Oubaitori - Anonymous - 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys (2024)

Oubaitori - Anonymous - 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys (1)

oubaitori

(n.) the idea that people, like flowers, bloom in their own time and in their own individual ways

The ornate lights and themed decorations carefully arranged in the massive venue hall set a tone alongside moody lighting. Balloons marked with the symbol and colors of their university gleam under the bright lights coming from the stage situated at the back of the large room and, every once in a while, also catch on the glasses in peoples’ hands. The manicured fingers and rough hands handling the alcoholic beverages are attached to faces that appear as nothing more than blurs of a distant past. Disdainful smiles and pretentious laughs fill each space as groups of people navigate one another. It is evident who has remained familiar with who, and those that are transparently lost among others they are pretending to be familiar with. All around, people play up their kindness as a mask for their own egos. This entire event is a farce—a way to show off what peoples’ futures have become compared to their peers while under the guise of reminiscing.

From the entrance of the venue hall, a brunette man brushes back his styled hair, scanning the sea of people as they traverse and converse. His long-sleeved, black shirt hangs dangerously low—to the point that too sudden of a movement would expose one of his dusty, brown nipples—and is tucked into skinny, leather pants. Multiple necklaces drape down his neck—almost mimicking water; glistening as it cascades down his exposed collarbones and kisses the first expanses of pale, smooth chest. Hoops clasped to his ears and rings on his short fingers match the silver adorning his neck. It’s all very pretty—pretty like the black liner smudged and shadowed around his eyes, like the gloss smeared on peachy, pillowed lips, like the porcelain complexion of his face, and the lithe body bringing everything together to create the pretty picture that is Park Jimin.

Heads turn as he wanders in and—though used to the occasional yearning or leering glances—these eyes feel too much all at once when paired with the sheer scale of the event, and sole point of its existence.

Slowing the steps in his heeled dress shoes to a near halt, the thirty-two year old man shifts his head to the side and speaks loud enough in his usual demure tone for the man walking alongside him to hear over the base of party music blaring in from speakers positioned around the venue hall. “Tae, this is a terrible idea—one of your worst.”

Beside him, the taller brunette man snorts. His demeanor is more reserved and relaxed than that of his shorter counterpart; hands tucked into the pockets of beige slacks, the sleeves of his plain, white dress shirt rolled up and the end of the soft fabric neatly hidden away under the top of his pants. His piercing eyes do a casual swoop over the room and his pursed, plump lips part only for a velvety voice to say calmly, “You say that about every idea I have.”

“Did you ever stop to consider that that might be because most of your ideas are horrendous?” Jimin asks, continuing to walk and stare ahead as he talks so that they don’t bump into anyone accidentally.

“Just most?” The taller man tests, the vibrato of his voice tilting up at the end to show his teasing. Lightly, the shorter man’s shoulder bumps him, dazzling, fond smiles on both of their faces.

It comes with an over-a-decade-long friendship; the familiarity. It’s what gets Taehyung to dip down and mumble suggestively next to his friend’s ear, “Plus, you agreed to come so I could see if Namjoon was here. Come on, don’t blue ball me.”

Jimin scrunches his lip up in distaste. “Bold of you to assume you’d get that far with a man you haven’t even laid eyes on in ten years.”

“Oh, I’ve laid eyes on him all right—”

“His instagram stories do not count. You basically don’t even know him anymore!”

“Sure, I do. I know he runs that cute cat café with Kim Seokjin—that upperclassman we had that still looks like a damn model—I know he lives in Itaewon, I know he has the most gorgeous dimples in the world—”

Jimin snickers and Taehyung leans in even further, lips practically pressed against the older man’s ear as he mumbles, “—and I know I want to bend that buff man into a fucking pretzel so suck it up, drink with me until I find him, and pretend like you want to be here.”

By the end of his speech, they are nearing a bar set up by the stage and Jimin is already being carted along by big hands splayed over his shoulders, guiding him in the direction of the two bartenders scrambling around and taking requests. Jimin doesn’t even have time to scold Taehyung for making such scandalous comments because, in seconds, his best friend is sauntering forward, shooting the young woman behind the bar a breathtakingly charming smile, and scheming his way into getting drinks before anyone else does. Jimin crosses his arms and raises a skeptical brow, giving the taller man a look as he practically bounces over with two drinks in hand and a boxy grin on his dastardly handsome face.

“Don’t make that face. Take it. You’ll like it,” Taehyung tells him, jutting his bottom lip out in a faux pout as he passes off one of the matching drinks to his shorter friend.

Jimin squints at him but brings the cocktail to his lips, noting the peachy color and sweet smell. With little more than a shrug, he places his lips against the glass and takes a tentative sip. As the sweet, fruity taste hits his tongue, the older man hums and downs more of it. Beside him, his best friend sips his own, laughing. “Told you you’d like it. You’re so predictable, Jimin-ah. It’s a Bay Breeze.”

“Cranberry and vodka and…” Jimin pulls off to say before taking another drink, trying to decipher the other taste he is making out. “Pineapple?”

For his correct answer, Taehyung smiles and gives him a gentle pat on the head. “Smart man.”

Jimin rolls his eyes but takes another sip happily, knowing he will want a little alcohol in him if he is to survive the rest of this evening.

“So, what’s the plan?” He asks.

Taehyung shrugs. “Do whatever the fuck we want. They’re doing some speech at some point and, other than finding Namjoon and getting into bed naked with him—”

Jimin chokes on his drink, not expecting his friend’s decent back into debaucherous thoughts.

“—I don’t really care. I guess talk to people we recognize, or if they come up to us?”

The shorter man turns his nose up at the suggestion but it only makes Taehyung snort and shoulder bump him. “Come on, let’s not be those people that linger by the bar. We can go find someone to talk to.”

“Don’t want to,” Jimin mumbles but allows his best friend to grab loosely at his wrist so they don’t get separated and tug him through the crowd of people. Besides a few, short greetings and polite head nods in the direction of vaguely familiar faces, they don’t interact with anyone for a while. The people they acknowledge border on perfect strangers and they aren’t comfortable stopping for a chat. So, they continue to sway to the music playing and stroll and meander around, sipping at their drinks.

Eventually, Taehyung shoulder bumps the shorter man yet again. “Hey, doesn’t that look like Jung Hoseok to you?”

Jimin shifts his eyes into the direction his friend is currently staring. Past a few people, they see two men standing by a table with liquor in hand, dressed in streetwear, and chatting with one another in a very familiar way. One is shorter with feline features and raven hair. The other is taller and sporting styled, blonde hair with a pretty, pearly smile that sparks distant parts of Jimin’s memory.

“Holy shit, it is. I’ve seen stuff about him and heard some things from the kids that come to my class. He’s a professional dancer now, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Want to say hi? At least you two have something in common.”

“Sure,” Jimin agrees, so the duo make their way over to the pair of handsome men situated near the empty table. As they near, the shorter one looks over to them and must say something about their approach because the blonde man looks their way and immediately beams, opening his arms.

“Oh my god, Kim Taehyung, is that you? And— Shit. Park Jimin? You guys look fucking incredible,” The blonde man says enthusiastically, laughing happily when Taehyung takes his opening and pulls him into a brief hug, carefully avoiding knocking over either of their drinks.

Taehyung is smiling too. “Hey, Hoseok-shi. I thought it was you. Damn you look good. Still dancing?”

The man, Hoseok, nods happily. “Always. I tour with artists mostly, but I teach classes here in Seoul sometimes, too.”

“Jimin-ah does too. He’s a ballet teacher,” Taehyung explains. The man in question feeling simultaneously grateful for the introduction and making it so he is included without having to work hard, but also dreading the way two new pairs of eyes immediately fall to him at the words.

He shuffles awkwardly, nursing his cocktail. “Yeah, I, um, coach kids. I love it a lot.”

Hoseok gives him a sincere look, still grinning as he places his free hand over his chest. “Ah, I know what you mean. I love helping other people fall in love with dancing the way I have. Ballet, though, is extremely impressive. I do hip-hop almost exclusively.”

“Oh, I could never. I’ve seen you dance online. Your talents far exceed mine, Hoseok-shi.”

“Stop that,” The blonde tells him playfully, before extending the free hand and wrapping it around the waist of the stranger beside him. “Also, this is Min Yoongi. He’s my fiancée. He graduated two years before us, but he came as my plus one.”

Jimin can’t hold back his smile at the way Yoongi shuffles under the attention, offering the best friends a shy smile. In a deep voice, he says softly, “Hello.”

“Yoongi-ah is a producer. Have you heard of Agust D Records?”

Taehyung lights up immediately. “Wait. You work for Agust D Records? No way! That’s so fucking cool.”

Hoseok shakes his head, though, laughing softly. “No, no, doesn’t work for them—He is them. He owns the company. Does most of the production too.”

