Expect the Unexpected

The Set Up

Yoongi works as a chef at a small Korean comfort food shop. It doesn't get a boatload of customers, but enough to be busy almost all of the time. It works in Yoongi's favor as it gives him time to squeeze in some songwriting. Those little moments are one of his few moments of reprieve besides sleep since he tutors highschoolers after his 10 (sometimes 12) hour shift. His other moments of solace are when he's chatting with his coworkers; head server Hoseok, also a beta, and restaurant owner Seokjin, an omega. It's not really a surprise, as he and Jin went to culinary school together. The old school way of thinking that put alphas, betas, and omegas in separate classes, and thus job fields, has died down a lot. But some old folks look impressed when they hear the owner of a restaurant, even a small one, is an omega. Betas usually coasted by as being average middle men, and thus the majority, though by a slim margin. The days of purebreds have been gone for ages too. Now everyone's a mix of something. It made things more mellow honestly, though there's still some wrinkles that could be straightened out.

Yoongi writes songs about it. Because during his youth, bullying was prevalent. Not to him, but he saw it everywhere. It was more likely because he grew up in a small village in Daegu. Things were always kind of backwards there. Cooking kept him out of trouble, hanging out in the kitchen in the back where he was always behind the scenes. It was where the aromas were the strongest as well. He saw his parents work at the stove and counter tops side by side. Joy and laughter had always oozed out of them. He sometimes saw how that same joy radiated from the customers when they ate. And Yoongi fell in love with the feeling of being able to provide that joy to others.

He reminisces about all of this after the last customer of the night leaves and Hoseok begins closing up. The kitchen closed 20 minutes ago so Yoongi is already cleaned up. He pokes his head out of the corner booth he was waiting at for Hoseok.

"Oh, you're still here?" Hoseok asks as he locks the register.

"Yeah, you drove me here today, remember?" Yoongi stands and stretches before walking beside Hoseok to the door.

"Ah right. I hope you didn't do overtime."

Yoongi avoids Hoseok's scolding look. "What else was I supposed to do?" he mumbles quietly.

"Yahhhh, hyung. Don't overwork yourself again. It's exam season!"

"It's fine, it's not my first time." Yoongi shrugs it off, like most things. He came from humble beginnings and really had to work his ass off to get here. So he's used to being busy. And tired. (And lonely).

"That's the problem though!"

"If I didn't stay late for you to drop me off, how would you find the excuse to simp over my roommate?"

"I- I do NOT simp over Namjoon!"

"Oh right sorry, drool."

That earns Yoongi a whack on the arms.

Namjoon and Yoongi have been roommates since college. As Yoongi's career stayed in the realm of local restaurants, Namjoon also stayed local and now owns a book/record store. It's cute and cozy, a great place to discover new stories and new music. Hoseok joined the restaurant after Yoongi, so when they became friends, he introduced him to Namjoon. An action he now regrets since they both want each other but they're both so stupid about it.

"If I wanted to see him I could just go to Magic Shop. I don't need you!" Hoseok says as they both get into the car.

"But you won't."

Hoseok deflates. "No I won't."

"Because you're a coward."

Hoseok let's out a "pfffttt, whaaaaat? Me?! What would I be scared of?"