Archive of Our Own ^beta

Eight years ago, a smiley faced teenager with apple cheeks walked into Jimin’s life. Ran into it, technically. Full speed, right into the side of Jimin’s beat up Hyundai. 

While it was moving, though it wasn’t moving that fast. Jimin was a nervous teenager with his hands around the steering wheel for only the third time in his life. His father beside him, not so kindly yelling at him to do too many things at one time. Both of them missed the boy in the all neon green tracksuit until his knees were smashing into the front of Jimin’s car.

It’s been eight years, and Hoseok’s yet to let Jimin live it down. They still argue about whose fault it was. Jimin doesn’t know how Hoseok could have missed a car, Hoseok doesn’t know how Jimin could miss someone as handsome as he is. As tireless of an argument as it is, it’s one they continue to have.

That’s why Jimin should have expected this. After the accident, Hoseok was carted off to the hospital where Jimin spent the entirety of the day with a stomach cramped from worry and a hand cramped from how hard Hoseok held onto it every time the doctor came near. He couldn’t be the one to complain though, he wasn’t in as bad of shape as Hoseok, and Hoseok wasn’t afraid of reminding him.

The weeks following, Jimin spent a lot of time with Hoseok. Even if Jimin didn’t feel responsible for the accident, it was hard to say no when Hoseok called for him and told him it was his responsibility to ‘take care of his every possible need’. 

It was hard to say no in helping him when Hoseok lived alone, despite being so young, and he couldn’t do much with a broken hand and achy legs. Hoseok made sure he knew that too, even if he milked it longer than necessary. 

Jimin’s drawn the line at giving Hoseok his snacks, but it’s been eight years and Jimin is still tending to Hoseok. Hoseok doesn’t guilt him over the simple any things anymore, but the big things? He pulls the accident out without hesitation. 

“No, absolutely not,” Jimin grunts, glaring at Hoseok. The accident may have given Hoseok a hand that aches right before it rains, but Jimin’s been given a life long Hoseokie headache. 

Hoseok’s eyes grow wide, his bottom lip pushing out as far as it can go. Jimin looks away immediately, always weak for a pouting Hoseok. He stalks off, headed towards his bedroom where he can shut Hoseok out.

“Oh, Jimin-ah, please,” Hoseok begs. “You owe me.”

Jimin rolls his eyes as he pushes into his bedroom. It’s a mess because this week has been jam packed with exams, though it doesn’t look that different from non-exam weeks. Jimin hates cleaning, and for some reason he’s decided to double fucking major on top of working so he doesn’t have any time to anyway. 

Which he mentions as he turns around, nearly smacking into Hoseok when he does. Hoseok has his hands clasped in front of his chest, wiggling around. “I have no time to do this, Hoseok.”

“You’re free every Thursday and Friday night,” Hoseok reminds him quickly. He sinks his body low, those eyes growing even wider. “And this just happens to be during which ever one you’re the most free this week.” 

Tomorrow. Jimin sighs, pressing a hand to his face. “Hobi -”

“Please, please,” Hoseok begs. “I’ll stop mentioning the accident forever.”

Jimin perks up. He tilts his head back, eyeing over Hoseok suspiciously. It’s most likely a lie, but Jimin’s willing to take the chance. Even if he’d rather eat nails than do this.

“Hyung -”

Hoseok jumps when he cheers. His hands clenched in fists that he wags above his head before grabbing Jimin’s face and squeezing as hard as he can. Despite a hand that he says is always too cramped to even bend his fingers.

Not that Hoseok really ever has to bribe him. He’s Jimin’s best friend most of all. But for things like this, Jimin truly regrets the day they met. He still holds a grudge against his father for insisting he learn how to drive that day.

“I don’t see why you can’t just go yourself,” Jimin comments. He’s really dreading this, severely. It’s awkward.

Hoseok stops cheering, lip curling and eyes glaring. “You don’t see why? Have you not heard a word I’ve said? I can’t show my face, Jimin-ah. I’ll vomit.”

Jimin snorts. The serious way Hoseok says it makes it funnier. “I’m not sure I get your logic. If you send me instead, he may take it as you not being interested.”

The offense grows on Hoseok’s face. “It isn’t a date , Jimin-ah. As much as I want it to be one, it isn’t. I need you to just go there and tell them that I’ve left the country and will never return, but I hope he writes me.”

Jimin rolls his eyes. It’s cute seeing how nervous Hoseok is. He’s never like this. Jimin’s always admired him for how social he is, his confidence constantly radiating from him. 

“And why would you do that? From what you’ve told me, he really likes you,” Jimin tells Hoseok. He’s heard Hoseok go on about this guy of his for the last few months almost as much as he’s talked about the car accident over their entire friendship. 

“He might not,” Hoseok shoots back. 

“He called you baby.”

“ That happens ,” Hoseok argues, peering at Jimin. “Friends call friends baby all of the time.”

“On Twitter,” Jimin says, rolling his eyes. “Not Facebook.”

Hoseok huffs, arms crossing over his chest. He’s standing in the doorway, leaving it so Jimin is unable to shut him out. “I don’t even think he’s gay.”

“His bio says ‘do it for the gays and goths.’”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jimin laughs at that. “Hobes, you posted a picture at this cafe, and he said, ‘I can’t wait to go on a date with you there.’ It’s definitely a date. He used the word.”

Hoseok’s shoulders droop, his pout returning. Hoseok is immune to all of Jimin’s attempts at trying to assure him that his crush likes him back. Even if it’s the most obvious thing to ever exist, Hoseok’s never been good at seeing the things right in front of him. 

“And?” Hoseok sighs. “There are things such as platonic dates.”

There are times when Jimin isn’t sure if he wants to cradle Hoseok in his arms and coo at how cute he is or shake him as hard as he can to get out all of the frustration he makes Jimin feel. 

“You’re annoying,” Jimin says, but he doesn’t mean it. It’s obvious in his amused tone. “I’ll go but I’m telling him that he’s the like of your life.”

Hoseok watches Jimin move around the room, eyes wide in alarm. Jimin grins in victory, thinking that will be enough to get Hoseok to go instead.

Jimin isn’t expecting the way Hoseok shrugs and makes a face like it isn’t a big deal.

“Better you than me,” Hoseok says with a sigh. “You won’t vomit on him from nerves while you do it.”

In the eight years that they’ve been friends, Jimin has seen Hoseok crush on many people. None of them have made him as nervous as Min Yoongi does. They met online a year before, and Jimin’s timeline and life have been filled with Hoseok’s pining since. 

They’ve already hung out a few times and from the hours Jimin has spent listening to Hoseok talk about it, it sounds as if it went great. Why Hoseok is so nervous now, Jimin doesn’t get it. Maybe because Yoongi has definitely said he wanted to take Hoseok on a date to this cafe, and that word alone has Hoseok running to the hills. 

“You won’t vomit,” Jimin says with a laugh. “Though, that would be as iconic as all of the other ways you’ve met the most important people in your life.”

Hoseok grins, his shine coming back. “I’ll tell my children, ‘oh I met Uncle Jimin when he ran me over with his car and your Appa after vomiting all over him in a cat cafe.’”

Jimin tosses a pen at him. It’s an old argument, so he ignores it.  “I don’t even know what he looks like.”

The dreamy sigh Hoseok lets out makes Jimin curl his upper lip. Whipped is written all over Hoseok’s face.

“He’s so handsome,” Hoseok says. That look appears in his eyes, the one that tells Jimin to find a seat because this is going to take awhile.  

Jimin feels a little awkward. He scans over the customers, wishing Hoseok had fallen head over heels with someone who knows how to properly use Facebook. The only picture of Yoongi Jimin can see is his profile picture, and it’s a picture of his dog. His profile picture on twitter is just a hand sticking up the middle finger.

Surely, Jimin can figure it out. He’s been friends with Hoseok long enough to know his type. 

The problem is Hoseok’s into men, and there’s nothing but women around him.

Jimin double checks the time. It isn’t a good sign if Yoongi is late. He’s glad Hoseok isn’t here, he would have ran off after a minute past the time they were supposed to meet. Maybe he actually would have vomited, because as cute as this cat cafe is, the food doesn’t taste too good. 

Not a single cat has come near him either, even though Jimin’s cooed and rubbed his fingers to get their attention. It isn’t even Jimin’s date, but it’s the worst one he’s ever been on. 

Hope fills him when the door swings open and a winded looking man rushes in. His cheeks are pink, his hair a mess around his head. He scans around in a panic until his eyes land on Jimin. 

Go time , Jimin thinks as the man heads straight for him. There is a determined look on his face, eyes hard, and his thick, dark eyebrows scrunched.

It’s when he’s a few feet away from the table that Jimin is unsure if this is Yoongi. The last Jimin remembers, Hoseok said Yoongi had blond hair not honey brown. Also, Jimin is quite sure Hoseok has gone on about how Yoongi is tiny enough to be scooped into his arms or shoved into his pocket. This man is tall, with legs that look longer than Jimin’s entire body.

Plus, he also looks nothing like a cat except for the way his hard expression almost resembles a scowl. Hoseok had emphasized the cat description, even referring to Yoongi as his precious little kitty. 

“Hoseok-ssi!” the man nearly yells as he stops in front of the booth. Jimin fills with confusion, but the man doesn’t stop speaking long enough for Jimin to interrupt. “Shit, you are as cute as he says.”

What ? Heat rushes to Jimin’s cheeks. His voice is deeper than Jimin expects. 

“I mean - nevermind. Never tell hyung I said that, please. He’s terrifying - I mean terrifyingly amazing, you know? I can’t risk him dyeing all of my shirts green again. Anyway, I’m sorry I’m rambling. I’m nervous, which is silly because - see? Doing it again. Fuck, dude get it together.”

The man makes a face at himself when he cusses. He clears his throat, straightening his back as he wipes his hands down his chest. Jimin makes note of the shirt he wears, a graphic tee with Ken Kaneki on the front. It’s bright red and torn around the hem. 

If Hoseok’s love likes anime, Jimin is going to rejoice. It would explain why Hoseok has been pretending to enjoy whenever Jimin watches his shows. Jimin doesn’t care if he doesn’t actually enjoy what Jimin wants to watch, but it’s saved him from trying to watch while Hoseok moans and groans about it almost being his time for the television.

“Sorry,” the man says again. He inhales for a few seconds, holding his hands out in front of him before he exhales. “Let me start over. I know you don’t know me, but I am Taehyung.” 

The man, Taehyung, pauses. He makes a face like he’s expecting for Jimin to recognize his name. When he realizes Jimin doesn’t, offense crosses his face.

Taehyung hikes his hands onto his hips. “Yoongi hasn’t mentioned me? What an asshole. I came all the way here to tell the like of his life, that’s you, by the way, that he wants to be sweet and gross with you, and he hasn’t mentioned me?”

Jimin grins at the scoff Taehyung lets out. He props an elbow on the table, now amused. He wants to see how long Taehyung will ramble on before he realizes he has the wrong person.

(Plus, he's really hoping this Taehyung word vomits all about how Yoongi feels so Jimin can shove it into Hoseok’s face that he was right.) 

“He’s currently sweating his brains out trying to strum up the courage to come here,” Taehyung says, rolling his eyes. He slides into the booth Jimin sits in without being invited. “I wanted to make sure you didn’t run off if it took him forever. Which it might. He’s really nervous.”

Taehyung fluffs the strands of hair that fall over his forehead. Jimin makes note of his fingers, how long and knobby they are. His hands are quite big in general, like one could swallow up both of Jimin’s. 

“Like really nervous. I’ve never seen him like this.” Taehyung sighs. He has a heart shaped mouth too, plump lips that Jimin watch push into a pout. His face is a mix of soft and sharp, eyes heavy and drooping. 

There is a mole on the tip of his nose, and that’s the reason Jimin doesn’t care that Taehyung reaches across the table and helps himself to the pastry Jimin has given up on eating. He’s weak for cute things.

Taehyung hacks, making a face as he looks at the pastry in offense. “Blackberry? You have horrible taste. I see that’s why you’ve fallen for my hyung.”

Jimin laughs. “Is he really nervous about coming here?”

“Mhm,” Taehyung hums as he searches around. His eyes land on a cat winding its tail around a chair across from them, and Taehyung is flying from the booth. “His palms were sweating too. It’s bad. He thinks you aren’t interested in him.”

Hoseok and Yoongi are made for each other, Jimin thinks. Hoseok is just as obvious about his feelings as Yoongi is, and Jimin knows because Hoseok always asks for Jimin’s approval for sending any message that comes off flirtatious. 

For awhile, Jimin thought they were already dating because of it. 

“Really? I thought it was obvious.”

“It is ,” Taehyung grunts. The cat comes to him when Taehyung sits on the floor, but it only comes close enough to let Taehyung’s hand graze over it before it’s jumping away. It does it again, head jerking forward like it wants to nudge Taehyung before changing its mind at the last minute. “God, your flirting is really bad by the way. No offense. Yoongi likes it, though. You should see him. He turns into a tomato. I kind of want to cut my ears off whenever he reads me the things you say.”

Taehyung’s shoulders slump when the cat dodges him again. It’s kind of cute, but Jimin freezes when his bottom lip sticks so far out it makes Hoseok look like he doesn’t have any lips at all to pout with.

Jimin is a sucker for it. He looks away, using crumbling the pastry into his napkin as an excuse to look somewhere else. It’s so fricking endearing it feels like a fist has shoved itself into his chest to squeeze around his heart. 

“Like the other day Yoongi compared himself to a trash can and you said if he were trash, you’d take it out more often,” Taehyung goes on. His pout is still present when he slinks back into the booth. 

A laugh rips from Jimin’s chest before he can stop it. One of those loud, dug out from the gut laughs. He covers a hand to his mouth to muffle it when the people around them look at him in alarm, body leaning into the table between them as he shakes with it. 

Taehyung watches him strangely as Jimin wipes the tears building in his eyes. Jimin waves a hand, letting the last of his laughter settle before he speaks. “You don’t get it. Hoseok literally never takes the trash out.”

At first, Jimin doesn’t remember that he had been pretending to be Hoseok. When Taehyung’s jaw drops, his mouth parting, Jimin just thinks he’s surprised someone doesn’t take trash out. Which is surprising. Hoseok will stuff the can as much as he can and complain about the smell until Jimin finally gives in and does it himself.

“Hoseok?” Taehyung asks slowly, eyes wide like a puppy. He says the name slowly, like he’s confused by it. “You’re not Hoseok?”

It’s immediate how Taehyung’s face turns red. Bright red. It rushes to his cheeks, up towards his temples and down his neck. Jimin feels his own face heat up because of it.

“Ah, no,” Jimin says with an awkward laugh. “I’m his roommate. Best friend.”

Taehyung hangs his head as he makes a pained noise. He brings his hand up to his face, hiding how red it’s becoming. “Destroy me. Throw me into a dumpster. Take me out with the trash. Crunch me up in one of those things until I turn to dust.”

“Excuse me?” 

When Taehyung pulls his hand away, his face is one of misery. He doesn’t get a chance to explain as the waiter returns and takes their order, which Taehyung gives like he’s telling someone their loved one died. Jimin’s half concerned, half amused by it. 

“I can’t believe I just embarrassed myself like that for no reason,” Taehyung groans, agony dripping from his lips. 

“Why did you think it was me?” Jimin asks in curiosity. 

Taehyung scoffs, his tortured expression quickly becoming one of offense. “Because Yoongi said Hoseok was the pretty boy to ever exist,” he snaps almost angrily. He freezes again, those thick eyebrows shooting up high and disappearing behind his bangs before he glares. “What I mean is, why are you even here then impersonating someone? That’s illegal.” 

Jimin bites at his grin. His heart flutters in his chest. Taehyung is very attractive and incredibly adorable. “Same as you, I think. Hoseokie hyung is a big oblivious chicken that thinks this is a platonic date.”

His embarrassment forgotten, Taehyung snorts so loud it sounds like it hurts. Jimin can relate. “You’re kidding. They’re both like this?” 

“Yeah. Hoseok says he can’t admit how he feels because he is too afraid of how Yoongi will react.”

Taehyung nods like he agrees. “I get that. He’ll probably drop. Scary stuff.”

Jimin kicks Taehyung under the table. It’s a habit he’s built after years of being best friends with Jung Hoseok. He realizes it after a moment, eyes lifting to apologize but Taehyung is grinning when he kicks out his feet too and presses them into Jimin.

It’s silly, obnoxiously silly. Jimin’s heart flutters again.

“I think he’s also just afraid of throwing up on him,” Jimin goes on. He drags his teeth over his bottom lip, takes Taehyung in as Taehyung brushes his hair behind his ears. They’re covered in studs, from the lobe up to the curve. “So you’re actually lucky it’s me here and not him.”

“You didn’t tell me your name,” Taehyung says, leaning his elbows onto the table. There’s frayed bracelets wrapped around his wrists, taking up a good few inches of his forearm. When he plays with one, Jimin sees a tattoo a few inches below the inside of his elbow. An Eevee made up of each of its original evolutions.

“Jimin. Hoseok’s best friend, roommate. Apparently the prettiest man on Earth.”

Embarrassment crosses Taehyung’s face again, but he seems to force it away when he shrugs. “I said ever to exist.”

Jimin leans back into the booth, head cocking to the side. Taehyung lifts a brow, holding his gaze. There’s something suggestive in it.

“Noted,” Jimin murmurs. He rolls a hand beneath his chin, giving Taehyung his best eye smile. “So, tell me more about this hyung of yours. How in love is he?”

Taehyung’s face breaks into a smile. “Do you have time? This will take awhile.”

It takes a while. 

A few hours, actually. Jimin is sure they’ve stopped talking about Hoseok and Yoongi after a few minutes, but he doesn’t mention it. He finds he likes the way Taehyung speaks. It changes from a low drawl, well thought out words, to quick and fumbled like his mind is moving too fast for his mouth to keep up with whenever he starts talking about something he likes. 

He likes many things. Clothes, art, anime, video games. He’s majoring in graphic design and works at a grocery store. He talks passionately about every animal that gets mentioned, and Jimin could sit here for hours and listen to him.

Taehyung talks with his hands, which Jimin is mesmerized by. Taehyung doesn’t seem to notice Jimin following the movements of his hands and hopefully can’t read minds and hear how Jimin thinks about what they would feel like on him.

They are just delicate, yet strong looking. Jimin thinks about Taehyung touching him firmly, gently. Intimately or simply. The nail on his left pinky is black, and Jimin thinks about Taehyung painting his nails, a tongue pressed between his teeth like he does whenever there’s a moment of silence between them. 

They go through different items on the menu until they finally find one they both agree isn’t horrible. Jimin’s tongue is filled with the taste of sweet, which he normally doesn’t like but when he watches Taehyung bat his eyelashes and smile down towards the table, Jimin thinks he can deal with sweet. 

“I should go,” Taehyung says, glancing around the cafe. It’s emptied out as the hours have passed. There’s cream cheese clinging to the corner of his mouth that Jimin watches as Taehyung flicks his tongue out to wipe away. “Make sure Yoongi hasn’t left the country. He hasn’t shown up yet, which means he’s probably turned into a chicken too. I never believed in the saying ‘you are what you eat’ but the only thing Yoongi eats is chicken, I swear.”

Despite saying this, Taehyung doesn’t look as if he’s ready to make a move from the booth. He even settles back, tilting his head back as his eyes fall over Jimin. Heavy lidded eyes, the embarrassment from earlier shifted into something much more at ease. He’s still a little red around the cheeks, and Jimin hopes it doesn’t go away.

“We’ll have to meet up soon,” Jimin starts, teeth nudging over his bottom lip like he’s hesitant but he isn’t. He wants to see Taehyung again. “You know, to help get our best friends out of the holes of misery they’ve dugged themselves into.”

“Absolutely,” Taehyung says as he crosses his arms over his chest. Their feet are still pressed together beneath the table and have been that way since the beginning. “For the sake of their own well being and our sanity.”

“I have an idea,” Jimin starts. He really doesn’t have much free time, but he’s sure he can move things around to make it work. “Hoseokie and I used to have movie nights on Fridays. He loved them, and it’s been some time since we’ve had one. How about you and Yoongi come over for one? Hoseok won’t be able to say no, and us being there might make it easier for them.”

The grin on Taehyung’s lips reaches his eyes. It’s mischievous. “Yes, for very unselfish reasons I will agree to this.”

“Exactly,” Jimin hums. He toes at Taehyung’s ankle, nudging the tip of his boot against it before trailing it over his calf. “Very unselfish reasons.”

Taehyung bats his eyelashes again, his head lowering some. Jimin likes how pink his cheeks get. It might become his favorite color. “I’ll need your phone number to set this up.”

Smooth, Jimin thinks. He slides over his phone after unlocking it. Taehyung makes a face of surprised as he lets out a small oh . His eyes grow big as he glances from Jimin’s phone screen and down to his own shirt.

“Rize Kamishiro,” Taehyung says, showing off the purple haired ghoul Jimin has as his phone’s background. “How very intelligent of you. You’re not going to walk me out of this cafe and try to eat me, are you?”

Jimin giggles. He hooks his foot behind Taehyung’s leg, pulling it closer to him. “I was thinking about it.”

“I’ll take the risk,” Taehyung says as he taps away on Jimin’s phone. He slides it over to him a moment later. When he bites at his smile, it makes Taehyung’s cheeks bunch up cutely. “If you want to walk to the bus with me?” 

Taehyung slides out of the booth without waiting for Jimin to respond like he knows Jimin is going to follow. Jimin watches him walk towards the cashier, admires the width of his shoulders and the curve of ass. He has a nice ass, one that rounds and pokes out noticeably and cheeks that look too big to fit in Jimin’s palms.

Jimin shakes his head, smiling to himself when Taehyung looks over his shoulder and catches him. 

Unluckily for Jimin, he thinks that will be the only mention of Taehyung noticing Jimin ogling his behind, but it isn’t. 

With an elbow to Jimin’s side and a grin on Taehyung’s lips that only spells trouble, Jimin sees it before he comes.

“I do squats.”

Their shoulders touch when they walk. It’s dumb. Jimin likes it. He’s always been someone whose liked physical affection. Even simple things like resting his chin against someone’s shoulder, or briefly touching their arm as he walks by. Hoseok is his human pillow, and when Jimin looks Taehyung up and down, he thinks he might want to wrap around him instead. 

“I’ve noticed,” Jimin replies, implication in his tone. He isn’t embarrassed about being caught, or he was but he’s not going to deny it. He has a want inside of him to compliment Taehyung until he loses his voice. The idea of how pink it could turn him makes that urge grow even stronger. 

“I know,” Taehyung says, a smug look on his face that doesn’t last long when he catches Jimin looking at him. “All that heavy lifting at the grocery store.”

Taehyung stretches above his head then and unnecessarily flexes his arms before letting them hang back to his side. He groans loud and long, and his cheeks are pink again, but he looks amused.

Jimin is too as he reaches over to cup Taehyung’s bicep, squeezing gently. It’s purposeful the way he tickles his fingers over the bare of Taehyung’s arm, stopping over the Eevee tattoo. He traces the outline of it, watching as goosebumps erupt across Taehyung’s skin.

“I thought you said you were a cashier?”

