Chapter Text
Yoongi immediately knows something is amiss.
He had spent years of his life in this place, countless hours slaving, cooking, and working. He had built this place from the ground up, after his failed attempt at college.
His noodle shop was nestled in one of the lower parts of Seoul, direct opposite of the fancy business district with skyscrapers and subway lines, but he had found his clientele here, he had found that the people who live out here, even if it is the lowest income area of Seoul, loved to splurge what little money they had on food. Good food.
His shop was successful if he did say so himself. He made enough to pay for the rent on the building, the ingredients and supplies he needed for his menu and enough to afford to hire three employees to help with whatever he needed.
His shop was his passion, his every waking moment for the past few years, so now that he stood outside in the back of the restaurant, hand gripping a garbage bag full of waste, ready to chuck it into the dark green dumpster, he knew something wasn’t right.
For one, there was garbage scattered on the ground, and Taehyung was not an employee that would skip out on cleaning up the back area after closing the night before.
Two, there was a scent in the air, almost undetectable due to the garbage bins, but it was a scent that was undeniably not garbage, even if it was hard to decipher.
Three, the gate to the alley way wasn’t bolted shut like it should be. Sure, the bolt was hitched closed, but it was closed with the arm of the bolt facing upwards, like it had been locked from the opposite side of the gate.
Yoongi stood there, gripping the garbage bag staring, wondering just what in the hell is getting into his garbage bins at night and scattering all this mess everywhere.
He thought maybe it was a raccoon, maybe a cat but the gate was high enough that no small animal could get through… and there was also that distinctive other scent.
He was hyper fixated in the back of the shop, looking around and thinking of all the things that could have happened to cause all this mess.
He did that lately, he zoned out on things that were usually nothing of consequence, immersed himself into something that would help his mind think of anything but him.
But whenever Yoongi hyper fixated, whenever he tried to consume his mind with something, it always popped into his mind why he was doing it, which only brought the flood of memories.
He had been mated three years ago, to the omega of his dreams he thought. A beautiful, intelligent, and lovely boy he met during his first year at college. The two had ended up being in the same business classes, ended up study partners and Yoongi was so enticed and fixated by the omegas scent and smile he fell head over heels in love with him in a manner of hours.
It was a whirlwind, it was fast and all consuming, the way Yoongi had fallen for Jimin. Yoongi had waited months to gather the courage to engage a courtship, and when he finally did, Jimin had all but laughed and asked What took you so long?
Jimin had kissed him for the first time and Yoongi swore he saw fireworks and heard band music. Jimin’s laughter encircling him in a cocoon along with aloe and peony scents.
That laughter was contagious, it filled the very brim of Yoongi’s heart whenever he heard it. He could hear it in his mind right now, standing outside the noodle shop, he could hear the high-pitched giggle, see Jimin’s small hand covering his mouth as he laughed, covering the crooked tooth that the omega thought was unsightly, but Yoongi adored.
Yoongi had courted Jimin for four years before they decided to mate, to make it official, to wear each other’s mark.
A mark that was now itching and irritated on Yoongi’s neck.
Yoongi shook his head, flung the garbage bag he was holding into the dumpster and decided to walk back inside. Lunch rush would be soon and Seokjin and Hoseok were the only other employee’s here today, Taehyung had the day off, so Yoongi was needed to be a second cook to get through the rush.
“Something is getting into our garbage at night.” Yoongi said as he walked through the back door into the kitchen and saw Seokjin collecting a few plates of tuna rice balls that Hoseok had prepared.
“Oh?” Seokjin says without looking up, grabbing the plates to take out to the customers who ordered it.
“I noticed that this morning. When I went out back to smoke there was trash every where.” Hoseok mutters from his place at the counter, chopping vegetables in quick succession.
“I thought you quit smoking?” Yoongi huffed as he washed his hands and grabbed a pair of gloves so he could start helping Hoseok with the orders.
“Well, I’m not smoking right now, so let’s just say I did quit.” Hoseok shrugs.
“Does Taehyung know?” Yoongi asks as he takes a place beside Hoseok to grab the chopped vegetables and add them to the boiling pot on the stove, turning the gas down to let it simmer.
“If he does, he hasn’t complained. It would be kind of hard to hide it from him. He can smell scents from miles away.”
“That’s unlike him. He ribbed you for months to quit smoking. He was so happy when you did.”
“Yeah well, I don’t smoke at home anymore, so I guess he’s just happy the smell isn’t in his nest.”
“Yah!” Seokjin yells from the door that leads to the dining area. “Some guy in a suit wants the owner.”
Yoongi turns his head to Seokjin who disappears through the door to help customers be seated and have their orders taken.
