Work Text:
“Class dismissed.”
As soon as his professor ends the class, Jimin gathers his belongings and starts to make his way off campus.
It had become a routine for him now. Rather than spending his time in between classes in the crowded library, he walks two blocks off campus. To the Cypher Tattoo parlor, where his brother works.
After his first visit a few months ago to drop off his brother’s forgotten packed lunch, he had realized it was a far more cozy and comfortable place than he imagined when his grad student brother, Kim Namjoon said he'd be working at a tattoo parlor.
After a few more trips, at first thanks to his brothers ever forgetful nature, then just for fun. He started getting to know some of the other people that work there.
There was Jeon Jungkook, who was a freshman at the same university, and worked the front desk part time. He was the one who brought up the idea of Jimin doing his homework there. Though Jimin is pretty sure that's in part because Jungkook would be able to ask for help with his own intro course work.
Then there was Kim Seokjin, the shop’s piercing specialist and resident food supplier of the bunch. Probably one of the nicest most caring people Jimin had ever met.
Jung Hoseok is one of the Tattoo artists who works there, incredibly talented and the brightest ray of sunshine he's ever met. He and Jimin often spend time talking about dance seeing as Hoseok shares the same hobby.
Finally there’s the owner of the shop, Min Yoongi. Upon first meeting him Jimin kind of thought he was the rough and gruff type, more of what you would expect from a tattoo artist. He quickly discovered after his first few trips that Yoongi, much like his own brother, was much less intimidating than he appeared. Rather Jimin’s favorite hobby had become poking fun at the elder, which would result in one of their endless bickering matches.
As he got closer with everyone he started spending more and more time at the shop until it got to be what it is now. The routine of going there to do work and hang out between classes had been born. Sometimes he even got his best friend, Kim Taehyung to join him. Though Tae spent most of his time there flirting with Jungkook.
So Jimin makes his way to the shop, when he enters, Jungkook isn't there yet. He has class for another hour at least so the front desk is left empty. He can see Hoseok going over designs with a client at one of the tables towards the back. Seokjin isn't in sight so he must have a client in his room as well. Given that there's no other clients, Yoongi and Namjoon must be in the elder’s office. The one room in the shop Jimin's never had the privilege of being in.
He shrugs off his bag and makes himself at home in Jungkook’s chair. Scrolling his phone for his assignment due date list to see if there's anything he needs to work on immediately or if he can afford to procrastinate and watch some netflix right now.
He just decides to settle on putting on an anime he's already watched in the background and start working on gathering research material for an essay he's got coming up, when the shop’s phone starts ringing.
Jimin still doesn't see Yoongi or Namjoon around so he shrugs and decides to pick up the phone, not like he hasn't seen Jungkook do it before. "Cypher Tattoos, how can I help you?"
The call is to schedule a cartilage piercing so he looks for the appointment book that Jungkook keeps next to the phone, and triple checks Jin's off times before scheduling the client for Friday. By the time he puts the phone down.
"Huh, so you are actually helpful." Comes a voice from behind him.
Jimin rolls his eyes "I could be more helpful if you paid me." he responds.
"You get paid in food." Yoongi is of course, referring to the fact that Jin often ordered lunch or dinner for everyone in the shop.
"Technically Jin gets me the food."
"Yeah, with my money." Yoongi pretends to be annoyed with it but Namjoon already told him that Yoongi is the one that gave Jin the go ahead to use cash register money for food for everyone.
"Hmmm, still doesn't mean you can’t pay me for helping."
The elder just rolls his own eyes, knowing full well Jimin would refuse the money if offered. "What are you working on today?" he asks, gesturing to the open laptop on the desk.
"Searching for an essay topic for my history class."
"Hmm have you guys covered weapons yet? That Sword on the waiting room wall is real and I think I remember the guy I bought it from saying it had some long history. You might get some ideas if you check the inscription."
"You’re a lifesaver you know that?"
