Work Text:
the request.
Jimin slips into the store just as the last customer is leaving, so the creak of the door doesn’t betray him.
He’s finally made it back.
The decor is unchanged like a single day hasn’t gone by—nine months is not that much, in the grand scheme of things, but Jimin feels like it’s been years. The chairs sit mismatched and scattered all over, the music playing lightly over the speaker is from Jungkook’s favourite lounge playlist—and Jungkook himself, now, as he hums gently, thinking he’s alone.
He’s got his back to Jimin, hair falling heavy and slightly unkempt, apron put on just a bit crooked. Jimin smiles just to see him.
This is perfect. This is just like he planned as he watched the fields give way to scattered houses outside the train window—a real surprise.
He waits for Jungkook to put down the tray filled with empty mugs on the bar and then takes a running start and lunges, covering Jungkook’s eyes with his hands. He almost loses his balance, but somehow manages to stay upright on his tiptoes.
Jungkook startles. “What—who is it?”
Jimin bites his lip to keep from laughing. That would be too easy.
Jungkook brings his hands to cover Jimin’s, runs over them as if he’s trying to guess just from them alone. "Jimin-hyung?"
Jimin huffs. Fucking unbelievable. He lowers his hands to Jungkook’s shoulders and squeezes. "You're no fun."
"You're back already?” He tries to turn around. “I thought it was next week?"
"Surprise!" Jimin says, even if it's over too quickly, launching himself onto Jungkook's back. "Oh, there we go." He wraps his arms around Jungkook's neck, settling on his shoulder. "Now I know I'm home."
Jungkook chuckles, holding onto Jimin's legs, bouncing him a couple times. “When did you get back?”
“Couple hours ago. You miss me?”
"I'm working.” He’s smiling, Jimin can hear it. “Get off me."
Jimin laughs, holding on tighter, pressing his cheek to Jungkook’s. "No."
"What if a customer walks in?"
"Who's gonna walk in, Jungkook-ah, it's half an hour before—"
"Oh,” comes an unfamiliar voice. “Um, sorry, are you closing?"
They twist around so suddenly Jimin almost loses his grip.
"No, no!" Jungkook lets Jimin fall on the floor and bows to the man, bringing his hands together in front of him. "Please come in, we're still open. What can I get you?"
The man smiles. His eyes look enormous behind his glasses. "The usual would be great."
Jungkook nods eagerly. "Of course! Right away."
He really means that right away, too, because he’s busting his ass to make the drink for this stranger, a frantic air about him. Jimin looks at him with narrowed eyes. Jungkook’s never this frenzied. He’s been working this store on and off since he was fourteen—he knows what he’s doing.
"Is it a regular?"
"Hm?" Jungkook snaps his head, eyes wide, as if he's forgotten about Jimin. "Yes. Kim Namjoon-ssi. He's here a lot."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry, I forgot to say," comes the gentle voice of this Kim Namjoon. He takes a couple measured steps towards the counter with an apologetic look. He smells like perfume, natural and fancy. "It's take-away."
"Oh," Jungkook says with a disappointed little tilt, even though it’s literally almost closing time. He quickly shakes himself out of it though, nods. "Of course!"
"Thank you, Jungkook-ssi."
He goes to lean against a table, pulling out his phone. He looks like he’s reading an article about a topic Jimin would need a seminar to understand.
He slides his eyes from the stranger to Jungkook.
Anyone else might take all this for simple shyness, but Jimin sees the way his eyes dart up and linger on Namjoon for a few breathless seconds before he refocuses on the drink. He sees the way his hands tremble a little, the blush high on his cheeks.
This is very much not like Jimin planned.
Jungkook seems to be aware of his own behaviour, too.
"Was I too embarrassing?" he asks after Namjoon has said his polite adult goodbyes and disappeared around the street corner.
"I don't think he noticed anything," Jimin says. He forces a smirk on his face and leans his elbows on the counter, leaning forward. "Now, what was all that about?"
"Shut up," Jungkook says, dropping his head onto the counter. "Did you see him? The smile? The dimple? The thighs?"
"I saw it all."
"So you get it."
Jimin shrugs. "I don't know, Jungkook-ah. He's not really my type."
"He's everyone's type,” Jungkook rebukes, almost offended. “He's built and he has a kind face and his voice is so deep, oh my god..." He shakes his head, stars in his eyes. "And he's so nice. Once there was a tourist who just started like, having a go at me, and I couldn’t understand a word, right, because it was all in english? Namjoon-ssi got up and talked to her in like, perfect english, and just like that she said sorry and left. He's amazing."
It's cute, how excited he is. Jimin still can’t keep the bitterness out of his voice. "Well, he may be amazing, but he's not my type."
"What's your type, then?"
Nope, absolutely not.
"Yah, you haven't even asked me how I'm doing," Jimin complains, sliding his arms down the counter and doing his best to look small and dejected. "I did this whole trip for you—"
"Oh, for me? So you're not here for the summer? You're not seeing your family?"
"Irrelevant."
Jungkook rolls his eyes. He turns to him, arms crossed. "Help me close down."
Jimin almost smiles. He was waiting for this—they’ve done this so many times before, when Jungkook’s dad insisted Jungkook couldn’t run off with Jimin for the afternoon until he helped out with his chores. Jimin would take half of his duties and they’d be done in no time, a well oiled machine.
But he has to make Jungkook ask for it properly, first.
"Not when you're so rude."
Jungkook looks at him, pursing his lips. He knows very well what Jimin’s doing.
“Hyung.”
Jimin says nothing back, just continues to stare steadily.
Jungkook pinches the bridge of his nose, sighing dramatically. "Help me close down,” he repeats, and takes a big breath before finally saying, “please."
Jimin pretends to think about it. Eventually, he asks, "And then you'll spend some time with me?"
"What, you missed me or something?" Jungkook grins, raising his eyebrows playfully. Jimin throws the towel that’s always lying around the counter to Jungkook’s head, and he catches it, chuckling. "Come on, Jiminie-hyung."
Jimin sighs, passes by Jungkook and snatches the cloth back. "You do the floors."
"I'll do the floors," Jungkook agrees with a smile.
Without even discussing it, they follow their routine of old: ice cream from the convenience store, then park.
Park might be a generous description for what’s essentially a struggling patch of green and two beat up benches, but it’s what they’ve always done. Jimin smiles to see it.
He smiles too, when he catches Jungkook eyeing his ice cream with interest, like he doesn’t have one twice the size in his own hands. He offers it wordlessly and Jungkook tries it, letting out a small mmm of approval.
Jimin lets it wash over him, the familiar view.
"So, how's work?" He looks up at him, to where Jungkook’s perching himself on the back of the bench.
"Fine." Jungkook shrugs. "Since school ended, it’s all been me. Dad only came in a couple times to check in."
"So there's no one else working it?"
"Not for now, no," Jungkook says, trying to collect the very last of his ice cream from the bottom of the little cup. The plastic spoon makes a dull little scraping noise.
"Do you think it's going well, though?"
"Sure. It's not bad. I mean, it can get pretty repetitive, you know. And some days there’s a lot of people, which..." He winces. Jimin knows how he gets, when he hits his social quota, all drained and exhausted. It can’t be easy on him, this job.
Jungkook licks his lips, and when he speaks again his voice booms louder. "But it's good sometimes. You meet interesting people, occasionally."
"Ah, yes," Jimin says, squaring his shoulders. "Let's talk about that, shall we?"
Jungkook scrunches his nose. "There's nothing to talk about."
"Other than your enormous crush.”
"Well. There. You said it. End of conversation."
Jimin shakes his head. "No, no." He puts an arm on Jungkook's knees, leaning on him. "I've never seen you like that. You have to tell me."
"There's nothing to tell, hyung. He's a regular. He started showing up about a month back, and he comes in a few times a week to do his work. He's a freelancer, I think he said once. Works remote. Visiting his mom for the summer."
"You know a lot about him already. You talk?"
Jungkook blushes. "Well...he talks on the phone sometimes. And his mom came to join him for lunch once."
Jimin snorts. "So you creep on him."
Jungkook pushes him off him, which only makes Jimin laugh harder. "Not creeping! I just overheard!"
"You overheard a whole bunch."
"What am I gonna do, plug my ears when he talks? Shut up," he says, whiny and flushed.
Jimin smiles. He really missed him.
It’s not the same, phone calls and texts and videos, when you’ve spent your whole lives in each other’s pockets. It makes the absence even worse sometimes, to get to see Jungkook’s cute little face on his screen but be unable to reach out, ruffle his hair, pinch his cheek.
Stupid university, stupid distance, stupid months and months of not seeing each other.
He waits for Jungkook to snake away from the crush thing, to change the subject and switch it on Jimin, ask how he’s doing.
He turns himself towards him a little more in anticipation, waiting for the question so he can be honest for once and skip all the games—just admit that it’s been hard to be apart. See if it was the same for Jungkook too.
Maybe ask him why, see if they match.
Jungkook opens his mouth. Jimin’s ready.
"I wanted your help, actually."
"Me?" Jimin blinks in surprise. “With…your crush?”
"Yeah," he says with a nod, rubbing his hands together nervously, "because I wanted to ask him out."
"Oh."
Damn.
"And. I've never—I've never done that, before. And, suppose I do and he says yes, like—I'm already stressing about what comes next. Because I've never been on a date, and this time I would have to set it up, and he's older and more experienced and just...I don't want to embarrass myself."
