him. Jin had never been one to garden a lot, but he could keep plants alive. He just hoped they didn’t expect him to cater and check the plants. All Jin could do was Google the plant and water it accordingly.

Hoseok-ssi opened the door for him and gestured for him to enter first. The minute Jin entered the home, he felt something warm settling over him. The house was the definition of the word homely. As grand and beautiful and fairytale-y it had seemed from the outside, the more cozy it felt from the inside.

“I’m sorry about the mess, we didn’t get a chance to clean up,” Hoseok rubbed his neck in sheepishness. “We’re a family of non-cleaners, and clumsy fire-starters, so we avoid everything related to housework, just to protect ourselves and the home.” He said widening his eyes.

“That’s alright, this explains why you need me here,” Jin smiled at the nervous man. Honestly, the house wasn’t that messy. Things were kept in the right places, so they had done a good job of tidying things up in general. But Jin could see the spider webs collecting in the corners and the dust on the floors. He wrinkled his nose when they passed by the sofa. There was a weird smell to it. What of, Jin couldn’t tell.

“Yeah, that sofa. It’s Yoongi-hyung’s favourite spot in the house to take naps. Last week, Tae dropped a whole plate of japchae on it. I don’t even know how he managed that. And seeing as none of us hyungs were here, he thought it best to pour all kinds of things on it, water, dish cleaner, shower gel, baking soda, and whatnot. At one point, he even threw activated charcoal tablets on it, the fifty-pack one, in hopes that it would absorb whatever abomination it had made.” There was amusement in Hoseok’s voice; he was fond of this Tae person, Jin could tell very well. He was looking at the sofa with such disappointment. It seemed this Yoongi person must have really loved the sofa. Maybe he was another one of his partners, Jin thought.

“Well, of course the tablets didn’t work out, and we tried everything ourselves and we couldn’t call in professional cleaners. So we left it. But don’t worry, Namjoon’s going to replace the sofa, no one expects you to clean it.” Hoseok smiled at him.

Jin smiled back and wondered why they couldn’t have just called the cleaners. Namjoon-ssi had also been very vague in his emails about letting any outside party enter his home. He wouldn’t elaborate, except just explaining it away as not wanting to reveal his location. Whateve, it wasn’t Jin’s business anyway. He was here to clean and cook and take care of this absolutely wonderful and gorgeous house he was slowly falling in love with. It was a wonder he was listening to Hoseok as he was more absorbed in admiring the home.

The house was open, but not too much. It had the most beautiful pieces of furniture placed at the perfect spots. The light fell on the sofa in the most cozy way, no wonder this was Yoongi-person’s favourite spot to nap. Jin would kill for one in that exact spot.

“Anyways, because of the whole sofa situation, I can’t offer you a seat in the living room but I can show you the dining room and the kitchen.” Hoseok had led him to the open plan kitchen and dining room while he was talking. “ We can talk here”

Jin’s eyes widened as he entered. He was in love. This was the perfect kitchen, with bright blue cabinets and brown countertops. Somehow, as strange as this combination should’ve been, it worked perfectly. Jin spotted an oven, ones that are used in bakeries. What it was doing in a home kitchen, Jin had no clue. The appliances looked fairly new, like they hadn’t been touched in ages.

“None of us really go into the kitchen except for Yoongi-hyung. He’s the only decent cook we have. And Jungkook of course, but he’s too lazy. And now that they both have a lot going on career-wise, we can’t really ask them to cook all our meals.” Hoseok gestured for him to have a seat at the dining table.

As Jin settled down comfortably, Hoseok asked him if he’d like anything to drink before they started talking about the job and everything. Jin refused. He needed himself to be strong and perfect for this interview, or whatever this was.

“Let’s be clear, Seokjin-ssi, this isn’t an interview.” Jin’s breath left his body in a huge sigh and Hoseok-ssi could see he was relieved. Jin was also curious as to why this wasn’t an interview. “You see, we really liked your profile and application. You’re the only candidate we thought would fit best here. So really, this is just to discuss your trial period and wages.”

Jin was really surprised. He hadn’t ever gotten a job this quick. He was happy with the way this job offer was turning out. Maybe he could carve a space for himself here. A simple job and a simple life. That’s what Jin desired, and he seemed more than close to achieving it.