“Uh oh. Guy in a suit, huh?” Hoseok sing songs as he continues to chop vegetables and moves around Yoongi to place them in the pot.
“Shit.” Yoongi remembers, “It’s the fucking health department. It’s our quarterly audit. I fucking forgot that was coming up.”
Yoongi hurriedly takes off the gloves he was wearing and makes his way to the health inspector. If there was one thing Yoongi hated most in this world… it was government inspectors.
—
“This won’t do at all.” The inspector tsks as they stand outside at the garbage bins, scribbling things down in his notepad.
Yoongi curses himself mentally that he didn’t clean up the mess earlier when he found it, too concerned with the impending lunch rush (which Hoseok was masterfully surviving on his own).
“Violation 734.890: unkempt compost. Violation 734.898: litter at waste area. Those are some major points, Min.”
Yoongi hated this guy. For some reason, this alpha was always the one to complete the health inspection on his restaurant even though Yoongi knows very well that a beta woman is assigned this area.
“Yeah uh, I think an animal is getting into it at night or something. I’ll have to set up traps.”
“Hm. Violation 634.832: infestation of unknown animals.” The inspector hums as he jots the note down into his notepad.
Yoongi rolls his eyes.
“Look, it just happened last night. We’ll get it cleaned up. Is there anyway you can let this one slide?” Yoongi asks.
The inspector turns to him, narrows his eyes as his glasses fall down the bridge of his nose.
“Violation 512.349: attempted bribery of health official.” The alpha notes.
“You can’t write that! I didn’t bribe you!”
“Violation 982.734: non-compliance with health— “
“Ok, ok! I get it! All right? I’ll have this place cleaned up. I’ll set traps. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“I’ll give you one grace period. You have two weeks to clean up this mess, and to also fix the leaking condensation pipes in your freezer. I’ll be back in two weeks to give you a final score, and I won’t be so forgiving then. I can and will shut you down, Min.” The alpha clicks his pen and shoves it in his shirt pocket. Yoongi mentally wishes the ink would leak through and leave a nasty stain all over him.
“Great! Two weeks, I got you. Trust me, everything will be perfect then.”
The alpha glares at Yoongi one last time and takes his leave, walking through the back entrance to the kitchen and huffing at Hoseok on his way out.
“God, why do government slaves take their shit so seriously? Like, what in the hell is that guys problem?” Yoongi complains as he enters the kitchen, seeing Hoseok dance around the counter towards the stove.
“Aish, you don’t remember him?” Hoseok says as he stirs some noodles then slides to the small refrigerator to the side to grab more ingredients.
“Remember him? From where?” Yoongi pulls up a chair to the counter while watching Hoseok, the lunch rush long over.
“He was in the same lecture as Jiminie, had the fattest crush on him. Tried to court him, but you had beaten him to the punch.” Hoseok shook a bottle of sesame oil, sat it on the counter and started to turn the gas on for the stove to fry a few strips of beef.
“What?” Yoongi thinks back, not being able to remember a time of ever meeting the alpha inspector before. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Nope.” Hoseok says with a pop of his lips. “Lee Dayhun, alpha, fat crush on Jimin. That dipshit spent two million won on a collar to give to Jimin only for you to swoop in and steal him away.”
“Yeah, well, if I’d known then what I know now.” Yoongi rolls his eyes, leans back in the chair, and crosses his arms.
“Ah, hyung, you know the rules.” Hoseok reprimands politely, only a narrowing of his eyes towards Yoongi as he prattles around the kitchen.
“Yeah, yeah. No shit talk.” Yoongi waves him off.
“Have you talked to him? Jimin?” Hoseok asks not looking his direction.
“A month ago. He’s off in Italy or fucking France, I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.”
“Is he still— “
“Can we talk about something else? Like how in the hell am I going to catch whatever the fuck is going through our garbage bins at night? I can’t afford another violation.”
Hoseok nods his head and purses his lips in an apology.
Jimin is very much a no-go area for Yoongi. Even if they are all friends. All five of them, Seokjin, Hoseok, himself, Taehyung and Jimin. It’s a friend circle that has (up until recently) never wavered since their first year of college together.
With Jimin and Yoongi’s… predicament, it has created a rift between the five that causes everyone to walk on eggshells.
Yoongi knows they all still speak to Jimin, talk to him almost every day, but they try not to reference the other in Yoongi’s presence. It wasn’t until recently that Hoseok had had enough of dancing around the topic that he finally started to bring up the omega in casual conversation. Yoongi usually just walked away when the subject of Jimin was brought up, until one-night Yoongi showed up at 3am at Hoseok and Taehyung’s apartment drunk and crying asking if they’d spoken to Jimin recently.
