Chapter Text
Jimin knows it’s a terrible idea.
Taehyung"s grandmother quite literally told him that he shouldn"t work some awful job in the tavern, that he could find a better opportunity, but how could Jimin say no when the job practically fell into his lap? Upon leaving the Kim’s strawberry farm, Jimin truly had nowhere to go. It was either swallow his pride and go back home or ask Jungkook for help. But no, Jimin hasn’t come this far just to give in like that. He books into the inn above the tavern, spending his precious coin on the small, basic room. The owner of the inn knows desperation well, nostrils flaring at Jimin’s downtrodden scent.
“Listen, I’ll give you a discount if you help out with the cleaning, ey?”
That is how Jimin finds himself now, washing dishes, clearing tables, and scrubbing the tavern’s sticky floor, his hair tied back and an apron around his waist. He’s not quite a barman, he’s managed to find something much worse. The pay is abysmal, most of it going on the price of his room and on meals in the pack hall, because of course, he has no kitchen. It’s truly awful whenever his father is here, which he often is.
“You can bring a horse to water but you can’t make them drink,” Hanbin scoffs loudly to his friends, eyeing Jimin across the tavern. “He had a perfectly good home and a cushy job in our bakery. I paid him real good, too. He’s nothing but an ungrateful, selfish brat,” he mutters.
“I hear you,” one of his friends slurs drunkenly.
“He fits in well here though, doesn’t he? A sight for sore eyes,” another comments, his gaze heavy on Jimin.
Hanbin whacks the back of his friend’s head. “If you like him so much, why don’t you marry him?”
The table laughs heartily at this, the joke never getting old. Jimin learned quickly that if his father’s friends weren’t all married, he would have gotten a lot of proposals a long time ago. It turns his stomach. He scurries away into the kitchen, the only place he can hide. Here, the chefs are busy cooking, the room filled with steam. Stomach rumbling, Jimin sighs and begins washing the dishes that have begun to pile up. He thanks the moon goddess that his father"s friends are already married.
ੈ🌾˳
“Why can’t you go back to teaching at school?” Jungkook asks, following Jimin as they make their way through the woods. It’s Jimin’s day off today so it’s imperative he forages as much food as possible. He also checks his traps and is relieved to now have a couple of hares slung onto his belt. He’s got a deal going with one of the chefs. They take the spoils to make a stew and Jimin gets a couple of free servings. It’s a win-win.
“I asked Mrs Nina but she’s hired someone else. I considered asking Miss Lihn but realised how ridiculous that is,” he laughs. “What am I going to do? Teach you to read, Jungkook?” He also couldn’t handle the shame of admitting to Miss Lihn that he was unemployed and helpless, not achieving anything much since he left school.
“Hyung, I would happily pretend I can’t read if it meant getting you a job.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he laughs. “Oh, wild strawberries.” He crouches down and begins filling his basket.
Jungkook crouches down beside him and looks at him angrily. The alpha has been awfully frustrated with him ever since he began working in the tavern. “How can you stand to work there? You have to deal with your father and his idiot friends every day. And it’s not just them, that place is full of empty headed alphas, hyung. I can’t defend you if you’re in the serpent’s nest!”
Grinning, Jimin rises to his feet. “I never asked you to defend me,” he sings. “You always forget this.”
“Ah! You’re so stubborn,” Jungkook yells. “Surely farm work can’t be as bad as the tavern?”
He makes a fair point, but Jimin purses his lips and charges onwards, deeper into the woods. “I like my little room there, though. I get my own space.”
“Jimin-hyung,” he whines, stomping his feet.
Jimin giggles in delight, loving to rile him up. “What? It’s true. I’ve never had my own space before.”
Jungkook knows it’s a losing battle, but it doesn’t stop him from trying. In fact, he seeks out Jimin whenever he can to try to convince him to move into his family home. Admittedly, they still do not see each other often, what with Jungkook still being in school and Jimin’s miserable evening work schedule. Jungkook refuses to enter the tavern, terrified of Hanbin figuring out how he’s been helping Jimin. All in all, they see each other maybe once a week. Jimin thanks the stars he finally has a friend for the first time since Taehyung left.
When Jungkook isn’t around and the foraging has been done, Jimin spends his free time trying to gain as much enjoyment out of this dismal life as possible. The job is so tough and the tavern patrons so unpalatable that Jimin feels strangely philosophical about life when he’s not working. He spends a lot of time in the library, thanking the authors for writing the books, thanking the librarians for creating this palace of knowledge, and even thanking his employer for giving him time off. From romance novels to science books, Jimin reads just about anything, soaking it all in. The momentary break from reality is truly what keeps him going at this point. He keeps coming back to a huge tome called ‘Hand Book of Chemistry’, undoubtedly donated to them by someone in Liyue. The mysteries of the Earth and its inner workings are all here for anyone to read but Jimin gets the feeling he’s the only one who’s ever opened this poor, neglected book. The librarians are nothing but happy to let him check it out, again and again. After long shifts in the tavern, he sits on his small, hard single bed and opens a page at random, enthralled by what he reads but not always understanding it. Oh well, it keeps his mind off the creepy alphas.
Until one day in May, when he can’t ignore one such creepy alpha anymore.
Cha Wonsik has been bothering him for weeks now, asking him questions and never catching the hint that Jimin wants to be left alone. The alpha is a lot older than him, probably by three decades. He has no mating bite on his neck or ring on his finger, but Jimin gets the feeling that that wouldn’t stop him anyway.
It’s close to midnight, but the night is warm, fireflies buzzing around the tavern garden. A few people are still sitting out here, nursing their glasses of ale, Cha Wonsik included. Jimin’s omega recoils at his scent, let alone his words.
“Come here, little omega, and fill up my glass, won’t you?” his rough voice calls out.
His friends laughing, Jimin rushes back into the tavern and deposits some glasses in the kitchen sink. He begins scrubbing them, hands shaking, but the head barman soon calls out his name.
“Jimin! The garden is unattended, what are you doing? I told you to serve them.”
“Sorry, I - I’ll go out now.”
Heart pounding, he heads back out into the humid night, Wonsik’s eyes lighting up at the sight of him.
“I knew you couldn’t resist me.” A hand comes up to touch his waist but Jimin darts to the side, narrowly avoiding him.
“Let me go fill your glasses, gentlemen,” he says robotically, picking up three glasses. Darting back to safety, he takes his sweet time refilling their drinks at the bar. He was recently promoted to a barman, but goddess, was it worth it? He now must interact directly with the customers, something he wholeheartedly hates.
His inner omega will never forgive him for this, he fears.
A deep sense of foreboding overtakes him when he reenters the garden. Some of the alphas have left, he took so long, only Wonsik and his sleeping friend remain. The friend is face down on the table, drunk out of his mind. Jimin freezes where he stands, three glasses balanced precariously in his hands.
“Well, don’t just stand there, ey? Come give me my drinks. You got them just for me, didn’t you?” He stares up at him as Jimin carefully puts down the drinks. "Aren"t you a docile little thing, hm?"
Jimin burns with anger, but doesn’t say a word. The alpha starts laughing maniacally. He staggers to his feet, his laugh abruptly cutting off, his gaze turning heavy and dangerous. Jimin doesn’t wait around to see what will happen. He turns tail and runs, but the alpha catches his wrist.