“So Namjoon-ah has told me that you can cook, clean and are also willing to stay here and be our live-in housekeeper.” Jin nodded in response.

“That’s good. We constantly need help here as all six of us work with very different schedules. You’ll understand them as you live with us. Of course, you get Sundays off and any lengthier leave will have to be discussed a week beforehand unless there are emergencies, of course.” Jin nodded in agreement.

Hoseok-ssi smiled and continued, “Though we still have to have you go through a trial period. We’re all very different, you see, and we need to know if you fit in with our family. The trial period can start whenever you’re comfortable. And we will compensate you for the time, be it just a trial or long term. But that discussion will have to be had when Namjoon’s home. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.”

Jin nodded again. “Yes, thank you Hoseok-ssi. Are there any other staff that I need to be aware of or report to? I think it would be better if we could coordinate our work.”

“No, there’s no other staff besides you.” Jin’s eyebrows furrowed in surprise.

“I know the house is huge and there are six people living here,” Hoseok-ssi continued with a sigh, “but you see, it is very important for our family to maintain its privacy. We don’t want the happenings of this house, not that much is happening, to be released out to the public. Some of us have very public lives and some not. The dynamics of it are difficult to manage, but I hope you understand how privacy is a huge boundary for us.” Hoseok-ssi looked at him in sadness.

Jin clenched his hands into fists.He wanted to reassure him that if he worked here, he would never ever reveal any kind of details or information to the public. And he did. Hoseok-ssi smiled at him. “I think this trial period is going to go very well, Seokjin-ssi. I think you’re going to be with us a long time.” Hoseok-ssi said with a huge smile.

Jin smiled back. “I hope so too.”

Hoseok-ssi had a beautiful smile. Jin couldn’t help but wonder again. If there was no staff, was this one of Kim Namjoon’s partners? Jin wouldn’t be surprised if he was. After all, Kim Namjoon was an attractive man, and having a partner with such an endearing smile and happy personality would not be a surprise. Attractive people attracted each other, of course. Jin slightly smirked at his inner monologue.

Hoseok-ssi clapped his hands, snapping him out of his reverie. “So, when do you want to start, Jin-ssi?”

Jin had nothing to do. He had packed up any and all of his belongings and left home. Now he was free as a bird.

“Is it possible to start now?” Hoseok-ssi smiled and nodded. “Of course, though I’m going to have to ask you to not go on the second floor. That’s where our personal rooms are. And I have to be in a meeting in”—Hoseok-ssi took a look at his watch—“in ten minutes. I can show you to your room, and we can wait for Namjoon-ah to come home so we can discuss your compensation. Is that okay?”

Jin was more than happy to stay, but he didn’t want to just stay cooped up in his room.

“Alright, but can I cook you something? I don’t think just sitting around would do you or me any good,” Jin chuckled. “And this way you can taste my cooking too.”

Hoseok-ssi flattened his lips and hummed. He had small cute dimples when he did that. Jin looked away lest he do something embarrassing like poke them or pinch this man’s cheeks.

The cabinet looks amazingly clean, Jin wondered.

“Okay,” Hoseok-ssi agreed. “My meeting lasts for three hours, so you’re going to have to be alone for all that time. I hope that’s okay.” Jin nodded in agreement. He could cook something in three hours—maybe dinner for tonight?—and clean that couch while dessert’s in.

“Come on, follow me to your room.”

Jin followed Hoseok-ssi up the stairs to the first floor. “The library is next door to you if you want something to read. It’s mostly Namjoon-ah’s territory, but I’m sure he won’t mind you borrowing a few books,” Hoseok smiled widely.

He walked him to the end of the hall and led him to a door. “All yours. Please go in without me. I’m sorry—I’m kind of rushing, so I don’t have time to show you, but if you have any problems, please let me know. We will try our best to make you as comfortable as possible.”

“This is more than enough, Hoseok-ssi. Thank you,” Jin smiled at the man. He couldn’t help but smile around Hoseok-ssi. It’s like all his sadness, all his stress melted away right in the face of his adorable heart-shaped smile.