Yoongi spent the night there, between Hoseok and Taehyung, bawling his eyes out and slurring his alcohol fueled words, crying over his mate. The two friends tried their best to comfort him, but it was hard since they were all friends, and that Yoongi had so much anger and sadness and tried to blame it all on Jimin but the other two wouldn’t allow it.
Trying to stay impartial when two of your best friends have a falling out was an incredibly difficult feat, Yoongi understood that. So, they had a rule: you can vent, and you can cry but there is absolutely no shit talking the other person.
Yoongi was thankful he still had his friends, even if he couldn’t really talk to them about his feelings, he didn’t feel much like talking anyway. He felt better bottling it all up inside and forgetting anything and everything about Park Jimin. Until he went home at night and was surrounded by anything and everything Park Jimin that Yoongi had refused to get rid of. He still slept in the omegas nest, keeping it just how Jimin had left it.
“We could bolt the bins shut. Have a key to unlock it when we take the trash out.” Hoseok suggested.
“Yeah but pick up is at 2am on Monday. Who is going to come up here to unlock it?”
“Good point.” Hoseok nods as he flips the beef, and it sizzles and pops in the pan.
Yoongi sighs as he racks his brain to figure out a solution.
“I guess I can stay here one night to figure out just what in the fuck we are dealing with. Try to catch it so I can figure out how to stop it. See how it’s getting in through the gate.”
“Owner’s duties, I don’t envy you.” Hoseok laughs.
“Aish.” Yoongi picks up a pen and hurdles it out towards the kitchen, upset he has to spend his down time at the restaurant on some animal steak out.
—
Yoongi finds himself in the dead of night outside the restaurant hiding behind a compost barrel keeping watch on his garbage bins. The air is cold, much colder than it should be on a summer night.
He’s groaning to himself, having spent hours in the same position behind the barrel, baseball bat at his side. His feet hurt, his shins hurt, his thighs hurt.
And, ok, maybe he’s being a little dramatic, it’s only about 10pm. Two hours after closing when he finally hears something unlock the latch to the gate and slowly lock it back. Yoongi can’t see from where he is, doesn’t want to scare off whatever it is just yet, until he can get a good look.
He hears a scuttering towards the bin, the lid of the garbage container slowly creaking open. Yoongi feels excited almost, he will finally see just what the fuck is messing up his shit.
He waits a few seconds, until he hears the lid of the bin fully open up and sling to the other side. He hears whatever it is rustle through the garbage, almost like it’s climbing in the bin.
He slowly peaks out, the light of the lamp post out back barely giving him enough light to see clearly. Whatever it is is in the large garbage bin rustling around. He curses himself and thinks he should have brought a flashlight.
He grips the baseball bat and slowly slinks himself out from his hiding spot. Careful not to make any sudden movements or noise. He needs a good look at this thing to figure out how to get rid of it.
It sounds… big. Whatever it is, it isn’t a cat or a rat. Maybe a dog? Like a big dog, a golden retriever or some shit.
The rustling of waste and paper continues as Yoongi creeps forward.
Suddenly something stands up in the bin, trying to climb out.
Yoongi sees what looks like… a hand?
Is this, a human? Digging in his garbage?
“Hey! Hey!” Yoongi shouts to the figure who immediately freezes at the sound of his voice.
Then, in a scurry, the figure hops from the garbage bin, it’s whole body nearly falling to the ground as it scuffles to run in a panic.
Yoongi could see now, even with the bare lighting from the lamp post that the figure was a human, a young boy. It shook him, that a human was digging into filth in the dark of night.
The boy lifts his body hurriedly, obviously startled by Yoongi’s presence and rushes towards the gate, trying to undo the latch to escape but he can’t get the grip on the bolt in his panic, it’s always been a little rusted, a little too sticky to turn and pull out sometimes. It’s enough time for Yoongi to hurry and approach him.
“Hey,” Yoongi says softer this time, now knowing before that what had been going through his garbage and making a mess was human.
The boy turns from the gate with wide eyes, panic etched on every curve of his face. He still fumbles with the gate trying to get the bolt to unlatch, cursing under his breath when he can’t seem to get his fingers to work.
“Hey, it’s… it’s ok.” Yoongi says stopping a few feet from the boy and setting down the bat, showing his hands towards the boy to let him know he means no harm.
The boy stops fiddling with the latch, stares daggers into Yoongi like he’s trying to see if he could take him in a fight. Sizing him up.
Yoongi very much doubts the boy could hold his ground. He was thin, frail even. His clothes were torn on his body and the smell of frightened pheromones, a potent sickly-sweet smell, was cluttering the air between them.
Omega. Yoongi noticed. What in the hell was a young omega doing going through the trash?
