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Jimin is having problems. He could see that, he could feel it. For one, it is way too hot, being summer and all. Second, there are just so many people around him. In all directions, everywhere, and he isn’t short, but he also isn't tall enough to see over the crowd. Third, he can’t seem to find his friends. He came with Tae and Jungkook, but he can’t see them anywhere. He has tried texting and calling them, of course he has. But they both have their phones on silent. And Jimin’s phone is running out of battery, and with the sun he can’t see the screen without risking his phone dying. Of course he brought an external battery, but it's in his backpack. The backpack Jungkook is currently carrying because Jimin was complaining about how heavy it was. (And of course it is heavy, it has everything Jimin needs to avoid getting overwhelmed.) It’s not poor planning, Jimin just wasn’t expecting getting suddenly separated from his friends when they were already planning on going back.
Jimin had been having fun, he really had. They had arrived early to see the booths and activities before a big crowd gathered. And he was with his friends! He loves spending time with them. And Jimin is used to crowds. He loves talking to people in every setting, has a thousand acquaintances and friends from all the clubs he’s in, from his uni classes and from all other activities he does. But this time… this time maybe he has pushed himself too far. He was already feeling tired from his uni finals, from the end of school performances. But he, Tae and Kook had been planning on coming to Pride for weeks, seeing as all three of them were queer and new to the city, and somehow a last minute change of plans seemed worse than just pushing himself a bit more. He didn’t want to disappoint his friends, didn’t want to be the one to cancel the day before. So he prepared the best he could, packed an extremely full backpack with snacks, cold water, headphones, earplugs, fidget toys… anything he could think of needing. But all of that, everything that would be really helpful right now, was with Jungkook.
So Jimin was trying very hard to think of a plan, something that would help. First, move out of the way. That seemed like a good idea. Second, find some shade. Okay, done. Third, maybe he could find a café or something. He has some change in his pocket and a cool water bottle would be nice. Once he was there he could send the location to Tae with the last of his battery and just wait for them. All the places near the main area were too full, and Jimin didn’t think he could handle that at the moment, so he wandered off a bit further away.
When he finally finds a place that looks empty, he’s been walking for 20 minutes. The café looks cozy, and the AC is keeping the place cool, so it will do. He goes to order first, just a water bottle, he can’t stomach anything else right now. He notices the barista looking worryingly at him, he must look terrible, sweaty and his hair is definitely a mess. When he is nervous, he stims by pulling at his hair, and he now realizes he must have been doing it on his way to the café. Oh god, now someone is seeing him overwhelmed. This just makes him more anxious and he starts pulling harder at his hair. He should have just stayed at home. Or gone home earlier. Backed out when he still could. Maybe he should have taken two phones. Or never given Kook his backpack. There must be something he could have done better, prepared better. Some mistake he could have avoided to not end up here. Now he’s going to break down in front of the cute barista, who just looks more worried now.
“Hey, you look like you could use a hand. Everything okay?” Jimin looked up. The barista was speaking to him, sounding genuinely concerned. Before he could stop himself, he started rambling.
“My friends. I... I lost my friends in the crowd. We came to the parade together but it’s so hot out. And I couldn’t find them. My phone's about to die, and all my stuff is with one of them. And I got overwhelmed. I’m autistic. Or well, I think so. I haven’t gotten a diagnosis yet. But I’ve read a lot, I promise! But my stuff, all my stuff is with Jungkook, and well, I don't know where he is. And I had a plan. Everything was going fine. I was having fun, I really was. But I don't know what to do, I don’t even know where I am. I don’t live near here–”
“Hey, hey. Breathe. How about you sit down for a bit? I’m Yoongi. I can help you, I promise. You can use my phone to text your friends and let them know where you are.”
Jimin takes a deep breath. “Yeah. That’s a good plan. Sure. Thank you”
“It’s no problem. I hate crowds myself. That’s why I picked up a shift today, that way my coworkers can go to the parade. I’m sure they will have more fun than I would. Today is a slow day anyway. Most people just stay near the booths the whole day”
Jimin immediately feels thankful. He takes the phone Yoongi offers him (his own one already dead, it didn’t even survive long enough to text Tae) and just sends a quick text with the location. He already feels drained. He’s grateful Tae made him and Jungkook learn his phone number, that was excellent planning on his part.
They’ve sat down in a corner of the café, and Yoongi offers him the water again.
“Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I forgot to pay! God, I can’t do anything right today. Let me do it right now”
“No no no. You’re fine, don’t worry. Free of charge. It’s just water anyway. But you should drink a bit, you’ll feel better”
Jimin takes a sip. He still feels overwhelmed and exhausted, but the AC and the quiet place is helping. He looks around. The café does look very nice, maybe he can come back another time.
“Hey. So, I don’t mean to be intrusive, but you did mention it… I’m autistic too. You said you’ve read a lot and I'm sure you are capable of handling everything on your own. But I do know I would have liked to have other autistic, or even neurodivergent friends, when I first started to question it for myself. I can leave you my number, just in case you want to talk. I promise you I won’t be bothered, I’d love to help you out if I can. No pressure, but it is a genuine offer”
Jimin is speechless. He can just nod, and try not to cry. The offer does sound sincere, and it’s true that he would love someone to talk about it. His friends are nice, they’ve been supportive, but they aren’t neurodivergent themselves, and he hates bothering them constantly with the same topic. But talking to Yoongi… it would be nice. Definitely.
“Great! I’ll leave you my number. Or you can leave me yours! I can text you first if reaching out is too scary, I don’t mind.”
Jimin nods again. He doesn't think he can talk right now. That does sound better. He doesn’t know if he would have backed out when the moment came.
Yoongi hands him some pen and paper, kind of old fashioned when his phone is right there. He could have just put it in. Yoongi seems to notice him looking at the phone.
“Sorry, I don't like giving out my phone, I don't like other people using it. Before it was an emergency so you could text your friends, so it was ok, but now I can’t”
Right when Yoongi says that, Tae and Jungkook come in through the door
“Jimin! We were so worried, are you okay? I have your backpack, do you need anything?”
“Fine, just tired. Headphones, please? Can we go home now?” Jimin feels exhausted. He puts on the noise-canceling headphones Kook hands him and immediately feels a little relief. Even the sound of the AC was bothering him at this point. He feels disconnected from the whole day at this point, it’s been too many contradicting emotions. He was tired and having second thoughts about going to Pride, then he was having fun with his friends, then he lost them and after he got overwhelmed. Then he almost had a meltdown in front of a stranger. Then he was grateful to said stranger, thankful and touched by Yoongi’s kindness. And probably a lot more feelings he would be able to identify later on. Now, tired feels the most intense.
Tae speaks first. “Yes! Of course. Let’s go.” He notices Yoongi then and realizes he must have been helping Jimin. “Hi! I’m Tae. Thank you for helping Jimin. We were worried about him.”
“It’s no problem, I’m glad I could help. Jimin, I’ll get in touch. We can talk more some other day. Take care of yourself!”
Jimin says a quick thank you with a small smile. Right now he just wants to get home, so he follows his friends out, but he really does hope he can talk some more with Yoongi. With such a short interaction he can already tell that Yoongi means well, and that they’ll understand each other. Maybe the day has something positive, maybe not everything is terrible. (This just leaves him more confused, but he’ll unpack that some other time)