Yoongi just shakes his head "Your payment for taking the phone call." he laughs before walking back to his station, Jimin yelling cheapskate behind him.
The fact that Yoongi doesn't look back though, works in his favor, cause it gives Jimin a nice long look at his ass as he walks away.
Jimin doesn't indulge in his crush on his brother’s boss/ best friend much. Largely for keeping the peace and avoiding embarrassment reasons, but there's nothing wrong with looking when given a golden opportunity.
Jimin's so distracted he doesn't notice that Namjoon is standing right next to him, waiting to be acknowledged, until he hears the older clear his throat. "Oh, hey Hyung."
"Y'know, I'm starting to think you like my friends more than me."
Jimin snorts "Took you long enough, it’s only been our whole lives." He then has to dodge a playful hit from his brother and the laughter almost sends him falling out of the chair.
"No injuries in the shop!" He can hear Yoongi yell from his station "Stay in your chair Jimin-ah"
"Don't worry Hyung, this is a daily occurrence for him. I used to ask Eomma if something happened when he was born for him to have so much balance when dancing but none anytime else."
Jimin squawks in protest "You’re one to talk."
"He's right Namjoonie, I think i distinctly remember you knocking over a case of disinfectant just last week." Seokjin jumps into the conversation while walking his client out of the sterilized room.
Jimin can't help but smirk at his brother’s flustered expression. "Oh really?"
"Jimin be a dear and ring my friend here out." Jin gestures to the young man behind him and Jimin can't help but think he knows him from somewhere."
"You know I don't actually work here right?" yet Jimin logs into the touch screen register with Jungkook’s numbers anyway to start the transaction.
"Hmm and yet you’re here every day. Odd. Anyway two lower lobe piercings and a lip piercing."
Jimin nods and turns to face the customers. It takes less than a second for him to recognize who it is. "Jeongin-hyung!"
"Jiminie! I didn't know you work here?"
"I don't." Jimin laughs "My brother does I just prefer this over the campus library.”
"Why not the dance practice rooms? We always have extra room." Jeongin, or Kai as he was called most of the time, was one of the people in Jimin's campus dance crew, and while he enjoys their company it's not always easy to focus in their presence.
Out of the corner of his eye Jimin can see his brother and Seokjin giving each other those looks that mean a wordless conversation is happening.
"I'll keep that in mind hyung. So your total is -" he's cut off before he can say the amount.
"Ah here, just keep the change Jimin-ah." Kai hands Jimin at least twice what he actually owes before thanking Seokjin and gathering his stuff to leave. By the time Jimin is able to get the change out of the register he's gone.
"Hmm, that was interesting." Jin is looking at him like there’s some kind of story there so Jimin just shrugged.
"Got me."
He hadn't noticed Yoongi had wandered over during all of this. "So I guess I don't have to start paying you, if my customers do it for me." Jimin is grateful for the change of mood, and he shows it by sticking his tongue out at the elder.
After that everyone heads off to do their own tasks and Jimin returns to his research. Jungkook comes in about 20 minutes later and Jimin is forced to give up the comfy chair for the folding metal chair. Wasting at least 10 minutes bantering about how he should have the comfy chair cause he's the hyung, but ultimately giving it up to the younger, because he doesn't actually care.
Jimins next class isn't till 8 and he's finished most of the work he has to do for right now so he resorts to his second favorite hobby. Wandering the shop. Namjoon is with a client, so he won’t bother him, Jin and Hobi have gone out to pick up dinner for everyone from this restaurant down the street. Jungkook is deep into his math course work. So that only leaves, Yoongi.
Jimin knows he had a few consults today so he’s probably working on new designs.
Sure enough when he gets to the elders station he’s hunched over his drawing desk, working on the details for what looks like a sketch of a Blue Bell flower.
"Have you ever seen a Blue Bell flower in real life hyung?" The question startles Yoongi and makes him nearly jump out of his seat.