“Hey, man, it’s ok just… what are you doing out here?”
The boy doesn’t answer, only continues to stare at Yoongi, hand still on the latch of the gate. Yoongi could see his Adam’s Apple bob in his throat, his skin was dirty, his hair was a mess of curls matted around his face.
Yoongi wants to approach closer, wants to see him more clearly, but he is afraid he would only scare him more.
“It’s ok, I don’t— I don’t mind you being here, but can you tell me why you’re here? Do you— do you need something to eat?”
The boy shivers then when the wind blows, still not speaking or acknowledging Yoongi’s questions.
“Do you want to come inside? I have some leftovers from the days menu, you can help yourself.” Yoongi knows it isn’t ideal to invite some strange homeless boy into his restaurant, when he is here alone, but the frail look of the boy’s face clenches Yoongi’s heart, the wide doe eyes filled with fear staring directly at him has him wanting to reach out and protect whoever this kid is. “I swear, I won’t hurt you. Or I could— I could bring it to you, you can stay out here, and I’ll go back inside. I just— if you need something to eat, let me help you.”
The boy still stares at him, shivering in the cold. The light of the lamp post casts shadows on his face that make him appear young and hollow, but Yoongi isn’t sure if that’s a trick of the light or a reflection on how frail the boy actually is.
“I don’t have any money.” The boy croaks out, voice hoarse and meek.
“I’m not worried about money. It’s on the house.” Yoongi tries his best to release calming pheromones, but he’s never been the best at it. He has problems controlling his scent, making it act on his will.
Thankfully, right now, his body chooses to listen to him, and he releases a calm sandalwood in the air.
“I don’t need your pity.” The boy coughs.
“I’m— ok, you won’t get it. I just want to give you a meal.”
“Why?” The boy seems to be growing agitated, hand still on the bolt of the gate.
“Why not?”
“Are you going to hurt me?”
“Would you believe me if I said no?”
The boy shakes his head.
“I promise, I’m not going to hurt you.”
“You’re an alpha.” The boy states like it’s an accusation.
“I am.” Yoongi says, unsure why there was such a bitter tone to the boy when he stated Yoongi’s status. Perhaps he had been misused by alphas before, life on the streets isn’t easy, especially for omegas. “But I’m— I’m mated.” Yoongi begrudgingly admits as his chest clenches at the thought, he pulls down the collar of his turtleneck, revealing his mating mark to show to the boy. “I won’t hurt you. It’s cold, just come inside for a hot meal. Do you like japchae?”
The boy fidgets, his feet and stomach wanting to go towards the shop but his mind obviously wanting to flee. He looks towards the alley on the other side of the gate, then back at Yoongi, sizes him up again and nods his head tentatively.
“Ok, come on, come inside.” Yoongi motions for the boy to follow him, turning around and showing his back to show him that he means no harm.
An alpha showing their back to an unknown person is a sign of trust, knowing that it makes them vulnerable to attack.
Yoongi makes his way back inside the shop, he hears the scrapping of the boys shoes a few feet behind him.
He directs the boy through the kitchen and to the dining area, letting him sit in a booth next to the front door should the boy wish to flee.
“I’m just going to go to the kitchen and get some food. You said you liked japchae? I’ll get that, I have plenty of that left.”
The boy nods his head as he sits in the booth, the sleeves of his ripped sweater pulled tightly over his hands. His eyes don’t leave Yoongi. Yoongi can feel his stare on him all the way until he enters the door into the kitchen.
When Yoongi returns he has two plates of food. Some gyeranjjim and rice, and the japchae he had left over. He also brought a few pieces of lamb skewers because the boy looked desperately in need of protein.
“Here you go. Min House specialty.” Yoongi says as he slides the dishes off his hands and onto the table. “I’m Min Yoongi, by the way. I own this shop. I don’t think I introduced myself yet.” Yoongi could almost see the boy salivate when he looked at the plates placed in front of him.
The boy swallows harshly, picks up the chopsticks trying to break them, but his strength isn’t in it.
“Here, let me.” Yoongi reaches his hand out, not too close, he doesn’t want to scare the boy anymore than he probably already has.
The boy looks up with a questioning gaze, then notices Yoongi motion toward his chopsticks. He hands them to Yoongi and Yoongi breaks them apart, handing them back, making sure not to make skin contact with him.
The boy digs in and eats almost ruthlessly. He scarfs the food down, his eyebrows furrowing as he looks almost angry.
“Are you upset at the gyeranjjim? Do you not like it?” Yoongi asks with a light laugh.
“No, I’m— it’s amazing. Sorry, I look mad when I eat if the food is good.”
It’s the most the boy has spoken. An apology.