Yoongi gently nudges him, ducking his face to hide a vibrant blush. “Hobi-ah, stop all that.”

“Awe, sorry, hyung. Just wanted to brag about you a bit,” Hoseok coos but listens, ruffling his fiancée's hair, which makes Yoongi immediately scoff and rapidly pat back down the loose strands.

“That’s so impressive. You’re both so cool, Yoongi-shi, Hoseok-shi.”

“No, no, don’t,” Hoseok insists, taking a small sip of his drink after saying, “I’m sure you and Jimin-shi have lots more to brag about.”

Jimin’s eyebrows furrow just as Taehyung tilts his head and offers a confused smile. “Do we? I don’t think so, honestly. I mean, I’m a pharmacist and, sure, I really love my job, but touring with artists and owning a company, I would argue, is much more interesting—”

“Oh, come on,” Hoseok insists. There’s a playful smile on his face and a suggestive glint in his eyes as he darts them back and forth between the pair. “You know what I mean. Aren’t you guys still…?”

Simultaneously, Jimin and Taehyung look at one another. Everything clicks.

Oh, no. No, no,” Taehyung explains, clearly trying to stifle his laughter at the same time that Jimin lifts his glass just to hide his smile. “No, Jimin and I…we only slept around for a bit in school. We’re friends. Best friends.”

Hoseok blinks at them. “Really? Like, of course, you guys are friends and everyone knew you both were together in college, but I just thought it meant you guys finally decided to start dating.”

Taehyung shakes his head, free arm extending to wrap around Jimin’s waist. The shorter man allows himself to be tugged under his hold and tucked beside the brunette’s body. “No, we aren’t like that. Honestly, we mostly just hooked-up back then because everyone kept convincing us we should. It really just became a regular thing because it was easier than finding a one-night stand and school was stressful, so it was a release, in a way. We stopped that before we graduated. We’ve just stayed friends since then.”

Now, Hoseok nods in understanding, something soft in his expression as he considers the pair in front of him. “That’s really sweet, actually. I’m glad you guys have been able to stay so close for all these years.”

Jimin beams at him and earns a smile back. Even Yoongi, quiet as he is beside his fiancée, curls his lips up at the two friends. Taehyung hums and rubs his thumb gently on Jimin’s side, turning to grin fondly down at the older man. “Yeah, it was just better that way. We’re soulmates, for sure, but only platonically.”

Platonic soulmates, huh? Taehyung-shi, good to see that you’re as odd as ever.”

A sudden, smooth voice calls from somewhere behind the group. It’s vague but something in it has recognition shooting through Jimin. At the same moment as the other three, he turns his head in Taehyung’s hold just in time to see a tall, built man calmly walking around the table and moving to stand in the space between Hoseok and Taehyung. He is muscular but lean, his hair pitch black and wavy, curling sweetly on the edges. Dressed in polished shoes, black dress pants and a mahogany button-up shirt that is folded up to his elbows, the ensemble perfectly compliments the silver jewelry on his fingers, in his ears, and interwoven with his bottom lip. He has a firm jawline and pretty, pink lips that curve at the top to form a cupid’s bow. His complexion looks soft and supple under the mood lighting, a strong contrast to his dark, wide eyes that are set directly on Jimin as the man looks over at him, before they flicker to the others in the circle.

Jimin’s breathing catches at the sight of him as realization dawns.

“Jeon Jeongguk! Get over here you! It’s been weeks! Come hug your hyung!” Hoseok demands playfully, already opening his arms for Jeongguk in the same way he did with Taehyung. With a dazzling smile that borders on a smirk, the man shifts around so he can properly embrace the dancer. Once Hoseok is done squeezing the life out of him in a way that makes Jeongguk groan, he moves over to Yoongi and shares a smaller, more gentle hug with him before stepping back into his spot between Hoseok and Taehyung.

“Sorry for arriving late. Hyung was running behind to come get me.”

“Why didn’t you just take your motorcycle?” Yoongi asks in a monotone voice.

Jeongguk shrugs. “Knew I was going to drink and hyung is on that weird diet thing so he’s not. Figured it was smart.”

“You just forgot to factor in how irresponsible with time he is?” Yoongi finishes and Jeongguk sighs, nodding.

A lull happens and Jeongguk shifts his gaze once again to flicker over to Taehyung and Jimin, who are both looking at him with wide eyes.

“Jeon Jeongguk,” Taehyung says with slight shock in his voice, shaking his head but there is mirth swimming in his eyes. “What the fuck happened to you?”

Hoseok chokes on his drink just as Yoongi puts the back of his hand over his face and turns away, shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Jeongguk’s eyes widen as he huffs a laugh, looking at Taehyung. “How do I respond to that?”

Quickly waving his hands, Taehyung tries to dispel the bluntness of his question. “I don’t mean in a bad way, like, at all. You’re just—In college you were so…Now you’re—I don’t even know where to—”

“I think Taehyung-shi means to say you’re big as fuck now,” Yoongi says to the youngest of the group, tears springing in his eyes as Hoseok leans over him and tries to recover from his near death experience.

Jeongguk smiles again, humored and attractive. “I was scrawny in school, I guess. I just work out and eat better now.”

He ends the statement off with a simple shrug, laughing when Taehyung makes a pained face and dramatically approaches, cupping both sides of Jeongguk’s face. “I haven’t seen you in years. Where did our little baby go? You were so tiny and sweet, now you’re, like—”

“Hot,” Yoongi finishes, clearly holding back more laughter. Hoseok swats at his fiancée as he tries to recover from choking, a poorly veiled attempt to get Yoongi to stop making him laugh.

Jeongguk huffs, gently shoving Taehyung’s hands away from his face before rolling his eyes playfully. “You literally haven’t changed at all, Kim Taehyung. Still so fucking weird.”

“Whatever. It’s just crazy, that’s all. Right, Jimin?” Pouting, Taehyung relents and steps back, throwing an arm over Jimin’s shoulders and tugging the smaller man close. Jimin, whose eyes have been trained on Jeongguk since he walked up, blinks twice at the younger man as he looks over at him. Jimin is a little speechless, is all. Jeongguk is different now. He looks good—not that he didn’t in college, but he wears it better. He rolls his shoulders back and stands straight and coordinates his movements so they sync up, and holds eye contact and strolled into their conversation earlier like it was nothing. He looks confident. Jeongguk from college was shy. Taehyung and Yoongi were right, too—he’s hot.

“Hey, Jimin-shi,” Jeongguk greets, voice softening around the edges compared to when he was speaking to Taehyung seconds before. His expression seems to change too. Jimin isn’t thinking enough right now to notice exactly what the change is, but he knows it exists.

For some reason, hearing Jeongguk address him directly—say his name in a way that simultaneously feels so familiar and, yet, so separate from the thousands of times he has heard it in the past—it all makes Jimin’s heart do a weird spin in his chest. His breathing catches and he says after clearing his throat, “Hi, Jeongguk.”

The slightest twitch happens at the corners of the younger man’s lips. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”

Jimin nods. “How have you been?”

Jeongguk shakes his head, smiling in a way that makes the older man hone in on him even more. He’s truly gorgeous—charismatic in a way that seems effortless. Then, the younger man bites his lip and watches as Taehyung takes the start of their conversation as a hint to move off of Jimin and slink his way over to the engaged couple instead, striking up an animated discussion immediately. Once Taehyung is out of ear shot, Jeongguk steps closer and rakes his eyes up and down Jimin once, slowly. It sends a shiver up the older man’s spine in a way that is all too-pleasant.

“What do you do for work?” Jeongguk asks, completely forgoing answering Jimin’s baseline question.

Not minding at all, the older man answers, never breaking eye contact with the younger man once those dark eyes are done searching Jimin’s body and shift to meet his gaze again. “I’m a dance teacher. Mostly kids under ten. I have a studio here in town.”

“That’s incredible. I’m really happy that you’re still dancing,” Jeongguk tells him and it sounds sincere. “Do you enjoy it?”

That makes Jimin smile as fond memories of his students flash across his mind. “I love it.”

Him smiling makes Jeongguk’s lips turn up too and then the younger man is shaking his head again, eyes so full of emotion that Jimin can’t place. “I bet you’re so good with them.”

The praise makes Jimin flush. He dips his head away, trying not to visibly preen under the sudden attention. It’s silly—him reacting to Jeongguk like this. “You’ve never seen me teach before, though.”

“Maybe I should sometime.”

That has Jimin’s head raising back up so he can meet Jeongguk’s intense gaze. His words, in any other context, would sound flirtatious. The playful look on the younger man’s face tells Jimin it still should sound like flirting, despite this being Jeongguk.

