#side pairing taegi

[ugh-yoongi]

the retreat | jhs

(or, the one where namjoon just wants hoseok to take care of himself, but then there's a fake relationship, only one bed, a guy who doesn't talk, and maybe a weird cult.)

✤ pairing: hoseok x f. reader ✤ genre: childhood bf2l, fake dating-ish au; crack, fluff, smut ✤ rating: explicit. minors do not interact. ✤ warnings: there is a lot of talk about food and eating in here, so i would not suggest reading this if you are sensitive to those kinds of triggers. tropes galore! side taegi. 5th muster jimin from that one vcr. hobi is pansexual and i do not wanna hear from the weirdos during pride month, or ever. he is a millionaire tho so he's not off the hook. a slight astrological dragging. a strained mother-daughter relationship. the smut is not super explicit or detailed but warnings are as follows: kissing, oral sex (f. receiving), biting, hair pulling, hobi may or may not rip a pair of underwear, fingering, protected vaginal sex. a brief but canonical breaking-the-fourth-wall appearance by park bogum. beta'd by me, so any mistakes are my own. ✤ wordcount: 19.6k ✤ thank you: @the-boy-meets-evil, as always, for the encouragement and reading every draft of this. @hot-soop for both the astrological advice and advice in general. @effortandmore for reading this over recently and telling me it was worth finishing. i would get absolutely nothing done without the three of you. ✤ author's note: i was supposed to have this posted for jess's birthday two years ago. we're not gonna talk about that, because this just means i'm a month early for this year. happy early birthday, jess! anyway~ this is basically a 20k love letter to jung hoseok bc i miss him. i hope you enjoy it.

Jung Hoseok is overworked.

(He’s also filthy rich, the proud owner of not one but two Lamborghinis [that he doesn’t even drive], and smiling on the cover of Forbes. He has a top floor penthouse in the most expensive high-rise in the city and a vacation home along the Italian coast. When he needs to go on a business trip, his driver takes him straight to the tarmac where he boards a private plane. His tailor just sends him clothes now, the cost of dressing Jung Hoseok far outweighed by the dozens of other filthy rich men who flock to his store to buy whatever he’s wearing.)

Jung Hoseok is also going to have a stroke and die before the age of 30, because what’s a little money at the expense of his mental well-being and cardiac health?

“All things considered, it wouldn’t be the worst way to go out,” he argues, clammy palms flat on his expensive desk. Rosewood, because not only is he a millionaire, he’s a millionaire with taste. None of that monochromatic minimalist bullshit for him, thank you.

In front of him, Kim Namjoon also looks to be on the verge of a stroke. Not of the same variety. Namjoon is paid well because he works for Hoseok and Hoseok insists on it. None of that heartless, dickhead-to-everyone, impossible-to-work-for CEO reputation for him, either, thank you.

Namjoon is also a militant vegan and has twenty-six plants and one bonsai on his desk named Bonnie. He insists on spending his lunch breaks in Hoseok’s office, lecturing him on the benefits of plant-based diets and exercise and meditation. Despite his perpetual smile and sunny demeanor, no one else speaks to Hoseok this way, but Namjoon does. Absolutely doesn’t give a shit.

“It absolutely would be the worst way to go out. Have you even been listening to me?”

Hoseok sighs and closes the symptoms of a stroke tab in his browser. “I always listen to you, Namjoon, I just don’t always listen.” A smart choice, too, judging by the swamp-colored sludge Namjoon has in a glass container, because he doesn’t use plastics.

Following his boss’s line of sight, Namjoon frowns. “It’s a pitaya bowl. Don’t look at it like that.”

“It looks radioactive,” Hoseok says, face contorted in a wince. “Like it’s going to become sentient and sprout six arms.”

Namjoon scoffs. “If it does, I hope it uses all six of them to slap the shit out of you.”

“I could pay it to spare me,” Hoseok insists, chin jutting out indignantly.

One of the reasons Hoseok had all but demanded HR hire Namjoon—despite there being a plethora of other candidates who were just as qualified and nowhere near as hell-bent on him taking care of himself—was his grit and determination. He’d showed up two hours early to his interview and steamed his suit jacket in the employee bathroom. It was completely insane and even more neurotic, but Hoseok had been taken with him immediately.

Now, it seems that determination and hard-headed nature is coming back to bite Hoseok in the ass.

“Oh, yeah? You’re gonna pay your blood to not get cut off from your brain and your heart, too? Well, good for you, Hobi. I heard blood has even started taking American Express. You’re in luck—”

Unable to take anymore, Hoseok groans and waves his arms to cut him off. “Okay, I get it! God, why did I hire you? Your desk alone has to be violating at least fourteen different health codes. Your office is humid. Do you know how impossible that is to achieve outside of a greenhouse?”

“You hired me because I’m good at my job and I’m not afraid of you, so I have no issue slapping your fourth double bacon cheeseburger of the day out of your greasy, on-the-brink-of-dying hands. Christ, you act like it’d actually kill you to eat a vegetable for once.”

Hoseok squawks. “Hey! That definitely didn’t come up in the interview, and I have never eaten four cheeseburgers in a day. Stop being hyperbolic.”

“Speaking of things that start with hyper- and have a Bin them, hyperbaric therapy is great for people with infections from oxygen-starved tissue—”

“Is this what you do all day? You just sit on the internet and search for diseases I could potentially die from and then you come in here and harass me about them?”

Namjoon’s face, which had previously been scrunched up in righteous indignation, smooths over into something far more serious. (He doesn’t even have wrinkles. Namjoon’s skincare routine must be immaculate.)“Someone has a stroke every forty seconds in this country, Hoseok. I wouldn’t joke about this.”

Well, okay. Every forty seconds is far more often than Hoseok had been expecting. Not that he thinks about stroke statistics often, and definitely not outside of Namjoon’s overbearing presence—but, in his defense, it’s not like he’s had much of a reason. He gets a physical and routine blood work done every year and his doctor has never rung any alarm bells, so why would he?

But the resolution with which Namjoon is hammering away at this is definitely giving him pause.

It doesn’t go unnoticed by him, either. “See, you are concerned! Look, you’re far more likely to stick with something if you don’t overwhelm yourself, so let’s start small, okay? One salad per day. And a real salad, Hoseok—not one of those ones loaded with cheese and bacon and drenched in ranch dressing.”

Hoseok’s jaw snaps closed. “Then what’s the point of eating a salad?”

“To prevent you from dying before your thirtieth birthday. We’ve already established this.”

“Okay,” Hoseok drawls, “but it’s not the salad’s fault if that happens. You shouldn’t take it out on him.”

Namjoon gags. “Leave it to me to work for a man who thinks salads are male.” He casts his gaze skyward. “Please, Lord, if you’re listening, please put me out—”

“Please put me out of my misery first,” Hoseok interjects, also staring at the ceiling. Then, with a leveled glare, he says to Namjoon, “Fine. State your terms.”

“Really?” Namjoon asks, having the audacity to look shocked.

“Yeah, if it’ll get you off my back. I can’t spend one more lunch break in here with you.”

Namjoon smiles. Nothing friendly, either—it’s purely sinister and mocking. Then he says, “Great success!” in a horrible impersonation of Borat and the moment’s gone, lost to the stagnant air conditioning of Hoseok’s office.

Unsurprisingly, Namjoon’s terms include a lot of vegetables.

Hoseok has a private chef, of course, so it’s not like he has to really do much other than smile through the pain. But, really, would it actually kill him to be allowed a steak or some lamb skewers? What had started off as salads for lunch has turned into a full-blown war between the two of them. Hoseok had shown up with cheese and bacon on his salad one time and Namjoon nearly went off the rails, performing a very enthusiastic speech about how Hoseok cannot be trusted when left to his own devices, so here they are.

Namjoon’s trying his hardest to crack Hoseok, and Hoseok wouldn’t have become the CEO of a Fortune 500 company by the age of twenty-eight if he were so easily cracked.

So, yeah, here they are. Locked in a stalemate like two idiot deer with their antlers tangled together, except instead of feuding over territory or a mate, they’re ready to spear one another over vegetables.

Darwin would have a lot to say about this.

On Friday, at exactly one-o’clock on the dot, Namjoon barges into Hoseok’s office and slaps a stapled-together pile of papers onto his desk. “New terms.”

“Oh, no thank you,” Hoseok replies airily. “I’m not much of a Dua Lipa fan.”

“Wha—that’s ‘New Rules.’”

“Is it?” Hoseok’s smiling, eyebrows raised in that way that makes him look super charming and innocent.

Namjoon isn’t fooled, though. “Cut it out. I saw you eating ribs under your desk the other day. You owe me this.”

Not much shocks Hoseok, but being outed like this so brazenly sure does. “How did you know about that?”

“Uh, did you forget your office walls are made out of glass?” Namjoon twirls a finger in a circle, as if to say look at your four glass walls, you fucking idiot. Isn’t it great to be rich and have no privacy? “Not to mention you had a glob of barbeque sauce on your shirt that I could smell from a mile away.”

“I could’ve put it on my salad,” Hoseok reasons.

“Oh, please.” Namjoon rolls his eyes. “Six ribs and a side of potato salad does not a salad make.”

“What do you mean? It’s literally called potato salad, isn’t it? God, you’re uptight.”

Namjoon sucks in a deep breath, most likely reciting meditation mantras in his head while he thinks about his plants. “I didn’t come in here for this,” he eventually says, and Hoseok is honestly impressed at how collected he sounds. “The point is you can’t be trusted, so there’s new terms.”

Grabbing the stack of papers, Hoseok flips through them casually. “And if I don’t agree? Don’t forget I’m your boss.”

“If you don’t agree, I’m posting the security footage of you eating those ribs on Twitter.” Hoseok’s looking positively scandalized now. He wouldn’t. Namjoon wouldn’t do that to him. “Honestly, Hoseok. You should be ashamed of yourself. You looked like that video of that oversized baby covered in peanut butter.”

“Are you blackmailing me?” Hoseok asks, eyes narrowed. “Seriously, who are you? Because the man standing across from me is not my sweet baby Namjoon. Sweet, sweet Namjoon, who always checks the toilet bowl before he uses it because he saw one of those videos from Australia of a snake being in there and he’d feel too guilty to even piss on a snake—”

Namjoon plants his palms on Hoseok’s desk and puffs out his chest a little. It’s a great chest, Hoseok must admit. Namjoon had mentioned in passing he’d started going to the gym, so he’s not—“I’m not afraid of you,” Namjoon reminds him. “Try me.”

“I have thirty-two lawyers.”

All Namjoon does is quirk an eyebrow. “I have thirty-thousand Twitter followers.”

“I can fire you.”

“Please do. Capitalism is a scourge on this earth and I no longer wish to participate in it.”

“I can fire you and make sure you never find employment in this city ever again.”

Namjoon shrugs. “Fine by me. I’ve been thinking about moving out of the city, anyway. Too much air pollution and I have no space to garden.”

Two things become clear very quickly: 1. Namjoon is far more cut-throat than Hoseok ever anticipated him being; and 2. Hoseok is woefully underprepared for this particular battle. No matter. He’s business-savvy. There’s no shame in conceding an unwinnable battle if he can still win the war, and that’s exactly what he’s going to do.

“Fine,” he relents after an awkward staring contest that lasts two minutes too long. “What are your new terms, then?”

“You have to go to a wellness retreat.”

Hoseok can’t stop the giggle that bubbles out of his mouth. “Sorry, did you say a retreat? How is that a punishment?”

“It isn’t,” Namjoon says. “It’s meant to reset your body and mind. No phones allowed. Just you and your partner in the refreshing, reinvigorating air of the rainfor—”

“What was that?” Hoseok interjects.

“What, the rainforest part? Don’t worry, it’s safe. You’re not, like, sleeping outside with tarantulas and shi—”

“No, not that. Me and my who?”

“Oh!” Namjoon grins. “Your partner. See, I did a lot of research and found the absolute best and most effective wellness retreat for people of your… uh, standard. And the man who runs this retreat is incredible. Like, world-renowned. But the catch is it’s a couple’s retreat, so you’ll have to find someone to play pretend with you for a month.”

Hoseok is a great businessman. He’s good at negotiations and managing relationships and making smart, anticipatory decisions. He has the bank account and name plate with accompanying title on his desk to prove it. But, as he takes in Namjoon’s words, the only thing his brain can come up with is the Windows shutdown sound and a glaring blue screen alerting him to danger.

Nevertheless, one of Hoseok’s rules for business is to never let the opposition see him frazzled. “Why don’t you just come with me?” he offers casually, his tone completely at odds with the pained, panicked expression on his face.

“Two reasons,” Namjoon says quickly and without hesitation, as if he expected this and had all the time in the world to prepare a rebuttal. “First, you couldn’t pay me enough to act like we’re a couple. No offense, but you’re kind of insufferable and I would never date a carnivore—”

Hoseok clicks his tongue. “Wow. Some offense taken.”

“—Second, someone has to stay behind and hold down the fort if you’re going to be gone for a month.”

“Why can’t Brad do it?” Hoseok asks. This time his strained tone completely gives him away.

“You don’t trust Brad.”

Hoseok’s brows furrow. “I never said that.”

“You absolutely did say that,” Namjoon responds immediately, pulling out his phone. “On April nineteenth at approximately ten-twenty in the morning, you said, and I quote, ‘Namjoon, why do you think I hired you? If I had to suffer through having one more Ivy League white guy who played lacrosse and got grandfathered into a fraternity as my assistant, I was going to throw myself down this elevator shaft.’ To which I replied, ‘Oh, you don’t like Brad?’ And you said, ‘Brad’s fine, I guess. I just don’t trust him.’ So, I asked you why, and you said, ‘I wouldn’t trust Brad to order a box of staples, let alone to know the difference between tteokbokki and hotteok—’”

“That doesn’t sound like something I’d say at all,” Hoseok lies. It absolutely sounds like something he’d say at ten-twenty in the morning on the nineteenth of April. “Also, did you really make a note of that? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Of course I didn’t,” Namjoon fires back. “I obviously took a voice recording of it first and transcribed it later. Sometimes I listen to it on repeat when I really want to strangle you and it calms me, because it serves as a reminder that if I go to prison for attempted murder, Brad will take my job. And we can’t have that, because you might simply distrust Brad, but I fucking hate him.”

Hoseok gapes a little. “We sure can’t,” he agrees. Tense air settles between the two of them as they both wait for the other to make the first move. Namjoon’s patient, having already played his hand knowing Hoseok has nothing to trump him, but Hoseok’s stubborn. He’ll drag this out as long as humanly possible. He’ll be ninety years old, on his fourth heart transplant, and still waiting to go on this trip. He’ll—

He’ll have to step down as CEO, because he has, once again, severely underestimated Kim Namjoon.

“Stop thinking so hard. It’s already booked and paid for.”

“With whose money?”

“Company card.”

“Which has my name on it. I’ll just cancel it.”

“It’s non-refundable, but go ahead. You’re still out all that money, though, so you might as well go.”

“I can’t just take a month off,” Hoseok says. He’s grasping at straws now. No one would dare tell him no, even if he wanted to take the next six years off. Human Resources would simply say of course, sir, have a great vacation, sir, see you in six years, sir, and off he’d go.

“Sure you can.” Namjoon stands, wipes his hands on the dress pants stretched to their limit across his thighs, and looks entirely too smug. “Better start looking for a date. Maybe you’ll have some luck on Tinder.”

Bile rises in Hoseok’s throat. “Tinder? Are you joking? I’m too rich to go on there. What if I find a nice date, take them home, and wake up in a bathtub full of ice because they found out who I was and decided to sell my organs?”

“No one would want them,” Namjoon deadpans. “I see the absolute filth you funnel into that body of yours and I can say, with one-hundred percent certainty, that your organs are worthless. Mine, on the other hand. Pristine—”

“Get the hell out of my office. I can’t even look at you right now.”

Good thing, too, because Namjoon’s still wearing that stupid little smirk. The really smug one that infuriates Hoseok to no end because it brings out his dimples, makes him look innocent and cute even though he’s not. The one that gloats Namjoon’s victory, like he’d known all along it was going to end this way. He’d hid those cards so far up his sleeve, Hoseok’s surprised they hadn’t started sprouting from his ears. God, he’s really insufferable. Makes Hoseok’s blood pressure spike something fierce.

“Did you ever stop to consider you’re the problem?” Hoseok calls to Namjoon’s retreating frame. When had he gotten so broad? “That maybe, if my heart does give out, it’ll be because I have to deal with you, the most stressful person on earth?”

“Nah, it’ll definitely be because two of your desk drawers are full of those disgusting oatmeal creme pies.” Somehow, Namjoon looks even more smug as Hoseok tries to discreetly glance at the aforementioned drawers. How does he find out all these things? “Anyway, you leave in two weeks! Good luck in your search. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon, sir.”

Just as he’d assumed would be the case, Hoseok has no luck on Tinder.

See, he’d fucked up from the beginning, deciding to be honest and truthful and explain his plight to any sympathetic pair of eyes that may have gazed upon it. He’d also decided to use his real name, and anyone familiar with those List of Billionaires We Should Eat listicles had snuffed him out immediately. Long gone were the days of genuine conversation and playful flirting. Now, Hoseok’s inbox is full of more genitalia than he’s ever seen in his life. He’s literally drowning in it and can’t even take time to appreciate the situation in which he’s accidentally found himself.

He’s absolutely going to kill Kim Namjoon once this is all over.

After getting over the embarrassment of the next day’s MULTIMILLIONAIRE CEO JUNG HOSEOK SPOTTED ON TINDERheadline, because he hadn’t even had the good sense to use Raya, Hoseok resigns himself to scrolling through the contacts list in his phone. He’s not desperate or stupid enough to invite his ex, or any of the myriad of names he can’t put to faces because, despite what Namjoon says, he’s still concerned about his organs, so he also resigns himself to calling you.

His best friend.

Who’s going to spend the rest of her life roasting him over this.

“What a pleasant surprise,” you greet him. “Haven’t heard from you in weeks. Let me guess, you need me to make another burner account and explain to Rose Emoji and Hammer and Sickle Twitter why they shouldn’t eat you?”

“No—”

You tsk. “That’s a shame. I think I missed my calling in life.”

“Being a Twitter troll?”

“Yeah, obviously,” you agree. “Do you remember that time I set up the fake Gofundme to pay for my conservative cousin’s cephalanalectomy surgery because the liberal snowflake surgeon refused to perform it and he was going to die if they literally did not remove his head from his ass? That was fucking gold, Hobi. I’m a natural.”

“You’re definitely something,” he acquiesces. Then he has an idea. “Hey, do you wanna help me troll Namjoon?”

Your silence is deafening. “Uh, that depends.” Oh, Hoseok does not like your hesitation at all. “He has, like, a lot of Twitter followers, so I’m not trying to beef with him publicly, even if it is on a burner account.”

“Don’t tell me you’re afr—what the fuck kind of Twitter following does this guy have?”

“It’s probably better if you don’t know,” you say, voice laced with faux-concern. “I like Namjoon and I’d like him to remain employed by you simply so he can annoy the absolute fuck out of you until the day you either retire or die. So, yeah, let’s keep that between him and I.”

Hoseok feels dizzy. Probably because he’s been eating all these goddamn salads and now he’s nutritionally deficient. “Whatever. I do actually need your help with something, though.”

“You know my rates.”

“Why do I have to pay to hang out with you?” Hoseok whines. “Isn’t my life-long friendship enough?”

You snort. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Why is everyone bullying me lately? Can’t you spare a crumb of empathy for your best friend?”

“Empathy machine broke,” you deadpan. “Come on, ask me what my terms are. I already know what I want this time.”

Hoseok sighs. He wouldn’t relent this quickly for anyone else. He has a reputation to uphold, after all. “Fine. What are your—”

“I want a Birkin bag and dinner from that new Brazilian place by your office.”

“That’s a definite no on the bag,” Hoseok says. “I’m not spending that much money on anyone who isn’t my future spouse. We can have dinner, though.”

“I think you misheard me, sunshine. I said I want to go to dinner there. I’m going to gorge myself on expensive all-you-can-eat meats and I do not want to taint my experience watching you shovel a miserable, wilted salad into that pretty little heart-shaped mouth of yours. I’ll get agita.”

“Agi—I can’t believe this,” Hoseok whines, feeling the apples of his cheeks tinge red. “Have you and Namjoon been getting together to conspire against me? Is that why the two of you are bullying me?”

Hoseok expects you to say no. He expects you to say that you and Namjoon don’t even speak, you’d only met him once at that Christmas party a year ago, during which Namjoon spent the entire time waxing poetic about conifers and that time he dropped acid at Yosemite and cried for a week straight. But no. No, you don’t say anything at all, and if Hoseok was feeling bullied and just a little scandalized before, he’s absolutely feeling tortured now.

Namjoon, on his own, is bad.

You, on your own, are worse.

The two of you, together? No. Hoseok simply can’t—and won’t—allow it.

You suck in a breath. “In my defense—”

“You absolute traitor,” Hoseok seethes. “You, of all people, have betrayed me?”

There’s a tiny gasp on the other end of the line. “Oh, come off it, Hobi!” you snap. “Have you ever seen yourself eat? It’s foul. Like something straight out of Animal Planet.”

“It is not!”

“It is, and you know it,” you fire back. “I once watched you eat an entire personal-sized pizza in forty-two seconds. I don’t even think you chewed it. You just detached your jaw like some kind of creepy snake and inhaled. Something needed to be done.”

It’s Hoseok’s turn to gasp. “And that something was going full Judas Iscariot and selling me out to the Romans for thirty pieces of silver?”

There’s a pause on your end. “Is Namjoon the Romans in this scenario? Because, if so, I’ve got to say—”

“Who cares!” Hoseok snaps. “Who fucking cares who the Romans are—”

“The Romans, probably,” you chime in unhelpfully.

“—because the two of you have officially given me agita. How’s that? Huh? First I have to sit through all of Namjoon’s lunch lectures—”

“He should trademark that. Has a nice ring to it. Namjoon’s Lunch Lectures.”

“—then, I had to start eating salads. Salads. Then he signs me up for some stupid wellness retreat in the goddamn rainforest and tells me I have to find a fucking date, so off I go to Tinder, but everyone on there only wanted me for my harvestable organs, so I was like, ‘You know what, Hoseok? You know who you can always count on? Your best friend of twenty years. She’s never let you down. She’ll go with you, and the two of you will have a good time, because she’s your best friend and you enjoy her company.’ But no, come to find out—”

There’s a very loud shriek of laughter. “Oh my god. Holy shit, Hobi, is that really why you called? Namjoon actually signed you up for that couple’s retreat?”

Now, there’s a very loud shriek of disbelief. “You fucking knew about that?” You try to contain your snort. Really, you do, but it’s no match for Hoseok’s palpable ire. “You knew, and you didn’t tell me?”

“Oh, come on! It’ll be good for you, sunshine. You’re clearly overworked. You had visible stress lines in the last selfie you posted on Instagram.”

“I did not, I use hyaluronic acid!” he insists, but if Hoseok swipes out of your call to pull up his Instagram account, no one has to know.

You groan. “Why do you keep arguing with me? I’m never wrong.”

“Yes you are.” There’s a very pointed pause during which Hoseok can very clearly, in his head, hear you say see?

“Listen,” you say, voice strong with all the conviction of a person who hadn’t spent the last five minutes being a menace to society—and Hoseok. “I’ll go with you. I have some time off from my program and there’s nothing I’d rather do than spend a whole month in the rainforest with you.”

“I feel like that was sarcastic.”

You tut. “Honestly, Hobi, it’s like you don’t even know me at all. You know number three on my bucket list is going to Costa Rica to hang out with sloths.”

His phone pings a second later with a text from you. An article about a sloth sanctuary greets him, and he swallows the immediate ew that’s on the tip of his tongue. Sloths are cute, sure, but they also have bugs. “Great,” he chokes out. “Are you gonna meet a sloth and turn into Kristen Bell? Because I’m not signing up for that. You look like Kim Kardashian when you cry.”

“Fuck you.” Hoseok is a millionaire, he doesn’t deserve this treatment. “Now, what are your plans for tomorrow night? Let’s do dinner. We need to take a bunch of selfies during sunsets so we look like a plausible couple.”

When he was eight and you were seven, Hoseok witnessed his first act of violence.

A kid on the school bus had been giving him a hard time. Nothing totally awful, just being a bit of a dick the way kids are wont to do, and Hoseok was a pushover back then. Just wanted everyone to like him so he never really stuck up for himself. Just smiled and laughed off the teasing and cried about it later.

Apparently this was unacceptable to you.

You tossed your bookbag in Hoseok’s lap, pushed up your sleeves, made your way to the back of the bus, and told that kid you’d slam his head into the window if he didn’t stop picking on Hoseok.

He’d gotten his head slammed into the window approximately fourteen seconds later.

(Never messed with Hoseok again, though.)

Since then, the two of you have been nearly inseparable. Sure, there had been petty arguments here and there, and Hoseok had gone to an Ivy League across the country, but it was rare for the two of you to go more than a few days without talking. Even now, when Hoseok works eighty hour weeks and is busy being a Very Important Person, he still makes time for you. Sometimes that time is just exchanging stupid memes over text, but he always makes the effort.

Which is why, even though you don’t see the point in crafting some elaborate backstory and had only said the thing about the sunset selfies to con him into coming over, he stays quiet and shows up to your apartment for dinner and worldbuilding anyway, because it’s been too long since he’s last been here and he misses you.

“Are you taking notes?” Hoseok asks, pointing at you with his fork. “This is important.”

You groan into your wine glass. “Fake dating is so hard,” you whine. “Why can’t we just tell the truth?”

He levels you with a stare. “Because! Don’t you think it’s a bit…”

“What, you think it’s totally unbelievable that I could be in love with you?”

Oh. Hoseok doesn’t like this at all, either. Doesn’t like the way the words sound in your mouth. Doesn’t like the way his stomach drops as he digests them. Doesn’t like how nice they sound, like you’d just waded through all the extracurricular bullshit to get straight to the point and arrive at the inevitable conclusion, which is the two of you riding off together into that sunset you’d mentioned before.

He doesn’t like feeling like he might want that.

It’s not like he’s never thought about it. You’re his best friend and he has 20/20 vision, so of course he has. It's always just been one of those things: didn’t want to ruin your friendship, moved across the country, got too busy, didn’t think you’d want him like that in return.

“I—no,” he says unconvincingly. “I just… it’d totally be weird, right? Us pretending to be a couple?” He throws in a chuckle for good measure, as if the thought of dating you is so preposterous it simply has to be a joke.

You just shrug. Where Hoseok is all nervous jitters, you’re solid and unshaken, always. “Not really. We’ve been friends forever. We’re obviously comfortable with each other. You showing up to my place in those disgusting crochet shoes is proof enough of that.”

Hoseok looks down at his feet and frowns. “They’re Valentino.”

“More like Valenti-no.”

He rolls his eyes. “See, that right there is why we can’t wing this. I can’t pretend to like your awful jokes. I’ll out myself immediately.”

You roll yours right back. “Nah, I think it works. You’re obviously the high-strung CEO who doesn’t appreciate good humor when he sees it and I’m the sad housewife who just wants you to laugh at my jokes.” You jut out your bottom lip and pretend to cry. “Why won’t you just laugh at my jokes, Hobi?”

He flicks a green bean at you. “How’d we go from fake dating to fake marriage? Stop trying to swindle me.”

Once again, you pout dramatically. “God, first you refuse to laugh at my jokes, now you refuse to marry me? You’re breaking my heart here.”

“I’m not buying you a ring,” Hoseok scoffs. “I know for a fact you’ll just turn around and sell it for triple the price to some poor, unsuspecting bastard.”

“Not my fault there’s a lot of poor, unsuspecting bastards in the world. All of this just proves, for the billionth time, that I’m the better businessperson between the two of us.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Hoseok sighs. “Just because your lemonade stand outsold mine once doesn’t mean—”

“I also outsold you during that candle fundraiser in the fifth grade. And the candybars during Little League. And that bullshit one in high school with the pineapple pizzas—”

“Fine!” Hoseok throws his hands up. Then, with as little of a grimace as he can muster, he says, “Let’s go to Costa Rica, Mrs. Jung.”

It doesn’t land.

Your jaw drops immediately, an exaggerated gag spilling from your lips. “I changed my mind,” you deadpan. “No marriage for us unless you take my last name.”

“What’s wrong with mine?”

“Feels bad in my mouth. What’s wrong with mine?”

Hoseok rolls his lips together. “Nothing, really. Just—”

“Is this some kind of male pride thing? You refuse to take your wife’s last name for fear of public ridicule and castration jokes?”

“No.” Hoseok glares at you. “It’s just—the reservation’s in my name. Besides, if someone made shitty jokes about you, I’d slam their head into a window, too.”

“Oh.” As soon as your jaw snaps shut, a brilliant smile splits your face. “That was unexpectedly wholesome, Seok. You’re getting soft in your old age.”

Only for you, he wants to say. Instead, he shoves another forkful of rice in his mouth and a copy of the itinerary in your direction.

(For all your bravado and willingness to slam the heads of elementary school bullies into windows, you hate flying. So, if you squeeze Hoseok’s hand too tight and he snaps a photo of it under the guise of how comically purple-red it’s turning, and not at all because it’s the first time you’re holding his hand and some weird, sentimental part of him wants to commemorate it, that’s his business.

If his heart is so full it nearly bursts out of his chest at the sight of you crying over a sloth, and if he memorizes the stars in your eyes as you hold one—not caring about the bugs or the giant claws or the fact that sloth fur kind of looks like a bird nest, algae included—that’s his business.

If he posts the photo of you crying to his Instagram, knowing damn well you’re going to yell at him for it later, and he cackles wildly over Namjoon’s comment:

[namjooning commented: why does she cry like that kim kardashian meme? junghoseok replied: Right? That’s what I said]

—that’s his business. It’s only because he’d said you look like Kim Kardashian when you cry and, if nothing else, Hoseok loves to be proven right. It has nothing to do with wanting to remember you that happy forever. Not at all.

If he feels like he’s going into cardiac arrest when you hug him tightly, murmuring a quiet thank you in his ear on the last night of your stay at the sanctuary, it’s simply because you’re not very tactile. Hugs—and outward affection—from you are rare. That’s all. His skin absolutely does not break out in goosebumps. Doesn’t feel tingly all over. His breathing continues as normal.

If he finally comes to the startling realization that he’s in way too deep when you fall asleep on his shoulder during the drive to the resort, well…

Hoseok may be deadly smart, but he’s always been a complete fool when it comes to you.

If he sends a panicked text to Namjoon asking how he’s supposed to survive the next month, and if Namjoon misinterprets it as an ambitious, live-to-work type-A personality freaking out over not knowing how to unwind and tells him to just take it easy, and Hoseok misinterprets that as go for it, well…

The next four weeks sure are going to be interesting, aren’t they?)

See, the thing about Hoseok is he has all the money and prestige a man of his status could want.

He’s filthy rich, he’s well-respected, he’s kind. People love him. He loves people in return. He’s been called the living embodiment of actual sunshine more times than you or he could possibly count. There’s truly nothing he wants for in this world.

Hoseok is also the type of person who gets anxious at the thought of calling the Malaysian restaurant you two frequent to place a delivery order. Namjoon has to force him to make his own personal appointments under threat of death. He changed doctors because his new one lets him schedule appointments online. He won’t go to a fast food drive-thru unless they have mobile ordering.

It’s just the way Hoseok is. He’s been that way as long as you’ve known him—at least since that time in the fifth grade when his mother once gave him twenty bucks and told him to call the pizza place and order dinner for the two of you and he totally balked, resigning the two of you to toaster oven Ellio’s that tasted way too similar to skating rink pizza to be a coincidence.

Which is why he balks again as soon as the two of you reach the front desk of the resort, shoving you in front of him to talk to the man behind it.

Maybe it’s the raging pansexual inside Hobi rather than his uncharacteristic fear of talking to literally anyone, but you totally get it. You don’t really want to talk to this man, either. He’s ash blond and bathed in golden light, highlighting his already golden skin to look completely ethereal, and he’s got a smug look on his face that tells you he knows exactly how intimidatingly good-looking he is.

Still, you’re not easily shaken. Jung Hoseok is your best friend—and fake boyfriend, lest you’ve forgotten—for fuck’s sake. You’ve committed violence for him. Golden Desk Boy is going to have to try a whole lot harder than this. “Hiii,” you say, lips painted in a saccharine smile. God, you’re so fake. “We’re checking in under Jung.”

The man—whose name badge says Jimin—returns your fake smile. “Great! Thank you so much for joining us for your stay.”

You take a moment to look around while Jimin pulls up your reservation, purposefully skipping over Hoseok’s form. He’s not doing anything, just sitting in a plush armchair as he pretends to read the newspaper, but you feel the flames of annoyance licking at your heels nonetheless, because you wouldn’t be here to begin with if it weren’t for Hoseok and his subordinate micromanager, and what kind of weird place has he brought you to?

Everything is white. Not in the sterile kind of way, because the monotony is broken up with lush greenery and the occasional piece of teak furniture, but there’s enough white for you to wonder if it’s some sort of statement. The floors and walls are white. All the non-wooden furniture is white. Jimin’s silk uniform and teeth are both blindingly white. Not that you’d seen many people since you stepped into the lobby, but the ones you had seen had been wearing white, too.

Jimin looks up from the computer screen and you’re almost surprised to find his irises aren’t white, too. Maybe it’s rude, but he seriously gives you the creeps. “Everything is ready for your stay, Mr. and Mrs. Jung. I’ve requested someone come to retrieve your luggage.”

You gawk. “Oh, we’re not—we’re not married.”

“Oh?” Jimin asks, one perfect eyebrow arched as his eyes twinkle with intrigue.

“Yeah,” you insist. “Not that I need to explain my morals and ethics to a stranger, but I don’t believe in the patriarchy.”

“Really? That’s great,” Jimin lies. This man is overflowing with shithead energy. “Neither do I.”

You scoff. “Oh, sure. That’s why you just assumed my bes—my partner and I were married.”

“That’s what the reservation says.” He looks very amused now. Kim Namjoon is going to receive a very lengthy text message in approximately ten minutes. “I do apologize for this mistake. I’ll make sure to correct it right away.” Amusement slowly morphs into a challenge. “Is there a new last name I can put on the reservation for you instead?”

Call it a hunch, but you think it best to not give this person any of your identifying information. “No.”

“Shall I leave it as Jung, then?”

It physically pains you to say this, but you manage to choke out a very strained, “Yes.”

“Fantastic,” Jimin sing-songs. “I’m very glad we were able to sort out this issue for you, Mr. and Mrs. Jung.”

Choke on a dick and die is what you want to say (for no reason, really; it isn’t like Jimin’s been outright cruel to you), but as much as Hoseok avoids people—and avoids confrontation even more—he appears at your side, looking every bit the sunshine after a storm he always is. “Everything okay?” he asks, placing a gentle hand at the small of your back. “…Dear,” he tacks on as Jimin’s eyes study the two of you.

“Everything’s great!” you chirp, determined to cast away Jimin’s obvious suspicions. “Jimin here says someone’s coming to get our bags.” Another fake, saccharine smile. Like sweet’n low. “He’s been very helpful.”