“Ah, well I then I’ll take that pissed off face of yours as a compliment. Do you mind if I sit here?” Yoongi gestures towards the seat across the table. The boy looks apprehensive. “I don’t have to, but I’ve been on my feet working all day so it would be nice to sit for a second.”
The boy nods and digs back into the food. Plucking a skewer into his mouth and slurping off the meat.
“What’s your name?” Yoongi asks as he sits down across from him, watching him eat like he hasn’t eaten in days. Yoongi figures maybe he hasn’t.
“I’m— Jungkook.” The boy whispers out.
“Jungkook, that’s a nice name.” Yoongi hums. “So, can you tell me why you have been digging in my trash bins at night and making a mess, Jungkook?”
Jungkook stops eating abruptly, and his ears redden.
“Oh, no,” Yoongi protests, “no it’s ok, it’s fine, I just— it’s kind of an odd situation to come across. The health inspector came today and handed me my ass for it.” Yoongi chuckles, trying to keep the situation light but still call it for exactly what it was.
“I was— I was hungry.” Jungkook says, looking every bit embarrassed.
“Well, no more of that, ok? You can always come in after closing and I can give you the leftovers we have. No more making a mess outside. It’s a bitch to clean up.” Yoongi laughs again, trying to be lighthearted.
When Jungkook tenses, it doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Don’t— can you, not say that word?” Jungkook looks up at him, wide eyes still glossy in the light. For all his frailty, his eyes were still shining.
“What word?” Yoongi questions as Jungkook looks to be growing more uncomfortable.
“The— the b word. Please? I’m sorry it’s just— I don’t like it and it— “
“Hey, yeah sure, I’m sorry. I won’t say it anymore. I’m sorry. It’s just, habit, I guess. I curse a lot. My mate always told me I had the worst choice of vocabulary.”
“Your mate… where are they?” Jungkook asks.
Yoongi pauses, unsure how much information he wants to delve into.
“He— he’s away on business.” Yoongi decides to say. Technically, that was true.
Jungkook only nods and continues eating.
“How old are you?” Yoongi asks, trying to get any information he can out of the boy, trying to see if he can maybe get a few details on if he has a home, if he’s a runaway or was abandoned.
“Nineteen.” Jungkook says without looking up from his plate.
Nineteen. Barely an adult. Yoongi wonders what situation or circumstances had led this kid to where he is now.
“Do you— do you have a place to stay?”
Jungkook looks up, eyes still wide. Yoongi himself is astounded by his question, knowing that if Jungkook says ‘no’ he will offer his spare bedroom. It’s an idiotic careless thing to do, offer a stranger a room in your home but, well, Yoongi could use for a bit of company, and something of a distraction. Maybe helping Jungkook with whatever the omega has going on will help keep his mind off Jimin and, if Jungkook turns out to be some crazed serial murderer then well, what does Yoongi really got going for him now anyway?
“I— I stay a few blocks from here.” Jungkook says without detail.
“In a home? A motel? Where?”
“Under the I57 bypass.”
Yoongi widens his eyes. So, the boy truly is homeless.
“Look, this is maybe a little crazy but… well there is supposed to be a typhoon coming in a few days and... if you need a place to stay or like, I don’t know, just a shower or something, I have a spare room. Just for a few days.”
“I couldn’t— you don’t even know me.”
“You’re an omega out on the streets eating shit out of my garbage bin. I couldn’t on good conscience just let you live under a bypass during a typhoon.”
“I’m not going to have sex with you.” Jungkook says sternly.
“What? No, no, no. That’s not what I— I’m just trying to help you and I wouldn’t— no, no.” Yoongi stammers, taken aback. “I’m mated, I told you that.”
Jungkook narrows his eyes, Yoongi almost wants to scoff at the situation. Here he was being the best person he knows how to be, offering to help a young homeless person out and they were accusing him of… whatever the hell he was accusing him of.
“Being mated doesn’t matter.” Jungkook says as he continues to push his chopsticks around the plate, picking up some rice and putting it into his mouth.
“Hey, if you don’t want any help then sure, that’s fine. But when you’re drowning under a bypass in the next day or so don’t curse me.”
Jungkook fidgets, looks as if he is mulling over things in his head.
“Is there really a typhoon?” He asks.
Yoongi pulls out his phone and shows him the weather app. It shows specifically a typhoon headed for Seoul. Jungkook reads the report and slowly nods to himself.
“So, you’ll let me stay with you?” Jungkook asks.
“Yeah, if you want. Just until the storm is over.”
“But… why?”
Yoongi shrugs.
“I guess I just… I don’t know. My life is kind of shit right now, so if helping someone else gives me good karma then… great.”