“Yeah?” Jimin says. When Jeongguk raises his brows and nods once, the older man bites his lip. Now, it’s his turn to look the younger man up and down. He drinks up the attractive attire and the sheer size of Jeongguk’s body. He looks at him again and confirms. “Yeah, maybe you should.”

There’s a pause where neither of them move. They maintain each other’s stare and Jimin swears electricity is forming between them. There is palpable tension in the air but it doesn’t feel negative or awkward—not at all. Still, Jimin can’t handle how Jeongguk is looking at him so intently, like he can’t believe Jimin is in front of him—like this isn’t real and if he looks away for even a moment, Jimin will disappear.

So, he breaks the tension by asking, “So, what do you do now? Ever did anything with that Psychology degree?”

Jeongguk swipes a tongue over his bottom lip, playing with the silver ring to one side for a moment before it slips back inside his mouth. Jimin watches every second of it. “Yeah, actually. I, uh—I’m a professor at SNU, now.”

Jimin’s eyes go wide. “No way. Really?”

With a small smile, the younger man nods. “Yep. It’s kind of the best job ever. My students are great and I love teaching, so…”

“It wasn’t weird to become a professor at the school you attended?”

Jeongguk shakes his head, expression amused. “No. If anything, it actually made everything easier. I already knew my way around, having been on campus so long and the staff already loved me. The transition was a little awkward with other professors since some of the ones that taught me still tried to talk down to me like I was a student rather than a work colleague, but it’s been a few years so that’s thankfully stopped now. What hasn’t stopped is students mistaking me for one of them when I’m walking back and forth from my office, asking for directions and shit—”

Jimin snorts at that, covering his face with his free hand and making Jeongguk break out into a grin as he shakes his head. “Yeah, it’s kind of annoying. I guess it’s fair since I’m young for a professor, but damn it hurts my ego.”

The laughter subsides and the older man pulls his hand away, giving Jeongguk a fond look. “It’s a compliment, if anything. It doesn’t mean they take you any less seriously.”

Jeongguk raises a skeptical brow, a flirty look in his eyes. “They don’t? Jimin-shi, do you have any idea how many students have offered to sleep with me for better grades? It’s like they think they can get away with it just because I’m younger than the other professors.”

Jimin is torn between scrunching his face in disgust and laughing again. “Yikes.”

The younger man scoffs, rolling his eyes. “Tell me about it. It’s rude of them to think I need help with that anyway.”

The comment comes from Jeongguk so casually that it has Jimin’s body heating up. He tries to mask his initial reaction to go wide-eyed and stare at Jeongguk like a baby deer. He obviously knows Jeongguk most likely has sex—they are both adults and have independent lives and talked about their interest in lascivious acts after too many shots of Soju back at the apartment Jimin and Taehyung shared during college—but hearing something like that from Jeongguk leaves Jimin a little stunned. Jeongguk always spoke about sex theoretically in school; broadly, vaguely. He never talked about hook-ups or having interest in getting with anyone. From what Jimin recalls, Jeongguk never even had a partner or fuck buddy during the time they knew each other in college—at least not one Jimin knew about. Jimin and Taehyung were pretty open about what was going on between them, so it’s not like they would have made Jeongguk uncomfortable to talk about if he was seeing anyone. Looking back, Jimin remembers the way Jeongguk would purposefully avert his gaze from couples making out at the parties they would attend, or how the younger man would blush at the mention of any of their friends doing something perverted.

It’s just odd, is all; Jeongguk being so casual about sex. It sends Jimin’s head spinning in the same way it did earlier. He sleeps around too, sure, but he hasn’t had a good hook-up in months. Maybe that’s his problem. It’s not Jeongguk’s confidence or general hotness making Jimin react like this—No. It’s because Jimin hasn’t been fucked in a while, that’s all.

“Yeah, completely,” Jimin responds in a way that he hopes sounds casual and not affected.

Jeongguk, luckily, is quick to change the topic. “So, you still live in town?”

A nod. “I have an apartment about ten minutes away. I assume you do, too? With campus being so close and everything.”

“Yeah, downtown,” Jeongguk confirms. Then, something in his expression shifts and he purses his lips before tacking on, “You still live with Taehyung?”

“No. Alone.”

Jeongguk nods and Jimin watches as the muscles in his jaw work and decides to continue to explain, “Tae has a place on the other side of the city. We were going to keep living together but we realized a few years ago that we kind of needed our own spaces.”

Jimin purposefully keeps the response vague but hopes it works in a way that allows Jeongguk to still receive the underlying message of what he is saying. If the younger man raising a single, dark brow is anything to go by, his subtlety doesn’t work.

“How come? He’s not a good roommate?” Jeongguk asks.

The older man shifts on the balls of his feet and brings his drink to his face. Rather than take a sip, though, Jimin uses it as a buffer to shield the heat rising on his cheeks from the younger man. “Um, no, nothing like that. I guess after so many years we just got tired of having to work around…uh, having people over.”

That has mirth swimming in Jeongguk’s eyes as he looks down at Jimin in a way that only makes the blush worse. In one toss back, the dancer finishes downing his drink and discards it on the table nearby. In the meantime, Jeongguk says in a teasing voice, “Ah, I get it. Fair enough. I guess that’s part of the reason I live alone, too. No shame in casual hook-ups.”

Jimin shoots him a pointed look. “Jeon Jeongguk, don’t try and convince me you don’t have a committed girlfriend or something.”

The younger man grins. “I don’t.”

Crossing his arms, Jimin gives him a playful eye roll and thinks without speaking. “Right, so you’re thirty, you work as a professor at SNU, apparently drive a motorcycle, you live alone in the city, you look like that, and don’t have a girlfriend? That’s about as likely as me seeing a unicorn on the subway—”

“I look like what?” Jeongguk cuts him off to ask, that dangerously attractive smirk playing on his lips again. Jimin notices he has gotten closer too. Both of them are several feet from where they began—Hoseok and Yoongi barely visible in the distance and Taehyung entirely gone from sight—Jimin’s back nearly pressed against a wall now.

“Huh?” Jimin asks dumbly, too focused on the vodka in his veins and how overwhelmingly different Jeongguk is. He can’t understand what the younger man is asking.

“You said when I look like that. What is that, Jimin-shi? Please, tell me,” Jeongguk reinerates, an amused expression glinting in his dark eyes.

“Just—You know,” Jimin shrugs, trying to feign casualness.

“I really don’t.”

“You’re…” The older man trails off, gesturing softly to the younger man. Breathlessly, he adds, “Attractive. You know? Good-looking…”

Jeongguk bites his bottom lip, playing with the silver in it again as he attempts to hold back a shit-eating grin. Jimin flushes but can’t stop looking because he has seen Jeongguk make that expression a thousand times. Back then, it made Jimin want to smile too, but now, it makes his body heat up in a way that is familiar to him, but foreign in association to his proximity with Jeon Jeongguk.

“Is that what you think?” Jeongguk asks, voice less teasing than the older man anticipates.

A shy nod. Jimin responds softly, “Yeah, sure. Who wouldn’t think that?”

“You know, you look good too, Jimin-shi.”

The compliment sends another flush straight to the older man’s cheeks and he clears his throat in a futile attempt to stifle the whine that wants to spill over in its place. To distract from how insane this all is making him, Jimin narrows his eyes and says something to change the subject. “Why are you using ‘shi’, Jeon Jeongguk? I’m still your hyung. It’s rude to pretend we aren’t familiar.”

“Are we familiar?” Jeongguk asks, a dark brow lifting. He tilts his head slightly to the side and the way his black hair sways with the motion sends Jimin’s head spinning. “Jimin-shi, we haven’t seen each other in a decade.”

“Nine years and six months, actually…” Jimin corrects in a quiet voice.

Jeongguk’s expression softens. His shoulders drop. “You…you remember?”

“Of course, I remember.”

The two share a moment. It’s like all the noise in the room stops and everyone in the background fades away. Suddenly, it’s just Jimin and Jeongguk; a pair that were once more close with each other than anyone in the world, now seemingly adrift—lost at sea. The meaningful look they share communicates that somehow, despite time and distance, they are still desperately trying to swim back to one another.

The younger man’s next words are so quiet that Jimin almost doesn’t catch them.

“I never stopped thinking about you.”

Jimin’s breathing catches. His fingers twitch at his sides, as if telling him to reach out and touch, but he fights back the urge. He chooses, instead, to look at Jeongguk as he takes a careful step forward, shaking his head in disbelief again. Jimin’s eyes start brimming with tears, as if waiting for this moment—the second the damn broke.

“I never stopped thinking about that day—about the things we said. It was painful, hyung. It was so fucking hard to leave. I didn’t want to. I never wanted to.”