And as Jin was thinking of maybe storing the memory of the smile in his brain permanently, Hoseok-ssi smiled again and waved Jin goodbye. He walked down the hallway. “If you need anything, just… shout, okay? I’ll be there.” He smiled and climbed up the stairs to what Jin assumed was the second floor.

Jin released a sigh, staring after the man, wondering if he could talk more with this man. He blinked his eyes and shook his head — now's not the time for such thoughts. After all, he has dinner to make and a couch to clean.

Jin nods in determination, puts his bag down outside the room, and goes down the stairs. He has no time to waste now, he's going to see all his employers in a few hours, and he has to make the best impression.

Jin frowns worriedly as he moves towards the kitchen. He just hopes none of the others evoke such thoughts in his mind.

—

Chapter Text

Jin was wrong. He was so wrong.

These were the thoughts running through his mind, as he looked at the man standing in front of him.

“Hello? Are you okay?” asked the man with his big eyes and cute smile.

No, he was not okay. He was far from okay.

Jin had started making dinner for his maybe-employers. He didn’t think the Kims ate homecooked meals a lot, and he wasn’t sure about preferences, so he tried to cook a wide variety of just common meals—bulgogi, japchae, some kimchi he found in the fridge, rolled omelettes, stir-fried vegetables, and a pot of doenjang jjigae simmering gently on the stove.

He figured if nothing else, there would be at least one dish for everyone to like.

He was finished making dinner within an hour when he thought of desserts. Jin, again, wanted to make sure everyone had something to eat, so he decided on two desserts. If nothing else, this would show his talent in cooking. He started by making the hotteok batter, making enough for at least twenty people. The leftovers could be eaten for breakfast tomorrow. As he was making the batter, he thought of his next dessert. It had to be chocolate—one can never go wrong with chocolate. Making up his mind, he decided upon mini chocolate lava cakes. A little complicated, but Jin was sure he could pull it off by the time everyone showed up for dinner.

Jin next moved on to making the chocolate lava cakes. He put them in the oven for baking and moved on to making different toppings for the hotteok—a caramel sauce, some vanilla ice cream he made from scratch, some crushed nuts he found in a cupboard, some fruits he cut up—bananas and strawberries and blueberries—and finally, the chocolate sauce he made for the lava cake served also as a hotteok topping.

It had been a long time since Jin had cooked such an elaborate meal for anyone, and seeing as the Kims had every available ingredient under their roof, Jin was feeling inspired. Even his regular homemade dinner felt special with such good ingredients.

The Kims were going to be here soon. It had been two hours since Hoseok-ssi had let him in the kitchen. He was going to be done soon, and as dinnertime was approaching, Jin was getting more and more nervous. He wanted the Kims to be impressed with him. He wanted this job. And not just because of the attractive employers—he genuinely would like to work here. It’s simple work and his employers seem nice enough. He wrung his hands together, looking around the kitchen with nervous energy. He just had to wait for the chocolate lava cakes to bake, and then he could go back to his room and relax for the day.

He decided to wash the dishes until it was time for dinner. He had made a big mess, pulling out all kinds of cookware and utensils. He could clean these now, and the dinner dishes tomorrow morning. With that thought, Jin folded the sleeves of his sweater and got to work.

Cooking was exhausting, but Jin loved every minute of it. It calmed his mind to follow a process and have the result be so satisfying. He also loved being praised for his cooking, so he hoped the Kims liked everything he made. Of course, Jin could always cook whatever they preferred, and if he didn’t know how to, then he could learn.

Jin was surprised by how hard he was willing to work for the Kims. Maybe it was the way Hoseok-ssi treated him—like a friend, not someone beneath him. Or maybe he just thought Kim Namjoon and Jung Hoseok were attractive enough to warrant as much effort from him as possible. Jin blushed brightly at the thought.

He didn’t know, but Jin wasn’t one to think too deeply into things—not unless he had to confront them. So he would let the situation flow, go as it commands. And maybe, he’ll reach some semblance of happiness.

Jin was lost in such thoughts, and that is exactly why he didn’t hear the man enter the kitchen.

“Hello.” Jin startled and turned around to see a man dressed in all black. The only colourful part of his outfit was the bright baby pink rabbit-themed slippers. He was holding what looked like a helmet in his arms, standing tall enough that Jin had to slightly tilt his head to look into his eyes.