Taehyung scoffs. He’s good at keeping the amusement from leaking into his eyes, though it appears at small moments. Maybe they’re just always bright like Taehyung seems to be. “Sometimes people put their cases of water on the conveyor belt instead of keeping them in their cart.”

Jimin buries his mouth against Taehyung’s shoulder to muffle his laugh. 

He doesn’t want to part ways yet, though the sky is starting to darken and he has a paper to finish. It’s only the citations and the conclusion, but those are the parts Jimin hates the most about essays. They seem to take hours and hours to complete, just hours and hours of Jimin staring at the screen while his mind is somewhere else. 

When the bus stop comes into view, Jimin is dreading it. He’s never been fond of someone so quickly.

He’s never wanted to jump someone’s bones like this either. 

Jimin steps in front of Taehyung when they reach it, a hand extending out to grip the brim of Taehyung’s shirt. “As bummed as I am that I’m going to have to deal with more unnecessary pining from Hoseokie, I’m glad I met you today.”

Taehyung looks down between them, eyeing Jimin’s hand on his shirt. He takes a step in, and it’s too soon for anything else. They just met, but Jimin wonders if Taehyung feels the same attraction.

“I look forward to seeing you again, Jimin.”

When Jimin gets to his apartment, he rests his forehead against the door. Hoseok would have every right to torment him for the smile that takes over his face and makes his cheeks hurt because Jimin’s teasing about Yoongi has been relentless over the last few months.. 

He had ended up forgetting he was even there for Hoseok. Taehyung had captured his attention and his phone number.

Since he got into the apartment building, he’s already gotten two text messages. It’s only been a few hours since they met, but Jimin finds himself overly fond. He’ll never admit it, but the only person that’s made him feel this fond this fast was Hoseok. Once the fear that he was more hurt than a sprained wrist was gone that is.

When he finds his smile has settled enough to appear normal, Jimin punches in the code to the lock. He only presses one number before the handle moves and the door swings open.

Hoseok leans against the door frame, blocking Jimin from entering. He peers his eyes before trailing them slowly down Jimin’s body.

“What took you so long?”

“Yoongi decided he loved me instead and we ran off and got married,” Jimin lies, bumping his shoulder into Hoseok’s to get past him. “What do you think happened?” 

Hoseok moves to let Jimin by but remains in his space as Jimin strips off his jacket and shoes. “I think you spent the last five hours telling embarrassing stories about me. Which, if you didn’t realize, I love embarrassing myself. So if you think you did something by telling Yoongi about that time I thought I was seriously sick because my hands kept turning bruised but it was just from the pen I was using while writing notes, you’re too late. I already told him.” 

Jimin cups Hoseok’s neck. He can feel how hard his heart is pulsing beneath his palms. Hoseok had been so upset by his discolored skin that even Jimin had been worried something was wrong with him. “Yoongi didn’t show.”

Pain erupts in Hoseok’s eyes. Heartbreak. His mouth opens in horror.

“Which, neither did you,” Jimin points out quickly, but he speaks gently. “However, his roommate showed up in his place.”

Hoseok’s nostrils flare when he huffs. “That bastard. See? I told you he isn’t into me.”

Jimin can’t . He stares at Hoseok, wondering if he wants to explain the hypocrisy in that or not.

He decides he doesn’t. Jimin has been waiting a long time to be able to talk Hoseok’s ear off about someone like he does. 

“His very attractive roommate, might I add,” Jimin goes on as he pulls away.

“You may not,” Hoseok replies but Jimin ignores him. 

“He’s like cute,” Jimin goes on, trying to find the words to explain, “but also hot in a way that I wouldn’t have minded sucking him off right there at the cafe.”

Hoseok makes a noise of complaint. “Are you talking about Tae?”

Without warning, Jimin swings around and slaps the back of his hand into Hoseok’s chest gently. “Are you telling me you know this gorgeous man existed and didn’t tell me?”

Hoseok clutches at his chest, making a face like Jimin struck him with a sword instead of tapping him. “I can’t breathe.”

“You’re fine.”

Hoseok recovers and glares at Jimin. “Yes, I knew he existed. He’s all over Yoongi’s Instagram. I thought they were dating at first. And you know public sex can get you on the sex offender’s list right? Your willingness to risk it all for dick is a little concerning.”

Jimin returns his glare before he stalks off and slumps onto the couch. The table in front is covered with all of Hoseok’s comfort items; chocolate fudge, takeout, soda, and the blanket Hoseok’s grandmother knitted for him when he was born. 

“I wouldn’t actually,” Jimin declares. “But he’s hot, you know? His hands , Hobi. They’re massive. He’s tall and has legs that go on for miles. He has a fat ass too, it’s unfair. And oh god, how cute he is. He pouted, and I swore I was going to die.”

Snickering, Hoseok fills the empty space on the couch. He folds his legs beneath his butt and drags his blanket between them. “Do you want me to ask hyung for his number?”

“Already got it,” Jimin says smugly. “But you can ask Yoongi what his favorite movie is.”

“Why?

“No reason,” Jimin replies with a grin as he snags Hoseok’s box of takeout. “Just wondering.”

Hoseok looks at him like he doesn’t believe him, but Jimin doesn’t give him a chance to pester him about it. 

“You know he came because he said Yoongi was so nervous he was afraid you would leave before it took Yoongi the courage to show up,” Jimin tells him, grinning at how red Hoseok becomes. “So nervous, I wonder why that is?”

Hoseok buries his face into his hands, groaning. “Because he wanted to break it off with me probably.”

Jimin grunts as he launches off the couch cushion to smother him. 

There is a week before Jimin gets to see Taehyung. He’s excited, which of course mean time drags.

It’s only the day after their cafe date, and Jimin has been in class for what feels like seventy hours. Maybe a million. Maybe he’s stuck on a loop where time never changes because he’s looked at the clock twelve times in what feels like the last hour but it’s only been a minute since the first time. Maybe some of Hoseok’s dramatics have rubbed off on him. He’s heard the more time you spend with someone, the more likely you are to pick up their habits. 

He finds himself thinking of Taehyung too often throughout the long day. There’s just something about him that has stuck to Jimin like glue.

Jimin will blame the hands. He loves hands. That will work as an excuse. It has nothing to do with how cute he was rambling on and turning red, or how he looked when he pouted about the cat not giving him attention.

It has nothing to do at all with the way he groaned in delight every time he took a bite of a sweet pastry and licked his lips a little more than he needed to. Or how big and bright his smile is, stretching out wide like a box and making his eyes crinkle. Or the way his shoulders shake when he laughs, or the way -

Jimin presses the back of his hand to his mouth, hiding his smile. He considers texting Taehyung, just to say hello, but he doesn’t want to let Taehyung in on his excitement. It’s also just normal for people who just exchanged numbers to text too, right? They texted a little after leaving each other, maybe a while actually and causing Jimin to pull an all nighter to get his essay done. 

Jimin normally doesn’t over think things this much. It’s not that he’s particularly shy, most would call him quite bold, but when butterflies are involved it comes out.

And just thinking about Taehyung has his butterflies feeling like attack bees.

It’s when he’s finally home from school, using the hour between his last class and work to make himself look decent, that Taehyung makes the decision for him.

When the phone first rings, Jimin pretends not to hear it. He isn’t eager, right? It’s just a man with big hands.

It lasts a second though before Jimin is flying across the room to look who it’s from.

There’s a smile on his face before he even reads it.

ken kaneki : are you busy

Jimin glances at the clock. His free hour just started, and there are plenty of things he should do, but he finds himself telling Taehyung no before he can stop himself.

An incoming video call comes a second later.

“What the hell,” Jimin cusses quietly as he drops the phone onto his bed and quickly fixes his hair. You don’t just video call someone for the first time without warning or time to get ready for it. 

Inhaling, making himself seem cool and composed, Jimin lays on the bed and answers.

It’s blurry at first. When it clears, Taehyung is there, staring down at the screen. He’s bright red, the long strands of hair falling over his forehead damp and sticking to his skin.

There are glasses perched on his nose, big and round, and somehow making Taehyung look even softer. Jimin wouldn’t have thought it possible. 

“Hey,” Jimin greets. The butterflies are back. They never really left. “Why are you so red?”

“I was playing a video game,” Taehyung says seriously. He brings something up to his mouth, his lips pouting out a second later as he chews.

Jimin grins. It seems impossible for Taehyung to look hotter, but he does. Flushed and sweaty, Jimin’s thinks about ways to make him look that way again. “You look like you ran ten miles.”

“It was an intense video game,” Taehyung explains with a face like it’s obvious. 

“And you thought to call me?” Jimin prompts, raising an eyebrow.

Taehyung hums, his own lips pulling up in a smile. He rolls his eyes. “I’ve been wanting to call you all day, but I figured you were in class.”

Jimin bites so hard on the inside of his cheek so he won’t show his smile that he nearly tastes blood. “Well, I’m glad you did.”

“Me too,” Taehyung replies almost shyly. “I thought I’d update you on the hyung situation. I might currently be locked out of the apartment because Yoongi hyung was on the phone with his Hoseokie, and I might have said quite loudly that Yoongi started planning their wedding this week. It’s Yoongi’s fault though for having him on speaker. He didn’t have to make me lose my game just because he’s embarrassed he spent like an hour trying to come up with a color scheme.”

Jimin brings a hand up to cover his mouth as he laughs. “I thought you said he was scary. Or do you like dabbling with danger?”

“I do,” Taehyung replies with a wag of his brow. It’s endearing how round his cheeks look every time he chews whatever he’s eating. “But hyung really isn’t scary. He will just eat all of my snacks and take so long in the bathroom so I’m late if I mess with him. He unplugged my PlayStation today as an act of revenge. Fuck head.”

Jimin rolls to his back, holding the phone above him. “I hate when Hoseokie eats my snacks. He thinks I owe him for running him over.”

Taehyung chokes on whatever he’s eating, turning redder. He brings a hand up to his mouth, hacking into his closed fist.

There are tears in his eyes as he swallows, his thick brows scrunching together. “Excuse me?”

Jimin giggles. “It’s a long story.”

Taehyung’s eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. “Oh no, no Park Jimin. You can’t just say that and not explain.”

Jimin sits up, eyes peering at Taehyung. “I didn’t tell you my last name.”

For a moment, Jimin thinks the phone has frozen. Taehyung just stares at him, eyes slightly wide and completely unmoving before his mouth falls open.

A moment later, the phone goes black as Taehyung hangs up.

Jimin clutches the phone to his chest, cheeks hurting from his smile before he calls Taehyung back.

The screen remains black, but at least Taehyung has answered. 

“Let me see you,” Jimin says through his laughs.

“No, I keep embarrassing myself,” Taehyung complains, a whine touching his tone. “I didn’t look you up and see that really offensive profile picture of yours or anything. I just guessed your last name was Park. You look Park-y.”

“How is it offensive?” Jimin shoots back, forgetting his amused fondness. He doesn’t care if Taehyung looked him up. After the cat cafe, Jimin had spent time looking through the Instagram Hoseok had showed him. 

If anyone is offensive, it’s Taehyung. Not only is he effortlessly beautiful, the selfies he posts of himself make him look like he knows it. There is a cockiness in the way he holds himself in photos that Jimin doesn’t see in person. That he wants to see in person.

“You’re wearing a harness,” Taehyung exclaims as he suddenly appears on the screen. “Thanks for the warning.”

Jimin laughs. “No one told you to go snooping, Taehyung-ah.”

The smile Taehyung wears is wide, his nose scrunching up from how big his smile grows. “Actually, Yoongi hyung did tell me to go snooping. For reasons I can’t tell you, please understand.”

“Now you have to tell me.”

“No.” Taehyung looks offended. “People take it offensively when you tell them you have to make sure they aren’t a serial killer.”

Jimin giggles, falling back onto the bed. “You wouldn’t see that on social media, Taehyung-ssi.”

Taehyung shrugs, unbothered. “Can’t be too careful.” 

“I guess that means it’s my turn to look you up now,” Jimin teases. “I also have to make sure your record is clean.”

Taehyung’s reaction is immediate. Fear makes his eyes go round as he quickly shakes his head, making the sweat damp strands on his forehead shake. “No, no. No need for that.”

Jimin rolls to his side, knees coming up to his chest. Taehyung is the cutest person he’s ever seen, confirmed.

“Why not?” Jimin challenges. “Are you a killer?”

“In video games,” Taehyung says defensively. “I’ve got an impressive kill count if you’re into that kind of thing.”

Jimin snorts. He doesn’t play many videos games himself because school and work are needy bitches that take up all of his time. “So what is it? What will I see on your Twitter?”

“Nothing because I’m deleting it as we speak,” Taehyung huffs despite making no move to do so. 

Jimin doesn’t know what could make Taehyung look so embarrassed. He considers rolling from the bed to do some investigating, but a thought hits him. 

“Wait. You’re not a furry, are you?”

The phone goes black again.

They talk every day for the next few days. It’s usually silly and not often enough, only during Jimin’s few spare moments in his day. 

He grows fonder of Taehyung, whose online secret isn’t that he’s a furry but runs a grunge aesthetic account. Which, Jimin doesn’t find how that’s something to be hidden, but he doesn’t say as much.

(Though, he feels his own cheeks heat up when he takes in the pictures posted. Some erotic, some not. The ones of Taehyung catch Jimin’s attention the most, though most of his face is covered, Jimin can tell it’s him by his mouth.

His always parted, sinful mouth, chin tilted to show off the length of his neck which is usually covered in leather or chains, and Jimin wheezes every time he sees one.) 

It’s not until Jimin is scrolling during his break, with a very embarrassed Taehyung texting him, that he realizes why Taehyung is feeling shy.

Taehyung sings and posts the videos on his twitter. He has a few thousand followers and hundreds of comments on his covers. Jimin even finds one he had seen before and bookmarked to listen to it as often as he could, but because he ends up bookmarking everything, he lost it. Taehyung’s face isn’t in it, but when he listens to it again, he isn’t sure how he didn’t realize it was him.

“That’s not something to be embarrassed about,” Jimin assures. He only has a few minutes left of his break, his manager already glancing up at the clock like he’s counting down the seconds. The store is never busy around this time, but his manager hates working the counter.

Jimin hasn’t talked to someone on the phone this often since he was a teen. Nor has he just talked to someone like this so often in general in a long time. He likes it. It makes him feel giddy and warm. 

“I’m not embarrassed,” Taehyung says though he sounds it. “I just save that reveal for the fifth date. The big ‘I’m trying to woo you’ moment.”

Stepping further into the break room and turning so his manager won’t see his smile, Jimin says, “are you trying to woo me, Taehyung-ssi?”

Taehyung groans in complaint. “Possibly. I’m looking forward to seeing you Friday. I’m pulling all the big guns out. Gonna woo the pants off of you.”

“I hope my pants come off,” Jimin whispers, keeping his tone low. “What are your true intentions with me, Taehyung-ssi?”

“Taking your pants off for sure,” Taehyung says without a beat. “Maybe holding your hand.” 

It’s lame. Jimin feels lame for how hard he smiles.

“I want to do those things too. I’m excited for Friday,” Jimin admits. Fuck butterflies, they’re wrecking up his stomach this week. “Hoseokie spent the morning complaining about Yoongi’s thirst tweets on Twitter. Wants to know who they’re about. I’m ready to get them together.”

For a moment, Taehyung is quiet. Jimin wishes they were video calling so he could see whatever face Taehyung makes. He’s quite expressive, just one of the many things Jimin likes about him.

“Same,” Taehyung finally says. “It will be a cute double date.”

Jimin licks at his lips. If his phone had a cord, he’d be twirling around in it until he was trapped. “Is that what it is?”

Taehyung ignores this question, much to Jimin’s amusement. “Kind of dreading the sexual and romantic tension we’ll have to suffer through between the hyungs, to be honest. But once it breaks, life should be easier for the both of us.”

There is a clearing of a throat behind Jimin, who turns to see his manager tapping at his watchless wrist.

“I have to go, but I’m looking forward to that sexual and romantic tension between us,” Jimin says quietly so his manager won’t hear. 

The laugh Taehyung lets out is a deep rumble. “I have a feeling it will break a lot sooner than with the hyungs.”

It’s two days before Friday that Jimin sees Taehyung in person again. It isn’t planned, at least not on Jimin’s part. But with the way Taehyung’s eyes search around the room, Jimin wonders if he came here just looking for him.

Fondness fills Jimin. He had told Taehyung earlier about his plan to waste the night away in the library and how he would much rather waste the night away with Taehyung instead.

There’s two coffees in Taehyung’s hand Jimin sees before he looks away and focuses on the papers laid out before him. 

It takes only a few moments before there is a hacking noise that drags Jimin’s attention away from the textbooks. Taehyung isn’t looking at him, eyes still searching around he’s wandering in this direction like he wants Jimin to see him.

He looks really good, Jimin thinks. With a black henley stretching tight across his chest and a matching beanie pushing his bangs down his forehead. The glasses are back; big, squared rimmed glasses that he pushes up with one of the coffees before Jimin calls for him.

“Taehyung-ssi?” 

Taehyung looks surprised when he spots Jimin. “Oh? What are you doing here?”

He’s quick to slip in the chair across from Jimin, planting both cups of coffee onto the table carefully as not to spill them on Jimin’s notebooks.

Jimin wishes he had a little head’s up that Taehyung was coming. It’s a library, so it’d look unnatural to put in work to make himself up, but at least he wouldn’t have a sweater covered in Hoseok’s cheeto fingers. He rubs one spot at the bottom of the sweater, sighing when he realizes the orange has set in.

“I am studying,” Jimin tells him, tucking his fists beneath his chin as he gives up on removing Hoseok’s finger prints. Hoseok says he tends to overstudy, and he’s already taken the practice tests and passed them all. But practice tests are never like real tests, so he wants to study until the library closes just in case. 

He’s still been dreading it, though. Jimin would much rather be at home, getting his own fingers covered in cheeto dust.

“Are you?” Taehyung asks, doubt in his eyes as he searches over the table full of closed notebooks and closed textbooks. “Looks like you were drooling to me.”

Jimin kicks Taehyung under the table. “Shut up. If I remember correctly, you don’t go to this school. So what are you doing here?”

“I don’t. There are three libraries on this campus, by the way. You could have given me a heads up.”

Jimin chuckles. He feels his heart trying to wiggle it’s way into his throat. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Surprise,” Taehyung sings quietly, handing him a coffee. “I have some work to do too, and I usually avoid the library like the plague. Too many half dead students inside. It makes me feel like I’m in the middle of a Left 4 Dead game and I’m terrified of the Witch. So you’re welcome.”

The coffee is still hot when Jimin takes it into his hands. He has a feeling Taehyung is going to distract him from his work, even if Taehyung does pull out his own from the small bag hanging from his shoulders to work on and lays it across from Jimin’s.

“Well, thank you,” Jimin mutters with a tilt of his head.

“I don’t know what kind of coffee you like, so I made you the coffee I like,” Taehyng goes on, watching as Jimin takes a tentative sip of it.

It’s really sweet. Jimin doesn’t normally like it, but he likes how sweet Taehyung is to even bring him one. Plus, it’s mocha. Jimin likes mocha. “It’s yummy. Thank you, Taehyung-ssi.”

Taehyung looks pleased. He swipes his hands through his hair, fluffing it before he drags the bag hanging off of his shoulder onto the table. “You know, when I left my apartment, hyung was talking to Hoseok.”

“Oh?” Jimin asks. He pushes his papers aside, already distracted. 

“Mhm. Hoseok was telling hyung about the time you ran him over.”

Jimin huffs out in annoyance. “I didn’t, and he promised to never bring it up again. Bastard.”

Taehyung snickers. He pushes aside the notebooks he has pulled from his bag, opening one or two of them, but then turning his attention away from them like he’s only pretending to study. “Are you ever going to explain that?”

It’s something Hoseok tells all of their new friends, making it a story that Jimin has told over and over. 

It’s harder for people to believe that Hoseok would miss a car than Jimin missing a person, but it’s the truth .

“Hoseokie ran into the side of my car,” Jimin explains with a sigh. “He claims he didn’t see it. But I think that’s bullshit. We’ve argued about it for years.”

“But he’s still your best friend?”

“Yeah,” Jimin says immediately. “I would actually run over someone with my car for him.”

Taehyung grins, kicking him under the table too. It doesn’t hurt, and Taehyung rests his sandal covered feet between Jimin’s boots. “Remind me to never get in a car with you.”

“I promise you’re in safe hands,” Jimin says, reaching over to wiggle his pinky at Taehyung. 

After a moment of looking suspiciously, Taehyung wraps his pinky around Jimin’s. “I don’t know if I trust you. But I’m willing to risk it for your hands on me, Jimin-ssi.”

Jimin breathes in, trying to calm the butterflies before they come. It doesn’t work. His stomach must be full of sweet nectar for them to never want to leave.

There is mischief in Taehyung’s eyes when he drags their clasped fingers up and kisses it to seal the deal. 

“You know, you don’t have to be so formal. You can call me hyung,” Jimin says, trying to ignore how his cheeks turn red as Taehyung let's go if his pinky.

Taehyung nods, his lips shifting into a grin. “You should call me hokage .”

“I don’t watch Naturo.”

Taehyung lets out a noise so loud someone shushes them from a few tables over. “You’re lying.”

“I’m not?” Jimin chuckles. He moves his notebooks and highlighters around the table to look as if he’s studying to the student glaring at them now. 

“How do you know what hokage is then?” Taehyung challenges, the disbelief in his eyes as loud as his voice.

“Shh,” Jimin quiets as he sends a threatening look to the bothered student. “And because I’ve read the mangas. They’re better than the anime.”

Moving so fast he makes the highlighters roll across the table, Taehyung stands, collecting his things. “I have to go. I don’t know if we’re going to work out actually. I can’t believe this heartbreak I’m feeling right now.”

Jimin is overcome with amusement. It makes him struggle to follow after Taehyung as his laughter takes over him, his words coming out in a fit of giggles. “Tae - no. Come back. 

“I should have expected this from you. Your favorite anime is One Piece,” Taehyung goes on as he shoves the same notebook back into his bag a few times like he’s stalling leaving. 

“How dare -” Jimin starts, but Taehyung is swinging his bag back over his shoulder. “Taehyung, sit down.”

Taehyung lifts his chin, body turning slightly like he’s actually going to walk off but he does it slowly.

“Hokage .”

Taehyung stops his ministrations, straightening his shoulders. He sends Jimin a haughty look. “Yes?”

Pressing his lips hard together as not to disturb the other student anymore with his laughter, Jimin stands to reach over the table and grab Taehyung’s hands. “For you, I’ll watch it. But not Boruto.”

Taehyung plants his things back down. “Don’t ever mention Boruto again and you have yourself a deal.”

It’s nice hanging out with Taehyung. They even get some work done, though they talk more shit than anything. Quietly though, as not to further disturb the people around them. The guy that had shushed them glares whenever there’s so much as a paper rustling, his face twisting into a look of murder whenever one of them speaks.

Like before, time goes by so quickly that Jimin doesn’t realize how late it’s gotten until a student worker is coming over to tell them that they’re about to close. 

They take their time getting their things together, probably to the student’s annoyance. But Jimin doesn’t think about it, only that maybe Taehyung doesn’t want to part ways either. 

It’s halfway out the door that Jimin tries to summon that boldness of his.