Everything’s great, in you-speak, translates to I once, foolishly, thought Kim Namjoon was on my side. I now see the errors of my ways and I demand justice and revenge. Fool you once (getting roped into being Hoseok’s fake partner to come to a weird wellness retreat), shame on Namjoon. Fool you twice (allowing him to book the reservation and label you a married couple), shame on you. There won’t be a third time, because Kim Namjoon’s days are numbered once you’re both in the same country again.

“Will you be needing a tour?” Jimin asks, voice tinkling like expensive crystal.

You grasp Hoseok’s hand far too tight to be believable and wave off the receptionist. “No, thank you! Just a map will do. That’s how we met, you know—at a… map… class.”

“A map class?” Jimin parrots. “Riveting.” He smiles. Sweet’n low.

“It sure was!” You turn to Hobi. “Wasn’t it? …Babe,” you choke out. The word tastes so gross on your tongue.

When you look up at him, Hoseok’s wearing that trademark expression of his: the one where his eyes are too wide, tight-lipped smile stretched too thin. Hoseok’s convinced it’s convincing. It isn’t. It’s terrifying and makes your skin feel itchy from the inside. “Mmm, yep,” he agrees easily. “Love a good map. Some good… cartography.” He pinches three fingers together because he’d seen it on The Sopranos and it’s just a thing he does now.

Sometimes you forget Hoseok is rich-rich.

Of course Namjoon had mentioned booking the trip on the company card and of course you know what someone like him having access to a company card implies. It’d implied you were going on an all-expenses-paid trip on some massive company’s dime. But, perhaps naively, you’d just envisioned a fancy hotel room at some resort near a beach. Shoreline bonfires, tiny portions of food on massive plates when you order room service, colorful drinks with tiny umbrellas and a skewer of fruit stuck inside, three-digit price tag.

Instead, the two of you follow the map to a secluded, private house. There’s a balcony. The shower is made entirely of glass and surrounded by the lush greenery outside. The exterior wall in the bedroom is also made of glass and affords you panoramic views of the beach and forest and everything in between. The thread count of the Egyptian cotton sheets is disgustingly low.

(Which, speaking of Hoseok and all his money—he’d been the one to teach you about thread counts to begin with. You’d wrongfully assumed the higher the number the better, but Hoseok had gently grabbed the scratchy 1500 count sheets out of your hands with a pained grimace and handed you a set of Supima cotton sheets with a startlingly low thread count instead.

Rich people have everything backwards.)

Truth be told, it’s exactly the kind of place you’d see on some influencer’s Instagram account. The kind of place they’d delude you into thinking you could afford, too, because having your influencer boyfriend take a picture of you sinking into the lush white duvet and plastering a $10 filter on it is more important than affording your student loan payments.

But you digress.

Either way, you’ll have to send a thank you card to the board of directors.

Hoseok, on the other hand, balks for the second time. Takes one look at the singular bed and completely shuts down, Windows sound effects practically blaring over an invisible loudspeaker above his head once again. “Where’s the other bed?” he asks stupidly.

You snort. Stash your suitcase in the corner. You’ll unpack it later… or next week. Whenever you get around to it, really. “What other bed?”

“You know, like. The other one.”

“There’s only one, Seok. Why would there be two? This is a couple’s retreat.”

He pouts. “Not every couple sleeps together, you know. My grandparents have separate bedrooms.”

“No offense, bud, but your grandfather also wears diapers.”

“So?”

“So there might be a correlation, is what I’m saying.”

“Are you saying you wouldn’t sleep in the same bed as your husband of seventy years just because he might pee the bed sometimes?”

You level him with a look. Unpacking doesn’t sound like such a bad idea anymore. “I’m well past the age where I could conceivably be married to someone for seventy years, so it doesn’t matter.”

“You’re not even thirty yet.”

You click your tongue. “Hoseok, you of all people know I never expected to live past the age of thirteen. There’s no way I’m making it to ninety-seven.”

“You only thought you were gonna die when you were thirteen because you had your appendix removed.” You give him another look. “And you got your tonsils removed that same year.” Another one. “What?” he huffs. “What’d I forget?”

“That time we were playing volleyball in gym class and you spiked the ball right in my face and broke my nose.”

“Not a life-threatening injury.”

“Thirteen was a really hard year for me,” you retort, overdramatic as always. “It’s a miracle I survived.”

“Oh my god—”

“A miracle, Hobi.”

With a disapproving shake of his head, he’s off to unpack his luggage, because Hoseok is filthy rich and has expensive clothes that, according to him, cannot, under any circumstances, go hours without being hung up properly. You’ve never seen a silk shirt with a wrinkle in it, let alone a wrinkle on any article of Hoseok’s clothing, but you learned a long time ago it’s much less stressful to just let him be neurotic about his wardrobe.

You, on the other hand, are going to do no such thing. You’ll live out of your suitcase for as long as you can get away with it, so you flop face-first onto the bed, careful to leave your shoes dangling off the edge. Hoseok’s already going to give you shit about—

“Yah!” he wails, his fifteenth white button-down shirt draped haphazardly off a hanger. “No street clothes in the bed!”

You roll your eyes. “Street clothes? Who says shit like that? Most people just have clothes.”

“You’ve been wearing them all day,” Hoseok argues, because there’s very little he loves more than an argument. “They’re dirty, and now they’ve made the bed dirty, too.”

However, to the detriment of Hoseok’s well-being, you love arguing, too. You look down at both your clothes and the pristine duvet and vaguely gesture at both. “Ah, yes. So filthy. The bed—which you’d nearly had an aneurysm over sharing with me not even ten minutes ago, might I add—is so dirty. How will we ever be able to sleep in it?”

Watching Hoseok mentally tabulate through the Seven Stages of Grief is the most entertainment you’ve had in hours. Jaw clenched, he simply stares at you for a few seconds before leveling his voice and repeating, “No street clothes in the bed.” Then he tacks on a please that’s clearly an afterthought. “Didn’t you bring loungewear? Can’t you just wear that instead?”

You did, in fact, bring loungewear. It would’ve been irresponsible not to, considering the length of your stay and proximity to paradise, but stubbornness seems to be the flavor of the day so you just shrug and toe your shoes off. “I’m not going to change. We don’t have long before we have that welcome dinner, anyway. I’m not going to put on loungewear only to change into dinner-wear and then come back, shower, and change again into pajamas.”

Hoseok’s nose scrunches in distaste. “What welcome dinner?”

“Do you not read?” you tease. “There was a whole itinerary attached to the map. We have a welcome dinner tonight with that guy Namjoon’s in love with.”

“Which one?”

You click your tongue. “The guy who runs this place.” Then you furrow your brow. “What do you mean ‘which one’?”

“Nothing. Just—you know how Namjoon is. He falls in love at least eight separate times whenever he goes to the gardening store.”

“Guess he doesn’t herb his enthusiasm.” Hoseok groans loudly as you point finger guns at him.

He lobs a mated pair of socks at your head that bounce off your ass instead. “Please just get ready for dinner. I can’t do this.”

To put it mildly, Kim Seokjin is fucking weird.

Hoseok hadn’t noticed. He’d taken one look at him and his mischievous eyes and welcoming smile and dove right in, engaging him in endless conversation about god-knows-what. That’s just how Hoseok is. Aside from his justifiable distrust of Tinder dates, he makes and keeps friends effortlessly. It’s the sunshine in him, your mother always used to say, because Hoseok was always the sun and everyone else were sunflowers, desperate to bask in him and reflect his light.

(Namjoon has always said it’s because he’s an Aquarius. You don’t know what that means, but you assume it’ll click once you buy a few crystals and start exclusively listening to Fleetwood Mac.)

And that has always been okay—good, even. He’s never lost that innate goodness, even when he’d been placed at the head of a billion-dollar corporation where ruthlessness is encouraged. Hoseok’s edges remain rounded and soft; he emphasizes a need for kindness, shows it has a place amongst the cold, calculated world of business. Really, it’s great. You can’t be more proud to call him your best friend.

However.

It doesn’t mean Hoseok isn’t a fucking idiot sometimes.

Because he’s good, his first assumption is always that others are good, too. No matter how many times you’ve grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him away from a fire, his first instinct is still to reach out and touch it.

His first serious girlfriend, back in high school? Yeah, you’d warned him about her. Told him she was messing around with a kid on the soccer team on the side, but Hoseok had insisted she’d never do that. “She’s into embroidery,” he’d said, as if that excused someone from being a two-timing cheat.

That guy he’d been partnered with for a serious project in business school? You’d listened to Hoseok talk about him over Skype once and suggested he find a new one. Kept silent as he unloaded on you a few weeks later after the guy had fucked him over.

You’d even advised him against hiring Namjoon. Couldn’t fathom why Hoseok would even be considering hiring someone who showed up to an interview hours early. Obviously he hadn’t listened, and look where it’s gotten the two of you.

It isn’t that you’ve got a sixth sense for assholes or anything. It’s just that Hoseok’s such a terrible judge of character that it makes you look like Sherlock Holmes in comparison.

So it comes as no surprise to you when Seokjin excuses himself for a moment and Hoseok turns to you with hearts in his eyes only to be greeted by your Hoseok you’re doing that thing again where you put people on a pedestal who are not to be trusted look.

“No,” he dismisses immediately. “Him? No way.”

Your nostrils flare. “Hoseok. Don’t be an idiot about this. He’s weird.”

“He’s just eccentric. Aren’t all these New Age hippie types like that? The guy runs a wellness retreat for fuck’s sake—of course he’s weird.”

“His vibes are off,” you retort, which admittedly sounds like a New Age hippie thing to say, but the longer Hoseok insists you’re wrong, the more you begin to wonder if you are. The two of you had been sent here by Namjoon, and he’s easily one of the weirdest people you’ve ever met. Maybe Hoseok’s right.

You allow yourself two minutes of self-doubt. Then you’re shaking your head and poking your tongue into the fat of your cheek because you know bad vibes when you feel them and Kim Seokjin has them in spades.

The man in question returns a few moments later, two new men in tow: a taller one with a boxy smile and a tan and a shorter one with a scowl that looks permanent but not on purpose, like it’d just shown up on his face one day and forgot to leave. The grumpy-looking one sits across from Hoseok, looking every bit as unsure as you, while the other one takes the empty seat to his left, right in front of you.

“I’m Taehyung,” he says, ass barely in the chair before he’s leaning over the table to shake your hand. His feels like a hand that’s shaken many others—firm, warm, soft. Feels a lot like shaking Hoseok’s hand might feel, an importance simmering beneath the surface, but you’ve never had a reason to do so. “This is Yoongi.” Taehyung gestures to the man beside him. “He doesn’t talk much but you get used to him, I think.”

“You think?” Hoseok laughs, an eyebrow quirked, fully in his element. Words soft, edges softer. Hoseok was born for these types of moments. Meeting strangers, knowing what to say.

Yoongi stays quiet. Barely looks around the room, which is a feat in itself. Seokjin had invited all of you to dinner in a grand dining hall, walls tall and floors gleaming, both stark white like the rest of the resort. Immediately sat at the head of the table like some sort of king, and you would’ve thought something of it, maybe looked at Hoseok and mouthed what’s this guy’s deal? But then he placed his napkin neatly across his lap, looked at the two of you, smiled dazzlingly, and said, “Is cereal soup?”

It had all gone downhill from there, really.

Now Taehyung and Yoongi are seated across from you and Hoseok and Yoongi still hasn’t said a word and you’re hoping maybe, just maybe, he’s also picking up on how weird all of this is. Taehyung has that exuberant optimism that reminds you a lot of Hoseok so you disregard him as a comrade immediately. Just the kind of guy to love any and everyone, oblivious to bad vibes. No, Yoongi’s the one you need on your side and it’s glaringly obvious.

One small hiccup, though: he really doesn’t talk.

Like, at all.

Taehyung talks enough for the both of them, endearing everyone with a smile and an endless supply of stories told in that deep baritone voice of his. Every now and then he’ll turn to Yoongi and say isn’t that right, dumpling? and Yoongi just hums an acknowledgment. Doesn’t seem put off by the pet name at all, despite looking like someone that’d be put off by pet names.

They’re cute. You mouth as much to Hoseok and he just smiles at you in return, a soft little thing. Yoongi and Taehyung are the kind of couple who give off we’ve been together for decades energy even though they don’t look much older than you. Just two people completely at ease with one another, and it does something to your stomach. All small, hidden touches and words communicated through looks alone. Best friends and lovers. Partners both in crime and in life.

It’s a sweet moment.

It’s a moment completely negated by Seokjin’s booming voice at the head of the table. “Well, this was fun, wasn’t it? Let’s move to the lounge.”

Yoongi doesn’t look to Taehyung. Yoongi looks to you, and it’s only because you’d looked at him instead of Hoseok that you notice the subtle downturn of the corners of his mouth, the slight pinch between his brows. He doesn’t outright ask it, but there’s a question in his body language: What’s this guy’s deal?

It’s one you’d also like an answer to.

Yoongi keeps his eyes on you the entire time the five of you talk in the lounge. Well, Taehyung’s once again speaking for both of them, hands and arms gesturing wildly all around him, and Yoongi seems more than content to sit in silence. Seokjin and Hoseok chime in where they should, asking questions and emphasizing words and generally being agreeable. You, on the other hand, sit next to Hoseok and try to exude the same energy Taehyung and Yoongi do. The we’re so in love and comfortable with each other we don’t even need to touch type. The we only post selfies together three times a year because we don’t need to flaunt our relationship variety.

But, as all inevitable things inevitably do, the conversation moves to relationships. Seokjin sneaks it in under the guise of getting to know everyone, and Taehyung takes the bait immediately, seemingly always looking for a reason to show off Yoongi and talk him up. You hate that it’s endearing. You hate that you want something like it—someone enamored with you without preamble. A just because kind of love. Something solid and bone-deep.

“It was totally by accident,” Taehyung’s saying as your attention drifts back to him. Not soon enough, because he’s clearly halfway through a story and you have no idea what the plot is. “We’d both been backpacking through Europe, and I was trying to check in at this tiny hostel in Thessaloniki but my Greek is terrible, understandably, so I was really struggling. Trying to tell the poor woman behind the desk my name and that I’d booked a private room, and she just kept shrugging and looking at me like I was crazy. It was, like, midnight, so I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep, and then out of nowhere this guy”—He jerks his thumb at Yoongi, who remains silent and still—“just comes up behind me and starts speaking fluent Greek.”

Hoseok’s eyes widen. “Fluent Greek? Wow,” he says, eyebrows disappearing beneath his fringe, “that’s really impressive.”

“You have no idea,” Taehyung continues to gush. “He speaks, like, fifteen languages fluently, I swear to god. Anyway, turns out the hostel never received my reservation, which makes sense because I’d tried booking it from the top of a mountain. Yoongi took pity on me and let me share his room since they were fully booked.”

Seokjin smiles and touches a hand to his heart. It’s completely performative but it works—Taehyung looks like he’s just passed some silent test and won the lottery. “Adorable. And so noble, Yoongi. Not many people would do that for a stranger.”

Yoongi shrugs.

Undeterred, Seokjin turns his attention to you and Hoseok. “How about the two of you? Set up by friends? Blind date?” His beady eyes are studying you both diligently, eyes raking over your face for the tiniest tell. “Childhood friends turned lovers?”

Hoseok coughs.

“We met at a cartography class,” you explain, voice even despite Seokjin’s prolonged eye contact making you want to lock yourself in the nearest bathroom. Hoseok had nearly given the two of you away, and it was all you could do to recall whatever bullshit you had tried selling Jimin to cover your asses.

Yoongi’s fighting off a smile. Taehyung looks enthralled. “Cartography? Whoa, now that’s something you definitely don’t hear everyday.”

“A lost art, if you ask me,” Seokjin says. “Are either of you geographists, then?”

Hoseok tenses, fidgeting ceasing immediately. The two of you hadn’t talked about this—about how honest you wanted to be, how much would be fabricated—so while this is typically the kind of environment he’d thrive in, you pluck the reins from his hands and take over. “Double majored back in undergrad. Geography and psych.”

“Interesting combo.”

You nod. Not the first time you’d heard that. “Well, there are things you want to do and things you should do, so I did both.”

“And what was it you wanted to do?”

You wave your hand, gesturing vaguely. “Ah, you know. You go into university with all these aspirations, have all these starry-eyed ideas. You’re gonna be someone, you’re gonna help people, you’re gonna make an impact and travel all over and be super important. People are gonna pay to hear you speak and all that bullshit.” Hoseok’s looking at you—you can feel it, but you can also see the blurred outline of his profile. “What did I want to do? Something in human geography, maybe cultural or political geography.”

“The psych degree?” Seokjin continues prodding, and you find you don’t mind it. Hoseok certainly never had. Was always far too busy doing important business things on the opposite side of the country.

“Picked it up about halfway through. Figured I should have a back-up plan in case I wound up being the only geopolitician working at Starbucks.” Your fingers start picking at your pants even though there’s nothing to grab onto. You’d only packed your best, keenly aware of the standards required to be in Jung Hoseok’s inner circle. “A lot of the research and analysis courses overlapped, so I just… did it.”

“That’s very ambitious.” Seokjin’s compliment feels like some weird kind of approval, like another unspoken test Taehyung would grin over passing. “And now? You’d mentioned undergrad.”

“Started a post-bacc in GIS since I liked doing research. Hence the cartography class.”

Hence the cartography class, as if that’s the end of it and there’s nothing else to say. Like you hadn’t dropped out of that to pursue a Master’s in psychology and maybe med school or a PhD to follow, because your mother would be proud of someone with a doctorate, right? You could finally stop hearing—

Did you hear Hoseokie got an internship at Google? They pay $8,000 a month!

Did you hear Hoseokie graduated at the top of his class? His mother said he didn’t even have to apply to any MBA programs, they recruited him! He’s torn between Stanford and the University of Penn. Isn’t that a nice problem to have?

Did you hear that Hoseokie finished his program early? He’s so smart. His parents must be so proud of him.

Did you hear Hoseokie’s moving back? Just an associate vice president position for now, but his mother says there’s already talks of him being promoted to CEO within the next few years.

That’s not to say you weren’t proud of him or that you were resentful. You’ve always been Hoseok’s biggest fan, but Hoseok had moved across the country and still casted a shadow so large it was impossible to not be swallowed up by it, and it’s hard to have all the things you want to hear be said about someone else.

So, yeah, hence the cartography class.

“What about you, Hoseok? You’ve been quiet.”

Hoseok’s never quiet. When you turn to look at him, he’s already staring back. There’s no perpetual million-dollar smile, no wrinkles at the corner of his eyes from laughing too much, smiling too much, enjoying life too much. There’s just a concerned look that you don’t really know what to do with, because you’ve spent so much of your life worrying over Hoseok—over his concerning judge of character, his inability to cook, those kids on the schoolbus, his diet and now his organs—that things feel out of sorts now that the script is flipped.

It takes him a while to come back down to earth, realize someone has asked him a question. “Business,” is all he says.

He’s still staring.

Things are tense.

Weird-tense, because things are never tense between you and Hoseok. Not even back in high school when you’d threatened his then-girlfriend, the one who was cheating on him, and she ratted you out. Hoseok had shown up all red in the face, talked a lot about what would happen if you ruined things for him, but you’d just said alright, Hobi, whatever you say and things had gone back to normal.

But back in your overpriced rental house, things are definitely weird-tense.

“You never told me any of that.”

Ah. You shrug, toweling off your hair after your shower, and rifle through your suitcase for suitable pajamas. “You never asked.”

“I thought the map story was bullshit. You never—you double majored?”

Isn’t this so typical, you think. You could write a biography on Hoseok, all his accomplishments and dreams and all those silly little subplots that connect at the end, and he didn’t even know your college major. Majors. “That’s what I said, isn’t it?”

In the bathroom, you go through your skincare routine on autopilot and floss and brush your teeth. Try to rid yourself of the taste of disappointment. Smear cold cream under your eyes and try to pretend the sting is from the scent and not welling tears, because this is not something to cry over. This is stupid and unimportant, and you now have two and a half degrees in psychology that tell you how to deal with it.

But Hoseok’s reluctant to let it go. Wants to talk it to death when you’re more than happy to never discuss it again. You’re twenty-seven, meaning you’ve had at least five years to accept the fact that your mother had given all her pride to Hoseok instead. You’re not really keen on spending another five years feeling inadequate. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He appears in the doorway of the bathroom looking positively distressed. “Mom had only told me about the psych degree and that you were trying to get into UCLA for your Master’s. She never said anything about the geography degree.”

You just shrug. “Things you want to do and things you should, right?”

Hoseok doesn’t buy it. “Was telling me what was going on in your life not something you wanted to do, then?” He looks stung.

You’re tired, still a little fucked up from the jet lag and sitting through a bizarre dinner and serving yourself up on a silver platter to an even more bizarre man that now knew something about you that not even Hoseok had known. “I’m going to sleep,” you say, because you’re even more loose-lipped than usual when tired and prone to irritability, and provoking an argument on the first night of a month-long vacation is not something you’re going to do.

And Hoseok—

Hoseok must get it, you think, because he seems to deflate. Just sighs, shoulders hunched, before he steps aside to let you out of the bathroom. No argument, no thinly-veiled threats, no guilt-trips. Resignation: the same kind Namjoon had spoken about when he’d relayed the story of how the wellness retreat came to be.

A resigned Hoseok is probably a dangerous Hoseok, but you’re too exhausted to give a shit. You’ll strategize in the morning, come up with a new plan.

Except the morning comes and Hoseok doesn’t mention it at all.

He doesn’t say anything about it for the next three days, actually, which are all the same and go like this:

On the morning of day two, Hoseok reluctantly wakes you up just after six. There’s a small offering of fruit and coffee waiting for you on a tray that you promptly ignore in lieu of going back to sleep, which lasts until approximately 6:06am when Hoseok wakes you again. The two of you are scheduled for a morning yoga session at seven-o’clock, which is supposedly mandatory and can’t be canceled.

Taehyung takes the mat next to you, leaning over to ask, “Have you ever done this before?” with a slightly panicked expression on this face.

“Every Saturday morning back home,” you answer. Taehyung chuckles nervously, and your experience becomes painfully clear when you’re nailing your Sugarcane pose and everyone else topples over sideways. Yoongi doesn’t make a sound as he hits the floor, and he’s so quiet that your instructor misses him completely when they fret around the room helping everyone else.

You’re so distracted by helping Yoongi yourself that you miss the deep furrow of Hoseok’s brow. And the crestfallen look on his face. Just another thing he hadn’t known.

After you survive yoga, the two of you sit through an awkward breakfast with Taehyung, Certified Chatterbox, and Yoongi, Not One. Taehyung doesn’t comment on Hoseok’s newfound quietude, which is a little surprising, but Yoongi quirks an eyebrow at you that makes your coffee suddenly taste stale.

Between the hours of nine and one, Hoseok disappears to go to the spa or the gym or the gift shop, because he is literally incapable of not spending money. You’re waiting for him to realize how weird it is for a wellness retreat to sell souvenirs but he never brings it up, just strolls back into the room each time and dumps a concerning amount of magnets into his suitcase.

(You wonder if any of them are for your mother. You wonder what she’ll think about this—you and Hoseok going to a couple’s retreat together, playing pretend. You wonder if bagging someone like Hoseok would finally make her proud of you and how shallow that is.)

After lunch, which is barely less awkward than breakfast, the four of you are ushered into a so-called Meditation Clinic, hosted by a very muscular guy with a baby face and a lot of tattoos. His name is Jungkook, and he nearly sends Hoseok into Sexuality Crisis Episode No. 2. Hoseok doesn’t do a damn second of meditating for three days, just stares at the wall looking like a baby who’d just been tricked into sucking on a lemon. Taehyung chatters away at you the entire time, completely oblivious to Jungkook’s annoyed stare. You share an exasperated look with Yoongi on your way out.

Hoseok returns to your rental home on the evening of day three looking scandalized. Apparently, this is the result of him running into Jimin, who’d offered to read and analyze his birth chart for him. Apparently, this is Jimin’s second job when there’s no new check-ins to harass. Apparently, Hoseok has been “read for filth” by “the stars” and “doesn’t wish to discuss it further.”

(Interestingly, Jimin corners you not long after. There’s a dangerous twinkle in his eye as he says, “Curious?” and gestures to a small room just off the lounge.

“The curtain’s kind of corny, isn’t it?” you say, scoffing as one strand of beads smacks you in the side of the head. “Like, this all feels very mysterious carnival tent and not billion-dollar resort, y’know?”

Jimin takes a seat behind a large desk, completely void of decoration. You’re not sure what you expected—some tarot cards, maybe a crystal ball to sell the illusion—but it’s empty. “You must have Leo placements,” he mutters.

“Moon and Mars, actually. Lucky guess.”

He gestures for you to take the seat in front of him. “Mm, not really luck, they’re just really good at lying.”

“And what am I lying about?”

Jimin ignores your question. Instead, he cocks his head to the side and says, “When’s your birthday?”

“Aren’t you the astrologer? Take a guess.” Jimin just stares, looking endlessly amused. Eventually you huff and answer. “March 15th.”

Overdramatic as always, Jimin fake-gags. “A Pisces sun with a Leo moon? Horrendous, truly. How do you function?”

“Stunted, clearly.”

He actually laughs at this, rewarding you with a brilliant smile and an endearingly crooked front tooth. “No matter.” He shakes his head, blond locks falling elegantly around his face as if arranged by the gods themselves. “You may have a truly tragic sun-moon pairing, but it bodes well for you and that neurotic mess of a best friend you’re fake-dating.”

You choke so hard Jimin actually offers you a glass of water.)

Dinners are spent as a five-piece. Seokjin asks more idiotic questions, such as are eyebrows considered facial hair, which prompts a very deep exhale from Yoongi, and did Adam and Eve have bellybuttons, which sends Taehyung into an existential crisis he’s yet to recover from.

Sometimes there are bonfires on the beach at night during which Jungkook plays an acoustic guitar and sings like an angel. Hoseok is conspicuously absent during these.

He’s also absent during your nightly routine. You shower, smear your skincare all over your face, and brush your teeth alone. You change into your pajamas and crawl into your side of the bed alone. By night three, you’re so annoyed you build a pillow wall between the two of you that you instruct Hoseok, under threat of bodily harm, not to demolish.

On the morning of day five, you’re awake before the sun. You sit in the darkness for a while, listening to Hoseok’s soft breaths on the other side of the pillow wall. He hasn’t gone five days without talking to you in twenty years. Even when he’d threatened you over his high school girlfriend, you were back in his good graces within 48 hours, and all of this for what? Because your mother is kind of an asshole and you’re kind of jealous and Hoseok is kind of self-centered sometimes?

“Hobi,” you say, leaning over the wall to nudge his shoulder. “Hobi, wake up.”

He doesn’t budge, mouth hanging open as he continues snoring quietly, these little hiccups of breath every now and then. All you can do is sigh. “Hoseok.” Nothing. “Jung Hoseok,” you try again, voice hardened into a baseless threat. He keeps snoring.

You groan, run your hands over your face in exasperation. Stupidly, you’d assumed that Hoseok would be easier to wake up now that he’s a Very Important Person worth millions of dollars. Clearly he’s not. So you throw the duvet off your legs and stumble to the bathroom in the dark. Brush your teeth and wash your face and throw on a loose long-sleeved shirt and a pair of yoga pants. It’s the weekend, so you’re free to do as you please, no mandated schedule, and you know exactly who you’re going to see.

Unsurprisingly, Taehyung is on the beach, cross-legged in the center of a large blanket close to the water but far enough away that the tide isn’t a concern. His curls are blowing gently in the breeze and every now and then he lets out a huff as he tries to flick them out of his eyes. No wonder Yoongi took pity on him back in that hostel in Thessaloniki. You’ve barely known him a week and are already hopelessly endeared by him.

“Good morning,” he says, eyes closed. Even the sun is barely awake this early, but it spills across Taehyung’s cheeks in dusky, golden rays nonetheless. “The beach is beautiful at this hour, isn’t it?”

Ah, so Taehyung’s one of those. Chatty at all hours, just like Hoseok. You groan. “Yeah, sure.”

“I have a thermos of coffee if you want some.”

“You just carry around thermoses of coffee?”

Taehyung laughs. “No. I don’t drink it, but I always make some in the morning and put it in a thermos in case today’s the day Yoongi decides to wake up before noon and join me.”

You eye the empty space next to him. “I’m guessing today’s not the day.”

He quirks an eyebrow. “After forcing him to wake up at 6am to do yoga the last few days? I might never see him again.”

“It’d be deserved, in his defense.”

Taehyung seems to think on this. Has a laugh just as airy as the gentle ocean wind, one that makes you feel like you’re the funniest person in the world. So much like Hoseok. You wonder if you’re like Yoongi. If you’re just as closed off but more talkative. You wonder if there’s a reason Yoongi holds his cards so close to his chest or if he simply sees no reason for anyone to know him. He’s got Taehyung and fifteen languages and a lifetime’s worth of stories, what more could he need? “You’re probably right. Where’s your other half?”

“Also asleep.”

“Wow,” Taehyung deadpans, “there are parallels everywhere.”

You don’t know him well enough to know how he means it. If it’s sardonic and taking the piss out of that sort of thing the way Yoongi would mean it, or if he’s genuine how Hoseok would be. So you just hum a maybe-agreement and stare out at the ocean.

Truth be told, you’re not sure why Taehyung was the one you wanted to find. He just seems like the type to know a lot about relationships, people. Seems like someone who’d meet and befriend more people in a day than you would in five years, so someone like that’s gotta have some sort of answers.

“How long have you and Yoongi been together?”

“Oh. A long time. I was nineteen when I went to Greece and Yoongi was twenty-one, but it was such bad timing, you know? Like, I was only two months into a year-long trip, and Yoongi has to be dragged into everything kicking and screaming, so we didn’t reconnect for over a year after we met.”

“That must’ve been hard.”

Taehyung smiles: small, tender, fond. “A little, yeah, but I think that sort of stuff is inconsequential in the long run. What’s a year’s worth of distance when you’ve got the rest of your lives?” He shifts on the blanket, a frown dragging down the corners of his mouth. “Although I went to Australia a month later and got bit by this huge fucking spider, so I guess the rest of my life was questionable for a while. In that case, yeah, it would’ve been really hard.”

You hum again, and in a need to fill the silence, Taehyung asks, “What about you and Hoseok?”

“What about us?”

“How long have you been together?”

We’re not, really, sits on the tip of your tongue. Jimin has already seen straight through the bullshit, so why not Taehyung, too? What’s the worst that can happen—they kick you out because you’re not a proper couple? What does that even mean? You’ve known Hoseok for twenty years. You watched him grow into a successful, kind, intelligent adult from a stupid-as-fuck eight-year-old. You’ve watched him fall in love and get his heart broken and piece it back together again. You know his takeout orders and his favorite color and the movies he still cries over but lies and says he doesn’t. You know the smell of his mother’s perfume when she squeals and hugs you like you’re her own. You’re one of two-hundred followers on Hoseok’s private Instagram account—the one you and Namjoon and Hoseok’s sister always join forces to bully him on when he tries posting a thirst trap.

You know what Hoseok looks like when he cries. You know what he’s like when he’s vulnerable and insecure and you know how to be a pillar for him when he’s like that, and he knows the same about you.

Some couples don’t have half of that, so what does it mean or even matter if your coupling is proper? Isn’t what you have enough?

You sigh. “We grew up together. I’ve known him for twenty years.”

“Oh.” Taehyung sucks in a breath. “I thought you’d said—”

“Yeah,” you interject. “We’re not, like, romantically involved.” Another sigh. “It’s a long story.”

Taehyung just smiles, looks at you with those butter-soft eyes, and you’re diving into twenty years of history and backstory. You tell him about punching the kid on the bus. You tell him about Hoseok’s first serious girlfriend in high school and how it made your stomach hurt—

(“Because you had a crush on him?”

“What? No.”

“Hm. Okay.”)

—and you tell him about your mother and all her misplaced pride. He laughs at every story you tell him about Namjoon and how you and Hoseok wound up at this weird wellness retreat. He stops laughing when you tell him that you and Hoseok haven’t spoken properly in days, and his eyebrows get very serious when you admit it’s the reason you came to find him.

“You just look like someone who might know how to help me fix it,” you finish.

Taehyung tries—and fails—to not look pleased as punch at this. “I’m generally very unhelpful. Well, Yoongi says I’m not-not helpful, but sometimes I try to help too much and wind up making things worse.” You shoot him a dubious look. “I won’t do that this time, though, I promise! Please consider me your official relationship fixer.”

“I’m not sure this is a good idea anymore.”

“It probably isn’t, if I’m being totally honest, but if I can manage to make Min Yoongi fall in love with me, I’m extremely overconfident I can do just about anything.”

“Yeah, that’s fair.”

He claps his hands together. “Great! We can start with you apologizing and telling him you’ve been acting out due to temporary insanity on the basis of being in love with him for years and never saying anything.”

“Excuse me—”

“It’s best to be extremely honest about these sorts of things as to leave no room for misinterpretation or misunderstandings,” Taehyung says, tone condescending like you’re a child though it’s working overtime to not sound that way. At your slack jaw, Taehyung’s eyes grow wide. “Have you seriously never thought about it?”

“Me and Hoseok?”

Of course you’ve thought about it, it was just dismissed immediately each time. You love Hoseok; he’s the most important person in your life, and that’s exactly why you shooed those intrusive thoughts away every time they crept up. You’re not generally one to overthink on consequences, but Hoseok is always an idea you’ve treated with kiddie gloves. Something delicate. Something placed in an enclosure with 21mm glass walls and eighteen security alarms. So, sure, you’ve thought about it in the same way you’ve thought about winning the lottery or telling your PhD advisor to fuck off and moving to some remote island paradise where there’s always someone to wait on you hand and foot.

Of course you’ve thought about you and Hoseok, in the same way you think about all inevitable things (like the heat death of the universe) and also impossibilities, both wistful and staunch.

“Yeah,” you eventually answer. “Of course I have.”

Taehyung blinks owlishly. “I thought for sure you were gonna deny it.” Then the smile is back and it makes his eyes glitter like tiny stars. “But that’s great! The first step is admitting you have a problem, or whatever. Anyway! Do you still have feelings? Yoongi thinks I’m bad at reading people”—Yoongi is right, you think—“but I’ve seen the way he looks at me a million times, and sometimes that’s the same way Hoseok looks at you. So I think you should tell him.”

Snorting, you turn your gaze to the ocean. Even the water seems to still be sleepy at this hour, the waves small and gentle as they lap against the shore. “Maybe later on. Getting rejected a few days into a month-long trip doesn’t really sound like my idea of fun.”

Face scrunched up in disgust, Taehyung whines, “You wouldn’t! You’re gonna waste all this time because you think you’d get rejected when in actuality all you’re doing is wasting some really great glass walls to fuck against.”

You blanch. You can say, with one hundred percent conviction, that you’ve never thought about sleeping with Hoseok. Okay, so that’s not entirely true. There was the one time you had to defend him from Rose Emoji and Hammer and Sickle Twitter when they threatened to eat him and one person suggested sparing him because, excessive wealth aside, he had big dick energy. That’d given you pause. Did Hoseok have a big dick?

“No way,” you retort, “Hoseok is like a Ken doll. Completely smooth from the waist down. Dickless.”

Taehyung heaves a long-suffering sigh. “Another L for the gay community.”

Hoseok sleeps until noon.

You’ve already washed the sea salt from your hair and returned to the rental house with your own small haul of gift shop magnets by the time he stirs awake, groggy and looking worse for wear. “Wha’ time s’it?” he slurs, voice far too deep for you to remain unaffected.