Now that Jin looked closer at the man's face, he could spot piercings. On his lips were double rings, and his eyebrows and ears had simple studs.

Jin was about to melt right where he was standing. This man, with his eyebrow and lip piercing, was smiling at him with his wide eyes and bunny-like smile. His hair was long and tied in a small ponytail. Everything on and about this man screamed sinful, and Jin was ready to sin.

The more he stared at the man, the more he realized how inadequately dressed he must look right now. Jin had started getting dressed for his meeting with the Kims at 10 a.m., even though the meeting was at 4 p.m. Jin was too nervous to do anything else. He had packed early and dressed comfortably in his favourite pink sweater and simple light-washed jeans. He hadn’t even styled his hair or put on jewelry, opting to look as natural as possible.

Jin had also been working in this kitchen for over two hours, so he was sure he looked a little off-putting.

But this man, Jin wasn’t sure where to look. The more Jin stared, the more confused the man standing in front of him was.

“Hello? Are you okay?”

Jin snapped out of his thoughts and quickly turned around to gather himself.

Clenching his eyes shut, he turned back around and bowed to the man. “Hello, my name is Kim Seokjin. I’m your new housekeeper and cook,” Jin replied. Maybe that was the wrong introduction—Jin didn’t want this man thinking he was already hired—so he continued, “Not yet, I’m still in the interview and trial period. I’m sorry if I startled you by being in the kitchen. Hoseok-ssi is just taking a meeting upstairs. The dinner’s already prepared, and if you’d like to start before him… or if you’d like me to make you a pre-dinner snack?”

Jin knew he was rambling, but in the face of such an attractive man smiling at him, he didn’t know what to do. When Jin looked up at him, expecting a response, the man was staring at him with his eyebrows raised, his mouth open, and a blush creeping up on his face. Jin tilted his head in confusion. Why was this man staring at him—at his face like that? Maybe he had something on his face? Jin rubbed his cheek, slightly pouting. And the man took a step back at the action, startling Jin.

The man seemed to snap out of something and bowed to Jin. “Ah, I’m Jeon Jungkook. I’m one of Hobi-hyung’s partners—Hoseok, I mean. Um, you didn’t startle me. I just wanted to introduce myself to the new housekeeper. I knew who you were.” The man rubbed his nape, looking down and smiling. “The other hyungs will be here soon, but thanks for making dinner. You’re still in your interview process; you didn’t have to do this.”

“Oh please, I’m happy to,” Jin smiled at him. “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself otherwise.”

The man stared at Jin with wide eyes. Maybe it was something in his hair, Jin thought, and brushed his hair with his fingers.

“Um, anyway, I’ll just get changed and come back down when all the hyungs are here. Again, you don’t have to do the dishes—you can leave them to us and rest. You look a little tired.”

Is that why Jungkook-ssi was staring at his face? Maybe his exhaustion was visible on his face. Nevertheless, he had to be the perfect worker. “Oh, please, don’t worry, Jungkook-ssi. Not much is left. I’ll be done in fifteen minutes, and then I can set the dining table. You should relax till then. I’ll call out for dinner when I’m done.”

Jungkook-ssi nodded and moved towards the stairs, but not before giving Jin another one of those dazed looks.

Jin gulped and thought that if this continued—this tirade of attractive men, one after the other—he would probably quit on the spot.

And he hadn’t even seen Kim Namjoon yet.

Jin turned around to finish doing the dishes, putting his thoughts aside about these men. Whatever happens, whoever and however attractive they may be, Jin was going to control himself and do this job as perfectly and professionally as possible. He did not want to make people in a committed relationship uncomfortable with his unnecessary feelings.

Jin lost himself to such thoughts while humming a song he’d heard this morning. When he was done with the dishes, he moved towards the cabinet to grab plates and set the dining table. As he was putting down six plates, arranging the right cutlery, he heard footsteps come down the stairs.

“Oh my god, Seokjin-ssi, you don’t have to do that, please,” Hoseok-ssi calls out from behind. Jin turns around to smile at him—and is floored seeing the two men emerge from the stairs.