"Yah! Kim Jimin!" Jimin can already tell there's no bite in his words and for a second it makes his expression soften a little. Min Yoongi is just far too endearing for his own good. Even with arms full of tattoos and the glare of a scorned king, he still managed to look like a startled kitten. Just another reason Jimin was having trouble holding back his budding crush on the elder.
"What’s wrong with it?" The elder asks. Referring back to his drawing.
"Bluebells are usually thin and clumped like 10 to a stalk." You're not far off but you have to put a couple more on the stalk to make it accurate, even if they're just buds.
Yoongi nods and seems to make a note of it on the side of his notebook. "I think the reference they gave me is from a children’s book so I'm not sure which way they would want it. I'll make a couple of drafts and send it to them later.
One thing Jimin admired about Yoongi was his passion for not only what he did but for pleasing every client. Even if that meant working after hours. He's only 24 yet he's managed to open up this shop and create such a loyal clientele with just his passion.
He takes a seat on the clients chair. Knowing full well Yoongi doesn't have another appointment for at least an hour.
The tattoo artist just rolls his eyes and turns back to his sketch.
"Don't you have class or dance practice or something."
Jimin hums " I think you'd know my schedule by now Hyung. It's Tuesday, my night class starts at 8. Dance practices are-"
"Monday, Wednesday, Friday, I know, I know. Not sure why I know since it has nothing to do with me." Yoongi mumbles and Jimin smiles brightly.
"Because you care about me of course!"
Jimin can't see Yoongi's face and for that Yoongi is grateful because it means he can hide the pink dusting his cheeks.
"Yeah yeah, until your brother inevitably quits for his post graduate career. Then you’ll be out of my hair."
"Hyunnnngggg, that's not true. Even if Namjoon-hyung does move on to bigger and better pastures I'll always come back here to bother you."
"Yah!-" Though he stops when he sees the laughter and happiness on Jimin's face. Jimin knows he's gotten to Yoongi too because in seconds the elder is chuckling too.
Their little bubble is burst not even a minute later though with Jin and Hobi entering the door to the shop and yelling that the food was there and they should hurry before Jungkook eats it all. In part because he has done that before, and it taught them all a valuable lesson in running.
A few days later when Jimin comes into the shop, his brother is in a class and Jungkook is off for the night. It's a slow night so Seokjin and Hobi are somewhere in the back doing inventory and Yoongi is once again working on designs.
At some point Jimin gets sick of his statistics homework and decides to walk around the shop. He wanders through Hobi's and Joons stations, looking at the various designs and references they're using right now. There's some interesting designs of crosses that look cool and some motivational words on Namjoons desk.
Jimin's often thought about getting a tattoo before. His brother has a few, Jungkook has a whole sleeve, but Jimin has never been able to build up the courage. He's gone back and forth for years, even before his brother made friends with Min Yoongi and started working at the shop. He's afraid of needles so that's one of the major drawbacks, he's also not great with pain.
If he did get a tattoo, he knows what he would get. He knows where he'd get it too, a perfect place to hide if needed, for professional situations but show off if he wants to. The only thing is that he's heard that placement hurts like a bitch, which cycles back to the original problem.
"See something you like?" Yoongi asks him. Jimin hadn't even realized the older noticed him surveying the designs at his station.
Jimin just shrugs not really knowing how to answer.
"Have you ever thought about getting one?" Yoongi asks, looking up at Jimin from his seat curiously.
Jimin blushes a little as he realizes Yoongi is in only a tank top at the moment and both of his muscular tattooed arms are on display. "I have, I'm just not good with pain."
Yoongi hums "It's more like a sting instead of actual pain. Depends on where you want to get it."
"Across my ribs?" Jimin asks, once again taking a seat in the client chair.
Yoongi winces a bit "Yeah that's a bit worse, but it’s not unbearable."
Jimin nods "I was thinking about getting the word Nevermind done. Means a lot to me but, I just don't know if I would be able to handle it."
"Wanna test it?"
Jimin's a bit startled by the sudden offer. "What?"