He feels so stupid. He feels numb, like this is happening to someone else and not him. Wonsik spins him around and steps close to him, his stinking alcohol breath hot on his face. He’s even more grotesque up close, Jimin notes.
Images and memories start flashing in Jimin’s mind.
A similarly built alpha. Alcohol breath. A tight grip on his wrist.
Recoiling, he stumbles backwards, the grass slippy under his feet. He’s stumbling over his boots in his family home. It’s early Summer. It’s Winter. It"s Cha Wonsik. It"s his father. Jungkook isn’t here. Jungkook is just outside.
“L-leave me alone.”
Jimin knows his lines.
“So beautiful. Such a sweet, pretty omega,” he slurs.
That snaps Jimin back into action. Like a wild animal, he scrambles out of his hold, thrashing his head from left to right, avoiding the alpha’s hungry mouth that descends closer and closer to his neck. Jimin remembers he has full use of his legs. His knee, his foot, his other foot all come careening at the alpha in quick succession, leaving him howling on the ground, clutching himself in pain.
A barman comes rushing out, along with the boss.
“What on earth is going on?” the boss yells.
“Are you alright, Jimin?” the barman asks, slightly more concerned.
Jimin practically chokes when he tries to speak, a growl caught in his throat. Or perhaps it"s a whine. Could be both.
He runs straight past them, up the stairs, and locks his door behind him. He doesn’t feel safe. He desperately wants to nest but can’t. There aren’t any extra pillows and blankets and he doesn’t want to use the few clean clothes he has.
Breaths coming harsh and panicked, he sits against the door and clutches the ‘Hand Book of Chemistry’ to his chest. The book grounds him. The comforting paper smell and heavy weight are familiar. It would make a solid weapon too, if it comes to it.
A part of him wants to run to Jungkook, but another part of him doesn’t want the young alpha to have anything to do with Cha Wonsik. No, Jungkook has almost finished school, he should focus on that. No good can come from Jungkook fighting an alpha so much older than him. Jimin also just doesn’t want to talk about what just happened, doesn’t want to think about it.
Totally freaked out, he hardly sleeps a wink. He wakes up the next morning lying on the floor, face squished into the wood and the chemistry book still in his arms. He packs his bags groggily, already knowing what he must do.
“Well, I can’t say I’m surprised.” The boss shakes his head. “Our omega staff never last too long here anyway. I had higher hopes for a male omega but ah,” he shrugs, one hand leaning heavily on the bar. “Not to worry, Mr Jimin. That bumbling fool from last night has been imprisoned for public indecency.”
“W-what?”
“You heard right. A bailiff found him stumbling around the village centre with his trousers down, yelling and hollering. You certainly know how to get ‘em where it hurts, don’t you?” He quirks an eyebrow.
Jimin leaves soon after that, stepping out into the sunshine. He supposes justice has been served, kind of. He won’t have to worry about seeing that alpha for a while anyway. He walks around, arms weighed down by his bags, and waits for a plan to hit him. Arms beginning to seriously hurt, he peeks into the window of the bakery. Jihoon is alone.
“Are Mom and Dad out the back?” he hisses, poking his head around the door of the bakery.
“They’ve gone to lunch at the tavern,” Jihoon replies, eyeing his bags. Jimin thanks the stars that they didn’t cross paths. He won’t have to serve his parents lunch today, at least. “I’m guessing you"re not just here to collect Taehyung’s letter?” His brother has been carefully hiding the letters for Jimin, because of course, it would have been disastrous if Jimin gave Taehyung an updated address.
“He sent a new one?” Jimin lights up, dropping his bags in the corner and bounding behind the counter. He rummages through the cupboard under the counter, practically shoving Jihoon aside. When he finds the letter, he jumps to his feet and rips it open, greedily taking in Taehyung’s slanted handwriting.
“What’s he said?”
“Yoongi-hyung has started dating a female alpha?” Jimin exclaims, eyes widening. He reads the line over and over again, to make sure he didn’t get that wrong.
“They’re real?” Jihoon blurts out.
Jimin’s eyes jump to the next line and he gets an even bigger shock.
“Seokjin and Namjoon are engaged,” Jimin practically screams. “Oh, they’ve invited me to their mating ceremony next year.” His heart sinks, knowing there’s no way he can make it.
“Don’t they call it a ‘wedding’ up in Liyue?” Jihoon questions.
“Sh! I’m reading… Oh, oh, some call it a wedding but others prefer the traditional term. I prefer it too,” he nods.
“Are you going to go?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Oh - listen to this! Hoseok graduated to a full tailor, he’s no longer just an apprentice, and Taehyung’s shoes are getting really popular. Oh, I’m so proud of them,” he beams, heart melting.
“Pfft. City wolves…”
Jimin narrows his eyes at him. “Hey, shouldn’t you be in school?”
“Shouldn’t you be at work?” Jihoon counters.
Jimin flounces around the counter and collapses heavily into a chair.
“Jihoon-ah. I have no job or home, again. I have no choice but to come home.”
The alpha leans heavily on the counter. “Really? But isn’t that like…giving up?”
Jimin glares at him, deeply offended. “Well, what do you suggest I do?”
“Become a farm hand!” He yells, as if he’s pointing out the obvious. “Some of them provide accommodation.”
“Very few,” he scoffs. Although, he does know two families more than willing to take him in, the Jeons and Taehyung’s grandparents. “Don’t worry Jihoon, I won’t give in until I find a job I actually like and a home of my own.” He cannot let the Cha Wonsiks of the world win.
“But hyung, how are you going to do that if you live at home again? Dad’s never going to let you live this down.”
“Don’t remind me, please. Now come on,” he stands up, “Is there anything to eat?”
“Will you bake again?” Jihoon perks up.
“Not for you.” He sticks his tongue out before walking into the kitchens.
In a way, it feels nice to be home, so long as it’s just him and Jihoon.
ੈ🌾˳
His response to Taehyung is carefully constructed, full of congratulations and very little information about the recent happenings of his own life. His friend will be able to read him like a book, however, and Jimin fully expects Taehyung to demand he give him all the details of his pathetic life.
Because yes, Jimin is now back at home.
Hanbin had laughed in his face when he found out, pointing and spluttering at Jimin where he sat at the kitchen table, his face burning with shame. Strangely enough, Sooyun had put a stop to it, making vague statements about how she had made Jimin’s bed while he was away, but if he’s looking for his nesting supplies, they’re folded up in the closet, and how she’ll have to go to the market to purchase some extra food for their meals, now that he’s back. It’s the most she’s ever stood up for him.
Jimin makes himself scarce, even more so than before. He spends his days out job seeking in the May heat and he eats all his meals in the pack hall. He sneaks around his house like he’s a burglar, constantly listening out to see if his father is home. Unfortunately, Hanbin has taken to coming home at odd times, trying to catch Jimin out. Instead of spending his evenings at the tavern, he now lingers around Jimin, making him unbelievably uncomfortable.
It’s been only four days and Hanbin has barged into his bedroom every single night.
“Open that window, Jimin, Goddess above, it stinks of your pheromones in here,” he mutters on the first night, charging across the room to open the creaky window for him.
Jimin sits up in his nest, horrified that his father has charged into his room like this. He doesn’t want him to see his nest, doesn’t want him to see him. His one safe space has been infiltrated.