Jungkook still looks nothing but apprehensive. He fiddles with the chop sticks in his hands and looks out the window.
The street is dark, not many people are out this late at night. The neighborhood is safe, but it’s still not usual for businesses to be open past 10pm.
“Ok.” Jungkook says, still looking out the window.
“All right. Cool.” Yoongi says, almost to himself, surprised that he was offering this stranger a place to stay, probably against his better judgement. “Just uh, finish up and we can clean up and head out.”
“Clean up? You’re gonna make me work?” Jungkook says with a pout.
It’s the most personality Yoongi has seen from him so far. The pouty look on his face, but a slight quirk of his brow.
“I’m feeding you and giving you a place to sleep. Washing a few dishes won’t hurt you.” Yoongi laughs as he takes the empty plates from the table and nods towards the kitchen. Signaling Jungkook to follow him.
—
The drive to Yoongi’s apartment was… awkward.
Jungkook sat in the passenger’s seat silently the entire way. Yoongi had tried to make conversation, but the omega was still skittish and only gave one-word responses.
Yoongi didn’t want to delve into the boys back story, not tonight. Jungkook looked afraid and stressed enough as it is.
On the way, Yoongi agreed with himself that the first thing they were going to do when they get to the apartment is make sure Jungkook takes a shower. A long shower.
Yoongi didn’t want to say anything negative and hurt Jungkook’s feelings, but the boy stunk. It was filling Yoongi’s nose and making him queasy.
When they entered the apartment Jungkook looked in awe.
Truthfully, his apartment wasn’t much. Jimin had picked it out because it was what they could afford at the time, and it had a reading nook with a window out looking the city. From the window you could see down into the upper part of Seoul and all the skyscrapers and lights.
“So, uh, why don’t we get you a shower, huh? I can give you some clothes.”
Jungkook nods to him and follows him down the hallway. Yoongi points out the different rooms to him along the way. His bedroom and the spare bedroom Jungkook will be sleeping in.
Yoongi gives him directions for the shower, tells him to help himself to any of the shampoo and conditioners in there. Most of them are Jimin’s anyway. Who isn’t coming back anytime soon so he won’t be needing them.
Yoongi leaves the omega to shower after handing him a clean towel. He lets Jungkook know he will leave a fresh pair of sleepwear right outside the door (a pair of Jimin’s because Yoongi assumes that Jungkook would feel very uncomfortable wearing something that has Yoongi’s scent clinging to it) and that he will be in the living room until the omega is finished showering. He doesn’t want Jungkook to feel any more uncomfortable being alone in a house with an alpha than he already may be.
Jungkook showers for a while. Yoongi is thankful, he knows how good a hot shower can feel after a long day. He supposes Jungkook has had a lot of long days.
After what seems like forever Yoongi can hear the shower water turn off and the bathroom door click open soon after.
It takes a good fifteen minutes or so but soon Jungkook is stepping out of the hallway and Yoongi is hit with the smell of honeycomb, along with an underlying scent of… sweet milk?
Yoongi’s eyes widen as Jungkook approaches timidly.
Jungkook must sense Yoongi’s sudden apprehension and confusion of his scent because he tenses at the entrance to the living room and pauses, eyes casted downwards.
Yoongi gets up from where he was seated at the recliner, steps forward two steps just to make sure his nose isn’t playing tricks on him.
It isn’t. It’s undeniable that there is a sweet milky scent in the air and it’s coming from the omega in his hallway.
“Are you… wait… are you pregnant?” Yoongi asks shocked.
The scent surrounding Jungkook is a dead give away, but Yoongi couldn’t stop himself from asking.
Jungkook keeps his head down, twists his fingers in his hands. His ears redden, his face goes flush.
Embarrassed. Yoongi thinks. He’s embarrassed.
“I just— it’s ok if you are but… I just— have you— have you been to a doctor?”
Jungkook shakes his head no, tries to fold into himself to make himself look smaller.
Yoongi’s thoughts scatter, jumbling through his head at a hundred miles a minute. There is a homeless pregnant omega in his home, one who hasn’t even been to a doctor, one who is unmated, one who is only nineteen.
Immediately Yoongi thinks of all the scenarios that could have led Jungkook to where he is right now. Homeless and pregnant.
Was he abused? Did his parents kick him out? Did he runaway? Was he scared to tell someone?
Tears well up in Jungkook’s eyes as he swallows harshly, clearing his throat.
“I’m— I’m sorry I didn’t say anything, but I promise that I’ll just be here until the storm is over— you don’t have to— to worry about anything, I’ll leave as soon as the storm passes.”
Yoongi flops back onto his chair unceremoniously. Rubs his face in his hands. Astounded at the predicament.