The reassurance is more instinctual than honest. "You wouldn't."
"I would. Hyung, I totally would." He's still tangling and untangling his fingers. Jimin wants to reach out and hold them, but he feels a little frozen, still.
"That's why I wanted your help."
“But what can I do?”
When Jungkook finally gets it out, it sounds like he’s been building to it this whole time. "I want you to help me practise."
"Practise?"
"Like, dating. Asking someone out, doing things together...kissing?" He's red when he says that, blushing to the roots of his hair.
Jimin almost asks him to pinch him, to see if he’s awake. "You want me to practise kissing with you?"
"And all the rest of it." Jungkook says, looking up with pleading eyes. He gets off the back of the bench and slides down next to Jimin, turning fully towards him. "Everything. I—I'm totally lost, and I really want to do this, and I just…” He shrugs, turning in on himself. “I don't know who else to ask."
Jimin takes him in, his eager, flushed face, the way he's looking at him like his life is hanging in the balance.
He thinks about listening to what his gut is screaming at him and saying no. He thinks of how Jungkook’s shoulders would slump even more, how he’d get that wilted little look, how he’d get up and throw his little cup away and pretend he really needs to be getting home, avoiding Jimin’s eyes.
"Will you say please, this time?"
"Please," Jungkook says immediately, scooting closer. "Hyung, please help me."
This is not how Jimin thought this would go. He’d imagined the moment they reunited, on the way over here, rushing down the pavement, on the train, as he booked the tickets for a week early—he wanted to see Jungkook’s surprised face, he wanted Jungkook to hug him tightly and laugh all happy and ask him how he’s been, tell him he’s missed him, tell him nine months is too much and Jimin should never be away that long again.
He kind of forgot Jungkook’s life continued without him.
It stings. The way Jungkook brushed over his return, too distracted with making that stranger his drink stings. The way he didn’t come back to it at all, the way he jumped straight into asking for this favour, stings.
What’s worse, Jimin doesn’t want to disappoint him, even though he feels the sour taste of it in his own mouth. He doesn’t want that to be Jungkook, too.
He closes his eyes, takes a breath. He’ll regret this, he knows he will.
"Alright."
"What, really?"
He has the nerve to be surprised, like he doesn’t know Jimin would do anything for him.
"Yeah."
"Yes!" Jungkook grabs him by the shoulders, shaking him in celebration. "Thank you, thank you!"
Jimin's pretty sure he's making a mistake, but Jungkook's all bright eyed and happy, and it’s been so long since he got to be here for that, so he lets himself be swept away.
the asking out.
They start lessons the very next day.
Jimin's nervous. He's jittery, and he’s late, and he’s regretting this already, and it’s barely begun.
He shouldn't have agreed to this. This is going to ruin their friendship, because Jimin's—well, Jimin's always felt a little too strongly about Jungkook. There’s no way this ends smoothly, one way or the other.
They decided the store was the best idea, since that’s where the asking out will take place, anyway.
“Have to immerse yourself in the lesson, Jungkook-ah,” Jimin had said with an intentionally pretentious tone, trying to hide the doubts already creeping all over him like ants.
He needs to play a role, that’s all this is. He’s not Park Jimin anymore, who’s nursing questionably tender feelings towards his best friend. He’s someone else, a teacher and a test subject.
The shutters are all pulled down, only one lamp illuminating the small cafe. Jimin always liked it here when it’s not open, cosier in the absence of scattered conversation and the sound of spoons clinking against mugs. The familiar atmosphere calms his nerves a little.
“So.” He takes a breath and stops fidgeting with the ring on his finger. "How would you go about asking him out?"
Jungkook’s got his fingers tangled together in his lap, leg bouncing. "I would...talk to him."
"What would you say?"
"I'd say...um. Please go out with me?"
Jimin’s hopelessly endeared. "Good start."
Jungkook nods, squirming in his seat. "But what do I say after?"
"Don’t think about it too much. Just say what comes naturally, and we’ll go from there."
Jungkook nods again, biting at the inside of his cheek. His eyes are piercing Jimin, but his brain is clearly elsewhere, picturing scenarios with Namjoon.
"So…” He starts, then stops. He gets up, he paces. He stops with his hands on his waist, tries to speak again, but shuts his mouth and frowns and frowns. “Actually, can you just pretend to be him?"
Jimin blinks. "Okay."
"Okay." Jungkook nods again, takes a breath. He looks at Jimin like there's something off, but he can't put his finger on it. Then he's pulling him up. "Here."
He drags him over to another table and sits him down. "This is where he sits." He squints at him again, unsatisfied. "Oh! I know." He runs over to the cash register, opens a drawer in the counter and comes back handing Jimin a pair of old glasses. "Put these on."
"You're really getting into this roleplaying, aren't you?"
"Immersion, right?" He puts the glasses on Jimin, impatient.
Jimin scowls. "Whose are these? They're blind."
"My dad," Jungkook says, waving a hand to shut Jimin up. "Now, focus."
“I’m plenty focused!” He reaches out and pinches Jungkook’s stomach. Jungkook squirms away with a laugh, and then moves back, looking a little looser. “Let’s go. Good morning, Jungkook-ssi.” He deepens his voice into a vague approximation of what he remembers Namjoon to sound like.
Jungkook giggles. Jimin widens his eyes at him. “Sorry, sorry. ‘s just funny.”
“What’s funny, huh?” He keeps his voice low, crosses his arms and puffs up his chest. “Is this how you treat your customers here? Just come and laugh at them instead of taking their order?”
Jungkook’s still giggling, tinged with nerves. “Okay, okay.” He closes his eyes, pinches the bridge of his nose. “Okay.”
When he opens his eyes, Jimin can tell it’s different. He walks closer to the table with a self assured air, his gaze steady. He’s stopped pulling at the hems of his black sweatshirt, he’s straightened his shoulders. “Good morning. What can I get you?”
“The usual, please.”
Jungkook almost breaks at Jimin’s continued impression, but he holds it in. “I’m afraid I can’t do that today, Namjoon-ssi.”
“Oh? How come?”
“We’re out of tea.”
“All tea?”
“All tea,” he says with a solemn nod. “I’m very sorry. But to make it up to you, next drink’s on the house.”
“Oh,” Jimin says. “That sounds nice, thank you.”
“And maybe dinner, after that, too.” His eyes are sparkling. There’s a smile at the corner of his mouth, but it's not a smile Jimin knows.
Jimin forgets to change his voice. “You don’t make food here.”
“I’ll just have to take you somewhere else, then.” He slides in the chair next to Jimin, elbow leaning on the table and body turned towards him. “What do you say?”
Jimin’s honestly a little bit flustered. He licks his lips, looks down and tries to hide it. When he looks back up, Jungkook’s almost smirking.
Jimin considers continuing this, angling himself towards Jungkook too and reaching out to cover his hand on the table.
But he can’t. That’s how Jimin flirts. Jungkook doesn’t want to see how Jimin flirts—all Jungkook wants is a practice buddy.
He squeezes his hand into a fist, knocking on the table twice. “That was smooth.” He takes the glasses off and folds them, places them gently on the table.
The persona Jungkook had been projecting literally deflates, melts away and leaves wide eyes and eager looks. “Really?”
“You know it was. Where’d you pull that from?”
Jungkook shrugs. “Kinda did what felt natural, I guess. Like you said.”
“Lying,” Jimin says with a smile. “Pretending a whole ass coffee shop doesn’t have a single tea bag for poor Kim Namjoon.”
Jungkook laughs. “Desperate times.”
“But what if he really,” Jimin scoots closer to him, “really,” he leans into Jungkook’s face, “wanted his tea?”
Jungkook blinks. “Um. Let’s just hope he doesn’t?”
Jimin smirks, pulling back. “I don’t think you need any notes.”
“Hyung.”
“I’m serious!” He crosses his arms, leans back in the chair. On the one hand, it’s true. On the other, Jimin doesn’t trust himself not to step out of line if they do this again and again. “You can’t sound too practised. If it sounds like you got it memorised, it’ll just be weird. You got the spirit, so you’ll be fine.”
Jungkook laughs, heading up to get them a beer. “You’re just saying that because it was weird to ask you out on a date.”
Jimin’s responding chuckle is as forced as they come, but Jungkook doesn’t seem to notice.
the first kiss
jk
so when’s the next lesson
jm
i’m busy tonight
jk
doing what??
jm
you don’t need to know everything
jk
since when do you have secrets from me :(
jm
you’ll live, you big baby
tomorrow night
jk
okie!!!
come to mine
my folks won’t be home
it’s date night
jm
omg jeon jungkook are you finally asking me on a date
jk
i thought that was the whole point of practice dating
did you forget
is old age finally catching up with u
jm
thought you liked them older
jk
WHAT TIME TOMORROW
jm
hehe
8, and i’m expecting dinner
jk
there will be sandwiches
jm
if you give me the leftover sandwich
from the shop as dinner i will walk
jk
see you tomorrow at 8 :*
Jimin could drive to Jungkook’s house with his eyes closed. He’s done at all times of the day,with Jungkook by his side, early in the morning to take him to school, late in the afternoon after his boxing lessons—in a couple special occasions, as dawn breaks, singing over the music, exhausted but wired and young and together.
He smiles at the memory as he pulls in, and then has to take a moment to prepare.
Don’t expect this to be like before, Jimin tells himself, checking his hair in the rearview mirror. He asked for a lesson.
Jimin jabs Jungkook in the chest as soon as opens the door. “No practice before eating.”