Hoseok-ssi is wearing bright red shorts with a white t-shirt, his hair loose and collarbones showing. It looks so delicate and pretty in contrast to his strong-looking figure, and—are those abs Jin sees through his shirt?

Worse, Jungkook-ssi stands behind him in grey sweatpants and a simple black t-shirt. He has let his hair loose and looks so lovely. The thing that Jin had failed to notice before was Jungkook-ssi’s tattoo sleeve going all the way up to his neck and curving around his chest.

Oh my god, they’re so hot.

Jin felt hot just looking at these men. Looking so cozy and sexy at the same time should be impossible—but they’ve somehow managed.

“Um, I uh just didn’t want to stand around doing nothing. And I wanted to show you what I’m capable of, as this is my trial period.” Jin looked down. Maybe he had offended them somehow.

Hoseok smiled at his response, “I just don’t want to overwhelm you on the first day, Seokjin-ssi. I want you to have a normal working day, as impossible as that might sound.” The men approached the dining table and silently started helping Jin.

“So Seokjin-ssi? What’s for dinner?” Jungkook-ssi asks with a cheeky smile.

Jin lets him know of the menu tonight, as well as the desserts. He hopes it’s enough for eight people, he tells them. At that, Jungkook-ssi furrows his brows, looking confused.

“Why would you cook for eight people? Is there someone else coming over, hyung?” he addresses Hoseok-ssi.

“I don’t think so.”

Jin is confused as well; he was told there would be eight people living in the house. He lets them know as such, but Hoseok confirms that, except for him, only six people are living in this house.

“But the job flyer stated that I’d be catering to a house of eight people.” Hoseok-ssi looked more confused and pulled out his phone to check. Jungkook-ssi peered from behind him, looking into his phone. After an awkward pause of Jin just standing there staring at the two men looking down at their phones, Hoseok-ssi made a knowing hum. Jungkook sighed exasperatedly and walked towards the kitchen, shaking his head, muttering something about a silly hyung.

“So Seokjin-ssi, I’d like to apologise for this. The two other people are, well, not people. They’re dogs. Bam and Yeontan. They live with us, of course, they’re our pets, but I’m sorry you weren’t informed of this beforehand. If you’d like to rethink this position, or if you have any other issues, please let me know. I’m really, really sorry about this.”

Jin didn’t mind dogs, not that he’d spent much time with one, but he thinks he’d be ok with two dogs unless he was asked to take care of them.

“I don’t mind the presence itself, Hoseok-ssi, more than the thought of taking care of them.” Jin wrung his hands together in a nervous gesture. “I’ve never interacted with dogs much and don’t know how to care for them. I wouldn’t want to hurt them.” He looked at Hoseok-ssi with a nervous expression.

“Oh, please don’t worry about that, we take care of Bam and Tannie ourselves. All you would have to do is treat them well. You don’t even have to play with them if you’re too scared; we’ll try to keep them separated from you if you want.” Hoseok-ssi smiled at him reassuringly.

“Please don’t inconvenience yourself. I can mana—” Hoseok-ssi interrupted his protests with a simple head shake. “We want you to be comfortable. This will also be your home even if you’re working.” Hoseok-ssi smiled at him again.

“Now how about we go into the kitchen and see what you’ve made. It smells absolutely divine.” Hoseok-ssi turns around and walks into the kitchen.

Behind him, Jin contemplates all the decisions that led him here, to the most considerate man on the planet. But that could be done later; right now, he has six people to feed.

Chapter Text

Jungkook-ssi was possibly the cutest person Jin had ever seen.

Hoseok-ssi and he had walked into the kitchen to find an angry-looking bunny eating ramen. Yes, that is the best way to describe how Jungkook-ssi looked while eating—his eyebrows furrowed most adorably, and his cheeks bulged to accommodate the big bites he was taking.

“Yah! Didn’t you say you wanted to wait for everyone to arrive before eating? Also, why are you eating ramen when Seokjin-ssi cooked so much for all of us?” Hoseok-ssi scolded.

“ ’m sorry. I am so hungry, and Yoongi-hyung is just being late on purpose.” Jungkook-ssi pouted at his hyung.