The next evening, it’s to demand Jimin starts working in the bakery again, to earn his keep. Jimin remains silent and simply nods, knowing that that is the last thing he is going to do. He will not step foot in that bakery to work for them ever again unless his father drags him there.
On the third night, his father scolds him for not working in the bakery, of course. Jimin makes a vague promise that he will start the very next day.
On the fourth night - tonight - Hanbin storms into the room, eyes blazing and his threatening scent unfurling into every corner of the room.
Jimin stumbles onto his feet and wordlessly holds out a pouch of coin.
“What is this?” The alpha asks, narrowing his eyes.
“It should cover the costs of my staying here.”
“Oh, you think you’re clever, huh,” he tuts. “I don’t want your coin.” He snatches it out of Jimin’s hand. “I need you to get back in that damn kitchen and work. This is a family business.”
Jimin narrows his eyes and just about stops himself from screaming out that they are not a family. Haven’t been for a long time. Instead, he stares at the alpha’s feet, head lowered in submission.
“I will find a job by the end of this week and provide you with a cut of my income. If I don’t find one, I will work in the bakery.”
Hanbin charges towards him, making Jimin stumble back in fright. He squeezes his eyes shut and waits, but nothing happens.
“By the moon goddess, you look like you thought I was going to strike you,” he exclaims, stepping backwards. “Hah! Over-dramatic, don’t you think?” he laughs disbelievingly.
Jimin opens his eyes tentatively, embarrassment flooding his entire body. He did, he truly did think his father would hurt him for his disobedience. But fortunately, tonight, his father is sober. Who knows what would have happened if he’d been drinking? Jimin doesn’t trust him.
Hanbin leaves then, eyeing him suspiciously as he takes Jimin’s coin with him.
The fear and paranoia takes hold of Jimin’s heart that night, and only grows worse and worse, like ivy around an oak tree, ever-tightening, until it chokes.
ੈ🌾˳
The head librarian takes pity on him.
Mrs Yoojin already turned him down once, but when she caught him staring forlornly at a bookshelf one afternoon, eyes not actually focused on anything, she asked, “Have you found anything yet, Mr Jimin?”
“A job or a book?” He turns to face her. “Neither, I’m afraid.”
“Oh dear.” The corners of her mouth turn down into a sad smile. “Well, I’ll just have to shuffle some things around and find a way to pay you an income. I’m afraid it won’t be very much, Mr Jimin.”
“Oh.” His eyes light up. “You truly mean it? You’re - you’re offering me a job?” he gasps.
“Indeed I am. You’re our best customer,” she smiles, eyes crinkling. “You already know where everything goes. Training you up will be a piece of cake.”
The job in the library is such a stark difference from his previous two jobs, that Jimin can hardly believe it. He keeps waiting for the ball to drop, for something to go wrong or for Mrs Yoojin to suddenly turn evil. The head librarian is strict and particular about how she likes things, yes, but she’s nothing but kind. The other two librarians are also very sweet, both of them part-timer omegas with pups in school. Jimin is happy to take the afternoon shift so they can be with their families. Getting to work with fellow omegas is wonderful, yes, but working by himself is just as good. The library is warm and safe and smells so comforting and familiar. A little musty, yes, but Jimin will take it over sticky, stinking ale any day.
The only downside is that it really is very little pay, much worse than his previous jobs. Almost everything he earns goes straight into Hanbin’s expectant hands. Jimin has had to go back to foraging in the woods for food, just some bits and pieces to tide him over until dinner in the pack hall. Fortunately, it is very easy to forage food during the summer months. On the first day of June, Jimin finds a beautiful wild cherry tree, the red fruits plump and bursting with juice. The fruit is so abundant, he doesn’t mind that Jungkook is stealing a rather large chunk of his stash.
“But hyung, how did you expect me to not find out what happened?” Jungkook asks forlornly. The alpha had nearly gotten angry at him when he found him in the village centre. Basket in hand, Jimin had shrugged him off and walked into the forest, Jungkook hot on his heels. Word has apparently spread that Cha Wonsik made an advance on Jimin, making him burn with embarrassment. Jungkook is simply furious.
“If he weren’t still locked up, I’d beat him to a pulp,” he mutters darkly, chewing angrily on a cherry from Jimin’s basket.
It’s so hot, Jimin feels his hair sticking to the back of his neck. Both of them are wearing light clothing, legs and arms left bare. Jimin feels self-conscious like this, wishing his linen clothes were a little thicker, a little longer.
“You will do no such thing,” he warns. “That alpha will probably be let out soon and I don’t want you going anywhere near him.” He stretches up to reach a branch, his fingers barely brushing against a leaf.
“I’m finished school now, though.” Jungkook steps up behind him and pulls the branch down lower so Jimin can reach it. “I can become your full time guard, can’t I?”
Like this, Jimin can feel Jungkook’s warmth on his back, his forest scent stronger than the actual forest around them, and oh so alpha.
“No, Jungkook, you must become a full time farmer now,” he points out bluntly. He quickly plucks the cherries from the branch, desperate for Jungkook to step away from him. His heart pounds and he can feel his scent pouring from his scent gland in saccharine waves. Oh dear. It occurs to him that his heat is long overdue. He usually gets his long one in May and his short one in October, as is the way of male omegas. One upside of being male is that he at least gets a couple less heats than female omegas.
It is June. Where is his heat?
He stumbles away from Jungkook, the overflowing basket clutched in his hands. “I - I think I have enough now.”
Jungkook is blushing, Jimin notices.
“Don’t eat too many, or you’ll be ill.”
“Says you,” Jimin laughs. “You’ve surely eaten twenty.”
“Nuh uh,” he shakes his head. “Come on, I think I saw a turnip patch over here.” The alpha leads Jimin over.
Down on their knees, they begin digging the hefty turnips out from the earth. Jimin will have to hastily cook them when his parents aren"t around.
“Jimin-hyung, it scares me. I really will have to become a full time farmer now,” Jungkook admits lowly, eyes on the dirt.
“Do you really have to? Can it not be a part-time job like mine?”
“Pfft,” he side-eyes him, “What would the family think if I spent half my time doing goddess knows what while they slave away on the farm?”
“It’s exactly what I’m doing to my own family,” Jimin points out. “I’m refusing to bake or do anything for their business.”
Hands unmoving in the dirt, they stare at each other.
“You are at war, hyung,” Jungkook tells him seriously. “The only way you can declare your independence is by steering clear of them. I am not at war.”
Jimin blinks at him in surprise. “I think you are,” he counters. He sits back on his heels. “How are you any different from me? Both of us are in situations we don’t want to be in. I am at the mercy of my father, and you are at the mercy of your…,” he waves a hand, “sense of duty.”
Jungkook shakes his head at him and smiles, yanking a huge turnip out of the earth with both hands, his biceps flexing. “Well, when you put it that way, I guess it makes sense. Oh boy, this is a big one.”
Jimin whacks his shoulder, pouting even though he wants to grin. “You guess it does? That was one of the smartest realisations I’ve ever made.”
“Alright, alright, I can admit, it’s clever.” Jungkook deposits the turnip in Jimin’s basket and sits back, leaning on his hands. He turns his face to the sun and closes his eyes. The branches sway gently above them, casting shadows on the alpha’s face. “You were always the clever one between us, even as pups,” he mumbles.