Jungkook rolls his eyes. “Alright.” He grabs Jimin’s shirt and pulls him in, not stopping for Jimin to take off his shoes and coat, so he’s forced to kind of shed everything in a trail from the door to the kitchen.
“Is pajeon to your taste?”
“Very,” Jimin says with a dazzling smile. He makes grabby hands towards the plate on the counter. “Let’s go, hyung’s starving.”
They dig in, making easy chit chat about their day.
“So, what were you up to yesterday?”
Jimin smiles. “Really bugs you not to know, huh?”
Jungkook pouts around a mouthful of food. “Fine, don’t tell me. Who cares.”
“You cares,” Jimin says, and laughs when Jungkook makes a face at him. “Was spending some time with mom, is all.”
“Oh.” His shoulders relax. “Okay.”
Jimin looks at him. “What did you do?”
“Worked, what else?” Jungkook says with a frown. “But I saw him again, so that was good.”
There it goes, their several minute long streak of not discussing this. “Did you.”
“Mm.” Jungkook doesn’t seem to notice Jimin’s sour expression. “He didn’t stay too long yesterday. Just drank his tea quickly and took a muffin to go. Blueberry.”
Jimin makes another non committal sound. He can hardly imagine a less interesting dinner conversation than what kind of muffin a random stranger favours.
“I kinda thought about trying to ask him out already,” Jungkook admits, and Jimin freezes. Fuck, so soon? “But then if he said yes, I don’t think we would have time to figure everything else out. So I didn’t.”
“Well,” Jimin hears himself say, “how much more is there to figure out?”
“Kissing, for one thing.”
It’s a wonder Jimin doesn’t choke. “Right.” He gets up to get himself some water. Jungkook follows him with his eyes.
“That’s what I thought we’d do today.”
“Sure.” Can Jungkook hear how off he sounds? He drinks half the glass in one long gulp.
“Unless you think it’s better to wait?”
“Wait for what?”
“I don’t know,” Jungkook says with a shrug, his cheeks a little pink. “I’m just kind of making this up as I go along. You’re the one who knows what he’s doing.”
Jimin closes his eyes and resists the urge to bang his head against the cupboard. “That’s me, the expert.”
“Well, you know more than me.”
He sounds close, and when Jimin turns, Jungkook’s right there, crowding him. He reaches behind Jimin, coming even closer, and Jimin’s not ready for the lessons to begin. “What are you doing?”
Jungkook turns on the tap, and the water that splashes against Jimin’s back makes him squeal. He slaps Jungkook’s chest and slides away as Jungkook laughs. “Since you rudely didn’t offer me any water, I had to get it for myself.”
“It’s your house!” Jimin’s trying to scold him, but he’s laughing. “I’m all wet, you annoying little—”
“It’s just a few drops, hyung.”
“I’m literally dripping.”
Jungkook grabs him by the hips to turn him around and inspect for himself. “Okay, that might have got you a bit more than I intended.”
“See!”
“Okay, no need to be dramatic.” He rushes off, yelling behind him, “I’ll fix it!”
Jimin puts their empty plates into the sink and then heads to the living room, careful not to press his wet back to the couch cushions.
Two minutes later, a t-shirt lands on his head.
“Hey!”
“For you.” Jungkook runs to the couch and leaps over the back of it, landing with a bounce, grinning. “Give me this one.” He pulls at the one Jimin’s wearing. “I’ll go hang it up.”
Jimin does as he’s told, and next thing he knows, he’s drowning in Jungkook’s huge black t-shirt. “I recognise this,” he says, looking down at the little design on the pocket. “It’s from that scouting thing you do in the summers, right?”
Jungkook nods, bunching the wet t-shirt in his hands. “Last year’s.”
“You’re not doing this year?”
Jungkook gives him a wry little smile. “When?”
“Ah, right,” Jimin says with a wince. “Sorry.”
“Nah, it’s fine.” He gets up, heading off to the bathroom to hang the shirt on the radiator.
Jimin’s heart breaks a little.
He can picture Jungkook’s dad, tall and imposing, not even looking at his son as he announces to him he’ll be taking over from now on. He can picture Jungkook trying to argue, to bargain, and his dad simply dismissing him and telling him how proud he is for all Jungkook’s doing for their family.
Jimin remembers the first days he spent in Seoul, how Jungkook asked for photos of everything. What’s your dorm like, what’s your school like, what are the classes like, do you like them, are there parks, are there cinemas, where do you go what do you do have you seen any dogs—
Jimin can stop being selfish, can’t he, and help him out? He wants this one thing for himself. Doesn’t he deserve it? And if Jimin can help, shouldn’t he, as Jungkook’s best friend, just suck it up?
“So,” he says as soon as Jungkook sits back down. “Kissing lesson.”
“Yeah.” Jungkook straightens up immediately, going into focus mode. He scoots closer, and Jimin puts a hand on his chest.
“Woah, woah. Slow down there, lover.”
“What.”
Jimin smiles, despite the way his heart is hammering in his chest. “Ground rules.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Right.” Jimin doesn’t actually have something to say. He just wanted to gain some time. “So, what’s your ground rules.”
“Me?” Jungkook blinks. “Um. I don’t know? I’m game for anything, I guess?”
“Anything?” Jimin licks his lips, scooting closer. “So, tongue.”
“Um.”
“Hair pulling? Biting?”
Jungkook has gone cherry red. “Y-yeah.”
“Yeah?”
“Hyung, just—”
Jimin laughs, letting the sultry look drop. “Kidding, Kook. I’ll go easy on you, don’t worry.”
Jungkook’s look is focused and intense, but Jimin can tell there’s something. "Are you sure you want to do this?”
Jungkook nods.
“Okay.” They’re doing this. They’re really fucking doing this. “Close your eyes."
Jungkook does, immediately. Jimin takes a deep, silent breath. He takes Jungkook's chin in his hands gently and pulls him close, just a little.
He’s about to kiss his best friend.
Jungkook's visibly nervous, unmoving, closer than they’ve ever been.
"Breathe." He runs his thumb over his jaw and sees Jungkook relax at the touch.
"Do it already," he mutters, voice soft.
Their first kiss is close lipped and short, just a hint of pressure to ease both of them in. It’s still innocent. They can still come back from this.
Jimin pulls slightly away, heart hammering in his chest, to check on him.
"Okay?"
"Yeah," Jungkook says, impatient, scooting forward, "yeah, go on.”
"Demanding."
"This is what we're here f—"
Jimin kisses him again, more determined this time. He's holding back severely. He wants harder than this, deeper, but he softly caresses Jungkook's jaw, pressing kisses to his top lip, his bottom one, slowly, letting him adapt. He’s an annoyingly fast learner—in seconds, he's gotten the rhythm, following easily.
He should have known Jungkook would be good at this too.
Is it really fair, for Jimin to get to know what this feels like, only to tie it up in a pretty little bow and deliver it to someone else?
When he pulls back, Jungkook follows him, and Jimin almost lets a quiet, heartfelt fuck slip out.
“Alright?”
Jungkook’s eyes are half lidded, staring at Jimin’s mouth still. “Yeah. Yeah. You?”
Jimin smiles. He’s so cute. “I’m good, Kook, just—”
Jungkook doesn’t let him finish, pressing back in for another round. Jimin makes a soft noise deep in his throat, taken by surprise.
Jungkook is kissing him, this time, doing just as Jimin showed him.
Oh, god.
He's doing a good job of it, too. Yes, it's a little clumsy, but it's so fucking earnest, so sweet and determined, so Jungkook —how can Jimin find it anything other than charming?
"Mm." Between kisses, Jungkook tries to speak. "How am I doing?"
Jimin moves closer, sliding his hand to the nape of Jungkook's neck and pulling him in a little harder.
"Good," Jimin mutters, brain turned into mush, "You're doing so good." Kiss, kiss. "Just like that, hm? Relax for me." He squeezes his nape, and Jungkook sighs, letting Jimin in further.
Jimin wonders if Jungkook will be this loose in Namjoon’s arms. If Namjoon’s going to kiss him careful and sweet. If he’ll know what he has in his hands.
They pull away eventually, and Jimin feels it all over his chest. He wants to lean back in immediately, wants to wrap himself around Jungkook and cling, because this felt like a lot more than just kissing. This felt like breathing his heart into him, and it felt like Jungkook understood.
He blinks, licking his lips. He needs a break from this. He needs to move away, before he says or does something irreversible.
His throat is dry. “You want some water?”
Jungkook nods. Jimin throws him a look from the corner of his eye and he looks like he’s trying to memorise everything they’ve done, like he’s about to pull out paper and pen to take notes. None of the overwhelming, unsettled feeling flooding Jimin right now.
"You must have done this a lot," Jungkook says, as he takes the offered glass. They could be discussing the weather, for how casual he sounds. "You're good at it."
"Thanks," Jimin responds, a little flattered and a little stung. He hasn't done it a lot, not really.
The whole time he’s been away, he’s only been on a handful of dates. None of them had ended in anything serious, because his heart just wasn't in it.
It’s becoming increasingly obvious to Jimin exactly why that is.
Life is a joke, he thinks, downing the water in one long go.
"How did I do?" Jungkook asks, and now he looks worried. It's really cute.
Spectacular. “Good.” Jimin nods. "But you were nervous. Why?"
"It's my first time."
"Your—" Jimin turns to look at him, astonished. "Your first kiss?"