“Just after twelve,” you answer. “I can make you some coffee if you want.”

All you get in response is a muffled groan, Hoseok’s dandelion bed-head disappearing under the fluffy duvet once again. You’ve known him long enough to know that means yes, to know he takes his coffee with far too much cream and sugar, the liquid something close to bone white by the time he’s done adding and mixing.

You set the mug on his nightstand and sit on the edge of the bed, leaning over to peel down the duvet and scratch at his scalp. “Coffee’s ready, sunshine.” Eyes still sealed shut, you move your fingers lower to tickle at his neck. “C’mon, Hobi, you’re pissing away another beautiful day in paradise.” You don’t bother telling him it’s overcast and drizzling; not like it matters, because Hoseok groans again and swats your hand away before shoving his head under his pillow.

He says something you can’t catch, words unintelligible beneath layers of down. “What’d you say?” you ask. When his head pops up, expression frustrated and cheeks flushed red, you poke the dimple in his left cheek. He has to fight off a smile.

“I asked why you’re being so nice to me.”

You frown. “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t I be nice to you?”

Hoseok sighs. Adjusts until he’s sitting up, long, skinny legs tangled in the comforter. Something about his hands is so interesting he’s unable to focus on anything else. “Because I’ve been a dick to you.” When you move to protest, he tacks on, “And not just on this trip, either. For a while.” For a second, you think he might cry. Hoseok used to cry a lot as a kid—had too much empathy for such a small body to know what to do with so all the excess tended to leak out. “God, there was so much I didn’t know? Like your majors? And the yoga? I just…” He trails off, looks lost. Picks up the coffee mug just to do something with his hands. “It feels bad. It just feels really bad.”

You return his sigh, wishing Hoseok was a little less honest. Always the first to put himself out there, be vulnerable, and sometimes it’s nice and sometimes it makes you feel guilty. “It’s okay.”

“It isn’t,” he argues.

You hold up a hand. “I know where you’re coming from, and I get it. I would probably feel bad, too, if I were in your position.” He whimpers, earning a soft laugh from you. “But I’m telling you it’s okay. I don’t blame you, all right? I never have. I don’t lay in bed at night agonizing over it. This isn’t like that for me.”

“Then what’s it like?”

You hum, knowing this is a moment to handle with care. You can’t be reckless here. So you think it over, and you say, “It’s… I don’t think this happened because you don’t care, because I know you do. I know I’m your best friend in every way someone can be your best friend, and you’re my best friend in all the ways someone can be mine. It’s just that those two things look different, is what I’m saying. And I think that’s okay.”

“It’s unbalanced.”

You nod. “Yeah, maybe it is, but sometimes that happens. It hasn’t always been unbalanced.”

This seems to calm him, and his smile is slow, reluctant, but it’s there nonetheless. “Okay.” He exhales the weight of the world. “Okay. I’d still like to be better, though.”

“We have all the time in the world, Seok.”

You normally eat most of your meals with Taehyung and Yoongi anyway, but since your conversation on the beach, Taehyung attaches to you like a limpet.

The first time had been unnerving. He’d cornered you outside the dining hall, stomach rumbling even as he demanded to know everything, please spare nothing, no detail is too small. There hadn’t been much to report, just that the two of you had talked and things were better.

“Did you tell him you’re in lo—” had earned him an elbow to the ribs.

He hasn’t asked again.

But he’s still hard to shake during mealtime, especially breakfast, because he wakes up ready to talk, conversation locked and loaded on his tongue. Yoongi, of course, doesn’t talk at all, so he offloads onto you and Hoseok, who’s too good-natured to ask for some peace and quiet.

“Seokjin asked me last night if water was wet,” he says, spearing a long piece of pineapple on his fork. “Like, obviously it’s wet? It’s water.”

“It isn’t, though,” you argue. “Water is just water. Wet is a state—”

Taehyung, cheeks bulging around the fruit like a hamster, frowns. “Huh? No. California is a state.”

Yoongi faceplants onto the table.

“No, Tae.” You shake your head. “Like, a state of being. Water makes other things wet, but it’s not wet itself.”

His frown deepens. Looks to Yoongi for help, clarification, but he’s still face-down, so he looks to Hoseok instead. He, very steadfastly, says, “She’s weirdly smart, man. I dunno. I’m not arguing with her.”

“Why? Because you’re also—” Another elbow to the ribs. He coughs, makes a very valiant attempt to look cool, calm, and collected. “You’re also very smart, Hoseok,” he amends. “I am very interested in hearing what you have to say.”

“In business, though. I’m not really smart in science stuff.”

“Interesting,” Taehyung muses. “Would you say you’re smart in love?”

Hoseok is good-natured enough to look genuinely confused. “Huh?”

Yoongi finally picks his head up. Sends Taehyung some kind of look that must mean something to only the two of them, because Taehyung just sighs, put-upon, and shoves a piece of cantaloupe in his mouth. He doesn’t talk to Hoseok for the rest of the day.

Two weeks pass in a blur.

The schedule remains the same. Yoga, shared meals, weird quasi-therapy sessions which you have come to realize are just minor cult recruiting, bonfires on the beach. You and Hoseok stay up late talking and barely make it on time to whatever activity you have first thing in the morning. Jimin corners you at least once a week to talk about your “fucked up and frankly demonic” birth chart because he refuses to believe it’s real. Jungkook offers to teach the four of you how to surf but abandons that five minutes into the first session after Yoongi refuses to touch sand and Hoseok nearly passes out from seeing Jungkook shirtless.

…Which Taehyung catches, of course, because he just sidles up alongside you. Says, “Ooh, interesting,” again, in a really smug way, before intercepting Jungkook and leading him far, far away from the beach. You think he winks at you over his shoulder.

Bastard.

But it works, much to your surprise. Of course the two of you have talked it to death, but part of Hoseok’s bid to be better also seems to include being more tactile. Which… is nice, you’ll admit. Hoseok’s fingers are long and slender and perfectly manicured, his hands soft, so it feels nice when they play with your hair or scratch gently at your back or hold your hand, but it also fills you with an anxious kind of dread.

Uncertainty, maybe.

You know how these things work. Forced proximity, only one bed. You’re two-thirds of a psychologist, after all, so you wouldn’t be surprised if Hoseok is just caught up in the moment, at the relief of overcoming an obstacle and making it to the other side. (God knows the bender he’d gone on after graduating business school attests to that.)

Curiously, none of that stops you from leaning into it.

It doesn’t feel weird. It doesn’t feel awkward or strange or anything besides natural. Hoseok’s bare face is the last thing you see before you fall asleep and the first thing you know you’ll see when you wake up, and just having that certainty, that security, makes the early mornings bearable. It makes them something worth looking forward to. It makes all the tension in your body unwind. Makes you pliable, has you laughing freely and leaning into Hoseok’s side during all those meals Taehyung spends talking. Except he’s not talking so much anymore—now, he’s studying. Smiling. Sending little glances only you and Yoongi catch.

Everything comes to a head at another of Seokjin’s weird dinners.

“A question for your discussion,” he begins, and you swear you hear Yoongi groan under his breath. When you look over at him, he’s nonchalantly chewing his food, no indication at all that he made a sound for the first time in two and a half weeks, so you convince yourself you’re hallucinating. “If no one ever sneezed again, how long do you think it’d take you to notice?”

Yoongi must feel you looking this time, because he offers up a dead stare in return. While Taehyung and Hoseok debate their answers—

(“Well, I work in an office, so probably not long.”

“Ah. I work from home, but I think it’d be pretty obvious? Especially during allergy season.”

“Yeah, for sure. It’s one of those things you’d definitely notice. It’s like—you know when you’re cooking and finally turn off the vent hood and the quiet is a little disorienting? It’d be like that, I think. Like, you definitely—”

“You notice something’s absence more than you notice its presence.”

“Yeah! Yes, exactly.”)

—that dead stare of Yoongi’s morphs into something more mischievous, slow like molasses. He catches your eye, winks, and fakes a yawn.

Taehyung startles, like he forgot Yoongi had been sitting next to him the entire time. “Oh, you’ll have to excuse him,” he says, cheeks dusting pink. “Someone told him once he’d been a rock in a past life and it catches up with him every now and then.”

Seokjin lets out a high-pitched giggle, looking absolutely delighted at this. “A rock, huh? Fascinating. Please tell me all about it.”

“Well, I think a lot of people would assume igneous, but that’s always seemed a little shallow to me, you know? I think he’s more metamorphic—”

As Taehyung rambles on, Seokjin turns his attention to you and Hoseok. “What about you two? What do you think you were like in a past life?”

“He had to have been a monk or something,” you declare, poking the crater of one of Hoseok’s dimples. “He’s been hoarding good karma for centuries and cashed it all in for this lifetime.”

“Aish,” Hoseok replies, cheeks matching Taehyung’s as he scratches at the back of his neck. “I don’t know about all that. It’s just luck, isn’t it?”

You look at Hoseok. Really look at him—at the way his lips curl around his teeth as he tries not to laugh at the way Taehyung’s still going on about rocks; at the way he pouts and gags a little whenever he takes a sip of champagne; at the way the stars in his eyes turn to glitter when Seokjin gives him an opening to talk about his dog. You look at Hoseok and you think yeah, it could be luck, but it feels more monumental.

It feels predestined.

And you’re not sure what that means. Of course friendships can feel predestined; you’re not one to discount the importance of platonic relationships. You’re not sure what it means in the context of yours and Hoseok’s friendship. You’re not sure if your stomach hurt back when Hoseok got a girlfriend back in high school because it was predestined to be platonic.

You frown as you swirl the wine around your glass.

Truth be told, you’re not sure about much of anything right now.

“Hey,” Hoseok says, patting your thigh to get your attention. You’re in a dress. A nice one: silk, a slit up the side, drapes perfectly over the lines of your body and clings where it should. Does absolutely nothing to spare you from the heat of Hoseok’s skin through the fabric. “You okay?”

You’re fucked, is what you are.

“Yeah,” you reply, offering what you can only hope is a convincing smile. “Think I drank this a little too fast.”

“Do you want to go back to the house? We don’t have to stay. Taehyung’s still talking about the difference between limestone and sandstone, so I don’t think we’ll miss anything.”

You nod, dropping your voice to a hushed whisper. “Yeah, that might be a good idea. They look like they’re about ten seconds away from mixing up geography and geology and being really offended when I don’t know anything about rocks.”

The two of you stand, and Hoseok’s hand immediately moves to the small of your back. Warm, warm, warm, and you can’t convince yourself it’s the wine that’s making you lightheaded.

“Oh-ho-ho,” Taehyung chimes, looking pleased as punch at the sight of Hoseok’s hand at your back. Throws an elbow into Yoongi’s ribs. He doesn’t even flinch. “And where are the two of you going?”

“Uh, home?” Hoseok answers at the same time you say, “Fuck off, Taehyung,” because your face feels like it’s on fire and you’ve had enough of his ribbing.

Except, as it turns out, some amalgamation of home and fuck off sounds a whole lot like home, to fuck, and Taehyung might’ve been serious about the matchmaking thing, but even this kind of misunderstood forwardness has him choking on his sip of wine. Yoongi slaps at his back in the most patronizing way you’ve ever seen someone try to save another person from choking.

“Is he okay?” Hoseok asks, completely oblivious.

You shrug. “No. In so many ways.”

Through his choking, Taehyung manages a glare. “Takes one to know one,” he childishly responds, and you roll your eyes at the exact moment Seokjin grins and does a little wiggle, starts up a very enthusiastic fight, fight, fight! chant.

The thing is—Taehyung is drunk. You know he’s drunk, so him overriding Seokjin’s chant with one of his own—kiss, kiss, kiss!—certainly excuses and explains his behavior, it does absolutely nothingto extinguish the wildfire that’s sparked in your belly.

It’s a bad idea.

You and Hoseok have kissed before, when you were twelve and he was thirteen and he landed on you during a game of Spin the Bottle. Everyone around you had erupted into excited jeering, but the two of you shared a mortified look before he shuffled over on his hands and knees looking less like he was about to have his first kiss and more like he was being dragged to his death.

Looking back, that had been offensive, but he’d still puckered his lips and kissed the pout off your face all the same.

So it’s a bad idea, and you should tell Taehyung that the two of you have already kissed and to knock it off, because the second time you kiss shouldn’t only be to shut him up, but you’re both a little drunk in general and a lot drunk on the thought of redemption. If you pursed your lips the way he had fifteen years ago, leaned in close enough for him to smell your perfume, would he wear another mortified look? Or would he—

Fuck it, you think.

Because, once he realizes you’re serious, that you’re actually considering kissing him, the look he wears is not mortified. He looks a little awestruck—slightly dumb, if you’re being honest; definitely dazed—and it takes all that wildfire raging in your gut and unleashes it. Inspires just enough confidence to step closer, lean in; close enough to feel the warmth emanating from Hoseok’s skin, but still far enough for him to pull away if he wanted to.

Hoseok doesn’t want to.

And his hands are already at the small of your back, so it’s so easy to pull you closer. So easy to move them to your hips, grip a little tighter just in case you start to drift away. So easy to press his lips to yours and kiss the absolute life out of you.

You've kissed a lot of people over the span of fifteen years. None of them had lips as soft as Hoseok’s.

He must’ve done a lot of kissing, too, because the way he moves his mouth is sinful. Precise and confident, just a tease of his tongue. You can feel his smile against your lips and it nearly makes your knees buckle. Reminds you, more than the taste and smell of him, that it’s Hoseok you’re kissing, and the thought alone has you gripping at his dress shirt.

Any other time he’d complain about the wrinkles.

Not this one, though.

“Are you nervous?”

The question finds you halfway out of your dress. “Not really,” you answer. “I think my strap is stuck.”

A nervous laugh is punched out of him, but he moves to help you nonetheless. Gently touches your arm and spins you around, fingers ghosting along your skin as he untangles the strap and pushes it off your shoulder. The fabric pools on the floor, emerald and glittering, as you step out of it, and you laugh. It’s been three days since you and Hoseok kissed. The two of you have done a lot of kissing since then, and he’s still so hesitant; eyes still widen every time you lean in close, like he can’t believe it.

Hoseok is still so shy.

“Why would I be nervous?” you ask, because keeping him talking is the best way to keep him out of his head. “It’s you.”

He whimpers, like that’s the worst possible reasoning you could’ve given him. “Yeah, that’s exactly why I’m nervous.”

“It’s okay if you are,” you say, turning around to fully face him, and Hoseok looks struck. Torn between the way his nerves are eating him alive and the sight of you in just a pair of lacy panties. “We can do whatever you want, Seok.”

“I—no.” He swallows hard. “No, no, I think—we should definitely… you know.” You quirk an eyebrow. “My dick is fighting for its life right now.”

You dare a glimpse downward. Hoseok’s dick doesn’t look like it’s fighting for its life, outlined and half-hard in his expensive trousers, but what do you know? “Taehyung asked me about your dick once.”

“What.”

“Well, not exactly. He’d asked me if I ever thought about having sex with you—”

Hoseok whimpers again. “Please do not tell me what your answer was.”

“—and I told him you were like a Ken doll.” At his questioning look, you clarify, “You know. Dickless. Smooth from the waist down.”

“Wow. Why would you tell me that? Not gonna lie, it’s a little emasc—”

“I might need to see it. For science.”

Hoseok startles. “M-my dick?”

“Yeah. For science,” you repeat. “Taehyung is gonna be thrilled. He called your dicklessness, and I quote, an L for the gay community.”

Your best friend seems to ponder this. His hands hover uselessly in the air, and it’s ten seconds, twenty—you think he might call the whole thing off, but then he shrugs and undoes his belt, the metal clanky in his haste. “For the gays,” he explains as he pushes his pants down his thighs.

“Of course,” you agree, nodding seriously. “They deserve it.”

“What else did Taehyung say?”

“Nothing much. Just that we need to get our shit together because we’re wasting some really good windows to fuck against.”

Hoseok doesn’t fuck you against the windows the first time.

The first time is slow and unhurried. Because it’s Hoseok, he lights a candle and the two of you take your time touching, learning, shaking off the dregs of apprehension. He flushes crimson and nearly does a runner anytime something goes less than perfectly, and it’s so endearing you have to stop yourself from sinking through the mattress under the weight of all your affection.

The second time is all raw, desperate need. After a day of sly smiles reserved only for you, Hoseok meets you in the bathroom at the end of another night. There’s a spot of toothpaste on your sleep shirt that he disregards at the sight of your bare legs. His eyes meet yours in the mirror and then there’s only enough time for anticipation to start simmering beneath your skin before he’s moving.

(Technically, the third time is only a few hours later. Just like it has everyday since you arrived, your alarm goes off at six sharp, time for yoga, but instead of ushering you out of bed, Hoseok hits the snooze button and pulls you closer. Fits himself to your back and slides your panties to the side, speaks an is this okay? in his impossibly deep morning voice, and then you’re nodding your head and he’s pushing inside.)

Now, though—

Nerves have been shaken off. Another weird dinner has been sat through to which you’d worn a two-piece outfit, the top cropped just enough to show off a strip of skin—modest enough for the motley crew you share your evenings with, but apparently scandalous enough to drive Hoseok insane. He’s all barely-contained energy beside you, hand gripping your thigh, not paying a lick of attention to the conversation.

You lean over, speak the question just below his ear. “You okay?” Goosebumps erupt all over his skin.

“We need to leave right now.”

“Really? Why? You aren’t having a good time?”

Hoseok makes you pay for your smart mouth. Has you pressed against the expanse of windows in your bedroom, stripped down to just your underwear and the top he insisted you keep on, only your shoulders pressed against the glass. Presses wet, open-mouth kisses along your calves, the sensitive skin of your inner thighs, and then he’s canting your hips forward to nip at you over your underwear. More silk and lace—thin enough to feel the warmth of his breath, then nothing but warmth when he licks a stripe up your folds, spit seeping through the fabric.

“Fuck.”

He does it once, twice more before he leans back, refuses to meet your gaze. Your brows furrow because your hands are tangled in his hair, tugging as you try to get him to look up at you, wanting to see the evidence of your arousal on his face, but then he’s smirking out of the side of his mouth, hands reaching for your underwear.

You register the cold air of the room on your skin before the sound of fabric ripping.

Then you’re saying, “What the fuck, Hobi, did you just—” and he’s laughing as he nods, not a care in the world except getting his mouth back on you. He licks and sucks until you’re nearly trembling with the need to come, begging him to let you, and you think if you were anyone else he’d drag it out longer. Make you beg a little more. But regardless of whatever he’s told himself over the years in order to cope, Hoseok can’t deny you anything, so he presses two fingers inside, right on the spot that whites out your vision.

He touches himself to the sight of your orgasm.

Rolls the condom on. Runs his cock through your folds, tells you to slick him up. As he presses inside again, crowding close, breath fogging the glass behind you, he tells you to thank Taehyung for the idea.

You’re gonna have to thank him for a whole lot more than that.

In hindsight, you should’ve known Namjoon was nothing more than a dirty little schemer.

There’s three days left of your stay, and the question had been nagging at you ever since you cut through the reception area to get to the meditation class you were running late for. Jimin, of course, gave you shit for it: wordlessly, because he was busy checking in a man with far too much luggage. A man who was checking in alone, and that was not a thing, so far as you were aware, so your curiosity was to be expected.

“Can I just ask,” you say, once again in Jimin’s strange little room behind the beaded curtain. “Why a couple’s retreat?”

“Huh?”

“Isn’t it less effective for Seokjin’s weird cult? Like, statistically speaking, you’ve got to be more likely to recruit single people, right?”

“Huh?”

You blink. “What part is confusing you? And don’t say the cult, because I had that pegged on, like, day three.”

“No,” Jimin agrees quickly, “Seokjin is definitely officiating a cult. I just—why do you think this is a couple’s retreat?”

“Uh, because Namjoon said it was? That’s why me and Hoseok are faking being a couple—”

“Were. Were faking.”

“—and it just sort of made sense, considering the people who showed up after us were literally a couple.”

Jimin sighs, schools his expression to the one he always uses when he has to be condescending and speak to you as if you’re a woefully stupid child. “I don’t know who Namjoon is, but I’m assuming he lied in order to get you two to do… exactly what you’ve done.”

“What.”

“This isn’t a couple’s retreat, buttercup, just a regular ol’ wellness one.”

“That Seokjin also uses as his cult recruitment headquarters.”

“Yep.”

“I feel betrayed.”

“Pisces usually do.”

“Excuse me—”

“You’re excused,” he dismisses, shooing you out of his closet.

Despite his innocent nature, Hoseok isn’t nearly as shocked as you to learn Namjoon deceived him.

That’s life, I guess, was all he’d said, the picture of comfort and nonchalance as he lounged in bed, wrapped in a fluffy robe, arm behind his head like a king. You had been shocked—no longer at the betrayal, but at Hoseok’s quick acceptance of it. Hoseok from a month ago would’ve been flustered and on the brink of a meltdown. Hoseok today just shrugs it off.

“I’m just saying.” He dangles a stem of grapes over his mouth like an asshole. “Jimin called it a wellness retreat, right? I didn’t get roped into Seokjin’s cult and we’re… well, whatever we are, so a win is a win. Seems like wellness to me.”

“Whatever we are,” you mimic, pitching Hoseok’s voice up a dozen octaves. “Wow, how romantic.”

Hoseok rolls his eyes, pats the spot next to him on the bed. “If you’d like to come over here, we can have the highly-anticipated ‘what are we’ discussion that no one in the history of human relationships has ever once dreaded having.”

You wave him off. “No need. It’s you, and I trust you, so I don’t think we’re going to go back home and you’re going to write this off as a weird forced proximity thing and ghost me.” You finish the application of your facemask, laughing to yourself at Hoseok’s offended scoff. “Besides, constantly having to defend you from Rose Emoji and Hammer and Sickle Twitter is the pinnacle of devotion and love. That’s the kinda shit that forms a trauma bond.”

“For my peace of mind, then.”

“Fine. Hoseok, I love you dearly as my best friend and I’m probably halfway in love with you as a romantic partner, and even though this vacation has been incredible and rewarding and you are very good at sex, I am also very much looking forward to having my own space again because you are almost impossible to live with.” You roll your lips at the sour expression marring his face. “That said: you still owe me dinner at the Brazilian spot near your office, so I would like it very much if you took me there as a date. You can tell Namjoon I’m your girlfriend if you wish.”

“And are you?”

“Ugh. Of course I am, Hobi. What do you take me for? You think I’m the kind of woman who agrees to spend a month in the rainforest and almost get roped into some sketchy cult with anyone who asks?”

“Well, I don’t know! Maybe!”

“You’re impossible. Do you want to be my boyfriend or not?”

At this, Hoseok’s face lights up so bright it puts the sun to shame. Smiles so big you can hardly believe it. “I would love nothing more.”

During your last group meal, Seokjin invites the new guy to join you.

Taehyung is enthralled immediately, gesturing for him to take the empty seat to his left. “Hello, nice to meet you! I’m Kim Taehyung and this is Min Yoongi. Are you here for the wellness retreat part or the cult part?”

Seokjin chokes on a slice of mango.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kim Taehyung. I’m Park Bogum,” the man responds. “I’m here for the cult part.”

Seokjin promptly stops choking.

Saying goodbye to this place, these people, is bittersweet.

The last four weeks have undoubtedly been the weirdest of your life, but they’ve more than made up for it with what you’ve been given in return: a blossoming relationship with Hoseok, Taehyung and Yoongi’s friendship. Even Jimin and Jungkook come to see you off, and Jimin surprises you by wrapping you in a tight hug, assuring you that you’ll still be his second-favorite Pisces long after you’re gone.

“Wow, rude. Who’s the first?”

“Yoongi.”

“Yoongi? How is he your favorite? He doesn’t talk!”

Jimin smirks, smug and patronizing. “Exactly. Have a safe trip, buttercup.”

Jungkook, on the other hand, doesn’t say much at all. You suspect he showed up only to look hot and catapult Hoseok into his final sexuality crisis, and that suspicion is confirmed when he leans against the wall and pushes his hair away from his forehead. The sound that comes out of Hoseok is part whimper, part pain and suffering, and truly catastrophic for his ego.

“Get it together,” you plead, but it falls on deaf ears. Hoseok is in a Jungkook-induced haze until you’re halfway to the airport, Taehyung chattering the entire way.

And then—

And then.

“Well, that was fucking weird, huh?” Yoongi asks.

Hoseok is running late.

He’s gotten better at equalizing his work-life balance since returning from your trip, but he still gets held up sometimes. A lot to catch up on, he’d said, and you can understand that. He’d spent his first week back doing nothing but haranguing Namjoon, so that surely ate up a lot of time.

Still, he’s never been quite this late.

The waitstaff are looking at you with concern. They used to look at you only to see if your water needed topping up, so this is an unfortunate development, especially for someone who looks as you currently do. Any person in this overpriced Brazilian steakhouse would be honored to even sit at the same table as you, let alone be able to call you their date, so Hoseok really has a lot of nerve.

You’re halfway to telling him as much over a very angry text message when he appears in front of you, face flushed, chest heaving, hairline dotted with sweat. “Sorry I’m late,” he apologizes, leaning down to press a kiss to your cheek. “Got a little caught up.”

“No shit,” you whisper-yell, “that waiter over there looked like he was about ready to call the cops on me. I probably can’t even afford the water in this place.”

Hoseok grimaces. “In my defense, I have a very good reason.”

“Oh yeah?” you retort, crossing your arms over your chest. “And what is that?”

Wordlessly, Hoseok hands over a garishly orange shopping bag emblazoned with a very familiar logo and brand name. Suddenly, it feels impossible to breathe. “You didn’t. Hobi, tell me you didn’t—”

“You know how much bullshit you have to go through for one of those things? God, I had to put in a request. Not to mention it was like fourteenseparate credit checks…”

You tune him out. Instead, you peek inside the bag with what you can only describe as pure dread. Not at the implication, because that has you thrumming with joy and affection, but at the cost of—

“You got me a Birkin.”

Hoseok looks at you like you’ve sprouted a second head. “Um. That’s what you said you wanted, right?”

“You said you weren’t spending that much money on anyone who isn’t your future spouse.”

The look doesn’t budge. “Yeah? I’m clearly not following.”

“When did you put in the request?” If your voice is audibly waterlogged, Hoseok doesn’t mention it, but you can feel the tears pooling at your lash line nonetheless.

The confusion finally clears and gives way to another brilliant smile. A little bashful, too, because he hides behind the menu and refuses to look at you. Says something you don’t catch, can’t hear over the dim chatter of this restaurant, and he groans in pleased faux-annoyance when you tell him to repeat himself.

“I said… I put it in the night you kissed me.”

It feels like you’ve been punched in the chest. “You’ve known that long?”

And Hoseok—Hoseok ducks behind the menu again, but this time you can hear him loud and clear: “I’ve known a lot longer than that.”

author's note pt. 2: if you've made it this far, thank you so much for reading! i really hope you enjoyed this. as always, any reblogs are greatly appreciated and my inbox is always open for feedback. ♡

#hoseok x reader #hoseok x you #hoseok x y/n #jhope x reader #hobi x reader #hoseok fluff #hoseok smut #hoseok imagine #hoseok fanfic #jhope smut #jhope fanfic #bts x reader #bts smut #bts imagines #bts scenarios #bts fanfiction #bts fanfic

[downbad4yoongi]

Merry and Mended

🎄Merry and Mended

🎄Alpha!Yoongi x Omega!Taehyung

🎄AU/Genre: holiday fluff, strangers to lovers, a/b/o

🎄Warnings: smut

🎄Rating: MA

🎄Word count: 8536

Wrote this as a birthday gift to myself, and as a part of @bangtanwritershq Holiday Wish List December Event.

I love a good Taegi 🥰 Enjoy your holidays.

(Thank you to my beta readers, @moonleeai & @colormepurplex2. Thank you, @cherrysoulth, for my beautiful banner.)

Yoongi’s head jerks up as the store is filled with a cacophony of tin cans crashing to the floor. He straightens from where he was slouching on a stool behind the counter, sets down his book, and moves toward the front of the store to discover the cause of the commotion. He shuffles toward the front, his nose wrinkling as he picks up on the lightly burnt scent of a distressed omega. It doesn’t take long to figure out what the crashing sound was when his foot connects with a Sterno can that strayed a bit too far from the rest.

With a furrowed brow, the alpha rounds the aisle and sees a man desperately scrambling to pick up the fallen merchandise. He crosses his arms and tilts his head to the side; he is sure he has never seen this man in town before. They don’t get many strangers out this way.

Yoongi clears his throat to capture the stranger’s attention. The man’s head snaps up, his fluffy dark brown curls falling into widened eyes. Anything Yoongi was going to say stalls in his mind, leaving him there to stare at one of the most gorgeous people he has ever seen.

The man stands up, arms full of tin cans, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to. I was just trying to look at–” he looks over his shoulder, motioning back behind him, causing a few of the cans he gathered to slip out of his arms. He winces, an embarrassed blush spreading across smooth, golden skin.

The omega’s movements cause the air around him to stir, the currents carrying his scent to Yoongi. His senses pick up on the subtle chamomile, albeit tinged from his worry, smell surrounding the omega. Yoongi blinks at him silently, a bit disoriented by the memories that scent brings up for him. This complete stranger reminds him of when his mother would brew him a cup of tea whenever he wasn’t feeling his best to soothe him. He snaps out of it only when the man’s expression goes from contrite to worried. 

“Um, it’s okay. Honestly, it was a bit too quiet this week. Needed something to liven things up.” Inhaling deeply, soaking up more of the comforting scent emanating from the man, Yoongi stoops to gather the Sterno tins into a central location before reassembling the display. His hands move carefully while trying to concentrate on controlling his own scent, not wanting it to flare and give away the confusing emotions swirling within.

The omega stoops down with him and places the tins he was holding on the pile that Yoongi began accumulating. A deep chuckle rumbles out of the stranger as he shoots Yoongi a boxy smile, “Well then, I am happy I could be of service.”

A light blush perfuses across the apples of Yoongi’s pale cheeks, his fingers tightening on the can in his hand, his own cedar scent saturating the air to mix with the gentle one surrounding the other man. Fuck, even his smile is beautiful. Yoongi tears his eyes away, quickly sweeping up the last few errant cans and stands. The man stands with him, his camel duster falling to its full length, leaving only the bottom half of a pair of black slacks and shiny loafers in view.

“So I haven’t seen you around here before. Are you just stopping through?”

The man cocks an eyebrow and sarcastically quips, “Oh, do you know everyone who lives around here?”

“Yeah, I do,” Yoongi retorts, a deadpan expression on his face.

He scoffs, “Really?”

“Really. Welcome to my general store. This store has been in my family's hands for eighty years, and we’ve lived in this town that entire time. I’m Yoongi, Min Yoongi.”

The man blinks sheepishly, “I seem to be on a roll with making things awkward…” He scrunches his face up before shaking his arms and thrusting his hand toward Yoongi. “I’m Kim Taehyung, and yes, I am very new in town.”

Yoongi slides his hand into Taehyung’s grip and shakes the proffered hand. Both of their scents spiking at the contact. “Welcome to town. What were you needing from here before you destroyed my display?”

“Yah! I apologized for that, and you accepted the apology,” Taehyung huffs.

“I’m prone to changing my mind.” Yoongi sweeps the edges of his red plaid flannel back and shoves his hands into his black jeans. “Can I help you find something in particular?”

Taehyung purses his lips, studying Yoongi for a beat before spinning to motion at the aisle behind him. “I was trying to choose a space heater. The heat in my place doesn’t seem to work.”

Yoongi maneuvers around Taehyung and eyes the selection on the shelf. He slaps his hand on the top of one of the boxes, “This one would be best for heating mid to large areas.” Yoongi’s eyes flick away, his teeth pulling at the dry skin of his lip. “Or I could come and fix your heat for you…”

Taehyung feels his brows disappear into his hairline and can’t help the sassy comment that flows from his lips, “Are you the town’s handyman, too?”

Yoongi’s lips twist into a wry smile. “No. I just thought, um, that I could maybe help.” 

“That’s really kind of you. When would you be able to come by?” Taehyung questions.

“Tomorrow?” Yoongi suggests, “The store is closed on Sundays, so that would be best for me.”

Taehyung’s head bobs, “Honestly, the sooner the better. While I love a good popsicle, I personally don’t enjoy being turned into one.”

The truck eases to a stop in front of the quaint red house at the end of the street. Yoongi squints out of the window at the structure. He recognizes the house as belonging to the Kims, an adorable elderly couple who mostly kept to themselves, as he shuts off the engine, still contemplating why he offered to help this stranger. 

He is not a morning person, and he is known for not being the friendliest toward strangers. It really doesn’t make sense that he is here and outside before noon. He picks up his iced coffee in one hand and pushes the door open with the other before sliding out of the cab of the truck. He scowls as the cold air envelopes him and seeps through the layers of his puffy winter jacket and hoodie. He reaches into the bed, hefting his toolbox over the side, and starts lugging it up toward the front door, his scowl deepening with each freezing step.

Huddling in on himself, he waits for Taehyung to answer his knocks on the door, internally cursing himself for this dumb idea; so what if this man reminds him of home. After what feels like an ice age, the white door opens to reveal a drowsy-looking Taehyung in an oversized green hoodie, black lounge pants, and sherpa-lined slippers. 

The scowl on Yoongi’s face evaporates as he takes in Taehyung’s messy bed hair and puffy sleep face. The earthy notes of chamomile hang heavy in the air. Oh, this is why he is out here freezing his nuts off. “Hi.”

Taehyung squints and just looks at him for a beat before clearing the sleep from his throat. “Good morning. Sorry, I forgot you were going to come by today, or at least I didn’t think it would be this early.” Taehyung’s deep timbre washes over Yoongi, pulling him into his aura even more.

“Oh well. I was up, so here I am,” Yoongi responds flatly.

Taehyung backs up, opening the door wider, “Come on in.” He swiftly closes the door once Yoongi has cleared the entrance, shutting out the winter weather. As soon as he steps inside, the soothing herbal aroma envelopes him like a warm embrace.

“I would say it’s good to be out of the cold, but it really isn’t much warmer in here. Your heat truly is broken.”

“And yet, you are drinking an iced coffee,” Taehyung motions at the clear plastic cup held in Yoongi’s fingerless gloved hand.

Yoongi looks from his coffee to Taehyung, “Your point?”

Taehyung opens his mouth but quickly shuts it again, shaking his head. “Um, let me show you where things are.” Taehyung spins on his heel and leads Yoongi through the house and to the hall thermostat. “You have to start here, no?”

Yoongi nods in affirmation, “Yeah, this is the first step.” Yoongi sets his coffee down and slips out of his winter jacket before peering at the wall thermostat and fiddling with different settings. When that doesn’t yield a result, he asks Taehyung where his breaker box is and is guided to a storage closet deeper inside the house. Opening the metal door, he examines the breaker switches and confirms none are tripped, and everything should operate normally.

“Where’s your furnace?” Yoongi asks as he shuts and latches the breaker box door.

Taehyung jerks his head behind him, motioning further toward the back of the house. “Closet near the back of the house.”

Yoongi follows Taehyung to the next location and pulls open the closet door. He takes in the small space before squatting down in front of the furnace in the corner.