“Kook…You can do anything you want. Any job. I’m sure you could learn anything if you put your mind to it.”
“Mm, I don’t know about that.” Eyes still closed, he sighs. “But I do like working with my hands. I like to draw, did you know that?”
“No, I didn’t.”
He cracks open one eye. “I was thinking I’d make a good blacksmith.”
“What does that have to do with drawing?” Jimin laughs, falling forward.
Jungkook smiles at him. “They are both artforms, in a way,” he insists. “If I wasn’t committed to the farm, I’d become an apprentice.”
“You still could.”
“No, I cannot,” he states, jumping to his feet. “Hey, stop preaching to me. You don’t take any of my advice so I won’t take any of yours.”
Jimin rises and follows after him, his grin almost hurting his face. “I have a job I love now, I don’t need to follow your advice. Become a farm hand? Psh, goddess please no,” he mutters.
The alpha spins around. “Live with me!” he yells, wild eyes boring into Jimin’s.
Jimin’s scent does strange things at first, but he gets it under control quickly. Laughing hysterically, he nearly drops his basket.
“I’m being serious!”
“I know you are,” he giggles.
“You don’t take me seriously. How can you ever move out if you’ve taken to foraging in the woods like a rogue? You must have absolutely no coin, hyung,” he exclaims, waving his arms around.
“Hey, no need to point it out so bluntly,” Jimin pouts. “Maybe I should become a rogue? Life would be a lot simpler.” He walks past Jungkook, the alpha turning to watch him as he goes. He jogs after him.
“Hyung,” he whines. “If you’re considering being a rogue, you may as well go to Liyue.”
“How did you get there? Everything comes back to that damn city,” Jimin huffs.
“You would end up there anyway as a rogue! All roads take you there eventually.”
“Well I purposely wouldn’t follow any roads,” he frowns. “I’d rather live in the temple.”
Jungkook is silent for a moment. Jimin’s face burns at the memories. Speaking of heats, he can feel a light cramping in his stomach now, the warning signs all there. Being so close to a young, unmated alpha has probably made it come on much faster. Oh dear, he hopes his scent isn’t obnoxiously sweet.
“If you did, I would bring you supplies,” Jungkook says softly.
They exit the forest, the bustling village market ahead of them. Too loud, too many people. The solitude of the temple sounds nice right about now. Jimin turns to Jungkook and smiles fondly at him.
“That’s very kind of you,” he nods.
It is only when Jimin is at home in his nest, sweat beading on his forehead, that he realises just how often he and Jungkook speak of hypothetical futures. Their present situations leave a lot to be desired, clearly. The parallels of their lives are certainly interesting, if not a little sad, both of them having issues with their fathers.
Jimin wants to think some more about this, but the heat over takes him, leaving him gasping in agony, in bliss, he isn’t sure which is which after a while.
He needs an alpha. Where is his alpha!
It lasts six days, his parents only realising he is in heat by the end of the second day, when his pheromones start seeping out into the hallway. Jimin has vague memories of Sooyun bringing him food and water, of her tentatively wiping his forehead with a damp cloth. He thinks she spoke to him at one point, but he doesn’t remember what she said. Despite her indifference and lack of affection, Park Sooyun keeps him alive. She is, after all, very familiar with the torture of a bad heat, her son evidently taking after her.
ੈ🌾˳
Taehyung knew something was wrong.
Jimin was foolish to think his best friend wouldn’t figure him out. It’s been over a year since they last saw each other, but it seems that Taehyung’s freaky intuition when it comes to Jimin’s emotions has not faded, even though they solely communicate via paper.
Taehyung is coming back to celebrate Jimin’s nineteenth birthday in October.
It’s a five month wait, since Taehyung is still trying to get his brand new shoe business off the ground, but it’s a wait Jimin is more than willing to do. He clings onto the fact that Kim Taehyung will be here in his arms again. He’ll be able to smell his spicy scent and ruffle his mop of dark hair. He’ll be able to tell him everything that’s happened while he was gone, and maybe Jimin will go back with Taehyung to live in Liyue. Because, yes, Jimin has reached that point.
He knows there is no future for him here. He has always known it.
If he was braver, he would ask Jungkook for a horse right now and set off on the journey himself, but Jimin is not brave. He also has very little coin. How much is the train fare? How much does it cost to live in Liyue? It surely is more expensive than Udeupaeg. And what if Jimin can’t find a job there? No, it is best if he waits for Taehyung. Even so, Jimin fears he’ll change his mind at the last second. He fears going to Liyue, but he fears not going even more. Hopefully Taehyung will tie him to the horse and kidnap him, making the choice for him.
He wants to beg Jungkook to go with him, but he can’t do that when the alpha is so obviously committed to his family and the farm. Are there even farms in Liyue? Jimin has no clue. Could Jungkook become a blacksmith apprentice there? Would he want to? It’s highly likely that Jimin will be going to Liyue without the alpha, leaving him here forever. The thought keeps Jimin up at night.
In fact, he barely sleeps a wink these days. Between the looming possibility of going to Liyue and his current living situation, he’s frazzled, like the buzzing light bulb in their kitchen. He’s going to explode if he keeps this up. Or go completely feral.
His omega is entirely to blame.
Ever since his heat two weeks ago, Jimin has struggled to get out of his omega headspace, his wolf more to the surface than it has ever been before. He feels paranoid and unsafe at home, his father’s scent making his stomach turn. He nests and nests, never feeling satisfied. He trawls through the ‘Hand Book of Chemistry’ every night. He has devoured almost the entire thing now, the long, lonely hours in his bedroom giving him nothing else to do.
His omega only calms down when he’s in the forest, completely alone, the birds singing and the branches dancing above him. The library is also somewhat of a safe space, although an alpha keeps visiting, putting Jimin on edge.
Jimin doesn’t know his name. He hasn’t introduced himself. The man appears to be in his late twenties or early thirties. He wears the same quite formal clothing every day, almost like how an alpha in his seventies might dress, and thick spectacles are always perched on his nose. His scent is light, strangely light for an alpha. He roams around the library, almost every day, but always comes back to any book with large illustrations. He seems oddly innocent, or maybe just…odd. He peeks at Jimin from over the top of books, looking away when their eyes meet. Jimin doesn’t feel threatened by him, his omega oddly silent, but he knows better than to trust an alpha he doesn’t know.
When June tips into July, the alpha makes his move. With a bouquet of daisies in his hands, tied together with brown string, he smiles at Jimin nervously.
From behind the counter, Jimin eyes the flowers, body immediately filled with apprehension.
“Oh no, please -”
“I would like to court you,” he announces.
Jimin pauses and stares at him in amazement. “I do not know your name. Do you even know mine?”
The alpha smiles down at his daisies. “My name is Yoo Beomsu. I was hoping to learn yours.”
Taken aback, Jimin hardly knows what to say. This alpha is acting like a pup with a crush.
“I’m flattered but I’m afraid I’m not interested.”
Beomsu widens his eyes at him. “You - you didn’t tell me your name.”
“I don’t need to. I already told you I’m not interested in being courted,” he reasons, staring up at this peculiar alpha.
Beomsu lets out a small huff and darts his eyes around the room. He stares at Jimin blankly and Jimin stares back.