“It’s quite late for the bus.”

Taehyung adjusts the strap on his shoulder, looking up at the dark night sky. The campus lights might be shotty, but they’re still bright enough to hide the stars above. “You’re right. It is quite late.”

Jimin presses his body into Taehyung’s side, thinks about how the campus lights aren’t enough to dim the star that he is. He gets embarrassed with his own thoughts and is thankful mind reading isn’t an actual thing people can do. “Why don’t you come to mine then?”

Taehyung bites at his bottom lip, eyes sparkling. “I’m sorry if I’ve given off the wrong impression, Jimin-ssi, but I don’t fuck on the first date.”

Jimin shoves Taehyung playfully. When Taehyung reaches out to grab his hand to stop him, Jimin holds on. 

Butterflies. They’re a bitch.

“I have the purest of intentions,” Jimin promises. It’s mostly the truth. He doesn’t want to leave Taehyung yet, and he doesn’t want Taehyung to have to walk however far in the dark.

But, he wouldn’t mind if anything happened between them either.

“Don’t go that far,” Taehyung says with mock alarm, squeezing Jimin’s hand. “I said no fucking. Didn’t say a word about dick touching.”

Jimin curls into Taehyung’s side, smiling at him. With his boots on, they’re roughly the same height.

Maybe he’s thinking about how easy it would be to lean in and kiss Taehyung like he wants to do. Maybe he’s still thinking about how Taehyung looks like the sun, the stars, and whatever else shines bright in space.

Jimin squeezes Taehyung’s hand and focuses on how it engulfs his own instead of his want to make out until their lips fall off. 

“I save that for the fifth date,” Jimin murmurs. “You know, after you woo me with singing.”

Embarrassment makes Taehyung’s smile soften. He side eyes Jimin before rolling them. “Well, I just happen to have an off day tomorrow. We can get five dates done then.”

Jimin is fond. He doesn’t have the day off tomorrow, but he indulges in the banter. “Count this as one, so we can get those dates done faster.”

Taehyung holds out a fist, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth as he makes a noise of victory. “Yes! To dick touching.”

There’s a group of students sat smoking out front of the dorm buildings they walk by, alarmed looking at Taehyung’s hollering. Jimin giggles, tugging on Taehyung to get him to his own apartment faster. 

There’s no dick touching. Jimin loses a little of his boldness when he finally has Taehyung in his bed. 

He didn’t get the chance to even offer Taehyung his couch as there’s currently a snoring Hoseok lying on it. Jimin just opened the door to his bedroom before Taehyung was making himself comfortable on the side Jimin sleeps on.

Not that Jimin is too picky about sides because his bed isn’t that big. He doesn’t realize how small it is until he’s fitting himself in the small space left beside Taehyung.

Every inch of their sides touch. Taehyung doesn’t seem to mind as he tucks an arm behind his head and stuffs it between him and the pillow. His other hand lays over his belly, fingers laid across the rolls of his shirt.

Jimin turns to face him, making it so he doesn’t have to hang off the bed, as he tucks his own hands beneath his cheek. It’s late, he really should sleep soon, but there’s also the most attractive man he’s ever seen in his life in his bed. 

“Thank you for bringing me a coffee and keeping me company,” Jimin says quietly. 

“It’s nothing,” Taehyung says, adjusting himself so he’s slightly turned to Jimin too. “You make me feel lazy. You’re jumping from class to work to class to homework and half the time I’m just playing video games.”

Jimin shakes his head. “Whatever homework you had today looked so confusing and you did it with ease.”

Taehyung softens, his cheeks rounding. “I’m just saying, I was hoping I could give you a break.”

“You’ve been taking up all of my breaks this week,” Jimin teases.

Taehyung looks proud. His eyes dart over Jimin’s expression, lingering a second longer on his lips. “Good.”

Jimin leans over him, letting their chests brush. Taehyung’s eyes are heavy lidded and stuck on his mouth, his long lashes fluttering when he blinks. Jimin grins down at him, teasing as he reaches to turn off the light, darkness swallowing them.

His breath is stuck in his lungs as he leans down, casting his breath over Taehyung’s cheek before landing his lips next to his ear. “Goodnight, Taehyung-ah.”

The next morning, Jimin wakes up to a scream. A high pitched, glass shattering scream.

He flies from the bed, dizzy and out of it. He doesn’t know where he is or where the sound even came from at first.

It’s when he’s blinking his eyes to rid the sleep from them, panic washing over him, that he focuses on the source. Standing in his doorway, dressed in a yellow onesie that’s covered in cupcakes. 

The Hoseokie headache, back at it again.

“What the fuck,” Jimin grunts, pushing his hands against Hoseok’a chest. There is a look of growing alarm on Hoseok’s face. He stands his ground, refusing to allow Jimin to shove him out.

“What is that?” Hoseok hisses, waving a hand behind Jimin’s back.

Glancing over his shoulder, Jimin spots Taehyung still fast asleep. His heart picks up even more. 

He had forgotten he was there for a moment. He doesn’t know how he’s still asleep after that earth shattering scream, but he looks deep into it. His mouth hanging open, head tilted back into the pillows. One leg hangs off the bed, his bare toes grazing the carpet.

“That is a human,” Jimin grunts, even more determined to shove Hoseok out of his room now. “A human man. I know you’ve never had one in your bed before so this may be shocking to you -”

“That’s Taehyung, isn’t it?” Hoseok interrupts, eyes still wide with alarm and ignoring Jimin’s attempt at a dig. “What the hell is he doing in your bed?”

“None of your business,” Jimin says defensively. He succeeds in getting Hoseok out and quickly, yet gently, closes the door behind them. “Why did you scream like that? You scared me.”

Hoseok giggles, shoulders hunching and jumping up towards his ears with it. “I’ve been practicing what I would do if I ever walked in on you with someone, and I was excited on finally having the opportunity to debut my reaction.”

Jimin really doesn’t want to be amused by that, but it’s Hoseok. He walks off before Hoseok can see the smile on his lips.

Hoseok follows unfortunately.

“So, details,” Hoseok insists as Jimin lets out a sigh. The kitchen is a mess, the sink overflowing with dirty dishes. Jimin quickly turns on the water, searching for the rubber gloves beneath it. “You two have too many clothes on.”

“We didn’t do anything,” Jimin tells him. “We were just doing homework.”

Hoseok snorts. “You’ve talked about sucking his dick eighty three times this week.”

It’s an exaggeration. Jimin’s only mentioned it maybe twelve times. He shudders out a laugh as he slips the gloves on. “The opportunity didn’t arise.”

“He is in your bed.”

Jimin ignores him to start scrubbing the dishes. Thanks to Hoseok’s scream, he woke up before his alarm, which means he has some time to spare. He still scrubs quickly though, hoping to minimize the dirt in the kitchen as soon as possible.

“I see what this is,” Hoseok continues, bumping into Jimin’s side. “You have a crush.”

It’s true. Maybe. A little bit. Jimin doesn’t deny it, but he doesn’t confirm it either.

He might as well have as Hoseok claps his hands in delight. “I can’t wait to tell hyung this!”

Jimin pulls out the dish he’s currently washing, pointing the soapy spatula threateningly at Hoseok. “If you say a word, I will take a permanent marker to your favorite sneakers. I know you broke your promise about not talking about the incident, so I’m already seeking out revenge.”

Horror fills Hoseok’s eyes as he reaches for the spatula, unafraid as he wrestles it from Jimin’s grip.

Water and soap fly around, splattering Jimin’s shirt and arms. He refuses to give up, holding onto the plastic utensil with all his might.

A voice clearing has Jimin letting go, and the sight of Taehyung has Jimin ignoring Hoseok’s cry of victory.

Taehyung is half asleep, only one eye open and barely. His hair sticks up around his head, cheeks puffy and lips pouted.

“Good morning?” Taehyung asks like he’s unsure. It’s adorable the way he rubs his fist to his closed eye. “Am I interrupting?”

“No,” Jimin blurts at the same time as Hoseok’s loud, ‘yes!’

Jimin shoves Hoseok aside, pressing his wet hands into Hoseok’s chest. “No. You’re not. Hoseokie here was just complaining that -”

He doesn’t get a chance to finish, his words cutting off into a gag as Hoseok shoves his fingers into his mouth to quiet him. Hoseok’s eyes are threatening when Jimin pushes him away.

“What the hell,” Jimin yelps, wiping his mouth. Hoseok’s hands taste like soap, and Jimin makes a face at him. “What was that for?”

“I knew you were going to say something that will embarrass me,” Hoseok huffs, glaring at him. He turns to face Taehyung, offering him a much sweeter smile. “Coffee is brewing if you’d like some. I’m afraid Jimin hates all things sweet so we only have milk or cream. I made smoothies this morning too. They’re in the fridge.”

Taehyung nods his head in gratitude, but his eyes are wide when he comes over to take Hoseok’s place. Hoseok makes a kissy face as he backs out of the kitchen.

Jimin is a little embarrassed, and he turns to sink his hands back into the dishes to hide his burning cheeks. “I hope you slept okay.”

He risks it, glancing over his shoulder to find Taehyung looking at him with the widest, saddest puppy eyes he’s ever seen in his life.

“What is it?” Jimin asks, concern in his tone as he shuts off the water to tug his gloves off. “I know Hoseok’s weird, but he’s also pretty cool. His hands were clean.”

Taehyung pushes his lips into a pout, glancing down and then up at Jimin through his eyelashes. It’s so endearing, Jimin’s heart clenches.

“You don’t like sweet,” Taehyung murmurs. “You could have told me.”

Jimin warms. He reaches out, pressing his warm palms to Taehyung’s cheeks. “You getting me a coffee was a nice gesture, I wasn’t going to be picky.”

Taehyung parts his lips before he rubs them together, eyes widening some. “How do you like your coffee then?” 

Jimin wants to kiss him. The thought is loud in his mind. He could just close the space between them and land a fat smooch right to those pouted lips. “Just a little milk.”

Horror quickly fills Taehyung’s expression, his nose wrinkling in disgust. “That’s so gross. I don’t know if this is going to work between us.”

Jimin snorts and swats Taehyung’s shoulder. “Stop saying that. And don’t tell me you’re a ‘cream and sugar with a dab of actual coffee’ coffee drinker?” 

Taehyung scoffs and makes a snotty face. “I sure am. Powdered cream so it’s thick and sweet like me.”

That’s true, at least. Jimin slowly runs his eyes down the length of Taehyung after he says that, humming in affirmation. “See, I like some sweet things.”

Taehyung wags his thick brows as he flicks his fingers beneath Jimin’s chin. “Do you want to actually go on dates today so you can finally get a taste?”

It’s said jokingly, but there’s a punch in Jimin’s gut at the implication. Jimin closes the space between them, reaching out to curl a hand around Taehyung’s nape. He plays with his long hair, head tilting to the side as he gives Taehyung what Hoseok likes to call his ‘man-eater’ smile.

“I think I can convince you to skip the dates? I have class, but it’s an hour from now.” Jimin asks. With his other hand, he flicks a finger against Taehyung’s bottom lip, watching it wiggle before Taehyung licks at it. 

Taehyung cups his hips, eyes dark beneath his thick eyelashes. He really is unfairly pretty. “I’d like to see you try.”

Jimin thinks of a couple things, but mostly just his want to kiss Taehyung. He licks his own lips in preparation to, but after eight years he should have known he doesn’t only get one Hoseokie headache a day. Per hour. 

“Jimin-ah!” Hoseok cries in horror, running so fast into the kitchen that his socks make him slip along the linoleum and he has to grab onto them as not to fall. “Jimin-ah!”

It happens often enough that Jimin doesn’t feel the same alarm he sees in Taehyung’s eyes. He pulls away slowly, turning to his red faced best friend. 

“Excuse me,” Hoseok says in a much calmer voice as he looks to Taehyung. He holds out his arm to Jimin, showing off a small heat rash running up the length of it. “I have to go to the emergency room.”

Jimin sighs, taking it in. “Did you put honey in the smoothies again? It makes you break out.”

Hoseok nibbles on his bottom lip, eyes wide with worry. “I did.”

“Hobi-yah, you’re not supposed to eat honey.”

“I forgot ,” Hoseok complains, looking distraught. “It just tastes so good in tea.”

“Go wash it with cool water. The calamine lotion is beneath the sink,” Jimin instructs. 

Hoseok doesn’t look any more convinced, but he pads off, hollering out a, ‘I still need you to take me to the infirmary’ as he does.

Jimin sighs again, looking back to Taehyung. “Rain check? I have a break around noon if you’re still around.”

Taehyung nods, eyelashes fluttering when he smiles. “Hoseokie care can be date number two.”

It’s kind of silly, but Jimin likes it. Maybe likes Taehyung. The butterflies in his stomach definitely do. 

Date number two takes about Jimin’s entire hour before class. Hoseok requests the doctor take other tests to ensure that he hasn’t actually been poisoned by a strange bug. When Hoseok continues to banter the doctor with his worries despite the doctor’s assurances, Jimin decides him and Taehyung are no longer needed, and he can’t be late.

Their hands fit together like an instinct, like they’ve done it a thousand times before. It’s nice feeling Taehyung’s fingers threaded through his own, the tips gently rubbing at the back of his hand while they walk across the lawn that separates the medical center from the academic buildings. 

“My apartment isn’t too far from here by bus,” Taehyung explains, swinging their hands between them. “Hyung and I lived a little farther until two weeks ago. He’s been trying to see Hoseok since.”

“He’s nervous.”

Taehyung’s eyes are soft. “I know. I’m excited for them to see each other tomorrow.”

It’s there again, the want to kiss him. Jimin bites his bottom lip, focuses on Taehyung’s. He drags their shoulders together, turning his body into Taehyung’s. He’s never been hesitant about acting out on his want for someone, but there’s something about Taehyung that makes him nervous.

Maybe because they really still are getting to know each other, and Jimin already knows he doesn’t want to fuck around and then stop talking afterwards. Sex can make things awkward, but there’s a heat between them that’s too loud to ignore. 

“Jimin-ah,” Taehyung says quietly, eyes darting to Jimin’s lips. They’ve stopped walking, and Jimin knows he’s going to be late to class. “You look like you’re trying to get kissed.”

“Maybe I am,” Jimin murmurs, raising a challenging brow. 

Taehyung grins, tongue flicking out to the edge of his mouth. He leans in, brushing the gentlest kiss over the corner of Jimin’s. He lets his lips rest there for a moment, unmoving, and Jimin turns slightly until their lips brush each other properly.

Or, almost properly. Taehyung pulls away before Jimin can mold their lips together like he wants to. 

“Don’t be late for class,” Taehyung says, mischief in his eyes as he pulls away from Jimin with a cocky wag of his head. 

ken kaneki: fuck the dates, ur getting kissed tomorrow 

ken kaneki: i’m not risking something getting in the way again

ken kaneki: i had to run home, hyung flooded the bathroom and caught the microwave on fire he needs a babysitter

Jimin frowns at the messages, disappointment filling him. It wasn’t just the kiss. He kind of wanted to spend time with Taehyung, too.

He wrinkles his nose at himself as he types out a question asking if Yoongi is okay. Knowing Taehyung, he’ll call him tonight like he has every other night. 

He feels a little silly about being disappointed with having to wait an entire day to see him again. 

When Friday comes, Jimin has gotten enough snacks and drinks to feed a small army. He’s picked out at least fifteen different movies for them to pick through, and he’s pleaded and bribed every person he knows for access to their streaming sites for the night. 

He even made a deal to finish Jin’s Gender Studies essay in exchange for his big screen TV, which now sits against the wall in their living room. Jimin’s spent the last hour arranging it for max comfort and space, just in case Yoongi and Hoseok decide to get their shit together while in the same room as them.

Jimin cringes at the thought, though it morphs into one of Taehyung beneath his thickest blanket, body pressed against his own. Taehyung looks like he’s soft and hard, slightly bigger than Jimin in height and width, but limbs slimmer. With how often his cheeks turn red, Jimin thinks he’s probably warm too.

He isn’t nervous, really. A tiny bit slips through with his anticipation. It’s been a long time since he’s felt struck by someone like this. Jimin’s usually not the hesitant type, but maybe it’s just because it’s been such a long time.

“Wow,” Hoseok compliments as he pads into the living room. He looks around with big eyes. “All this for us? I love you.”

Oh no , Jimin thinks. He didn’t foresee this. Not telling Hoseok about Yoongi coming tonight seemed like a good idea, but Jimin didn’t consider that that meant Hoseok wouldn’t think twice about his appearance.

Not that he looks bad. Hoseok is handsome no matter what, but Hoseok has spent hours before getting himself ready for dates, or to even just send a few selfies to Yoongi.

Jimin glances quickly at the clock. Hoseok’s skin glows, and his hair is soft looking. But the sweater he wears is massive and torn around the sleeves. There’s a Donald Duck on the front, the words ‘ duck with me ’ bedazzled above it’s head. His shorts are tiny, disappearing beneath the sweater, and his toe socks don’t match. It’s cute, but Hoseok is going to ruin him.

“I forgot to tell you Yoongi is coming over in fifteen minutes,” Jimin says so quickly that even he can barely understand himself.

Hoseok stares at him, frozen for a second before the red in his neck rises to his face. “What?”

“I invited Yoongi and Taehyung over for tonight,” Jimin says more slowly this time as he takes a step back. Maybe if he uses Jin’s television as a shield, Hoseok won’t strike. Jin can be scary when he’s angry. “They’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”

Hoseok lunges forward, causing Jimin to flinch as his hands come flying up. They grab onto Jimin’s cheeks, squishing them roughly but not enough to hurt. “I take it back. I hate you. Sleep with one eye open tonight, Park.”

The next fifteen minutes consist of a lot of cussing and sounds from Hoseok that Jimin would record to use against him later if he didn’t already feel bad. One minute to go, and Hoseok runs out of the bedroom looking flushed and a bit winded. He’s changed into a simple black sweater that’s smaller than the previous one and matching black jeans. The bags beneath his eyes from exam week are gone, and his hair is hidden beneath a beanie that pokes out at the top and makes his ears fold beneath the brim.

Jumping onto the couch, Hoseok buries himself beneath the blankets and schools his expression.

“Alright,” Hoseok says, flicking his hair behind his ear. “We’re all set to go. This is nothing.”

Jimin snorts. “You’re cute when you have a crush, hyung.”

“Quiet,” Hoseok grunts. “You’re not off my shit list yet.”

Jimin’s laugh is interrupted by a knock on the door. The air tenses around them as Jimin takes his time in opening the door, not wanting to seem too eager.

Unfortunately, Taehyung isn’t the first thing he sees. Jimin knows it’s Yoongi, who Hoseok had described perfectly. Jimin would have definitely been able to figure out who he was if he had came to the cafe instead of Taehyung.

There is a nervous look on Yoongi’s face, which makes him look disgusted instead of happy when he smiles. “Hello, Jimin-ssi. I am Min Yoongi.”

“You’re making a weird face,” a deep voice whispers from beside him. 

A moment later, Taehyung appears. There is a grin on his lips as he rests his elbow to Yoongi’s shoulder and takes Jimin in. He very openly takes Jimin in, eyes trailing down his body as he tongue pushes out to rest between his teeth. 

“Hyung.”

“Taehyung-ah,” Jimin says, leaning into the door frame. Yoongi’s face of disgust worsens. He wonders what face Yoongi would make if Jimin honored Taehyung’s reques and called him hokage right now. “It’s good to see you.”

“This is my awkward hyung,” Taehyung says as he shoves Yoongi a bit to step in. “Don’t let the nerves fool you. He’s got a foul mouth, and he claims his punches are playful but I’m sure one day he’s going to dislocate my shoulder.”

Jimin doesn’t move out of the way as they walk in. It’s a little rude, but it’s worth it when Taehyung’s body turns to face his to fit in. A hand grips Jimin’s hip, squeezing lightly before Taehyung pulls away. 

That flutter in his heart erupts in his belly. Like he had suspected, their bodies align together nicely.

“That’s not true,” Yoongi argues. His entire expression changes when he spots Hoseok.  “Hobi-yah.”

Hoseok pretends to have not heard them. He looks around the couch in surprise, eyes lighting up before he pulls himself from the blanket. He readjusts the beanie and wipes at his pants. 

“Hyung? What are you doing here? This is such a surprise.”

When they were still planning on what to do for college, Hoseok had considered theatre. Jimin’s glad he chose hospitality management instead because he’s horrific at acting. 

“Jimin didn’t tell you I was coming?” Yoongi asks, confusion in his expression.

“No. Jimin is the devil. I told you this,” Hoseok goes on as he grabs for Yoongi’s hand. It’s a bit awkward, both of them looking at each other like they’re bombs and one touch could make them detonate.

“Oh yeah. Uh, well. You look good, um.“ Yoongi shrugs awkwardly before shoving his hands deep into his hoodie’s pocket. “Yeah. Nice face.”

Hoseok cheeks redden, his head tilting to the side almost shyly. “Thanks. My parents gave it to me.”

Jimin exchanges a smile with Taehyung, his lips pressed tight to keep his laughter quiet. Taehyung’s own face reddens with his own failed attempt at keeping his chuckle in. 

He’s dressed a little differently today, his black shirt tight to his chest and tucked beneath a wide grommet belt. It hugs him tightly, showing off his small waist. The frayed bracelets are still around his wrist, but he also wears thick, matte black rings that match the studs running up the shell of his ear.

There is sweat at the back of Jimin’s neck. He had spent some time getting himself ready, even if he thinks he looks pretty good already. But Taehyung is hot hot , like the sun has trapped itself inside of Jimin’s apartment.

“Yoongi almost threw up outside,” Taehyung says with a lopsided grin. “You might want to put a bucket next to him.”

Jimin chuckles as he pulls away from the door. He can’t sit here and stare at Taehyung all night, even if that’s what he wants to do. “Good idea. I hope you like popcorn, I accidentally made more popcorn than an actual movie theatre has.”

“I love it,” Taehyung assures. Taehyung’s declaration that Jimin’s going to get kissed is at the front of his mind, making the air tense around them, but in a good way. “I hope to sit next to you. For unselfish reasons, of course. I don’t want to get stuck next to Yoongi and Hoseok if they start to make out. I don’t want to get hit by a stray spit bullet.”

That flutter is there, in Jimin’s chest. The butterflies have migrated from his stomach. “Of course. For unselfish reasons. I hope you like horror, Taehyung-ssi.”

There is a loud groan from Hoseok that pulls Jimin’s attention away from Taehyung’s response. “Not horror.” 

“It’s okay,” Jimin hears Yoongi say as he cups a hand around Hoseok’s neck and lowers his voice. “You can hide against me.”

Hoseok smiles, and when Yoongi turns to walk to the couch he throws a thumbs up towards Jimin.

“You can hide against me,” Taehyung murmurs, quietly mocking his hyung as he comes over to Jimin. He stretches his arm out to curl his fingers around Jimin’s collar, tugging gently. “If you get too scared just bury your lips against mine.”

Jimin grins, leaning in. 

Taehyung might look like an angel, but he is the devil. Their lips ghost together before he’s letting Jimin go and turning on his heel to saunter into the living room.

******

Taehyung isn’t paying attention to the movie. He’s quite sure none of them are. Yoongi and Hoseok keep whispering to each other, the glow from the television reflecting off their faces. They’re so close they practically look like one person under the blankets they share.