The tattoo artist sighs "We do it a lot for first timers. Use an empty gun so they can test the pain and if it’s okay with them."
"I- okay, I can do that. If it hurts too you'll stop right?"
Yoongi gives him a soft smile. "Trust me, I'll stop at the first sign of pain."
"Alright."
"Perfect, lift up your shirt and lie down."
"W-What." Jimin can't help but get flustered at the words and the not so pure thoughts they spawn in his head.
Yoongi seems to get it too though because immediately he flushes and waves around. "Not like that. Just, since you want to try it on your ribs you need to uh-."
"It, it's fine. I understand." Jimin says and moves to take his shirt off, rather wishing the fabric would swallow him and his embarrassment whole.
Alas, it does not, and now Jimin is lying on the dentist like chair trying not to let the flush take over his body as Yoongi is sanitizing the tattoo gun and all of that. Despite spending so much time here, he rarely comes back here to actually see how things are done. That goes back to that big fear of needles thing he has going on. So he wasn't sure how the process would go.
He ends up watching Yoongi's hands and the elder skillfully works with the equipment, then turns to grab some antiseptic and a cotton swab for Jimin's skin. He's so focused on watching Yoongi's hand that he doesn't notice the elder has turned around and is now openly staring at Jimin's bare torso.
"I never realized you had abs." The words startled Jimin out of his daze and from there his blush came back full force.
"Yeah, uh dance. Lots of core work. It’s kind of impossible not to have them, especially at competition season."
Yoongi seems to have torn his gaze away now and has moved forward to prep a small portion of Jimin’s skin for the test. He shivers when the cold cotton pad touches his side and Yoongi looks up at him in apology.
"You spend so much time here, I just didn't think you get that much time to work out or anything." Yoongi's trying to break the odd tension that's settled over them and Jimin's grateful.
"Hmm, don't worry about that. I assure you I have enough time on my hands to maintain my body and spend time in my favorite hyung’s company." he adds a pause for comedic effect "But Hobi hyung is busy right now so I guess I'll settle for you."
"Yah, brat." Yoongi mumbles, Jimin can tell he's getting ready to actually put the now whirring needle to Jimin’s skin so Jimin doesn't respond and instead holds his breath. He wants to look away but he doesn't want to stop looking at Yoongi, he doesn't know when he’ll ever be this close to the older again.
Turns out though, staring at Yoongi's face is the perfect distraction because when the elder asks if he is ready and he says yes, Jimin barely feels it. Yoongi was right. It’s more of a light sting, not comfortable but not unbearable. Even so close to Jimin’s rib.
Yoongi pulls away from Jimin and turns off the gun."So? How was it?" He asks, and though it takes Jimin a few seconds to compose himself, he realizes, he’s competently fine.
He thinks for a second before answering Yoongi. "It's not as bad as I thought it would be."
He can hear the amusement in Yoongi's voice when he says the next words "So when would you like trying to go all the way with it?"
Jimin was about to respond when he hears someone else clear their throat. Both he and Yoongi turn to the sound to see Seokjin standing in the center of the aisle.
"Can we help you?" Yoongi asks
"Ah well not to interrupt your little moment over here or anything. I just wanted to remind Yoongi he has a consult in half an hour." Jin moves his gaze to Jimin " Nice body Jimin-ah. No wonder Namjoon is always complaining about you dragging him to the gym."
"I-um." He’s flustered and he can’t think of a full sentence to save his life at this point.
Thankfully Yoongi steps in. "I'll be ready for the consult. Let me just finish with my current one." The tone in his voice, it’s like he's making it clear that whatever’s going on right now is purely professional and Jimin can't tell if he's reviled by the save or a little saddened by the immediate dismissal of anything more.
So instead he just shakes his head and sits up to shrug his shirt back on.
"Ahh, I see. Well then don't let me keep you. Good luck working with this one Jimin-ah."
After Jin leaves Yoongi turns back to him. " So, do you want to go through with it?" he's got a brow raised in questioning.