“Then, why did you?” Jimin asks, the tears stinging. Jeongguk’s face twists up like he is in pain over the words, over the look on the older man’s face—over the hurt in it. “If you didn’t want to leave, why did you, Jeongguk?”

“I…I had to.”

Why? Don’t you think I deserve more of an explanation than that? It’s been ten years, Jeongguk. You didn’t give me a reason back then, and now you’re acting like you still can’t.” A tear slips down Jimin’s cheek even as he tries desperately to hold them in. He sniffles, voice cracking when he speaks again. “I—Do you have any idea how much I cried? How many times I looked at your contact on my phone and debated calling you just so I could hear your voice again? I could barely keep it together. Taehyung would come check on me because I spent days on end in bed. At one point, I was sobbing in his arms and I told him I didn’t think I could dance ever again—I was too depressed. I didn’t care about anything anymore.”

“Jimin—”

“No,” The older man shakes his head when the younger reaches out like he is going to touch him. Jeongguk retracts it like he’s been burned and Jimin curses himself for wanting him to reach out again—for wanting Jeongguk to hold him. “Let me say this.”

Jimin takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. “When you left, you didn’t just leave, Jeongguk. It wasn’t just over when you broke off our friendship. You…you took a piece of me with you—a piece I haven’t gotten back since that day. I haven’t been the same since, I don’t think. I’m happy, don’t get me wrong. I like my life now, Jeongguk, but…it’s not the same. I’m not the same. What you did—despite having your reasons and saying you needed to do it—it still fucking hurt. A lot. I can’t—I can’t just let you come in here and talk to me and start over or pretend like everything is normal, because it’s not. You don’t get to waltz back into my life just so you can break my heart all over again, Jeon Jeongguk, I won’t let you.”

Jimin keeps his eyes squeezed shut to hold the tears at bay. He might be emotional right now, but he’ll be damned if he lets this man ruin his makeup.

With sharp breaths, the older man whispers, “So…if you want to do this—if you want to talk and start over or be normal—you have to give me an explanation, Jeongguk. A real one.”

Out of nowhere, warm, gentle hands brush against Jimin’s arms. He gasps but allows it to happen. The touch sends a spark through his body and he tries hard not to shake under the touch—to wilt like a flower that has been void of warmth—of sunlight—for so, so long. He wants the touch—needs it—so he allows it to happen. As if all he was waiting for was permission, Jeongguk takes the opening to move closer and fully wraps his arms around Jimin. In seconds, the older man is pulled into a strong embrace, pressed against a firm chest with his own hands balled into the fabric of Jeongguk’s shirt. The younger man’s arms engulf him, squeezing tightly around his waist as Jeongguk reaches one hand up to plant it firmly against the small of Jimin’s back. His hand is so big that it encompasses almost the entirety of the space and the thought makes Jimin dizzy.

Jeongguk tucks his head next to the older man’s so that his breathing—which is almost as shallow as Jimin’s—is fanning the hair right near the older man’s ear.

They stay like that for a moment; together, holding each other.

Once Jimin’s breathing has regulated and he can feel that Jeongguk’s heart rate has slowed a bit from where he can feel it pumping under his fist, the younger man speaks again—a near whisper.

“I left because I was in love with you, hyung.”

The world feels like it stops.

Jimin’s breathing catches and he freezes in Jeongguk’s hold, stunned. It feels like he can’t think. All that’s running through his mind is what the younger man is saying. It seems unreal.

Jeongguk must understand that Jimin can’t speak because he continues.

“I was in love with you. I…liked you the whole time we were friends. When we met during my sophomore year and you came up to me in the library and introduced yourself, I thought you were so pretty, hyung. Then, we started hanging out and you were just so sweet, and funny, and you understood me in a way no one ever had before. I…I didn’t know what to do. I thought about confessing after you told me you were gay, but I couldn’t work up the nerve. Then, you and Taehyung started sleeping around and…it hurt. When I asked why the two of you didn’t just date and you told me you were focused on getting your degree—that you wouldn’t risk some guy pulling you from your future—I knew there was no chance. I already knew you didn’t like me that way. You always saw me as your younger friend—a little brother of sorts. You guys all treated me like I was a kid, and I knew the odds were slim but that solidified it, I think. When school ended and you and Taehyung stopped sleeping around, I still couldn’t do it. I couldn’t tell you I liked you because I was worried the rejection would ruin me, but…I also couldn’t keep being friends with you and pretending like I wasn’t in love with you…”

Jimin starts pulling away—not to break off the hug, but because he wants to look Jeongguk in the eyes. He feels like he needs to. Despite him trying to move back, Jeongguk only holds him tighter, mumbling, “Please, just…let me say this.”

The older man tightens his hold on the front of Jeongguk’s shirt, pursing his lips. When he nods, Jeongguk keeps explaining.

“That’s why I came to your apartment that day. You looked so happy to see me and it almost made me not do it. I knew I had already been distancing myself and being there—knowing it was the last time—hurt so fucking much,” Jeongguk’s voice is so full of emotion, so full of past pain and regret that it makes the tears in Jimin’s eyes freshen and spill over. He buries his face in Jeongguk’s chest, feeling guilty for getting his shirt damp but needing the closeness. “I could barely get through it, hyung. When you made that face where your eyes got wide and you looked so confused—Fuck, it crushed me. I felt like the worst person ever. Still, I knew continuing our friendship would only end in me feeling worse later, or making you feel like the bad guy for turning me down, and that’s the only way I got through it. I tried. I really did. I tried for so long to get over my feelings for you, but it never worked, Jimin-ah. When it wasn’t working, I knew I had to stop seeing you, and I can’t tell you how much I hated making that choice—how difficult I knew it would be for both of us. I knew you would resent me and I’m…I’m so fucking sorry. I’m so sorry I put you through all of that. I’m sorry for liking you and making everything complicated. I’m sorry for not giving you the truth back then, and I’m sorry for bringing it up all these years later and hurting you again. I’m sorry for making you cry back then and for doing it again now. I’m…I’m just so sorry.”

Jimin is sniffling, lip quivering as he bites back sobs. He clutches onto Jeongguk for dear life, crying into his chest as the younger man dutifully holds him close. He’s warm and real and here and finally giving Jimin the closure he has gone ten years without. It hurts and feels good all at the same time, and his head's still spinning. He doesn’t care that they are at a party, doesn’t care that they probably look like a strange duo standing in the corner and holding each other dearly. Nothing matters to him right now except Jeongguk and the shattered pieces of their friendship, and the fact that Jimin has finally found the last piece that he was missing all this time. He has the full story and he has Jeongguk. Everything feels raw and uncertain and, yet, he feels good in Jeongguk’s arms—safe in the same way he felt all those years ago when the arms were much scrawnier, the touch more uncertain.

“Jeongguk,” Jimin mumbles, voice strained. “Thank you. Thank you for telling me.”

The younger man squeezes him tighter, nosing at the side of Jimin’s head affectionately as he says in a small voice, “Anything. Anything, hyung.”

The meaningful words send Jimin’s heart fluttering. He nuzzles into Jeongguk’s chest, feeling unbelievably fond. “I’m sure that wasn’t easy to say. Thank you for doing it anyway.”

“Anything,” Jeongguk insists again, voice still rapt with emotion. He sounds pleading—almost desperate. “I’ll tell you anything—do anything. I just want to make it up to you.”

“This is enough,” Jimin reassures. Jeongguk shakes his head stubbornly, grumbling, “It’ll never be enough. What I did to you…”

“You didn’t do anything,” The older man tells him sternly. Jimin’s face twists as guilt racks through him. “I had no idea what you were going through. I’m sorry that you felt like you couldn't tell me about it. You were so alone and felt bad about it for so long, and I only made it worse. I’m so sorry, Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk shakes his head again, not speaking. Jimin wonders if it’s because he is choking back tears too.

“I understand why you didn’t tell me. You were like a little brother and I probably would have rejected you…I’m…I’m sorry, Jeongguk.” The words feel like they sting as they come out, but Jimin continues, feeling like he needs to voice it. “I didn’t know you liked me. I would have tried to be kind about it, but I would have said no. It wasn’t—I wasn’t ready for a relationship at the time. My career was so new and you were finishing your last year of school still, and everything was complicated. I’m sorry I couldn’t be better for you. I’m sorry I wasn’t a better friend. I’m sorry you went through it all alone and felt like you had to break off our friendship. I’m…I’m sorry I was upset with you for it—that I couldn’t see past my own emotions.”

“It’s okay, hyung. I’m okay,” Jeongguk insists quietly.

Jimin sighs in relief, flattening one hand on the younger man’s chest so he can soothingly rub back and forth to comfort him. When Jeongguk relaxes under his touch instantly, breathing out right against Jimin’s ear, the older man whispers, “We’re okay.”

“We are?” Jeongguk asks, sounding hopeful.