Jungkook nods, pink spreading quickly all over his cheeks. "It's not a big deal."
"It is," Jimin says, breathless. He reaches out and turns Jungkook's face to his gently, trying to catch his eye. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because," he says with a groan, "it's embarrassing."
"It's not. Jungkook, it's not." Jimin doesn't know how to react to these news. He feels like he needs to say something else, to try and wrap his head around it, but Jungkook quickly deflects.
"Who was your first kiss?"
Jimin lets his hand drop from Jungkook’s face. "You know already."
Jungkook blinks. "Jiyoon doesn't count, hyung."
"How so, she doesn't count?"
"She's a girl, and you don't like girls. Your first real kiss must be with someone you really like," Jungkook says with a determined light shining in his eyes.
"Oh," Jimin says, staring ahead. "You think so?"
"Mm. Otherwise, what's the point?"
“I don’t think that’s how everyone sees it, Jungkook-ah.”
“So, who was it?”
Why is he insisting so much? “We’re here to talk about you!”
“Well, nothing!” He looks flushed, talking about this. “I just never felt the need to, before now. Especially here.”
He doesn’t have to explain further. Small town, Jungkook spends all his time in his family store—anything he does will be broadcast to everyone the moment he does it.
That, Jimin didn’t miss at all.
Jimin nods. “So you wanted to be sure.”
“Yeah. Sure that I wanted someone enough. That when I tried, I was ready.” He nods to himself again. “That’s why I asked for your help.”
“Well, I think that’s really sweet of you, Jungkook-ah.”
Jungkook looks at him like Jimin’s surprised him. “What’s up with you.”
“What.”
“Telling me I’m sweet? Are you okay?” He pokes him in the stomach, and despite the heavy feeling in his chest, Jimin laughs.
“Quit being sweet and I won’t tell you anymore.”
“Weird,” Jungkook says again with another poke, shaking his head. “Anyway, are you staying? Want to watch something?”
Say no, Jimin tells himself. Go home and get your head on straight and disengage.
But he’s been on Jungkook withdrawal for months, so it’s hopeless. “Will you make me popcorn?”
“Already on my way,” Jungkook asks, heading to the kitchen.
Jimin’s smile fades, and he grabs a pillow to pull to his chest.
This is going to be more difficult than he thought.
He can't stop thinking about it. Of course he can’t. Why would he? He got to kiss Jungkook. He got to hold him and kiss him and he got to be kissed back, and now he’s supposed to stop and not think about it anymore?
He’d poked at this, when Taehuyng was away and Jimin was alone in their dorm—this specific Jungkook feeling. This big, ever present string of thoughts tied to him, an endless stream of little things: wonder what he’s doing right now, he’d say this if he were here, where would we eat if he came to visit. But he figured that was just missing his best friend, the presence he could always count on—missed someone to tussle with and cling to and tease and hug when he’s crying.
Taehyung did ask him once, just a week after they’d met.
“You talk about this guy all the time, is he your boyfriend?”
“What?” Jimin explodes with laughter. “Jungkookie? No, what the fuck.”
“Woah, okay, sorry. Just, you should see yourself when you talk about him.”
“He’s my best friend.”
“I know that, I just got the feeling there was something you weren’t telling me.” Taehyung shrugs. “But if you say no, my bad.”
“What do you mean?”
“You light up like a fucking christmas tree when you say his name, buddy. It’s like there’s little cartoon hearts coming out of your head.”
“You’re crazy.”
“If you say so.”
He’d dismissed it and they’d moved on, but the thought had stuck around, tucked away somewhere in the back of Jimin’s mind.
It’s taking up more and more space now.
the intimate gestures.
They’re over at Jimin’s house this time.
They sit down on the floor in front of the couch, Jimin’s preferred spot. Jungkook struggles a little to put his massive tall legs under the coffee table, so he huffs in frustration and pushes it away with his foot, and then immediately winces at the creak and cranes his neck to peek into the kitchen.
“Mom’s out with her friends," Jimin says, amused at Jungkook's worried expression. “It’s just us.”
“She comes by a lot,” Jungkook says with a smile, relaxing now. “Always telling me what you’re up to.”
Jimin groans. “Really?”
Jungkook’s smile widens. “Mmm. I know about aaall the clubs you’re in, and aaall your amazing tests scores.”
Jimin drops his head on the couch cushion and hides. “God, so embarrassing. I’ll tell her to cut it out.”
“I don’t mind.” He ruffles Jimin’s hair. “Good to know our Jiminie is doing well.”
Jimin blushes, pushes him a little. “Shut up.”
He needs to remind himself constantly—he can’t sit here and get all lost in the easy way Jungkook’s smiling at him, eyes bright from teasing. “We don’t have all night. Do you want your lesson or not?”
“Yes, teacher,” Jungook says with a little bow.
“So you’ll stop being a little shit and let me?”
He bows deeper. “Yes, teacher.”
Jimin glares at him for a second, but there’s no real force behind it. “So, kissing is not all there is when it comes to dating. There’s also the sense of intimacy you can express through small gestures. It’s very important you get familiar with these," Jimin says, with the air of someone who knows what he's talking about. He can fake with the best of them. "For example."
He reaches out and sweeps a strand of hair away from Jungkook's forehead, tucking it behind his ear.
Jungkook's teasing mood has sharpened into intense focus within the space of a few sentences. The attention makes Jimin warm, even if he knows it’s not real.
He clears his throat. "Can you think of something else like that?" Jimin’s all about independent teaching and learning by doing and all that.
Jimin tries not to look away as Jungkook takes his time to think. He reaches and runs a finger all over Jimin's cheek, back and forth a few times, just feeling for it. Jimin forces himself to sit still.
“Like that?”
“Mmhm.” Jimin breathes through it. He still needs to make this sound like a lesson. “You might use this to lead to something else, or you might just do it for the sake of doing it. Touching him.”
Jungkook’s nodding along, and Jimin knows the words are being carved into his brain. He’ll remember them even a year, two, three down the line.
Jungkook’s hand moves from his cheek slowly down to his lips, brushes his thumb over it, pressing gently. Jimin can hardly breathe.
“Something else?” Jungkook asks, hushed. Jimin nods. Jungkook's eyes flick up to his, just for a second, and then he's capturing his lips in a firm kiss.
Jimin’s so frustrated. He wishes he could be vocal and free to do what he really, really yearns for right now, grab Jungkook's hair and mess him up, make him sigh against his mouth.
Jungkook pulls back way too soon. "Like that?" His voice is soft and sweet, low.
"Yeah," Jimin says, too breathless. He needs to focus. “That’s—mh. Doesn’t always need to go to a kiss, though.”
“But if it can, why wouldn’t it?”
“Sometimes it’s just about needing to feel connected,” Jimin says, trying to get back to his teacher tone. “Like if I do this,” he reaches out and takes Jungkook’s hand in both of his, tangling their fingers together and running his thumb over his knuckles, “it’s not just because I want to kiss you, after.” He corrects himself quickly. “You could just want to touch the other person. Because you like them.”
Jungkook takes this in, eyes locked on their hands.
Jimin clears his throat and lets him go, sticks his hands in his sweater pockets. “But you did well.” He nudges Jungkook’s foot with his toes. "Are you sure you need me for all this? Seems like you're a natural."
Jungkook shakes his head. "I do." He sits back a little, but keeps his hand on Jimin, traces small circles on his knee.
It's nice. It’s just what Jimin told him to do.
"I think you already know what you're doing."
Jungkook shakes his head. "I don't feel ready."
"You know this guy's just human, right? No matter if his thighs are divine."
Jungkook smiles. "I know. I just wanna do this right."
Jimin thinks Jungkook couldn’t do it wrong if he tried. Who in their right mind would say no to him, really?
But he can’t say that. A best friend might, but that’s not all Jimin is. That’s not all he wants to be. He wants to be someone who's allowed to climb into Jungkook’s lap and melt into him, be pressed to him everywhere.
"How are you?"
"Me?” Jimin asks, a little startled out of his inappropriate thoughts. “Fine. Why?"
"I don't know, you kind of seem a bit… down, I guess.” He bites the inside of his mouth, his fingers digging into Jimin’s leg now in an absentminded massage. “I feel like we got all swept up in my news and I don't know what's going on with you."
Jimin softens. "Not much, really,” he responds with a shrug. “Just being home. Feel like mom got used to me not being around." He laughs, a little hollow. “I think she was really happy to go out with her friends tonight, back to her life.”
“How about your life?” He stops his ministrations on Jimin’s thigh and instead slides his hand up to the back of Jimin’s neck, starting a slow, pressing massage there too. Jimin just barely doesn’t moan. “How’s uni been?”
"Hard," Jimin mutters, eyes closed. It feels so good. "It's a lot. New place, new people. I missed home.”
"You missed this place?" Jungkook asks, astonished.
It’s almost like he imagined, Jungkook asking and him giving in and spilling the delicate truth all over. He’d imagined giving Jungkook so many possible responses.
I really missed you sometimes, you know. Don’t let it go to your head though, hm?
It was hard, being by myself. It kind of felt like you should be there with me, isn’t that weird?
I know all these people now that have never met you. That doesn’t feel right, for some reason.
Except now, the truth has changed.
Now, the truth would be more like I wanted you with me all the time, and I think I’ve figured out the reason. It would be you should forget about that guy and kiss me more, kiss me longer, kiss me always. It would be more like are you in this with me, it would be what do we fucking do?