Taehyung leans against the open door and watches as Yoongi stoops down to look at the unit. He locates the power switch and confirms it is in the ‘on’ position. Yoongi’s mouth thins into a firm line as he runs his fingers along the seam of the furnace door. He leans closer to the furnace door, eyes narrowing, sliding his hand to the handle, jiggling it a tad. That confirms his suspicion; he opens the door and then firmly shuts it again.

“What was that for?” Taehyung pipes up over his shoulder, clearly confused. Before Yoongi can respond, a loud shuddering sound is heard through the house, followed by a low hissing.

Yoongi glances over his shoulder at Taehyung, “That was to turn your heat back on.” Yoongi straightens back up, brushing his hands off on his ripped jeans. “The door to your furnace wasn’t shut all the way, and the failsafe was triggered. When the failsafe is on, the furnace won’t function as a precaution.”

Understanding dawns on Taehyung’s face as he processes what Yoongi is saying. “Oh! I guess I could have searched that on Naver for myself,” he says sheepishly.

Yoongi shrugs and takes a sip from his straw. “Probably.” He watches Taehyung chew on his lower lip. “But I’m glad I could help.”

Taehyung peers at Yoongi through the fringe of his hair, gauging how sincere his words are before letting a small smile spread across his lips. “Can I repay you with breakfast?”

“You cook?”

Silence remains for a beat. “Um. Not very well?”

Yoongi’s lips lift in a smirk on one side, and he throws out a lifeline. “Lucy’s in town makes a wonderful breakfast. We could just go there?”

Relief sweeps through Taehyung’s eyes, “My treat.” He starts backing down the hallway toward one of the open bedroom doors. “Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be right out.”

The bell chimes loudly as the diner door swings open, and the two of them rush in out of the cold. As they stomp the snow from their shoes, Taehyung looks around the interior. “Oh!”

The town’s diner has quintessential 50s-themed decor and makes its best impression of a Lucille Ball shrine. Yoongi smirks, “Ahjumma is a fan.” Yoongi veers off to the right and slides into the third raised booth, settling into the vinyl seat.

Taehyung follows, “That is putting it mildly.” His eyes still bouncing around the restaurant as Yoongi sets the menu in front of him. Eventually, Taehyung pulls his gaze back to Yoongi, who has been sitting there watching him with an amused expression, “What?”

Yoongi shakes his head slightly, “I just haven’t had many opportunities to experience the places I’ve known my entire life through someone new.”

“So this has always been decorated like this?”

“Mhmm, though briefly, very briefly, she contemplated redecorating when she discovered Magnum P.I. Tom Selleck didn’t try hard enough to flip her in the end.”

Taehyung covers his mouth with his large palm, muffling his giggle as he listens to Yoongi’s story. The overhead light haloing his dark curls just right, Yoongi can’t help but stare and trace the way the harsh diner lights perfectly highlight the angles of Taehyung’s face.

“Yoongi-yah! Where have you been? You haven’t been visiting as often as you should be.”

Yoongi is snapped out of his reverie at the admonishment and looks as a petite beta in her early sixties sidles up to their table.

Taehyung’s eyes bounce back and forth between Yoongi and the newcomer. Yoongi’s lips screw to the side at the gentle scolding as he rubs at the back of his neck. “Aish, ajumma, I have been busy with the store.”

With a smack of her pad to his shoulder, “Nonsense! That store runs itself at this point. You can’t avoid him forever, you know?”

Taehyung’s brows lift slightly at that, wondering who they are talking about. Yoongi ducks his head, “I’m not avoiding him.”

“Could have fooled me.” She frowns at him for a moment more before turning to Taehyung with a bright smile, “Hello there! You’re new. I know everyone in this town; who are you?”

Taehyung blinks up at her a few times, “I’m Kim Taehyung, and this is my first time visiting your lovely establishment.”

“Of course it is. I would remember such a handsome face as yours. I’m Mrs. Kim.” Her brows furrow as she looks at Taehyung harder, “Any relation to the Kims out on Whale Drive?”

Taehyung nods, “They’re my grandparents. I’m taking care of their house as they transition to an assisted living facility.”

“No!”

“Yes, unfortunately, the house's upkeep just got a bit too much for them. I’m the only relative left, so here I am.” Yoongi listens to the exchange silently, processing this new information.

Mrs. Kim tsks under her breath. “You are a good grandson.” She pats his shoulder, “You keep me updated, okay?” Taehyung nods silently. “Good. Now, what can I get you?”

“Oh!” Taehyung’s eyes drop to the plastic menu before him and quickly scans it. He jabs his finger against the menu, “Dakjuk, please.” Mrs. Kim nods and swipes the menu from in front of him, quickly turning and leaving them again, the subtle hint of an apple orchard left behind by the beta.

“I di–”

“She–”

They both halt, looking at each other before Yoongi motions for Taehyung to go first.

“She didn’t take your order.”

“Mmm, ajumma brings me what she wants to feed me.”

Taehyung’s head tilts to the side, amused by the straightforward response. “What were you going to ask me?”

“Um, I didn’t know you were the Kim's grandson. They didn’t talk much about their family.”

Taehyung gives a wry smile, “Not much to talk about. It’s just me. I worked in Seoul and would visit when I could, which wasn’t often.”

“Wh-” Yoongi clears his throat, “When do you have to go back?”

“I don’t.”

“What do you mean you don’t? Don’t you have a job and a life to return to?”

“I quit. I couldn’t churn away at the machine any longer.”

“Okay, but what about your life in Seoul?”

“What life? I spent most of my time at work. I spent the little time I had outside of work with… someone who used to matter, but that’s in the past now.”

Yoongi blinks at him and can’t help the spark of curiosity flicking to life in his chest. “Why don’t they matter anymore?”

Taehyung gives the saddest smile Yoongi has ever seen, his gentle chamomile scent wilting a little, “I’ll tell mine when you tell yours.”

A plastic straw is shoved under Yoongi’s nose, capturing his attention. He sets down the guitar he is repairing and looks up to find Taehyung offering him an iced coffee with a boxy grin. “Hi, hyung!”

“Taehyung. What are you here for this time?” Yoongi sips through the straw, humming at the rich, bitter taste of coffee washing over his tongue. This has become a routine for them. For the past couple of weeks now, several days out of the week, Taehyung shows up with an iced coffee for Yoongi and the ploy that he just remembered that he needed to buy something he forgot. 

Granted, Yoongi didn’t catch on that it was a ploy until Taehyung came in to purchase a single screwdriver, then the next day he was back to purchase a wrench, then a hammer… Yoongi had suggested he just buy a toolbox, but Taehyung had insisted that he didn’t need one and then proceeded to purchase a set of pliers. So now Yoongi just plays along with this little game just to see how far it will go. 

Taehyung rocks back on his heels, the sweet aroma of chamomile swirling around him, and pulls the hand he was holding behind his back out in front of him, holding a small container of nails. “Just this for today.”

Yoongi blinks slowly at him, “Is your plan to buy every item in my store, one thing at a time? If this is your villain origin story, I gotta tell you it needs work.”

Taehyung grins mischievously, the flush on his cheeks deepening as he meets Yoongi's gaze. "Oh, you caught on to my evil plan already? I guess I'll have to devise a more diabolical scheme," he says playfully, his eyes twinkling with humor. "But for now, let's just stick to one item at a time. Keeps things interesting, don't you think?"

Yoongi tongues the inside of his cheek, amused, “So what are the nails for?”

Taehyung winks at Yoongi before turning his attention back to the container of nails, examining them with feigned seriousness. "These nails? They're special. You see, they're going to be the foundation of my grand master plan to take over the world... or maybe just build a really cool bookshelf. Haven't decided yet." Taehyung chuckles, enjoying the banter, and adds, "But seriously, I just thought it would be nice to have a reason to come back and see you again. Your store has this charm that's hard to resist."

“You caught me! You see, having a charming store is a side effect of my diabolical plan to lure in unsuspecting customers.” Yoongi smirks, leaning casually against the counter and crossing his arms. “If you’re going to keep showing up to buy one item at a time, you might as well come up with a convincing evil laugh. I mean, where’s the drama? The theatrics? You’re missing out on the full villain experience,” he adds with a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. 

Taehyung chuckles, "You've got a point. I guess I'll have to work on my evil laugh if I want to be a proper villain." He feigns a sinister chuckle, only to giggle a moment later. "Or maybe I'll stick to being the charming customer who keeps you on your toes." He takes a step closer, his playful expression turning into a more sincere smile. "Speaking of which, if you can handle my one-item-at-a-time takeover plan, how about we break the routine? How about you let me take you out for coffee or dinner sometime? I promise I won't make you sell me your entire inventory in one go." Taehyung winks, hoping the offer comes across as genuine and lighthearted.

Yoongi's eyes widen for a moment, surprised by the sudden turn of events, but then a small smirk plays on his lips. He tilts his head, considering Taehyung's proposition. 

"Well, that's a plot twist I wasn't expecting in my villainous day." Yoongi chuckles, matching Taehyung's playful tone, the alpha’s warm and spicy scent spiking at the other man’s offer. With a thoughtful expression, he nods. "Alright, you've got yourself a deal. But only if you promise to leave your world-domination plans at home for the night. When and where, villain?"

The omega’s lips spread into a boxy grin, “No promises on leaving the world domination plans at home, but I’ll try to keep them on a tight leash. How about dinner at Lucy’s tomorrow at 7 PM? I haven’t tasted ajumma’s dinner menu yet.”

Yoongi smirks, his interest piqued by Taehyung's choice. "Lucy's, huh? Ahjumma does work wonders in the kitchen, so I can't blame you for wanting to try it out. Dinner it is. And as for the world domination plans, I suppose a tight leash will have to do. We wouldn't want to scare the other diners away with our diabolical schemes." He winks playfully at Taehyung. "Alright then, partner in crime. Lucy's it is."

Yoongi chuckles, leaning onto the table, amused at Taehyung’s antics. His nose twitches pleasantly as it picks up the gentle scent of chamomile mixing with his cedar's warm, spicy aroma. He has only known the omega for a few weeks but feels utterly comfortable with the man.

The dinner date at Lucy’s has been going well; there’s laughter, good food, and engaging conversation. Ahjumma immediately started gushing over them when they stepped into the restaurant and realized that they were there on a date. The beta has been doting on them all night and seems to have curated a special menu for them on the fly. 

“So, what’s the verdict on dinner at Lucy’s?” Yoongi asks as he gathers a spoonful of strawberry bingsu from their shared bowl. 

Taehyung hums, swallowing his spoonful, “Honestly, it has not disappointed. Everything has been absolutely delicious. Lucy’s may just be my new favorite spot.”

Yoongi gives the other man a gummy smile, “I’m glad you liked it. Maybe we should start a Lucy’s fan club.” Taehyung claps his hands together, giggling at the idea. 

That laugh may be one of Yoongi’s new favorite sounds. He twirls his spoon in the frozen treat, pondering what else he can say to tease more of it out. 

Taehyung’s eyes light up as ajumma steps out of the kitchen and quickly waves the older beta over. “How would you like your own personal fan club?” 

 “Made up of the two of you? I would be so lucky to have such handsome men devoted to me.” Her raspy chuckle mixes pleasantly with the omega’s huskier one.

“Then it’s decided. We are your devotees, ajumma!” Taehyung states brightly. 

Yoongi’s cheeks ache as he watches the two of them tease each other. “The food was delicious. Thank you so much, ajumma, for making us such special treats,” Yoongi effuses. “I’ll take the check whenever you’re ready.”

She scoffs and brushes him off. “No, no. This is my treat.”

Yoongi shakes his head, protesting, “Yah, you can’t do that.”

She props her hands on her hips, “Yes, I can. If you insist, you can repay me by inviting me to the mating ceremony.”

Yoongi’s cheeks warm at her words, and a similar blush is mirrored on Taehyung’s face. He clears his throat, “Um, well, thank you.”

She pats his shoulder and bids them both goodbye before bustling over to another table.

“I guess we weren’t the only ones to feel a connection then?” Taehyung quips, breaking the tension. 

Yoongi’s eyes meet Taehyung’s warm brown ones, a soft smile playing across his lips, “I guess so. Want to get out of here?”

They slide out of the booth, Yoongi leading them out of the diner. Taehyung sidles up next to him as they step out onto the sidewalk. They linger there, the fresh air tinged with their anticipation of what could happen next. 

There’s a palpable tension in the air, and neither are quite ready to say goodnight. They stand there, smiling at each other, the air charged with unspoken words. The small town has quieted down significantly in the evening hours, and in that moment, it feels like they are in a bubble all their own.

Yoongi clears his throat, “Listen, would you like a ride home?”

“Oh, no, I wouldn’t want to put you out,” Taehyung demures. 

“Nonsense. It’s late. Let me give you a lift. I promise I don’t mind.”

Taehyung caves and agrees. They walk down the street, arms brushing each other with each step. Once they reach his truck, Yoongi rushes ahead a little to open the passenger door, holding it open for the omega. 

Taehyung pauses briefly at the gesture, a tiny smile on his lips. “Thank you.” He brushes his fingers across the back of Yoongi’s hand as he slides into the cab.

Yoongi circles around the hood and climbs in on the other side. The drive to Taehyung’s house is silent. The quiet intimacy of the ride contrasts with the lively energy of their date. 

As they reach Taehyung’s place, neither seems in a rush to part ways. The conversation becomes a bit more subdued, a mixture of shared laughter and more serious reflections on life. 

Taehyung tilts his head against the headrest and sighs. “I should probably head inside. I had a great time tonight, Yoongi.”

“Me too, Tae.” A beat passes before Yoongi starts, “Oh–”

The omega’s hand covers the back of his own. “It’s okay. You can call me Tae.”

A tension eases out of Yoongi, and he flips his hand over, lacing their fingers together. “So, uh, maybe we can do this again? Another dinner, perhaps?”

Smiling, Tae leans closer, “I’d really like that, hyung.”

Their scents intermingle, adding to the intimacy of the moment. The soft glow from a nearby streetlamp casts a warm halo, illuminating the anticipation in Taehyung’s eyes. Yoongi feels a pull and leans in closer, too. 

Yoongi’s fingers find their way to the side of the other man’s neck, his touch gentle yet firm. The warmth of his thumb tracing the line of Taehyung’s jaw. “Tae,” he whispers, “Can I kiss you?”

Taehyung’s response is a quick, eager nod. The warmth of his breath against Yoongi’s lips is a silent affirmation, and the tension between them escalates as the distance between them disappears. Their lips meet in a soft, tentative kiss, a blend of warmth and sweetness that speaks of unspoken desires. 

As their kiss deepens, the world around them fades into the background, leaving only their shared connection. Time seems to stand still in that moment, the quiet acknowledgment of something new and exciting unfolding between them. 

The kiss lingers, a promise of the possibilities ahead, and when they finally pull away, their eyes meet with a newfound understanding. They share a smile and bask in the wonder of the start of something beautiful. 

It’s been a few weeks, and each day gets better. The initial spark from their first date has developed into a deeper connection. Yoongi marvels that in such a short amount of time, the sweet omega has become a staple in his life. Their days are intertwined with laughter, shared secrets, and a growing sense of intimacy. 

Their routine is filled with moments, both ordinary and extraordinary. From lazy Sunday afternoons spent cuddling on the couch, exchanging soft kisses, and recounting the week's events to more adventurous endeavors like taking Taehyung ice skating for the first time at the local rink. Yoongi feels a sense of completeness in Taehyung’s company. 

Their late-night conversations have become a cherished ritual; the quiet vulnerability shared in those moments is strengthening the bond that formed all those weeks ago. Taehyung has become Yoongi’s confidante, a source of comfort, and a partner in the beautiful dance of their blossoming relationship. 

Yoongi sets down the box he brought back from the stock room as he hears his phone ring on the counter. His lips curl into a smile, his chest filling with warmth as he sees Tae’s name flashing across the screen. 

“Hey! Did you miss me already? We just had lunch an hour ago.”  The alpha teases, the memory of their shared meal flashing in his mind. 

“Hyung! Oh my god, you won’t believe what’s happening!” The panicked sound echoing through the receiver has Yoongi straightening from where he was slumped against the counter in alarm.

“What’s going on, Tae?”

“There’s water everywhere! I think there’s a leak under the kitchen sink. It’s like a waterfall in here.”

Even alone, Yoongi can’t help but release calming pheromones wanting to comfort the omega. “Okay, calm down. Do you know where your main water valve is?”

Tae’s frantic voice comes through even higher pitched. “No! I don’t know where that is. Everything is wet, and I’m freaking out. How do I make it stop?”

“Baby, it’s going to be okay. Do you know where your water heater is?”

“Um, um,” Taehyung stutters furiously, trying to remember the layout of the house. “I think so.”

“That’s good. Go to the water heater, and I’ll tell you what to do once you get there.”

Yoongi listens to Tae rush through the house, his breath coming in fast pants. “I’m here! I’m here! What do I do?”

“Do you see a valve anywhere?”

“Is it the handle near the back, halfway up the wall?”

“Yes! Right now, it should be sticking out perpendicular to the pipe. Turn it until it's parallel to the pipe.”

He listens to Taehyung fumble a bit before his voice returns through the phone. “Okay, I turned it. What now?”

“That should have turned the water off. Go and check to see if that stopped it.”

Yoongi listens to the omega rush back through the house. His voice this time is a bit calmer in relief, “It sounds like the water has stopped.” He whines loudly, “There is water everywhere, though, and it’s still spreading.”

Yoongi chuckles, his own energy calming at Taehyung’s relief. “But the main problem is done. Grab some towels, or whatever you have that is absorbent to help contain the mess. Crisis averted.”

“Yeah, thanks to you. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

“Well, now that we’ve conquered the great kitchen flood of 2023, maybe I should come over and check on what went wrong,” Yoongi teases.

Taehyung’s warm laugh sends shivers over Yoongi. “You’re always welcome, especially if you come with your toolbox.”

“Let me close the store, and I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

That’s how, on a late Friday afternoon, Yoongi finds himself at Taehyung’s house with his head underneath the kitchen sink.

Taehyung sits on the kitchen counter, watching anxiously. “So what happened? Why did my kitchen become a lake?”

Yoongi’s voice is a little echo-y as it reverberates around the hollow space, “Your pipe burst. I think water froze inside it when the temperature dropped and caused it to burst. Unfortunately, it just looks like your pipes are old, and time took its toll.”

Taehyung hangs his head, groaning. “Old pipes, huh? I never thought they’d give up on me like this.”

“It happens. Especially with the winter chill, but hey, the good news is we caught it early, and it could have been much worse.” Yoongi continues to work, his hands deftly maneuvering to fix the problem. 

“How do you even know what you are doing?” Taehyung asks curiously.

Yoongi chuckles, “Years of being a responsible adult, Tae. You pick up a thing or two.”

Playfully, Taehyung quips, “I guess I should add ‘adulting’ to my list of skills to brush up on.”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. You’ll get the hang of it eventually,” Yoongi tosses back. He tinkers silently for a few minutes before adding, “You know, dealing with home emergencies together is practically a relationship milestone.”

Taehyung hums, “Is that so?”

“I think so. I’ll take any excuse to spend more time with you.”

Yoongi can’t see the other man’s blush, but he smells the spike in the omega’s chamomile scent. It distracts him just enough that he wrenches a pipe a little too hard, sending the water remaining in the pipe straight onto him. 

“Shit!” He gasps, jerking out from under the sink, and wipes at his face. He clamors to his feet, his white shirt soaked with stale pipe water. 

The omega’s eyes widen as he hops off the counter, rushing over to the alpha. Taehyung’s scent sours as, in a flurry of motions, he pulls at Yoongi’s shirt until it is yanked over his head.

Before Yoongi knows it, he is standing shirtless under the fluorescent glare of the kitchen light—the bright light casting shadows in the dips and hollows of his bare chest. The wet fabric of his shirt hangs limply in the other man’s fist as they both pause.

Taehyung’s lips part on his next exhale as his eyes flicker over the vast expanse of bare skin that is exposed. A new tension fills the air as the previous sharp scent from the omega softens and sweetens, Yoongi’s own scent growing fresher to mix with the omega’s. A beat passes with them both frozen, only inches separating them. 

Between one breath and the next, the two collide. The sodden fabric slips through Taehyung’s fingers, landing on the cool tile floor with a wet slap. Swiftly, the omega trades the clammy chill of the wet cloth for the comforting warmth and silkiness of the alpha’s exposed skin. As Yoongi’s hands assertively find their place on Taehyung’s hips, he effortlessly pulls the other man closer while Taehyung’s large palms tenderly encircle Yoongi’s shoulders. 

Their lips hover closer, breath buffeting against parted lips. Even at this distance, Yoongi’s eyes search the other’s, seeking acceptance before crashing his lips against the omega’s. Taehyung’s arms circle the alpha tighter, sealing their lips together in a searing kiss. 

A deep purr resonates through the alpha’s chest as he tilts his head, sliding their lips against each other. The rest of the world falls away as the building tension ebbs and flows around them.  Taehyung rocks his hips forward, lips parting with a moan when he feels Yoongi’s growing length pressed against him. 

Taking advantage of the opening, Yoongi presses forward, his tongue sweeping into the other man’s mouth. His own groan echoes as the omega’s sweet, floral chamomile scent washes over his palette. He doesn’t want to stop; he feels like he could kiss Taehyung forever. 

As moments have seamlessly slipped away, the kitchen now holds a rich tapestry of their mingling scents. The air is saturated with the delicate freshness of chamomile, gracefully intertwining with the warm and subtly spiced essence of cedar. It blankets them comfortingly, a testament to their undeniable chemistry. Both men feel drawn inextricably to each other. 

The air is thick with unspoken words, each touch and movement communicating more than language ever could. Yoongi’s hands, with firm pressure, run over Taehyung’s hips and lower back; his long fingers teasing lightly over the omega’s ass. They cling to each other even as they pull back, silently rubbing their noses along each other. 

Taehyung rocks his hips forward again, his eyelids fluttering at the long, thick press of the alpha between them. His own body responding in kind and leaking into his briefs, the sweet, honeyed scent of slick tinging the air. The deep timbre of his voice breaks the silent tension in the air, “Please.”

Yoongi’s eyes darken at the omega’s whimper. “Please, what?”

Taehyung’s scent spikes, running his lip between his teeth as he meets Yoongi’s gaze before breathing, “Please, alpha.”

A wicked smile pulls at Yoogi’s lips, his hands sliding down and palming the round globes of the omega’s ass, pulling them tighter against each other. The kitchen fills with the sound of their lips smacking together as they crash back against the counter. The sharp edge digs into the omega’s back, causing him to whine into the alpha’s mouth. 

Yoongi grips his ass and lifts, sliding Taehyung onto the countertop, their lips never parting. Taehyung’s hands slide down Yoongi’s chest until they reach the dark pinkish-brown nipples gracing his pecs. Taehyung slides his mouth away, grazing his teeth along the other’s jaw as he flicks the nubs.

Yoongi groans, digging his fingers into the omega’s hips. His head tips backward as pleasure zings down his spine. Taehyung chuckles, “Someone’s sensitive.”

The alpha’s head snaps upright, eyes sparking, “Two can play at this game.” Yoongi yanks Taehyung forward, pressing tighter in between his spread thighs. Their clothed cocks grinding against each other. It’s Taehyung’s turn to hang his head, moaning as the air thickens with the sweet scent of his slick. “You were saying?” Yoongi’s breath brushes the shell of the other’s ear. 

Tae’s lustful gaze returns to Yoongi’s, “I’m saying that I need you, alpha.” Taehyung’s hands caress down the expanse of Yoongi’s abs until his fingers tease the man’s waistband, thumbing the button. A subtle nod from Yoongi has the man undoing the button snap and sliding down the zipper. Another groan is pulled from the alpha as the pressure around his cock eases. 

The relief is only temporary because soon, the restrictive confines of his jeans is replaced with the firm clasp of Taehyung’s palm. Yoongi snaps his hips forward into the omega’s tight grip, the slide eased by his eagerly leaking tip. Taehyung mouths at the alpha’s neck, his tongue teasing in tight circles and nipping at his fair skin, marking him up. 

The omega’s fist tightens as he speeds up his strokes, his wrist snapping at the height of each stroke. Yoongi’s fingers flex on Taehyung’s thighs as he moans louder. “Fuck, baby, that feels so good.”

“Yeah?” Taehyung leaves a particular stinging nip along Yoongi’s neck. “Are you going to come for me?” He speeds up his strokes, the alpha’s hips snapping into the warm clasp. Taehyung’s other hand slides down to encircle the alpha’s base, his fist gripping firmly as the knot forms at the base of Yoongi’s cock.

Taehyung trails his lips back up the other’s neck, reaching Yoongi’s ear. He swirls his tongue around the lobe before sucking it into his mouth. 

“Ahhhhh—” Yoongi cries out, hips stuttering as his length jerks in the omega’s fist, coating it in sticky, warm wetness. The omega presses gentle kisses to Yoongi’s neck, coaxing him down from his high. Yoongi slumps into the man’s arms, panting. 

Yoongi nuzzles into Taehyung’s neck, inhaling the omega’s sweet scent but being cautious to avoid the scent gland. He works to regulate his breathing as the Taehyung’s grip on his knot remains steady. Only a few minutes pass before he’s trailing his lips along the dark caramel expanse of skin until he reaches Taehyung’s lips. Their lips gently move together, Yoongi’s high dissipating.

“Mmm, darling, you were so good for me.” Taehyung slips his hands from between them, his skin coated in the alpha’s pleasure. Eyeing him boldly, the omega slips two messy fingers into his mouth, swirling his tongue around them until they are sucked clean. 

The alpha’s nostrils flare at the bold gesture. He curls his fingers into the waistband of Taehyung’s jeans and yanks him forward, letting the younger man teeter on the edge for a moment before sliding him to his feet. “Someone made a mess,” his raspy voice filters between them. 

Taehyung grins cheekily, reaching for the kitchen towel to clean the mess on his hands, “A delicious one.”

Yoongi’s thumb deftly releases the fastening of Taehyung’s pants, their lips crashing together again. The kiss is messy and deep, the omega whining into his mouth. Yoongi pulls back, sliding his lips down the omega’s neck.  “That is not really how I saw that going.”

“Mmmm,” Tae murmurs, head leaning back, “It’s okay. I liked making you feel good.”

Yoongi leaves a stinging kiss at the base of Taehyung’s neck before pulling back. “Well, let me make you feel good now.” Yoongi slips Taehyung’s pants open and works the jeans down his hips. The heady aroma of the omega’s slick wafts between them as they're pushed down toward the floor. Yoongi’s eyes flutter close as he inhales deeply, a low growl rumbling from deep in his chest. 

Yoongi yanks harder, ripping the jeans off of the other man, taking his soaked briefs with them. Taehyung’s cock springs out, slapping up against his belly. Slick dripping down the omega’s thighs in thick lines. 

Yoongi’s eyes are sharp as he takes in the wanton man before him. He shifts onto his knees, his long, knobby fingers trailing down his legs until they grip his thighs. Yoongi leans in, nostrils flaring as he breathes deep to soak in the addicting scent of the aroused omega. He presses an open-mouthed kiss to the bare hip before him. His hands move around to cup the back of Taehyung’s knees, lifting one at a time to pull the pooled cloth from around his ankles. 

The omega leans back against the counter, his fingers gripping the granite edge to steady him. His eyes are hooded as he looks down the length of his own body and watches as the alpha shifts one of his legs to rest on his shoulder. 

The alpha trails stinging kisses up the inside of the omega’s thighs until his face nuzzles against Tae’s hard, straining cock. Yoongi swirls his tongue around the thick base of Taehyung’s cock, before leaving a line of wet, open-mouthed kisses up the length until he can circle his tongue around the leaking tip. 

Taehyung sucks in a sharp inhale as his hips buck, pushing the leaking tip into the alpha’s mouth. Yoongi jerks his head back, tsking the omega under his breath. “Uh-uh. Who said you could do that?”

The omega’s cheeks flush with the admonishment, “Sorry, alpha.”

“Patience, baby.” Yoongi strokes his hard length with one hand as his other hand slips behind the omega to ease between wet cheeks. At the feel of his trembling rim, Yoongi moans deep in his chest, feeling how soaked Taehyung is. His extended finger circles, teasing the man’s hole. Yoongi slips Taehyung into his mouth as he simultaneously pushes one digit into the omega’s tight hole. 

Curling his tongue around Taehyung’s leaking tip, Yoongi pumps his finger deeper. He teases the omega, pulling more syrupy, slick, and evocative sounds from the man above him. Soon, Yoongi is three fingers deep and is sliding Taehyung’s length in and out of his throat. 

Taehyung’s head is thrown back, moaning to the ceiling. He buries his hands into the alpha’s hair as he tugs and pushes at his head. Pleasure surges through him. “Fuck…fuck, alpha! You’re making me feel so good.”

Yoongi hums around the girth stretching his throat, and sucks harder, swallowing around Taehyung’s cock. Yoongi’s slick-soaked hand scissors his fingers before surging deeper, targeting that spot deep inside the omega.

Taehyung’s eyes leak as he cries out, back arching as he comes down Yoongi’s throat. His cock spasms over and over as he is drained dry. Yoongi swallows every last drop and slowly pulls back, licking the omega clean as he goes. 

Taehyung slumps against the counter, his arms trembling to hold him as he comes down from his high. Yoongi hums, pressing soft kisses along the other’s hip, gently slipping his fingers from inside him. He soothingly rubs the omega’s thigh as his other fingers slip inside his mouth to lick his fingers clean. Yoongi’s eyes flutter as the omega’s taste bursts across his tongue. 

Taehyung takes a loud shuddering breath, “That…was unexpected.”

Yoongi presses his lips to the inside of the omega’s thigh, hiding his smile, “The best things usually are.”

Taehyung looks down at the alpha still kneeling in front of him, and cups the man’s cheek. “Yoongi, I need you to know…” he pauses, swallowing hard. “I’ve never felt this way before.”

Yoongi leans into the warm touch, smiling as Tae’s thumb strokes across his cheek, “Tae, neither have I. But it feels right, doesn’t it?”

He slides the fingers of his other hand through the alpha’s soft black strands, “It does. It feels more than right; it feels like…home.”

The alpha’s eyes shutter, rolling his mouth to press the softest of kisses to his palm. “Yeah, it does.” Silence settles over them. The two let the intimacy of the moment and the weight of their words sink in. 

“What does this mean for us?” Tae’s words are soft as they’re whispered into the silence.

Yoongi’s head tilts back to meet the deep brown eyes of the man he’s quickly falling for, “I don’t have all the answers, but I want to figure it out with you. Do you want the same?”

“I want us. Whatever that means.” 

“Me too,” Yoongi breathes. 

Their shared gaze is filled with an unspoken understanding that defines the moment they just had. They don’t know what is in store but are committed to exploring it together.

In the days that follow, Taehyung and Yoongi find themselves navigating the delicate waters of a burgeoning relationship. The small town, adorned with holiday decorations, adds an extra layer of magic to their newfound connection. 

One chilly evening, as snowflakes gently descend from the sky, they stroll hand in hand through the twinkling lights of the town square. The air is crisp, filled with the festive scent of pine and the distant sounds of holiday carols. 

Taehyung can’t contain the smile stretching his lips, “I can’t believe how beautiful this town is during the holidays.”

The omega’s boxy grin brings forth Yoongi’s own gummy smile. “It’s like something out of a storybook.”

Their fingers intertwine as they wander through the town’s festive markets, sampling sweet treats and sipping hot cocoa. The cozy warmth of the holiday atmosphere mirrors the growing warmth between them.

As they stroll through the markets, Taehyung feels a surge of emotion in his chest. The twinkling lights, the laughter around them, and the shared moments with Yoongi paint a picture of a perfect holiday season.

Tae tugs on their clasped hands, pulling them out of the flow of pedestrians. They step into a small alcove in front of a closed storefront. “Yoongi, you know, I’ve been thinking…”

“What’s on your mind, baby?” Yoongi gently encourages when the other pauses.

“Well, with Christmas just around the corner, I was wondering if… maybe you’d like to spend it with me?” The last part of the sentence said in a rush of one breath.

Yoongi’s lips part on a caught breath, his eyes softening fondly. “You’re inviting me to spend Christmas with you?”

Taehyung bites his lip and nods. “Yeah, I know it’s a bit last-minute, but I can’t think of anyone I’d rather share the holiday with.”

Yoongi steps closer, closing the space between them. The market fades away as the alpha looks at the omega with fondness. “Tae, I’d love to spend Christmas with you.”

The omega launches himself at Yoongi, his heart swelling with happiness. Their lips press together, the two filled with joy at the promised festivities. The lights around them seem to glow brighter as they lose themselves in each other.

As Christmas approaches, they find themselves caught up in the whirlwind of preparations. From decorating a small tree in Taehyung’s living room to sharing quiet moments by the fireplace, the holiday spirit seems to amplify their connection. 

Yoongi places a handmade ornament on the tree. “This is nice. Really nice.”

Taehyung hums, “It is. And it’s only our first Christmas together.”

“I never thought decorating a tree could be this enjoyable.”

“It’s the company that makes it special,” Taehyung smiles. 

Yoongi tilts his head in agreement. “These ornaments are beautiful, Tae.”

“It’s a tradition in my family. Each ornament tells a story. Now, these ornaments are a part of ours.”

Silence settles over them as they finish decorating and settle in front of the roaring fire. The glow of the tree haloing them in soft light as they cuddle under a shared blanket and admire their handiwork.

Each day is filled with a sweet memory; before they realize it, it’s Christmas Eve. That day, a light snowfall has dusted the town in a soft blanket of white. They sit before a roaring fire and exchange thoughtful gifts as laughter fills the room. 

After their shared candle-lit dinner, they move to the porch and watch the slow drifting of the falling snow. The silence blankets them.

They stand like that in a drawn-out moment before Yoongi turns his head, nestling his lips into Tae’s soft, brown curls on the side of his head. “Merry Christmas, baby.”

Taehyung leans into the alpha’s hold, “Merry Christmas, Yoongi.”

Under the winter sky, they share a tender kiss. A promise of more shared moments and the magic of the holidays weaving together to create another beautiful memory. 

Epilogue - One year later

Yoongi scrunches his face and burrows deeper into his pillow, clinging to the last vestiges of slumber. The featherlight brush of lips along his bare shoulder isn’t deterred and continues its path across his shoulder and up his neck. Their trek slows to a stop behind his ear, settling there and pressing further into the space. Yoongi’s fingers tangle into the sheet as the pressure of those lips increases, sucking and pulling Yoongi out of sleep with a whine. 

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Taehyung whispers in his ear in a deep voice. Yoongi sinks back into Taehyung as the younger man wraps his arm around him, their fingers tangling together. 

“Hmm, why are we awake?” Yoongi grumbles, eyes still closed.

Taehyung’s arm tightens around Yoongi, “I don’t think we should sleep away our second Christmas together.” Taehyung pats his chest one more time before pulling away with a kiss on his cheek. “Hurry up and meet me downstairs.”

He cards his hand through the wet strands of his hair as he lumbers down the wide staircase. Pausing at the base, nose rising in the air, sniffing out the delicious aroma of syrupy pancakes and crispy bacon. He lets his nose lead him toward the kitchen, his eyes lighting up at the spread before him.

"How?”

Taehyung spins around, grinning, "Merry Christmas!”

Youngi's eyes bounce from one food-laden dish to the next.  Confusion swirls through him, and while he had been teaching the omega how to cook, there's no way he had improved enough to make all of this.