Jimin nods. The younger man begins slowly removing his hands from his body and Jimin bites back the whine that threatens to spill out at the loss of connection, but allows him to go. They disconnect from each other and take a respectful step back, staring at one another. Jimin knows he looks like a mess. His makeup is probably smeared and his cheeks flushed, hair mused. Jeongguk doesn’t look much better; mahogany shirt darkened with tear stains and his face equally red. His pupils are blown wide and he is looking down at Jimin with such a range of emotions. Most of all, he looks content—hopeful and satiated, kind eyes directed at the older man who looks back at him with just as much care.

“We’re okay, Jeongguk. That’s…I think we needed that and I’m happy we did it—happy we finished a conversation we started a decade ago,” Jimin says, smiling at the end.

Jeongguk grins, raising a brow. “Nine years and six months ago, you mean.”

Jimin giggles, smiling up at him. “Yes, that’s what I mean.”

The two men share a look. Their eyes seem to shimmer under the moody lighting, bodies close and spirits closer. Their hearts on their sleeves as vulnerability is used as a thread to weave them together—two as one again, just like all those years ago. A missing piece found to complete a long abandoned puzzle.

Jeongguk reaches a tattooed hand up, fingers spread to caress through his fluffy, long hair. The older man watches the movement, feeling his heart burst with newfound excitement. The younger man is still looking at him with a smile, shaking his head in the same way he did earlier—like he can’t quite believe this is real.

“What?” Jimin asks, laughing.

“Nothing,” Jeongguk says, stepping forward with that same charismatic grin as he reaches out to brush his fingers against Jimin’s palm. The older man holds eye contact with him but his lips twitch up at the wonderful sensation of those warm, slender fingers touching against him in such a gentle way. Jimin furrows his brows at the younger man, eyes narrowing playfully as he tries to gauge what Jeongguk is doing. The man in question bites down on his bottom lip, fiddling with the silver to one side as he holds back his smile.

“Jimin-shi,” He says slowly, fingers getting bolder and reaching up to touch along the older man’s wrist, rubbing along smooth skin and squeezing in certain places.

“Oh, so it was hyung and now it’s Jimin-shi again, huh?” The older man teases, spreading his fingers to allow Jeongguk to touch him more there. The younger man does, still holding eye contact as he slides down and presses his palm flat against Jimin’s, fingers splayed out to be at the same distance too. He pushes against the hold so now their hands are perfectly mirroring one another—not holding hands, just touching in every spot. Jeongguk’s fingers are much longer and curl at the ends, wrapping over the tips of each of Jimin’s. The small, sweet movement has the older man breaking out into a playful—almost flirty smile—which Jeongguk matches.

“It’s Jimin-shi to mess with you. I remember doing it back in college.”

“Right,” Jimin nods, leaning back to allow his head to tip against the cool wall of the venue hall. His cheeks hurts now from smiling and his tears have dried and he can’t remember a time where he was staring up at someone so fondly before. “Then you’d also remember how much I hated it.”

Jeongguk rolls his eyes playfully. “You didn’t hate it. You got embarrassed but you liked it. You made it kind of hard to want to stop.”

“What does that mean?” Jimin whines.

“It means the reactions you gave were too good to stop,” Jeongguk shrugs like it’s out of his control. “You were too cute.”

At that, the older man blushes. Cute. Jeongguk thought he was cute. He teased him back then because he apparently thought it was cute,and he is teasing again now which means…

“Do you still think I’m cute?” Jimin asks, trying to keep it casual by batting his eyelashes dramatically with the sole intention of being funny, but Jeongguk doesn’t laugh.

In fact, his expression softens and he squeezes the tips of Jimin’s fingers, voice a near mumble as he searches the older man’s eyes. “Of course, you are. I think you only managed to get cuter.”

Jimin’s face flushes a brilliant red.

Jeongguk bites back another shit-eating grin. The older man feels a need to look away, tucking some brown strands of hair behind his ear casually that came out from where they were styled back due to the hug, and clears his throat. “Yeah, whatever. You’re still ridiculous, Jeon Jeongguk.”

“And you’re still gorgeous,” Jeongguk says shamelessly. Jimin all-but chokes on air, pulling the back of his free hand up to his mouth, trying to mask his burning face and shocked expression. It clearly doesn’t work, as he can still see Jeongguk’s grin from his peripheral vision.

These aren’t things Jeongguk ten years ago would have had the confidence to say. Something about the way he is looking at Jimin, the way he is still keeping their hands together, the way he is speaking openly about his feelings and thoughts—unabashed and resolute—it does something to Jimin. It makes his pulse quicken and his mind go fuzzy in a way so foreign to his association with Jeongguk that it renders him speechless.

Next thing Jimin knows, Jeongguk is reaching up with his free hand to gently nudge under the older man’s chin and turn him to look at him again. Once their gazes meet, Jimin’s eyes go a little wide. Jeongguk still has that playful gleam in his eyes but something more resides in it now—something akin to determination.

“Hyung…” He starts searching Jimin’s face, squeezing down on his fingertips once more like he just needs to touch the older man—needs to be reminded that he is still there. “Hyung, would you want to—”

“Jimin!”

A loud, deep voice calls from somewhere off behind Jeongguk and Jimin. Both men turn their heads at the same time, finding a flustered, grinning Kim Taehyung barreling over to them. He looks like he has had a few more drinks in the duration Jimin has separated from him, and he is knocking right into his best friend’s side as he approaches, effectively making Jeongguk pull his hand back from Jimin’s as the older man reaches up to cling his arms around Taehyung, preventing them both from falling.

“Woah!” Jimin says, startled. “What? What is it?”

Taehyung cheeses, practically vibrating as he excitedly starts rattling off. “Hobi-hyung knows Kim Namjoon! Jimin, he told me where he is! Come on, you have to go with me so I can get some dick! Please, please! Please, Jimin! Please—”

Jimin is still wide-eyed and looks between his pouty, wasted best friend and Jeongguk. The younger man has his eyebrows raised, seemingly also surprised by Taehyung’s behavior, which is more brazen than normal, somehow. Jeongguk just shrugs and says to Jimin, “I, uh, I actually know Namjoon, too. He’s with Seokjin-hyung—who brought me tonight. They’re probably where I left them earlier. Would you, uh, want me to introduce you guys properly?”

The older man’s face melts into something relieved and appreciative. “That would be wonderful, Jeongguk. Thank you.”

Jeongguk offers a soft smile, turning on his heels and pocketing his hands. “No problem. Come on.”

Taehyung cheers excitedly, hissing to Jimin about how he is finally going to get to do something other than swipe up on Namjoon’s Instagram stories with eggplant emojis. The older man smiles but rolls his eyes at his friend’s antics, staring at Jeongguk’s back as he navigates them carefully through the sea of people. Jimin finds himself longingly watching the younger man’s back as they go. He wasn’t ready to stop speaking with Jeongguk yet, and it seemed like he was about to say something. Jimin sighs quietly to himself, grateful he offered to come with them so Jimin had another chance of spending time with him.

He stares at the broad back—taut in the fabric of the dress shirt—and wonders when Jeongguk got so different. Sure, people change in a decade, but Jimin doesn’t think he, himself, has changed that drastically. His skin is clearer, his credit score is higher, and his ass is fatter, but that’s about it. Jeongguk, though? It’s like day and night from the person he was in college. Jimin racks his brain, trying to figure out how the shift happened, trying to decide if anything about Jeongguk is similar.

He thinks about his laugh. That’s the same. His smile is the same too; toothy and similar to a bunny’s. The look in his eyes is the same. Everything else, though, it’s like the old Jeongguk but more. Jimin finds a soft smile appearing on his face when Jeongguk turns to look at him, checking that Taehyung and the older man are still trailing close enough to not get lost as he gently guides them through people.

He’s the same Jeongguk, Jimin decides. He’s just found himself now.

Before long, they reach the other side of the venue hall and approach another bar, which just so happens to be where two handsome men are standing around near. One is blonde, dimpled, and adorable and Jimin recognizes him from the multitude of screenshots of Instagram posts that Taehyung has sent to him, captioned with things like “Need him in a way that is unfit for Christian eyes”, and “Ugh what a hunk, sipping coffee like that like come over here and rail me, daddy”. The other—black-haired, plump-lipped and handsome—Jimin knows from how often he is tagged in those same Instagram posts.

“Namjoon-hyung! Jin-hyung!” Jeongguk calls out to them in a familiar way, getting their attention as the trio approach the table.