He needs a neutral version of it, something that can hide all this shit under it for a little while longer, until he figures out what to do with it.
He sighs, huddling closer to Jungkook. "There was just…so much going on all the time. I didn't know where to give my attention first, you know? School was a lot, assignments, homework, studying, everything...and every step of the way made me feel so dumb. Like, I avoided the library for months because I didn't know what I had to do to sign up. And I was alone."
Jungkook hums. "I’m sure you met people though. What about your dorm mate? You’re always telling me about him."
"Taehyung,” Jimin says with a small smile, cheered up a little at the thought. “I'm seeing him soon, actually. We're going on holiday together."
"What? With someone you just met?"
"We literally slept in the same room for the whole year."
"But we've never…” Jimin opens his eyes to find a cute little frown on Jungkook’s face. “I mean, we've known each other all our lives and we've never done anything like that."
That lands big and heavy on Jimin’s chest. "Well, maybe we can." He sounds too eager, probably. He catches Jungkook's eye. "Maybe you can come see me and stay a few days."
"That's not the same."
Jimin smirks. "What, you’re jealous?”
Jungkook rolls his eyes. “It just doesn’t feel fair that this guy gets best friend privileges.”
Best friend rings in Jimin’s head. “No one’s replacing you in my heart, Kook-ah.” He makes it sound intentionally sappy, but it’s got too much of that newfound tender truth all over it.
Jungkook pinches Jimin’s neck, where his hand is just resting now, having stopped its massage. “Promises, promises.”
“Have I ever made a promise I didn’t keep?”
“You promised we’d talk every day.”
He says it low and quick, like he’s embarrassed over it, but can’t hold it in anymore.
Jimin’s stunned.
He had said that. On their last day together, they’d given each other a long hug, trying to hide their tears in each other’s shoulders, and Jimin had muttered into Jungkook’s sweatshirt, every day, okay? hyung will talk to you every day.
They kept it up for a good while, but eventually life just got in the way.
Jimin doesn’t know what to say. He didn’t know Jungkook minded. He didn’t know Jungkook remembered that promise.
“Jungkook,” he starts, but Jungkook doesn’t seem to want to elaborate.
"What else?” he asks, slipping his hand away from the nape of Jimin’s neck. “Like if he invites me over and we're watching a movie, what can I do?"
Jimin’s got half a mind to bring it back up, to explain, to discuss it. But Jungkook’s looking away from him and he’s been touching him ever since he came in and Jimin’s head is all scrambled, so now is not the time.
"You can sit close to him, for starters.” He’s distracted, but he brings his steady voice back. “Put your arm around him.”
Jungkook follows, Jimin leans back into him. "Pull him closer."
Jungkook slides his hand down Jimin's back, palms his side and does as he’s told. They're all pressed together. "Like that?"
"Hm." Jimin puts his head on Jungkook's shoulder, slides his palm all up his chest and hooks it behind his neck. "He might do this, after."
"Okay."
And then they’re just…sitting there, in each other’s arms. There’s music playing from Jungkook’s phone, because there’s always music when Jungkook’s around, but other than that, the house is quiet.
Really, this isn’t that different from what they’ve already done. They’ve hugged before, they’ve slept in the same bed before.
But Jungkook’s running his fingertips up and down Jimin’s back in a soothing motion, putting him in a damn near trance. He’s shifting so he nuzzles into his hair, makes a sweet little settled sound.
This is too close to what Jimin wants. He could let himself believe, just for a minute, that it's all meant for him, Jungkook's gentle, careful touching.
Jungkook’s fingers slide under Jimin’s shirt, and something catches fire inside of him.
He presses a kiss to Jungkook's neck. Jungkook’s hand stills, just for a second.
"He might do this, too."
“Okay.”
He sounds shaky. Jimin likes that all too much.
He shouldn’t, but he does—he slides his lips over the skin again, feather light. He kisses there until he finds the spot that gets the biggest reaction out of Jungkook, a punchy little exhale.
Jimin can’t stop himself from going for it for real. He wants to leave a mark, suddenly—he wants to be displayed on Jungkook's neck, visibly, so that everyone knows Jimin was allowed close enough, even just this once.
Jungkook’s gripping his waist, his whole body taut. Jimin hums, only sucking harder, trading bites for soft kisses every so often, encouraged by how Jungkook leans his head back to bare his neck more.
“Hyung,” Jungkook says breathlessly, later, when Jimin’s pulled back a little to admire his work.
His chest is full of a burning sense of satisfaction that he’s never felt before.
“Hyung,” Jungkook says again, and this time Jimin raises his eyes to Jungkook’s. “Come here.”
Jimin obliges. He hovers over Jungkook’s mouth. He can’t get enough of his hazy look. “What?”
“I was thinking…” Jungkook licks his lips, tries to get his thoughts together. He presses Jimin closer with a hand at the small of his back. “I was thinking we need to go back to the kissing.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah,” Jungkook says, leaning up a little already. “Because if we’re hanging out like this and it starts to get, um—”
“Hot and heavy?” Jimin says with a smirk.
Jungkook smiles, a little dazed. “Yeah.” He pulls Jimin towards him again, but Jimin holds back still. “Then I should know what to do.”
“You’ve been doing well so far.” He drops a kiss to Jungkook’s jaw, and another.
“Yeah, but—we just did some kissing, what if it turns into making out and I don’t know—”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“You promised you’d help me.” Jungkook slips his hand high up Jimin’s naked back, scrapes his nails lightly down. Jimin gasps, eyes fluttering closed.
Jungkook takes his chance and leans up all the way, presses his lips to Jimin’s, a little off center. Jimin’s heart screams at him.
He gives in, because he’s weak.
He kisses Jungkook like he wants. He presses him down into the couch with a palm to his chest. He slides the hand up, slow and dragging, and tangles his fingers in Jungkook’s hair. He doesn’t let up with the kissing that whole while, alternating between Jungkook’s top and bottom lip, using his mouth and then his teeth. Jungkook’s head is leaned all the way back, letting Jimin do what he wants with him, and his hands are gripping anywhere they can find purchase—Jimin’s shirt, Jimin’s thigh, clinging, fingers digging in.
“Hyung,” Jungkook mutters, and Jimin’s burning up. “Jimin-hyung.” Jimin listens, but he doesn’t say anything more, just keeps making all these sweet, lovely little sounds that are driving Jimin even more crazy.
It goes on, and on, and on.
It only stops because Jimin stops it, because he hears his mom’s keys jingle in the door. Jungkook looks at him with wide eyes and slick, bitten lips, the red mark on his neck wildly visible, and all Jimin can do is pull his hood up and hope.
He ushers Jungkook out after some quick, excruciating small talk with mom, closing the door behind Jungkook with a whispered see you soon.
He drops his head against the wood, sighing hard.
the visit.
Jimin needs to get his head back on straight.
All his thoughts since that night have revolved around Jungkook squirming under him, pulling him closer, asking to be kissed—and yes, they got a bit lost in it, but it’s not like anything’s changed, is it?
They’re still best friends. Best friends who have now made out with each other, extensively, intimately, and then didn’t speak for days.
That last part’s not sitting right with him. What if Jungkook saw right through him, and he realised that Jimin’s enjoying this a lot more than he should?
Jimin shouldn’t be indulging himself like this, even if Jungkook asked for it. He should have known better.
He just needs to see him outside the context of these lessons. He needs to remember who they are to each other, and keep it separate from who Jimin wishes they could be.
Taehyung’s bus is coming in about ten minutes, so Jimin stops by the cafe to say hello.
Jungkook’s face breaks into a smile as he sees him, and the relief that floods through Jimin is immediate.
He leans onto the counter. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Jungkook says, coming to stand in front of him. “Didn’t know you were coming today.”
“I’m full of surprises, aren’t I.” Jimin smiles.
Jungkook leans forward on his elbows too, mirroring Jimin. He’s looking at him expectantly, eyes wide and bright.
“I won’t get anything yet.”
“Okay.”
Jimin’s eyes take him in, ruffled and pretty. It’s just after lunch, so there must have been a rush that Jimin’s just missed. He’s in a big white t-shirt and his hair, which grew so much so quickly, curls around his ears and down the back of his neck, and right there, too, is proof that the other night hadn’t been a fevered little dream of Jimin’s.
The mark is unmistakable. Without thinking, Jimin reaches out to brush his thumb over it, and Jungkook blinks in surprise.
“It hurts?”
“No,” he responds, eyes stuck on Jimin. “No, not at all.”
“You could have covered it.”
“I don’t know how.”
“Oh,” Jimin says. “I can do it for you, I have some concealer. I don’t know if you can steal some of your mom’s to reapply tomorrow, or—but I mean, it’s small, so—” Jimin realises he’s still running his thumb over the spot and he retreats his hand immediately. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He leans forward a bit more to make up for the distance Jimin put between them when he pulled back. “I don’t mind.”
Jimin’s about to open his mouth and ask Jungkook how he’s been, why he’d gone all radio silent, when he looks over his shoulder and catches sight of a familiar figure.
He only seen him once, but he’s heard so fucking much that it feels like they’re well acquainted by now.
“He’s here,” he tells Jungkook, even though he knows. Kim Namjoon’s sitting there, on his computer, glasses on and a focused expression.
“Mm?” Jungkook cocks his head to the side, then follows Jimin’s eye line. “Ah! Yes.” He turns back to Jimin, fidgeting a little. “He’s been here for about half an hour.”
“Did you?”