Still dumbfounded, Yoongi accepts the champagne flute of mimosa from his love. He eventually pulls his gaze from the pile of food and stares at his love in awe. 

"When did you make all of this? I was only in the shower for like 20 minutes.”

The words barely finish passing his lips when the other man doubles over, giggling uncontrollably. Yoongi just watches on, bemused.

After several moments, Tae regains control of himself and straightens.  

Eyes still sparkling with laughter, his scent ethereal and wafting around them, Tae manages to answer. "Oh god, I wanted to fool you so bad, but I can't. You know I'm ajumma's favorite, and I wanted our second Christmas to be special. So why not have food from our favorite place?” 

Yoongi remains frozen for a moment, then sweeps the omega into his arms. He kisses Taehyung soundly before resting their foreheads together. “My every day is special with you.”

#taegi fic #bts smut #bts fanfiction #bangtanwhq #bts fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #bts #bts ff #min yoongi #kim taehyung #taegi #omegaverse #a/b/o #bts fluff #fluff

[nightswithkookmin]

Bingo. And if you pay close attention to all of my takes on ships, you'd notice a pattern. I am drawn to ships where the dominant strong headed emotionally stunted almost damaged one reaches a breaking point to allow themselves be vulnerable around another and recieve love.

Jungkook is a taker, I like to see him give.

Tae is a giver, I like to see him take and recieve.

Jimin is a giver- I like to see him give, receive and take for reasons I'll explain later.

So if any of these are in a ship where they aren't doing any of what I desire to see in them, I'm not shipping that ship🙂

Personally I struggle with being vulnerable in my personal life. I say I want love and actively seek it but I struggle letting another person take care of me. I struggle being at the center of attention and being made a priority- yet that's what I deeply want.

Growing up I used to fight my mum whenever she did my laundry and I would sooner jump off a speeding train and break my legs than ask anyone for help.

In my relationships I'm always the one giving and yes I do attract narcissists and emotionally unavailable and noncommittal girls.

I struggled making friends cos I wouldn't let anyone close- not because I was afraid they would hurt me. But more so because I didn't want them to see just how much I am hurting. I can't do it. I don't want people to worry about me or feel sad because of the difficulties I struggle with.

The down side of empathizing with people is you start alienating yourself to protect others from the pain.

Shipping is a way I heal too. I learn from these people, take notes and practice how to be vulnerable with a partner- therapy is expensive please 🥴

I learn the emotional tools they employ to resolve conflicts and share their vulnerabilities with one another.

Once upon a time, if I had a disagreement with you we were done. Lost a lot of friends that way I stopped making friends all together. Until this dude I befriended told me after a fight, take tonight to cool off and when you done call me. Just because we have an argument don't mean our friendship is over.

Then I see Taegi talk about holding hands whenever they have an argument. Jimin explaining to Tae he's only trying to give him strength and push him to be a better him.

That changed my outlook on friends and relationships for ever. Now I don't tiptoe around people, I'm not afraid say what's on my mind, I'm not afraid to dissent or hold opposing opinions and no we don't have to agree on everything to have congruency.

It's why I hate people who berate and demonize shipping. Like any source of entertainment shipping can be therapeutic. And for same sex ships, it's a safe way to explore your sexuality or learn about your yourself and work through certain difficult emotions without necessarily putting yourself at risk.

Jimin, Tae are without a doubt the givers of the group. They give and give to the point it's borderline unhealthy- most of us struggle with this and it's important while we watch them navigate these emotional Situations that we have discourse around it, understand it and learn from it.

Hobi has healthy emotional boundaries. Namjoon, Hobi, Jin- in my opinion don't really seem to have questionable emotional attachments the way the Maknae line do. Suga walks a fine line but he's alright.

I like to see the givers take and the takers give. Thus, I am drawn to certain ships and repelled against others. Nothing personal tuktukkers.

I like when two givers are paired because they balance each other out. Two givers swiftly transform into sharers. A giver and taker however transforms into codependency especially if the taker enjoys taking whatever the givers has to give.

But its not always the case that a taker enjoys taking. If they enjoy taking from just about anyone and everyone that's just greediness.

where the taker is closed off to receiving or taking what the other has to offer you have nothing but a very one sided unrequited and even toxic dynamic.

For Kook, I think he is aware of this fact. He's said himself that while he and Tae have a lot in common they are very different in that Tae is not as greedy as him. That he's so greedy he used to try to do everything at once.

He's talked about struggling with this aspect of him- taking taking and taking all that he can get without a care. In relationships, this might translate as him taking all the attention, putting his needs first, doing what pleases him without compromising, allowing himself to be prioritized by his partner and allowing his partner to put his needs above theirs consistently.

But I think his physical and emotional boundaries is a way for him to keep that in check. You should count yourself lucky if someone like that is telling you to take care of yourself, and not give too much to them. Which most of the time is what is happening with Tuktuk and BTS and even at times Jikook.

Dude ain't trying to take advantage of nobody💀

Do you know how easy it would be for him to just let himself be consumed and bask in all that overflowing love and attention when he has to do nothing in return for it?

And it's even worse when people give just because they want something in return. That's extortion and emotional trafficking. Bamboozling of the highest order. I loved you therefore love me back

For a taker, giving and sharing becomes a love language and something they prize highly. Which means they don't give to just about anyone or share with just about anyone and if you tend to be a Natural sharer or giver they find you very distrustful because you give to just about anyone and anything💀

It's like the entry level for you is ground zero and so low just about anyone can walk in. And they do love to earn your love. They love to work for it and feel they've earned the attention you give them, they've earned the caresses, they've earned YOU.

It's why many books will tell you to play hard to get to get a man. lmho.

AND yes, they will act jealous if you treat everyone the same way you treat them, yes they will find you unattractive if you act Barbara the builder trying to build everyone up- you get my love, you get my love, everybody gets my love. Because then your love is not special the way theirs is.

So the more Tae pushes, the less attractive he becomes to someone like Jungkook. Jimin learned that the hard way didn't he?

Jungkook has a lot of love to give too but unlike many of us, he is selective about who he loves and who he gives his time and affections to and no about of badgering and pestering will make him love you💀

From where I stand, there is nothing wrong with him and I hope to God people around him don't gaslight him into thinking there is.

[peachjagiya]

maybe i will get in trouble for this but i don't like the fact that bh pushes jkk so much like every unit photoshoot, every bts thing, even in this damn drama theyre "paired" together, i don't mind it sometimes but everytime???? like everytime. i mean to me it doesn't really make sense cuz if you want money and engagement wouldn't it make sense to pair up tae and jk - the two most popular kpop idols - together?? i don't know what exactly is bh's agenda here

im so confused how to feel about this because on one hand, the general army consensus is that jkk are the closest cuz you see them together all the time and they also "enlisted together" and thats fine i feel in a way that protects tkk you know keeps them away from the limelight and risks but on the other hand, you see all these dumbos claiming that tkk are not close at all and they have grown distant or whatever. it is sooooo. annoying.

You're not in trouble with me.

I don't know what the deal is. Maybe they are protecting Taekook. That's the optimistic wide-eyed take.

Maybe it's something else. Recent focus on how Tae was negatively singled out and manipulated whilst a minor by B4ng PD makes me wonder if it isn't just as simple as he didn't want Tae to be as popular as he is. 🤷 So why would he pair him with JK, you know?

Isn't there a quote from JK about wishing they could mix the subunits up a bit? Or did I get tricked by fandom or false subs again?

I dunno, all theories feel delulu. But I can definitely feel my weird little brain planning to go through the album photobooks and trying to work out actual distribution of subunits. 😂

Side note/plus side: I noticed recently there's a decent number of Taegi subunit photoshoots. My favourite non-shippy duo ☺️😍

#my asks

[ffion451]

Chapter Nineteen: Here Alone | Diving: JJK (m)

Chapter characters/pairings: Jungkook x reader, broinlaw!Namjoon, diveinstructor!Hobi | AU/Genre: non idol au, angst, smut (see warnings below) see series m.post for fic summary etc.

Rating/Chapter warnings: ⚠️🔞 M - Adults only 🔞⚠️ explicit smut (f>m oral, rough(ish) unprotected m/f sex), mild angst.

Word count: 4130

Beta credits: A huge thanks to the ever-wonderful and excellent 🌺@moonleeai🌺, 🦋heathfritillary(AO3)🦋 and 🍒@cherrysoulth🍒 - thank you for your advice and input 💛 Lovely readers, all three are excellent writers, so please check out their works!

Note: This is the conclusion (ish) of their story - only the epilogue to follow, which will be posted very soon! Sorry to be annoying and post them separately, but they really are two very different chapters and there’s a time leap!

<<< Chapter Eighteen | Chapter Twenty (Epilogue) >>>

With his thumbnail he guides the spilled granules of sugar into the fractured grains of wood; tiny grains fall like snow, frosting the little crevices. On the other side of the coffee table Namjoon watches him, his gaze isn’t intense but he’s watchful, waiting for Jungkook to speak. Someone that was only half as clever and sensitive as Namjoon could have figured out that it is undoubtedly to do with those photographs and the context Jungkook needed to give you. Knowing the problem isn’t the issue, what to do about it is. Maybe it takes someone like Namjoon to know how to get Jungkook to share what’s on his mind.

Another push of his thumbnail and a miniature avalanche falls into the miniature cavern; a little world entirely in his control. It’s only when Namjoon follows Jungkook’s eyes as they flicker across the table that he suspects he ought to act. He watches the younger man’s large eyes light on the jar that holds the neat little sachets of sugar and he intervenes, stretching an arm across the coffee table to create a barricade.

Jungkook looks up at him, first with a mild look of betrayal before it’s swiftly replaced by embarrassment,”I wasn’t going to spill more…” he explains softly, shifting guiltily in his seat.

“Hmm, ok,” replies Namjoon, unconvinced, “Either way, I don’t think the staff here want to clean sugar out of every crevice of this table. Think of the ants it’d attract.”

Why am I talking about ants? Namjoon thinks, frustrated with himself for dancing so foolishly around what he really wants to say. With a clearing of his throat, and a steeling of his nerves, he decides directly addressing the issue is the best solution.

“So, did you tell her about the photographs?” It’s a simple question and not too forceful, if Jungkook chooses he can answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’, but Namjoon hopes for more detail. He hopes Jungkook will open up to him.

“I did,” Jungkook states, “It was fine, she was relieved more than anything else - said she was glad that the mystery was resolved.”

“Ah,” replies Namjoon, to fill the silence. He believes Jungkook when he says it went well, so he struggles to understand why Jungkook seems so affected. He let’s the sound sit, waiting for Jungkook to go further, if he wants to.

“I asked how she felt about it,” Jungkook elaborates eventually, “She just said that she wasn’t surprised that he’d do something like that, that it was typical of him.”

“And?” prompts Namjoon, sure that he’s reaching the kernel of what’s upsetting Jungkook.

“And then I was reminded of something Kang Taegi said,” Jungkook explains, “When I first found out about Jion and his situation I told my friends and we spoke about it. Taegi-nim said then that I could never compete against Jion and that I shouldn’t try to. He said that I had to learn to live alongside him and I can, I think I can, but I just don’t know… I mean, it’s not a competition, I know that. But, doesn’t it make sense to compare us? Isn’t that the thing? Won’t she always think ‘Would Jion have done that?’ or ‘How would Jion have handled this?’ and…” running out of steam, Jungkook takes a breath and trails off.

“I don’t think that’s how it works,” Namjoon says kindly, “Is that’s what’s worrying you?”

Jungkook laughs darkly, “Yeah, because be honest,” he says humourlessly, “How will I ever measure up against him? We’re nothing alike and as far as I can tell he was, he is, this perfect soul,” he says carefully catching his use of the past tense and notes Namjoon’s reassuring nod.

Namjoon rolls his hand ever so slightly towards Jungkook, a simple gesture that tells him to go on.

Jungkook does: with a deep breath he begins, “Meeting him, even though he’s not well, I could see that the photos don’t do him justice. He almost fucking glows, hyung! He has this whole aura of gentleness and he’s so fucking handsome - he’s like an elf or something - he’s unreal. Then, on top of all that he is her soulmate and they had this perfect thing. How can I live up to that? How can I, with all my shit and all the mess her and I have been through, ever compare to him?”

Namjoon laughs, “Ok, one thing at at time,” he smiles, “Firstly, he’s not an elf. Yes, my brother is very handsome, but you’re not so bad yourself, Jungkook - you have to admit that.”

Jungkook grunts dismissively, “I know I’m not ugly,” he admits, “But he and I are nothing alike, can she change her whole type?” he complains.

“There are no types, my sister isn’t shallow. She sees people, not a set of characteristics,” Namjoon fires back, though not unkindly, “Does my sister look like Kwon Hari? Or other women you’ve loved?” he asks with a raised brow.

“Of course not, nobody compares to her,” Jungkook is quick to reply, “I know it’s stupid and vain or whatever, but that’s the thing. I can’t compare her to any other woman I’ve loved because I have never felt this way about anyone ever before. It’s the best and worst feeling in the world because I am so fucking happy to have her and I am so fucking afraid of losing her at the same time.”

Namjoon nods, ordering his thoughts before he replies, “You two didn’t have an easy start, so I understand that you’d feel insecure. But she loves you too, and I think things are solid between you two now. There’s no immediate solution to how you feel, only time will make you feel safe in your relationship - it’s still early days for you both, but it’ll come. No good will come of comparing yourself to Jion though, you’re two very different men - there’s no point in it.”

“I know there isn’t,” admits Jungkook hopelessly, “I know I’d never measure up. As I heard it, it was smooth sailing from them from the start. None of the shit that she’s put - I mean, that we’ve been through.”

Namjoon shrugs, “There’s no point pretending they weren’t very happy and that they weren’t very much in love, but in the same way as that version of Jion is lost, so is that version of her. She’s not the same woman as she was then, you never knew her with him so you’ll just have to believe me that she’s different. What’s happened to Jion has changed her. Jion wouldn’t know what to do with her now - he was too innocent and gentle and pure.”

Jungkook makes a little noise of surprise and Joon laughs, “What? it’s true! You should’ve been honest right now and admitted that it’s her that’s put you through shit, not the other way around. I love her, but I can admit that she needs a partner who can stand up to her when she’s unreasonable, she isn’t always, but when she is, she need to be called out. My brother wouldn’t have the strength to tell her things she needs to hear but doesn’t want to. It’s more than that, she needs someone who has lost their way too, someone who knows those feelings of confusion and hurt, someone she can relate to. You are the right man for her, Jungkook, I promise.”

All the time Namjoon has been talking, Jungkook has been thinking, his head cast down. Only when Namjoon finishes his speech does Jungkook lift his gaze to look at Namjoon through his thick mop of hair, tilting his head as he considers what’s been said.

Namjoon knows Jungkook needs time, needs to think and to process things so he changes the subject, trying a little levity. He imitates Jungkook, making a slightly clicking, creaking noise as he mimics Jungkook’s head movements, “Hey Sadako,” he laughs, “Now that you’re in a big city, why don’t we get that mess on your head trimmed before we hit the gym?”

Jungkook tosses his hair back as he laughs readily and genuinely, “Yeah, it’s starting to do my head in a bit,” he admits, “She’s been telling me I ought to get it trimmed, she says she likes to actually see my face once in a while…”

Namjoon laughs, “Because you are her ‘type’” he smiles, “She wants the best for you - I think she’s the right woman for you too.”

Jungkook smiles, “I’m not easy to handle,” he confesses, “But I’d do anything she asked me to.”

Namjoon rolls his eyes, “You don’t say,” he intones sarcastically, “You’re so obviously a complete sucker for her.”

Jungkook presses his lips together and nods amenably, “I’m not even ashamed of it.”

“There’s no reason to be, she’s just as crazy for you,” Namjoon smiles, glad to see Jungkook is a little lighter. He doesn’t want to belabour his points, but he seeks a final bit of reassurance, “You heard what I said about Jion, yeah?” he presses, leaning forward to ruffle the younger man’s hair affectionately.

“I did,” Jungkook nods, running his hands through his hair to try and tame it, though he’s touched by Namjoon’s brotherly gesture.

“You might as well tell me everything - what else is wrong?” Namjoon adds perceptively.

Jungkook laughs awkwardly and clicks his tongue, “The thing is that that’s it - nothing’s wrong. Things have been going so well recently that I guess I feel nervous about how it might fuck up again as it always seems to.”

Namjoon nods sagely, “I understand that, but I think that’s behind you now. Trust in her, she won’t let you down.”

Jungkook smiles, “I won’t let her down either.”

As Namjoon leaves cash on the table and stands up, he grins, “I know you won’t - I trust you. It didn’t even need saying.”

___________________

You barely have time to process Jungkook’s new haircut when he gets back from his boxing session before he’s escaping to the shower to wash the sweat from his limbs. He’d returned flustered but glowing, Namjoon had headed to work to shower where he keeps his suits and Mina was hosting some lunch or another… You know you two are alone in an apartment that suddenly feels several degrees too hot.

You’re left pacing the kitchen in his absence, unable to tear your mind from the momentary glimpse of his glistening skin and tousled hair. In the last week or so your limited time with Jungkook has become an ever-present thought in your mind. Naturally, it’s affected you: you want to spend all your time with him; you find it hard not to be near him; you crave even the slightest touch and you think of him constantly. That’s not it all though, because it has also made you absolutely feral for him. Since the two of you started having sex regularly, you’ve found it hard to control your desire for him but now you have barely any control at all. The slightest smirk is enough for you to soak through your underwear… You’re so weak for him that you feel utterly pathetic but who is there to judge you? Certainly not Jungkook - he loves it. So why should you be your harshest critic? Having successfully appeased yourself, you give in to your basest instincts. Who needs restraint anyway? 

You follow your feet and dirty thoughts to the master bathroom.

Namjoon’s shower is huge: it has no door, there’s only a glass partition that you walk around to reach the massive waterfall shower-head and inlaid jets. You couldn’t be more grateful for it because it allows you to creep into the shower without Jungkook noticing as he soaps his body, eyes closed. You can’t help but admire his sinuous, muscular form as he works the foam into his skin: Jungkook isn’t a gym rat by any description, but his entire body is firm and toned, the muscles in his arms, thighs and abs all clearly defined and currently dripping with suds and water, making your thighs clench. 

You never thought you’d be grateful for the tumultuous path your relationship has taken, but right now you are. You thank the universe that the course has been gradual and slow-building, because if you saw Jungkook like this from the start, you don’t think you’d ever have built up the confidence to speak to him, let alone allow him see you naked.

You are admiring the curves of his ass as he turns from the jet; fate remains on your side as he keeps his eyes closed. You don’t want to startle him, but the sight of him and the throbbing between your legs can no longer be ignored, “Don’t open your eyes,” you say softly. 

He jumps a little, and his breath quickens, but he obeys your command. In response, you smile as you shed your joggers and tee, leaving yourself in your underwear, a fairly sporty crop top and shorts combination, and approach him. 

“Keep them closed,” you whisper, trying to sound seductive, but you can’t resist booping the tip of his nose with your finger, drawing a small giggle from him. Then you glide your hands down his smooth, water-slicked torso, sinking to your knees before him as his giggle turns into a strangled moan of anticipation.

___________________

Jungkook screws his eyes shut as he strives to contain his whimpers. If awards were given out for sucking cock, he knows you’d sweep the board. That night against the lighthouse, he thought you were going to suck his soul out of him and this is no different. You edge him to the point of madness; one of his hands tangles in the wet mess of your hair whilst the other clings desperately to the tiles of the shower, the grout flaking beneath his clawed nails as he fights waves of frustration cresting over waves of pleasure.

You’ve nearly gotten him there; he’s so far down your throat now that every lascivious moan you make vibrates against his throbbing cock deliciously. Jungkook is lost in sensation, the flow of the water, the darkness of his closed eyes and the echo of the space makes everything far more intense. Your hand feels so good clenched into the meat of his ass, as does the other that rolls his balls; you tug them gently then, and that final pressure, the press of your tongue and the hollowing of your cheeks pushes him over the edge unexpectedly and he comes like a firehose down your throat. You cough and splutter as his eyes fly open; he’s surprised to watch you swallow his load without retching, though your eyes, wide and innocent despite the filthy things you’ve just done to him, are a little watery.

In his post-orgasm moment of clarity he thinks of how often he used to touch himself to the thought of you sucking his cock in his shower, and he can’t fully process that his fantasy has become reality. Desperate to have you near, he pulls you to your feet and into his embrace, careful to protect his sensitive cock, though he can’t control its twitching when your hard nipples press into him through your soaked crop top. He doesn’t pause or seek permission as he yanks it down and attaches his mouth around your breast, sucking harshly and groaning as he draws a whining moan of desire from you. With a sharp nip and a flick of his tongue he releases you, panting slightly.

“Towels,” he orders in a low, guttural voice, “Let’s fuck.”

Moments later, you’ve both hastily towel dried yourselves and been sure to leave the bathroom free from any evidence of what you’ve done. As soon as the last towel is hung over the heated rail, Jungkook is pushing you towards his new bedroom. He throws you on the bed unceremoniously as soon as the door is locked behind him and he’s quick to clamber over you. Now your head dangles over the edge while he ploughs into you, his hips seemingly moving on their own accord as he fucks you with desperate, unbridled desire.

“Jungkook,” you whine, hands clawing at his shoulders as your head painfully fills with blood.

He takes in your expression and bites his lip in concern, immediately his hands are under you, slipping beneath your shoulder blades to pull you into his lap. His new fringe sticks to his forehead, sweat-soaked tendrils curling into his eyes. You brush the layers of his hair back from his face as you lean in to kiss him, “I really like this cut,” you whisper into his mouth as he groans into the kiss, nipping your lip. 

Sat on his lap, his cock inside you and your legs around him, you roll your hips into him and he sighs heavily, “Did it for you,” he manages to pant out. You kiss him sloppily in thanks.

He’s exhausted from the gym but he finds it impossible to cede control completely to you. In this position he can still just about fuck up into you, but he’s grateful that you can meet his thrusts as he struggles to find the energy to match his desire. It’s sex at its messiest, lacking rhythm or control but the passion beneath is desperate.

“Jungkook,” you whine as your high reaches a tipping point but you’re not quite there, the friction just not enough to push you over the edge. 

He smirks as he spits on his thumb and reaches between your bodies, “I’ve got you,” he promises as he rubs your clit vigorously. You whine in protest, the pleasure building too fast: the heat builds in your body and you know you’ll come soon as you try to communicate through desperate whimpers.

“I can’t hold out much longer,” he explains, “Need to feel you come around me babe.”

Moments later, you do, throwing your head back and crying out as pleasure rips through your body on a wave of white-hot sensation. The arch of your back allows Jungkook to hit you deeper and it drives him towards his own high seconds later. His mouth latches to your throat and he sucks a messy bruise into the skin as he fills you. Soaked in sweat, you come down slowly from your explosive orgasms, leaving you shaking and trembling in each others’ arms.

As he recovers from his high, Jungkook presses a kiss to your cheek, still buried deeply inside you. You sigh, resting your cheek on his shoulder, “Are you ok, baby?” he asks soothingly.

You only hum in response, drawing circles with your nails on his back as he shudders pleasurably.

“I love you,” he declares, pressing a kiss into your hair, “and I could stay here forever, but we better get a move on if we’re going home tonight.”

You lift your head and press a tired kiss to his temple, “I know - love you too.”

Separating yourselves is a messy task and both of you pad to separate bathrooms to shower again, avoiding temptation and any scandalous behaviour should Mina arrive back earlier than expected. The rest of the visit flies and before you know it, you’re both collapsing into the comfort of your bed, the dogs curled happily in their basket as you fall into slumber in each others’ arms.

___________________

“Tempus fugit,” calls a wizened patron from outside the pub, listening in on Hobi and Jungwon’s conversation, “Can’t believe your boy is off already Jeon Jungwon!”

“Repeating someone’s words in Latin doesn’t make the earwigging any less rude,” snipes Hobi’s wife as she loads a bag of supplies from the pub into the truck, looking at all the boxes within. She turns back to Jungwon, “How much stuff is he taking?”

Jungwon smiles, but sadness lurks beneath, “Most of it is his music equipment from the lighthouse.”

“Is that where he is now?” she asks, the implication being ‘is that where he is when he should be here helping out?’

“It’s hard for lovers to say goodbye,” calls the old drinker again.

“That’s enough from you!” Hobi calls, his tone is teasing and pleasant, but firm; he knows if he doesn’t intervene, his wife will lose all patience.

Jungwon smiles benignly, “It is hard to say goodbye,” he agrees, “I think he wishes she was taking him to the city, but it’s best they say goodbye here, I don’t like the thought of her travelling back here alone and upset. It’s good of her brother-in-law to put me up for a few days. It’s been years since I’ve been to the city and I want to check my boy settles in ok.”

Hobi smiles softly, “How does she feel about that?”

“It was her suggestion, of course,” Jungwon smiles, “She is so considerate. She makes the perfect daughter-in-law, not that I am planning ahead!”

“No, of course not,” Hobi teases before he nods, looking over Jungwon’s shoulder and raising his chin to indicate Jungkook’s approaching truck, “Here comes the would-be groom now.”

The three of them line up as he pulls to the curb, leaving the engine idling, “I’ll go park up in the house and I’l be over,” he says flatly.

“Are you ready to leave?” asks Hobi gently, taking in Jungkook’s swollen eyes, and tear-stained puffy face.

“‘m fine,” he sniffs unconvincingly.

“Of course he is,” adds Hobi’s wife brusquely, “It’s only eight months for god’s sake, he’ll be back most weekends. Stop your fussing!”

Jungkook clenches his jaw, attempting a brave face, “Exactly, you won’t even know I’m gone.” 

“Good lad,” she says as he pulls off.

She turns to Jungwon, “Take my advice,” she says softly, “Don’t coddle him now or he won’t get through it. It won’t be easy for him to be separated from her and Bam - I bet he’s not even begun to reckon with what it’ll be like when he’s there and he realises that he’ll also be separated from you and this place, this community. It’s going to be hard for you both. Brave faces, yeah?”

Jungwon nods, “I know,” he smiles, turning to Hobi, “You married a wise woman.”

Hobi smiles, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and kissing the top of her head, “Wise and brutal,” he laughs as she wraps an arm around his waist and beams up at him, squinting in the midday sun.

There, under the glaring light reflecting from the truck windscreen and the calm flat of water that stretches before them, the three of them wait for Jungkook.

___________________

You watch the same expanse of glittering blue from the cliff top, the same brave face plastered over your own sadness, but this time it’s for the sake of the dogs, especially Bam, who is still perturbed by Jungkook’s tears. 

You’ve known loneliness in all its forms: the agonising pain of growing loneliness as someone slips away from you; the desperate, aching absence of a void in your life; the false embrace of the darkness that pulls you in and tells you that loneliness is what you want… You’ve known them all. Right now, here alone, you do not fear it.

Not that you’re alone for long anymore: now that you’re embedded in this small community and with a family that love you, company is never far away. You turn at the gentle toot of a horn and, even through your puffy eyes, you can make out the beaming smile of Seolhee in the passenger seat of the approaching car.

The second the car pulls up she rushes to you, leaving Taegi behind her to wrangle the excitable dogs.

“You ok?” she asks as she pulls you into a strangling hug.

“I will be,” you say, smiling at Taegi from over her shoulder, “Thanks for picking her up and coming over. I cooked and it’s proper food this time. I followed a recipe and everything.”

He smiles, “A recipe? We are spoilt! I am absolutely famished. I made so many dishes for Jungwon to pack up that I’ve worked up quite the appetite,” he admits, “So don’t worry, Jungkook won’t starve!”

“I’ll cook for him too when I visit,” Seolhee smiles, “I’ll be over there all the time making a nuisance of myself and making sure that Joon and him are ok!” she promises sincerely.

You smile at them both, “Where would we be without friends like you?” 

Both of them smile, touched by the sincerity of your words. Blushing a little, you gesture for them to move into the house, “Let’s eat and drink and not be sad!”

They simply laugh; Seolhee maintains a firm grip around your waist as you head inside, the sun at your backs, warming you and lighting your path.

A/N: Thanks for reading - please let me know what you think!

<<< Chapter Eighteen | Chapter Twenty (Epilogue) >>>

<<< back to series m.post

Taglist (always open, let me know if you want to be added to a permanent one): @moonleeai , @hoseoksluv89 , @babyboo22 , @uwu2rawr

#bts fanfic #bts smut #jungkook fanfic #jungkook smut #jungkook imagine #jungkook x reader #jungkook scenarios #minors dnr #bangtanwhq #btswritersclub

[sope-and-shine]

Maybe We’re A Movie | Part 4

-> Pairing: Jin x Reader

-> fluff // minor angst

-> Word Count: 8.6k

-> Summary: Living in the city far away from home, you tend to miss out on family news. So, when you return home for the holiday’s, all you plan to do is spend time with family and catch up on everything you’ve missed since your last visit. You expected the jabs at living so far away and the poking at your barren love life, but you don’t expect to actually find love. Meeting the town’s newest resident and baker, you find yourself falling for his charm and good looks. Everything about him is just so magical…but there’s something strange going on with him and his shop that you can’t quite place. Is it just your hesitation to let him be a Christmas fling? Or is it something more?

-> Warning(s): Taegi side pairing, yoonji and hobi side pairing, mild language, lots of familial rough housing, teasing, constant poking and prodding about relationship status, typical ‘when are you going to settle down’ trope, talk about yoongi’s shaky coming out and love life, very Hallmark-esque

Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Masterlist *

*

*

A moment hasn’t gone by that Jin hasn’t thought about the day you left. The fight keeps replaying in his head, and he can’t get that hurt look on your face out of his mind. He just saw you in his workshop surrounded by his machines and looking at his family photos, and he just felt the world stop. He just wanted to be normal for once and not have to worry about his family history, and it all just started crumbling as soon as he saw you.

He’d had no idea that Jimin hadn’t shut the door all the way. He didn’t even know Jimin went upstairs after opening the store. It was a rule for a reason that the shop door stay closed during the day no matter what, and he broke it. Because he broke it, you found the workshop. He should be lucky you didn’t see any of the real magic, but that wouldn’t stop your mind from searching for an answer. You’re one of the smartest people he’s met since he left the Pole, and it was only a matter of time before you pieced it together.

You probably already have.

Either way, he never should have yelled at you - let alone ban you from the store. He knew letting you work with him officially was a bad idea. He never should have let that happen, and he only has himself to blame in the end. He knew he was catching feelings, and he could see that you were warming up to him as well. He wanted that chance to win you over, and he took it at the ultimate cost. He let his heart dictate what he knew would end with more than one truth coming out. 

Now it’s Christmas Eve and you’ll be returning to your job soon. His chances to make up with you are running out. He can’t help but think that he’s probably already lost your heart.

A loud crash comes from upstairs in the workshop, Jin almost spilling his mop bucket. Thuds start racing around the room above and down the stairs, the door slamming open before Seokjin can go and investigate himself, “Jin!”

“Namjoon?” He asks, surprised to see the elf back so soon. He was supposed to be doing work for his father all the way to midnight tonight when he’d leave to deliver toys. “What are you doing here?”

“Your Mother-! Your Mother, she’s-!” Namjoon huffs and puffs, trying to catch his breath just so he can finish his sentence.

“My Mom?”Jin questions. Namjoon doesn’t do running as a free time activity, so if he’s this out of breath, then something must really be wrong. He grabs the elf by his shoulders, “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine! She’s jus-“ Namjoon cuts himself off when a large thud, followed by the jingling of bells come from the roof. He looks to his boss with a nervous smile, “-here.”

Jin rushes up the stairs to the workshop, running through the shop to the staircase closet to his office. He throws the door open and races up the stairs with Jimin and Namjoon right behind him, bursting through the roof entrance door to see his mother standing up in the sleigh.

“Mom?” He rushes over to the big red sleigh and holds his hand out, helping his Mother climb down to the flat roof. He notices that it’s only his Mother in the sleigh and not his Dad, “What are you doing here with the sleigh? Where’s Dad?”

She shakes her head, “Your Dad isn’t doing well, Jin. He fell ill yesterday morning with a bug and he’s not going to be better by Christmas Window tonight.”

“What?” Of course, the first time in 20 years that his Dad gets sick, and it happens on Christmas. His Dad is the only person that knows how to do the job, who would do it if not him? “What about the delivery?”

“That’s why I’m here.” She cups Jin’s cheek, “I need to take care of your Father, and someone needs to do the delivery.”

It slowly dawns on him exactly why his Mother is here, “No…” He shakes his head.

“Jin, I know how you feel-!“

“I don’t want the responsibility, Mom!” Jin cries. He’d voiced his opinion time and time again, and it still has yet to change after he moved away from home. Santa is not the life for him.

“I know, and I’m sorry! I don’t know what else to say besides I’m sorry…” She apologizes. Of course, she knew he didn’t want this. But there wasn’t any other choice. And she wouldn’t have come if there was. She gently takes his hands in hers, “But we need your help, Jin. Please. I don’t want to beg, but I will.”

“Don’t-” He says, putting his hand up before she can make any move. Of course, doing this job is the last thing he’s ever wanted to do. But he’s not the kind of person to let his own Mother beg for his help. “Please don’t beg.”

“We’ll figure something out later, okay? But could you do this for just one night?” She asks once more, hoping that her son will do it just this once, “You’re the only one that’s run the deliveries with your father before.”

“By myself? Not a chance.” He says. His Mother nods, understanding that it’s a heavy burden to take on. If she had to, then she’d just figure it out herself and hope she could deliver just as her husband always has. 

Jin sighs, “But I’m sure the sleigh is big enough for some extra help.”

Jin watches his Mother’s eyes light up, pride shining through, “As long as we can deliver just as we always do.” She squeezes his hands and brings them up to place a loving kiss to his knuckles, “I’ll make this up to, Seokjin. I promise.”

“No, you don’t need to.” He assures her. He thinks back to when he needed help, and without any asking or prodding, you and Jeongguk came right to his aid, “This is just what people should do.”

“That’s my boy…” She squeezes his hands one more time and lets go. She turns back to the sleigh and pulls out a garment bag, turning around to hand it over to him, “You’ll need this.”

Jin doesn’t need to look inside to know what is it. He’s seen this bag all his life, and he knows exactly what it is. He just accepts it as best he can, looking to his mother and putting on a brave face just for her, “Go be with Dad. He needs you. I’ll see you when we’re done.” He turns to Jimin and nods to the stairway, “Jimin.”

Jimin nods and steps forward, “This way, ma’am.” He says, escorting her to the doorway that will take her back to the Pole.

When Jin was younger, he’d always imagined himself wearing the Santa outfit and bringing joy to millions of people all over the world. He’d wanted to make people happy all his life. Somewhere along the line, the source of that happiness stopped coming from the Santa suit. He knew in his mind, that he would have to take over eventually. He’d hate every minute of it, but he would’ve been older.

He never imagined he’d be wearing it so soon.

“You know, I hear your Dad took 4 elves on his first solo ride.” Namjoon mentions, sensing the nervousness coming from him.

“Really?” Jin asks.

“Yeah, it’s not too late to call two more.” He assures him. He pulls out a thick, wonky satellite phone and starts scrolling, “Do you have anyone in mind?”

“Yeah, but I don’t need to call them.” Namjoon looks at him, head tilted in confusion. But Jin just smiles, “We’ll just pick them up.”