"I do, but uh I’m a little broke right now."
Yoongi just shakes his head "Think of it as my actual payment, for all the help you do even when you don't have to."
"Hyung no- I can't accept-"
The elder just shushes him "It's my shop and I'll give a free tattoo to whoever I want. So what is it exactly that you want?"
Jimin relents, and determines he'll try to find a way to sneak the money into the register or something once he has enough. "I want to get the word Nevermind."
The artist hums "That's an English word isn't it?"
"It is, my brother taught it to me years ago. When someone tries to mess with you or your insecurity takes over, say nevermind and walk away. Give yourself time to heal before coming back to it. Since he told me I've reminded myself often. I guess the word has come to mean a lot to me."
Again Yoongi is smiling softly while looking at Jimin speak. "That's really nice Jimin-ah, lets see what we can do with it." He then pulls out the book of fonts they use for lettering and lets Jimin look through it. By the time Yoongi's client comes in they've already picked the font and size.
The only thing that changes in the meantime, is that he and Yoongi have begun flirting. Jimin wouldn't necessarily call what they had before this flirting. It was more Jimin being interested and Yoongi being well, kind. Now Yoongi leaned a little bit closer to him when they spoke, sometimes close enough that Jimin could count his eyelashes.
Sometimes, if Jimin was helping out with something at the front, which he still wasn't actually getting paid for, Yoongi would lean over his back to show him stuff on the computer screen.
The last few time's they've ordered food Yoongi even ended up sneaking something extra into Jimin’s bag, complaining he has no idea how Jimin eats so little when he's constantly running around with a busy schedule.
Lately too he's been coming over to just sit with Jimin while he works on designs, saying he needs a break from the small area he usually works in. Sometimes they talk the whole time, other times they sit in silence.
Jimin knows now that his interest in Yoongi is beyond that of a crush. He's falling in love with the older man. He's falling in love with his brother’s best friend and he has no idea what to do.
It's not that Jimin's never dated before, he's actually relatively popular with men and women and gets asked out quite often. He's just never been in this deep before, people he's gone out with before were passing fancies, if it didn't go well or if his brother didn't care for them it didn't matter.
This is different, and for the first time, Jimin is scared to move forward. He's afraid of things not working out, of his brother not being supportive, or ruining his relationship with everyone in the shop. The anxiety starts eating him up inside, until one day Jimin is spacing out at the front desk of the shop in front of his laptop.
Today is one of the rare days Taehyung has decided to leave the campus art studio and accompany him. Maybe because he sensed something was off with Jimin, or maybe because Yoongi is off for the day and he can flirt with Jungkook all he wants.
He must have gotten tired of Jimin's expression cause he ends up shutting Jimin's laptop, lid startling him out of his anxious daze. "Jimineeee, come get starbucks with me?"
It's an odd request, given Taehyung doesn't care much for coffee but he knows he needs to get out of the shop so he agrees.
It's not until they're walking back to the shop, drinks in hand, that Taehyung brings it up.
"So are you going to tell me what's going on?"
"What makes you think-"
"Jiminieee, my best friend, my soulmate, my love. I can read you like an open book." Taehyung throws his arm around Jimin's shoulder.
Jimin knows there’s really no getting out of it, and he hasn't spoken about the developments with Yoongi to anyone just yet. At first he just wanted to keep it to himself, a little romance all to himself, but it’s time to let it out.
By the time Jimin is done telling him everything, they've walked past the tattoo shop and end up sitting on a random bus stop bench talking about what’s been going on in Jimin’s head.
"So you like him. You’re going to let him give you a tattoo and you’re caught between confessing to him first or telling you brother first?"
Taehyung made it sound so simple, so much simpler than it had in his head. The only thing that wasn't simple was the answer.
Taehyung also looks like he's deep in thought for a few moments until he finally looks back up at Jimin. "Wait."
"What?"
