A Modest Proposal (Kim Namjoon/ BTS) (#SerendipityAwards)

23. MIC Drop

"Hello America!" Hoseok whistled, fiddling with the straps of his backpack and gliding down the sloping incline of the exit at the LAX. The sun beat upon the asphalt, rays of light bouncing off the sleek suitcases the staff were hauling into the two vans appointed to drive the members to their hotel. They had landed in the States a couple of days before their upcoming performance at the AMA's and the boys were bursting with incorrigible energy and nervousness.

Namjoon pulled his cap over his forehead to conceal his silver hair, not that it made any difference if the screaming hoard of ARMYs gathered outside the airport to await and welcome their arrival was anything to go by. "Well boys, this is our time to shine."

Hoseok seemed to have taken this statement to heart for he was quite literally glowing, drenched in the bright sunlight. The young man was twitching and exclaiming in his usual booming voice and Namjoon had to stifle a laugh at the annoyed glares Yoongi shot him as they piled into the vans. Settling against the comfortable seats, he flipped out his phone to text Ji Ah, inquiring the time of their estimated landing. The videography team had boarded a flight a few hours after BTS owing to a few preparations they had to see to before flying.

"Texting your girlfriend?" Taehyung whispered from behind him and the rapper jerked his head up at the question. The younger man's features had shifted into his trademark boxy smile, grinning at him knowingly and the rapper didn't miss the sniggers that echoed in the enclosed space of the vehicle.

Privy to the identity of the culprit behind this little revelation, Namjoon inwardly groaned. "Hobi, you really need to learn to keep secrets," he sighed and Jimin coaxed his face into displaying mock hurt to tease the aggrieved rapper.

"Secrets? You weren't going to tell us, Hyung?" he whined in a singsong voice, earning him an exaggerated eye roll from Yoongi. The van was lolling down the bustling streets of Los Angeles, palm trees flanking the smooth roads and eager tourists milling about the lively city. The weather was pleasant and anticipation rippled in the atmosphere of the vehicle as the members waited for Namjoon's response.

"Oh c'mon! You know I suck at keeping secrets, Namjoonie," Hoseok clarified cheerfully and his friend scowled at him. "Besides, you'd have to tell them at some point right?" He raised his eyebrows for emphasis, wriggling them and Namjoon chuckled despite himself.

"Well, of course I was going to tell you guys. But I wanted Ji Ah to be comfortable with it first, you know," he explained, watching the members nod in comprehension. "I didn't want any untoward complications after finally having reached this turning point with her."

Yoongi's brows furrowed as he twisted in his seat to face Namjoon. "So are you guys an official thing now?"

Namjoon bit his lip before answering. Honestly, he still didn't know exactly what they were. Ji Ah had been vague about the details, always brushing him off when he brought up the matter of tagging their relationship. Though he knew that that wasn't important, that labels were unnecessary, he still wanted some kind of validation which the videographer seemed uncertain about giving him.

It's okay. We'll get there.

He was aware that Ji Ah feared tainting his reputation with any unwanted scandal, probably the reason why she had refused to let him announce anything just yet. We have time, Joonie, she had assured him, let's find our way back to each other first. And Namjoon had agreed, like he always agreed to anything she said.

"I wouldn't say that just yet," he replied after what seemed like an eternity to the impatient Yoongi. "But we're definitely together."

"And here I thought we'd be hearing of the maknae's exploits first," the older rapper muttered with a glint in his eyes while the other members whooped and thumped Namjoon's back. Jungkook's eyes widened at the statement, a chortling Taehyung falling across the aisle, his body contorting with laughter.