—-

Jeongguk wakes up with a thud, having fallen off the side of his bed once again. He had a nasty habit of sleeping too close to the edge, and he has more bruises from falling in his sleep than he does from rough housing. Just like any other night, he sits on the floor for a moment to get his bearings. He debates whether or not he should climb back into bed or remain on the slightly heated floor of his room.

He groans when his ears begin to ring, very softly. It’s low, but it’s enough that he can hear it. He tries to blow his nose to pop his ears, but when they pop and the ringing doesn’t stop, he gives up. He stands from his mess of blankets and picks them up off the floor, throwing them onto his bed. He stretches, reaching his arms up as high as they’ll go and letting out a yawn. 

The ringing continues on, growing louder. But as it gets louder, Jeongguk begins to realizes that it’s not a pitched ring that he hears. It’s more like…the soft jingling of bells.

“I really need to sleep better…” He mutters to himself, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

He plops back down onto his bed face first and closes his eyes, using his feet to bring his comforter closer to him. He’s close to sleep when he hears a soft thud hit the roof of the house. He assumes it’s just falling snow or something similar, but then he hears another. Followed by footsteps.

“Alright, Jeongguk…now you really are hearing things.” He mutters to himself, “Yoongi was right about all of that candy.” 

He attempts to close his eyes and fall asleep once more, but then he hears another thud right outside of his window. The moonlight disappears, a shadow taking over where the light was.

This has the boys eyes widening, “Okay, so we’re not dreaming right now…” A few taps ring out on his window, “Definitely not dreaming!”

Believe it or not, Jeongguk had imagined a scenario similar to this after watching Home Alone for the first time. He thought about the traps he would make if he had to stop someone from coming into his home, and he filled a whole notebook with his ideas. Unfortunately, after the trap he’d set in the kitchen, he was banned from ever making a Home Alone trap ever again.

Oh, how he wished he’d saved his trap for tonight.

Instead, he attempts to pretend to sleep. Maybe if he doesn’t move, then whatever is at his window will go away. That’s what everyone in the horror movies does!

So he squeezes his eyes shut tight, hoping with everything he has that the shadow will disappear. He’ll just go to bed, and everything will be fine. He’ll wake up in the morning and this all will have been a dream.

“Jeongguk-“ He stiffens at the call from the voice above him, “Don’t you know I know when you’re sleeping and when you’re awake?”

It takes him a second to place the voice, and then he’s sitting up fast as soon as he realizes who it is that the voice belongs to, “Jin?” He asks. It takes him a second for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but he makes out Jin’s tall figure. However, it’s the Santa hat and costume that confuse him, “Why are you dressed like Santa?”

“Because it’s my turn to deliver presents tonight.” He answers.

“No way.”

Jin nods, “Yes way, and I need your help.”

“You need my help?” Jeongguk asks in disbelief.

“Absolutely! You and your sister,” He adds, “Do you think you can help me convince her to help?”

Jeongguk thinks on it a second before he crosses his arms over his chest, “How do I know you’re not just being creepy?”

Jin nods in understand, “I see your point. A point very well taken. I probably wouldn’t trust me either.” He pushes up his sleeves with gloved hands and holds them out flat in front of him. A small glittering effect swirls in a circle, a smaller, red hat just like his materializing right in front of Jeongguk’s eyes, “But maybe this would convince you?”

“You’re magic?!” Jeongguk asks a bit too loud. Jin shushes him, and he shrinks back down, “Sorry…”

Jin takes a seat at the edge of Jeongguk’s bed, getting on his level, “I do have magic, and Christmas Magic is about to take effect. But we still need to work fast if we’re going to get it all done and get the 2 of you home.” He holds out the hat he made, offering it to the boy, “So what do you say?”

“You don’t even need to ask! I’ll get my shoes!” Jeongguk says. He throws off his covers - almost hitting Jin in the face - and jumps out of bed. He makes it to his door and stops just before he opens it, “Oh! And (Y/n)! Her window is on the other side of the house!”

Jin nods, already knowing where your room is, “I’ll meet you there.”

Jeongguk rushes out of his room, doing his best to remain as quiet as possible. He slips into your room and rushes to the side of your bed, turning on your lamp and shaking your arm, “(Y/n)!”

“Wha-?!” You sit up fast, eyes looking around your room in confusion. It takes you a second to get your bearings, but it doesn’t explain why Jeongguk is in your room when it’s still dark out, “Jeongguk, what are you doing in my room it’s-…?” You turn to your bedside table and read the numbers on the clock, your eyes widening in surprise, “It’s just after midnight!”

“Jin’s here! He needs our help!” He whisper yells, pulling at your good arm.

You shake your head in confusion, “What are you talking about? Why is he here in the middle of the night?”

“Because he’s actually Santa! Did you know that?” He asks, “He’s delivering presents and he wants us to help! You need to get up.”

The notion didn’t even register with you, but now you’re starting to see where he’s going with this. Although, this only makes you think the baker has an unhealthy obsession that you didn’t mean to uncover and now it’s coming back to haunt you,

You sigh and throw your covers off to the side, “Okay, you need to go back to sleep, you’re being-“ You’re halfway out of your bed when you look up and see Jin standing a few feet away, close to your very closed window, “-ridiculous.”

Your eyes look between him, Jeongguk, and your still closed window, but there isn’t enough time for both Jeongguk and Jin to wait for you, “I’ll let Jin explain. I’m going to grab our shoes and coats!”

Jeongguk leaves, and you’re left sitting in front of Jin in your pajamas. You never even heard him come in the door or through the window. And you’re pretty damn sure he wasn’t there when you first looked around your room. 

You reach into your nightstand and pull out the Math textbook you never burned. You get up from your bed and hold it out towards him, almost as if your warning him not to make any sudden movements. He puts his arms up, letting you threaten him with a book while you check your window.

Locked.

That doesn’t make the situation anything close to better, and you turn yourself - and your makeshift weapon - to the man in your room, “What are you doing here?”

“I need your help.” He says calmly.

“And you couldn’t text me?” You ask.

“I don’t have your number, remember? Besides, this had to be done in person-” He’s cut off by a few thuds on the roof, followed by a muffled grunting noise of an animal. He chuckles nervously, “Easier to explain.”

You narrow your eyes and gently set your book down, narrowing your eyes at him in warning before you turn your back to him. You unlock your window, throwing another look over your shoulder to make sure he’s still in the same spot. You carefully open your second story window and stick your head outside, finally hearing the small jingling of bells and sporadic grunts that come from your roof. If it wasn’t for a carrot rolling off and just barely missing you, you’d probably think you were dreaming.

You turn back to Jin, unsure what to believe. On the one hand, this would make much more sense than an unhealthy obsession that he never talks about. Most people talk about their unhealthy obsessions to justify why they’re not unhealthy. But the theatrics are a bit much to just be pulling a prank on you.

Jin seems to realize this as well.

“Here-“ Just as he’d done before with Jeongguk, he holds his hands out, flat in front of him. The glittering sphere reappears again, only this time it’s a hat and a scarf. Your eyes are wide in shock and realization that this is - in fact - very real, “This might convince you.”

Hesitantly, you reach out and take them from him. You feel the soft fabric, and ensure that what you just saw wasn’t a magic trick. But even the best magician’s couldn’t do whatever it was he just did.

You laugh in disbelief, “You could’ve explained the other day when I found your workshop. You being Santa makes way more sense than a really weird obsession with Santa.”

“Well, I’m not Santa. My Dad is.“ He corrects.

Suddenly, his tense relationship with his father over his job makes sense, “I see why he doesn’t like your occupation choices.”

“Yeah…But he’s sick and he needs my help, and-“ He doesn’t want to come off as pitiful, but he can’t help it. He needs help and he hates that. “I really can’t do this alone.”

Despite his behavior from the other day, you know he wouldn’t come and ask you for help if he didn’t need it. That doesn’t mean you’re going to make this any easier on him, though, “Fine. But I expect a full apology when we’re done. And hot chocolate!”

“Done.” He agrees.

“Here-!“ Jeongguk enters your room, carrying both pairs of shoes and coats in a hurry. You try not to waste anytime. You throw on the hat and scarf Jin made before slipping on your coat and shoes. You button up your coat, stopping to make sure Jeongguk is just as bundled as you are before you start the night ahead of you. However, it’s looking from the small roof outside of your window to the roof of your house that stopsyou in your tracks. 

“So, how do we get on the roof?” You ask. You stick your head out the window again, but you’re not sure how Christmas Magic actually works.

“Well, as magical as I am, I figured a ladder might help.” He answers, knocking on your window 3 times.

From your roof, you see Namjoon’s familiar head peek over the side of the roof. He has something rolled up in his hands, and he looks slightly offended.

“You figured?!” He repeats? He turns over his shoulder, “Jimin, the ladder was my idea, right?”

Jimin makes his own appearance as well, a knowing, mischievous smile gracing his lips, “I’m pretty sure it was, Namjoon~”

“Will you two stop being cheeky? We still need it!” Jin scolds. You turn to him and he shrugs, slightly amused, “So, maybe I had some help from the peanuts section.”

They two elves drop the ladder and hook it to the sleigh, pulling on it twice before giving the go ahead. Jin has Jeongguk go up first, holding onto him with one hand until he can’t hold on any longer. Then he has you go next, doing the same for you, and climbing up after.

Namjoon puts his hand out in front of you, “Let me give you a hand, (Y/n).”

“Thanks.” You take his hand, and he helps you the rest of the way up. The first thing you notice - besides his ears - are the lines of reindeer standing patiently on your roof. Behind them, is a big, red sleigh, polished and shining in the moonlight.

Jeongguk is petting a reindeer closest to the sleigh, his eyes alight with excitement and wonder, “This is so cool…”

“Yeah, it’s okay.” Jin agrees as if reindeer and sleighs are perfectly normal. Then again, for him, this is completely normal.

“So, what do you need us to do?” You ask.

Jin pats his pockets before he reaches in and pulls out a device you’ve never seen before. It looks like a tablet, but a bit more rustic than what you’re used to seeing. He holds it out to you, “I need you to help me navigate and check the list. I can’t miss anyone.”

Jeongguk bounces over to Jin, excited for his own assignment as well, “And me?” He asks.

“You are going to help Namjoon and Jimin sort presents as they come through the big bag for the stops and get them into a smaller bag for me.” He explains, pointing to the back of his sleigh where a big bag is loosley open, “Think you can do that?”

Jeongguk nods, “Absolutely!”

“Perfect!”

“Alright-“ Jimin comes rushing from the front of the Reindeer lines, holding a gadget of his own in his hands, “-the Christmas Window is going to open up soon. We need to be going so we can get to the first stop before then.”

“Right. Everyone hop in!“ Namjoon and Jimin hop in first, stepping on the flat part of the runner where it connects to the base of the sleigh, and diving into the back of the sleigh. 

Jimin pops up from the back and reaches down with both hands, “Jeongguk, you’re back here.”

“Sweet!” He cheers, following in their footsteps and taking Jimin’s outstretched hands, letting him pull him into the back.

Jin takes a step up just as the others had, but he climbs into the front seat instead of hopping into the back. He turns back and offers you his gloved hand, “(Y/n).”

You let him help you up, looking around the front before you take a seat. You pat the cushion below you, but you don’t feel anything hiding in between them, “Does this thing have a seatbelt?”

“I asked the same thing on my first ride.” He chuckles, settling into the seat next to you. He doesn’t move to buckle himself in, only grabs onto the reins in front of him. 

“Is that a no?” You ask.

He laughs to himself and lets go of the reins, opening his arms for you to move in closer, “I’d sit as close to me as possible.”

You think about it for a moment, but looking at the open space to climb up and down with no door makes it a pretty easy decision, “Yeah, okay.”

You slide in close to him and he wraps his arm around you, trapping you in with the reins. He turns over his shoulder, “Namjoon. Jimin, you have him, right?”

Namjoon and Jimin tighten their grip on Jeongguk’s coat, “Locked and loaded!” Jimin assures him.

“Alright-“ Jin turns back to his line, tugging gently on the reins to get their attention. You can feel him take a deep breath before he snaps the reins twice, “Hike!” The immediate pull from the front has you hitting the back of the seat. Jin barely registers the motion, but he pulls you in closer. 

You lift off of your roof and into the air, quickly gaining altitude by the second. Jeongguk cheers behind you, his voice shouting in your ear, “This is awesome!”

You level out, but the speed doesn’t change. However, the view from the sky is absolutely stunning. Seeing the streets and the lights from above, it’s like being on a plane but more calming. The wind in your hair doesn’t even whip like you’d think it would. It waves lightly in the air, like the magic that makes the sleigh run keeps you from feeling all the negative effects that come with it.

“Like what you see?” Jin asks, laughing at your bewildered expression.

“This is-” You pause. There’s only so many words you can use to describe what you’re experiencing now, and there’s really only one that fits, “-magical.”

“It’s incredible!” Jeongguk pipes up, yelling in your ear again.

“Jimin! What’s the countdown look like?” Jin asks. He takes the reins in one hand, but he keeps his arm around you, grabbing onto your coat while he turns back.

“We’re 40 minutes out from the Christmas Window!” He answers, turning the gadget from before towards Jin so he can see for himself. The screen is lit up with a classic radar, a blue dot glowing near the right side of the screen. Jimin points to it, “If we keep at this speed, we should make it right on time.”

“Good.”

Jeongguk grabs onto the back of the front seat and rests his head on the cushion, “What’s the Christmas Window?” He asks.

“Have you seen that Doctor Strange movie?” Namjoon asks.

Jeongguk nods, “Yeah.”

“Well, those scenes where they go through a portal and enter an alternate reality that can’t affect the real world, is very similar to the Christmas Window.” Jimin explains. 

This peaks your interest, and you turn just enough to look back at the two elves, “Really?”

Jimin nods, “Yeah, but time slows here. What would take a normal 24 hours only ends up taking maybe less than half of that!”

“But what about the people that aren’t asleep?” Jeongguk asks.

“Well, that’s why no one’s ever caught Santa.” Namjoon explains, “We set them in the alternate reality and they appear when everyone is finally asleep.”

“Woah! So, you really do know when we’re asleep and when we’re awake…” Jeongguk realizes.

“And when you’re watching from your window,” Jin adds, mentioning the other night when you’d watched him from your window.

Your mouth opens in surprise and you tap his chest with the back of your hand, “Says the person who almost dropped his food because he was so excited that he tripped!”

He shrugs, “What can I say? I had a great night!” He laughs when you tap him again, and you huff in frustration and embarrassment. You’d been caught and you didn’t even know it.

“I’d make yourselves comfortable,” Jin advises, adjusting himself so he can rest his arms on his - and your - leg, “We have a long night ahead of us.”

And he wasn’t kidding. After you passed through the Christmas Window - a glowing show of colors very similar to the northern lights - you got right to work in helping. You assuring Jin stops at every home and checking them off as you go, and Jeongguk helping to ensure the presents make it to the right place. There were quite a few moments where Jin would have more than 1 bag - sometimes more than 5! You’d wondered how he could even fit down a chimney like that, but you were very surprised to learn that he didn’t need a chimney to get where he was going.

“No, my many greats grandfather almost got caught and he tried to hide in the chimney.” Jin explained while prepping to go into an apartment building. He chuckles to himself, “Needless to say, it didn’t actually work for him.”

You can easily see why this job in particular is one he wouldn’t want to do. It’s a huge responsibility, and so much time and effort goes into one night that gets crunched into such a short amount of time. You could see how stressed he was after each stop. And no matter how much you reassured him that everything was good and that everything had been done correctly, it still worried him that it wasn’t enough. The worry and the stress didn’t leave his body until they made it to the very last stop and finished with no presents left.

No presents left meant no mess-ups. No mess-ups meant he actually did it. You could see the pure joy and the utter relief that flooded over him as soon as he could put his bag in the back of the sleigh with the others and sit down for the rest of the night.

“You did great, Jin.” You assure him, placing a gentle hand over his. He looks at your hands and you squeeze his, “I think your parents will be very proud.”

“You really think so?” He asks.

You nod, “I do.”

“I’m sure they will too, but we should probably get going.” Jimin chimes in, shoving his tablet in your faces. He points to the time clocks and notes that there’s only 20 minutes before the Window closes, and merely hours before sunrise back in your hometown, “We should probably get going. Like, now.”

“Right!” Jin agrees. He agrees and grabs the reins, doing one final check of everything and everyone before he tugs at the reins, “We still need to return the sleigh.”

This takes you by surprise. You thought you’d be going home once you were done, “What?”

“No time to talk!” Jin yells, ignoring your confusion with a cheeky smile. He snaps the reins twice, Hike!”

—-

Entering into the North Pole is a lot like when you entered the Window, only you feel 8 times warmer once you pass through the lights.

“Why is it so warm?” Jeongguk asks, pulling at the scarf around his neck.

“It’s the Cap. It keeps all the wind out and the heat locked in.” Namjoon explains.

“And the snow?” You ask.

Jimin laughs, “That’s just some good old Christmas Magic!”

“Elf 1 to Santa 2, do you read me?” A childish voice echoes through the speaker in front of you.

It takes you by surprise, but Jin treats it like it’s nothing. He picks up the microphone attached to it and speaks into it, “I hear you, Yeonjun. Loud and clear.”

“Is that a kid?” You ask when he pulls the device away from his mouth.

“We elves come in various shapes and sizes despite popular belief,” Jimin explains from behind you.

“Still just as intelligent!” Namjoon adds.

Jimin laughs, “Yeah, but not always graceful!”

Another crackle comes over the speaker, “The year’s closing ceremony is going to start as soon as you hit the ground. Fireworks are going to pass in 3, 2-“

He trails off and you turn to Jin in confusion, “Fireworks?”

As soon as you ask, you hear a pop from down below. Seconds later, a sizzle flys by the sleigh and explodes into the sky. It makes you jump, and Jin moves the hand holding you to your head to cover your ear, “Fireworks.”

A few more fireworks rattle off and you can hear the distant sound of cheering echoing below you, “Landing team is ready for you, Santa 2. Keep the line straight.”

“You got it.” Jin puts the microphone back and takes the reins with both hands again, “Whoa! Easy!”

The landing is much better than landing on rooftops, especially as you continue on in one smooth glide. No longer flying, the reindeer continue to pull the sleigh into the crowd of cheering elves. There are noise makers and confetti, and you watch on in amazement as they all shout their cheers and cry in joy of what looks to be another successful Christmas.

Everything looks so big compared to what you were imagining, and the life is even bigger! It’s like any other city you’ve ever been to, but somehow more beautiful than anything you’ve seen before.

“You left here?” You ask, turning to Jin as he waves to the crowd.

He shrugs, “The charm wears off after a while.” 

The reindeer take you all the way to the stables, where a team of elves immediately come to take care of the reindeer. Namjoon and Jimin hop off the back of the sleigh, the both of them helping Jeongguk to climb out as well.

Jin stands up and exits the sleigh on his side, hopping down to the dirt floor of the stable. He turns back and offers a hand to you, “Need a hand?” You nod, accepting his offer and climbing down after him. Elves climb into the sleigh as soon as you’re out of it, but Jin isn’t looking to stick around, “Follow me.” 

He leads you out of the stables and into a hallway, Jimin, Namjoon, and Jeongguk trailing behind you all the way to a bigger, second story deck. It overlooks a huge work area filled with machines much like the ones in Jin’s workshop. Not many people are walking around, only a few remain down below either dancing or talking with one another.

Jin tugs at your hand, pulling you to the left so you can continue on. He leads you to another hallway, one that winds and turns and morphs into something a bit more homey. It’s pristine, and it’s dressed like someone would a hall in their home. It isn’t until you pass a framed family photo on the wall that you realize this is a hall in a home.

Jin comes to a stop just outside a set of double doors at the end of the hall. He raises his hand to knock, but he doesn’t get the chance before it’s opened for him.

The woman from the photos you’d seen in his workshop comes out with her arms open wide, “Seokjin! You did it! I’m so proud of you.” She immediately throws them over Jin’s shoulders, and he drops your hand to hold onto her

He takes a deep breathe, letting out tension he probably didn’t know he was even holding onto, and closes his eyes, “Thanks, Mom.”

She pulls away from her son and gently pushes him to the side so she can look behind him, her eyes landing on a still very awake Jeongguk, “And who do we have here?”

“This is Min Jeongguk,” Jin introduces.

“Oh! Wait, let me guess. I know this…” She holds out a hand to stop her son from telling her anymore. With her eyes closed, she thinks for a moment. She nods to herself, “Min Jeongguk. Age: 10 and youngest of your siblings. Favorite color: Red. And- ” She nods her head back and forth before coming to an agreement with herself and opening her eyes, “-You want a nerf gun for Christmas.”

“That’s me!” He nods in excitement.

“Yes,” Jin agrees. He turns to you and places a hand on his mother’s shoulder to turn her attention to you, “And this is Min (Y/n).”

You become rigid, standing up tall when you meet his mother’s eyes. You muster up a nervous smile, “Hello.”

She looks you up and down, thinking to herself once again before she nods her head and smiles, “Hello dear.”

“How’s Dad?” Jin asks.

“He’s just inside. Why don’t you go and talk to him?” His mother suggests.

He looks hesitant at first, but you give him an encouraging smile when he looks to you. That seems to do the trick, “Yeah. I’ll be right back.”

He steps inside the room, softly closing the door behind him so he can speak with his father.

“Well, I think we deserve an award for all of our hard work.” Jimin muses, raising his arms high above his head as he stretches. He turns to Jeongguk and elbows him, “You want some cookies, kid?”

“Absolutely, I do!” Jeongguk is quick to walk off with both Jimin and Namjoon, leaving you alone with Jin’s mother.

Mrs. Claus. 

Mrs. Kim?

You’re not really sure.

“So, do you go by Mrs. Claus? Or…?” You ask, trying to break the ice.

“Mrs. Kim is just fine with me.” She assures you, “I hear you were quite the help tonight?”

You nod, “Yes, ma’am! I tried my best, at least.”

“Our best really is all we can do,” She says, “A lot of people tend to forget that sometimes.”

“Well, that’s what makes us human.” You add.

“Very true.” She agrees, “Just like misunderstandings make us human as well.”

“You know about all that?” You ask, slightly nervous.

“I check in every now and then,” She shrugs. She looks to the door behind her and chuckles, “Don’t tell Jin, but Jimin loves to gossip.”

“Oh, I’m sure he already knows.” You joke.

“My son isn’t fond of this life. I’m well aware of that and so is my husband. We can keep on by ourselves for a while more, but we don’t know when we’ll have to pass the torch.” She explains, “I’m worried that I’ll end up leaving him a legacy that he can’t appreciate.”

She seems more upset that she’s forcing Jin into a life that she knows he doesn’t want, than she is about him not wanting to continue with the family business. You can tell this is something that’s been hurting her for a while.

“I don’t think it’s appreciating what you do that’s the problem. I think he’s more fearful of what it takes to do this,” You explain, trying not to overstep any boundaries, “I don’t think he would have started his shop if he didn’t enjoy this environment.”

She manages a smile, “That’s what I thought as well.”

“I think, whether or not Jin will admit it, that he likes this job. It just brings him so much anxiety and worry that he can’t bring himself to do it every day, all day, year after year,” You reason. From what you’ve seen, Jin enjoys talking to people and relations to them and making them happy. Being Santa doesn’t give him the option to be personal. Not to mention, it gives him extreme anxiety over being perfect that he doesn’t have at BE. You sigh, “I think he just wants to be able to step away from it all when it’s done, but he knows he won’t be able to do that when the suit finally gets handed to him.”

She nods in understanding, “You understand him.”

“I wouldn’t say that…” You awkwardly chuckle. While Jin may be perfect in the eyes of your family, he’s the troublesome one in his own. You mostly feel like the black sheep of yours, but you still get the problems he’s having. “I think the two of us just have more similarities than we’d care to admit.” 

“Even so-“ She places a gentle hand on your arm, “-I’m glad he’s found someone like you that he can turn to.”

You smile, “I’m happy to know him.”

“Just promise that you’ll work it out. Even though he’s stubborn and prideful and you want to hit him around-“ you can only assume that he probably gets that from his father, ”-please talk with him.”

“I will.” You promise.

The door to his parent’s room opens and his mother chuckles, “Speak of the devil.”

He smiles shyly, seemingly in a much better mood than he’d been in before, “Good talk?” You ask.

“Yeah. It was…” He nods. He looksdown the hall and tilts his head in confusion, “Where’d they go?”

You scoff, “The terrible 2 took Jeongguk for cookies.”

“Well, at least it’s on the way.” He sighs. He should’ve known the two would do something like that even on a time crunch.

“You can’t stay?” Mrs. Kim asks, slightly disappointed that she doesn’t get as much time with her son.

“No, I need to get them home before sunrise.” She nods in understanding, but the disappointment is clearly written across her face. Jin takes her hands and squeezes it, “I’ll make time to come back and visit, though.”

“Good.” She pulls him into a hug, squeezing him tight in her embrace before letting him go and dusting off his coat, “I’ll let you get on your way then.” She turns to you and smiles, “It was nice meeting you.”

You nod, “You as well.” She squeezes your shoulder one more time and disappears into her room, leaving you alone with Seokjin.

He nods in the direction you came from, holding his first step until you follow. “I hope she didn’t spill anything too embarrassing.” He jokes.

“Nothing that you wouldn’t put in your personal diary.” You tease.

He laughs, “Oh, good.” 

“She was just telling me how proud she is of you, that’s all.” You say, telling mostly the truth. He accepts that and you bump his arm for how his conversation went, “Your Dad?”

“He said something similar,” He shrugs, “He still doesn’t like my decision.”

“You really just need to do what’s best for you.” You reason.

“Right.” He nods.

You continue to walk in silence, the only sound coming from your footsteps. It’s when you near the end of the hall that he stops you, “Listen-“

“Don’t.” You interupt, already knowing what he was going to say.

He seems surprised, especially since an apology was one of your terms, “But your apology-”

“I don’t need it. I already know.” You assure him. You know he’s sorry, and you don’t need an apology when you can see it every time he looks at you, “I’m just ready to go home and get back to bed.”

“Right.” He nods. He throws an arm over your shoulder and sighs, “I guess we better go and find your brother before he eats everything in the kitchens.”

——

As soon as you got back this morning, you made sure to put your coats and shoes back exactly where Jeongguk found them. You managed to make it 3 hours before your Mother normally wakes up on Christmas morning, and you were absolutely going to cherish those 3 hours of sleep you could get. But of course, as soon as it hit 7:30 in the morning, Bora was knocking down everyone’s doors

Getting out of bed was rough for you, but it was even rougher for Jeongguk. Hoseok and Yoongi had to physically slide him down the stairs and into the living room just so he would be there to open presents. Jin wouldn’t have to worry too much about Jeongguk blabbing to anyone at this rate.

You have to admit, opening presents just has a different feel to it after all the work you did last night. Seeing what everyone got and watching them show it off with absolute joy just filled you with happiness. You can definitely see the appeal of being Santa.

Though you definitely weren’t expecting your own present from Santa. You knew everyone had got one, but you completely forgot that even Santa’s helpers get surprises every now and then. Wrapped in a light blue wrapping paper, you opened up a new apron with your name embroidered in beautiful gold lettering. Its sides were decorated with moments that only you knew about, and anyone looking at it wouldn’t immediately be able to tell that it’s all telling a story.

Of course, only one person really knew about everything you did, and you’d be sure to thank him before you leave. For now, you continue to make use of your new gift as you help your Mom make lunch.

“Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock~” Your Mom sings, swaying to the music that blares from the living room.

You hum next to her, “Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring~”

“Snowin’ and blowin’ up bushels of fun!” Bora sings as well, sitting at the table with one of her new toys.

Right on the rest, a shot from a nerf gun rings out, followed by Jeongguk, “Now the jingle hop has begun!”

“Did you just shoot me?! You brat!” Yoonji yells from the living room. You can hear Jeongguk’s feet running up the stairs, followed very closely by Yoonji, “Get back here and fight me like a man!”

Your home is as alive as ever.

The doorbell rings, barely being heard over the music, but Yoongi just makes it out, “I got it!” He calls out, your Mother thanking him from the kitchen. He gets up, shoving his phone in his pocket. When he gets to the window to check who it is, he curses, “He can’t be serious…”

He opens the door, revealing a large bouquet of flowers with legs. Behind the petals however, he can just make out the dark hair of a very familiar baker, “Good afternoon.” He greets from behind his wall of petals.

Yoongi scoffs, “I’m assuming you’re here to grovel at her feet?” He asks, eyeing the man behind the bouquet.

“Grovel, beg, plead, cry-“ Jin move the flowers just enough so Yoongi can see his face, “I’ll do anything.”

“Unfortunately-“ Hoseok chimes in, appearing after seeing the bouquet from his spot on the couch, “-in this house we break legs.”

“What?!” Jin asks, stunned by such a severe punishment, “Why both?”

“I wouldn’t fight it. I tried that already.” Taehyung sighs, appearing just behind Hoseok.

Hoseok nods, “He’s right. Them’s the rules.”

“Can’t you just do one?” Jin asks.

Yoongi shakes his head, “Non-negotiable.”

By themselves, all 3 men at the door are harmless. But together? They’re a scary trio staring back at him. And judging by the looks on their faces, they seem very serious about breaking both limbs.

Thankfully, you come to his rescue before any bodily harm can be done to him, “Alright! That’s enough! Don’t scare him off.”

Yoongi shakes his hands and carefully takes two steps back, “Hey, I’m just pulling a big brother.”

“Well, I will thank you after I talk to him.” You assure him, patting him on the shoulder for his “great work” as you pass him. You grab the door handle and nod to all three men, “Thank you very much, boys.”

You pull the door shut, only wearing your house slippers, pajamas, and the new apron you were gifted. You’re not very concerned by your attire, but Jin is, “Don’t you want to get a coat first? You’ll freeze out here.”

You shake your head and wave him off, “I’ll be fine.”

“No. Here-“ He pushes the bouquet he brought into your hands and pulls off his hat and scarf, placing them on you instead, “At least keep the heat trapped somewhere.”

“You know, you’ve given us a lot of clothing. Someone might get the wrong idea,” You tease, a blush rising to his cheeks.

“Hey, I’ve gotta make my move one piece of fabric at a time.” He laughs.

“Why are you here, anyway? I thought we worked this out yesterday?” You ask, thinking that your fight the other day had been settled.

“No, you saw me acting like a kicked puppy and brushed it off, but I don’t want to brush it off.” He says, “I owe you an apology for overreacting, and I want you to actually hear me say that I’m sorry for my actions. I don’t want you to think I won’t own up to my mistakes for you.”

“Well, I’m sorry too,” You apologize, “You never told me I was allowed to go into the workshop. I overstepped, and that was on me.”

“I can’t really blame you for wanting to help me,” He chuckles. He looks you over once and smiles, “I see you got your apron from Santa. Do you like it?”

“I love it!” You tell him, “The detailing on the side is just beautiful.”

Jin smiles, “I was hoping you’d notice that. My Dad helped me with that one when I spoke to him and I sent Jimin early on to place it under your tree before everyone woke up.”

“Well, it’s gorgeous,” You assure him. You look down and squeeze the bottom of it, “I’ll cherish it for a long time.”

“I’m glad to hear that.” He reaches behind his back and pulls out a small, wrapped gift, a dusting of glitter falling off of it as he presents it to you, “But I also got this for you. From me and not Santa.”

You adjust the bouquet in your arms and accept his gift. The first thing you notice about it is the mistletoe sticking out from the ribbon, “Is this mistletoe? Like, real mistletoe?” You ask.

“We grow it in the greenhouses back home,” He explains. 

You carefully take it off and place it in the chest pocket of your apron. You push the ribbon off to the side and hold it with one of your fingers so you can open the box. Inside it is a silver necklace shaped like a reindeer with its antlers shaped into a heart. It’s small and subtle, and it’s something he didn’t have to do.

“What do you think?” He asks, nervously rocking back and forth on his feet.

“I love it, Jin,” You answer honestly. You place the lid back on the box and let the ribbon hang loosely off the box. You didn’t ask him to come and do this, you didn’t have to. You were fine to just let him slide this time. He knew that, but it wasn’t good enough for him. He’s showing you exactly how much you mean to him, and he’s honestly left you speechless, “I don’t know what to say.”

“I know you only have a few days left in town, but maybe I could take you out on a date before you go home?” He suggests. He thinks of something and it makes him chuckle before he explains further, “As long as that’s okay with your work wife, of course?”

“I don’t think Joy would mind.” You shrug, knowing damn well Joy will want to know every detail when you get back, “I’d love to go on a date with you.”

“Tomorrow? I’ll pick you up at 6?” He asks, wanting to make sure that what works for him works for you.

You nod, “Sounds like a date.”

He nods in agreement, and it’s like neither one of you knows what to do now. Before you’d make jokes, and now you’re acting like lovesick teenagers going to a school dance together.

A cold wind blows and you shiver, waking Jin up from his bout of excitement. He clears his throat and starts to step back off of your porch, “You’re freezing. I should probably go and let you get back to your family time, but-” He stops and smiles up at you again, “I’ll see you tomorrow..”

He turns before you can say anything. You want to say more, you just don’t know what to say. But if you can’t say it, then you can show it, “Hey Jin!”

“Yeah?” He asks, stopping and turning back to you.

You set down the gifts he brought you and step up to the edge of the porch, “I didn’t get you a present.”

“Oh! I don’t need a present-“

“Will this do?” You interrupt, pulling the mistletoe out of your apron and holding it above your head. It’s the only thing you can think of to show him how you feel instead of telling him. It’s honestly the most forward you’ve ever been for anyone. You didn’t think you could be this terrified to do something, even though you know the feelings are mutual. 

It takes Jin a second to realize what you’re suggesting, but it doesn’t take him much longer to get his feet moving. With long strides, he rushes back to you. He steps up on the step below you, cupping your face with both of his hands, and pulling you into a long-awaited kiss. You hold onto the front of his shirt, holding onto his shirt to steady yourself so you can deepen the kiss.

A muffled scream comes from the window at the door and you pull away, seeing Bora peeking out the window. Someone swipes her from behind, pulling her away to give you some privacy.

Jin doesn’t mind though, he just chuckles, “I guess your family got their wish.”

“Yeah, so did I,” You respond before wrapping your arms over his shoulders and pulling him into another kiss.

~ FIN ~

#fae fic #maybe we’re a movie #kim seokjin #kim seokjin x reader #kim seokjin x y/n #bts kim seokjin #bts jin #jin #jin x reader #bts jin x reader #bts Kim seokjin x reader #bts #bangtan #bangtan sonyeondan #bangtan jin #bangtan seokjin #bangtan Kim seokjin #bts christmas #bts christmas fic #bts fanfiction #bts fan fiction #bts fic #bts x reader #member x reader #bts fluff #kim seokjin fluff #Kim seokjin Christmas fic #side taegi #side sope #min yoonji

[wannabegwenstacy]

Eden's Favorite BTS Fics: Twitter

Updated: 3/29/2023

A/N: I tend to read member x member on both A03 & Twitter so if thats what you are looking for then precede. If you are looking for reader insert I suggest checking out my tumblr fic recs since I tend to read those on tumblr.

.

.

⇣Below cut⇣

Forbidden Relationship Taegi (M) by @taegishrine on Twitter

Pairing: Rich son Taehyung x Rich son Yoongi

Tags: secret lovers, forbidden relationship, mentions and depictions of parental abuse later, enemies with benefits at the beginning

Summary: they both come from similar backgrounds: wealthy and powerful. and while their families fight each other to control the country, yoongi and taehyung can’t stay apart for too long.

it feels way better when it’s forbidden, doesn’t it?