Hoseok-ssi sighed and shook his head. “You know he’s not late on purpose, in fact, he might just be on his way. Namjoon-ah went to see him at the studio and is probably trying to drag him out.”

He turns around to Jin. “I’m sorry they’re all late. If you want, we could start eating?” Hoseok-ssi looked unsure. Jin smiled at the adorable man.

Jin was dying to eat something. “I don’t mind waiting, Hoseok-ssi, I had a late lunch.”

He really hadn’t had a late lunch; in fact, he didn’t even eat breakfast that morning. Jin’s stomach was in knots, nervous because he was unsure how exactly his meeting would go. If he had even a slight inkling as to how easy it would be, he would’ve at least grabbed a kimbap.

Hoseok-ssi smiled back. “Well, we need something to pass the time while the guys show up. I heard they’re all going to be coming together—Namjoon-ah’s picking all of them up.” Hoseok-ssi directed at Jungkook-ssi, “A movie?”

Jungkook-ssi and Hoseok-ssi turned to Jin, waiting for his opinion. “Sure, let’s go.”

Jin was surprised they wanted him to join. Jungkook jumped up from his seat in excitement and ran upstairs.

“Come on, let’s go,” Hoseok-ssi beckoned him upstairs to a room down the hallway away from Jin’s.

Jin entered and found Jungkook reclining on a sleeping bag, leaving space for him and Hoseok-ssi and Jin on the large seating with cushions.

As Jin sat down, he asked Hoseok-ssi the question that had been bothering him. “Is this okay? You being so comfortable with me? Me being here?” Jin was unsure of his position in this house. Granted, it had only been a few hours since he’d been here, but Hoseok-ssi was already more different than any of his other employers. The two men he met today treated him like a friend, not someone who would be taking care of this house.

Hoseok-ssi smiled gently. “We want someone who can be a friend, Seokjin-ssi, someone who understands us and likes us. We don’t want someone in this house unless we and they are both comfortable. It would be more fun to have someone in this house who didn’t dread coming here and wasn’t made uncomfortable because of us and our formality. So yes, as much as we want house help, we also want a friend. So yes, this is more than okay.”

Jin released a sigh of relief. He’d never had many friends, but Hoseok-ssi and Jungkook-ssi’s reassuring demeanor had given him some confidence. Maybe he could work here and still have friends.

Jungkook-ssi was too busy scrolling to find movies to pay any mind to their serious conversation.

“Well then, Hoseok-ssi, why don’t you address me casually then? I think we can be good friends. Can you call me hyung? Assuming I’m older than you?” And Jin was really assuming—he had no idea of this man’s age except that he looked so much younger and brighter than Jin.

“Of course, hyung, and please call me Hobi or Hoba, whatever you’re comfortable with. Please take care of me, and I hope we can be good friends.” Hoseok-ssi — Hobi smiled.

“Is Marvel okay with you both?” Jungkook-ssi asked.

They both replied affirmatively, and that’s how Jin found himself watching Iron Man with two of the most gorgeous, considerate, and sweet men he’d ever met.

Jin wasn’t really focused on his movie; his thoughts were on the other people who lived here. He believed that a person’s company speaks to a person’s character. If he liked Hobi and Jungkook-ssi, then surely the others must not be too bad. In fact, he was dreading the situation in which all of them turned out to be perfect.

That was Jin’s nightmare—to mess up the relationship with six wonderful people.

He shook his head to get the negative thoughts out of his head. This isn’t a relationship; it’s a job. At best, he’ll have various friendships, but there is no need to worry about messing up too much, especially when it comes to his tasks.

Jin doesn’t like to toot his own horn, but having a level of self-awareness is good. He was aware of how good his skills in the kitchen were, and he wasn’t a bad cleaner either. That’s all this house needed—a good clean and regular meals. And Jin was going to give it he best to provide those things.

Lost in his determined thoughts, he didn’t hear the steps thundering up the stairs toward them and the door slamming open.

He startled as Hobi shook him. “Jin-hyung, you okay? You seemed zoned out.” His eyebrows were furrowed, looking straight into his eyes.

“Um, yeah, just… just lost in thought,” Jin replied with a slight smile. He looked away from Hobi to see a man standing behind him.