"Just wait. I mean not like forever but a little longer. Give yourselves more time to figure it out. Don't stress it." Jimin doesn't answer so Taehyung keeps talking. " I mean part of the fun of a relationship is the beginning of it all. The "Falling" stage. You get to flirt and just enjoy the cute moments. Besides if you do anything before your tattoo appointment you risk it getting canceled."
Jimin hadn't thought about that. "Is that why you haven't actually asked Jungkook out yet?"
Taehyung shrugs "Pretty much. That and he's cute when he's confused." The smirk on his best friend’s face makes Jimin think he's not actually joking. In that moment he almost feels bad for the younger boy.
"I just think I'm too much of an overthinker to not think about it you know?"
"You are sometimes, but you’re not always like that. Not when you’re having fun or dancing."
Jimin takes a sip of his drink and thinks about it. Tae's not wrong. When he's truly enjoying something or he's immersed in dancing he kinda just shuts his brain off. "You’re right but it’s not like I control it."
"Well no, but you enjoy flirting with Yoongi right?"
"I guess so yeah." He smiles softly "He's cute when he's flustered."
The boxy smile and giggle Taehyung gives off made him realize what he just said, maybe he kinda gets what he means about messing with Jungkook. "Right!"
Jimin nods and lets out his own little laugh.
"Then, just put more effort into enjoying this part of it all. Hmm maybe bring him back something to drink before we go back."
"What about everyone else?"
Taehyung just smiles and gets up, throwing his empty cup away. "That's what makes it fun!"
So Jimin takes his advice, they go back to the coffee shop to pick up an extra iced Americano. By the time they make it back to the shop it's almost time for Jimin to leave for his night class. So he decides to leave the americano at Yoongi's station with a note on it. As the elder seems to be busy with a consult, and sneaks back over to the other side of the shop to bid his brother, who also seems pretty busy, a goodbye before heading out.
10 minutes later, as he’s settling into his class he gets a text message with a simple ' Thank you Jimin-ah' That gives him a smile not even his shitty professor could diminish.
Yoongi, Jimin comes to find, is not one to be one upped when it comes to gestures. So the next time he comes into the shop, two days later there's a not so small gift for him at the front desk in the form of a new, and extremely comfortable rolling chair.
When he and Jungkook notice it Yoongi simply responds that he got a good deal, but Jimin can see the shy look the tattoo artist throws at him and he just knows.
Jin only confirms it later when he whispers in Jimin’s ear that Yoongi actually spent a good few hours looking for the right chair yesterday.
From there they start a little game of sorts. For the next couple weeks they go back and forth on sneaking each other little gifts here and there. From as little as a tangerine on a desk to a portrait slipped onto the chair seat
It's no wonder that eventually Namjoon starts to suspect something. Though he never outright asks Jimin what’s going on he does sometimes question how close Yoongi and Jimin have gotten in these past few months.
Yoongi knows he's going to have to talk about this to him at some point, at the very least before he gives Jimin the tattoo he wants. He thought about having Jimin talk to him first but he figures it might be easier to talk to him as the best friend instead of the little brother.
So one day, when Jimin is at dance class and Jungkook is absorbed in his homework at the front of the shop. He pulls Namjoon aside and asks the man to join him outside for a chat.
"Whats up?" Namjoon leans his tall frame against the exposed brick of the building in the alley.
Yoongi takes a deep breath "Would you give me permission to ask your brother out?"
Namjoon does not do a single thing that Yoongi expects him to do. For someone who presents himself as a clumsy protective older brother he's rather nonchalant about the question.
"Oh? You mean you haven't already? You'd think you've been dating for months with the way you two have been acting recently."
Yoongi struggles to fight his blush. And raises an eyebrow "Then you'd be okay with it? Us dating?"
The younger tattoo artist just shrugs "I trust you more than any other guy Jimin's ever been interested in. Besides, I can easily kick your ass hyung."
"Hey! Brat don't forget who employs you!" There's no bitterness behind Yoongi's words though.