“I’m guessing this isn’t going the way you thought it would?” Jimin raises an eyebrow.
“Please, accept this courting gift.” He places the flowers down gently on the desk before rushing out of the library.
Completely bemused, Jimin stares at the simple bouquet of limp daisies. This alpha doesn’t seem to be a threat, just very innocent and strange. Jimin had hoped that that would be the end of it, but the alpha comes again every day that week just to peep at Jimin from around bookcases and behind books. Mrs Yoojin even catches him one day.
“Now, now, Mr Beomsu, leave our Jimin alone.” She folds her arms. “I think you’ve read enough books for today, hm?”
He dejectedly walks out with his shoulders slumped and head down.
“Do you know him, Mrs Yoojin? He’s come here almost every day.” Jimin leaves out the part where Beomu asked to court him.
“Ah, I know his mother. He’s harmless, Jimin,” she meets his gaze, “Just a little different to other alphas,” she says delicately.
“Right,” Jimin nods. “I can see that.”
The next time Beomsu gives him a courting gift, Jimin is a lot kinder about it.
“Is that for me?” He asks, nodding at the small pile of colourful sea glass. There’s a few dark grey pebbles in the mix too. Beomsu must have plucked these out from the river for him.
The alpha nods, stepping away from the desk and clasping his hands together. He awaits Jimin’s answer patiently.
“You know I can’t accept these,” he smiles gently. “I already did not accept your first courting gift, so how can I accept the second?”
Beomsu falters, his eyes widening fractionally.
“I suppose they are very pretty,” Jimin sighs. “I’ll display them on this bookshelf behind me. How about that?” There’s a few other knick knacks there, so the stones will fit right in.
Beomsu beams. “Yes, Mr Jimin, that’s a very good idea,” he praises. He turns tail and walks happily out of the library.
Laughing to himself, Jimin carefully displays the stones. He hopes Beomsu didn’t think he was accepting them, but to an alpha, any alpha, that’s exactly what it looked like. Sighing, he stares forlornly at the stones. So long as this doesn’t get out, things should be fine.
ੈ🌾˳
Two days after the second courting gift, Jimin heads home from the pack hall, belly full of dinner and the sun still shining brightly even though it"s evening. He loves July, even if it is the height of summer and the heat gets unbearable. His hair is getting ridiculously long now, flowing past his collar bones. Today, one of the part-timer omegas braided it for him when there were no customers. Her hands were gentle as she worked, clearly used to braiding her young daughter’s hair. It’s pretty and off his face so Jimin is happy to keep it in for the rest of the day.
He grimaces when he enters the house. Sooyun is cooking at the stove whilst Hanbin sits at the kitchen table. He locks eyes with his father. Hanbin grins at him.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the omega who’s finally agreed to be courted.”
Damn it.
Jimin keeps his sandals on and his satchel over his shoulder. He simply stares at his father, horrified beyond words. “I didn’t accept. I’m not being courted.” His omega wants him to flee the scene, whining and pacing back and forth in Jimin’s heart. Jimin senses danger, his wolf on high alert.
“Oh, that’s not what I heard,” Hanbin laughs cruelly. “You accepted multiple gifts from Yoo Beomsu. It’s all anyone can talk about. Trust me, Jimin, you’re perfect together.” He lifts his hands to the sky. “An alpha and an omega that nobody wants. Why not have each other?”
Jihoon is always out with his friends at this time, so there’s no one to defend him. Jimin turns his gaze to his mother. She has her back turned, her focus entirely on the pot in front of her. There’s no point looking to her for help. Why did he even bother? He turns his gaze back to his father.
“You heard wrong. We are not courting.” He turns to climb the stairs to his bedroom, hoping to just read a book in his nest for the rest of the night, but Hanbin stops him.
“You will stay right here,” he barks loudly, making Jimin gasp. His omega wants him to stay put, to not further anger this alpha. His omega wants him to lash out and defend himself. His omega wants him to run away and never come back. Jimin remains rooted to the spot, conflict flowing through his every vein.
Hanbin gets to his feet and stalks over to where Jimin stands.
An alpha is coming towards him. An alpha is going to hurt him. Jimin needs to act, he needs to get away. He spins around and stumbles backwards, wild eyes steady on his father.
“Look at you,” Hanbin huffs. “There’s something not quite right in your head.” He pushes at Jimin’s shoulder. “Just like Yoo Beomsu, ey?” he grins, but it falls quickly, turning into a glare. “Don’t be foolish, Jimin. That alpha has land and no one to pass it on to. No siblings, no cousins, nothing. His parents are elderly and will leave everything to him. Now, you don’t have to like the man, no, you don’t even have to sleep with him if you don’t want to. But if you’re smart, you’ll marry the man and let him bite your neck.” He grabs the side of Jimin’s neck hard, fingers tangling in his braid. Jimin cries out in fear, in pain, in anguish. Trembling in his father’s hold, he stares at him with wide eyes, unable to look away.
“You’d be set up for life, don’t you understand? You’d have all the coin you could ever hope to have. A huge home just for yourself. Don’t be stupid, now, Jimin. You cannot hope to ever reach that kind of security on your own, without an alpha.”
“I - I thought you wanted me to stay here to work in the bakery?” he stutters, confused. He wants a clear explanation. He’s tired of the mixed messages.
“Shut up,” he bellows. “Shut up, shut up, you stupid omega.”
Jimin flinches, turning his face away. Where is his mother? Why isn’t she doing anything? He tries to scramble out of his father’s hold, but he tightens his grip on his neck, making Jimin gasp. A whine builds up in his throat but he holds it in, choking on it. His father seems to realise he’s gone too far, stepping back, his hands dropping to his sides. He shakes his head at Jimin in disappointment.
“You just don’t get it. I am trying to help you. You think I want you hanging around here for the rest of my life, leeching off us?”
Jimin runs to the front door and yanks it open. A quick glance back proves to him that his mother is still at the stove, her shoulders tense, but quiet as a mouse.
“Don’t even think about coming back here unless you’re mated!” Hanbin yells.
Jimin slams the door behind him and takes off running, the fear driving him wild. He’s going to die, he’s going to die, his heart won’t stop pounding, he has to run, he has to run, he -
He doesn’t know where he’s going.
He does. He’s going to Liyue.
No.
Jimin knows he’s in no state to make such a rash decision. He’d never make it there, not like this. He has nothing with him except his satchel which only has his wooden water bottle, a couple of coins, an apple, and the novel he’s been reading. He doesn’t have his Ed Cert or any spare clothes, and nowhere near enough coin.
Still, he runs to the Jeon’s as if he’s going to beg for a horse, as if he’s going to escape into the night and never look back.
He flies past log cabins and over wooden bridges, his braid coming undone as he goes. By the time he reaches the soft barley fields, his hair flows freely behind him. His chest is heaving and he worries his lungs are bleeding. There’s still a lot of light left, the sky only just beginning to turn golden, matching the swaying grain in the fields.
He spots the barn and makes up his mind.
Darting inside, he closes the wooden door behind him and leans against it heavily. While catching his breath, he spots the ladder to the hayloft. Without thinking too hard, he climbs up slowly, limbs heavy and trembling. Up here, it’s dark, only one window letting in light. Unsurprisingly, it’s mainly hay up here, but a plaid blanket is strewn in the corner, as if it’s been waiting for Jimin all this time. The dark red material is soft under his hands and knees. Throwing down his satchel and taking off his shoes, Jimin curls up on his side and stares out at the sunset, his hair covering his shoulders. The night is hot and humid, so he won’t have to worry about getting cold in the night, at least.