.

.

⎡Sope AU⎦ ~ ⎡Social Media Au⎦ by @uhgoodaddy on Twitter

Pairing: Hoseok x Yoongi

Authors Notes: ☀︎ Namjoon & Yoongi are friends ☀︎ Hoseok, Jungkook, Seokjin are friends ☀︎ Taehyung & Jimin are not friends with any of them (yet)

Tags: ☀︎ Angst ☀︎ Fluff ☀︎ Mature language and sexual jokes ☀︎ Humor if i decide to be funny ☀︎ Mentions of cheating ☀︎ Mentions of panic attacks

Summary: There’s three things Yoongi learns when he starts working with Hoseok 

1. Hoseok is everything he’s not; full of life, sweet and the literal embodiment of the sun 

2. They don’t really get along 

3. They have the same boyfriend

.

.

Long Distance Relationship Taegi (M) by @taegishrine on Twitter

Pairing: LA Taehyung x Seoul Yoongi

Authors Notes: ldr dynamics | sad sad very sAD idk what happened to me | this story is my baby | it gets spicy | bottom yg, top th

Tags: insecurities, breakups, mental health issues

Summary: yoongi is skyping hoseok, who lives in LA, when a guy walks into his dorm room, wearing only a bath robe and a snapback 

“hey hobi, tell him to take his robe off, i’m tryna see sumn" 

the guy turns and deadpans: "i speak perfect korean, whatcha tryna see?”

.

.

Mountain camping yoonkook au by @taehyikes on Twitter

Pairing: Writer Yoongi x General Store Owner Jungkook

Authors Notes: it will be silly! and wintery! light on the angst and heavy on the goofs! let’s begin!! first things first, they’re all writers, jimin writes travel literature, yoongi writes satire, and namjoon writes historical fiction! yoonmin are best frenemies and minjoon r dating. hoseok is a park ranger, jin cabin owner, tae owns general store with jungkook. taejin are dating.

Tags: wholesome & healing, in the soop vibes but with love, would make a good movie

Summary: where yoongi decides to rent a cabin in the mountains to work on his next novel, and jungkook runs the general store in a nearby village

.

.

Basketball Captain Taehyung AU (M) by @taegishrine on Twitter

Pairing: Uni Basketball Captain Taehyung x Post Grad Yoongi

Authors Notes: there’s no cheating in this story; the relationship between th and the OC is fundamentally physical

Tags: self discovery, internalized homophobia, denial, a lot of sex and feelings

Summary: taehyung has a reputation that precedes him: he’s an excellent student, captain of the basketball team, and a ladies man, but after a steamy encounter with another guy, everything -even himself- starts to crumble down

.

.

Telepathy (M) by @ladyelocin on Twitter

Pairing: CEO Min Yoongi x office worker Park Jimin

Tags: soulmates in this au share abilities/senses that manifest in different ways • ym can read each other’s thoughts • fluff • sexual tension, flirting • explicit sexual content • aftercare ♡ • side: taekook, namjin • little angst? hmm…

Summary: Having a one-night stand in a foreign country with a handsome stranger seems like the best way to end Jimin’s vacation before accepting his new job offer. Unexpectedly, Jimin meets him again and learns that the man happens to be his boss and… soulmate?

.

.

Adjunct Professor Yoonkook (M) by  @taegishrine on Twitter

Pairing: Art Student Jungkook x Photographer/Adjunct Professor Yoongi

Authors Notes: age gap (8 years) | thread fic; no social media | NSFW

Tags: secret lovers, forbidden relationship, mentions and depictions of parental abuse later, enemies with benefits at the beginning

Summary: yoongi will never admit that the best sex of his life was with a hookup 7 years younger than him & he never thought he’d bump into jungkook again – much less on his first day as a substitute teacher but there he was, in the front row, with a devilish smile on his lips

.

.

Winterbane (M) by  @ladyelocin on Twitter

Pairing: Lord Min Yoongi x Lord Park Jimin

Authors Notes: Okay before we start, I want us to be on the same page. This story is set somewhere between 200-500 AD so there may be practices, customs, and beliefs that are considered outdated or derogatory at present. However, there will be NO non-con and incest in this story.  There will be mpreg and depictions of pregnancy so if you are uncomfortable with the aforementioned trope, please do not proceed and prioritize yourself first.

Tags: Historical setting: 200-500 AD ‣ ABO/Omegaverse ‣ Alpha Yoongi, Omega Jimin ‣ Arranged marriage, domestic life ‣ Cultural differences, prejudice ‣ Hurt/comfort, jealousy, mutual pining ‣ Action, fight scenes, violence ‣ There are no Betas in this AU ‣ Explicit sexual content ‣ Top!YG, Bottom!JM ‣ Scenting, nesting, knotting, mating ‣ Rut/heat cycles ‣ Mpreg ‣ Side ships: Taekook, Namseok

Summary: Lord Omega Jimin of House Park agrees to marry Lord Alpha Yoongi of House Min to end the centuries-long war between the two territories. Contrary to the Northerners’ custom, Jimin, as a Southborn, is not the typical omega they expect him to be.

#BTS #BTS FIC REC #BANGTAN #BANGTAN FIC REC #KIM NAMJOON #KIM SEOKJIN #MIN YOONGI #JUNG HOSEOK #PARK JIMIN #KIM TAEHYUNG #NAMJOON #JIN #YOONGI #SUGA #JHOPE #HOBI #JIMIN #TAEHYUNG #JUNGKOOK #BTS SMUT #BTS FLUFF #NAMJOON FIC RECS #JIN FIC RECS #YOONGI FIC RECS #HOSEOK FIC RECS #JIMIN FIC RECS #TAEHYUNG FIC RECS #JUNGKOOK FIC RECS #jeon jungkook

[concealedrecs]

Fic: the Romance of Old Clothes

Author: fringecity

Fandom: BTS

Pairing: Kim Taehyung/Min Yoongi

Rating: Explicit

Length: 59641

Recommendation: somehow in digging through the jikook tag I found this absolutely amazing taegi fic about wardrobe stylist and tumblr witch Kim Taehyung meeting with art director Min Yoongi in the opposite of a meet cute. This was incredibly engaging, with two people on the opposite sides of the same coin. Highly recommended.

#fic rec #fic recommendation #bts fic rec #bts fic #bts fic recommendation #bts #taegi fic #taegi fic recommendation #taegi fic rec #taegi

[sparklehoney7]

Wicked and Wild Wind

by: annie_vi

pairing: jimin/jungkook

info: chaptered 12/12 complete (173,039)

tags: Alternate Universe - Royalty / Prince Jeon Jungkook / Thief Park Jimin (BTS) / Royalty / Tournaments / Strangers to Lovers / Nobility / Class Differences / Family Issues / Falling In Love / Slow Burn / Park Jimin is a Brat (BTS) / Park Jimin is a Little Shit (BTS) / a menace to society in fact! / Jeon Jungkook is Trying His Best / Angst with a Happy Ending / I always say light angst but behold I am always wrong / Nobility Kim Taehyung | V / Knight Min Yoongi | Suga / Doctor Kim Seokjin | Jin / Nobility Kim Namjoon | RM / Thief Jung Hoseok | J-Hope / Temporary Arranged Marriage / Original Character(s) / side taegi / side namseok / Additional Warnings In Author's Note / the author had the time of her life writing this

summary: "That dopey little prince is so sheltered that he wouldn't know what to even do with you. You get through the entire tournament and win and force the royal family to make you his fiancé and marry you, and that's it."

"The ultimate heist."

OR

Prince Jeongguk of Seolla, the youngest of five siblings with a rebellious streak, is forced to host a tournament to celebrate his 21st birthday and coming-of-age to find the perfect spouse. Park Jimin, notorious and wild thief from the west, decides to pull off the ultimate heist - join the tournament and destroy the dynasty.

link

#bts fic #fic rec #jikook

[weird-bookworm]

ᴛʜɪʀᴅ ᴛɪᴍᴇ'ꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴍ (ᴀ ʙʀᴜɪꜱᴇ ɪꜱ ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ɪᴛ)

Part 4 Part 5

a/n: and finally, here is the last part

pairing: kim seokjin x park jimin, implied!taegi, cousins!jinkook

genre: high school students!bts, fluff, a tiny bit of angst, too much platonic love, pining

word count: i have no idea ✌🏻 this one was supposed to be a little on the longer side, but that didn't really work out

warnings: none

Yoongi was looking expectantly at both Jimin and Seokjin, as they both stared at each other. Finally, a still red Seokjin took seemingly confident steps forward.

Namjoon almost instinctively left his place to situate himself between Jimin and Seokjin, but held himself back and instead just moved closer to the blond.

Jimin suddenly deemed his shoes a lot more important than the senior who stood right in front of him. "Please tell me you were going to confess near the lockers." Seokjin placed his hand oh his shoulder and bent down a little, making sure he wasn't understanding anything wrongly.

Jimin nodded in reply, and the next thing he knew, he was in a bug-crushing hug. He squeaked unintelligently and gasped, prompting Seokjin to let him down.

Seokjin moved closer, gently placing his palms on the younger's cheeks and tilting his head towards himself.

"Can I kiss you?"

Jimin finally looked him in the eye and hesitantly nodded. Seokjin slowly leaned in, as he caressed the younger's cheeks with his thumbs. And then their lips met.

It was a short kiss, soft and sweet, but it left their lips tingling. Jimin looked up in awe, still not quite believing that this wasn't a dream, but reality.

Seokjin smiled at him, "Be my boyfriend?"

"You, mister, are on a three month probation period as far as I am concerned. One wrong move, and I'll have your balls. Got it?"

Seokjin nodded solemnly, holding in his laugh. Namjoon looked like a very angry (and just as adorable) retriever puppy to him, but he was willing to entertain the younger.

Some distance away, Hoseok was associating himself with Jimin properly, who had forgotten all about being shy when it came to talking about what he loved the most; dance.

Even farther away, Jeongguk felt like he was intruding on something intimate, despite being sure that Yoongi and Taehyung were meeting for the first time.

His chill Yoongi hyung, who barely ever spared anyone a second glance, was very pink in the face, highlighted by his pale complexion. He kept glancing everywhere but at Taehyung after the awkward introductions were done.

Jeongguk didn't know Taehyung, but he could tell by the way the elder was twitching slightly that it was uncharacteristic for him to be this quiet. Being naturally shy, he himself wasn't speaking anything either, but felt that it would be rude if he just walked away.

The door burst open before Jeongguk's thoughts could spiral. The nurse came in huffing and puffing, before gently asking Jimin to sit down.

Jeongguk once again got distracted, and his mind brought him back to the two people still standing near him.

He startlingly realised that now, instead of avoiding eye contact, they were staring at each other. He sighed a silent sigh and left them to it, wondering how Yoongi hyung would be all lovey-dovey.

a/n: that was so anti climatic, my god 😭

#bts #bangtan #bangtan sonyeondan #bts au #bts high school au #bts fluff #bts angst #bts imagines #bts series #jinmin #jin #bts jin #seokjin #kim seokjin #suga #bts suga #yoongi #min yoongi #j-hope #bts j-hope #hoseok #hobi #jung hoseok #rm #bts rm #namjoon #kim namjoon #jimin #bts jimin #park jimin

[heyhosam]

I look like all you need

A/N: ok, so… woah, hello? It’s me, here I am after a looooong break. I’m really nervous to post this because I haven’t written anything for months and idk I feel like I’m back at square one, when I started writing and had no clue to what I was doing…So I request for constructive criticism if you find mistakes. I’m trying to get into writing again, because I’ve missed it so much, specially interacting with you guys, so hopefully this story will be the first one of more to come. I’m aware of the requests I have to work on, I haven’t forgotten about you guys, I promise I’m working on them so my next releases will be those requested stories.

About this story; I’ve been following for a while a youtuber that has been documenting her transitioning progress and I found it so inspiring that I wanted to write about it. Transgender ppl —regardless of if they are transitioning or not— go through such hardships and they are always belittled or ignored, mostly dehumanized. They have my utmost respect and I’m really proud of all of them for battling with their inner demons on daily basis, and fighting against a society that most of the time don’t think they are ppl deserving of respect and human rights.

I tried to make this story with the utmost care and love in the world, is not my intention to offend anyone but if there is anything that is offensive to you or that you consider I’m explaining wrong tell me and I will change it or simply delete the story. Hopefully you all will love reading it as much as I loved creating it.

I found an interesting article/video talking about MTF surgery, take a look if you aren’t grossed out with this kind of things (the video is an animated simulation, there is no blood nor anything explicit)

AO3

I know my A/N are always super long lol I’m sorry.This said, ENJOY!

Jungkook first sees her at the café near campus, that one in which they serve the cheapest, but largest cups of caffeine that have helped him more than once survive finals week.

He’s waiting for his turn, while scrolling down his phone lazily as the lady in front of him takes forever to decide what to order, when he hears a kid yell from somewhere in the shop; it’s not like Jungkook’s really disturbed by it, but the hollering is loud enough to distract him from his previous tedious task and turn his head towards the source of the noise and then— then the world stops as his eyes find her, his heart skips a beat.

She’s so beautiful. She looks so pretty just sitting down on her own, head tilted down to focus on the book on her hands. Shy rays of sunshine glow around her from the nearest window, her dark brown hair sitting on her shoulders gently, some curly strands tucked behind her ear probably to stop them from falling to her face so she can read in peace. Round and rosy cheeks, big glasses sitting at the tip of her cute button nose, plump and glossy lips; although she doesn’t look like the really thin type, she looks petite with the oversized beige sweater she’s wearing.

The urge to simply go there and hug her is so strong and overwhelming that Jungkook forgets how to breath properly for a second.

“Uhm— excuse me?”

Jungkook snaps back to reality, turning his head to the barista looking curiously at him and blushes, noticing it was him now holding back the line.

“Oh, yes— sorry.” he orders his usual coffee with extra vanilla cream and when he’s about to hand the bills he stops, mind going back to the cute -beautiful, gorgeous, perfect- girl sitting alone at the back of the café with, maybe, and empty cup of coffee.

Would it be too weird if he bought her a cup of coffee? Probably, his mind unhelpfully supplies. But she is so pretty, the prettiest he’s ever seen, and the helpless romantic in him can’t fathom the thought of walking out the cafe without giving it a chance, without at least trying to make her smile and see the world brighten up a little bit.

“Do you know what was her order?” he asks shyly, pointing discreetly at the girl. The barista looks at her with big owlish eyes full of curiosity, then back at Jungkook and the little smirk that forms on his lips has Jungkook immediately regretting he had asked.

“Yes, she is a regular,” he says amused, finger already tapping on the screen, “Do you want to order another one for her?”

Jungkook doesn’t find his voice to respond, he simply nods with a blush on his cheeks and then hands the bills.

It takes him another ten minutes to find the courage to approach her, period of time in which he tries his best to ignore the barista amusedly staring at him. He is Jeon Jungkook, for fucks’ sake— he has no troubles when it comes to flirting, to get a girl battling her eyelashes at him in less than five minutes. It’s really frustrating how he seems to be unable to do something as simple as approach her with a casual ‘hey’. He has done it before, too many times he’s lost count. But here again, he has never come across such a pretty girl.

When he finally nears her table he has forgotten what he had planned to say, and instead of saying something that will sound cool and interesting he chokes out a pathetic hello.

He tries to stay composed as she looks up from her book -which Jungkook recognises to be one of his favourite mangas- and blinks confusedly, but really cutely, at him.

“Hello.” she says, voice gentle but hesitant. Jungkook can see she has tensed up and nervousness pumps through his veins, now realising how weird it must be from her point of view a complete stranger has bought her a drink and approached her table.

“Uh— sorry, I just—“ he stutters out, feeling like a complete idiot by standing there with a cup of coffee on each hand and just owlishly blinking at her. “I thought— well, I thought that maybe you would like another coffee?”

She stares silently at him, and Jungkook cringes just thinking of what must be going through her head right now as she studies him. He must look like a weirdo, a total creep. Yikes.

“Ok, let me explain,” he says before she can answer, “I just saw you and I thought you were pretty and— I don’t know, guess I just wanted an excuse to talk to you. I’m sorry if I’m disturbing you I can just go away as if nothing happened. I’m really sorry.”

He’s about to turn around and run out the cafeteria like the loser he is when she stops him with a soft ‘wait’ dropping from her very pretty lips.

“You didn’t bother me,” she mumbles before licking her lips, “just took me by surprise because this kind of situations aren’t something common for me.”

“But you are so pretty.” Jungkook says before he can stop himself and he cringes again. He has to stop creeping her out if he really wants a chance to get to know her.

“Thank you,” she says shyly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and Jungkook almost coos out loud at how cute she is.

“Uhm- do you mind if I sit with you?” he says with a hopeful lilt, maybe a bit too desperate if the way she looks up curiously at him is anything to go by.

She studies him, most likely hesitant to let a stranger sit with her; honestly, Jungkook can’t blame her for being wary of him.

“Okay.” she finally concedes, pushing her glasses up her nose with two fingers. Seriously, Jungkook needs to chill, because that simple motion had his heart stuttering inside his chest.

He sits, awkwardly clearing his throat while handing her the drink, finding really hard to maintain eye contact with her. “I asked the barista what was your drink.”

“Ah, thank you.” she says, briefly glancing back to where said barista rests at the counter at the other end of the café. “You really didn’t have to go through all that trouble to buy me a drink.”

“It’s fine, I really wanted to.”

They stay in silence for a minute, shy glances and awkward atmosphere before Jungkook realises he hasn’t introduced himself yet.

“I’m Jungkook, by the way.”

“Yeah, I know.” she says with a soft smile while stirring her coffee, Jungkook wonders if he put the perfect amount of sugar on it or not. She seems the type to like sweet stuff, but maybe Jungkook got it all wrong.“You are quite famous around campus, being part of the football team.”

“Oh, am I?” he laughs nervously while scratching at the back of his neck. Given any other situation, reached this point he would show off about his body or his achievements; he knows girls usually like the athletic type with muscles at all the right places, but somehow the fact that she knows about him makes him giddy with nerves. Because even if he’s popular in a good way, unpleasant rumours always arise and he doesn’t know what must have reached her ears.

“I’m not that much into sports, but I’ve heard a lot about you,” she says, corner of her lips turned up slightly and that makes Jungkook relax a bit, maybe she hasn’t heard anything bad.

“You could come see one of our games, someday,” says Jungkook with a shrug, trying to sound as casual as possible while hiding the hopeful sparkle on his eyes.  That makes her chuckle, which has Jungkook visibly perking up, proud of himself for finally making her smile.

“I will think about that,” she says and then takes a gulp of her coffee, frowning slightly just after. And it’s just this easy to have Jungkook deflating on his seat.

“What, is it not good? Too much sugar?” he asks panicked, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth. Damn, he knew he should have added just one spoonful.

“No, no!” she says quickly, shaking her hand a bit flustered and if Jungkook weren’t sad because he had managed to fuck up her drink he would be dying at her cuteness. “it’s just— it’s a bit…cold.”

If Jungkook thought of dying of embarrassment before, now he just wishes he could just jump off the planet and let the aliens dismember his body.

“Fuck, I’m so sorry—“ he blabbers out, flustered and cheeks flushed red, “I — Fuck, I’m a mess, I’m really sorry. It’s just that it took me a while to finally approach you—“

“It’s okay.” she laughs, truly laughs, with genuine mirth on her eyes and Jungkook can’t do anything but stare dumbly at her, heart fluttering.

“I can order a new one.” he says, already standing up but she stops him, assures him it’s fine and to prover her point she sips on it again, this time a larger gulp.

She finally introduces herself a minute later —Park Jimin, 24 years old. Psychology major on her last year; Jungkook saves the data on his head—, shyly laughing for forgetting to do so and Jungkook is already really infatuated with all her antics: the way she scrunches her nose slightly while pushing her glasses back up, how her hand covers her mouth while laughing at one of his dumb jokes, or how she tucks her hair away so delicately behind her ears.

Jimin is so pretty, inside and out, a bubbly personality once she finally opens up to him, visibly perking up when he points out the manga on top of the table, or when he mentions he’s into hero movies as well.

And it’s with another number saved on his phone and the promise to text each other that Jungkook gets back to his apartment, dumb smile included.

Jimin chuckles softly at the latest dumb meme Jungkook has sent, muffling the sound the best she can with one hand on her mouth. Still, Taehyung catches on it and throws a pen that hits her straight on her forehead.

“What was that for?” she grumbles with a pout, rubbing at the damaged zone.

“You’ve been glued to your phone for the past hour,” says Taehyung making grabby hands for her to hand his pen back. “We are supposed to be studying, remember?”

“Since when are you so into studying.” she says and throws the offending object back at him, grinning when it hits him on the face as well.

“Yoonji will beat my ass if I fail another test.” he says rubbing at his cheek with a fat pout, if it’s because it hurt or because he doesn’t want to suffer the wrath of his girlfriend, Jimin doesn’t know. “Who are you texting with, anyways? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so focused on your phone before.”

“Just… a friend,” she says with a shrug, staring down at her books to feign nonchalance. But Jimin sometimes forgets Taehyung knows everything about her, too much time spent together has that, so he is quick to catch on the slight change of her voice when she muttered the last word.

“Just a friend, my ass,” he says, a bit too loudly for a quiet environment such as a library, a couple of students from a near spot turn their heads to them.

She presses a finger to her lips to shush him before staring down to her books again. She feels her phone vibrate on her lap and she has to fight with herself to not check the new messages right then.

“Who is it? An admirer?” Taehyung asks again, leaning forward as if he could pry on her phone by simply stretching his neck. “Is someone wooing my Jiminnie?

“No one,” she lies, again, curling on herself flustered and embarrassed at the fact that she has been caught red handed. Taehyung is relentless, won’t stop asking questions until he has what he wants.

Jimin doesn’t want to be questioned about it, because she really doesn’t know what to say, being honest. They have been texting for the past month, getting to know more about each other between dumb jokes and stupid memes. Jungkook is a real dork, sometimes has her laughing so much her stomach hurts, but he is also sweet and caring, listens to her with no complains whenever she lets the walls down and rambles. And then, there are those moments in which Jungkook flirts, and Jimin does so as well, giggling to herself with red cheeks. And it’s equals parts sweet end exciting and scary; scary, because she doesn’t know if it will last or if this, whatever it is, will lead to anything at all.

Jimin just knows that she likes him. A lot. Maybe too much.

“Your blush tells me you are being courted indeed,” says Taehyung, lips stretched in a thin line, making his cheeks bundle up. Yoonji would coo at him, pinch his cheeks. Jimin just feels like slapping her best friend in the face. With a chair.

“He’s just someone I met.” she says, finally giving up. She knows Taehyung will get the information out of her sooner or later. They really have no secrets for each other.

“Met where, when?” questions Taehyung, now with a frown deeper than the ocean. She knows he’s wary of any boy trying to flirt with her. Honestly, after all she’s been through, so is she. “You didn’t tell me about it.”

“Honestly, I didn’t think he would stay around for this long,” she says, lowering her voice when someone from across the room shushes them, “He approached me at the café we usually go to, bought me a drink and we chatted for a little bit, been texting since then.”

Taehyung hums, eyes squinted at her, just staring for what feels like an eternity. Jimin squirms a bit uncomfortable on her chair, the vibration of her phone reminding her she hasn’t replied to him yet.

“You like him.” sates Taehyung. Jimin would like to deny it, she has the ‘no’ at the tip of her tongue, but her cheeks betray her, displaying a flustered red that speaks louder for her.

“Maybe.” she admits “But he will grow tired of me with time, like every other boy that has tried something.” she adds with a shrug, trying to not show how the thought of Jungkook dropping her breaks her heart.

Jimin hears Taehyung sigh and when she stares up at him, he’s looking sympathetically at her. They have been through this kind of situation before: a cute boy trying something on Jimin and when he sees that her shell is a bit too hard to crack he leaves. The first time really hurt, because she liked him a lot. The others stung as well, but she just pretended to not be affected by it.

But Jungkook is another story. He’s persistent, seems really interested in her even when she was being evasive when they started texting. She hates the fact that her hopes are going up with Jungkook, because the fear of such a sweet boy leaving her once he knows her secret haunts her.

“Just try to not get too attached to him, just in case.” says Taehyung after a while as he rolls around his pastel purple pen with his fingers, the same colour of his hair this month. “And if by any chance he hurts you, I’ll beat his ass.”

Jimin cracks a smile, heart swelling with fondness towards her friend. “You know you can’t hurt a fly.” she teases despite loving this protective side of him.

“Maybe, but Yoonji is not so sweet.”

At that Jimin agrees.

Jungkook stares at his phone for the hundredth time, sighing frustrated when only two minutes passed since the last time he checked.

He’s early by half an hour, and it just proves his greediness and lack of self-control when it comes to Jimin. He has never arrived early to a date, but he had started pacing around the apartment, asking his roommate for clothing advice so many times that Yugyemon ended up kicking him out, fed up with his anxious ass.

So yes, Jungkook is early and nervous but dressed with an outfit that will, hopefully, make Jimin weak on the knees: his favourite black and very tight jeans, a stripped shirt and a bomber jacket. Killer look; the perfect combination of bad boy with a sweet side.

In the end it’s Jungkook who chokes on his spit at the sight of her, recurring situation that he will have to work hard on if he doesn’t want to keep embarrassing himself in front of her. She looks stunning with a  denim skirt and a black sweater tucked in. It’s so simple but she pulls it off as if it were brand clothes displayed by a model.

“Hi.” she says shyly, tucking her hair behind her ear, curly for the night. Jungkook notices a faint blush on her cheeks, maybe because of the chilly air or maybe because she has caught on Jungkook’s blatant stare- he couldn’t help it, her thighs are thick and on full display and he is a simple man. Regardless of the reason, she looks beautiful.

“Hey,” he says awestruck, being unable to hold back his smile, “you look so pretty.”

She giggles, ducking her head down in embarrassment with a mumbled ’thank you’ that has Jungkook smiling wider. That blush was indeed his doing. She’s so cute.

It’s awkward at first, but Jungkook manages to break through his nervousness and starts being his dumb self, cracking jokes here and there, and has Jimin relaxing in no time. The fact that Jimin seemed to be nervous about this encounter has his hopes going up. They hadn’t specified it was a date, Jungkook somehow managed to convince Jimin into meeting him to watch a football game on TV with the pretence of giving her knowledge about it for when she goes to watch one of the uni’s team. She had agreed so easily that Jungkook was left stunned blinking down at his screen like an idiot until Yugyeom hit the back of his head.

So, even if he wants it to be a date, he knows it’s not officially a date. He has to keep his cool.

“I’m sorry if I’m boring you,”  says Jungkook, hiding his insecurity behind his a smile. He has been blabbering for the past hour and she has done nothing but listen attentively, nodding and smiling, asked very few questions that got Jungkook giving a full essay about football strategies. “I get carried away whenever sports are involved.”

“No, it’s fine,” she assures him before gulping down the last remains of her beer in one gulp. Jungkook had been pleasantly surprised when she asked for a beer and greasy snacks to accompany it. Maybe because he’s used at going out with the kind of girls that enjoy more a salad than a good greasy meal and put disgusted faces when he almost swallows a bunch of fries in one go. The girls he’s dated so far go for the composed and pretty image, trying their best to impress him with the finesse and elegance they think he will like, when the only thing Jungkook wants is for them to be natural and enjoy themselves. There is nothing more attractive to him than a pretty girl enjoying her food, drinking beer with no care and giving zero fucks if her lipstick is none existent by now. He’s a simple man.

“It’s cute to see you so hyped about this.” she adds with a smile, and Jungkook’s brain short-circuits, he can only laugh like a hyena for lack of anything else to say at her words. Cute, she thinks I’m cute.

“Hopefully I haven’t ruined football and you will like go see me play, someday,” he says, changing a bit their conversation so he has time to calm down his fluttering heart. Besides, he wants to show off, prove how good he is at something he loves, impress her when he scores points for his team and the whole stadium chants his name. He want her to stare proudly at him.

She smiles before pushing her glasses up her nose, an habit, a lovely habit that Jungkook has grown so fond of within the last hours,“Of course not, I would love to go see you play.”

The way she says it has Jungkook perking up. She sounds genuine, like she really wants to go and cheer for him.

“Is it a promise?” he extends his hand to her, pinky up and expectant. He knows he looks childish by doing this, but fuck if he cares. He would love to see her cheer for him, and his brain forms in his head Jimin wearing his jacket with his name on it while screaming his name so the whole stadium would know she’s there for him. Fuck, so beautiful.

She seems surprised by his acts, lets out cute giggle and extends her hand to him, immediately curling her pinky around Jungkook’s.

“It’s a promise.”

And this is the moment Jungkook thinks death could take him right there and right now and he would not care because her hand is so small, not to mention the size of her finger compared to his own, her skin soft at the touch; it’s only their pinkies touching, but Jungkook feels like they were meant for each other, that their hands were created to hold each other. Fuck, he’s so whipped already.

“I like you.” he blurts out and when he notices what he’s said he releases her hand as if he got struck by an electric shock, cheeks blushing deep red and ears burning with embarrassment. “Shit— I mean, that I like you would want to come— to watch me play. Shit, I…”

He just stops talking, there is no save; mom if you can hear me, just know that I love you.

He has fucked up by randomly confessing, they have been talking just for a month. Heck, this isn’t even an official date. His dumb ass couldn’t even wait after their first date. All the happiness he felt seconds ago vanishes into the void.

“I— I like you too.” she says softly, head ducked down, fingers tugging at the hem of her black sweater. He stares at her dumbly, watches as her eyes waver to the side and bites her bottom lip.

“You… do?” he asks bewildered. He was hopeful, that’s for sure, but seeing her act distant towards him more than once sine they met always made him hesitant. The rational part of his brain always said that she was the kind of sweet girl that would keep talking to him just to be nice, polite, but wasn’t really interested in him in the end. Becuase Jungkook is aware he’s kind of the dumb and muscly type that girls like Jimin —smart, beautiful— wouldn’t want as a boyfriend.

She inhales deeply, holds it for two seconds and releases slowly. She looks nervous, almost afraid. That has Jungkook curious and worried.

“I do,” she says, now staring at him with determination in her eyes, as if she is forcing herself to say it out loud. “I do like you a lot, you are so funny and sweet. I feel comfortable when we talk, like I can be myself without worrying too much, which is a big issue with me…”

“You can relax around me,” he says, cupping her hands with both of his in a sprout of braveness. “I care a lot about you, just want to make you happy.”

She smiles, a genuine and beautiful smile that has his own lips mirroring hers. She seems to relax, interlaces loosely their fingers together and Jungkook feels she has allowed him to walk through the first door of the walls surrounding her heart.

They leave long after the football game had ended, too engrossed in talking about whatever came to mind they forgot they were supposed to return home for the night.

Jungkook being the gentleman that he is, walks her home, a students residence not that far from his own shared apartment, fingers interlaced and walking pretty close to each other.

“I enjoyed tonight so much,” she says when they reach her building. She has been smiling the entire walk back home, making Jungkook all soft on the inside.

“I’m glad to hear that.” Jungkook notices their hands are still closed around each other’s, as if none of them wants to let go just yet. She feels so warm, so perfect.

They stare at each other for what feels so long until she breaks eye contact, releasing and embarrassed giggle and squeezing his hand. He instinctively pulls her closer and before he can regret even thinking about it he leans forward and pecks her cheek.

The moment is so sweet, so soft, he knows if Yugyeom were here he would tease him to no end for being so whipped for a girl he has just met. But it’s Jimin. Tender, bubbly, sweet Jimin. She pulls out a side of him he didn’t know he had, and he loves it. He just enjoys being with her so much he wants it to never end.

While he’s distracted admiring her, she cups the back of his head and drops a kiss on his lips. It’s short, but enough to leave Jungkook thinking he had conquered the world. If he feels like this with just a peck he’s not sure he is going to survive a full make-out session.

“Text me when you get home,” she says, a lovely shade of red covering her cheeks, probably the same that covers Jungkook’s own right now.

“I can’t believe you are dumping me,” says Taehyung fake-crying while resting his head on Yoonji’s shoulder. She just pats his head with one hand while taking a sip of her coffee, giving no shits her boyfriend is asking for attention. Everyone knows Yoonji only functions if she has had her daily dose of caffeine.

“My goodness, you are so dramatic,” says Jimin rolling her eyes. “I wish I could dump your sorry ass that easily.”

“See? she wants me gone Yoon-yoon.” he says poking at her side. Yoonji gives Jimin a long unblinking stare, that would scare everyone else but that Jimin is pretty much used to, before uttering the first words of the morning.

“Aren’t you happy your Jiminnie is finally dating someone decent?” she asks, raising an eyebrow at him. Jimin can see the fondness on her stare and hope she and Jungkook look that cute together. “Look at her, she’s all rosy cheeks and gross giggles whenever Jungkook is brought up.”

“Someone decent?” says Taehyung outraged, lifting his head to stare at her, as if her girlfriend had just bretrayed him, “We don’t know him.”

“Isn’t what this whole meeting thing today is about?,” mumbles Jimin around the rim of her coffee cup, ignoring Yoonji’s previous statement and the amused quirk of her lips. Taehyung, though, is so caught up on his personal drama that ignores it all and keeps talking.

“He could be playing her, feigning to be sweet and charming just to get into her pants.”

“You should judge that after meeting him.” says Yoonji before Jimin can open his mouth to defend her boyfriend. Yes, boyfriend because they have been dating for two beautiful and amazing months and Jimin is ready to fight for him. “You can’t judge a book by its cover. Just like when we met, remember?”

Jimin does remember. Remembers Taehyung seeing Yoonji at the library for the first time and falling in love with her at first sight. Remembers watching surprised, but worried, as her best friend stood up, walked with confidence to the petite girl with dark hair, dark clothes and big earphones on her ears —obviously not wanting to be disturbed— and offered her his back of gummy bears. He remembers his expectant face when she stared at him, then at the gummy bears before grabbing a bunch and uttering a thanks. Jimin remembers thinking how weird they looked together, Taehyung with his bright clothes and bleached blond hair; Yoonji with a complete dark look contrasting beautifully with her pale skin. At first glance they look so different, but they gave each other a chance to get to know each other, to find out what they already had in common and what things to discover together.

They had been quite the talk around campus at first, everyone judging them by their looks, but they made it work and three years later they are still that couple grossly in love.

“I hate it when you are right,” mumbles Taehyung and Yoonji laughs, tugging softly at his earlobe with her fingers. “Still, I will glare at him until I find him deserving of your heart.”

“Please don’t embarrass me,” pleads Jimin with a long sigh, already regretting agreeing to this meeting. Jimin had been prolonging it with excuses whenever Taehyung or Yoonji said to want to meet the guy that had Jimin’s eyes sparkling like diamonds under the moonlight (Taehyung’s words, not hers), but it had been Jungkook suggesting it what actually had Jimin agreeing.

“You are always talking about them,” had said Jungkook one afternoon they had been cuddling on Jungkook’s apartment, “If they are your best friends I want to meet them.”

And maybe Jimin was too whipped to say no.

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” says Taehyung, staring seriously at her. Jimin sighs again before offering a soft smile to her best friend.

“I know Taetae,” she says reaching for his hand. Taehyung immediately interlaces their fingers. “But I… I trust him.”