“Did I…” He pulls the towel he’s holding between his fingers a few times in a nervous gesture. “Um, no. It’s…there’s too many people.”
“Jungkook-ah,” Jimin says with a scolding little tone. Play the part, play the part, he’s chanting to himself in his head. “I told you, you’re a natural. You can do this.”
Jungkook looks up at him, seeming very still suddenly. “Do you think I should?”
Jimin really doesn’t want to answer that. “I…”
His phone rings, and he almost sighs in relief.
“Where the fuck is this place,” Taehyung says without even a hello.
Jimin chuckles. Jungkook’s looking at him curiously. I’m sorry, he mouths at him, as he mimes going outside. “It’s literally a street away from the station. You can’t miss it.”
“I literally can, I’ve been circling the same spot for ten minutes—”
Jimin spots him on the opposite corner and laughs. “Taehyung-ah!”
Taehyung snaps his head towards him. He rushes across the street, yelling back, “Jimin-ah!”
They collide in a tight hug, swaying each other from side to side. Taehyung pulls away, grabs his face between his hands and squeezes. “I missed you!”
Jimin laughs. “Me too. That’s all you brought?” Taehyung’s just carrying a backpack. “For a week?”
“It’s the summer, Jimin-ah. The less clothes the better.” He looks over to the cafe. “So, is that the famous cafe?”
“Yes,” Jimin admits. “But actually, I thought we’d—”
“Oh, no, no.” Taehyung grabs his wrists and herds him in like he owns the place, marching straight up to counter with Jimin in tow.
“Excuse me!” he says, all cheer, and Jungkook turns back to him with a confused frown. “I'm looking for Jungkookie.”
His eyes flick over to Jimin, to Taehyung holding his wrist.
“That's me. Jeon Jungkook,” Jungkook says with an imperceptible bow of his head. “Nice to meet you.”
“I’m sure you know all about me,” Taehyung says with a boxy grin. “I bet Jiminie talks about me nooooon stop—”
Jimin liberates his hand and shoves his shoulder a little bit. “Tell him all about what a pain in my ass you are.”
“You love it,” Taehyung says dismissively, like it’s not even a question. He turns bright eyes back to Jungkook and leans over the counter towards him. “And boy, have I heard stuff about you.”
“Jimin’s my best friend.”
“And your hyung,” Jimin says with a pinch to Jungkook’s arm. “Watch it.”
Jungkook finally cracks a little smile. “Yeah, yeah.” He sniffs, looking a bit more relaxed. “What can I get you, Jimin-ah?” He giggles at Jimin’s offended scoff, turning away from the little slap to his chest that Jimin tries.
“Some respect, that’s what you can get me—”
“All out of that, I’m sorry,” he says with a giant grin.
Taehyung’s eyes are flicking between them, not missing a thing.
By the time Jungkook’s walked away to the other side of the bar to the coffee machine he’s got a lingering little smile on his face. Jimin watches him go, pleased.
“So,” Taehyung says meaningfully, and Jimin turns to him. “You’re a liar.”
“What?”
“That,” he makes a gesture to encompass what just happened, “was flirting. And there you were, being like oh ew, Kim Taehyung, how could you possibly imply I would ever be into someone like Jeon Jungkook—”
“Keep your voice down!”
“Why? Since y’all are such platonic friends, he wouldn’t mind, would he?” Taehyung raises his eyebrows. “Nor would he mind this.” He slides over, puts a hand around Jimin’s waist.
“Of course he wouldn’t mind.”
“Mm. Let’s see, shall we.”
When Jungkook comes back with their drinks, they’re both watching him carefully.
“Here.”
“Thank you,” Taehyung smiles graciously. “Can you give me a sip, Jimin-ah?” He makes his voice all velvety.
Jimin rolls his eyes, but does it. Taehyung takes one, closes his eyes, makes a noise of satisfaction, and then pierces Jimin with a look. “Delicious.” He gets him to put the glass back down on the tray and pulls him closer by the waist. “Want a taste?” he says with a sultry smile, clearly implying something. Jimin’s trying to keep a straight face but he’s about to lose it, when there’s a thunk that startles him.
Jungkook’s placed the card reader down on the counter harshly, eyes tight. “Payment’s upfront.”
“I got it, Jimin-ah,” Taehyung says, handing Jimin the tray and nodding over to an empty table. Jimin rolls his eyes but goes, sitting down and immediately looking back at them.
Jungkook’s back to being all closed off and frowny, and Taehyung is exuding a smug kind of ease, sliding his card over the reader. He leans one elbow on the counter and starts making conversation that Jimin can’t hear from here.
Jungkook doesn’t meet his eyes, lips barely moving in response, just starts cleaning an already clean surface. He swipes the towel right at Taehyung’s elbows, a clear go away signal.
Taehyung throws Jimin a triumphant smirk as he drops into the chair next to him.
“I’ve seen all I need to see.”
“Yeah, well, there’s a lot you don’t know.”
Taehyung raises his eyebrows at him expectantly.
“You see that guy?” Jimin subtly gestures over to Kim Namjoon. “Jungkook’s into him.”
“Oh? Do they have a thing? Is there where that hickey on his neck came from?”
Jimin goes red, and Taehyung laughs.
“Okay, so that’s a no.”
“It’s not what you think,” Jimin starts, lowering his voice so he’s sure Jungkook won’t hear. “He’s asked for my help to date him. My advice, so he wouldn't embarrass himself."
Taehyung blinks, taken aback. “You’re telling me that guy, that guy right there—”
Jimin lowers his hand. “Stop pointing, jesus!”
“That guy who almost crushed my hand with a card reader for getting handsy with you is into someone else?”
“You’re so dramatic.”
“I’m also correct.” He shrugs. "So where’d the hickey came from?"
“Me.” Jimin flushes, crossing his arms across his chest. “We were practising, and I got carried away.”
"That's dumb as fuck, Jimin-ah."
Jimin scowls. “I’m just helping out my friend.”
“Yah, come on. Admit it to me, at least.”
Jimin looks for Jungkook instinctively, and his heart skips when their eyes meet. He’s been watching them.
“I think you were right,” Jimin mutters after a moment. “About me.”
He doesn’t say my feelings, but he doesn’t need to. Taehyung slides an arm around Jimin’s shoulders, dropping a comforting kiss on his head. With a little sigh, he says, “I know, dummy.”
Jungkook doesn’t text him for the whole time he’s off on the trip with Taehyung.
He sees his stories, but not a single reaction, not a single message, not a single sign of life.
Taehyung makes fun of him for checking his phone all the time. “Instead of wasting all our time moping, why don’t you just text him first?”
"You’re moping.”
Taehyung ruffles his hair as he passes by him. “Do it while I’m in the shower, or I’ll steal your phone when you’re sleeping and do it myself.”
Jimin throws him a glare, but Taehyung just winks at him, unfazed, and disappears into the bathroom.
Jimin bites his lip, staring down at his phone screen. He caves.
jm
jungkook
jungkook-ah
j k
jeon jungkook!
oh my god i see you reading the messages
answer me!
jk
yo
jm
you suck
jk
what’s up
jm
just wanted to check if you’re alive
jk
barely, but yeah
you
jm
I’m writing to you from beyond the grave
the grim reaper thought he’d let me have a last go
at my phone as a goodbye
jk
nice of him
jm
so how are you
jk
I’m good
normal. same.
how’s your trip with taehyung
jm
it's really nice
we’re having a lot of fun!
it’s a relief yk bc i was a little worried we might not
get along as travel buddies, but he’s perfect
jk
cool
the photos look nice
gotta go, hyung
jm
oh?
jk
yeah sorry. see you when you’re back
Is he serious? They haven’t spoken in almost a week, and just as Jimin gets the conversation going a little, he says he has to go? No excuse, no explanation?
Jimin’s kinda mad, honestly. What was all that you promised we’d talk every day bullshit, then?
“So?”
He jerks, twisting his head to look at Taehyung, all wrapped up in the white bathrobe.
“What’d he say?”
“Not much.”
Taehyung raises an eyebrow. “Give.” He offers his palm, and Jimin drops his phone. He reads through the texts lightning quick and scoffs. He drops the phone back onto Jimin’s palm. “He’s jealous.”
“Tae.” Jimin rolls his eyes. Not this again. “He’s literally making me teach him how to impress someone else.”
“He’s also spending a lot of time kissing you and he’s also acting all jealous and possessive when I come into the picture.”
“Maybe he’s into you,” Jimin mutters, making a face.
“Har di har,” Taehyung says, sticking out his tongue at Jimin. “Look, I don’t know what his deal is with that other guy, but what I see right there,” he points at the phone, “is a jealous, sad little baby who’s waiting for his hyung to come back so he can pretend kiss you some more.”
the party.
Jimin sighs over his drink as Jungkook makes bro conversation next to him with someone possibly called Doyoung but also possibly not.
All Jimin knows about Doyoung is that they used to go to school together, and his parents own this house they’re in, being slowly but surely trashed by a horde of drunk straight men in snapbacks.
Just a few hours ago, he’d turned to his phone to find the first Jungkook-initiated interaction in a while, just a text saying there’s a party tonight, let’s go.
Jimin considered being petty and saying no, but.
It’s been three days since he hugged Taehyung goodbye at the station, almost two weeks since Jungkook hasn’t reached out, and less than a month until he has to pack his bags for next year.
Plus, he’s really bad at saying no to Jungkook.