"Hmm and you'll have one less employee if you don't ask my brother out in a timely manner. I can't stand watching you two flirt around if you’re not going to make it official."
"Uh, yeah. I've got a plan for that actually, but uh before that- has Jimin mentioned anything about me giving him a tattoo yet?"
"He- wait what!" The reaction to that is far more what Yoongi had expected because Namjoon knocks his head back into the brick wall so hard he nearly gave himself a concussion. "That kid is going to kill me, I swear."
"Ha-Ha I'm just gonna-"
"Nuh-uh what is he getting and where. I swear to god Yoongi you better not be giving him an ass tattoo because that's exactly something the little shit would do!"
"No, it’s nothing like that relax. I think you should talk to him about it though." Yoongi then escapes back into the shop and the safety of his office, so that Jimin can deal with this part of the mess.
That night after dinner Namjoon knocks on Jimin’s door, finding his younger brother absorbed in something on his phone. Probably one of those webnovels he's been reading lately, maybe that’s where he's been getting the inspiration to flirt with Yoongi.
"Can I talk to you?"
Jimin looks up from his phone and smiles "Of course hyung." He pats a spot on his bed for his brother to join him.
"How have you been?" Namjoon asks lamely, not really knowing how to start this conversation.
Jimin raises an eyebrow "Hyung, you see me every day?"
"Ugh yeah, sorry I'm not good at this."
"Good at what? I'm your brother you’re supposed to be able to talk to me about anything." Jimin's starting to wonder if everything’s alright, if maybe he missed something going on while he was enamored with Yoongi.
"About me is fine, that I can do. But this? This is about you." Namjoon sighs and lies back on the bed.
"About me?" Now Jimin's confused.He can aboslutely tell when his older brother gets frustrated because he always starts messing with his hair.
"Ah fuck it! I'm trying to say that if you want to date Yoongi you have my blessing." he takes a sigh of relief as if glad to have finally said the words out loud.
Jimin's eyes widen and he can feel his face turning red. "W-What?"
Namjoon snorts "Dude, you guys aren't subtle with all the flirting."
Now Jimin's sure he’s blushing "Oh."
"Though I'm surprised you didn't tell me you had feelings for my best friend. I could have helped out, told you what he likes or whatever." Both brothers laugh.
"Sorry, it kind of just happened."
Namjoon just sits up and shrugs "That's fine. I'm glad you've found someone to like that’s not an asshole. Cause if you ended up dating that Jeongin guy that came to the shop I was going to start picking your dates from then on."
At that Jimin lets out one of his special laughs, the ones only reserved for the people closest to him that take over his whole body and often leaning onto the person closest to him. Which is more often than not Namjoon.
"Don't worry I would never. He's actually not that bad but not my type at all."
"Hmm so your type is a tatted up grouch instead?"
Jimin giggles a bit picturing Yoongi "Maybe it is."
"I'm glad." Namjoon gives his brother a soft smile and then let it form into a more sadistic one."So what’s this I hear about him giving you a tattoo."
Immediately Jimin backs away from his brother "Well-uh."
Things don't change much after his conversation with Namjoon. Jimin and Yoongi continue to flirt the way they have been. Jimin focuses on preparing for finals.
Then all at once, they're over, he's free. His tattoo appointment is the day after his last final so rather than head to the shop after his last final, Jimin goes to treat himself to a bowl of ramen with Taehyung. He texts Yoongi to let him know that he'll see him the next day, not knowing he kind of already knew that because Yoongi asked Taehyung to keep him away from the shop.
So the next day when Jimin enters the shop just before his appointment he's surprised no one else is there. Not even Jungkook
"It’s a slow appointment day so I told everyone to take off the rest of the day. Unless that makes you uncomfortable?"
Jimin just shakes his head with a soft smile. "That's fine. Kinda makes this like our first date then huh?"
Yoongi almost chokes on the water he's drinking at Jimin's bluntness. "I guess you could say that."