“But he doesn’t know, right?” asks Yoonji, also serious now that the mood has changed drastically. When Jimin shakes her head no as response, she adds, “Will you tell him? You know you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“I know…I really want to tell him.” says Jimin and tries not to cry when Taehyung squeezes her hand, anxiety always comes strong when this topic is brought up. “Honestly, I’m not afraid of who I used to be. It was a battle against myself that I’m proud of surviving, but I know not everyone is accepting and that is what scares me. I know he wouldn’t hurt me intentionally, but as I said it’s a part of who I am today that I want him to know about, I don’t want to hide anything from myself to him.”

When Jimin looks up at them she finds them smiling. Yoonji reaches forward with her hand, resting it above where Taehyung’s and hers are still held tightly.

“We are so proud of you Jiminnie.” she says, fondness on her eyes. They must be quite the scene, Jimin thinks; a girl with clothes dark like the night and dark eyeliner smudged around her eyes, another one with an Iron Man tee and glasses almost bigger than her face, and a boy with a bright yellow shirt and purple hair holding each other’s hands and staring with eyes glassy from unshed tears. A bunch of idiots, it’s what they look like, but this is why she loves them so much.

When Jungkook finally arrives Jimin stands up immediately, almost running to throw herself at him. He catches her easily, arms circling around her waist to press her closer and drop a soft kiss on her forehead.

“Hello, gorgeous.” he says, smiling down at her. She grins, unable to hold it back while staring at those beautiful brown eyes that always seem to have a sparkle on them. So captivating. “Have you been waiting for long? We have a game coming up and coach decided to prolong practice.”

“It’s fine,” she says, taking him by the hand to where Taehyung and Yoonji are waiting, “I would wait forever for you.” she says cheekily, knowing how these kind of words always make Jungkook blush. Right on cue, the tip of his ears turn red, and she can’t help but laugh at his cuteness.

The introduction is less awkward than Jimin expected, and much to her surprise Taehyung is actually civil with Jungkook. Maybe Yoonji gave him a talk while she was gone. Jimin should buy her another coffee in gratitude. It’s Jungkook, though, who buys another round of coffee for everyone in compensation for making them all wait.

“So, Jungkook,” starts Taehyung, stirring slowly his coffee, eyebrow held high and lips pursed. He’s trying to be menacing, but he just looks like an idiot, if you ask Jimin. “What are your plans for the future? career, dream job, children?”

Jimin sighs. Here it comes.

“I’m planning on becoming a personal trainer.” Jungkook says with that boyish smile of his that has Jimin’s heart dong backflips all the time. “I’ve always loved sports, and I want to make it my job. I actually play football for the uni’s team—“

“Yes, I’m aware of that.” interrupts Taehyung, rather rudely in Jimin’s opinion. Yoonji must think the same because she gives him a nudge to his ribs that he profusely ignores in order to keep talking. “You must be really popular between girls and boys alike, you sure you wanna settle down with Jiminnie?”

Jimin quicks Taehyung’s shin, huffing victorious when he yelps loudly. Jungkook seems taken by surprise by that outcome if his stiff posture is anything to go by.

“Sorry, he’s being a dick.” Jimin says glaring at Taehyung, who just sticks out his tongue at her.

“No it’s— It’s fine I understand his concern.” says Jungkook, giving side glances to Taehyung. “I do like her a lot.” he adds, now obviously directed at Taehyung. “She’s the first girl I feel like I want to settle down with.”

That has Jimin flushing, hands instinctively lifting to cover her cheeks. Jungkook never fails to make her heart go crazy. She hears him chuckle, and his hand squeezes gently her thigh, reassuring. She stares at him, and they find themselves tangled in a sweet and lovely staring contest.

“Just so you know,” says Taehyung, popping their bubble of happiness, “Yoonji used to be a part of a gang back in high school-“

“That’s a lie,” denies Yoonji with a snort, obviously amused by her boyfriend’s antics.

“She still could easily kick you in the balls if she wanted to.”

“But I don’t want to.” mumbles Yoonji at the same that Jimin snaps “Could you stop threatening my boyfriend, thank you?”

Jimin knows Taehyung is just being protective but he’s the crossing the line. Jungkook is a sweet kid, only if Taehyung tried to get to know him he would know.

“You are being a dick, honey.” says Yoonji softly, patting his thigh. Taehyung huffs, eyebrows furrowed. Jimin can tell he’s annoyed, not because he’s being scolded, but because he knows he’s acting like a child.

“Sorry, Jungkook.”  he says after a couple of seconds of awkward silence, eyes glaring at the table. Jungkook tries to shrug it off, but Taehyung keeps talking, “Jimin has dealt with a lot of shit and I know it’s not my place to say if you are or not good enough for her. I just want her to be happy.” He says the last part looking at Jimin, genuine apology implicit on his eyes. Jimin can’t be mad at him, not when he’s such a precious child.

“I’m trying my best to make her happy,” says Jungkook softly. Jimin is glad he’s not scared, she should buy him tons of banana milk later for not running away after this. “I don’t know what exactly happened that made her so hesitant towards new people, or relationships in general—“ Jimin frowns at that, she didn’t know Jungkook had noticed, “— but I like her and if she is willing to open up to me, I will gladly accept her with everything she has to offer.”

“Whatever it is?” challenges Taehyung, and Jimin finds herself anticipating Jungkook’s answer as well.

“Yes.”

“Unless she has killed someone,” says Yoonji with the corner of her lips curled up in that way that makes her look mischievous like a kitten, “I would advise you to run away, then.”

That’s enough to ease a bit the mood and direct the conversation towards more trivial topics.  Jungkook holds her hand during the rest of the afternoon, even afterward when Yoonji and Taehyung leave and Jimin and Jungkook roam around the streets in an impromptu date, neither of them wanting to leave too soon.

Jungkook listens as their coach plans some strategies last minute, furiously drawing on the tiny board with aggressive strokes.

They are on the last five minutes of the game and they need to score to win, since it’s a tie in the scoreboard. The pressure is high.

He feels a bead of swear sneak down his face from his forehead to his chin and he frowns. His shoulder hurts a bit from one rough tackle but he plays an important role in the team, he can’t sit on the bench and do nothing when they need more than ever to play united as a team.

When the coach gives them the cue to go back to the field, Jungkook turns his head around, finding with ease Jimin on the bleachers, smiling widely at him, hand waving energetically upon noticing him staring. He would hate it so much to loose this match; he can’t lose the first one Jimin has come to see.

Jungkook pats his mates on the shoulders as he situates himself at the right spot. He inhales, stares back at the scoreboard and then exhales, the referee signals for the game to start.

The longest five minutes Jungkook has ever played, but none the less the most gratifying ones as his team manages to score the points that grant their victory. The whole stadium roars, chanting the team’s name and Jungkook smiles, laughs whole-heartedly as adrenaline pumps through his veins.

He got his win, the first win Jimin was able to witness with her own pretty eyes.

“Congrats, big boy.” Says Taehyung, patting his shoulder with a crooked smile. Jungkook’s smile widens, thanking him with enthusiasm. He’s so happy Taenhyung seems to be trying to accept him, less aggressive with his words every time they meet.

“You were amazing,” adds Yoongi with a soft smile, leaning a bit forward so Jungkook can hear her over the music. “I know nothing about football but I know you were so cool out there.”

Jungkook can’t erase the smile off his face; there’s nothing sweeter than victory. Except for the kiss Jimin rewarded him with when they met after the match. She was shaking from excitement, smiling and saying over and over again how amazing he is. Jungkook couldn’t resist to lift her up and kiss her senseless, both of them ignoring Taehyung’s loud gags of disgust.

The celebratory party is wild, as always. Just an hour in and everyone is drunk, dancing like wild animals. Even Taehyung and Yoonji seem to be having fun despite their clearly hesitance at coming by when Jungkook invited them over.

Jungkook hasn’t left Jimin’s side the whole time, his arm securely around her waist and his nose buried on her neck as they dance.  He leaves a kiss just under her ear, making her shiver, soft gasp escaping her.

“You look gorgeous tonight.” says Jungkook gravelly on her ear before nibbling at it. Her hand comes up to  cup his neck to subtly press him closer, the other one squeezes his bicep. “Did you dress up for me?”

Jungkook does not usually talk like this, that bravado came from the two beers he’s had so far, and he must thank them for encouraging him, because the shudder that shakes Jimin’s body against his is rewarding.

“I always dress nice,” Says Jimin playfully with a pout. Jungkook can’t deny that, specially not when she is actually looking like a goddess right now in all her black glory, tight choker around her neck included; he kisses her for lack of any better answer.

“I’m glad you could make it,” says Jungkook, embracing her tightly. Maybe he is a bit too drunk, too touchy, brain-to-mouth filter starts malfunctioning, “I love you came to see me play, you know? I wanted to impress you because you are perfect and I want to be perfect for you.”

Jimin giggles as he cups his face with both hands, thumb caressing his bottom lip. Her skin is delicate and warm and her body fits amazingly against his own. Jungkook is so whipped, but he regrets nothing.

“You are a cutie when you are drunk,”

“You are the cutie,” says Jungkook a bit too loudly, maybe a bit too passionate. Jimin doesn’t seem to understand how cute she is, and that’s frutrating. “You have no idea how many times I go all mushy inside because of you.”

Jimin snorts, obviously failing at keeping her laugh. Jungkook pouts despite the beauty of that view. She’s not taking him seriously.

Jimin kisses the pout away, her arms tight around his neck as she holds herself up on her tippy-toes. Jungkook lifts her, enamoured by the way she squeaks in surprise.

“I like you so fucking much.” he mumbles, nudging her nose with his. She kisses him again, open mouthed and wet. They make out just like that, with Jungkook holding her up with his arms under her ass. That cute and round ass that has been giving him nightmares.

They somehow end up cornered somewhere, Jungkook trapping her with his body against a wall, one hand holding her head in place, the other cupping her ass. He groans when her hand rests on his navel, mischievously travels down to stop at his belt. He jerks his hips forwards instinctively to seek for more; it’s been a while since he’s done this and he would love to have another hand that it’s not his touching his dick tonight.

“Wait.” she whispers, her hand now on his chest to make light pressure. Jungkook bites her neck  a bit too roughly and she moans as response. “Jung—Jungkook…”

“Hmm?” he jerks his hips forward again, now leaving a soft trail of kisses on her neck. She smells so good, of strawberry if his drunk mind is not wrong; so sweet, just like her.

“Stop.” She pushes him again, with a bit of more force now and Jungkook goes rigid, startled at her loud command.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asks now terrified because she’s not looking at him, her hand curled on his chest the only sign that Jimin still wants him to keep him close.

“No,” she says, still looking down. Jungkook has to lean a bit forward in order to hear her over the loud music. “I just— I don’t feel like we should do this.”

“Oh, yeah—“ he does a quick glance-over through the room. No one is staring at them but he knows Jimin isn’t one to go to parties frequently, publicly making out like this must be too much for her. “Should be go to my apartment?”

He doesn’t want to sound pushy, nor fake her feel like she has to do anything with him tonight. He would be lying if he said he wouldn’t like to have celebratory sex tonight but it’s Jimin, not a random hook-up to relieve stress.

“I— I mean, I don’t feel like—“

“Oh shit, ok— it’s fine.” he reassures quickly. He’s a moron, he has clearly upset her. “I’m sorry, I— fuck, I think I drank too much and got carried away—“

“It’s not that…” she says, finally looking up at him. Her eyes are so pretty, he can clearly seem them tonight because of her choice to use contact lenses. The dim lights of the room make her eyes look mysterious, specially with the dark make-up she has on her eyelids. She’s stunning. “I liked it but— I’m not ready for that yet.”

Jungkook nods, leans completely away from her but she stops him with firm grip on his tee and tugs him forward until they are pressed against each other again; Jungkook breaths a bit relieved she isn’t repulsed at him for jumping on her like that, but still feels disgusted at himself for forcing her.

“You didn’t do anything I didn’t like,” she says softly against his lips, as if she could hear his trail of thoughts. “I’m not mad, nor upset, ok?”

He nods again, now more relaxed by her words, “I really didn’t want to force you into anything.”

“You didn’t.” she kisses him again, a slow and tender kiss that makes Jungkook sigh contently.

Jungkook stays moody for solid five minutes after that, still feeling like crap, but she quickly eases him by bringing another round of beers and dancing silly until he laughs and joins. Jungkook, even in his drunken state, can’t deny the stars aligned that day they met, because there isn’t any scientific study to explain how he got so lucky to have someone like Jimin as his girlfriend.

Jimin moans as Jungkook bites and tugs at her bottom lip softly. Jungkook is such a god damn good kisser, and in moments like these is when Jimin feels a bit out of place because of her lack of experience, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He kisses her passionately, as if having her lips on his is the best thing in the world.

She feels his hand caress her bare thigh, the tips of his fingers tickling their way up until they are close enough to the bottom of her skirt to sneak underneath, she shivers. It’s all too much and not enough at the same time.

She tugs at his hair softly when the bite on her neck turns into the start of a hickey as he sucks. Jungkook has a thing for marking her up, it seems; it’s not the first time she goes back home with a hickey on her neck.

The tension is notorious, Jimin is aware. They have been dating for almost five months now and the farthest they have gone in terms of intimacy is heavy make-out sessions and some hickeys here and there. Jungkook understood when Jimin told him he wanted to wait a bit, he was reassuring and comforting when she told him she didn’t feel comfortable with nudity, that she had insecurities.

“It’s fine,” he had said, pecking her on the lips sweetly, “I will wait forever if needed.”

Jimin, not for the first time since they met, wondered how she got so lucky.

She jumps startled when one of Jungkook’s fingers scrape the hem of her panties. Her body jerks so aggressively that she knees him on his ribs without intending to.

“Oh fuck!” she panics as Jungkook lifts himself up, face contorted in pain as one hand rubs his side, “Shit— Jungkook, I’m so sorry—“

“It’s fine,” he croaks out. Despite the obvious pain inflicted, there’s a smile on face, tries to laugh it off. “you know I’m pure muscle, I will survive.”

Jimin groans frustrated, dragging her hands down her face while mumbling more apologies. She hates herself; she was so eager to tell him, to be open about a part of herself she was actually proud of. But now, the words won’t come out and she’s all jumpy and panicked whenever he touches her; she has been dragging this moment for days. Jimin doesn’t know why she feels it’s so important to tell him before they get physical but she knows she won’t feel comfortable in taking their relationship to the next level until she explains everything to him.

It’s not the fact of being transgender that scares her, but his reaction. She’s coming to terms with her body, finally loving it as it is now. What she’s afraid of is Jungkook not wanting her anymore, that the desire that she has seen on his eyes sometimes when he looks at her will disappear once he’s told the truth; fears he could stop finding her atractive.

“Hey, it’s not big deal, you didn’t hurt me,” says Jungkook, voice soft as he pries her hands away off her face. “Are you crying?” he says, voice going high with panic when he sees her teary eyes.

“No,” she says, but it’s hard to sound convincing when she sniffles right after. When she looks at him, though, can’t help but chuckle at his panicked face. “Sorry, I just— Did I really not hurt you?”

“Yes, yes. I’m fine.” he assures quickly, leaning down to kiss her cheek and then her lips, “You could intentionally kick me in the balls and I would thank you and ask for more.”

Jimin laughs, a full-body laugh that has her squeaking embarrassingly loud. Gosh, he’s such a dork; how did she get so lucky?

“Come here you idiot,” she says while cupping his face to force him down for a sweet kiss. They kiss softly for a while, Jugnkook’s hands resting on her waist without moving, the rest of his body hovering over her without resting on her compltely. He probably sensed her discomfort.

“Are you ok, though?” he asks after a while, dropping butterfly kisses along her neck, then up to her jaw to end up on her lips once again. “I’m sorry if I pushed it too much, didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“It’s fine, you were ok. But we need to talk.” she blurts out too serious all of a sudden. Poor Jungkook leans away, eyebrows furrowed. He looks like he’s just seen a ghost.

“Ok?” he says and then sits up completely, allowing her to do the same.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a while,” she starts with,  trying to buy some time to prepare what to say. She’s nervous, anxious, and the knot that forms on her throat won’t let her breath properly but she’s determined to tell him; no backing away. “It’s about…why we haven’t had sex yet.”

Jungkook nods, eyes big like an owl, posture stiff; he’s wriggling his fingers a lot, nervous probably, and Jimin wants to reach out and ease him, so she does. Fuck it, she thinks, maybe he won’t let me touch him again after this.

“You did nothing bad, yeah?” she says when he squeezes her hands, and he seems to relax a bit. Jimin feels bad for making him feel like he did something wrong. “It’s not you, it’s me… I have some insecurities about my body I’m working on.” she doesn’t know where to start from; Jimin feels as nervous as when she told her parents. “You see, even since I was a kid I never felt…happy, felt out of place about everything, specially with my body. Got even worse once I hit puberty and everything started changing. When I was fifteen I realised that the reason I felt so out of place was because I wasn’t in a body fit for me.”

She looks up to Jungkook, who seems more confused than before but says nothing regardless of the million questions that must be flying around his head. She’s happy he’s willing to listen despite how weird everything sounds.

“I was a girl trapped in a boy’s body,” she says, choking through her words, giving her all to not crumble and cry; she has done enough crying for a lifetime, she’s happy and proud of where she stands now, of who she is. “I’m a transgender girl.”

He blinks, opens his mouth as if to say something but no words come out, then blinks again as he wanders his eyes around the room. Jungkook is processing the information, Jimin reminds herself not to panic because he hasn’t let go of her hands yet. That’s a good sign.

“So—“ his voice wavers a bit, then turns his head slowly to her. Jimin breaths a bit relieved when she doesn’t recognise disgust on his face. “You were born a boy?”

“Yes,” she says slowly, patiently. “I started my transition when I was seventeen.”

They stay silent for what feels forever. Jungkook seems to be out of his body, his mind going miles a minute; she can see him thinking, processing this new information.

“So the reason you didn’t want to have sex yet is because you still— uhm, you still have…” He trails off, pointing to her crotch with his eyes.

“Would you mind if I still had penis?” she finds herself asking a bit defensive. This is the real question; his answer is what can change everything. She has read blogs online about other people’s stories, some good, others not so much. This is a crucial point, now is when others would say she is a monster, not natural, that she’s not a real girl.

Jungkook releases soundless laugh, his eyes get a bit teary and so does Jimin’s at the sight.

“No,” he mumbles, one tear rolling down as his lips form a sweet smile. “I would give no shits because I like you so much and I don’t fucking care if you have a penis or whatever.” he adds before licking his lips and inhaling sharply, he looks out of words. He turns his body completely to face her, squeezing her hands, eyes full of determination, no hesitance, no disgust. “I can adapt ok? We can work on this together. I haven’t touched a dick that isn’t mine but I can do it—  I can do this for you—“

Jimin can’t let him finish, she throws herself on him, her arms squeezing him into a hard hug as she kisses him passionately. Jungkook makes her sit on his lap, patting her back softly when she breaks down crying and buries her face on his neck, rocking her back and forth with soft ‘it’s fine’ and ‘don’t cry’.

“I don’t have dick,” she says after a while. Jungkook leans away to try to look at her but she is stubborn to hide right now. She’s overwhelmed, her face must be all red and snotty; not a sight she wants him to see.

“You don’t?” he asks hesitant, sounding so confused that Jimn can’t help but laugh.

“I had surgery two years ago,” she explains blinking away her tears. She allows him to lift her chin up and stares at those pretty brown eyes she’s so enamoured with. “I haven’t been with anyone since I got it done, that’s why I’m a bit nervous about us.”

“So that’s why you have been hesitating.” he concludes, visibly relaxing. “I honestly started thinking you weren’t attracted to me or whatever.” he laughs nervously before leaning for a short kiss.

“You are hot as hell,” she mumbles a bit shyly, red colouring her cheeks, “No way I wouldn’t want to be with you…it’s the other way around, actually.”

“No fucking way.” he says quickly with a fervent shake of his head, “You are beautiful Jimin— fuck, I wanted to be with you the moment I saw you all those months ago. Trust me, I’m more than attracted to you. I just told you— I would have sex with you even if you still had dick.”

She chuckles and rests her head on his shoulder as he accommodates her on his lap, arms sneaking around her waist to keep her close. “Thank you.”

“No, thank you for telling me,” he says against her hair before dropping a kiss, “I can imagine it must have been hard for you. You are really brave, and so strong— I might like you even more now.”

Jimin sits up to stare at him, smiling, overjoyed at those words. Jungkook is such a sweet kid with a heart bigger than the entire universe.

“I like you even more now, too.” she whispers, cupping gently his cheek. He leans into it, enjoying her touch. Jimin might be a little bit in love too.

She spends the night. The first time since they started dating. She’s nervous and shaking but she still stays, because there is no other place she would want to be right now than with him.

Jungkook lends her one of his tees and basketball shorts, but she disregards the pants —because they are too big, first of all, and because if she wants this to work she has to start feeling comfortable around him.

Jimin laughs when Jungkook’s jaw drops at the sight of her bare legs. He tries to hide his embarrassment behind an awkward cough, getting into bed without sparing her another glance.

Jimin smiles to herself and pushes her glasses up her nose; this was a nice boost to her ego.

“Hold me?” she pouts at him once they are both under the blankets. She presses her back against him, biting her lip when she hears him choke.

“OK,” he breathes out. His hand hovers over her body, hesitant, as if this is his first time touching her, “Fuck, I feel like a teen having his first boner.”

She laughs, turning her head around to look at him, “Are you having a boner?” she teases, not knowing where that bravado came from. She is not sure she wants to face a boner right now.

“If you keep pressing that cute ass against my dick, I will.” he says while securing his arm around her waist.

She giggles, relieved the room is dark enough so Jungkook won’t see her blush. Jimin wriggles around until both are comfortable, feeling her face heat up more as she feels his dick press gently against the curve of her ass; He’s half hard, but it’s enough to feel he’s quite the size. Oh, boy.

Jimin feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. Jungkook’s lack of rejection obviously easing her discomfort to the point of feeling brave enough to be in some level of undress around him. She knows she wants him, but maybe it’s too soon to try to resolve this sexual tension between them.

“We don’t have to do anything.” he whispers, warm breath hitting her nape. She shivers slightly, and his arm squeezes her in response, “I’m content with just holding you like this.”

���Me too.”

Jimin interlaces their fingers and brings their hands to her chest, finally relaxing as she closes her eyes.

Jungkook is right. This is nice, just holding each other like this feels like perfection. They have plenty of time to do much more.

#jikook #kookmin #jikook fic #kookmin fic #college au #trans female character #trans girl jimin #femJimin #femYoongi / Yoonji #side pairing taegi #mentions of body dysphoria #sam writes

[agustj]

i currently have about 12k of this yoonkook fic drafted - yoongi is an ex-hunter in a pack of two werewolves, two witches, and two ex-hunters. one day, jungkook shows up at their door, seeking the bite as a solution to his chronic pain. i’ll have the first chapter up on my ao3 next week. here’s a sneak peek!

--

Yoongi finds Taehyung buried under a comforter, a sad lump on his and Jimin’s bed. Yoongi crawls into bed next to him and lifts the comforter to take a peek at Taehyung’s blotchy, puffy face.

“Can I join your pity party?” Yoongi asks. Taehyung huffs and turns away, but Yoongi yanks him back around and peers into Taehyung’s splotchy face, gaze serious.

“You have Jiminie worried, you know,” Yoongi says.

“I wish Jimin was here instead of you,” Taehyung mutters, grumpy. “He’s way nicer to me.”

“Jimin coddles you,” Yoongi says, tapping lightly underneath Taehyung’s chin. “Sometimes you need a kick in the ass.” But Yoongi pulls Taehyung in so that Taehyung is tucked underneath Yoongi’s chin.

After a few minutes of silence and the feel of Taehyung’s steady, warm breath against his collarbone, Yoongi feels Taehyung shift. “I fucked up,” Taehyung murmurs into Yoongi’s chest.

Yoongi breathes Taehyung in, then lets out a long breath that ruffles Taehyung’s hair. “You didn’t mean to. No one blames you.”

“That’s the worst part,” Taehyung whispers. “No one blames me because no one expects any better of me. Like I’m a child that everyone knows will mess things up.”

Yoongi presses a kiss to Taehyung’s hair and stays silent for a moment, trying to decide what he should say. Taehyung has had trouble with control for a long time—ever since his and Namjoon’s old pack had been slaughtered by hunters. At the slightest sign of danger, Taehyung is on edge, bristling, gearing up for a fight. It’s difficult for the pack to deal with, but so much more difficult for Taehyung, who hasn’t been able to find his center for years now.  

“You don’t mess anything up,” Yoongi says eventually. “This could have happened to anyone.”

“No, it couldn’t have, because no one else lacks control,” Taehyung says, stubborn. His voice is wet with unshed tears, and Yoongi presses him more tightly into his chest and feels the breath leave Taehyung in an unsteady huff.

“Taehyungie, plenty of us lack control. Jimin gets too anxious, and I get too angry—but that’s what pack is about, isn’t it? Taking care of each other?”

Taehyung doesn’t answer, but Yoongi insists, “Isn’t that the point?”

“Yeah,” Taehyung whispers, face still pressed into Yoongi. “Yeah, that’s the point.”

“Would I say I wasn’t angry with you if I didn’t mean it?”

Taehyung huffs out a laugh. “No. Jimin would, but you wouldn’t.”

“Well, if the certified angry member of the pack isn’t angry with you, then it’s probably the case that no one else is angry with you, either.”

Taehyung laughs again, a little more genuinely this time. “You’re not the certified angry member of the pack, you marshmallow. Everyone just lets you think you’re tough because they feel bad for you.”

“Yah, Taehyung, you can’t talk to your hyung like that,” Yoongi says, slapping the back of Taehyung’s head, but Taehyung just laughs and presses a kiss to Yoongi’s collarbone, which probably proves his point about how scary Yoongi isn’t.

“Thanks, hyung,” he says softly, and Yoongi presses another kiss into his hair, smells the sweet honeysuckle scent of his and Jimin’s shampoo. It smells like home and comfort.

Taehyung comes downstairs a little sturdier and brighter and curls around Jimin on the couch, and Jimin shoots Yoongi a grateful look and mouths his thanks over Taehyung’s shoulder. Yoongi waves a dismissive hand at him.

Jimin and Taehyung are sprawled over the entirety of the yellow loveseat now, so Yoongi goes and joins Namjoon and Hoseok on the larger blood orange couch next to the bookshelf. The color of the couch matches the color of the floating light charms in this room, which are darker than those in the dining room and have their own unique characteristics—unlike the ones in the dining room, which mostly remain in place, the orbs in the living room float around the room, hovering over the couch or under the chandelier or in front of the many magical plants that Seokjin and Jimin grow and keep around the house. Seokjin and Jimin aren’t sure why these charms float around, but Jimin says it has something to do with the fact that all of them spend most of their time in the living room, and so the orbs have begun reacting to them.

Jimin had tried to continue explaining it, but eventually Yoongi had given up. Magic was hazy enough, inconsistent and difficult to understand, and Jimin wasn’t particularly good at explaining things that came naturally to him, anyway. So like all the other magical elements of life, Yoongi accepted that the orbs in the living room behaved differently from those in the dining room and tried not to think much more of it.

Hoseok has his legs thrown over Namjoon’s lap, and he’s playing a game on his phone while Namjoon reads. When Yoongi sits down on Namjoon’s other side, Namjoon reaches out distractedly, eyes still on his book, to put a hand on Yoongi’s neck. He nearly takes out Yoongi’s eye, but Yoongi shifts in time to help Namjoon’s hand reach its destination. As is typical, Namjoon doesn’t even notice the near miss, just runs his hand over Yoongi neck before dropping his arm around Yoongi’s shoulders and pulling him in close.

“Oof,” Yoongi huffs out against Namjoon’s t-shirt. “I already smell like you, you goddamn animal.”

Namjoon looks up from his book and smiles down at Yoongi. “You don’t mind the scenting, really.”

When Yoongi doesn’t respond, Namjoon asks, “Do you need your space right now?”

Yoongi pouts. “No,” he mutters, annoyed that he’s been made to say it, but Namjoon doesn’t make a big deal out of it, just pulls Yoongi back into his chest and continues to read his book.

Yoongi lets himself zone out, warm and content. He falls half asleep. Eventually, he can feel the rumbling of Namjoon’s chest under him as Namjoon starts a conversation with someone, but Yoongi doesn’t tune in until he hears the end of something that Jimin is saying.

“—give him a shock to the system?”

“Jimin,” Namjoon says, stern. “We’re not going to pretend to attack him in wolf form.”

Blearily, Yoongi half opens his eyes to see Jimin pouting and crossing his arms. “Well, it might scare him off,” Jimin mutters. This is why Jimin is Yoongi’s favorite.

“Just two days ago you were talking about how great his aura is,” Namjoon points out.

Jimin shrugs. “That was before he made Taehyung cry.”

Taehyung smiles and tucks his head into Jimin’s chest, and Jimin reaches up to gently card his fingers through Taehyung’s hair. Taehyung murmurs, “Jiminie. It’s okay. It was my own fault. Let’s give him a chance.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Jimin begins to argue, but Namjoon cuts him off.

“Jin hyung said that we need to give him a chance, so we’re giving him a chance. That’s final.”

Jimin huffs. “Whatever,” he mutters, but before he can dip into a proper sulk, Taehyung licks his neck.

“Tae!” Jimin protests, and Taehyung laughs.

#taegi #(just friendship! this sneak peek is mostly a taegi scene) #yoonkook #vmin and namjin side pairings as always because i am who i am #my fic

[drawballa]

Meetcute???? I think not.

_____

The Party: PART I / PART II / PART III

#taegi fanart #taegi #collegeau #okay side pairing has been introduced :3 #kept this one pretty simple #I just wanted to get them in

[inbtswethrrust]

we are like parallel lines (no way, we'll meet)

Pairing: Taehyung/Yoongi Rated: E Author: tteokie Length: 19k

In which Taehyung confesses to Yoongi, and Yoongi has a stubborn, blind disbelief anyone could be romantically attracted to him.

READ ON AO3

Reccer’s Note: one of my fave fics, so real and relatable and wonderfully written insecurity and love, im in love - Nana

#we are like parallel lines (no way we'll meet) #taegi #taegi (1) #potw #potw: taegi #pairing of the week #high school au #confessions #one sided love #unrequited love #requited unrequited love #insecurities #smut #slow burn #friends to lovers

[kanmom51]

Oh I just realized Jikook are the ONLY pair who didn't had ANY interaction on sm since the break 😳 i.e since Dec 6th till date

Jinmin - in dec and after surgery in weverse

Yoonmin - after surgery in weverse

Jihope - hobi likes n commented on insta n weverse

Minimoni - rm posted JM's pic on insta

Vmin - comment on 1st insta post if each other, also tae mentioned about video calling etc, also in weverse

Jinkook - posted their pic on insta

Yoonkook - interacted on insta

Hopekook - often on insta

Namkook - on insta

Taekook - many times

Yoonjin - on insta

Namjin - often on insta n weverse

2seok - frequently on both platforms lol

Taejin - on insta n weverse

Sope - on insta n weverse

Namgi - on insta n weverse

Taegi - on 1st post insta

Yoonkook - on insta

Namseok - on insta n weverse

Vmon - on insta n weverse

Vhope - a lot, lot, lot on both platforms

Ji - kook

So:

Either the closest two members in the band, same two that in the beginning of December were finding it hard to part ways in the airport back in Seoul just prior to having to go into quarantine, yeah, those two, aren't on speaking terms anymore (just a little reminder - same JM heard singing on JKs fish post);

Or perhaps they don't need to interact with each other on SM when they are literally by each other's side most of the damn time.

To be real here, the IG accounts, they're public, and they're work in the sense that they are kind of a way for the members to stay connected on a more personal level with the fandom, not with each other.

This is their private time. A limited time they can do their own thing. Full days and weeks off camera.

Their relationship is theirs to live not ours to see. They also, most definitely, have absolutely nothing, zero, zilch, to prove to us. They show us what they want to show us. They share with us what they choose to share with us, or sometimes do so unintentionally (the car selfie, BV3, J-14 magazine interview, clear examples of them doing their thing thinking that for some reason they won't be caught on camera doing it, but then, well...).

And saying all that, let's stop and think for a second now:

How would said fandom react to a JM/JK or JK/JM interaction of SM?

Let's not be naïve here. We know exactly who will be joyful and who will be far from that, and we also know what will follow.

And I can assure you that the two of them also know that. They know that any interaction between them will ensue a shit load, a mess that will include the usual wave of hate and abuse towards JM mainly but also JK.

So, why bother? Really?

They each post for army, each interact on a personal level with the fandom, but why in hell would they do it with each other when:

1. They are most likely either together or constantly in touch with each other via their own personal means.

2. If and when they do interact there will always be a backlash.

3. This is time to enjoy themselves, not deal with fandom drama.

Thing is, when every single other members interacts on SM with the others and the only ones not to interact are those two, by them staying silent, to me that's them, once again, being the odd ones out, and even more sus and loud than if they would have just popped in a word to each other once in a while on SM. 🤣🤣🤣

Them not interacting publicly on SM for me is them showing, once again, how different their relationship with each other is than with the other members.

#ask

[kimnjss]

plot twist | knj sm au

banner by: @dee-ehn​

🖇 synopsis:

— daughter of the ceo of the biggest record label, it’s obvious she’d get whatever and whoever she wants. but what happens when she’s meeting the one person that refuses to play into her spoiled brat act?

(or, you’re a rich spoiled brat who wants namjoon’s attention, but he is not impressed... or the least bit interested.)

pairing: rapper!namjoon x rich girl!reader

fic type: social media au

side ships: taegi, yoonmin, jikook... yn has some boyfriends.

genre: idol au, enemies to lovers | smut!! nd of course some angst.

status: completed.

updates: everyday. (please do not ask!)

A/N: timestamps make sense throughout the fic. if u want to be added to the tag list, send me an ask! + if you’ve asked to be on my permanent taglist, you do not need to ask to be added to this one !!

parts:

prologue

character profiles: yn nd her entourage

character profiles: namjoon nd company

part one: paris ✈️ bahamas ✨

part two: tHiRtY-TWo mINuTeS 🤡

part three: fucking adorable 😴

part four: never wrong

part five: not surprised 🤧

part six: automatic dick

part seven: buzz kill

part eight: plus one 🥺

part nine: real work

bonus: five hours 😈

bonus: fucking shaking 😭

part ten: signature sparkle

part eleven: seems different

part twelve: shamelessly flirting

part thirteen: heart 😳 flutter!?

part fourteen: getting impatient 😤

part fifteen: free parking

part sixteen: bad person

part seventeen: far from casual 🤦🏻

part eighteen: hang out 😅

part nineteen: tricky part

part twenty: not together

part twenty-one: kinda bummed

part twenty-two: self centered

part twenty-three: my boyfriend 😳

part twenty-four: feels familiar 👀

part twenty-five: no right answer

part twenty-six: perfect family

part twenty-seven: two years

part twenty-eight: plot twist

(time jump) part twenty-nine: love songs

epilogue: stay tuned 👽

epilogue: exculsive boyfriend

end

#bts #bts smut #namjoon #namjoon smut #bts sm au #namjoon sm au #bts social media au #bts fake texts #namjoon angst #namjoon fluff #kim namjoon #namjoon x reader #namjoon x you #jin #yoongi #hoseok #jimin #taehyung #jungkook