It’s not a bad party, really. The music’s better than what he’d expected, which is already a point in its favour—but Jungkook keeps getting pulled away by girls who want to dance with him or dudes who want to talk to him about those same girls.
“Who knew you were so popular?” Jimin asks when Jungkook manages to make his way back to him.
“Shut up, it’s so annoying,” Jungkook says, handing Jimin another drink. “I barely get a moment’s peace.”
“Maybe I should just leave you to your fans,” he says, and he kind of means it. He’s been thinking about just slipping away for a while now.
"Hyung, you're staying, right?"
Jimin winces. "I..."
"Yeah, you are. Come on, of course you are." He reaches out and pulls at his shirt, stepping into his space. "There's dancing. You're really going to say no to dancing?"
Jimin pouts, thinking. Jungkook leans into Jimin's ear. "You can stay over at mine, if you want. Closer."
Jimin shivers. "But..."
"Come on, please?" He dips in and nuzzles his nose against Jimin's cheek. "For a little while."
He’s a bit frozen in surprise at how Jungkook’s acting—a big fat nothing from him for weeks and now this? Does he realise he’s being this touchy? People have been handing him drinks all night, is he that drunk?
Jimin must still not look convinced, because Jungkook says, “I’ll stay with you from now on.”
Jimin sighs. He’s so easy. "Fine."
True to his word, Jungkook stays with him. Somehow, people don’t come bother them anymore as they dance with each other. Jungkook starts out swaying awkwardly, just like the rest of the hopeless guys in here, but then Jimin takes it into his own hands, whispering directions in his ear. Relax, loosen your hips, put your hands there, listen to the music.
Jungkook catches up quickly, as always.
It’s fun. This is new for them, and it’s fun.
Jimin’s grateful, really, that every once in a while he looks up to find the face of someone whose older brother he went to school with—it helps remind him where he is, stops him from grabbing Jungkook by the hips and letting himself go completely.
It’s hot and smokey and crowded, and eventually Jimin’s had enough. He whispers I need some air to Jungkook’s ear and makes his way through the people to reach the balcony.
It’s chilly out. Jimin leans against the wall and breathes it in.
Jungkook’s followed, even though Jimin didn’t ask him to. He slides the glass door shut behind them and puts his hands next to Jimin's head, caging him in. "You're having fun?"
Jimin nods. “Not too bad, in the end.” Whatever the hell was in those drinks really helped with that. He holds on to the hem of Jungkook’s shirt. "But I needed out for a second. You?"
"Mm," Jungkook hums, tipping forward and pressing their foreheads together. Wow, he must really be gone, Jimin thinks, steadying him with a hand on his waist.
"We never used to hang out with these people. Now you're best friends.”
"Well, my real best friend was away for a year. Had to talk to someone." He’s whispering. "Or did you think I'd stay in some corner eating lunch all alone without you?"
Jimin pinches him weakly, but Jungkook doesn’t move away.
Jimin's questions aren't over. "You were never really a party person, how come we're still here?"
"You like parties," Jungkook says simply.
"I. Yeah."
"Lately we're always hanging out at mine or at work and you're always helping me out..." He presses his cheek to Jimin's and he's so warm. "I wanted to do your thing. To say thank you. Only fair."
God. God.
Jimin holds Jungkook's face in his hands and shakes him, just a little, to get rid of this violent burst of love inside him. "Why are you so fucking sweet, hm?"
Jungkook smiles. A few weeks ago he would have squirmed away, but this time he catches hold of Jimin’s wrist and runs his thumb gently over it.
“I’m sweet?”
“So fucking sweet. I can’t stand you.”
"And what else?"
Jimin's tipsy and in love, so he doesn't mind singing his praises, especially when Jungkook's eyes are shining so fucking brightly, playfully. "And cute. You're so cute, I always told you."
"You said I'm handsome, too."
"You are. Annoying how you're both. And funny, too."
"I think you're the only one who finds me funny."
"I'll keep you all to myself, then," he says, sincerity dripping from every syllable, suddenly. "Appreciate you properly."
That’s when Jungkook’s smile finally slips away, and his face is taken over by something completely different—intense, burning.
“Hyung.”
“Mm?”
Jungkook kisses him without a word of warning, pressing his back to the wall with one hand on Jimin’s stomach, the other sliding up his jaw.
Jimin gasps. He spends one second frozen in delighted surprise and then he makes a rough sound against Jungkook’s mouth and pulls him in by the shirt, hard and urgent.
Weeks of nothing, and now this. Jimin is hungry for it.
There’s people they know, people they grew up with, one sliding glass door away. People who wouldn’t take very kindly to two boys kissing like the world is ending on the balcony. They both know that, and yet they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other.
“You learn so fast,” Jimin says when Jungkook pulls away to kiss down his neck. “You—ah—were so shy the first time I kissed you, and now l-look at you.”
He feels Jungkook’s mouth move against his skin. “You’re a good teacher.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Jungkook says, pressing an open kiss to Jimin’s neck. “Teaching me just how you like to be kissed.”
Jimin should be scared, shouldn’t he? Should be worried, about what comes next, about the moment where they’ll have to pull excuses out of thin air and forget this, forget how good it feels.
He’s not scared, though, not when his whole body’s buzzing with Jungkook induced adrenaline. “My evil plan has been discovered.”
Jungkook laughs, and Jimin feels it all over his chest. He comes up, starts kissing Jimin’s jaw, heading to his mouth. “Evil.”
Just as he’s about to get back to the good bit, a thud comes from the other side of the wall and they spring apart.
Just in time too, because a group of guys stumble out, stinking of alcohol and laughing obnoxiously. A couple of them eye them curiously.
“What are you two doing out here?” one of them asks. Jimin does remember this one—he’s always found him particularly insufferable.
“We were just leaving,” he says, grabbing Jungkook’s wrist and pulling. Once again, Jungkook follows without complaint.
Soon, they’re spilling out into the quiet night, the electrifying atmosphere between them faded.
Jimin sticks his hands in his pockets. He's the one who pulled them out here, but he has no idea what to do next.
“So.”
He’s about to suggest going home just because he doesn’t know what else to say after what they just did, but Jungkook licks his lips and says, “There’s that playground, close to here.”
Jimin, who hasn’t gotten enough of Jungkook yet tonight, who hates the awkward air that’s settled between them, reaches out to take his hand again.
"You should get comfortable with hand holding, too," he says, as if to justify himself.
Jungkook tangles their fingers together without protest, moving closer. "Your hands are small," he mutters with a little smile.
"Or maybe you're just giant,” Jimin says, playing his role. “I don't like that you're taller than me."
Jungkook swings their hands between them, giggling. "This is nice."
"Yeah?"
"Mm. Never did it before."
Jungkook’s first kiss, Jungkook’s first hand holding. "So, it feels comfortable?"
"Yeah." Jungkook nods. "But then, it's you."
Jimin flushes. "What difference does that make?"
Jungkook takes a second to consider this, pursing his lips in thought. "It's ‘cause I know you so well. I don't think there's much about you I don't know."
Jimin chooses to say fuck all to that.
They let go once they arrive at the park, to take their seats on the swings. Jimin kind of wishes they’d hold on, like in the movies.
It’s a bit looser now between them. Jimin’s a little buzzed still, but the summer breeze feels good on his face. He leans his head against the chain and closes his eyes, enjoying the gentle swinging.
Jungkook’s going harder than him, kicking his feet in the sand and moving faster.
“Hyung, I have to tell you something.”
Jimin looks over at him, nodding to show he’s listening. What does he sound so serious for?
“I told him.”
He doesn’t need any further explanation. His mind conjures up an image of Jungkook, twisting the towel between his hands, walking over shyly to Namjoon and asking him out, just like they practised. He swallows hard. “When?”
“When you were away.” He’s drawing little lines in the sand with the tip of his shoe, scraping. “He said no.”
Jimin frowns. How could he have said no, is his first thought, and then, fuck. No wonder Jungkook’d been so curt over message. "I'm sorry."
"He's already in a relationship. Nothing I can do about that."
“You’re still allowed to feel bad.”
“I know,” Jungkook says. “But it’s not that. That day, he said this other thing."
Jimin looks at him questioningly. He still seems nervous, so uncharacteristically serious.
"He said he thought I was with someone too.” A pause. “With you."
That punches all the air out of Jimin’s lungs. "Me?” Jungkook nods. “He saw us, um. Practising?"
"No. No, he didn't. He just saw us when you came to work."
"And he thought we..."
"He said, you looked really in love, Jungkook-ssi. It was very sweet to see."
It hurts Jimin to hear that. It does, and he swallows hard, his throat parched all of a sudden.
“Wow. Um.” He closes his eyes, tries to gather his thoughts. This random stranger, someone he’s never even officially met, took one look at Jimin and said, wow, he’s in love.
If he did it so easily, what are the chances Jungkook doesn’t know?
He needs to fess up. Just to save himself a little dignity. To have a chance, to—to explain it on his own terms.
"I think it's my fault,” he mutters, then clears his throat. “I think he might have…seen me, you know?"
"Seen you, like...what do you mean?"
"Seen through me. Like, how I feel." He takes a breath. It’s just words, Park Jimin, what’s so difficult? "For you."
"How's that?”
Jimin would laugh if he didn’t feel like he’s about to jump off a cliff. "Come on, Kook, don't play dumb."
Jungkook stops moving in the swing. "What do you mean?"
I don’t think there’s much I don’t know about you.
Well, that’s about to be true.