"Since you went to the trouble of getting my brother’s permission and all." Jimin hums wondering if he should take off his shirt now or wait until Yoongi tells him too. In the end Jimin decides he wouldn't mind hearing those words from Yoongi again.
"I'm just getting the stencil ready, you can go ahead and take a seat for now."
Jimin’s already seen the final design, since Yoongi's been keeping him in the loop every step of the way, so he just sits back and tries to relax.
"Nervous?"
"A little, but less so knowing it’s you."
Yoongi smirks "I'm flattered."
"That was the point."
The elder just rolls his eyes at Jimin’s cockiness. The longer they flirt, the more bold he seems to get. Yoongi loves it.
"You know the drill, take off your shirt."
"Gladly!" Jimin would be lying if he said he didn't pump a little bit before coming. Who can blame him. His attractive, maybe boyfriend, would be spending a good hour and a half with his hands on Jimin's body. He should try to impress while he can.
"You know the more muscle you have, the more it hurts right?"
"Hmm, I guess you'll just have to take care of me then."
Yoong doesn't respond to that, just motions for Jimin to lay back on the chair so he can adjust it. "You're not allowed to look again until it's done." he says as he preps Jimin’s ribs with an antiseptic and numbing solution.
They talk while Yoongi works. Jimin tells him all about this novel he's been into and dance practices, Yoongi listens well. He makes comments as if he's genuinely interested in the things Jimin has to say. In turn Yoongi talks about what got him into this job, what he loves about it, his favorite things. While the elder is finishing up Jimin can't help but think it really is a date.
"Alright. It’s gonna be sore so I’ll help you stand to take a look before I wrap it up. You remember all the care instructions we went through right?"
Jimin rolls his eyes "Yes, yes I remember. If anything I'm sure you and Namjoon wont let me forget."
Yoongi's response is a simple smile while he hooks his hand under Jimin’s arm to help him up.
Looking at the tattoo in the mirror for the first time, Jimin felt a lot of emotions. The word that meant so much to him was now etched into his skin forever and it was beautiful. The word looked both exactly how he pictured and nothing like he pictured at the same time. He wanted to trace over it with his fingers, just to ensure it was real but the skin was still sensitive. So he settles for just following the lines of each letter with his eyes.
"Wow." it feels like the breath is gone from his lungs, he doesn't know what else to say. From the corner of his eye he can see Yoongi smiling smugly at Jimin's reaction. It's only when he gets to the last few letters, does he notice, there’s something under it.
Two words in the blue green color of the printed stencil they use that Jimin has to squint to make out, but when he does, he's not sure if he wants to laugh or cry. Because until the ‘ND’ of NEVERMIND are the simple words "Be Mine?"
In the end Jimin settles for laughing but it’s such a strong laugh it brings him nearly to tears, he's leaning on Yoongi now and the force is making his ribs hurt a bit but he can't stop.
When he finally catches his breath he looks up at the bashful tattoo artist. "Never in my life did I picture Min Yoongi being an absolute cheeseball."
"Never said I wasn't." Despite his cute appearance Yoongi's deep voice still sends shivers down his spine. "Your answer?"
Jimin just smiles and places his lips directly next to Yoongi."I thought the yes was a given." before kissing just the corner of Yoongi's mouth.
Yoongi still has a hold on his waist though. So the elder just pulls him back in for a real kiss. If Jimin thought that this was a great day before he got that tattoo, it got a million times better with this moment. He's a little dazed when Yoongi pulls away but the elder just looks into his eyes smugly.
"Let’s get you wrapped up, I've got dinner for two ready in my office."
"Is it too late to get the rest of it tattooed on me? I wouldn’t mind having your mark on me for the rest of me life"
Yoongi pulls a face "I am not actually tattooing that on your body. At least not until we're, like, married or something."
Jimin just giggles as he watches Yoongi start wrapping his ribs in bandages and plastic. "Sounds like a promise to me." From where he's sitting he can see the red on Yoongi's ears when he responds.
"I guess it is."