A part of him feels foolish for stepping foot in his childhood home at all after leaving the tavern. He should have just swallowed his pride and lived with the Jeons. But still, another part of him wants to weep at the injustice of it all. He is merely eighteen years old. Most, if not all, of the young people of Udeupaeg are still at home, living in peace with their families, thoughts of mating and moving out only just beginning to take hold in their minds. Why did Jimin have to be born to a psychotic father? However, he thinks of Hoseok and how he had to flee to Liyue because of his family. Jimin is not the first child to suffer at the hands of his family, and he won’t be the last.
He rolls onto his back and stares at the beams in the ceiling.
Still, he wants to weep. He doesn’t ever want to go home, but he can hardly stay here. He doesn’t want to stay with the Jeons, he wouldn’t ever want to burden them like that. Or in his father’s words, leech off them.
He waits for the tears to fall, but they don’t. Dry eyed, he watches the sky darken.
He doesn’t realise he fell asleep until he wakes up the next morning, dazzling sunshine making his eyes ache. Groaning, he rolls onto his side and nuzzles into the blanket, the slightest hint of Jungkook’s scent present deep in the fabric. Realising what he’s doing, he sits bolt upright, gasping in shame.
He scrambles down the ladder and out of the barn, shoes on and satchel around his body. It must be incredibly early. No farm hands are even out yet and the house seems quiet.
Jungkook finds him an hour later in the stables, face pressed into Biscuit’s warm fur.
“Hyung, do I even want to know?” he smirks, leaning against the stable gate.
“No,” he groans into the horse’s neck. “You really don’t.”
Jungkook opens the gate and steps up beside Jimin, his scent enveloping Jimin in warmth. Face burning, he peeks out from Biscuit’s neck to look at the alpha. Jungkook’s dressed for a day in the fields, his hair tied back and out of his face.
“You’ve got hay in your hair,” he says softly, plucking the hay from the dishevelled bird’s nest on Jimin’s head.
Jimin blushes impossibly redder. “I was - I was…”
“In the barn? Did you sleep there? It’s okay if you did, you know.” His eyes light up. “Did you find the blanket in the hayloft? At least I think there’s one up there.”
Jimin nods, embarrassed beyond words. He leans his forehead against the horse and groans.
“Come on, hyung, tell me what happened?” Jungkook begins scratching at Biscuit’s snout affectionately, all while staring at Jimin. “You smell so distressed,” he whispers, taking a subtle sniff.
Jimin turns to face him. “I had a fight with my father,” he says glumly. It’s not entirely true. It’s more like Hanbin screamed at him while Jimin stood there in terror.
“Ah.”
“An alpha is trying to court me. I rejected him.”
Jungkook seems to hold his breath for a moment. “Who is it?”
Jimin slaps the alpha’s chest lightly, before keeping his hand there, fingers curling in his shirt collar. “You are not to fight him, Jungkook. He’s - he’s harmless. You - you cannot hurt him, he wouldn’t understand.”
“Who is it?” Jungkook frowns.
“Yoo Beomsu.”
“Ah, I see. I know of him,” he nods. “He wants to court you?” he grins. “That’s kind of sweet.”
Jimin slaps his chest again before taking his hand away. “It’s not. Not when my father is hell bent on me accepting him. Apparently he is wealthy.”
“He is,” Jungkook admits. “I’m so sorry, Jimin-hyung, you don’t deserve this. Your father has done nothing but torment you for years now.”
Jimin abruptly turns to face the horse, staring at Biscuit’s flank. “Yes, well, I’m not going back,” he shakes his head. “I - I’ll stay in your hayloft for a while.”
“Oh, Jimin, please,” the alpha laughs. “You are so close to our house now, what difference does it make? And we have bathrooms and a kitchen, unlike the hayloft,” he points out, voice full of mirth.
Jimin stubbornly keeps his gaze on the horse, cheeks blushing. “No, Jungkook, I refuse. I will - I will go home and get my things and I will live in the hayloft.” He spins around to face him. “If - if that’s alright?”
“Of course it’s alright, you nutcase,” he laughs. “No one goes in the hayloft, anyway. Listen, I’ll bring you supplies, how about that? And you can come inside the house whenever you want.”
“But I don’t want your family to know I’m living in your hayloft,” he practically whines.
“We won’t tell them! We’ll just say you’re visiting whenever you come to the house.”
Jimin is glad the alpha seems to be taking this in his stride. He secretly resolves to spend as much time as possible in the library. He’ll continue to eat his meals in the pack hall and forage in the woods. Maybe he can even bathe in the river or the lake. He certainly won’t stand out, what with it being summer. There isn’t a body of water that doesn’t constantly have people swimming these days, desperate to cool off.
“I should pay you rent,” he nods.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re staying in our barn, hyung.”
“And using your resources,” Jimin glares.
“No.” Jungkook stands up straight and folds his arms. “I refuse.”
“You won’t take my coin?” Jimin confirms, raising an eyebrow.
“I won’t ask anything of you, ever.”
“You’re awfully stubborn,” Jimin mutters, rolling his eyes.
“Says the omega who won’t even live in my house when I’m offering,” he counters, eyes wide. “If you’re going to be stubborn, I get to be stubborn too,” he decides.
Jimin can’t help but smile up at him. The laugh that falls from his lips nearly surprises him. Last night, he worried he’d never laugh again.
“Thank you, Kook.”
“You’re welcome,” he states almost angrily.
Jimin giggles. This alpha is ridiculous.
“Come on, let’s go get your things from the house. Is now a good time?” Jungkook asks.
“Oh, it’s the perfect time. My parents are always baking around now, before the shop’s opening.”
They walk together to Jimin’s house and don’t speak of anything too heavy. Jimin politely asks after his family, while Jungkook asks him about his job at the library. Jungkook kindly doesn’t mention the fight with his father or the alpha trying to court him. Jungkook goes silent when Jimin lets him through the front door. They listen out carefully for any movement, but it appears that they are thankfully alone.
“Everything I own is in my room,” Jimin supplies quietly.
There’s something embarrassing about showing Jungkook his bedroom. It smells so strongly of his scent in here, Spring blossoms spread to every corner and sunk into every surface. Every last object is deeply personal. He notices how Jungkook’s eyes linger on his nest with all its pillows and blankets. The alpha looks so tall in here, it makes the room seem ten times smaller.
“Who’s this?” Jungkook asks, picking up his stuffed rabbit and smiling.
“Mr Snuffles…,” Jimin confesses. He takes the rabbit from Jungkook’s hands and strokes his floppy ears fondly. “He’s been with me through thick and thin,” he smiles.
“Well, we’ll have to take him with us. He’s clearly the most important thing here.”
“Mm hm. As well as my coin. And my chemistry book. Oh! And my Ed Cert.”