Both men hear him speak over the music and turn to look at him at the same time. Both of them smile, Seokjin waving before his eyes find Jimin and Taehyung trailing behind Jeongguk. His hand and smile drop simultaneously the second he hones in on the drunk man leaning on Jimin for support. Beside him, Namjoon’s smile also slowly fades, his dragon eyes darting nervously between Seokjin and Taehyung. Despite being wasted beyond belief, Taehyung sees the two men standing around and shoots up, immediately sobering himself with a clearing of his throat and casual swipe of a hand through his styled hair. Jimin finds humor in watching his best friend attempt to walk suavely over to the pair, which results in him nearly tipping over the moment he completely removes himself from his brown-haired best friend. With a little less tact than is usual, he steadies himself and walks beside Jeongguk.

“Jeongguk,” Namjoon says, eyes darting between their friend and the two he brought along. “We hadn’t seen you in a while. We were starting to get worried you got lost or drunk or something.”

The young man opens his mouth to respond to his friend, but is interrupted by a graceful Kim Taehyung throwing an arm around Jeongguk and saying, “No worries. He was in good hands.”

Jeongguk raises a brow at him. “You literally weren’t even with—”

“Anyway!” Taehyung begins loudly, effectively cutting the man off. “Just wanted to say hello to Jeongguk’s friends. We knew him back in college, so we go way back. I’m Kim Taehyung and the cute one trailing behind me is my best friend, Park Jimin.”

Jeongguk turns to flash Jimin a humored smile at the words and Jimin purposely looks away and over to the new pair instead, fighting down a blush.

“Yeah, we know who you are already,” The other one—Kim Seokjin—chimes in. He crosses his arms, giving Taehyung a small up and down before settling on his face with a hard look.

Drunk and clueless, Taehyung must take the statement as a compliment, because he smiles, removing himself from Jeongguk only to place his hands on his own hips. Jimin settles somewhere in the space between his best friend and Jeongguk, feeling worried and embarrassed but also thoroughly entertained by the display.

“Well, of course,” Taehyung starts. “Only makes sense if you've heard of me. I guess my charming good looks have a way of getting around. Even after all these years, Jeongguk-ah must still be talking about me—”

“No,” Seokjin snorts. Beside him, Namjoon almost looks bashful. He’s a big guy—tall and broad—and yet he seems small beside Seokjin, who squares his shoulders. “You’re the guy that’s always trying to flirt with my boyfriend on Instagram. The drug dealer, right?”

Jimin’s eyes go wide at the information. Taehyung had never mentioned that Seokjin and Namjoon were dating. In all of his Namjoon rants and voiced fantasies, it never once got brought up that he might already have a partner. From the way Taehyung’s shoulders slump, he didn’t know.

“Sorry, what?” Taehyung asks.

Seokjin raises a brow. “You heard me.”

Namjoon places a gentle hand on his boyfriend’s bicep, face twisting in distaste at the confrontational tone. Softly, he coaxes, “Jin, it’s fine. He didn’t know, I’m sure.”

“I had no idea,” Taehyung agrees. “Namjoon always just left me on read so I figured he was just…I don’t know. I’m sorry, I didn’t think you guys were together.”

Seokjin still looks skeptical even as Namjoon offers Taehyung a polite smile, flushing a bit—more than likely over the thought of the messages sent, the filthy contents something Jimin can only imagine with a shudder. “It’s okay, Taehyung-shi. You really didn’t know. Me and Seokjin like to keep our relationship quiet because it’s just easier with the business and everything. It’s of no consequence.”

“Right. Well, I’m still sorry for hitting on you,” Taehyung says bluntly, before turning to Seokjin and extending a hand. “And sorry for hitting on your boyfriend. Won’t happen again. Are we…all good now?”

Eyes narrowed, Seokjin slowly uncrosses one arm and extends it to the drunk man, shaking it in a firm hold. Through gritted teeth, he agrees. “Fine. All good.”

“Wonderful,” Taehyung says, clapping his hands together the second the handshake is over with. A split second later, he pouts. “Sorry, did you say I was a drug dealer, by the way?”

Seokjin shrugs. “Pharmacist. Drug dealer. It’s all the same, really.”

“Oh, so you’ve done research on me?” Taehyung asks, making himself very comfortable by turning so he is facing the same direction as Seokjin and Namjoon, before throwing an arm over both of their shoulders. He grins as he does so, looking pleased with himself. “You know, you’re both hot. If you’re ever trying to recruit a third—”

“No!” Jimin covers quickly, waving his hands at his best friend as Namjoon goes bright red and Seokjin’s eyes go wide, mouth falling open in shock. Beside Jimin, Jeongguk’s hand flies to his mouth and he turns to the side, shoulders shaking as he clearly tries to hide his laughter.

“No, they’re not looking for a third, Taehyung-ah,” Jimin scolds lightly, laughing near the end to try and make things less awkward. In slow doses, he moves in and removes Taehyung from the couple, trying to lure him back with sweet words and gentle motions. Drunk, Taehyung goes easily, falling back into Jimin’s arms like a newborn deer learning to walk.

“So sorry about him. He’s been drinking since we got here,” Jimin apologizes, shooting a bashful smile to the couple and then darting his eyes to Jeongguk, who has all-but recovered from his fit of hilarity. “We should…probably get going. I’m his driver tonight and I’m sure the parking lot is going to be packed later when everyone starts leaving, so probably best to go now.”

“Oh,” Jeongguk starts, eyes widening. “But, they haven’t even done the speech yet—”

“I know. I’m sorry,” Jimin cuts him off gently, wincing. His heart physically lurches at the thought of leaving him right now, after not seeing him for so, so long. Still, Taehyung is his best friend and someone who has been there for him through everything in the time Jeongguk was gone—and even before that—Jimin can’t abandon him just to keep talking well into the night with a man he isn’t close with anymore. “I just—I have to get him home.”

Jeongguk offers a barely-there smile. “Right. Of course.”

“It was nice meeting you, Jimin-shi,” Namjoon says kindly, smiling enough for a dimple to show on one side. It calms the brunette immediately, his tense body relaxing even with Taehyung on him. “Nice meeting you too, Namjoon-shi. Sorry again about him. I promise he’s really decent under normal circumstances.”

Right against his shoulder, Taehyung groans, sounding pained. Jimin offers another sorry smile to the couple. Seokjin seems a lot softer than before and offers a smile in return, eyes gentle. “Get him home safely.”

“Of course,” Jimin agrees. Then, he carefully guides Taehyung up to a proper standing position in which most of his body weight is still cast to Jimin. “Come on, Tae. Bedtime for you.”

“Don’ wan’ bed. Wanna’ hook up,” Taehyung grumbles. Luckily, it’s too quiet for anyone but Jimin to hear over the loud music blaring in the background, but the brunette flushes anyway, scolding, “Quiet, Kim Taehyung. Not another word until we’re home.”

He starts walking away, moving slowly to avoid knocking into people and to prevent Taehyung from falling. They get several yards away before Jimin hears heavy footsteps catching up to them.

“Jimin! Jimin, wait!”

The man stops in his tracks, turning to look up at a breathless Jeongguk with wide eyes. “Yes?”

“I, uh,” Jeongguk starts, licking over his lips and scanning Jimin’s face. “I just—I couldn’t let you just leave like that. Can we—Do you wanna exchange numbers or something? I want to—I’d like it if we saw each other again. If that’s…something you want too.”

Breathless, Jimin nods. “Absolutely, I want that.”

The way Jeongguk grins is enough to make Jimin’s heart flutter, a matching, elated smile working its way onto his face. “Okay. Yeah, okay. Um, hand me your phone?”

The older man makes quick work to reach into his back pocket and retrieve his phone. He fumbles a bit, trying not to drop Taehyung, but is eventually successful as he slides the sleek device into Jeongguk’s tattooed hand.

He watches as the younger man bites back a smile typing his number into a new contact log, before Jeongguk texts his own number from Jimin’s phone with a simple ‘Hey’ so he can also have Jimin’s number. Once he’s done, Jimin expects that he will hand the device back but, instead, he places a careful hand on Jimin’s arm and shifts him, leaning around and slipping the phone back into the pocket nestled against Jimin’s ass, doing the work for him. The feeling of Jeongguk looking at or being anywhere near his ass has the older man’s body heating up—a feeling he pointedly ignores as Jeongguk retreats with another charming grin.

“So, I’ll, uh, see you around?” The younger man asks and something about the question on the end of it sounds so hopeful—so genuine—that it has Jimin fighting back another giddy smile.

“Yes,” He agrees, shifting a sleepy Taehyung so his head isn’t falling off the side of his arm. “Absolutely. When we’re both free we should get—I don’t know, coffee or something.”

Jeongguk tilts his head, nodding once before he gives Jimin another up and down. Slowly, he says, “Okay, then. See you, Jimin.”

“Bye, Jeongguk.”