There are screams and horror music in the background, but it’s distant. Taehyung can’t pay attention when he’s too aware of every movement Jimin makes beside him.

He swears Jimin is purposely being squirmy, but he doesn’t know Jimin well enough to tell. Maybe Jimin is like him and can’t sit still for long. Maybe his hands are cold, and that’s why he keeps planting his palm to Taehyung’s thigh.

Either way, Taehyung doesn’t mind. It’s distracting though. He’s done well pretending he’s paying attention at least, since Jimin’s turned to look at him a handful of times.

Jimin is attractive in a way that feels a little unfair. Like the entire universe’s beauty was given to one person. It’s what caused Taehyung to be so nervous before, because even if Yoongi told him how beautiful Hoseok was, he wasn’t prepared to be face to face with the world’s most beautiful human being. 

He’s thankful it ended up not being Hoseok, though he embarrassed himself rambling on and making zero sense. Jimin didn’t seem to mind, though. Taehyung was taking a bit of risk texting Yoongi not to come to the cafe so he could hang out with Jimin, who could have wanted nothing to do with him. But Jimin seemed to enjoy himself as much as Taehyung had. 

Despite his nerves, he reeled them in to continue talking to Jimin. Not only is Jimin attractive, both pretty and sexy, he’s funny too. And smart. He has a foul mouth, which Taehyung likes. And Jimin still plays Pokemon.

He’s practically Taehyung’s dream man. He thinks fire types are the supreme type, but Taehyung won’t let that get between them. He can be a compromising man.

The surprised look Jimin gave him when Taehyung moved away before they could kiss is on his mind. He’s someone that likes to tease, but it feels like he’s torturing himself. 

“This isn’t scary,” Taehyung whispers, glancing away from where a woman sneaks through her house looking for the intruder. She placed her phone aside before doing so, she’s definitely going to die.

Jimin grins. The movie reflects in his eyes, making them look even brighter. He hadn’t been wearing makeup when they first met, but now his eyes are surrounded by dark shadow and thick liner. His lips are plush and glossy, his cheeks just a little too pink to be a natural blushing. He’s in all black like Taehyung, except his shirt collar is dangerously low, and he wears a collection of long chained necklaces. 

“I’m scared,” Jimin says. He squeezes Taehyung’s thigh before leaning into him. “Shaking in my boots.”

The boots he was wearing are thick and clunky with metal spikes around the heel. They gave Jimin a few inches, making them closer to the same height, but Jimin had kicked them off to fold his legs onto the couch.

“Look, something more terrifying,” Taehyung mumbles as he nudges his chin in the direction of their hyungs.

Yoongi is bright pink, eyes batting as he tilts his chin towards his chest shyly. Whatever Hoseok says to him makes him smile big, showing off his gums, and look away like he wants to hide it from Hoseok.

It’s cute and sickening at the same time.

Jimin giggles kind of loudly before he turns and buries his face into Taehyung’s shoulder. 

Taehyung’s breath gets stuck in his lungs as Jimin curls into him. He laughs loudly in a way that makes it infectious, and Taehyung likes how it seems to cause a wreckage inside of him. 

But right now, it’s making Jimin curl into him, and part of Taehyung wants to turn and spread his legs to fit Jimin between those instead. 

“Your hyung is so cute,” Jimin says, attempting to whisper but failing. He keeps a hand close to his mouth as he uses the other to swipe the hair tumbling over his forehead. “How Hobi doesn’t know how much he likes him is beyond me.”

Jimin’s eyes are loud too. Taehyung thinks he’d be horrible at keeping a blank expression, because his eyes speak when he doesn’t. Right now they’re gleaming, and it’s noticeable when they soften as Jimin’s laughter dies.

The corners of Jimin’s lips quirk up as his eyes drop from Taehyung’s to his lips. He doesn’t pull away, but reaches between them to brush Taehyung’s bangs from his forehead too.

Taehyung doesn’t mind as Jimin pushes his hair back. Goosebumps trail in the wake of Jimin’s fingers as they brush down the side of his face before his hand falls back to Taehyung’s thigh.

“I’ve been there for at least two of the times Yoongi has confessed,” Taehyung admits. 

Jimin’s eyes fill with surprise. “Really?”

“Yeah. He said, ‘I really want to kiss you right now. I’ve been thinking about it all day,’” Taehyung lies. He’s sure Yoongi has said something like that before, but it wasn’t during the times Taehyung’s overheard him confess his feelings to Hoseok. 

It’s Taehyung’s confession right now. Maybe he’s a chicken too, using his like for teasing as an excuse for his nerves. He’s heard the saying you are what you eat , and maybe he shouldn’t have had that chicken sandwich for lunch. He should have eaten a more confident meat. 

Jimin’s eyes focus on Taehyung’s mouth when he speaks, which makes the air around Taehyung feel heavy. The woman who forgot her phone and now screams from being slaughtered doesn’t help, but it’s all background noise.

He’s forgotten Yoongi and Hoseok are even there until Jimin mentions them.

“What do you think Hoseok said?”

Taehyung glances over Jimin’s shoulder. Yoongi’s got a hand beneath Hoseok’s chin and pride swells in Taehyung’s chest. He had spent the last three hours before they left trying to push Yoongi into finally going for it and kissing his boy.

Maybe Taehyung should take his own advice.

“He probably hung up the phone.”

Jimin giggles again, his nose wrinkling as it scrunches. “And then came to me to vent about how he wishes Yoongi liked him back.”

It’s a little ridiculous. Taehyung’s shoulders shake as he laughs with Jimin. It draws even more attention and glares from their hyungs.

“I can hear you,” Hoseok says, annoyance in his tone. “Come on, hyung. Let’s go somewhere less rude.”

It makes Taehyung laugh a little harder with how Hoseok keeps up his glare while struggling to get out of the hundreds of blankets he’s placed on top of him and Yoongi. Yoongi watches him with a fondness in his eyes, even when Hoseok yanks him from the couch and storms off with him in tow. A love sick puppy, if Taehyung has ever seen one.

Jimin shifts, moving so his knees rest over Taehyung’s lap. Taehyung stretches an arm over the back of the couch, wanting to touch Jimin if it’s okay with him. “They’re going to bang.”

“Probably,” Jimin says, resting his head back and showing off the length and strength in his neck. “Finally. It’s been like a year of this.”

“Really?” Taehyung asks, cupping  a hand over Jimin’s knee beneath the blanket. “I’ve only heard about it for a few months. Hyung started randomly filling my timeline with tweets about wanting to hold someone’s hand and get railed at the same time so I forced him to tell me who he was writing ‘I am a bottom’ on his forehead for.”

At first, Yoongi wouldn’t tell him. He denied and denied liking anyone until Taehyung caught him shoving his blushing face into a pillow and made him spill the beans.

It was quite easy to do. After stealing his cellphone and shoving it down his pants so he couldn’t get it back, Yoongi finally told him.

“It opened a floodgate,” Taehyung complains. He is teasing though, he likes seeing Yoongi crushing on someone. 

It doesn’t happen often. Yoongi’s so focused on school and work that his interest in dating has always been buried beneath his responsibilities. 

“What about you?” Jimin asks as Taehyung inches his hand up higher. Jimin has thick thighs, and Taehyung likes how wide his fingers spread to cup around the start of it. “Are you -“ 

“A bottom? Yes.”

Jimin laughs, his body shaking with it. “I meant are you crushing on anyone?”

Heat warms its way to Taehyung’s cheeks. He hates (loves) how easy it is for Jimin to make him red. “Oh, sort of. You?”

“Yes. I’ll tell you about him,” Jimin says with a serious expression that doesn’t last long. His eyes are too loud and amused before he unfolds his leg to throw it completely over Taehyung’s lap. “A little shorter than me, strawberry red hair. Works at a gaming store.”

“I misread this, sorry,” Taehyung plays along as he plants his hand back to Jimin’s thigh. He touches a little more firmly, thumb grazing over his pants. When he moves Jimin’s thigh as if to take it off of him, Jimin pushes up to plant his weight down on him, leg clamping around him.

“I’m kidding,” Jimin clarifies. “I’m interested in you.”

Taehyung sucks in a breath. Jimin still looks amused when he says it, but there is something else in his eyes that makes Taehyung’s insides tumble around. “I am quite the catch.”

“Indeed,” Jimin hums. He cocks his head to the side, an eyebrow arching. “I haven’t been watching the movie.”

With as much screeching that’s going on, it is surprising that Taehyung forgot too. “There’s a movie on?”

The smile hasn’t left Jimin’s lips, and Taehyung finds his own still stretched wide. He wonders if he looks silly, but it doesn’t seem like Jimin minds.

“Well, I think it’s over now,” Jimin whispers like a secret.

There feels like there is a string between them, tugging Taehyung forward when he moves in. His hand moves too, sliding up the side of Jimin’s thigh.

His first thought is Jimin smells good. The second is that Jimin doesn’t move in as well, and maybe he has really misread this. Maybe Jimin is teasing him back, and he suddenly hates teasing.

“We should put another on,” Taehyung suggests.

Jimin pushes his lips out into a pout, his expression thoughtful. “I was thinking of doing something else.”

“Oh?” Taehyung exhales out. He’s not easily flustered usually, but he’s also not used to such a pretty man in his lap like this either. 

Jimin hums as he reaches out and plays with the studs in Taehyung’s ear. Another exhale leaves his lips sharply when Jimin tugs on his lobe. 

“You look like you want to be kissed,” Jimin comments with a low voice. “For completely unselfish reasons, I could help you with that.”

It’s a bit dizzying how Jimin can go from adorable and cute like he was in the cafe to this. He looks at Taehyung like he really would eat him whole, and Taehyung finds he really would let him.

“For unselfish reasons,” Taehyung replies before licking at his bottom lip. “How kind of you.”

Taehyung goes cross eyed trying to look at Jimin when he leans in, close enough for Taehyung feel the breath that leaves his lips when he speaks. “So is that a yes?”

Dragging his hand higher and higher up Jimin’s thigh, Taehyung leans in. It’s a push and pull as Jimin leans back in response, teasing him until he finally ducks forward for their lips to meet. 

It isn’t tentative, or slow. Taehyung’s lips are formed into a smile that Jimin takes advantage of, tongue gliding between Taehyung’s lips until he parts them further.

Jimin clasps a hand to his neck, securing Taehyung where he half leans over him to kiss him deeper. His lips are as soft as Taehyung imagined, and Taehyung groans quietly when they wrap around his bottom lip and tug .

It sparks something hot inside of Taehyung, who grips Jimin’s hip to pull him in. They move together, lips barely parting as Taehyung twists his body and knees into the couch to crawl over him.

The blanket falls to the ground forgotten. The credits of the movie forgotten. Even the fact that they’re not completely alone forgotten as their noses nudge, their teeth scraping over each other’s lips. 

Taehyung rests his forearms around Jimin’s head as Jimin’s fingers spread over his rib cage. He shivers at the feeling, Jimin’s hands warm as they explore every inch of him. There is a supernova inside of him, growing and building until it feels as if it will explode soon and cause a destruction inside of him. 

It’s hot and messy the way Taehyung likes, his insides trembling as Jimin sucks his tongue into his mouth. He’s quiet compared to Taehyung, who groans every time arousal shoots down to his groin.

It would be embarrassing the way Taehyung’s cock starts to stiffen just from making out, but it’s Jimin, who he thinks might just be a master kisser. His lips plush, wet, soft, firm when they grab hold of Taehyung’s. 

His body feels nice against Taehyung’s too, trapped between his own and the couch. Taehyung cups Jimin’s thigh to pull it up, wanting to be caged in between them. He kind of wants to shove his face between them too, but as much as they’ve joked and teased each other about getting to that level, they haven’t truly discussed it.

Taehyung knows it’s normal to just hook up with someone you’re attracted to, and he wouldn’t mind. But his crush on Jimin isn’t just physical attraction. He wants to make sure Jimin knows that.

But god if he isn’t attracted in a very physical way. 

Knotting his fingers into Taehyung’s hair, Jimin teases his lips over Taehyung’s. Taehyung feels the way Jimin’s smile grows when he ducks forward to slot their lips back together just to get his hair tugged in response.

Taehyung wrinkles his nose, sticks his tongue out as far as it can go until the tip is curling against Jimin’s bottom lip. Teasingly, Jimin flicks out his own, rubbing it over Taehyung’s.

It’s so fucking hot Taehyung’s ears start to burn. The slick sounds of their tongues moving against each other only adds to it, building a groan in Taehyung’s throat that he knows is going to be loud.

It threatens to slip out, and Jimin is dragging him back down to muffle it into his mouth. His fingers release Taehyung’s hair to slip beneath the collar of his shirt, his hand maneuvering it’s way between his shoulder blades. 

The want to roll their hips together is there as Taehyung lowers his body into Jimin’s even more, planting him into the couch. He doesn’t, though he knows Jimin can feel how hard he’s already become.

When a hand presses into his chest, Taehyung pushes up. It’s almost comical how quickly he sits back as Jimin guides him, settling his back into the arm of the couch as Jimin settles into his lap. 

Taehyung likes it more than he’ll admit. Jimin sitting on him, his arms curling behind his head to support him when Jimin kisses him so deeply it falls back. He smooths his hands over Jimin’s ribcage to settle at his back, fists twisting into the thin material of his shirt.

It’s the sound of Hoseok’s laughter that has their kiss finally breaking, Jimin panting softly against Taehyung’s lips as Taehyung pants back, not wanting to stop yet. 

“What the hell,” Jimin murmurs, his lips quirking up. He plants a kiss to Taehyung’s lips as he slips from Taehyung’s lap.

Jimin is just bringing the blankets back over them as Hoseok and Yoongi appear back in the living room.

They’re both red as a tomato, their hair sticking up around their ears. Yoongi’s shirt no longer tucked in at the back. Taehyung tries to school his expression, thighs clenching together, but he isn’t sure it works. 

It’s a bit awkward as Yoongi and Hoseok take their places, eyes on the television instead of where Taehyung tries not to squirm in his seat.

It’s made harder when Jimin grips his thigh again, fingers rubbing at the seams of Taehyung’s pants. He’s sure Jimin must have felt how hard he’s gotten, but he isn’t embarrassed by it. Well, only a little. Maybe a lot.

“The movie is over,” Yoongi points out, looking to them as he throws a thumb out to indicate the credits rolling on the screen.

“It’s your turn to choose,” Jimin says, not sounding like he was just breathless a moment ago. “We were waiting. What took you so long?”

Taehyung plants an elbow on the back of the couch so he can bite his knuckle. Yoongi laughs awkwardly, turning redder. Hoseok makes a face at Jimin, and Taehyung wishes he could see the face Jimin sends back in return.

“Sorry. Right. Hoseok was showing me his Pokémon collection.” 

It sounds like a lie, and Jimin has complained to Taehyung just yesterday how Hoseok will never watch the show with him. He didn’t seem to care when Jimin finally evolved his Farfetch’d into a Sirfetch’d. 

“Oh really?” Jimin asks, amused sounding as he kneads his fingers into Taehyung’s thigh. “Tae here was just showing me his. I didn’t know you liked Pokemon, hyung?”

Yoongi starts to nod, but there’s a defensive look on Hoseok’s face when he interrupts.

“I love Pokemon. Pikachu is my favorite,” Hoseok says so quickly Taehyung starts to wonder what they’re talking about.

If it’s anything like what Jimin and him were doing, he understands how red Yoongi’s ears are.

“Charizard too,” Hoseok goes on, arms crossing over his chest and his chin tilts up in defiance. Jimin looks amused. 

“What about Agumon?” Jimin asks.

“Yep,” Hoseok is quick to agree, making them all look at him in confusion. “Love that one.”

Jimin snickers, turning into Taehyung to press his face to his shoulder. When he does, his fingers slip further between Taehyung’s legs.

He doesn’t touch him really, just cups his thigh. But it’s maddening.

At this point, Taehyung wouldn’t mind if Jimin did. He doesn’t have a lot of shame, but he does struggle with being quiet.

No one points out to Hoseok that Agumon is a Digimon as Yoongi stands instead to pick out the next movie.

Taehyung tucks himself into the corner of the couch as Jimin brings his legs back onto it, this time curled on his other side so his weight leans into Taehyung. Taehyung spreads his legs, liking the feeling of Jimin against him like this.

His dick definitely does too. It’s a bit uncomfortable trapped beneath the tight, thick material of his jeans. He resists adjusting himself in fear that he’ll grind his hand down instead.

Maybe he can sneak off to the bathroom or Hoseok will choose something horrific and distracting to make his boner go down.

“Taehyung-ssi.”

Taehyung bites his lip when he feels Jimin’s breath cascade over his ear. His attention is pulled from where Hoseok is trying to not so quietly goad Yoongi into picking out a movie he wants and back to Jimin’s swollen mouth.

It’s pulled up into a grin.

“Do you want something to drink?” Jimin asks, but he says it like he’s offering Taehyung a hand job instead.

Taehyung clears his throat. “Funny enough, I am feeling quite parched.”

Jimin snorts as he pulls away from him. Taehyung regrets saying yes until Jimin offers him a hand.

“Getting drinks,” Jimin says as he helps Taehyung up so the blankets fall back to the ground. “Don’t let Hoseok pick the Trolls movie again. I’ve seen it so much I hear ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ in my nightmares.”

Yoongi laughs fondly, and Hoseok starts to say something but Jimin is ripping Taehyung out of  the living room before he can hear what it is. 

Jimin lets go of his hand when they enter the kitchen, slipping his fingers beneath the front of Taehyung’s belt instead. He wags his eyebrows as he tugs, guiding Taehyung forward as he walks backwards. 

“They were definitely making out,” Jimin says under his breath. “Finally.”

Taehyung nods, a little breathless from the grip Jimin has on him. “I’m taking it they weren’t looking at Pokemon cards.”

Jimin laughs when his back hits the fridge. He tugs on the belt once more, legs spreading for Taehyung to fit between. “No. I don’t think they were.”

Kissing Jimin could be his new favorite past time, Taehyung thinks. Without his boots on, Taehyung has to duck his head slightly, hands slipping over the sides of Jimin’s neck as Jimin arches his head back. He cups Jimin’s neck, feeling his pulse beneath his fingertips. It’s as erratic as his own.

The beat only grows more rapid as Jimin trails his hands down his back to tug his shirt from where it’s tucked into his pants. The touch on his bare skin is gentle, fingers grazing, but it tickles in a way that causes goosebumps to erupt across Taehyung’s skin.

Jimin giggles as they kiss, a giggle that turns into a gruff noise when their tongues meet again. Lips stretched around smiles, their tongues play over each other in a way that has Taehyung’s hips pressing forward to stitch against Jimin’s, his embarrassment wiped away with his need. 

The echoing sound of the Troll’s opening song has Jimin pulling back with a laugh. He cups Taehyung’s face, squeezing gently until his lips pout out like a fish. 

“Do you want to get out of here?” Jimin asks quietly as he caresses his thumbs over the corners of Taehyung’s mouth. “I wasn’t lying about the Troll nightmares.”

Taehyung nods, sucking in his bottom lip. “Where are we going?”

Jimin lifts a shoulder in response before he slips from between him and the fridge. There’s mischief in his eyes as he tugs Taehyung towards the door. “We’ll see.”

“We should tell the hyungs,” Taehyung says, but his feet move farther away from them. 

“They won’t notice,” Jimin says as he reaches the door, curling an arm behind himself as he pulls Taehyung to his front.

They kiss again. Taehyung can’t stop his smile from making his cheeks hurt. 

“You’re going down Kim.” 

Taehyung bites his bottom lip, concentrating on the screen before him. He tightens his grip around the steering wheel, excitement filling him as the revving engines from the machine grows louder. 

“The only thing I’m going down on is you, Park,” Taehyung shoots back, his tone threatening. 

The cars take off. Taehyung feels smug when Jimin stalls behind.

Jimin cusses loudly. It’s late enough that most of the people here are their own age, no little ones around to hear Jimin’s foul mouth. 

Taehyung swerves the steering wheel to the side, just barely missing smashing into the guardrails. He doesn’t know how to drive a real car at all, but he’s kicked his coworker’s ass enough times in this game that his name is already on the leaderboard.

He’s cocky, maybe. A little too cocky that when Jimin’s car rushes past him, he feels his inner sore loser start to build. Determination fills him as he hits the pedal to pick up speed.

“Ha!” Jimin shouts. “Eat my ass.”

“I will,” Taehyung grunts, “if I win.”

Jimin hits the breaks so quickly that Taehyung nearly smashes into the back of his car. A laugh bubbles out of Taehyung, making his eyes squeeze closed so he can barely see the screen. But it doesn’t matter as Jimin takes his hands completely off the wheel, securing Taehyung’s victory.

They’ve been at it for an hour now, jumping between games and shit talking so much Taehyung’s going to have to brush his teeth soon. He likes it though, his fondness growing for Jimin even though he’s obnoxious when he wins.

(Obnoxious in a way that makes Taehyung want to press Jimin into one of the gaming machines like he had pressed him to the fridge earlier and kiss his face off.)

“Oh, would you look at that,” Jimin sighs like he’s disappointed as the screen shows Taehyung as the winner. “Oh shucks. I guess I’m getting my ass ate now. How truly disappointing.”

Taehyung reaches out to push Jimin playfully. He snorts, trying to hold back his giggle. “No. You cheated.”

Offense makes Jimin’s eyes go wide. “That wasn’t cheating! You should be more confident in yourself, Taehyung-ssi. That was all you. I didn’t stand a chance against the almighty Speed Racer.”

Taehyung flicks out his hands to hit away the ones Jimin reaches towards him. He’s flustered by the smirk on Jimin’s lips and the want to kiss him again. 

It’s fun. It’s silly. They play game after game, and maybe Taehyung sulks when he loses because he likes the way Jimin cups his cheeks to coo at him and kiss his nose. He does hate losing, but he doesn’t mind when winning makes Jimin shine so brightly that Taehyung needs a pair of sunglasses just to look at him. 

They stay until it closes, and maybe Taehyung spent too much money trying to win Jimin the Eevee doll that he wanted so much from the claw machine, but Jimin in return won him a stuffed Snorlax that’s bigger than his pillow. 

It’s nice. Especially when they venture out into the still busy streets of Seoul, shoulders bumping. Taehyung hooks his plushie beneath one arm so he can use the other to search idly for Jimin’s hand. 

Neither Yoongi nor Hoseok have reached out to either of them, and Taehyung hopes that means they’ve hit the climax of their mutual pining and now are banging each other’s brains out.

He says as much as they near the Han River, which glistens beneath the city lights. Jimin laughs, back bowing as he sends his giggles into the night air above them.

He glistens just as brightly, and Taehyung rolls his eyes at himself when the thought enters his brain. 

“God, I don’t want to go home to that. Hoseok sounds like a banshee when he’s fucking. The one time I walked in on him? Worst night of my life. I couldn’t the image of his ass out of my mind for like two years.”

Taehyung laughs as he nudges his their shoulders, squeezes Jimin’s fingers. “You can come to mine. You know, for unselfish reasons. I just don’t want you to have a repeat of that. No funny business, I swear.”