Jin’s eyes widened in surprise. When the man had made an appearance was least of Jin’s concern; what baffled him was the man’s eyes, staring intently at him. He was handsome—like he had just walked out of a magazine—with a symmetric face and full lips. It was dark, the light of the movie paused, illuminating the men in the room.

Jin couldn’t take his eyes off the man, and neither could the man apparently, because he seemed to be staring at him with a look of… something. Jin didn’t know what.

Jin gulped and clenched his eyes shut. He was here for a job; he’d better introduce himself.

He got up on shaky legs and bowed toward the man.

“Hello. My name is Kim Seokjin. I’m your maybe-new-housekeeper. Welcome home.” Jin kept it short and smiled at the end to make himself seem more welcoming.

The man stared at him for a few seconds, his eyes widened and then he smiled back.

“Hello! I’m Kim Taehyung. It’s nice to meet you,” the man said in a deep voice, returning his bow.

This man was the epitome of an angel—or maybe a devil—because his smile was sweet but had this tinge of mischief. His eyes were gentle, and Jin couldn’t help but smile at him fondly.

Taehyung-ssi turned towards Jungkook-ssi. “Hi, Kookie.” He pulled Jungkook-ssi into a kiss, and Jin looked away. He turned around to tell Hobi that he was going to set up for dinner. Hobi had this fond look on his face and let out the slightest sigh at the sight of his partners. Jin could tell this man was smitten. Not wanting to ruin the moment, Jin left the room and went down the stairs toward the kitchen. If Taehyung-ssi was here, maybe the others would be here soon, too.

He was lost in his thoughts of setting up for dinner when he bumped into a man and almost sent him falling down the stairs. He screamed and flailed to get a hold of him and pulled the man toward himself. They both stumbled backward, and the man looked up to glare at Jin.

Jin’s heart was possibly about to explode because how can he, in a span of fifteen minutes, meet such attractive people? Is the deity of hotness currently visiting South Korea and distributing gifts that Jin doesn’t know about? Where is Jin’s gift?

This man was a cat. He reminded Jin of the kitten he had seen a few weeks back, drowning in the pouring rain, looking pitiful but determined. This man didn’t look much different.

Jin let go of him and helped him stand on a stair. Their height difference seemed even more enhanced now, and Jin could see right across his head down the stairs toward the front door. Where there seemed to be no shoes at the entrance, there were now five pairs.

This means all of them were home.

Jin looked down at the man again. This was cute. Jin adored the height difference he had with this man, albeit some of it was because the man was standing a step lower than Jin. It raised a fond grin on Jin’s face.

The man scowled at him. “And who might you be?”

Jin had forgotten to introduce himself, lost in thoughts of this adorable man and his cat-like eyes and oversized clothes, his pouty lips—

Jin cleared his throat and introduced himself for the third time today, letting the man know of his position in the house. The man nodded in recognition and stared at Jin for a few seconds.

“Min Yoongi, nice to meet you,” he waved at Jin and walked back upstairs without looking back.

Jin stared after him fondly. He was cute; Jin would make sure that once they were good friends, he could tease him about it. He walked the rest of the way downstairs, this time being aware of where he was going.

As he entered the kitchen, muttering his thoughts about the kitchen, he saw two men hunched over his pot of stew, just… breathing? Taking in the steam? Getting a stew facial? Jin was confused. Their backs were turned to Jin, but he could clearly hear them whispering to each other.

“No way Hobi‑hyung made this. The only thing he can make is his breakfast sandwich.”

“What if it was Jungkook‑ah, you know he can cook well.”

“Yes, but hyung, he was late coming home today, he would not have time to make so many dishes. Maybe—”

Before the man could continue, Jin cleared his throat to announce his presence. Assuming these were the remaining two members of the house, he had to introduce himself.

At his noise, the two men turned around, looking startled. Jin bowed to them. “Hello, my name is Kim Seokjin. I’m your maybe‑new housekeeper.” Introducing himself for the fifth… sixth? time today. It had been a day of introductions, and Jin was tired. He let out a weary sigh. It wasn’t so late in the night to feel this tired, but he just wanted to sleep now.

As he observed the men closely, he realized they had a significant size difference.

Hot.