With that, the two men part ways; Jimin with a very intoxicated best friend attached to his hip as they make the trek back to the parking garage they came in from, and Jeongguk with his hands in his pockets, retreating to his friends at the bar. Jimin glances back every chance he gets, only catching glimpses of Jeongguk between the crowd of people he has long forgotten the names of. He catches Jeongguk doing the same and it makes him blush and grin in a way so familiar and yet so distant. He has flirted and felt a connection before, but not with Jeongguk. It’s new and, somehow, not disagreeable—something Jimin never thought he would think.

So, here he is, feeling light on his feet as he plops his drunk best friend into the backseat, forcing him to rest safely in case he throws up, before buckling him in with a bit-back grin, and getting into the front seat. The entire drive home, he feels like he is floating on a cloud. Elation blankets him, warm and inviting. He replays the talk with Jeongguk in his head and thinks about all the things they left unsaid for so many years finally being brought to the light. He thinks about Jeongguk looking at him like he couldn't believe Jimin was real, and catching up to him and not letting him go without getting his number—without having a way to see him again . His heart swells and seizes all at once when he recounts the way Jeongguk wrapped his arms around him, leaned in close, and whispered a confession Jimin never expected to hear.

“I left because I was in love with you, hyung.”

“-was in love with you-

Jimin doesn’t know what to do with that knowledge. He doesn’t know how to explain that he liked hearing those words from someone who was one of his closest companions a decade ago. He wants to hear more about that time. Selfishly, he wants Jeongguk to reveal every little thought he had, express every little detail he liked about Jimin, tell the brunette face to face what made him love him.

Jimin tucks Taehyung into bed once he drops him off at his apartment. He makes certain he is safe and has enough water in his system before tucking a glass of water and two pills on his nightstand for the following morning. Once done, he heads to his own place. The entire time, he still thinks of Jeongguk.

He’s handsome and charismatic and all of the parts Jimin remembers adoring about him, plus more now. He wants to see him again—needs to know more about the man that he hasn’t seen in ten years that is making his body heat like this, causing his heart to swell like this, making his cheeks hurt with happiness like this.

Jimin slips into the comfortable sheets of his bed once changing and completes his nightly routine. He sighs the second his head hits the plush pillows as exhaustion overtakes him. He is just about to fall asleep—despite feeling like tonight must have been a dream—when his phone vibrates once.

He shifts and checks it.

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

I hope you got home safe

It was incredible seeing you tonight, Jimin. You have no idea

I hope we see each other again sometime

Jimin claps a hand over his mouth, smothering his laughter over the name Jeongguk chose for his contact. Even as he flushes with embarrassment, he shakes his head and grins, texting back.

Park Jimin

there’s no way you actually saved your name as that lol

did you do that because i said you were attractive after you hounded me about it?

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Lol Maybe

But also because it’s true ;)

Park Jimin

you really are as ridiculous as ever, huh?

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

I am but you like it

A couple seconds later, another text comes through.

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

I missed you, Jimin

Park Jimin

i missed you too

i’d really like to see you again

if you really want that?

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

More than anything

Park Jimin

okay :)

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

No need to decide details right now. It’s late

I’ll text you tomorrow, okay?

We can figure something out together

Park Jimin

sounds good

did you leave the venue too?

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Yeah, a minute ago. Seokjin-hyung was tired and it wasn’t any fun after you left

Btw he’s not really mad at Taehyung or anything

I’ve heard them talk about him before. I think they both think he’s hot lmao

He was just trying to be cool in front of Namjoon-hyung

Jimin’s heart races a little at Jeongguk’s admission that nothing interested him after Jimin left the party, but he tries not to think about it too much.

Park Jimin

lol he’s going to be crazy when he hears that, you have no idea

i liked them

your hyungs are sweet

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Thanks, they really are the best

They were there for me after

You know

Everything happened

Park Jimin

i know i already said it but i’m sorry i wasn’t there for you

i’m happy that they could be in my place

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

No, don't apologize. It goes both ways. I should have been there for you, too

What I did hurt both of us

Park Jimin

that’s just it, jeongguk

it’s not something you did. people don’t really pick who they fall in love with, yk? it just kind of…happens

i’m sorry it ended like that

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

It’s so far in the past. It doesn’t even matter anymore. All I cared about was you

And you’re here now, so I’m pretty happy with that

Park Jimin

me too

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

I should get to bed. It’s getting late

It was really nice seeing you, Jimin

Seriously

Park Jimin

i’m going to sleep, too

text me in the morning?

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Of course

Goodnight, Jimin-ah

Park Jimin

it’s hyung to you

goodnight, jeongguk

Jimin falls asleep with a smile on his face and a fullness in his chest.

The following day, Jimin wakes up in the early hours of the afternoon to a text from Jeongguk and a series of texts from Taehyung. The ones from Taehyung consist of the man panicking over the night prior, pleading with Jimin through emojis and quadruple messages to tell him what he said and explain just how badly he embarrassed himself. All he recalls is meeting Seokjin and Namjoon and vaguely remembers hinting at a three-way. Jimin calls him immediately because, one; he wants to quell his best friend’s nerves and, two; he can’t preview Jeongguk’s text and all he knows is that Jeongguk did message him—exactly as he said he would—and that’s enough to make that racing in his pulse begin again, so he sobers himself with a conversation with his best friend before tackling it.

Talking to Taehyung goes well enough. His best friend pouts and cringes over what he said and then starts getting giddy on the phone when Jimin caves and reveals that Seokjin and Namjoon think he is hot—or at least did before he majorly embarrassed himself. The jury is still out on that one. After that, Taehyung calls out Jimin, pressing him on the fact that, despite his drunken stupor, he remembers how close Jimin and Jeongguk were—how touchy they were—and pushes for an explanation on how all of that happened.

With a slight flush on his cheeks, Jimin tells him that Jeongguk and him talked about their falling out and, of course, Taehyung being his best friend, Jimin doesn’t hesitate to tell him what Jeongguk admitted to being the true reason for their fallout. Taehyung, understandably, freaks out a little at the information, before making little remarks about how he “knew there was something there” and how “Jeongguk always looked at Taehyung weirdly when he was touching Jimin a lot or the one making him laugh” and how “Jeongguk sounded jealous when he asked Taehyung if him and Jimin were sleeping together”. Jimin tries to brush off the comments as his best friend being dramatic and his recollection being hazy since everything happened a decade ago, but still, they linger. Thoughts of Jeongguk and how he had feelings for Jimin, how he was apparently so focused on Jimin back when they were friends in college that he fell in love with him. Those thoughts bring him back to now—to yesterday—when Jeongguk showed up big and confident and easily captured Jimin’s attention, making it so the older man felt like he never wanted to be anywhere else than in Jeongguk’s arms, under his gaze.

“Do you think he’ll call?” Taehyung asks after Jimin relays to him that Jeongguk asked for Jimin’s number and, of course, Jimin gave it to him.

Jimin bites at his bottom lip, tugging absentmindedly at the fabric of his sweatpants. He’s been lounging around the apartment since it’s the weekend and he doesn’t have any plans. He ate food and did some chores and he and Taehyung have already been on the phone for two hours—a usual routine for them. “Actually, he texted me last night and we talked for a while. Just about, you know, how we were happy we were talking again and how he wants to make plans soon so we can see each other.”

“Oh?” Taehyung says, sounding a little too keen.

“Shut up,” Jimin tells him, blushing, thankful the younger man can’t see him. Why is he blushing? “He, um, might have also texted me this morning…”

Taehyung scolds him, “What? Why didn’t you say something sooner? Come on, what did he say?”

“I, uh, haven’t looked yet…”

“You’ve left him on delivered this whole time?” Taehyung fusses so loudly into the phone that Jimin winces, having to temporarily pull the speaker away from his head.

“I—Well, I just—We’ve been on the phone and—”

Park Jimin! Park Jimin, you text that man back right now! Don’t you do this. Don’t you dare get all nervous and not even try when he clearly wants you guys to reconnect. Listen, Minie, I don’t know much but, if I know anything, it’s sex and, trust me, last night—The way he was looking at you—Min, Jeongguk wants to dick you down—Please. Please, promise me you won’t get cold feet? It’s Jeongguk we’re talking about here.”

“First of all, he does not want to dick me down, so don’t even put that delusional thought in my head you perverted—”

“He does but continue,” Taehyung interrupts.

Jimin rolls his eyes but does exactly that. “Plus, that’s just the thing; Tae, this is Jeongguk we’re talking about. This is—How do I just—What if we like, forget how we were comfortable around each other back then? What if we’re both too different now and we hang out and it’s awkward? Like, I don’t—I can’t—”

Taehyung makes a clicking sound with his tongue. “No. Don’t. Listen, I’m going to stop you while you’re ahead, okay? I saw you guys last night, Jimin. I know I only caught glimpses but, if anything, that should be an even bigger testament to the fact that you guys looked like you picked up where you left off. You immediately fell into step with each other. It was insane. Like, the chemistry was there—even I could see that. You guys didn’t lose anything but time, Minie, and you have it now, so use it.”