"I have feelings for you." Jimin nods to himself, heart hammering in his chest. "I kind of realised this year, but I didn’t want—um. I didn’t let myself, I guess?” He needs to breathe, but he keeps forgetting, his lungs all tight. “But this summer, with everything—it just. Got worse."
All he’s wanted all night is to be somewhere quiet with Jungkook, somewhere far from the annoying boom of the party—but right now, he’d give anything for the distraction of it, for some vaguely familiar looking boy to come and drag Jungkook away.
“Hyung…”
Jungkook’s voice is hesitant, like he’s talking to a kid, like he doesn’t know what to do with him.
Jimin can’t look at him. There’s no way he can meet Jungkook’s eyes right now. He feels like he could float away at any moment, disappear into the air.
Jungkook gets up, holds on to the chains of Jimin’s swing to stop it moving. He calls out for him again. Jimin’s head is bent down, hair brushing Jungkook’s torso.
The words that do come out eventually are a surprise even to him, pulled out from somewhere deep. “Do you hate me?”
“What?”
“For thinking of you like that. For not telling you, for taking advantage—for, I don’t know, god, so much.”
Since Jimin won’t look up at him, Jungkook kneels down instead. He catches his eye finally, and he’s looking at Jimin like he’s fragile. “Could never hate you, Jimin-ah. Be serious.”
There’s a knot in Jimin’s throat.
He can barely get his voice to go above a whisper, but he has to try. He’s not controlling his mouth anymore. “Can I give you a hug?”
“Why are you asking,” Jungkook says, pulling him in immediately. Jimin’s hands go above his shoulders, his face tucked into his neck. Jungkook folds around him just the same. “You don’t have to ask to give me a hug.”
“Okay,” Jimin whispers, holding him tighter.
Now that Jungkook’s not looking at him, he’s shaking, in relief, in adrenaline, in shock, who knows. It’s been so long since they hugged, really hugged.
It feels so right, Jimin thinks, and then wants to hit himself for it. But it does. It feels like every second he hasn’t spent cosied up in Jungkook’s arms has been a colossal waste of time.
What a sight they must make, kneeling in a deserted playground, clinging on to each other.
“Hyung.”
“No,” Jimin mutters stubbornly.
Jungkook laughs in his ear. “Just want to tell you something.”
“Do it like this.”
“Okay,” Jungkook says, soft and indulgent, his arms going around Jimin again. “I’ll just confess to you like this, I guess.”
Jimin’s heart stops. “Confess?”
“Yes.”
Jimin’s the one who tries to pull away this time, but Jungkook holds him firm, nosing into his shoulder.
“I don’t…”
“I know this is all a mess, because I had this crush on someone else.”
“Namjoon,” Jimin says, like it’s a magic word that will snap Jungkook out of this.
“Yeah. I really did, back then, when I asked you for your help. But then…it just kind of got lost in everything.”
“Everything?”
Jungkook finally lets him pull back. When their eyes meet, Jimin feels it like a physical blow, because Jungkook’s here, and he’s looking at him like that.
Like Jimin looks at him.
“Everything.”
“I don’t understand,” Jimin says softly.
Jungkook licks his lips, takes a breath like he’s steeling himself to get going.
“That first time you kissed me my heart just kind of…” he makes a gesture for an explosion, widening his eyes. It’s done expressly to get Jimin to smile, and it works, because Jungkook is an expert at that. Jungkook smiles too, at the sight.
“And then I panicked a little. But I told myself,” he squares his shoulders, sticks out his chest, “Jungkook, you have to pay attention to what you’re feeling.” He lowers his voice, makes it booming and dramatic. “Follow your heart, Jungkook.”
Jimin’s giggling now, eyes watery, hand grasping at Jungkook’s shirt. He leans forward a bit, eliminating some of the small distance left between them.
“So, my heart,” Jungkook starts again, smiling nervously.
“Your heart,” Jimin repeats, wiping his eyes. He brings his hand over it, presses it to Jungkook’s chest. “What is it telling you?”
“Can’t you hear it?”
Jimin laughs again, again, forever. “How can I hear it?”
With a cheeky little smile, Jungkook leans in to hover over Jimin’s ear. He brings his hand up to cover Jimin’s on his chest, and presses it in the rhythm of a heartbeat. “Ji-min. Ji-min. Ji-min.”
Jimin pushes him away, cheeks flushing red. “You’re so—”
Jungkook giggles, and Jimin can’t look away.
“I’m ready,” he says with a firm nod. “To pass from practice to the real thing.”
Jimin blinks. “You mean—”
Jungkook starts counting on his fingers. “We did the asking out, and the first kiss, and the intimate gestures, and the handholding,” he brings up his other hand, “and the making out, and the hickeys, and the confession.” He looks at Jimin. “Is there something missing from the curriculum?”
Jimin shakes his head. “No, that’s about it.”
“Great.” Jungkook nods again. “Then I’m ready.”
Jimin’s scared he’s understanding this wrong. “To…”
“To date,” he says, and then tacks on, a bit shy, “if you want.”
Okay. So he got that right, then.
Wow.
“Jungkook.”
“Mm?”
“My knees hurt.”
“Oh.”
Jungkook pulls him up and swoops him into his arms bridal style. Jimin welps, wrapping his arm across his neck. “What are you doing?”
“Will you date me?”
“Jungkook,” Jimin says with an incredulous laugh.
Jungkook throws him a little up and catches him again, and Jimin makes an undignified choked noise. “Jungkook!”
“Date me!”
“Put me d—” He does it again, and again, and Jimin’s happy and laughing and tipsy. “Yes, okay, yes! Stop that right now!”
Jungkook stills. “Really?”
“Yes, really,” Jimin says with an eye roll. “Put me down or I’ll bite you.”
“Yes, please.”
Jimin pinches his neck instead, and only then does he put him down. Still, Jungkook doesn’t let him go far, gripping onto Jimin’s shirt.
He cups Jungkook’s face. “You’re serious?”
“Do you want me to kneel again?”
Jimin flicks his nose. “Jungkook.”
All traces of humour slip away from Jungkook’s face, leaving behind something gentle and open. “I’m serious.” He leans in, kisses the corner of Jimin’s mouth. “Date me, teacher.”
Jimin’s starting to break through the shock of the last few minutes, and the only thing that comes out of his mouth suddenly is, "You’re such a little shit.”
"If that's how it’s gonna be—"
“Would you rather I call you something else?” He leans closer, seizing at the opportunity to tease back. “Sweetheart?” Jungkook’s eyes widen. “Baby?” Jungkook’s cheeks grow warm under Jimin’s palms, and Jimin laughs. “You like that, don’t you?”
“Shut up,” Jungkook mumbles, a pretty little flush on his cheeks. “That wasn’t in the lessons.”
“Mm,” Jimin says, slinging his arms around Jungkook’s shoulders. “Can’t show you all my cards right away, can I.”
Jungkook smiles. “You are full of surprises.”
Jimin nods. He leans closer again, stops just short of Jungkook’s mouth. He wants to see, wants to check if Jungkook will—
He drops a peck to Jimin’s mouth, like he can’t help himself. Jimin’s heart flutters, like the cliche that he is.
They sway into each other for a silent moment before Jungkook speaks again.
“You know, I thought you’d say no.” He bumps his nose onto Jimin’s. “To this practising thing. It wasn’t the most normal thing to ask.”
Jimin huffs. “It was weird as fuck, Jungkook-ah.”
Jungkook lets out a nervous little laugh. “Yeah. Good thing you didn’t.”
Jimin takes his chance then, takes his time to look all over his pretty face, from the mole under his lip to the scar on his cheek to his dark, long eyelashes to his beautiful fucking sparkling eyes.
“What,” Jungkook asks, a little hushed. “What are you looking at, hm?”
“Just…it’s you.”
“Yeah,” Jungkook says with a blink. “What. Am I missing something?”
“My first kiss,” Jimin says, a little hushed too. “My first kiss with someone I really, really like. It’s you.”
Jungkook’s face goes from confusion to sweet wonder to perfect, wholesome joy in smooth succession. He ducks his head into Jimin’s shoulder, groaning.
“I can’t handle you like this,” He tightens his hold over Jimin’s waist. “Hyung, you have to go easy on me.”
Jimin drops a kiss to Jungkook’s head, hardly believing he’s allowed to. “No.”
“Not even if I ask really nice?” He presses a kiss to Jimin’s neck, a second, a third. “Mm?”
Jimin runs a hand through Jungkook’s hair, too tender. “Maybe.”
Jungkook comes back into view, and whispers into Jimin’s mouth. “Please?”
Jimin pulls him in, and they sink into a kiss, loaded with but then, it’s you, with i know it’s a mess— loaded with you’re such a little shit, with sweetheart.
The summer’s ending soon—they’ve spent all of it circling each other, and now, a few weeks away from Jimin’s train ride back, they’ve managed to unpack that delicate truth Jimin’s brought along in his suitcase.
Jimin doesn’t take it back with him, when the time comes, so there’s place for other things instead—for Jungkook’s self-satisfied little smile as he says, see you on halloween, refusing to tell Jimin details about the surprise he’s already organised for his birthday. Space for the memory of their long goodbye kiss in the car, for the way Jungkook’s hand wrapped around his on the platform.
Space for see you soon, I miss you already, for shut up, you’re so corny, for bye, baby.
Jimin’s smiling as the train starts to move, as he drops his head back onto the seat and chuckles.
He has so much to tell Taehyung.