Chapter Text
“I hate you.”
Jimin’s words didn’t seem to startle Yoongi as he sat down on the bed. “You hate me?” Yoongi tilted his head slightly. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Jimin replied impudently. “I hate you, for so, so many things,” he said, stalking forward and pushing Yoongi back further onto the bed as he crawled up into his lap. “Most of all, I hate that I don’t despise you.” His fingers curled into Yoongi’s shirt and pulled him forward in a rough kiss. “I hate that all I can think about right now is how much you hurt me, and how my life is shambles because of you,” he rasped out around Yoongi’s lips.
Whatever Jimin was saying didn’t faze Yoongi, his hands going immediately to Jimin’s hips and holding him steady. “I’m sorry,” he said, pulling away to mouth at Jimin’s neck, fingers curling into his side and back. “Let me make it right.”
“You can’t,” Jimin gasped when Yoongi bit down harshly at the juncture of his neck and shoulder. “I have nothing now, I’m homeless. I’m… nothing more than a commoner.”
“Join my house,” Yoongi said, twisting to drop Jimin down on the mattress. There was a fervor in his eyes as he tugged Jimin’s pants down. “Join me, live with me and be mine.”
Jimin basked in the attention Yoongi was giving him as articles of clothes were ripped and and pulled and tossed to the side. “How? By being your mangto?” Jimin asked, gasping as Yoongi’s palm slid up his inner thigh. “Your concubine?”
“I don’t care what they call you,” Yoongi said, his hand tightening around Jimin’s length and he leaned down to press the flat of his tongue against the underside of the head. “Be with me Jimin.”
Jimin’s head was swimming from sensation and this was not the right time to discuss future plans with his dick on Yoongi’s mouth. It was easier just to moan, let his mind drift away where he would make a decision based on logic and reasoning and not because of a need to come.
Considering how many times Yoongi was pulling orgasms, dry and more, out of him, Jimin forgot whatever they had been discussing. All he could fathom was Yoongi’s dick pounding into him, the sting of harsh slaps to his ass and the heady scent and taste of Yoongi’s dick.
Jimin was barely aware of time passing, but when Yoongi finally let him rest, he knew it was late. Covered in sweat and come and other body fluids, Jimin stared up at the ceiling until his eyes grew too heavy to keep open. He wasn’t aware of Yoongi washing him up, whispering soft words into his ear and cuddling with him for sleep.
They could talk tomorrow.
They didn’t though. By the time Jimin awoke in the morning, Yoongi was gone. A note on the bedside table told Jimin that Yoongi had been summoned by the King for matters regarding the Min estates. It was just as well, because Jimin needed time for himself.
The past few days had been such a roller coaster of emotions and no one had given him to process it all yet. He was a man without a house, but because of his royal blood he wasn’t to be shoved out onto the street as a beggar. He almost wished otherwise because he had little idea of what to do now.
Yoongi’s proposal from the day before weighed heavily on his mind. He wasn’t sure if he liked the idea of being a kept man. Sure, he would want for nothing for the rest of his life, but was that what he wanted? Was that what Yoongi really wanted?
His musings lead him to the outer gardens after a bath, his new mask firmly in place. There had been plenty of curious eyes in the hall from other nobles, but he paid them no mind, just wanting to leave the stifling confines of the walls and enjoy being alone.
As fate would have it of course, he wasn’t destined to be alone.
Two men in masks identical to his own were walking the gardens, hand in hand. Jimin didn’t meant to stare from his vantage point behind a lattice arch, but he didn’t want to disturb them either.
They were completing their circuit around the rose bushes when Youngsaeng saw him and the prince gave him a smile. “Afternoon,” he said, his voice nearly being carried away with the wind. “I was hoping we would see you again before we left.”
“You’re leaving so soon?” Jimin asked, nodding politely as he joined them when Youngsaeng motioned for him to follow.
“This place, as much as it was my entire world growing up, holds many bad memories,” Youngsaeng said. “Good ones too of course, but I’m not comfortable here. We want to go home. We’ll be leaving first thing in the morning.”
“Ah, I was hoping you would stay a few more days,” Jimin said, hands clasped tightly in front of him. “I had so many questions and I wanted to get to know you, as you’re my family I guess.”
“You are welcome to come with us,” Youngsaeng said, glancing at him. “Our home is big enough, and it would be nice to have some company.”