Jimin sucks in his bottom lip, pressing his Eevee doll close to his chest. “What if I wanted funny business?”

He turns into Taehyung, keeping him from walking further. He takes a few steps back, and Taehyung follows, curling a protective arm around his waist to guide him into not accidentally leading them into the river. 

“Then suddenly I’m a comedian.”

Jimin’s face twists into one of near disgust as he laughs loudly. “That was a really bad one. You’re so lame.”

He says it as he snakes an arm around Taehyung’s shoulders to twist his fingers into his hair. He says it like he’s fond.

“You into that?” Taehyung asks slyly, raising a brow. “I got more where that came from.”

Jimin laughs again, the sound piercing the quiet surrounding the river. Fingers tugging in Taehyung’s hair, pulling him in to muffle the sound against his lips.

It softens into a hum. Taehyung doesn’t want the night to end. 

Getting ready for movie night, Taehyung hadn’t considered it would lead to Jimin being in his apartment. He wishes he did as the living area is a mess as a result of Yoongi’s nerves, his comfort items strewn across every surface possibly. Blankets, food containers, scrap pieces of paper with half written poems about the boy that owns his heart on them. 

Taehyung’s bedroom isn’t any better. There is a massive pile of clothes thrown over his desk from the multiple outfits Taehyung tried on in his attempts to look as good as possible tonight. His bed is a mess of rumpled blankets and homework he’s abandoned. 

There’s half filled water bottles everywhere , but at least Taehyung’s tossed away the empty packets of snacks that he spent more time devouring than doing the homework he brought them out for. 

“Welcome,” Taehyung says anyway, cheeks burning hot as he raises his arms and shows off his bedroom. He plants the Snorlax plushie on his bed, tucking him between the pillows. “This is where the magic happens.”

Jimin smacks his shoulder. “Not where the cleaning happens, apparently.”

Taehyung pushes his lips into a pout, but Jimin is grabbing his hands and rocking him until he comes close. 

He does it again, the teasing. Lips a breath apart before Jimin let’s go and twirls around to snoop.

Taehyung has already showed off his collection of manga and DVDs, but he feels exposed when Jimin peers over his bookshelf like he’s taking in each and every title. He touches Taehyung’s standing dolls, brushes over his plushies so delicately it makes Taehyung bite at his smile. 

When Jimin squats down to the bottom shelf, panic rises inside of Taehyung.

“Don’t!”

Alarm is in Jimin’s eyes when he looks over his shoulder. It’s quickly replaced with amusement.

“What’s in the box?” Jimin asks slowly.

Taehyung rubs at his neck. “Nothing.”

Jimin quirks a brow. It’s tauntingly slow the way he reaches to extract the box from the shelf like he’s baiting Taehyung. “Are you secretly a One Piece fan? Threw it all in here so I wouldn’t see and call you out for tormenting me?”

Taehyung rolls his eyes. “Absolutely not.”

“Okay, then what is it?” Jimin huffs, eyes squinting when he laughs. His fingers are rubbing over the edge of the lid, caressing the sides the way Taehyung wishes to be caressed instead.  

“My porn collection!” Taehyung shouts in desperate need to get Jimin to stop. “Really gross stuff, like -” he cringes, stuttering out an unsure, “milf.”

Shining bright like the sun, Jimin plops his butt to the ground and settles the box on his lap. He laughs loudly, nose wrinkling. “What’s really in here?”

Taehyung’s heart thumps in his chest as Jimin looks at him like he’s waiting for Taehyung to say he really can’t open it before he does. 

“It’s not what it looks like.”

Jimin’s expression twists into one of confusion. He lifts up a blue ribbon from the box, showing it to Taehyung as if asking to explain. 

“My parents put me in a lot of competitions when I was younger,” Taehyung quickly explains, pulling the box from Jimin’s lap. It’s filled with tiny trophies and ribbons. He only keeps them in reach because whenever his mother comes to visit, she makes sure he’s proudly showing them off throughout the apartment. 

“For singing?”

Taehyung nods. He has a nice voice, but he gets really embarrassed whenever people compliment him for it. It can be stressful even sharing it online, but it’s easier when it’s faceless people.

When it’s people he knows, he feels like he’s dying. He doesn’t know why. 

“Why are you embarrassed?” Jimin asks as Taehyung slides the box back onto the shelf. “There’s a lot in there, you should be proud.”

Taehyung sits next to Jimin, crossing his legs. “I’m not embarrassed.”

“You are,” Jimin says as he rests back with his hands behind him. “You’re really good. Don’t be embarrassed.”

“I’m alright,” Taehyung clarifies, rolling his eyes. 

“Let me see then,” Jimin says gently. “Sing for me.”

“I can’t.”

Jimin peers his eyes. He has a habit of brushing his hair off his forehead, head tilting back to expose the length and strength of his neck, and Taehyung likes it more than he’ll admit. 

“Why not?”

Taehyung nibbles on his cheek, trying to figure out a way to explain. It sounds silly even to him, makes him even more embarrassed because he knows he is talented and shouldn’t be embarrassed by it. 

“I lost my voice,” Taehyung finally decides to say.

Jimin kicks him gently, leaving his foot against Taehyung’s knee to press his toes into it. “What do you mean?”

“I made a deal with an evil octopus witch that she can have my voice for the rest of the semester in exchange for good grades,” Taehyung says before he lets out a long, troubled sigh.

Jimin gives him a strange look as he pulls his foot back. He sits up, knees over the carpet towards Taehyung.

“That’s the plot of Little Mermaid,” Jimin giggles.

Taehyung gives him a serious look. “It isn’t. Ariel isn’t in college. She isn’t even old enough to go to college, I’m pretty sure. Wait, how old is the prince?”

His legs part without him telling them to as Jimin moves like he’s going to sit on his lap again, distracting him from his sudden worry about Ariel. 

Taehyung’s breath hitches when he does. Jimin’s hands trailing over his cheeks to tickle at his neck. He touches Taehyung’s skin the way he had the box, featherlight. 

“If that’s the case, I’m pretty sure you need true love’s kiss to break the spell,” Jimin whispers.

“I don’t think that’s the plot,” Taehyung mutters, but his eyes are dropping to Jimin’s plush lips. He hasn’t seen the movie since he was a kid, it could be. “And it’s quite bold of you to assume that’s you.”

They’ve kissed eighty six times tonight he thinks but anticipation is building inside of him for the eighty seventh. 

“Sing for me,” Jimin whispers, his voice coaxing. “Technically this is the fifth date like you promised.”

Taehyung goes over it in his head. “How do you figure?”

Jimin holds out his hand to tick off his fingers. “Library date. Clinic date. Movie date. Arcade date. Romantic stroll by the river date. Time to woo me, baby.”

Shit. He’s right. 

Taehyung knows Jimin has seen his covers already, likes them. But there is a difference about someone watching a song you’ve recorded fifty four times on a screen and singing two inches from their face.

Especially since he already feels a little bit of a mess inside because of the way Jimin said baby. Called him baby.

“Okay,” Taehyung agrees, searching for his confidence. He has it, he does. Just not often when it comes to singing.

Lately it disappears when he’s around Jimin. Stupid crushes and the nerves they bring out. 

Jimin sits back, butt snuggled between Taehyung’s knees as he throws his thighs over Taehyung’s. Taehyung rests his hands against them, rubbing gently. He searches for a song to sing, but suddenly it feels as if he’s never heard a song ever in his life. He can’t think of one single lyric.

“I don’t know what to sing,” Taehyung says, making a face. 

“Anything.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, trying to muster the most petulance in one expression that he can manage. “Anything?”

Jimin nods, head cocking to the side when he smiles. Taehyung breathes in, eyes rolling again because his red cheeks aren’t helping him look petulant. It doesn’t help that Jimin has a very intimidating gaze, even if Taehyung thinks he isn’t trying to look that way.

“ I want to be the very best, that no one ever was -”

His voice comes out hesitant, quiet. It can’t be heard over Jimin’s laugh. His legs close when he giggles, and Taehyung gently pries them apart.

“ To catch them is my real test, to train them is my real cause. ” Taehyung throws up a fist, whispering out a weak, “Pokemon!”

“I’m serious,” Jimin cackles, wigging on top of Taehyung’s lap. “Sing me your favorite song.”

“That is my favorite song,” Taehyung quickly argues, the heat in his cheeks now trailing to his ears. “Might just play it at my wedding.”

Jimin gives him a soft look. “You don’t actually have to sing if you’re not comfortable. I don’t mean to pressure you. I only mean it in an encouraging way.”

“You’re not,” Taehyung says, dropping his eyes to watch the way his fingers look spread over Jimin’s thighs. “I just have stage fright.”

“Picture me naked then. That’s what they say helps, right?”

Taehyung pinches Jimin’s thigh. “I already am.”

Or at least, he is now. Jimin bare and spread over him like this. It makes him burn hot for a different reason than embarrassment. Not just a surface burn either. It seeps into him and warms his insides. 

“I don’t think it’s helping,” Taehyung murmurs as he slides his hands into the inside of Jimin’s thighs and up until he’s cupping the crease of his legs. Jimin’s legs part just a bit more, that look in his eyes growing a bit heavier.

He has strong looking legs, muscle bulging around the top of his thighs and pressing into his tight pants. Taehyung thinks about them caged around his head, if Jimin would let him live there permanently. He’d pay rent. Every penny he has. 

“Okay. Pretend I’m your mom.”

Taehyung groans in complaint. “That’s definitely the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”

Jimin smiles big, shoulders shaking. “You’re the one with the milf kink.”

“Not my own mother,” Taehyung argues in disgust. He shakes his head at himself. “I don’t have a milf kink, I just panicked because I don’t like people giving attention to my awards.”

Taking Taehyung’s hands, Jimin guides them to cup his hips. Taehyung squeezes gently until Jimin is scooching further up his lap. 

“Rain check on the singing,” Jimin says, eyes warm as he hooks an arm around Taehyung’s neck. “Until Ursula gives you your voice back. It’ll give us a reason to go on more dates together.”

“I was hoping we would either way,” Taehyung murmurs as he spreads his hands up Jimin’s spine to press him close. 

“There’s another fifth date thing we can do,” Jimin whispers, teasing as he leans in like he may kiss him. “If you remember.”

Taehyung nods, licking at his lips. Jimin’s close enough that Taehyung could accidentally lick his lips instead. “Dick touching.”

Jimin presses their noses together, his laughter much quieter before. Fingers rub at the back of Taehyung’s head, gently threading through the longer strands over his nape. 

Their lips touch again. It’s gentler this time, slower than before. Just their lips molding over one another, their noses nudging together.

Jimin hums into the kiss, singing his own song for Taehyung. Taehyung likes the sound of Jimin’s voice, the way it can go from deep and husky to lighter when he’s in a fit of laughter. The thicker accent that comes out when he’s talking shit.

The breathy noises he lets out when their lips part open over the other before securing back together. Alone, Jimin is louder, not holding back his groans when their lips touch.

It excites Taehyung, has his hands rubbing and gripping over as much of Jimin as possible to hear more.

He shifts his hands beneath Jimin’s thin shirt, savoring how warm his bare skin is. Taehyung knows he must be burning too. He feels it, a spark lighting inside of him and growing rapidly when Jimin’s hips jerk down against him. 

Taehyung is out of breath when Jimin pulls away, a thin line of spit connecting his lips. He curls his tongue, breaking it.

Jimin grins, a dirty smirk on his face as he climbs off of Taehyung’s lap and holds his hand out for him.

“The bed looks more comfortable,” Jimin teases, fingers curling in Taehyung’s shirt as he walks back towards Taehyung’s bed. “Don’t you think, hokage ?

Victory soars through Taehyung. He clenches his fist to contain it, lips pressing together as he groans in appreciation. He even clenches his eyes closed and cocks his head to the side like he’s just tasted something sweet.

For someone who doesn’t like sweet things, Jimin looks the sweetest of them all. Even with the heavy look in his eyes, matched with the teasing smirk on his face that he licks at when his eyes trail over Taehyung’s body like he thinks he looks sweet too. 

Maybe a little too eagerly, Taehyung shoves his homework from his bed. It’s barely hitting the ground before Jimin is pushing him down playfully where it had been.

Taehyung’s hand go to his belt, quickly undoing it as he watches Jimin strip from his shirt. He’s all thin, lean muscle. Over his red chest, his necklaces shine and dance, sparkling the same way his eyes do.

“I like your polka dot sheets,” Jimin says as he knees onto the bed, his hands now at the lip of his jeans. 

“They were on sale,” Taehyung says, voice dropping low as he shimmies his own pants down his legs. “Two for one.”

Jimin groans in appreciation. “That’s so hot.”

Taehyung giggles, kicking his pants aside. He doesn’t wait for Jimin to rid his own before he’s grabbing Jimin’s shoulders to pull him back down against him. 

“Came with two shams,” Taehyung says dirtily against Jimin’s lips. 

“I don’t know what those are,” Jimin says breathlessly as he grabs Taehyung’s thigh to wrap it around his waist. His open fly digs into Taehyung’s skin, and Taehyung pushes his hands beneath the back of Jimin’s pants to shove them down.

Jimin huffs out when Taehyung wraps his hands around his ass cheeks, squeezing hard. The amusement slips from his eyes as they widen a bit, darken even more. 

Taehyung parts his lips to say he thinks they’re pillowcases but a tongue slips between them before he can. There’s no hesitation in the way Jimin’s body moves against his as he kisses him, his back bending as his hips arch before pressing into Taehyung’s. 

It would be embarrassing how easily hard he becomes, but Taehyung is past the point of caring when he flattens his hands over the round of Jimin’s ass to spread him and earns a sharp moan against his lips. 

He’d be lying if he hasn’t thought about this before tonight. Like, perhaps the first day they met. Jimin has a strength in his body that Taehyung wants him to use against him, pinning him down anyway he can, and Jimin seems to know that. Or maybe he just likes using his strength as much as Taehyung likes it, because his hands are being pinned above his head before he can move them there himself.

The grip is loose until Taehyung moans shakily. He can feel Jimin grin against his lips before he tightens his grip even more, his hips unrelenting against his own.

“What do you want?” Jimin murmurs, arousal making his voice deep and raspy. Despite wanting an answer, he bites at Taehyung’s bottom lip a bit harshly so he can’t reply.

Taehyung tenses his thighs, meeting the roll of Jimin’s hips. He can feel how hard Jimin is too, his cock digging into Taehyung’s hip when he presses down. Taehyung turns his hips some, shuddering when Jimin’s cock rubs down against his own.

“I don’t care,” Taehyung breathes, because he doesn’t. “As long as you’re like, not into cock and ball torture or something.”

Jimin falters in his ministrations, forehead pressing to Taehyung’s as he chuckles against his lips. “Not into that? How disappointing.”

Taehyung burns hot, arousal twisting in his navel and shit, maybe he is into that. Maybe he’s just into Jimin. His dark eyes, the way he looks at Taehyung like he might just eat him. “We can try it.”

The way Jimin switches expressions so easily, going from dark and wanting to bright and giggling. His smile makes his eyes press closed, but even then, the stars still seem to leak out of them. “I’m kidding.”

Jimin ducks forward then, nuzzling against Taehyung’s jaw until he knocks his head to the side. Taehyung breathes out sharply when Jimin kisses over the length of his neck, a sensitive spot for him. His fingers trail back down Taehyung’s arms, but Taehyung doesn’t remove them where Jimin had stitched them to the bed. 

“Fuck,” Taehyung grunts when Jimin’s teeth dig into his skin, unmerciful. The skin throbs when he pulls away, even when his tongue licks over the hopeful mark he’s left behind.

The multiple marks Jimin has left behind because he bites again as he lowers himself down Taehyung’s body, mouth moving down his neck, his collarbones, across his chest. He only ghosts them over Taehyung’s nipples, and Taehyung stops holding himself back to knot his fingers into Jimin’s hair to guide him to one.

Taehyung bites his lip, refusing to groan out loud when Jimin laps his tongue out over the hard bud. Maybe Taehyung’s actually sensitive all over, or maybe it’s just Jimin that makes his nerves feel as if they’re going off inside of him like fireworks. 

There is a wicked grin on Jimin’s lips like he knows it too, only disappearing when he wraps them around the bud and sucks. Hard . The groan Taehyung is trying to hold back comes out, higher pitched than intended. His cock twitches in his briefs, and he ruts his hips up against Jimin’s stomach for some kind of friction.

Friction Jimin doesn’t give him as he slides his hands down Taehyung’s sides before pressing into the bed, lifting himself up so there is space between them. Taehyung throws his head back, bending his legs to keep them caged around Jimin’s torso. 

Jimin rubs over the back of one, clutching down on the fat of his thigh as he kisses over Taehyung’s belly and lower. He pushes Taehyung’s thighs down, leaving them spread out like butterfly wings as is tongue trails beneath his belly button.

Maybe he’s definitely, most surely thought about this. Jimin between his legs, his hair messy from Taehyung fingers. His long tongue poking out to draw shapes over Taehyung’s skin.

“Is this okay?” Jimin asks, looking up at him with heavy eyes as he moves even lower. 

Taehyung nods so quickly he thinks he gets whiplash. There is a smile in Jimin’s eyes, but Taehyung can’t see the one on his lips as Jimin busies them over his cock.

He dampens the material of Taehyung’s briefs with open mouthed kisses. He even licks around his mouth as if to strum up more drool to soak over him, and it’s so hot, Taehyung thinks he’s going to die.

It’s the best way to go, laying on soft, two for one sheets while getting his dick wet because of a pretty boy. The prettiest boy to ever exist. 

Jimin groans when he stretches his lips over the width of his cock, sucking down softly. Taehyung’s thighs press together as if to squish Jimin’s head between them and keep him there forever.

“Tae,” Jimin rumbles out. He pets his fingers over the damp material, down Taehyung’s length. He hums when his fingers trace out the shape of the head before pressing his thumb down at the tip. 

“Ah,” Taehyung grunts, lifting himself up onto his elbows. “Don’t tease me.”

“What?” Jimin says playfully, continuing to pet over Taehyung’s cock so lightly he can barely feel it. “I’m not?”

Taehyung pushes his fingers beneath his briefs to push them down, but Jimin is trapping his hand beneath them. He grins up at Taehyung before he buries his face between Taehyung’s legs to mouth over his balls.

The grip is loose enough that Taehyung could pull easily away from it, slip his briefs off and stroke himself off, but he doesn’t want to. It excites him, and Jimin looks like Heaven.

“Tae,” Jimin murmurs, kissing at his inner thigh before he presses up on his knees. “Take them off.”

Taehyung listens so quickly he nearly kicks Jimin in his efforts to slide the briefs off of himself. Jimin smiles fondly as he finally, finally fully takes off his pants. Taehyung wants to watch him undress, but he’s rolling around the bed to fumble beneath his pillows to find the lube he tossed aside a few nights before.

Jimin is grinning when he turns back around, briefs gone. He curls his fingers around the base of his cock, slapping it back against his belly before he crawls back onto the bed.

He takes Taehyung’s ankle into hand, gently dragging it up to plant a kiss there. It tickles when Jimin ghosts his fingers across Taehyung’s skin, making him shudder slightly at the feeling. 

“How do you make a weeb laugh and cum at the same time?” Jimin asks, tickling his fingers up Taehyung’s leg. It tickles when his fingers touch the back of his knee, but it also washes a wave of pleasure through him that has Taehyung reaching to cup his cock into his palm. “Ten tickles.”

Taehyung’s knee jerks back as he laughs so he can kick Jimin gently in the chest. It isn’t hard, just playful, but Jimin captures it back into his hands and presses a kiss to his ankle. 

“You know likes on Twitter are public, right?” Jimin asks, his voice dropping low again as he knees between Taehyung’s legs. 

“Don’t kinkshame me,” Taehyung grunts as he hooks a leg around Jimin’s back and yanks him forward. He didn’t know that. He’s still relatively new to Twitter, but he doesn’t care if people see the kind of fanfiction he likes to read. “And just touch me already, or I’m leaving.”

Jimin wags his head again as he leans in and gives Taehyung a kiss. The playfulness between them turns heavy as Jimin finally does as Taehyung’s asked, or demanded, fingers curling around his cock to give it a light stroke. 

A light stroke that isn’t enough, and has Taehyung curling his fingers around Jimin’s to tighten the fist he has around him. He sighs into the kiss when Jimin’s hand works over the head, smearing the precome collected there around and slicking his length with it.

Taehyung grips Jimin’s thigh to get him to sit on him again, wanting the pressure of Jimin’s weight trapping his legs down. He does, one hand cupping the back of Taehyung’s neck as he searches for the bottle of lube. 

“Hey, that stuff’s expensive,” Taehyung scolds, but he doesn’t mean it. It’s just, Jimin nearly dribbles an overly excessive amount onto his cock, making it he can feel it dripping over his balls and down the inside of his legs.

“What?” Jimin asks as he squeezes the bottle again, dropping globs of lube on Taehyung’s stomach, inches away from his cock. “Oops.”

Taehyung takes the bottle from Jimin as if he’s going to use it but tosses it off the bed so Jimin can’t deplete it anymore. It makes Jimin laugh, but the amusement slips from Taehyung as Jimin smears the lube over his lower belly before finally taking him into hand again.

The room fills with a litany of deep grunts and moans as Taehyung fumbles to get his hands between Jimin’s legs too. Jimin swats him away though, scooching up Taehyung’s lap until he can line their cocks together.

It’s cute how Jimin tries to wrap his hand around the both of them at the same time, panting softly as he rubs up the side of their lengths. Jimin looks a bit like a sinful angel with his wide open eyes and swollen bottom lip bobbing as his lips part around his own soft moans.

Taehyung rubs his palms over Jimin’s thighs, liking the way they tremble slightly before he rubs up his stomach and then his chest. He cups Jimin’s neck to drag him into a kiss, making Jimin’s hand stutter over it’s attempts at stroking them both off. 

He uses it to his advantage, curling his own hand around them until Jimin gives up and clutches onto his shoulder instead.

It’s fast from there, the teasing gone as Taehyung quickly works his hands over the both of them, hips staggering. Pleasure washes through him at a quick rate, and he moans into Jimin’s parted lips. Less a kiss and more just their parted mouths against each other, Jimin biting down on his bottom lip when he groans out loud. It hurts, but it adds to the growing build of pleasure between him.

Jimin leans back, hands grasping onto Taehyung’s knees as he rolls his hips into the touch. He’s a sight to see with sweat pooling down his chest, the necklaces there shifting around from his movements. Taehyung lets go of himself to only touch Jimin, forgetting his own need to come to see what Jimin looks like when he’s tipped over the edge. 

The slick sound is obscene, and Taehyung loves it. Just as much as he loves the way Jimin’s stomach clenches as he fucks up into Taehyung’s hands, his head tilting back as his eyes screw closed. Taehyung curls an arm around his lower back when his legs start to tremble, mouthing beneath his chest like he has an oral fixation that needs to be attended to.

“Close,” Jimin gasps, fingers catching roughly in Taehyung’s hair. Taehyung isn’t sure which of them groans the loudest from that. He moves his hand sloppily, working his fist over the head as he pulls away to watch the way Jimin comes.

His legs locking tight around Taehyung, his fingers digging harshly. Hips jerking, Jimin comes with a yelp. His mouth falls open around nothing, but Taehyung can see the way his throat bobs like he’s trying to make a sound. 