There is no possible way Yoongi could just sit by and let a nineteen-year-old pregnant omega live on the streets. No way. His conscience won’t allow that. Jimin always did tell him that he had too big of a soft spot for people in need, that one day it will come back to bite him in the ass, but this was just a young kid, scared and alone and homeless and pregnant.
“Do you— do you know what you’re going to do? How far along you are?”
Jungkook steps into the room and sits on the couch, curls into himself. Hugs his legs to his chest and rests his head on his knees, not looking at Yoongi.
“I haven’t thought about what to do. I don’t— I don’t know how far along I am. I only realized it a little over a month or so ago.”
“Do you know who the alpha is?” Yoongi asks gently.
Jungkook looks at him then, tears still welling on his lashes, not dripping yet. Yoongi can see Jungkook swallow harshly again.
“That doesn’t… they don’t matter. I’m never going to see them again.” Jungkook clenches his arms around his legs tighter.
“Jungkook,” Yoongi says, still oh so gently. He can’t imagine the fear that Jungkook is feeling right now. “Did someone… hurt you?”
The tears pooling in Jungkook’s eyes fall then, big fat drops rain from his bright eyes. Yoongi feels something pull at him, to console the omega, but he wouldn’t dare touch Jungkook, not now, not when he knows Jungkook doesn’t trust him, not when he assumes that Jungkook might have experienced something traumatic.
Jungkook shakes his head no, then yes but, then no again as his tears fall. He cries silently. Only sniffling a little.
“Ok, hey? It’s ok, yeah? You’re safe now.” Yoongi tries to reassure him. “We can get you to a doctor and we can— we can figure out all your options, huh? Does that sound ok? And you can— you can stay here until you figure out what it is you want to do, ok?”
Jungkook wipes his face with the sleeves of Jimin’s shirt.
“Why are you… why are you being so nice?” Jungkook asks, still wiping the falling tears. “Won’t your mate be upset there is another omega in your house?”
Yoongi grimaces then. He wants Jungkook to trust him, needs it almost, so he can help him. If he doesn’t help Jungkook he knows anxiety will eat him alive. He will spend the rest of his life wondering and worried over him. It’s just the type of person he is.
Trust goes both ways, Yoongi thinks. He needs to open himself up to Jungkook if he wants Jungkook to open up to him.
“My mate is… he won’t be home for a while.”
Jungkook looks up at him, a confused look on his face.
Yoongi sighs, gets himself ready to speak about the unmentionable.
“My mate, Jimin, he— he fell in love with someone else. He left. He didn’t like— it wasn’t anything bad, well, not really. He didn’t cheat on me, I guess.” Yoongi chuckles, repeating what Jimin had adamantly told him the night everything went wrong. “He just— he wanted to separate for a while, figure everything out but… I don’t think— I don’t think he’s coming back.”
Jungkook looks at Yoongi with pity and it’s Yoongi’s turn to hold back tears. He refuses to cry over Jimin any longer.
Yoongi’s wolf feels dead inside his body. It’s been months since his mate left. He’s been through the withdrawals of being away from him, and now he’s just… here. Surviving. Doesn’t feel the faintest connection to Jimin through his wolf anymore. It burns a void inside him Yoongi is almost positive nothing can fill. But he refuses to cry, won’t let himself breakdown like he did that night when he ended up at Hoseok and Taehyung’s apartment. Not again.
“I’m—that’s, that’s awful. I’m sorry.” Jungkook says as he wipes the last remaining tears on his face.
Yoongi shrugs.
“So, I guess, I mean… like I said, I’m at a shitty point in my life. If I can help someone else out, it will make me feel, I don’t know, useful, I guess. Purposeful.”
“So, like… you want to help me, so you can feel better about yourself?” Jungkook asks, but not accusingly.
Yoongi nods his head, because honestly, Jungkook is right, at least halfway.
“And because you obviously need some help. I would still help you if my life wasn’t shit.”
“Can I… repay you… in some way? I can bus tables at your restaurant or something. I don’t like— I don’t like taking advantage of people.”
“Sure. That is actually a great idea. You can meet the others who work there. They’re my friends. They’re great people. You look like you could use some good people in your life.”
Yoongi smiles at Jungkook, who tentatively smiles back, but the smile fades quickly.
Jungkook lets go of his legs and stretches them out on the couch. He yawns loudly and then places his hands on his stomach. On the pup that is nestled inside.
Yoongi once again thinks about how insane all of this is. A pregnant omega staying in his home. Jimin would absolutely freak— Yoongi stops himself. It doesn’t matter what Jimin would think. Jimin left. Jimin is in France or Italy with—
“Ahjussi, I’m— I’m really tired. Is there a place I can sleep? Or is this couch ok?” Jungkook asks, pulling Yoongi from his torment.