The taller—and buffer—of them was familiar. Kim Namjoon in a suit, standing right in front of him in the flesh. Jin couldn’t help it; his ears started getting red the more he looked at the man, the blush spreading down to his neck and chest. He was glad he was wearing a shirt with a higher neckline, or they would’ve known exactly what Jin was thinking.

The shorter man was cuter, cuter than even Jungkook‑ssi if that was even possible. He had full lips that rivaled Namjoon‑ssi, squishy cheeks, and somehow was even shorter than Min Yoongi.

But his eyes. His eyes held mischief, similar to Taehyung’s but sweeter somehow. He looked like an angel. Jin wondered how Kim Namjoon had managed to get such gorgeous partners.

Have you seen Kim Namjoon?

Kim Namjoon had this serious look on his face, his dragon eyes staring into Jin’s soul. He was so tall, taller than Jin. Jin rarely met people who were taller than him, so meeting Kim Namjoon, seeing him in person, was so overwhelming.

The thoughts going through his mind were so unholy, even he was surprised.

To distract himself from such unnecessary thoughts, he started rambling.

“I cooked dinner actually, Hosoe—Hobi said that I had to have a trial period first and I asked to cook dinner. Is everything to your liking? If not I could cook something again?”

Jin could feel his ears getting warmer, the blush intensifying because the two very attractive, very sexy men were staring at him with their mouths wide open.

Jin rolled back on his heels, waiting for any one of them to respond, when the sound of steps thundering down the stairs grabbed his attention.

He turned towards the staircase to see Taehyung-ssi coming towards the kitchen, changed into his pajamas.

“Minnie, you won’t believe—” Taehyung-ssi cut off what he was about to say at the sight of the three men awkwardly standing in the room. The other two didn’t look so much as awkward as baffled, but Jin was definitely feeling it. His ears were burning something fierce. So he tried to focus all his attention on Taehyung. Taehyung looked at him and the other two, and then smirked.

He moved towards Jimin, still standing, surprised but now attentive to what Taehyung-ssi was doing. “I see you guys met Jin-hyung.” Taehyung turned towards him. “I hope you don’t mind me calling you that, Hobi-hyung said it’s okay.”

Jin’s heart was about to explode. The way this man said Jin’s name was absolutely sinful. He could hear him say his name every single minute for the rest of his life.

“Yes, of course,” he smiled at Taehyung.

“And you can call me Tae. Right, hyung?” Taehyung turned towards Namjoon-ssi for approval, and he snapped out of his thoughts.

“Uh, yeah,” and as Namjoon-ssi said this, the serious expression on his face melted into something fond, and so full of love. He smiled at Taehyung with his dimples.

Kim Namjoon has dimples.

Jin might just die. And he wouldn’t mind, because the sight of Kim Namjoon’s sweet smile would bring the strongest of men or women to their knees. It was so endearing, and Jin wished that at least once in his life, he could be the one at the receiving end of that smile.

Jin couldn’t help but smile, looking at the three men now embracing. As scared as Jin was, the more he interacts with the people here, the more he realises that they are a family — one who love each other very much, and are for some reason willing to hire Jin.

Jin doesn’t want to ruin the moment — the three people catching up after all day — but he clears his throat anyway. At the sound, the three men turn towards him, waiting for him to say something.

“So now that everyone’s here, shall I serve dinner?” Jin says, clasping his hands and smiling at the men.

The three men blink at him before Taehyung nudges the shorter man.

“Oh, right! My name is Park Jimin. It’s lovely to meet you. You can just call me Jimin, Jin-hyung.” He smiles sweetly at Jin, folding his hands behind his back and looking up at him.

Looking at Jimin like this, he can tell that he must give the others a hard time. How they controlled themselves in front of Jimin, he had no idea. He was small and cute, with the most grabbable cheeks and a sweet smile.

Jimin looked like he knew what he was doing to Jin, and his smile turned mischievous. Jin gulped and looked away. He could not stare at this gorgeous man anymore — not without losing control of his hands.

He looked up to meet Kim Namjoon’s eyes, who somehow was already looking at Jin with a strange expression Jin couldn’t decipher. He asked anyway:

“So? Dinner?”

Kim Namjoon nodded.

And that one nod was what sealed Jin’s fate with the Kims.