When he does, it’s a long, deep groan. He pushes a hand into Taehyung’s chest almost eagerly, still trembling as he reaches down to touch Taehyung in return with his shaking hands. 

Maybe later, Taehyung will be embarrassed by it. But he isn’t now, as his orgasm washes over him, and he can only focus on the pleasure that locks his body tight and not the way he comes when Jimin’s barely stroked his hand over him once. 

Jimin’s lips are on him again as he milks out Taehyung’s orgasm with a quick jerk of his hand, their lips fitting together better this time. Taehyung curls his arms around Jimin, holding him tight as he trembles through it.

He feels breathless, boneless when Jimin pulls away. He closes his eyes, trying to calm the erratic beat of his heart and only opening them when Jimin smudges his fingers against his lips.

Taehyung wrinkles his nose, giggling at the taste of come and lube. He holds Jimin’s wrist to teasingly suck Jimin’s fingers into his mouth.

Jimin watches as he pants, using his free hand to swipe his sweaty bangs from his forehead. 

“I’m assuming lube is edible,” Taehyung huffs out as he pulls back to rub his hands up Jimin’s arms. “Or else I’m going to die. Already feels like it.”

Jimin’s nose crinkles when he giggles. He keeps it up even when Taehyung rubs his hands over his neck to kiss him again, riding on the same high Taehyung feels.

Locking his legs around Taehyung, he wrestles with him until they’re on their sides. Taehyung guides him back, hovering over him to lick into his mouth like he could go again and not like exhaustion is already starting to hit him.

It’s late. He doesn’t have to look at the clock to know. It feels like they’ve been going at it for hours, though he wouldn’t be surprised if it was just a few minutes.

“Time for me to tease you now,” Taehyung murmurs, brushing Jimin’s hair back as he nudges their noses together. “Are you the reason I see all those posts about omega slick on my timeline Mr. Lube Enthusiast?”

Jimin chokes on his laugh, pushing his hands into Taehyung’s shoulders. “Shut the fuck up. It isn’t me, so that’s all on you, babe.”

Taehyung grins big, unable to keep it off his face even when Jimin wrestles him aside. His chest aches with his own fondness, and he hopes Jimin feels it too when Jimin kisses him to shut him up. 

It is late, and as tired as Taehyung is, he doesn’t fall asleep. Even when the giggles reside, and the night air heavies around them, he fights it off. He doesn’t quite want the night to end yet. 

Curling into his side, Jimin brings him in with a hand behind his neck, securing Taehyung there so he can plant his cheek against his shoulder. Their legs tangle, Taehyung securing one between Jimin’s. They’re gross and messy, and Taehyung’s cheap sheets are probably ruined, but though he might not be tired enough to sleep, he’s too tired to actually clean himself up. 

“For the record,” Taehyung says quietly, trying to keep his voice serious, “the Pokemon theme song is the best song out there.”

Jimin’s knees fold up towards his body as his arm tightens around him. His laugh is loud despite his tired he looks.

“Oh shut up and come here.”

Taehyung can’t really move any closer, but understanding fills him as Jimin reaches to the nightstand for his phone. He warms when Jimin turns on the camera before facing it towards them.

He can’t really handle the butterflies it gives him, so Taehyung proceeds to make the worst expression he can manage. Lips pulling back into an odd shape, his nose crunching up towards the bridge, his eyes two different sizes.

Jimin cackles quietly, pinching his neck. “Take a cute one, though you can make any face and be cute. Even whatever you just did then.”

Taehyung schools his features, pressing his cheek into Jimin until it rounds. He’s distracted by the way Jimin looks in the camera, his butterflies only growing.

“Perfect,” Jimin murmurs as he proceeds to add the photo to  what Taehyung assumes is contact, but it says Ken Kaneki instead of his name.

The sudden way he moves throws Jimin off guard, making it easy for Taehyung to snatch the phone from him. He rolls away, quickly typing even when Jimin jumps onto his back. 

“Don’t delete it,” Jimin grunts, his weight making Taehyung curl forward. Taehyung struggles against it, determination giving him that extra strength to fight him off.

When he finishes, he tosses the phone to the side. Jimin automatically goes to it, looking at what he’s done.

A laugh blurts from Jimin’s lips as he presses the phone to his chest. He shows off the ‘hokage’ with the water emoji beside it before he’s forgetting the phone to swat at Taehyung. “You’re the lamest, I swear. Carry me to the bathroom so I can clean up.”

Taehyung shakes his head, padding away from him and towards the entrance to his bedroom. Jimin flails against the bed, arms strewn out as he slowly, slowly slips over the edge like his legs can’t hold him up.

“If you beat me to the bathroom, I’ll wake you up with a blow job.”

Jimin is pushing up from the bed before Taehyung can finish getting the words out of his mouth.

******

The grocery store is relatively quiet, despite the baby that was just screaming it’s lungs out a few minutes prior. Classical music plays in the background somewhere, and it’s a bit too chilly inside for Jimin’s liking. Even past the freezer aisle, the chill lingers, but he’s given his hoodie to Hoseok, who swears his fingers are going to fall off at the slightest drop of temperature.

Not that he deserves the kindness. Jimin thinks he’s going to fire him as his best friend and find a new one. 

“So you’ve made me suffer through countless amount of hours listening about your heart boner for him, but now I can’t know the details?”

Jimin looks to Hoseok, waiting for a response. Hoseok is pretending to ignore him as he looks at the items stacked on the shelves, putting all of his attention into reading every word on each package.

“Jerk,” Jimin grunts, swinging his knee up to nudge Hoseok’s butt. “How did confessing go? At least tell me that. I’ve been waiting for you to for months, don’t leave me hanging. Which one did you go for? Dramatic end scene where you confess your love, or blurting it out and taking off on a run?” 

Hoseok makes a face like it was no big deal and shrugs the same way. “I just said it. It was easy. I knew hyung was crazy for me.”

Jimin quirks a brow as Hoseok finally looks at him to dump a handful of spices into the basket he holds. Hoseok clearly isn’t reading the labels because there are two things of lemon pepper seasoning in the basket that Jimin takes out. “Oh really?”

Looking sure of himself, Hoseok hums. “Oh yeah. It was obvious he was into me.”

Jimin bites back his reminder of all the times Hoseok moped because he thought Yoongi didn’t return his feelings. “So are you guys dating?”

Excitement fills Hoseok, his feet bouncing along the ground as he hops over to the section of cookies. “We have a date this weekend. Alone this time. Can’t have my lame roommate cramping my style.”

Jimin considers pummeling Hoseok, but they’re in public. There is an old lady with her grandson a few feet away, and he doesn’t want to startle them.

“Tae and I were gone most of the night,” Jimin seethes.

“Were you?” Hoseok asks, looking genuinely surprised. “I didn’t notice.”

Jimin would take offense, but he’s glad Hoseok and Yoongi finally admitted their feelings for each other. Hoseok had been the happiest Jimin had ever seen him when he returned the next morning, and that’s saying a lot as Hoseok eats, breathes, and shits happiness.

He had been happy too, unable to keep his smile to himself as he thought about how Taehyung looked in the morning, soft and sleepy. The way he tried to make coffee with his eyes closed and accidentally dumped the grounds into the sink instead of the trash can and nearly put juice in his coffee instead of milk.

The way Jimin kissed him awake because he woke up earlier and felt awkward just lying there in a strange place.

And because even though they kissed each other enough to last a lifetime, Jimin wanted more. Even if he didn’t get to wake up with a hot mouth around his cock, it eventually led to that anyway. 

He thinks about Taehyung again, his smile already forming. He’s a little whipped, maybe. They’ve only seen each other once since, but most of Jimin’s days are filled with sending messages back and forth and late night video calls. 

Hoseok groans loudly, pulling Jimin from his thoughts. He glares at a package of honey cookies before tossing them back on the shelf.

“Tell me why we came all the way to this market when the one near our apartment is cheaper? And closer ?”

Embarrassment fills Jimin, but he refuses to let Hoseok see. “There was a sale on eggs.”

“We have a full carton of eggs at home.”

“ No ,” Jimin argues as he shoves past him. “We have an entire carton of cracked, empty shells because you have a habit of putting them in the carton instead of the garbage.”

Hoseok grumbles something like an apology and an excuse behind him as Jimin takes off down the aisle.

The truth is they do need eggs, but Jimin doesn’t know if this market actually has a sale. He’s here for an entirely different reason. A tall, big handed, cute boy reason. 

On his break, Taehyung had texted him to complain about how rude the customers had been to him so far. Jimin’s hoping his presence can add some light to his day. Returning the favor of Taehyung saving him from his late night at the library.

And, Jimin doesn’t want to wait until their next scheduled date to see him again. It’s this Friday, and Taehyung has yet to tell him what he has planned for it. His excitement is growing, and his attempts at getting Taehyung to spill the beans have been unsuccessful. 

At the end of the aisle, Jimin can see the rows of cashiers. None of them are familiar. Taehyung had said he was scheduled until closing tonight, and that’s hours away. 

“Excuse me,” Jimin says, tapping the shoulder of one of the baggers. “Is Taehyung here?”

Hoseok chuckles in delight behind him, but Jimin ignores it.

The bagger has wide doe eyes that quickly fill with amusement. He smirks, sinking his hands into the pockets of the green apron he wears, but not before Jimin can see the pink lotus flower he has tattooed on the back of one.

Jimin eyes over the ‘hello, I’m Jungkook’ on the badge clipped to his chest. Taehyung has mentioned him a few times after Jungkook’s stolen his phone and their conversations were interrupted by inappropriate comments and a lot of key smashing as a result of Taehyung wrestling the phone away from him.

“Are you Jimin?” Jungkook asks, head cocking to the side in curiosity. 

Jimin warms all over. He hates that the butterflies return so intensely then at the idea of Taehyung talking about him. He has a crush, whatever. “I am.”

“Taehyung’s not here. He was fired for eating all of the candy in his aisle.”

Alarm fills Jimin at this. He hesitates though as Jungkook’s nose starts to crinkle as he snickers. Him and Taehyung are friends, and Jimin can’t imagine Jungkook would be amused about something like this. 

Taehyung appears before Jimin can ask and flicks Jungkook in the ear. 

Jungkook grabs his ear in pain, glaring at Taehyung. “What was that for?”

“I don’t know what you said but you have your little shit face going on,” Taehyung deadpans, raising his fingers as if to flick Jungkook again.

Taehyung is beet red, cheeks burning like always. His hair sticks up over his head. He looks cute in his uniform, a white crisp shirt that seems to be unbuttoned all the way down to the top of his green apron, showing off the collection of necklaces he has on, and black slacks that hug his thighs nicely. 

“I told your boyfriend you were whacking it in the bathroom,” Jungkook snides before he jumps away from them so Taehyung can’t flick him again. “He does that often, Jimin-ssi. Like all of the time. Abandons ship for hours at a time to do the jerk. Nice to meet you by the way.”

Though it seems impossible, Taehyung turns redder. “That’s not - it’s not true. I’ve never done that in my life. Don’t listen to him, he’s been trying to get back at me for putting salt in his coffee instead of sugar.”

Fondness grows inside of Jimin so quickly he wishes to grab Taehyung by the apron and pull him into a kiss. He doesn’t know if that’s okay, in front of other people, in front of his coworkers.

Jimin doesn’t date often. He isn’t used to it, and he doesn’t know the rules or the steps that are proper to take.

He doesn’t even know if what they’re doing is considered dating since every time they talk about dates it comes off teasing or joking. Not that Jimin minds too much because he’s also the one joking, but he does want to know if Taehyung wants them to be actual dates.  

Jimin hopes Taehyung knows as much as he wants to have him sing for him, he doesn’t only go on dates with Taehyung with that in mind. As excited as he is to have Taehyung sing for him, he doesn’t want to accidentally pressure him into doing so when he isn’t ready. 

It’s his presence that Jimin likes most of all. His lame humor, his red cheeks, how sinful he looks when they make out. The way he’s both confident and shy, jumping between the two. The way he passionately speaks about his hate for the Teen Titans remake, and FaceTimes Jimin every time he finds something he thinks Jimin would like.

The dog at the park, a funny line in the books he’s reading for school. Yoongi texting Hoseok and looking like he’s overcome with joy. Just Taehyung himself. Jimin likes him the most.

“I don’t blame him,” Hoseok huffs as he holds his fist out for Taehyung to bump it in greeting. “I would rip the last page out of all your books if you ever did that to me.”

Jimin turns to give Hoseok look, a subtle look to tell him to give them a minute alone. Hoseok doesn’t seem to realize it as he picks candy off the aisle shelf and contemplates it like his life depends on which candy he buys. 

“Hobi-yah, I forgot the yogurt. You know the one I like. The half low fat, half two percent chocolate flavored one with the banana pieces. Could you go get it please while I check out?”

Hoseok gives him a look of disgust. “When have you ever eaten that?”

“Thank you,” Jimin says with a sweet smile before he plants his basket of stuff onto the conveyor belt.

It’s not until then he realizes they never got eggs. But whatever. Hoseok was right. They have a market just a few blocks away from their apartment that they can go to.

“Let me check you out, sir,” Taehyung says, bowing his head as he slips behind the counter.

Jimin takes a step back, tucking his hand into his pocket as he flashes Taehyung a cool pose. He tilts his chin, showing off his neck, and makes his eyes go heavy in a way that always makes Taehyung’s go wide. 

Taehyung bites his bottom lip, eyes trailing slowly up and down the length of Jimin. He makes a noise of approval that reminds him of the way he groaned every time Jimin touched him a few nights before. 

It had been overwhelming finally having Taehyung’s hands on him like that. He knew how soft his palms are from the hand holding, but it was different when he was mapping out every inch of Jimin’s body. 

“Mm, I approve,” Taehyung says, the corners of his lips tilting over. “Kind of want to go into the bathrooms and whack you off.”

Before Jimin can say something back, there is a loud groan to the side of them. Jungkook stands there, pointing to himself as if to remind the two of them that he is there.

Taehyung snickers as he starts scanning Jimin’s groceries. If they can be called that. There’s a bag of chips, some spices, a power cord Hoseok swears they need but Jimin doesn’t think so, and bright neon shoe strings that Hoseok must have slipped in there when he wasn’t looking.

“You know, I don’t think they make chocolate yogurt with banana chips,” Taehyung says, a knowing look in his eyes. 

Jimin just shrugs, leaning against the counter between them. “What are you doing later?”

“Jungkookie and I were going to meet Yoongi at this new bar downtown after work. If you want to come, I’d love that. I was going to ask but I know I’ve distracted you from your homework this week.”

It’s a school night. Granted, lots of students seem to go out on Thursdays for some reason, even though Jimin has never understood that because quizzes are always on Fridays. 

Taehyung has distracted him from his homework, but Jimin’s finished it all anyway. 

“I know you don’t have an early class,” Taehyung says, glancing up at him. “So if you wanted to stay over again, you could.”

Jungkook makes a noise like he’s dying but they both ignore him. He dumps each item into the bag like it’s torture.

“Will I get to hear you sing for me?”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, gives Jimin a petulant face. “If you’re good enough.”

Jimin presses his lips together, wagging his head slightly. Taehyung bites his bottom lip again, and Jimin wants to be the one with his teeth snug around Taehyung’s lip. 

“Good at what?” Jimin plays along. 

Taehyung side eyes Jungkook, a bit of shyness creeping into his expression. It’s kind of unfair that someone so hot can also be incredibly adorable. He shrugs a few times, nibbling on his bottom lip.

“What the hell is half low fat half two percect yogurt?”

Jimin’s attention is pulled away by a flustered looking Hoseok, his lips curling up into a scowl. In his hands are a carton of eggs that he very gently plants to the conveyor belt. 

“Do they not have it?” Jimin asks, trying to hide amusement. 

Hoseok flicks him off. “There was no sale on eggs, by the way,” he goes on grumpily. “Coming here was a waste. Quick, do something embarrassing to make up for it.”

“Taehyung-ssi, on second thought, I don’t need the shoelaces,” Jimin says, plucking them from the belt to toss aside.

Alarm fills Hoseok as he swats Jimin’s hand, struggling to take it from his grasp and throw it back onto the belt. “I need those. Put them back or I’ll tell Tae about how you cry every time you watch that stupid Pokemon movie.”

Jimin grunts as he tosses the shoelaces back onto the belt. “Go ahead. Anyone who doesn’t cry is heartless. Pikachu brought Ash back with his tears , hyung.”

Taehyung is nodding as he snatches the shoelaces into hand, a soft smile on his face. “S’true. I cried too. So did Yoongi hyung. It’s his favorite movie.”

Jimin sticks his tongue out at Hoseok, wagging it in his face. “See, I knew Tae was the one for me.”

It slips out before he can stop it. He hesitates, but the smile Taehyung gives him is the softest one yet.

“Hey Tae,” Hoseok calls, side glancing Jimin. “Did you know Jimin tried to murder me once?”

Jimin pushes Hoseok from the aisle. “You promised not to bring that up again.”

Hoseok keeps going, catching the attention of other customers as he pushes on his tip toes to yell over Jimin’s head. “Saw me running down the sidewalk and got so jealous of my good looks he tried to take me out.”

Jimin rolls his eyes, letting him go. “My life’s sucked ever since.”

Despair quickly takes over Hoseok’s face, his eyes going wide before that dangerous pout takes over his mouth. 

“I’m kidding,” Jimin instantly says. “You’re my favorite person, Hobs.”

Hoseok wrinkles his nose, shouldering Jimin. “Yoongi’s mine.”

Jimin grunts out in offense, pushing away from him. Taehyung and Jungkook are watching them with a mix of amusement and confusion on their faces. 

“Taehyung-ssi, would you accept the role as my best friend? I’m suddenly looking for a new one,” Jimin says loudly so Hoseok can hear as he passes Taehyung his credit card.

Taehyung sucks on his bottom lip as he glances down the aisle. “I will, though I’d like to be more than friends. One day. I mean.”

Taehyung coughs loudly then, making a face of distress that makes Jungkook snicker. Jimin can’t help the smile on his face and for once, he doesn’t mind the butterflies Taehyung gives him.

“Nevermind, anyway,” Taehyung says as he slips the credit card back to him. “So tonight?”

“I’ll be there,” Jimin whispers. “And I’d like that too. Being more than friends.”

The music is loud, a little too loud. Jimin kind of hates it because he wants to hear Taehyung speak, but he is thankful for it because he’s pretty sure the sounds Hoseok and Yoongi are making as they make out are disgusting.

It looks disgusting at least. Hoseok’s tongue is so far down Yoongi’s throat, Jimin is worried he’s going to choke. Maybe he’s into that, Jimin doesn’t judge, but death will kind of ruin the night for all of them.

The loud music is also beneficial because it makes Taehyung have to press into him, lips at his ear for Jimin to hear him better. He presses closer than necessary, an arm circling Jimin’s waist to keep him there. 

“I never understood the comparison of ‘eating face’ and making out, but now I get it,” Taehyung shouts. 

Jimin giggles, curling his own arm around Taehyung’s lower back. He isn’t one to frequent bars often, but he finds he doesn’t mind this one. Though it is quite small and the ceiling low, the lights dimmed so it’s dark around them. 

There is a stage on the other side of the room, a lone microphone standing on it, and Jimin can’t help imagine Taehyung standing beside it. Those long fingers curled around the microphone, his lips kissing over it.

They haven’t talked about what was said at the grocery store, though it keeps playing in Jimin’s mind. They’ve only known each other for a few weeks, but as often as they talk, Jimin feels like it’s been years.

He doesn’t know if Taehyung meant boyfriend , but he sure did. 

“Kind of regret getting them together,” Taehyung says loudly over the music. His face is one of disgust when Jimin turns to look at him.

Gently, Jimin cups Taehyung’s cheek. He hasn’t had but one drink and his cheeks are already a glistening red. He’s warm too, a furnace against him. He’s out of his work uniform, wearing all black except for the gray camouflage jacket he has that has to be uncomfortable in the stuffy bar. The headband he wears keeps his bangs from sticking to his forehead, which is dotted with sweat. 

Jimin runs a hand under the jacket, cupping Taehyung’s side. He turns his body into Taehyung’s more, head leaning back when Taehyung instantly ducks forward for a kiss. 

“They’re kind of cute,” Jimin says, playing with the material of Taehyung’s shirt until he can sneakily push his fingers beneath it. Taehyung bites at the corner of his mouth, which quirks up because Jimin isn’t as discreet as he means to be. 

“I actually think Hoseok is trying to murder hyung,” Taehyung says, though he isn’t looking at them. His eyes are only on Jimin, and Jimin likes that more than he’ll ever admit. 

The edge of the bar digs into Jimin’s back when Taehyung takes a step closer, but he doesn’t mind. There’s a crowd of people dancing off beat a few feet away, a couple groups of people lingering around the bar, and a handful of people filling the tables around the stage. More people than Jimin would suspect could fit inside of the tiny bar, and probably the reason it feels so stuffy.

But he doesn’t mind the heat and the lack of space when it’s because of Taehyung.

Jimin gives in, finally leaning forward to kiss Taehyung like he wants to, but his lips knock against the back of a hand instead. He’s momentarily confused by the knuckles hitting his teeth, before he turns to see Jungkook as the culprit.

His wide doe eyes are now narrowed in annoyance. He keeps his hand up like a wall between Taehyung and Jimin until something makes him yank it back quickly, disgust replacing his annoyance.

“Don’t lick me,” Jungkook grunts, karate chopping Taehyung’s arms. “This is the worst night out. I want to ask you guys to come dance with me, but I don’t want to accidentally get dry humped by one of you.”

Taehyung grins as he pulls away from Jimin’s embrace. He cups a hand to the back of Jungkook’s neck, despite the warning karate chop Jungkook threatens him with. 

“I would never put my dick anywhere near you, Jeon,” Taehyung says with a light smile. “Why don’t you go up there and sing? I know you wanted to.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I’m thinking about it.”

“Go,” Taehyung encourages, twirling around Jungkook to shove him towards the stage. A panicked look takes over Jungkook’s face as he shakes his head. Jimin can’t hear them any longer, but he laughs at the way they look wrestling through the crowd of dancers.

Taehyung wins out, managing to get Jungkook half on the stage since it’s quite low to the ground. Jungkook freezes immediately, eyes wide before they turn into daggers.

Whatever he says when he shoves a hand into Taehyung’s chest looks threatening, but Taehyung is smiling that big, boxy smile of his in response.

No one is really paying attention except for Jimin, but Jungkook looks a little embarrassed as he taps the microphone and it doesn’t make a sound. A moment later, one of the servers is running up onto the stage to turn it on for him.

Taehyung is back a second later, barely greeting him again before he’s kissing him on the lips. It is only a brief kiss before he’s turning to watch with proud eyes as Jungkook starts to sing.

He has a nice voice, though a bit hesitant at first. When his eyes fall closed, he seems to lose himself to the music and the confidence makes his volume grow. He has everyone’s attention now, and Jimin plops himself onto a bar stool to wrap his arms around Taehyung’s shoulders from behind.

“Next you,” Jimin says into his ear, holding him tight to rock him side to side. 