“Ahjussi?” Yoongi in surprise. “Wow, that makes me feel so fucking old. Thanks.”
Jungkook giggles, the first beautiful sound that’s come from him all evening. It momentarily stuns Yoongi when it happens. The boy’s cheeks rise up and his nose scrunches. His front teeth poke out like a bunny rabbit.
“Well, I don’t know how old you are. I don’t know what to call you.”
“I’m only twenty-seven. I’m not old enough to be called ahjussi. Just call me Yoongi or hyung it doesn’t matter. Most people just call me asshole. Sometimes Seokjin hyung calls me shitface but he has special privileges.”
Jungkook’s eyes go wide.
“Can I call you hyung? I’ve never— I’ve never had a hyung before.”
“Sure, of course. I can be your first hyung.” Yoongi smiles. Jungkook’s smile follows soon after.
—
Yoongi shows Jungkook to the spare bedroom. It isn’t much, but Yoongi always made it a point to keep it clean.
Usually Taehyung, Hoseok or Seokjin crashed here, whenever they were too drunk to make it home or whenever they had a fight with their significant other and needed space to get away.
Yoongi actually slept here a few months ago, when he couldn’t bare to sleep in Jimin’s nest after he left. It wasn’t until he was so deep in withdrawal from being away from his mate did he crawl into his own bed that still had Jimin’s scent all around it. He’s been sleeping there with the ghost of Jimin ever since.
“I just washed the sheets and blankets a few days ago… I don’t think it has scent on it, so it shouldn’t be much of a bother.” Yoongi says as Jungkook walks into the room, eyes wide and mouth open in an ‘o’ shape. Seemingly mesmerized by the small room.
Yoongi thought it odd how in awe Jungkook looked as he paced the room, looking at the bed and then at the small dresser towards the side. There wasn’t much in this room, no real decoration or personal touch. Then Yoongi thinks that it’s quite possible Jungkook may have never had a room to himself before, which makes the omegas wonderment more endearing.
“You can uh… arrange anything how you like it. I know that— I know that omegas need to nest and feel comfortable so, just do anything you need. If you need help moving something just let me know…” Yoongi rambles, standing awkwardly in the doorway scratching the back of his neck.
Jungkook sits on the bed, bouncing up and down a few times. A small smile glides onto his face as he looks at Yoongi.
Yoongi once again feels a pull in his chest, he’s not sure where it’s coming from, he hasn’t felt his wolf in months, so he knows it’s not them. Maybe he just feels really nice helping this boy out. Maybe this is exactly what he needed to get out of the horrible mindset and the loneliness he’s been dumped into.
“This is great, hyung. Thank you.”
Yoongi nods and purses his lips, embarrassed. Not really sure how to accept gratitude.
“So, I guess I’ll leave you to it. My room is right across the hall. If you need something just help yourself or knock on my door. Tomorrow you can go to the restaurant with me and then we can find you a doctor or something, so long as the typhoon doesn’t blow us all away.”
Jungkook nods, still sitting on the bed, running his hand along the blankets.
“All right so uh, yeah, so, I’ll just— I’ll just be in my room. And if you’re going to like, I don’t know, murder me or something cause you’re some crazed serial killer then just do it in my sleep please? I don’t want to be awake for that.”
Jungkook giggles again, brings his hand up to cover his mouth and the gesture reminds Yoongi so much of Jimin it almost makes his heart stop.
“I’m not a serial killer hyung, I promise.” Jungkook says through his laughs.
“Good. That’s good. Uh, goodnight? Yeah, goodnight Jungkook.”
“Goodnight, hyung.”
Yoongi gives Jungkook an awkward smile and exits the room, closing the door behind him.
As soon as he closes the door, he can hear Jungkook rustling with the blankets and pillows on the bed.
He’s nesting. Yoongi acknowledges to himself, and it gives Yoongi a feeling of fondness. Makes him feel good. He’s helped this poor omega who must have felt so scared and alone on the streets. Jungkook is now safe and nesting in Yoongi’s spare bedroom.
As Yoongi makes it to his room and peels his clothes off to climb in bed he thinks of how awful it must have been for Jungkook living on the street under a bypass.
Yoongi is well aware of how instinctual it is for omegas to nest, especially if they’re pregnant. Jungkook must not have been able to do any of that. He must have been so frustrated and upset but now he’s nesting away in Yoongi’s spare bedroom.
Yoongi falls asleep almost right away, not even once pushing his face into Jimin’s pillow and inhaling the scent. It’s the first night in months he sleeps almost peacefully.