Grabbing the two large leather bags from his parent"s wardrobe, they begin filling them with Jimin’s clothes and most essential items. He has to prioritise what is most important, deciding to leave behind his Winter boots, thick sweaters, and coats. He’s desperate to change into some clean clothes, so he shoos Jungkook out of the room not long after they started packing. Donning a fresh linen shirt and a pair of shorts, he feels a million times better. Face burning, he quickly shoves the majority of his underwear drawer into a corner of one of the leather bags. He ties it closed, deciding he has everything he needs. When it gets colder, he can always sneak back in or ask Jihoon to bring him clothes. That is, if Jimin is still here when it gets colder. He has not yet broached the topic of Liyue with Jungkook, happy to let go of the idea while he can live in the hayloft. He has until the summer ends to make his decision whether to go or stay, it seems.
Eyeing his nest, he gets the sudden urge to sob. It hurts him to leave it. To potentially never, ever come back to it.
Jungkook knocks lightly on the door. “Everything okay in there?”
Jimin opens the door, revealing his forlorn face to the alpha.
“What’s wrong?” Jungkook asks worriedly, yet gently.
“I have to leave my nest,” he croaks, omega instincts flaring up.
Jungkook’s eyes widen. “O-oh. You - you can build a new one in the hayloft. I’ll bring you new blankets and stuff to make it with.” He scratches the back of his neck, eyes averted.
For a moment, Jimin thinks Jungkook meant he will give him his own pillows and blankets, or even scent some new blankets for him. He pushes that insane thought out of his head and shakes his head.
“I - I want to bring my own nesting supplies, if that’s okay? Maybe not all of them.” He turns to look at the huge pile on the bed. “But some?”
“Of course. I’ll help you carry them.”
It’s still so early that no one is outside in the village when they leave, which is fortunate because they make for a rather strange sight. Jungkook carries the leather bags as well as a mound of blankets of all patterns and materials. Jimin carries three pillows, stacked on top of each other, with a gigantic chemistry book balanced precariously on top. Sneaking into the barn without any of the farm hands seeing them is certainly a challenge, but the moon goddess must be on their side. They enter unnoticed, and work together to get everything up into the hayloft.
“Are you sure no one will know I’m here?” Jimin double checks nervously.
“I promise,” Jungkook smiles from the ladder. “We don’t need the hay until the Winter.”
It’s yet another sign that Jimin has a deadline here. He cannot stay in this hayloft forever, even though it’s looking real homey right now. His nesting supplies lay on top of Jungkook’s plaid blanket. Jimin is mortified that the alpha’s blanket is now a new addition to his nest, but he can’t bring himself to offer it back.
Luckily, the alpha doesn’t ask for it.
ੈ🌾˳
For the first time in Jimin’s life, he has his own house.
Sort of.
With all his most important possessions and his nest, the place is as close to a true home he’s ever gotten. Jungkook gave him a small gas lamp for the nighttime, giving the hayloft a warm and cosy glow. In the mornings, he eats a piece of fruit or two before bathing in a far away, secluded river. Clean and dressed in fresh clothes, he maybe does some reading or some chores before work, like washing his clothes in the river or sweeping the hayloft. His lunch often consists of some bread, cheese, and meats that Jungkook sneaks him, coupled with another piece of fruit he foraged or perhaps some nuts, and then he’s off to the library.
Beomsu visits a lot. He smiles at Jimin sometimes, but mainly lingers at the back of the room, sneaking glances at him. Mrs Yoojin is quick to shoo him out if it gets too much. All in all, Jimin can put up with it.
Most evenings, Jimin eats at the pack hall, happy to use his coin on a hearty meal now that he’s not paying any rent. He avoids the Jeons and their farm hands as much as possible, not wanting to alert their attention to his living situation.
However, if someone does spot him, he has to pretend he only just arrived at their farm and is simply here for a visit. He’s been in the hayloft for almost a month, and this has fortunately only happened three times. However, this is a remarkable increase in Jimin’s visits to the family, considering how little he’s visited over the years. Sweet as can be, the Jeons take it in their stride.
After the fourth time having dinner with the family, Jungkook walks him home.
“I can’t believe you got caught again,” the alpha giggles. “They think you’re obsessed with me.”
“Shut up,” Jimin laughs, hand flowing over the nearby barley. “If anything, I’m obsessed with your entire family. They’re normal and kind.”
“Aw, that’s sweet,” Jungkook beams. “Although, I do think Aeri is beginning to be a little suspicious. She keeps saying weird things to me.”
“Like what?”
“Like, oh, Jimin’s been around here an awful lot, huh? Or like, you and Jimin are getting on really well together these days.” He raises his pitch, imitating his sister’s voice. Jungkook tries to speak sassily, but Jimin doesn’t think it was sassy enough.
“She’s just teasing you,” Jimin mumbles, turning his face away to hide his blush. He hopes Aeri isn’t thinking what he thinks she’s thinking…
When they reach the barn, Jungkook walks inside and shuffles his feet a little, hands in his pockets. He can’t return home just yet, it needs to look like he walked Jimin all the way into the village.
Jimin leans his back against the ladder and looks at the alpha.
“So.”
“So,” Jungkook replies. “I didn’t know Taehyung is coming to visit.”
Jimin had mentioned it at dinner when Mrs Jeon had asked after the alpha.
“Yes, he’s coming for my birthday,” he beams, unbridled joy flooding through him at the thought. “I haven’t seen him in so long, goddess, I wonder what he looks like now.”
“Probably even taller, knowing him,” Jungkook scoffs.
“Are you jealous of his height?” Jimin laughs.
“No,” he glares, pouting a little. His gaze softens. “He’ll be shocked by your hair,” he says quietly, eyeing the strands that flow down Jimin’s chest. Tonight, Jimin has some pieces tied back to keep it out of his face, but most of it flows freely.
Jimin falters, something warm spreading through his body. He reaches up a hand to run through his hair.
“He will be, yes. It’s - it’s getting really long.”
“I like it,” Jungkook says quickly. “It suits you.”
“My father hates it.”
“Even more reason to like it.” The alpha’s eyes bore into his.
“Y-you should head back now.”
“It’s still too soon.”
They remain rooted to the spot, neither of them speaking. Jimin’s heart pounds, which feels stupid. This is just Jungkook. Sweet, silly, Jungkook. Still a teenager.
But not for long, his omega reminds him.
Jimin pushes the thought from his head. Jungkook gives him one compliment and he turns into a swooning maiden. This won’t do.
“I like your long hair too, Kook,” he smiles, tilting his head. “I’m starting to think you copied me.”
“Nuh uh, I’ve always preferred my hair long. If anything, you copied me,” he insists.
The tension dissipates, replaced by something much more light. Jimin feels most comfortable when he and Jungkook are arguing. He’s still laughing by the time the alpha heads home.
ੈ🌾˳
It may be late August, but the nights are still muggy and warm.
The creaky window in the hayloft is cranked open as far as it will go, providing Jimin with only the faintest breeze and no real relief. There is certainly no fear of it getting too cold to sleep in the hayloft.
Tonight, he pushes away all his nesting supplies, finding them suffocating in the heat. They circle around him, keeping him safe and secure. He rests his body on the thin roll out mattress Jungkook gave him, the material providing at least some cushioning from the wooden floor. He allows himself to clutch one blanket to his chest: Jungkook’s blanket.
