Origin

Chapter 1

Prologue

The first time Jeon Jungkook steps on stage to sing, he's 19 years old, a little bit tipsy, and he thinks he might actually heave from all the nerves.

He's always enjoyed singing, always enjoying putting on a show, but it's usually in front of friends or family. He's never really had the desire to get up on a platform under an array of hot lights, push the mass of sweaty hair off his forehead, and grip the microphone stand like a lifeline, just like he's doing now.

He knows that the crowd - no more than 100 people, give or take - is hardly paying attention to him, giving him less of a reason to be so nervous, and to be blunt, why would they be focusing on him? He's an inexperienced college sophomore in southwestern Michigan, he most definitely has zero stage presence, and the amount of times he's already said, "Um, so, yeah," into the microphone is humiliating.

Honestly, he wouldn't pay attention if he was any of them, either.

It's a small gig - he'll only make around $100 at the end of the night - with a set consisting of four covers and one original. It'll be over with soon enough, as long as his fingers keep cooperating against the strings of his guitar and his voice would quit wobbling, but in the back of his mind, his brain is only focusing on chanting kill Kim Taehyung, fucking kill him.

He's the one who'd signed Jungkook up for the night, promising he's more than skilled to take on such a small show, and he'd be great at it.

Jungkook told him no almost instantly, shaking his head, saying he wasn't interested. But then Tae made a face, paused, twisted his hands together, and that's when Jungkook realised he'd already committed him.

So here he is, nearly sweating through his white t-shirt, even in the cool October weather, doing his best to not botch his version of "Memories " by Adam Levine.

He's still painfully nervous, the lights are still too fucking bright, but the energy is nearly palpable and someone in the back whistles, impressed, when he hits his high note. Goddamnit Tae, this is starting to actually be fun.

By the time he starts "Fools" by Troy Sivan, he's loose, he's smiling, he can't stop his foot from tapping against the scuffed floorboards beneath him, and even though he can only see the first two rows of people in front of him, he imagines that the crowd is much bigger, that everyone is clapping and cheering along, that he has an actual setlist to perform. He feels incredible, and when he closes with "Perfect " by Ed Sheeran, everyone actually does sing along.

Jungkook hops off the stage after the crowd gives a polite, semi weak round of applause, and he finds Tae at the back of the room, shaking his head and smiling.

" Told you that you'd nail it," he says, patting Jungkook on the back.

He nods, biting on his bottom lip.

"Okay, you win. I'm totally doing that again."

Tae laughs. "A born natural."

Jungkook beams. "It felt good. Really good. Like..."

"Really good?" Tae supplies, clearly mocking.

"Alright, shush, I need another drink. Keep the buzz going."

Tae hums. "Madge is off duty. I dunno this bartender but she for sure won't serve us like Madge does."

He frowns. "Shit. Guess I'm gonna have to find someone to help me out with that." He looks around the back of the room, searching for a familiar, legal face. His frown deepens when he comes up short.

"Kook." Tae nudges him. "That girl over there definitely looks interested."

Jungkook looks up; a gorgeous girl with wild red hair cut just below her shoulders is staring, gaze unwavering, smiling playfully. Yes, definitely interested.