Taehyung shakes his head, crossing his arms over his chest. He tries to look over his shoulder, but Jimin’s hooking his chin over it to press his lips against his cheek and making it so he’s unable to. “No way in hell, Park. I’m not drunk enough for that.”

Jimin bites his cheek gently, nibbling his teeth over where it grows more round the bigger Taehyung smiles. “I’ll eat you if you don’t.”

“You keep threatening that,” Taehyung yells over Jungkook’s singing. “I’m waiting for it.”

Jimin bites Taehyung again, just a little bit harder. Taehyung throws a hand up, gripping onto Jimin’s ear and yanking until he stops. Jimin peppers a kiss to his cheek in apology, though he didn’t bite hard enough to even leave a mark.

He kind of wishes the conversation in the grocery store never happened because the small things like this that they’ve been doing since has the word playing over and over again in his head. Boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend. 

“Come on,” Jimin says as he unwraps himself from Taehyung to tug on his elbow. “I don’t mind getting dry humped on the dance floor by you.”

At the end of the night, hands clasped, Taehyung and Jimin walk back to Taehyung’s apartment. Jungkook, Hoseok, and Yoongi trailing behind them. Jimin checks on them often, though he’s happy to see a drunk Hoseok is safe in Yoongi’s hands, and Jungkook keeps singing loudly, filling the night air with his soft crooning.

Jimin and Taehyung talk quietly as not to disturb it, whispering between themselves about nothing. Jimin rubs his thumb over Taehyung’s knuckles, finds that he wants to press kisses there for no reason.

It’s nice, and when they get back to the apartment, Jimin likes the way Taehyung curls around him with his head on his chest as he watches the show he put on for them. Ouran High School Host Club.

Taehyung whispers nearly every word of the first episode, and Jimin finds himself falling asleep to the deep lull of his voice. He keeps his eyes open though, not wanting to miss when Taehyung giggles tiredly.

“You know,” Taehyung says as he starts to turn on another episode that Jimin knows he won’t make it through, “when I said I want to be more than friends earlier, I didn’t just mean friends that bang.”

Jimin brushes his fingers through Taehyung’s hair, fiddles with his ear and the hoops he has lining it. He knows he can’t be quiet for too long or Taehyung might get the wrong idea. He wonders if it’s been on Taehyung’s mind since earlier the way it has been on his own. 

“What did you mean, Taehyung-ssi?”

Taehyung turns his head to look up at him. His thick eyelashes flutter before he’s looking back at the screen. “Like. You know. More than that.”

“How do you mean?” Jimin pushes. 

Taehyung groans in complaint. “You know what I mean. Shut up and go to sleep.”

Jimin is a little more awake now though. “You’re the one talking, Tae,” he whispers, teasing him further. 

Pushing up so he’s no longer cuddled to Jimin’s side, Taehyung crawls over him to blow a raspberry against the side of his neck. It tickles, but Jimin fists onto Taehyung’s shirt to keep him close. He likes when they tangle together easily, when Taehyung sucks on the side of his neck playfully. Arousal simmers in Jimin’s stomach, but he swears it’s always that way around Taehyung. 

“I mean like partners in crime,” Taehyung says against his jaw. He brushes his lips over the edge of it. “Partners in battle. Just partners. Stop teasing me, you know what I’m saying.”

Jimin giggles, cupping Taehyung’s neck. He sighs in contentment when Taehyung’s lips press over his pulse, his eyes closing when Taehyung hums as he sucks softly. “You’re cute when I tease you though.”

Taehyung looks grumpy when he looks down at Jimin, his expression unrelenting even when Jimin gently bops his nose.

“I know what you mean,” Jimin says, warming beneath him. “Partners. You want to team up and take Jungkook down in that game you two were talking about earlier.”

“Oh my god, Jimin-ah ,” Taehyung complains loudly as he koala wraps himself over Jimin, nearly laying completely on top of him as he curls his arms beneath Jimin’s head and against the pillow he lays on. “I want to be boyfriends one day, you nerd. There, I said it.”

Jimin smiles so hard his cheeks hurt. There is a pressure in his chest, but he blames Taehyung’s weight more so than the way his heart grows so big inside of it. He isn’t used to feelings. He doesn’t know what to do with it. “I just wanted to hear you say it.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes. “You’re lucky I like you, Jimin.”

He does feel lucky for that. He presses a kiss to Taehyung’s cheek as he moves to the side a little so his weight is more on the bed than him. “I know you like being called hokage but I was wondering if it’s okay if I called you mine instead?”

Taehyung looks to the television, which lights up the room enough to show how red he becomes. “And you say my lines are lame,” he grumbles, but he sounds a little breathless. “I would like that. Yes. Please and thank you.”

For the second time, Jimin is overly excited for Friday. The day drags on again, and it’s made worse by Taehyung’s teasing of what he has in store for them after their schedules clear up.

Jimin tries to pry information out of him, at least so he can figure out the proper thing to wear, but to no avail. The mystery only adds to his excitement, and he wishes he could change the speed of time to make the day end sooner.

His power of time control comes in the form of Kim Taehyung, bursting down the hallway of Jimin’s class building. At first, Jimin is thrown off the blur of black dodging through slumped over students until that blur of black bumps into him and his nose fills with the sweet vanilla scent that always lingers on Taehyung because it’s his favorite sugary treat.

“Skip your last class,” Taehyung exclaims, arms wrapping around him to waddle him in the opposite direction of his class. He’s out of breath but doesn’t stop moving. “Let’s go.”

The butterflies erupt at the sudden sight of Taehyung. He’s beautiful, his hair wind whipped and cheeks red. It’s cooler today, resulting in Taehyung wearing a thick, long peacoat with a rougher texture. 

They haven’t talked any more about the boyfriend thing, but the confirmation that Taehyung wants to be his one day is enough to push away any worries Jimin had. He didn’t have many, but he did understand the doubt Hoseok has been feeling the last few months.

Not as much doubt as Hoseok had, but enough to put the thought in his head. 

“Your ability to find me is a little creepy, sir,” Jimin jokes. He doesn’t want Taehyung to let him go, but he does, only to throw an arm around his shoulders. 

Taehyung groans low in his throat. “Call me that again.”

Jimin elbows him playfully, making him giggle. “Shut up. How did you know I was here and why are you panting?”

“I asked Hobi and then ran here so I could get you before your class started,” Taehyung clarifies, booping the tip of Jimin’s nose. “And you’re skipping. I want you for the entire day.”

“How greedy of you,” Jimin teases. “I unfortunately cannot. I have a date with a cute nerd later.”

“I’m way cooler than him,” Taehyung says with a confident tilt of his chin. “Hang out with me instead.”

Jimin pulls away from Taehyung to walk away despite his want to koala wrap around him. “I don’t know. He’s pretty cool. Knows all the words to baby shark.” 

Taehyung struggles to maintain his cocky expression, lips turning into a thin line as he presses them closed. He inhales deep and schools his expression. 

“Every five year old does too,” Taehyung scoffs. “Not impressed.”

It isn’t a good idea to skip class. Jimin never does. One time shouldn’t hurt, and he’s already doing well in it. But the idea of skipping makes him feel guilty. He really only has about two minutes to get to class anyway, so he has to decide now. 

“Did he finish every level in LEGO Harry Potter in one day? If not, he’s got nothing on me,” Taehyung brags as Jimin makes his decision and approaches the elevator.

Plenty of people skip, but somehow it feels like he’s doing something adventurous. Adrenaline pours through him as he hits the elevator call button. He feels a little ridiculous because of it. 

“I don’t know if you should brag about that,” Jimin chides, reaching out to grip the wide open pocket of Taehyung’s coat and pull him close. “I don’t even think it’s possible to finish it in one day.”

“Stick with me Park Jimin and nothing will seem impossible,” Taehyung declares, voice dropping low as he presses his forehead to Jimin’s. 

Jimin rolls his eyes but his chest is bursting. “ You’re impossible.”

“And yours,” Taehyung reminds him with a cheeky grin. “So what do you say? Can I kidnap you for the day or do you really want to go spend the day with that noob instead?”

For a moment, Jimin pretends he’s in deep contemplation over it, but the elevator beeps that it’s arrived, and he’s tugging Taehyung into when the doors open. 

The air is cool and it’s a bit windy. Not enough to really jostle the forest around them, but enough to tickle Jimin’s cheeks. He tucks his face into the collar of his pullover, tutting his teeth quietly as he pinches his fingers through a hole in the metal fence.

On the other side is a deer, standing with his head held high as it ignores him.

Jimin sighs, squatting down to pluck the grass between his feet and try to persuade the deer to give him attention with food. The deer doesn’t even glance his way, though his ears flicker back at the sound Jimin makes. 

“He hates me,” Jimin complains. A few feet down, Taehyung has the full attention of another deer, whose little tail swishes from side to side. 

“They can sense you’re an animal hater,” Taehyung says simply.

“I am not,” Jimin shoots back. “That duck was going to bite me.”

“Ducks don’t bite.”

“How do you know that?” Jimin gets a little closer to the fence, cooing for the deer that stand a distance off. The one closest runs off then, making Jimin sigh in defeat.

One of the ducks from the pond they just had visited definitely tried to bite him. It’s wings flapped and flayed as Jimin walked to the edge of the pond though he was simply trying to feed them and their friends some of the oats him and Taehyung had bought. 

“They don’t have teeth,” Taehyung explains.

There is a soft smile on Taehyung’s face as he pushes his fingers far enough past the gate to gently touch the deer. The deer seems to let him take off before he suddenly takes off in a sprint, joining the others. 

“Well, they have something in their mouths that make bites hurt,” Taehyung says as he pulls back to wave goodbye. “But that duck definitely wasn’t trying to bite you.”

He’s giggling before Jimin can reach him, shoulders scrunched up towards his ears. 

They’re at Eco Forest. Jimin wasn’t expecting Taehyung to bring him here, but he likes it a lot. So far they’ve seen mostly ducks and a few chipmunks, but Taehyung had been the most excited to see the deer.

Jimin’s the most excited to see Taehyung with them. His crinkled nose, his wide smile, how soft and tender he is. Jimin knows he’s staring, but he can’t help it.

Even when Taehyung becomes shy because of it, nudging Jimin to get him to stop. Jimin props his chin on Taehyung’s shoulder, widening his eyes and forcing himself not to blink. 

“Jimin-ah,” Taehyung complains, turning to slip his hands into the front pouch of Jimin’s pullover. There is a kiss pressed to Jimin’s nose a moment later, and Jimin tilts his head to get one on the lips.

Taehyung denies him, dodging his mouth to nuzzle his nose against his cheek. It tickles, but feels nice. Especially when Taehyung dips down a little further to nuzzle beneath his jaw.

The kiss Taehyung plants to the side of his neck is soft, just a peck. Jimin presses into him a little more, shivering like he’s cold.

He isn’t. He’s quite warm, especially with Taehyung beside him like this.

“Wanna get something to eat?” Taehyung asks quietly. “I am so starving I might down the oats we bought.”

Jimin snorts, taking the empty packet from his jeans pocket. “I’m pretty sure you already ate more than the ducks did.”

Taehyung pouts his lips out. “I’m a growing boy. I need my food. More food.”

They find a section of street vendors, the smell of frying food filling their noses. Jimin opts for a French Fry covered corn dog, though Taehyung sneaks a bite before he can take one of his own. He repays Jimin by shoving the skewer he buys against Jimin’s lips, grunting out small threats about how Jimin better take a bite and accept his apology when Jimin presses his lips closed in refusal. 

It’s nice, and Hoseok would tease them for the way they cling onto each other. Minimal spaces between their bodies, hands somewhere on each other, lips ghosting close for kisses that neither one of them get. 

When the night falls, Jimin wishes he never asked for the day to go by quickly because he hates that it has. 

Taehyung hums a tune he doesn’t know as they make their way to the train, head bouncing from side to side as he licks at the ice cream they share. It’s much cooler now that the sun has gone down, a little too cold for ice cream, but Jimin doesn’t mind because it isn’t too sweet, and Taehyung’s eyes are on him whenever he flicks his tongue out to take a bite.

“I thought you didn’t like sweet,” Taehyung murmurs as he presses the ice cream a little harder against Jimin’s lips so it smears against them. 

Jimin wrinkles his nose before he parts his lips and takes a bite off the top. The sudden coldness of it makes him shiver. “I had a taste of you, and now sweet is my favorite.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, but Jimin swears he turns a little pink. “I’m pretty sure it was me that ate my come the other day, not you. Lube is edible, by the way. I googled it. Just in case you were worrying about my health.”

Jimin shoves him gently aside as he laughs, but Taehyung is quick to take his hand so he doesn’t go so far. He even drags Jimin back until their chests are bumping together.

Parting his lips to hit Taehyung with a comeback, Jimin’s stopped when Taehyung finally kisses him. He does so obnoxiously, licking at the ice cream on his lips and groaning so loud that Jimin swears the people walking around the street with them can hear it 

It makes the chill from the ice cream and the cool night burn away. 

“Today went by too quickly,” Jimin murmurs softly so only Taehyung can hear when he moves back enough to put space between their lips. 

“It feels like we’ve been living in fast forward, another moment passing by,” Taehyung whisper sings, the tune the same as the one he’s been humming. 

Delight fills Jimin at the prospect of Taehyung singing to him, even if it can’t really be considered singing much. He’s relistened to the covers Taehyung has on his account, feeling a little more in love with the sound of his voice than he had been previously. 

“What song is that?” 

Taehyung pulls back, swinging their arms around. “Don’t even care about the table breaking, we only wanna have a laugh.”

He sings purposefully off key, dancing around Jimin with their hands still latched onto each other. He even sings as he brings the ice cream to his mouth, humming when it’s too full to keep going.

They’re probably making a scene, but Jimin doesn’t care. Taehyung makes him feel like he’s a kid again, visiting Lotte World for the first time. The excitement, the innocence, the pure joy that filled him when he ran through the park because his mother said he could ride the roller coaster.

“You don’t know that song?” Taehyung asks as he moves his feet around in a jazz square. “It’s a classic.”

Taehyung doesn’t end up telling him the name of the song, though when he pulls Jimin close again, his lips press to Jimin’s ear to quietly keep singing. “I wanna stay up all night and find a boy and tell him he’s the one.”

Jimin bites at his bottom lip, eyes rolling even though the butterflies in his stomach are causing a ruckus so loud he swears he can hear them. “If that’s what you want to do, go on. I won’t stop you.”

“Ah, Jimin-ah!” Taehyung yells his complaint loudly, shocking an elderly couple a few feet away. “You’re the only one I wish to spend the night with. Now let’s go back to yours and I’ll show you just how I want to spend it with you.”

“I will destroy you and everything you’ve ever loved.”

“Stop being a sore loser.”

“Fuck you. I’m not a sore loser, I just hate people who cheat like you did.”

“Like I did? How the hell do you cheat at goldfish?”

Taehyung tosses the cards down between them, his frown making his lips push out as far as possible. He’s lost five times in a row. 

They’re both dressed in the most comfortable clothes Jimin could find, and he kind of likes seeing Taehyung in his pajamas. He looks cute with the fluffy pants covered in cartoon kittens. His shirt is oversized, hanging off one shoulder and the collar low enough to show the sharp of his collarbone. 

He’s bare now. Bare skinned, all of his jewelry gone and resting on Jimin’s bathroom counter. His bangs are damp from washing his face and pushed back over his forehead. The way he sits with his legs pulled up to his chest and shoulders hunched make him look small, pocket sized.  

“I don’t know, but you did. I’ll prove it Park Jimin.”

Forgetting the cards between them, Taehyung crawls over them to tackle Jimin to the ground. Jimin huffs out, quick to wrap his legs around Taehyung’s body to lock him in place. He likes the feel of Taehyung’s weight against him, his thighs wrapped around his waist.

He likes it even more when Taehyung puts his hand behind his head to wiggle his arm like a snake above him, his eyes going wide before his hand flies down to smother Jimin’s face.

“What are - you doing?” Jimin exclaims, his stomach starting to hurt from how it tenses when he laughs. It doesn’t hurt when Taehyung’s hand lands on his face, but he’s shaking Jimin’s face around. 

“That’s my kagune , bitch.”

Jimin bites the fleshy part of Taehyung’s palm to get him off, but to no avail as Taehyung jerks his arm back and jabs his fingers between Jimin’s lips instead. Jimin chokes on his laugh, his legs coming up from how much he fills with amusement. 

It’s quite late, and they’re quite loud, which makes it unsurprising when Hoseok bursts into Jimin’s bedroom with a look of alarm on his face. A look that quickly turns to disgust.

“What are you doing?” Hoseok yelps, quickly covering his face. He peeks around his hand enough for them to see the horror in his eyes.

Taehyung rests back on Jimin’s hips, slowly easing his fingers away from Jimin’s mouth. He looks much more calmer than Hoseok when he says, “I was trying to make Jimin choke on my kagune .”

The disgust on Hoseok’s face worsens as he steps back and lets out a series of gagging noises “I don’t - I don’t want to know what that means,” he garbles out as he grabs the door as if to close it. He doesn’t fully, making sure he makes one last dramatic retching noise they can hear before finally slamming it shut.

Jimin twists his fingers in Taehyung’s loose shirt as he sits up, tugging on him until Taehyung looks to him instead of the door. “We should go to bed. I don’t want to keep hyung up with our noise.”

“For very unselfish reasons, yes, I see,” Taehyung says thoughtfully, raising a brow. “Take me to bed babe, though I can’t promise to be quiet.”

Jimin pinches his chin, wiggling his face slightly. “I mean it. Though, I don’t want tonight to end.”

It’s not something he wants to admit. It’s been a fun day with Taehyung, but so have the last couple of weeks. He knows there will be more, but this one specifically has been one of his favorites. 

“I don’t mind it ending,” Taehyung tells him softly, his eyes warm. “That just means I’ll just get another day with you, and another after that.”

Taehyung does. Another day, another week. Another week after that. The fondness inside of Jimin doesn’t break, only grows and grows until it seems to have run out all of his organs and veins. Until he’s no longer a person, but a Kim Taehyung love bot.

He gets glimpses of Taehyung’s singing voice as Taehyung seems to grow more comfortable around him. He softly sings while they study together, or while they take walks after the sky has darkened. He still gets flustered when Jimin watches him, so Jimin’s taken to looking around them instead so he can keep listening.

Jimin likes the sound of Taehyung’s voice even when he isn’t singing. He finds himself craving to go home and into bed so he can fall asleep listening to him while they’re on the phone, or cuddled together watching whatever. 

It feels a little silly to him when he misses Taehyung when they don’t talk, though the times between when they do are never too long.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

Jimin looks up from his notes, taking in his classmates across him. They’re supposed to be working on a project, but Jimin’s been a little distracted. From what? His own mind, thoughts of this morning with Taehyung wrapped around his back, falling asleep against him instead of getting ready because he stayed up late in the night reading. The way he had to run out of Jimin’s apartment as not to be late to class, just to run back completely frazzled because he forgot to kiss Jimin goodbye. 

He never told Jimin when he wanted to be boyfriends, but the label doesn’t seem to matter because it feels like they are.

“Like what?” Jimin asks as he forces his smile away.

“Like you’re plotting the death of a rich man to get all his money,” his classmate, Namjoon says with a cheeky grin that makes one of his dimples pop out. He swipes back his purple hair before pointing his pencil at him. “You hate biochem, I know it’s not the work making you look like that.”

Jimin flushes, eyes rolling. “I don’t look like that.”

“Yes you do,” Namjoon insists. “It’s cute.”

Jimin kicks under the table but misses Namjoon’s leg. It makes Namjoon laugh, and Jimin wants to tell him off, but his phone is lighting up and taking his attention away, bringing it back to where it’s been this whole time.

hokage : this is so lame, i miss u

Maybe Jimin smiles like that again, uncaring if Namjoon sees, and maybe Jimin doesn’t feel so silly about missing Taehyung after a few hours now that he knows Taehyung misses him too. 

The worst shift possible is the night shift. Jimin usually doesn’t work it as he has class early in the morning, but the idea of extra money and helping one of his coworkers out has him standing behind the counter at an hour before midnight.

He’s kind of regretting it, but at least the store is quiet enough he can sneak some homework in. No one else is around, making it so he can sneak his phone too. Even though he’s sure his boss has cameras around for safety purposes, it shouldn’t be too bad of a thing if no customers are in.

It’ll distract him from the slow night, he thinks at least until he looks at the clock expecting the shift to be nearly over and seeing he’s only been here for thirty minutes.

Jimin groans, kicking his feet up on the counter. Not a single person has stopped in, and he kind of wants to put the ‘closed’ sign up so he can lock up and go home. The possibility of him getting fired has him stopping himself from doing so. 

Time ticks slowly by, even after he finishes his homework packet and texts Hoseok and Taehyung a few times. He resists telling Taehyung he’s bored, or Taehyung might just show up and distract him.

Jimin does consider it though. But it’s late, and Taehyung also has early classes in the morning.  He doesn’t need anymore helping staying up too late in the night. 

It’s a little past one in the morning when the door finally chimes, alerting him to someone entering it. Jimin shifts from his lounged position, straightening his shoulders to appear professional. 

Alarm fills him quickly though as he takes the figure walking in. They’re dressed in all black, their hoodie pulled up over their head and cinched tight so it hides most of their face. The part that’s revealed is covered by thick, dark sunglasses and there’s a mask pulled up over the bottom half of their face.

Panic fills Jimin as he searches beneath the counter for the alarm button. He doesn’t want to act too hasty as the person slowly walks past the drinks section, a finger rubbing over their chin. They could just be a regular customer. Someone who is here to rob him wouldn’t be so obvious about it.

But at the same time, a robber needs to hide their face, and this person has done perfectly at it.

Jimin’s heart thumps heavily in his chest, sweating building at his neck. He won’t blink, won’t tear his eyes away from the person as they grab chips off the shelf next and head for the counter.

He keeps his finger on the button. It won’t do good if the person lunges over the counter. He’d be dead before the alarms even go off.

Jimin could fight them. He’s pretty agile and strong. He can’t tell how big the person is as he wears a big puffy coat that hides the shape of their body, but Jimin thinks he can take them. Possibly.

He goes over possible defense tactics in his head. An elbow to the neck should work. Just leap on the counter and pow . Strike before the person knows what’s about to hit them.

“He-hello,” Jimin greets instead, his nerves worsening when the person looks over their shoulder like they’re searching the space around them for any potential witnesses their attempt to murder Jimin. 

Jimin fumbles with his plan. Should he press the button than jump over the counter? The cameras are going to capture this, but they won’t be able to make out the person’s face. 

“You Park Jimin?”

Jimin hesitates at the sound of his name, at the obviously forced deep voice the person uses to say it. He peers his eyes as the person dumps the chips and drink onto the counter, his nerves washing away so quickly that his body slumps because of it.

There, on the back of the man’s hand, is a pink lotus flower. 

Fucking Jeon Jungkook. 

“Yes or no?” Jungkook goes on, giving him a quick once over. 

Amusement and confusion fill Jimin. He wonders if Taehyung is pulling a prank on him, because if so, he’s going to swear him off from dick sucking for at least a week. He had nearly pissed his pants just a moment ago. 

“Yeah?” Jimin says, wondering if he should tell Jungkook that he knows it’s him. But Jungkook really keeps it up, peering around even more as he shoves his hands into his pocket and pulls something else out.