“I don’t know what my plans are yet,” Jimin admitted, taking a deep breath. “I have no house, and then there’s Yoongi…”
“The new Lord Min,” Youngsaeng nodded. They’d reached a small stream, stopping midway over the bridge to look down into the waters. “I don’t mean to say this in a hurtful way, but are you sure he’s someone you need to consider for your future?”
The question gave Jimin pause, considering Youngsaeng’s words. “I grew quit close to him, maybe even fell a bit in love with him,” he admitted finally. “I don’t like considering a future without him in it.”
“Understandable if you have strong feelings for him,” Kyujong, who as far as Jimin could tell rarely spoke to anyone but Youngsaeng. His voice was soothing and whispy, with just the slightest hint of a lisp that it made Jimin want to hear him talk more. “But is he what’s best for you?”
“I don’t know,” Jimin said, turning to look at the both of them. “I’ll have to really think about it.”
“I would ensure you do, it’s not a small thing deciding the rest of your life,” Youngsaeng said. “You have to be sure, or people get hurt.”
“But be considerate of him too, explain yourself,” Kyujong said and Jimin was puzzled at the frown Youngsaeng was giving his partner. “I know that if you tell him how you really feel, no matter what you decide, he’ll respect that decision.”
“I won’t lie to him, or hide anything from him if it comes to that,” Jimin nodded. “I’ve been lied to my entire life apparently, I know how it feels and don’t want to do that to anyone. Not even someone who hurt me.”
“The Lord Park made a very poor decision in treating you the way he did,” Youngsaeng said. “You are tempered in fire and not easy to bend. I am sure you will make the decision that’s best for you.”
Bowing his head, Jimin took his leave from the prince and his consort to head back inside. He still had a lot of thinking to do, but he was pretty sure what his decision was ultimately.
By the time Yoongi returned to the room, it was late into the evening. They shared a meal, Jimin listening as Yoongi talked about all that had to be done to take over the estate. He had a weary look in his eye already and it was only his first day.
With dinner cleared, Jimin took Yoongi’s hands and lead him to the bed. There was none of the usual heat or aggression, just Jimin pampering Yoongi up and down to ease his aches and enjoying how they rocked together. It was blissful and nice and when Jimin collapsed against his chest, he hummed happily and sated.
Jimin drifted in and out of consciousness, not letting himself quite drift off into sleep. He wanted to enjoy this for as long as he could.
“We didn’t talk about your day,” Yoongi murmured, pressing kisses to his forehead as his hand trailed up and down Jimin’s back.
“I went out to the gardens, Youngsaeng and Kyujong were there,” Jimin said, his eyes sliding open. “I talked with them about what I was going to do now.”
“Oh?” the slight lilt to Yoongi’s intonation had a bit of confusion and Jimin was sure Yoongi’s brow was furrowed but he didn’t look up.
“I came to a decision,” Jimin said, looking at his hand that lay palm down on Yoongi’s chest. “I decided that I am going to go stay with Youngsaeng and Kyujong for a while.”
“You what?” Yoongi shifted, rolling them so Jimin was on his side and they could look in each other’s eyes. “I don’t understand. What about us?”
“There’s no us Yoongi,” Jimin said, his eyes fixed on a spot over Yoongi’s shoulder. “Not now at least. You have a household to run, responsibilities. You’re exhausted just from the work of today, and if I were to leave here with you I would be nothing but a distraction.”
“No, no you wouldn’t,” Yoongi said, his hand coming up to frame Jimin’s cheek. “You could never be a distraction to me. Jimin I’d be lost without you.”
“You don’t know that,” Jimin shook his head. “I’ve made up my mind Yoongi. I need time to figure myself out. I’m free from my old life and I get to be who I want to be now. It’s not far to me, or to you, to bind ourselves together right now.”
“Even if it’s what we both want?” Yoongi asked, and Jimin had to close his eyes as the tears fell.
“Please Yoongi, you have to know how hard this is for me,” Jimin whispered, his shoulders shaking. “I’m scared of why my future holds, but I need to do it on my own first.”
Yoongi was quiet for a long time, pulling Jimin to a hug as the younger sobbed. “If that’s what you want,” he said finally when the cries had turned to sniffles. “I’ll respect that decision.”
“I leave in the morning,” Jimin said, wiping at his eyes. “I don’t know when or if I’ll come back.”
“Promise me something first, please?” Yoongi whispered, pressing desperate kisses to his forehead. “Promise me in a year’s time, we meet back here for winterfest. If you still want your space, then I’ll move on. Please.”
A year was a long time. A year could hold many different surprises or changes. Would it be fair to Yoongi to have him hold out hope for that long? Or Jimin for that matter?