The scent of him is almost gone, only the slightest hint of the forest present. Jimin wants to storm over to the house and demand the alpha to scent it again. That gets him thinking about Jungkook’s bedroom. It must reek of his scent in there. He wonders what the room looks like. He wonders what Jungkook currently looks like -
Jimin rolls onto his back and pats at his forehead with the back of his hand. Is he going into heat? It would certainly explain the sweat and his outrageous thoughts. But no, his stomach feels fine and it’s completely the wrong time of year. He just needs to stop thinking and go to sleep.
He feels somewhat dazed the next day. Even when Yoo Beomsu nervously gives him a third courting gift, Jimin can barely get his thoughts straight.
“Ahem,” Beomsu clears his throat. “It is for you.”
“Oh.” The realisation hits him slowly. The single peach on the counter in front of him is a courting gift.
“Do you not like it?” the alpha asks worriedly.
“I - I…” It’s a perfectly fine peach, round with no bruises. Jimin imagines it’s bursting with fruit after being nourished by the sun all summer. But Jimin has foraged several just like it only recently. He wonders what other omegas receive as courting gifts. What would Jungkook give an omega he likes? The thought makes something twist in his stomach. He picks up the peach carefully and inspects it.
“Thank you, Beomsu. I’ll be sure to eat it.”
Beomsu smiles, blushing a little. “I hope you enjoy it, Mr Jimin.” He lingers for a couple of awkward seconds before dashing out of the library.
Jimin stares in dismay at the peach. Did he just accidentally accept a courting gift? His omega acts up a little, not wanting Jimin to eat the peach. It’s just a peach, a really nice one at that! It doesn’t mean anything if he eats it right? He takes a bite.
It’s sour. The skin is too hairy, making him recoil.
Jimin huffs and puts the fruit down. Perhaps he should start listening to his omega.
When he finishes work for the day, he sets off to the pack hall for a meal. Sometimes he sits with Jihoon if he’s there, but the alpha is almost always with his annoying friends, so Jimin often actively avoids him. Sometimes he sits with Taehyung’s younger siblings, but it makes his heart ache for Taehyung so badly that he can barely eat, his siblings looking too much like him. Tonight, Jimin sits by himself at a long table, pack members he doesn’t know too well sitting beside him and across from him. Luckily, no one around him talks too much, all of them in silent agreement to just wolf their meals down. It does mean, however, that Jimin can hear every word of the conversation behind him. Choi Mina is sitting with her friends, omegas and alphas alike. Jimin has never liked Mina much. She’s the same age as Jungkook. She probably pestered the poor guy for the entirety of their final year at school. In fact, she’s talking about him right now.
“I saw him, like, an hour ago. It’s true, I swear it,” she gossips.
“Oh, poor Jungkook,” Lee Yoona coos. “I wonder why they fought?”
Jimin goes very still and strains his ears.
“Who fought?” An alpha asks, sitting down at their table.
“Jungkook got into a fight with Cha Wonsik, you know, the drunk?” Mina explains. “It’s kind of surprising. Jeon Jungkook used to be so kind and gentle,” she sighs.
Jimin’s blood runs cold. He what?
“Pfft, it’s obviously because Wonsik made an advance on that male omega, Park Jimin,” the alpha scoffs.
The others at the table cry out in outrage. They evidently had not heard this juicy piece of gossip. Jimin feels the people at his own table beginning to stare at him.
“What, don’t tell me you didn’t know that? I thought everyone knew that Jungkook is weirdly protective of Park Jimin,” the alpha continues.
“Sh! You idiot, he’s right there,” a girl murmurs. The table goes silent.
Face burning, Jimin abandons his meal, stumbling off of the bench. He carefully avoids showing his face to the table behind him, but he knows they are all gawking at him. In fact, it feels like everyone in the hall is staring at him. He hurries out of the door, only one destination in mind. The closer he gets to the Jeons, the more his anger grows. Finally, he reaches the house and pounds on their front door.
Roh Kyunwoo of all people answers the door.
“Oh, hello,” he smiles. “Park Jimin, right?” He’s ridiculously tall. Good looking too. Jimin takes a moment to feel very happy for Jeon Aeri before letting his fury take over again.
“Yes, good evening, Roh Kyunwoo, I was wondering if I could speak with Jungkook?” He tries to hide the impatience in his words, but he thinks he failed.
“I suspected you would say that,” Kyunwoo chuckles, he steps aside, giving Jimin a clear view down the hallway to the kitchen.
Jungkook sits on a stool, hissing as Aeri gingerly pats at his black eye with a cloth. She turns and catches sight of Jimin, and lets out a laugh.
Turning back to Jungkook, she says, “Well, you’ve stopped bleeding, at least. Go talk to him.” It’s an order, not a request.
Jungkook looks a little…off…as he stalks down the hallway to Jimin, one eye almost closed. Kyunwoo holds the door open for him, clearly holding back his laughter. Once they are alone outside together, Jimin almost has to stop a growl from slipping loose. He"s so goddamn angry.
“Stables. Now.” It’s closer than the barn. He storms off and doesn’t look back to see if the alpha is following him or not.
As soon as they enter the dark stables, Jimin spins around, eyes blazing.
“I told you not to fight him.” He steps forward and slaps Jungkook’s chest.
“Trust me, he looks worse than I do.” There’s a storm brewing behind Jungkook’s eyes.
“I don’t care. You shouldn’t have fought him! Look what happened to you.” He cradles Jungkook’s cheek with one hand, inspecting the bruised eye. “He hurt you,” he whimpers. Fury overtaking him again, he slaps the alpha’s chest a second time. “You idiot!” he cries.
“I know, I know, he wasn’t worth the effort. I just couldn’t let him get away with it, Jimin,” he says, pained. When Jimin’s hand comes up to slap at the alpha again, Jungkook grabs his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. He steps into Jimin’s space, breath hot on his face. Jungkook slides his hand up from Jimin’s wrist to clasp his hand gently, so painfully tender. No alpha has ever touched him as softly as the way Jungkook is right now.
“You’re an idiot,” Jimin whimpers, eyes filled with tears.
“I know,” Jungkook says against his lips.
Jimin won’t ever figure out who moved first.
Their lips meet and the kiss turns desperate quickly, hands clinging to each other’s bodies. Jungkook kisses like he’s starving, devoting equal attention to Jimin’s top lip and bottom lip. At the first touch of the alpha’s tongue, Jimin lets out a small noise, melting into Jungkook’s warm, sturdy body. It’s a good thing Jungkook is holding his waist so tightly, or else Jimin would have crumpled to the floor. He clings to the alpha’s broad shoulders, before sliding his hands into his soft, thick hair. Jimin cannot believe this is happening. He wanted to get angry at Jungkook, to show him how upset he was, but Jimin supposes this works too. Jungkook lifts a hand to reverently run it all the way down through Jimin’s hair, down, down, down… His hands slide to grip at Jimin"s hips.
Jimin shivers in his arms. He doesn’t know where this leaves them, but for now, he doesn’t care, doesn’t want to think about it. He pushes his lips against Jungkook’s again and again, opening his mouth to let the alpha in. He wants Jungkook more than he’s ever wanted anything, he realises. Jimin has been lying to himself for so long. He is desperate for this sweet, kind-hearted alpha. It’s hard to believe, but it seems that Jungkook wants him just as much.
Jimin has been searching for a home for a long, long time.
For the first time ever, he wonders if home can be a person.