A bright yellow flyer. He plants it on the counter, showing off his lotus flower again. He slowly pushes it across the counter with two fingers. “Don’t ask any questions. Just show up or else.”

Jungkook’s attempt at a deep voice breaks when he squeaks, and he quickly clears his throat.

“Or else what?” Jimin challenges, wanting to snort. He wants to entertain Jungkook too, but it’s difficult.

Jungkook hesitates. “I’ll - I’ll steal all the seasoning packets from your ramen.”

Jimin snorts. “I’m scared.”

“You should be,” Jungkook whispers, his voice daunting. 

“Jungkook, I know it’s you,” Jimin says as he takes the flyer from him because he can’t keep pretending any longer. It’s for the same bar they had gone to a few weeks ago, advertising for an event this upcoming weekend.

Jungkook goes still, his entire body freezing as he presumably stares at Jimin through those dark sunglasses of his. When he comes to, his shoulders slump as he rips the sunglasses from his face and tugs down his face mask. 

“How’d you know?” Jungkook complains, a whine in his tone. His expression is one of pure misery. 

Jimin tosses one of his bags of chips at him, uncaring if they crumble inside. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack? I almost hit the alarm button and kicked your ass.”

Jungkook’s eyes go wide, fear in them. “What? No, why would you do that?”

“You look like a robber,” Jimin exclaims like Jungkook should know this. “What is this?”

Pushing his lips into a pout, Jungkook shoves the glasses back onto his face. “You didn’t see me here tonight, Park Jimin-ssi,” he says, using his deep voice again. “Just go to it. And don’t say a word of it to Tae, okay? Please, he’ll kill me, and I can’t leave my parents with my student debt.”

Jungkook’s normal voice comes back as he begs, even bringing his hands up together in front of him. 

Jimin looks back at the flyer. It’s an event for local, upcoming artists. “Tae’s performing?”

Groaning quietly, Jungkook nods. “I’ve spent every day at work listening to him trying to find the right song to sing to you. He’s just nervous, okay? He doesn’t know I’m doing this, but I know he would want you there.”

“Was it really necessary to pretend to rob me?” Jimin says, though he’s filling with warmth at Jungkook’s words. “It’s one o’clock in the morning.”

“I wasn’t pretending to to rob you,” Jungkook grumbles out. “And Tae was worried about you working so late, so I said I would check up on you while getting snacks so he wouldn’t keep making himself look like such a creep.”

Jimin warms even more. He bites at his smile. “You’re the creep wandering around with sunglasses and threatening to take all my ramen packets.”

“And I will,” Jungkook declares, gripping the edge of his sunglasses to send a glare over them before he’s turning on his heel to jet out of the store, leaving his chips and drink behind. 

Jimin looks back at the flyer, fingers tapping over the counter. His heart swells in his chest, and he knows the security camera is catching the smile that grows too big for his face. 

The bar is just as packed as it was the first time. It lets Jimin blend easily, though the bright neon orange blob next to him that is Hoseok draws a lot of attention to them. Hoseok had insisted on coming with him after Jimin confessed the worries that had been plaguing him all day, the fear that Taehyung actually doesn’t want him to be here and it will make him uncomfortable.

He and Taehyung had spoken earlier in the day, and Taehyung had never mentioned the performance. Jimin wanted to ask him over and over, but he was afraid of making Taehyung too nervous to get up on the stage. 

Jungkook had seemed genuine and not like he was playing around when he invited Jimin, so Jimin hopes that it’s okay for him to be here. He didn’t think Jungkook would go through all that trouble to stage a robbery just go get back at Taehyung for salt in his coffee. Though, the salt in the coffee was weeks and weeks ago, and he hasn’t let it go yet.

Based on the things Taehyung has told him about his favorite coworker, it’s possible. 

There is someone else on the stage now, but Jimin finds Taehyung to the side of it. He’s dancing around on his feet, hands tucked into the pockets of his pants. The button up he wears is covered in sunflowers, tight to his body, and lying beneath an opened black blazer. His hair is the neatest Jimin has ever seen it, and he has to bite back his smile as he imagines Taehyung preparing for tonight.

Jimin does hope he isn’t too nervous though. That he’s more excited than anything. But Taehyung’s eyes are wide in the way that makes Jimin want to rush through the crowd and hold his hands. He keeps licking at his lips and breathing out until his cheeks look like bubbles, though he bobs his head along to the song currently being sung. 

“This guy’s good,” Hoseok shouts over the music, also bobbing his head to the sad tune as he sips at his beer. He stills, a moment before saying, “Wait is this a competition?”

“I don’t think so?” Jimin asks. He has the flyer tucked in his pocket still, but the crowd is dense around him and he doesn’t want to actually elbow someone to get it out and check. He’s looked at it at least a thousand times to make sure he didn’t forget the date and time. 

“If it is, this guy fucking sucks,” Hoseok replies, glaring at the man on stage.

Jimin had tried to tell Hoseok not to come, but it’s the silliness like this that had Jimin not being too stubborn about it. As much as he pretends to be annoyed by Hoseok’s obnoxiousness, it’s one of his favorite things about him.

Maybe Jimin is feeling mushy. He smiles at Hoseok, wanting to plant a fat kiss to his cheek to show his gratitude for always making him smile. He restrains himself, simply tugging on the orange bucket hat he wears affectionately instead.

When the song ends, Taehyung’s head jerks up quickly. He rubs at his face, breathes out in that way that makes his cheeks round again. His hands turn to fists as he jumps on his toes, and Jimin is moving through the crowd before he can stop himself.

It’s nerves, Jimin knows, but the face Taehyung makes looks like he could be sick as the announcer rushes up on stage and throws a hand out towards him.

Jimin is making his way closer when Taehyung steps into the stage, bowing as he goes. Taehyung adjusts the mic lower before he sits on the stool that’s dragged over for him by the announcer, and for a moment, there’s nothing by silence.

Silence worries Jimin because Hoseok’s the type to hoot and holler to show his support. Jimin’s stopped goign to parades with him for this reason. He nearly knocks Hoseok’s hands down when they come up above him, but Hoseok glares at him and shows his phone.

“Hyung is at work. I don’t want him to miss it,” Hoseok explains, a little too loudly. But Taehyung’s eyes are focused somewhere low still like he didn’t hear him. 

Closing his hands into fists beside his chest, Jimin sends his own quiet encouragement. His pride takes over him, and he feels the need to shout it out too when Taehyung taps at the mic.

He doesn’t though, only pushes the people in front of him aside.

“Hello, I am Kim Taehyung and this is I Won’t Mind by Zayn.”

Taehyung shifts around on the stool, adjusts the mic a few more times. Jimin wonders if he can see him when he finally manages to get the last person out of his way, or if the lights over the stage make the audience too dark.

“ Don’t look around cause love is blind and right now I can’t see you .”

His eyes close, fingers curling around the microphone that’s pressed close to his lips. His brows furrow, and though his voice has that quiet hesitancy of someone who is nervous, it fills the room. 

“ I’m feeling proud, so without a doubt, I can feel you .”

Jimin presses his hands to his chest because he’s afraid the feeling inside of it might burst out of him. He’s imagined the way he would look behind this same exact microphone, and his imagination did Taehyung no justice.

“ Cause right now we are who we are when no one’s watching .” 

Taehyung’s voice is deep and low, honey dripping from his lips. It warms Jimin, who is already coming up with a million praises to assure Taehyung that he never needs to be embarrassed by his talent. He should never hide it.  

“ And right from the start, you know I got you.”

Jimin smiles brightly up at the stage as Taehyung’s voice grows a little louder. The song has a sad feel to it, but the corners of Taehyung’s lips are quirking up as he croons softly into the microphone. Hoseok tilts his head to the side in appreciation when Taehyung’s pitch changes, his hands steady and unmoving around his phone like he wants to make sure he didn’t miss a thing for Yoongi.

There is a pause as the beat plays lowly, and Taehyung lays his eyes over the crowd. He bites at his smile, cheeks bulging, eyelashes fluttering in embarrassment.

Again, Jimin worries that Taehyung won’t want him here, but when their eyes meet, Taehyung’s lips part around his signature wide smile. 

Jimin throws him a finger heart, bouncing on his toes as Taehyung presses his lips back to the microphone, their eyes still connected.

“ Yeah, you know I got you. ”

The song isn’t over before Jimin is weeding his way through the crowd again to get to the part of the stage Taehyung had entered. When it does finish, Taehyung bows at the claps he receives, barely lifting his head fully before bowing again. 

Hoseok is hollering the loudest, and even from a distance, Jimin can see Taehyung’s ears burning red.

Their eyes meet when Taehyung descends the stairs, though he looks away shyly. The smile on his lips is soft, but it grows when Jimin takes his hands.

“Did I woo your pants off?” Taehyung asks, swinging their arms around them.

“Mhm,” Jimin hums with a nod. He can’t keep the smile off of his face, and he moves in so he can press it to Taehyung’s lips for a quick peck. “Did you know I would be here?”

Taehyung nods, pressing another kiss to Jimin’s cheek. “Jungkook kept trying to get me to invite you, and when he said he would if I didn’t, he looked like he was going to shit his pants. ‘I’ll tell him if you don’t, Tae. Not - not that I have already or anything like that. I was just trying to rob him and the flyer fell out of my pocket.’”

Jimin rolls his eyes, fond and amused at Taehyung’s attempt to mimic Jungkook’s voice.. “You have a beautiful voice Tae. My pants are only still on because we’re in public. If we were alone? First note and they’d be off.”

Taehyung is still a burning red. It doesn’t fade even when Jimin drags him through the crowd to get to a place where it’s less congested and there’s more air. There’s sweat around Taehyung’s temples, making his bangs stick to his skin places. He feels really hot when Jimin cups his cheeks, and he hopes now that the performance is over, Taehyung’s nerves have calmed. 

“You really didn’t mind me coming?” Jimin asks as he guided Taehyung as far away from the stage as possible, though it does little to muffle the next song that plays. It’s a sectioned off booth that Jimin slips into, padding the spot beside him for Taehyung to sit. 

“No. Jungkook asking you to come was easier than me asking you. I’d never have gotten the nerve.”

“You know Hobi said the same thing when I offered to confess to Yoongi when I thought he was going to be at that cat cafe instead?” Jimin tells him. He leans into Taehyung until their thighs are touching, and he can curl his fingers into the silky fabric of his dress shirt where it lays over his belly.

“Did he?” Taehyung huffs out, the corners of his eyes crinkling. 

“I got pretty lucky that you were there instead,” Jimin tells him as he leans in so he doesn’t have to shout it. He doesn’t mind the noise, but he has a craving to be alone somewhere quiet with Taehyung. Maybe encourage him to sing again to him, or make him sing while Jimin kisses every inch of him.

Taehyung hooks an arm around the back of Jimin’s neck, his hand coming around so he can stroke a thumb over Jimin’s jaw. “I’m pretty lucky we met that way and not with you running me over with your car.”

A complaint rises in Jimin, but he’s gentle in the way he pinches Taehyung’s belly in retaliation. “You know what, I regret meeting both of you.”

He pretends to get up to leave, but Taehyung catches his hands and holds on tight. There isn’t much space between the booth and the table, but Taehyung manages to fit himself there to beg on his knees.

“I’m kidding, Jimin-ah,” Taehyung pleads through his giggles. “Forgive me. Don’t say such unkind, untrue things.”

It is untrue, but Jimin doesn’t give up his pretend annoyed face. Meeting Hoseok had been one of the best things in his life, even if it had been a terrifying one at first.

He thinks meeting Taehyung was one of the best too, and he isn’t terrified of it. 

“You know, Jungkook said you were trying to come up with a song for me? What’s all this about ‘even though you’ll never be mine? ’” Jimin teases, pretending to be put off. 

Taehyung slides back into the booth then, yanking softly on Jimin’s hands to get him back. “You wanted to hear my favorite song. That’s my favorite song.”

“It’s a sad one,” Jimin says as he gives into Taehyung’s tugging. “Who broke your heart? I’ll kick them with my chunky boots.”

Taehyung snorts. “No one. I just think it’s pretty.”

“You’re pretty,” Jimin retorts as he flicks beneath Taehyung’s chin. 

“I know,” Taehyung teases, wagging an eyebrow. “You know, speaking of mine , you asked if you could call me yours, and I was wondering if I could call you mine too.”

Jimin leans back, considering it. For a moment, than another. A few more until impatience makes Taehyung pout cutely. 

“I kind of already have a boyfriend,” Jimin says apologetically. Taehyung’s eyes go a little wide. “Really amazing guy. Pretends to hate One Piece but I caught him mouthing the theme song when we watched together.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, gently pushing his fist into Jimin’s shoulder. “Break up with him. I actually hate One Piece and won’t lie about it.”

Jimn snorts loudly as he squeezes his hands around Taehyung’s cheeks. He giggles, rubbing his thumbs against the corners of Taehyung’s mouth to ease away his pout. “You’re such a shit. But you can call me yours.”

They’re stopped from kissing when Hoseok pushes into the section and slides so hard across the booth he jostles into Taehyung.

“You left me,” Hoseok complains as he throws an arm around Taehyung’s shoulders, “to make out . Jimin begged me to come tonight and this is what I get in return? You’ve made me a third wheel?

He looks scandalizes, saying ‘third wheel’ like a curse, but they only laugh in response. Taehyung’s been around long enough now to have experienced his own Hoseokie headache and no longer worry about the dramatics. 

Jimin thinks they’d both agree that it’s the best kind of headache out there.

“You can join if you want,” Taehyung says as he blows Hoseok a kiss.

Hoseok leans in, squeezing Taehyung’s face. Taehyung shakes his head quickly, pushing his hands into Hoseok’s chest.

“I was kidding, I was kidding,” Taehyung chokes out between his laughter, body seizing up as he lowers himself towards the cushions.

Hoseok planes a noisy kiss to his hairline, one that makes Jimin fall backwards in laughter. 

“Stop kissing my boyfriend,” Jimin says through his laugh.

Hoseok’s eyes go wide, his mouth shaping an ‘o’ as he stops pressing it to Taehyung’s forehead. Taehyung keeps himself cowering between them. “Is that so? We’re using the word boyfriend now?”

Taehyung grunts, slapping Hoseok’s thigh. “I’m a taken man, Jung.”

“That means I have to deal with you longer?” Hoseok says, pretending like he’s put off.

Jimin rolls his eyes as he adjusts himself when Taehyung sits up to lean against him. “You’d have to anyway. Yoongi’s my best friend,” Taehyung declares defensively.

A smile erupts across Hoseok’s face. “I know. My man’s got good taste. You, me.”

Taehyung’s body shakes when he snickers. There is a warm feeling inside of Jimin’s chest because of it, because of Hoseok and Taehyung. The way they’ve already bonded enough for them to tease each other like this. Jimin’s two favorite people.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“I hate surprises.”

Taehyung side eyes him, judgment on his face. “You love surprises, what are you talking about?”

Jimin swings their clasped hands between them. It’s still chilly though winter is slowly turning to spring. They’re a few hours away from home, in a small city Jimin’s never been to before but Taehyung seems to know his way around. 

“It’s different when I know I’m getting a surprise. I hate them then. The anticipation? The curiosity? You can be a wicked tease, babe.”

It’s another date, that much Jimin knows. They’ve been on hundreds of dates over the last six months, and Jimin still gets just as excited as their first. The only difference now is the nerves are no longer there.

The butterflies however have made themselves home inside of Jimin’s stomach. Jimin’s welcomed them, as well as the feeling in his chest whenever he looks at Taehyung. 

“I’m not spoiling it,” Taehyung says confidently, though he’s just as weak to a pout as Jimin is. “We’re almost there anyway.”

Jimin considers using the pout against him, but Taehyung has been excited all day. Since they both woke up (much too early), he’s been talking about it. Singing about it too, because he no longer gets embarrassed to sing for Jimin. 

He sings quite often, actually, and Jimin’s fallen in love with his voice just as much as he’s fallen in love with Taehyung himself.

“At least tell me why you’re dressed like that,” Jimin giggles as he indicates Taehyung’s get up.

The dark green trench coat he wears is long, hanging inches past his knees and touching the tall, black boots he wears. There are gold buttons down the entire length of it, and a thick maroon scarf wrapped around his waist. 

“You look like Zoro,” Jimin says, teasing. “Kinda hot.”

Taehyung grins proudly, chest puffing out. “That’s what I was going for. Look at this.”

Despite the cold weather and the people around them, Taehyung starts to undo the buttons of his coat. He keeps going down past his chest, and only smiles when Jimin reaches out to stop him. 

“What are you -”

When Taehyung pulls back the lapels of the coat, a long, hand drawn scar across his bare chest is revealed. It’s diagonal, going from his shoulder to his stomach, where it disappears beneath what looks to be a green halter top Taehyung has wrapped around his stomach.

Jimin’s heart leaps in his chest as he bends his body back to laugh up at the sky. He looks at Taehyung again, though his eyes squeeze closed from giggling and making it hard to see. 

“What?” Jimin barks gleefully and confused. He loves Taehyung so much it hurts. “What is this?”

“How did I do?” Taehyung asks, growing red. It warms it’s way down his throat and to his chest. Jimin wonders how he missed Taehyung drawing the scar on himself. 

He thinks about Taehyung studying pictures of Zoro to get so many of the details right. Maybe it’s possible to fall more in love with people.

“You’re just missing the green hair,” Jimin chuckles as he runs his fingers fondly through Taehyung’s black locks. “It’s perfect, but please explain. You hate One Piece.”

“And you hate Naruto, but I see that keychain you have of him on your bag,” Taehyung says, pointing widely at the bag Jimin has hanging over his shoulder. There is a bit of defense in his tone, a sign he is a second from whining in embarrassment.

“It was a gift from Hobi, quiet. He was trying his best,” Jimin defends. He’ll never admit it, but he enjoys watching it now when he’s watching it with Taehyung just like Taehyung enjoys watching One Piece. “And don’t change the subject, Zoro.”

Taehyung winks both of his eyes. “Come on, just this way.”

The surprise is a cafe, one with a pirate ship sticking out over its entrance, a replica of the Straw Hat Pirates’ Thousand Sunny . Jimin bounces on his toes in excitement, his chest warming at the idea of Taehyung searching for a place like this or maybe stumbling upon it and thinking about him.

The inside is like a cavern, with life size cardboard cutouts of the characters greeting them. Taehyung is tomato when Jimin shoves him next to Zoro, complimenting his resemblance and insisting on a photo.

“Would you make fun of me if I get jealous about how much you woo over him,” Taehyung jokes quietly so only he can hear.

“Probably,” Jimin jokes back as they make their way to a table. “He’s a cartoon, babe.”

“So what,” Taehyung scoffs. “When I was younger, I had a major crush on Hiroto Honda. Don’t laugh, he was jacked.”

Jimin does laugh. “I promise, my heart only belongs to you. Zoro is no threat.”

Even the menus are designed after the show. Jimin eyes over the Pirate Lunch Box and Sanji Fizz , feeling like a kid in a candy store. Or a grown adult in an anime cafe. The feeling that Taehyung always gives him whenever they’re together, no matter what they’re doing.

They’ve made it a thing to go on a date every Friday, switching it up on who decides on where. Taehyung made a mason jar filled with date ideas, but they usually pull out idea after idea until they find one they’re actually in the mood for. It’s the best part of Jimin’s weeks.

When Jimin went home for the holidays, he felt ridiculous with how much he missed Taehyung. It was only a few weeks, but Jimin missed him terribly. 

“I came here with Yoongi once,” Taehyung explains as he points to a few of his recommendations. “I thought you’d like it.”

“I love it,” Jimin replies softly. There aren’t enough words to describe how happy he is. Taehyung’s pretty good at doing that. Making him smile when he’s stressed out about an exam, or watching a sad movie. When class is terrible, he seems to always text him at the right time like he can just feel the stress building up inside of Jimin. 

“I spent weeks trying to come up with a place to take you on our sixth month anniversary,” Taehyung says quietly. 

Realization hits Jimin and his lips part in surprise. He stares at Taehyung, who is too busy reading over the menu to notice. The angle makes him look like his eyelashes are miles long, soft and fluttering as he refuses to look up at him. 

When he finally does, the silence stretching, he hesitates, eyebrows scrunching together. “What?”

“What do you mean anniversary?” Jimin asks.

They stare at each other. Taehyung looks lost for words, a question mark appearing in his eyes. He cocks his head to the side before slowly rubbing at his jaw. There is a growth of stubble there because he’s been on a mission to get a full beard. He always shaves it after a few days. 

“Like - you know, a celebration of the day you  started dating someone?” Taehyung asks like he’s unsure of the word. 

“Have - have we been dating?”

Taehyung looks even more confused, eyes widening. He parts his lips a few times, and it’s when he looks a bit distressed that Jimin laughs.

“I’m kidding,” Jimin assures. He pulls his bag onto his lap to fumble through it. They never officially started dating, but he remembers the first day they went on a date. The multiple times they asked each other to be theirs. “For you.”

Jimin hands over a small purple bag. Taehyung holds it in his hand, still staring at Jimin.

“Go on, open it.”

“I didn’t get you anything,” Taehyung says slowly, guilt and worry in his big round eyes. 

“You brought me here,” Jimin reminds him with a soft smile. “And I don’t want anything but you, Tae.”

Taehyung bites at his bottom lip, eyeing the bag. “I want to say the same, but I also want whatever is in here.”

Jimin snorts, kicking out to rub his feet against Taehyung’s feet. “Then open it.”

There are some nerves inside of Jimin as Taehyung slowly pulls open the strings of the bag. Teasingly slow, building the anticipation around them.

Taehyung peeks an eye into the opened part, bringing it close to his face. He looks confused again before he pulls out the item inside.

It’s a keychain with a microphone hanging from the loop and a key dangling beside it.

“It’s a key to my apartment,” Jimin explains quietly. “So you won’t get stuck in the hallway waiting for Hoseok or I to let you in.”

It’s happened a few times. Taehyung broke in the last time because Jimin had gotten stuck working an extra hour at work. He hadn’t minded, but Hoseok joked how he should just have a key because he’s there so often, and Jimin didn’t hesitate to make a copy of his own.

Taehyung closed his fist protectively around it. “I love it but you don’t have a key lock.”

“It’s symbolic,” Jimin tells him, embarrassment filling him though he knows he never has to be embarrassed around Taehyung. He’s just as lame and corny as himself. “And I love you.”

He says it without thinking. He rubs his lips together when Taehyung’s eyes widen a fraction again because they’ve jokingly said it before, offhandedly, but Jimin doesn’t know if he’s said it in a way that Taehyung really understands how he feels.

It makes him nervous for some reason, his need to quickly correct any possible tension that he realistically knows won’t be there. “ Hokage .”

Taehyung rolls his eyes, his ears still turning red like they always do when Jimin calls him that. “Just so there’s no misunderstanding here loser , please refer to me only as boyfriend for forever.”

Jimin warms. He reaches across the table to take Taehyung’s fingers into his hand. “I was just teasing, I promise.”

“I know,” Taehyung huffs, “because you’re lame.”

“But you love me,” Jimin muses as he squeezes Taehyung’s fingers.

Taehyung nods, smiling warmly. “I do. I love you too, Jimin-ah.”