It was hard to say. But Jimin nodded anyway. “I promise.”
“Good, and if you don’t show up I’ll hunt you down across the kingdom,” Yoongi said, pulling Jimin into another kiss. “Are you still mine tonight?”
“Yes,” Jimin whispered in response, his arms going around Yoongi’s neck. Yoongi rolled himself on top of Jimin and with his hands and lips, memorized every inch of Jimin’s skin.
In the morning, Yoongi awoke to an empty bed and a note from Jimin, wishing him a happy life.
A year was a long time, but not at the same time.
A year can be long if it’s full of strife and misery. It can take eons when you struggle to make it through each day.
For Jimin, life at the estate at the far edge of the kingdom with Youngsaeng and Kyujong, was the happiest year of his life.
Yes, he missed Yoongi, and for the first month or two he wondered if he had made the right decision. He worried if Yoongi was handling the stress of the new house okay. He worried that Yoongi hated him for leaving, and not giving him a chance to say goodbye.
During that year, he corresponded with Seokjin and Taehyung through letters and the rare visit. He’d met Taehyung’s fiance Hoseok and had liked the man immediately. If anyone were to keep up with Taehyung’s wild energy it would be this bright man with a wide smile.
Seokjin, despite his assurances to the otherwise, had run off and eloped with the former scribe Namjoon and it was the biggest scandal court had ever heard. Seokjin was reveling in his status as the whore gone straight and for marrying a man. A former commoner at that.
Jimin was happy for both of his friends of course, even if it brought up painful feelings. He plastered on a bright smile for them, all the while pushing back thoughts of a dark haired, fox eyed man.
The subject of Yoongi had only come up once, Hoseok mentioning Yoongi was looking for his spouse.
Jimin had fled the room and no one mentioned Yoongi’s name again.
Despite the heartache, Jimin was happy. His time at the estate had been finding hobbies he enjoyed. Besides singing, he’d found he had a talent for painting. In the fall he painted to the turning foliage and the well raised vegetable garden.
It had been weeks since he’d thought of Yoongi, or court, or anything but what he was going to paint next.
Thoughts of winterfest never crossed his mind as he and Youngsaeng and Kyujong hunkered down for the winter months. So much so, that before he could even turn around, it was spring.
“Jimin?” Kyujong soft voice reached where Jimin was painting on the back veranda, his brother and Kyujong had been tending to the garden to get ready for the new flowers and vegetable plants that were to be planted. Kyujong didn’t say anything when Jimin looked up, just pointing towards the horizon.
It took a moment for Jimin to realize what he was seeing, but two men on horseback were coming down the road towards the manor.
They were pretty far away, but two masks of navy blue were fairly easy to see.
Jimin felt his heart stop on his chest, the paintbrush clattering to the ground as Jimin moved towards the railing of the veranda.
“Your royal highness, I apologize for the intrusion,” Yoongi said as he approached the garden, sliding off of his horse. “But you have something here I’ve been looking for.”
“Do I?” Youngsaeng was standing ramrod straight. No matter how long he was away from court, Youngsaeng would never lose that royal air to him.
“Yes, and I would him back,” Yoongi said, throwing his reigns to the other masked man beside him.
Jimin’s brow furrowed and his hands clenched around the railing. “You’re late!” Jimin called down, bringing Yoongi’s head swinging up to look at him. “I thought you’d be here weeks ago.”
“And I thought we were meeting at winterfest!” Yoongi shot back up at him, already heading for the stairs.
Jimin met him halfway, throwing himself into the other man’s arms and nearly knocking them both back down to the paving stones below.
“You didn’t show,” Yoongi said into his ear, holding him tight.
“I was scared,” Jimin replied, burying his nose into Yoongi’s neck. “Hoseok said you were looking for your spouse.”
“I was looking for you,” Yoongi said, pulling back to press a kiss to his lips. “I’ve been looking for you since summer and no one knew where you were. I didn’t want to wait a year but you made me wait even longer.”
“I’m sorry,” Jimn breathed in his scent and held onto him. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’m sure I missed you more,” Yoongi murmured in reply, their foreheads pressed together. “Well?”
Jimin took in a deep breath and pulled back, looking into Yoongi’s eyes. He lifted his hands up and pulled off the mask, dropping it to the ground. His fingers traced over Yoongi’s cheeks, noting the weary but satisfied look to his eyes.
“I love you,” Jimin said finally, heart swelling in his chest and smile widening. “Take me home.”