For once, Jimin actually follows the advice of his best friend.

The moment he is off the phone with Taehyung, he hovers over Jeongguk’s hidden message, breathes in deeply, and clicks on it.

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Good morning, Jimin-ah

Hopefully, you’re still sleeping

I just wanted to see what your plans were for today. We don’t have to meet up or anything if you don’t want to but

I want to see you again

Park Jimin

im not doing anything today

i’d love to make plans w you

you sure you want to see me again so soon though, jeongguk-ah?

lol you saw me just last night

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Jimin-shi, I could see you all day, every day and still not get enough of you

When I said I missed you, I meant it

Yes, I want to see you

Park Jimin

oh

okay…

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Sorry, I don’t mean to make you feel awkward

You can tell me to stop

I just

Yeah, nevermind. I’ll chill out lol

Park Jimin

no, no! it’s

it's good

i mean, it’s okay

i just didn’t expect it

honestly, i didn’t think you’d be so…

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

So what?

Clingy? I’m really trying not to be. I’m sorry

Park Jimin

no lol

not clingy

more like

intense

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Fuck

That’s worse, isn’t it?

Park Jimin

no i mean it in a good way

like

you’re very to the point

you’re not shy like you used to be, either

you just seem to know what you want now, i guess

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Yeah, I do know what I want

For some reason, when Jimin reads that text, a shiver racks down his spine and his breathing grows a little shallow. He can’t help but feel like Jeongguk is trying to say something without saying it, but he doesn’t know what it is. He is about to send another text when another comes through his phone.

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Would that restaurant that’s next to the laundry mat that we used to go to work? It sounded like you still stayed close by. I do too

Park Jimin

you remember that place?

that was so long ago

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

I remember everything when it comes to our friendship, Jimin-ah

That makes Jimin take a sharp inhale. He can’t even pretend to be annoyed that Jeongguk hasn’t used proper honorifics throughout their entire conversation because he is just so thrown off by his honesty, his boldness. He’s charismatic in a way Jimin doesn’t remember. He likes it, though.

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Can you be there for six?

Park Jimin

yeah, i’ll be there

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Good. I’ll see you tonight, then

Park Jimin

see you tonight

Standing out front of the intimate, tucked away restaurant a few blocks from his apartment makes Jimin feel a special variety of anxiety. He is nervous but also ecstatic. This is Jeongguk he is having dinner with. Jeongguk who used to be one of his best friends. Jeongguk who is confident and a well-acclaimed professor now (Jimin might have searched his name and saw all of the success he has had among other people in his field, and how beloved he is by all of his students, but that’s no one’s business. He was just curious). Jeongguk who, despite having been in love with Jimin when things ended so terribly, wants to have a relationship with him again—said outright that he was so eager to see him again that he wanted to meet up with Jimin not even twenty-four hours after their rekindling.

He finds himself practically buzzing with excitement as he stands outside of the restaurant, leaning against a brick wall as he waits on Jeongguk to arrive. He could have gone inside but he wants to walk in with Jeongguk. That feels more natural, less intimidating. So, he waits. The chill of the air is nipping at his nose and he keeps having to swipe his brown hair out of his face because it’s still too fluffy from when he washed it earlier. He put on some light makeup and tried to wear a cute outfit that still didn’t make it look like he was trying that hard, so he settled on tight jeans paired with heeled boots and a nice top. He put in dangly earrings and a nice perfume before calling it done. He likes it but, for some reason, as he stands here and shifts weight from one leg to another, he hopes Jengguk likes how he looks too. He furrows his brows at his own thought, confused by it—confused by the fluttering in his chest over the idea of the younger man arriving and giving him a compliment. It’s silly, he thinks, to be thinking about Jeongguk in this way. Foreign, different. Yet, not unwelcomed.

The loud roaring of an engine pulls him out of his train of thought and directs his focus to a pitch black motorcycle rounding the corner to the block he is on, slowing to a stop on the road in front of the restaurant. He watches as a man—tall and built, a helmet covering his head—turns the loud bike off and adjusts some things before throwing a leg around one side—pants pulling taut at his strong thighs with the movement—before he stands upright onto the sidewalk and lifts his gloved hands to pull the helmet from his head.

Jimin’s lips part around a soft gasp. He stares at the man a few feet from him.

“Jeongguk,” He says.

Placing the helmet over the bike, the man in question flashes him a dazzling smile, the lip ring he has on glistening under the lighting for the sign to the restaurant. The dark haze of the sky setting in the background clashes well with the tan shade of his unblemished skin and, as he tugs off his gloves, Jimin gets another peak at the tattoos on one of his hands. Jeongguk finishes getting his bike set up before sauntering over to the older man.

“Hey, Jimin,” He greets in a low tone and it’s not lost on Jimin the way that his dark eyes flicker from his face, down to scan the length of his lithe form, before coming back up again. It makes Jimin push off the wall to stand straighter, almost like he is trying to present himself, trying his best to look even better for the younger man—wanting to hear praise, wanting to hear that Jeongguk thinks he looks good. He doesn’t even realize he is doing it and it’s too late to think about it when Jeongguk stops in front of him and meets his gaze again, holding it as he says, “You look stunning.”

Jimin wants to scream.

Instead, he flushes a pretty, peachy shade and hopes Jeongguk can’t tell how breathless he is when he says back, “You too. You look…really good.”

It’s true, too. Jeongguk looks amazing; pants that compliment his body, stompers on for boots—the complete opposite of Jimin’s delicate Chelsea's—a tight-fitted black shirt with a leather jacket over top, his hair styled and jewelry on. He looks hot—Dangerously so. Hot in a way that has Jimin’s body heating in the same way it did the night before.

Jeongguk flashes him a grin. “Thanks. Were you waiting for me?”

The older man bites his bottom lip, nodding shyly. Jeongguk only laughs, stepping in the direction of the restaurant at the same time Jimin does and placing a big hand over the small of his back, making the skin underneath it rise in temperature. He uses the touch to guide the older man inside of the entrance.

“That was very sweet of you. Sorry I was late.”

“You weren’t—You’re perfectly on time. I was just early.”

“Still, you were waiting outside. Someone as pretty as you should never be kept waiting,” Jeongguk tells him effortlessly, stepping forward to speak to a worker that is perched behind the podium at the front of the restaurant before Jimin can retort with anything. The older man’s eyes are wide on the younger man as he easily speaks with the woman behind the counter, letting her know about their reservations. It’s a quaint place. Simple, quiet. It’s nice but inexpensive enough that Jimin and Jeongguk could afford to come here together at least once a month to eat a hot meal that wasn’t ramyeon while they were in college.

Jimin takes a look around as the woman brings them to a table near the back, and he is hit by a wave of nostalgia. He hasn’t come here since he and Jeongguk stopped being friends—couldn’t bring himself to. Now, he is stuck between elation and the feeling of wanting to cry. It looks exactly the same, smells the same. The food on people’s tables is the same and—when they slide into the two chairs at a small, square table—Jimin realizes that this is the same spot they used to sit at every time they came here. He smiles at Jeongguk from across the table, their feet bumping against one another. The younger man gives him a charming smile back and Jimin is breathless again. Something twinkles in Jeongguk’s eyes—happiness or excitement, Jimin doesn’t know, but it’s good, whatever it is.

He feels giddy as Jeongguk orders the same things they used to get when they came all those years ago. The nice woman dutifully writes them down and comes back with water for them to drink immediately, before promising their food will be out shortly and retreating.

“This is…not what I thought this would be like,” Jimin admits as he takes a sip of his drink. Jeongguk has an elbow on the table, his chin propped up in it, and is looking at him all the while.

“What do you mean?” He questions.

Jimin shrugs. “I don’t know. I thought this might be more awkward, or strange—being here with you when all this time has passed.”

“And it’s not? Awkward or strange, I mean,” Jeongguk presses, eyebrows raising as a playful smile works its way across his handsome face.

“No. Not at all. I’m…enjoying it,” Jimin reveals, making Jeongguk’s expression turn into a pleased one. The younger man hums. “Good. I’m having a nice time, too. I know it hasn’t even been a day since we saw each other but…I just really wanted to talk to you again.”

Jimin’s heart swells at the easy confession. “I wanted to talk to you too. I—There’s so much I want to know.”

“Like what?” Jeongguk looks at him as he brings the glass to his lips and takes a small sip, before setting it down again with a gentle thud. “You can ask anything. I’ll tell you.”

Taken aback by the permission—the possibilities—Jimin has to search his mind for something to settle on. “Hm. Okay. Can I really ask anything?”

Jeongguk nods like it’s the most simple thing he’s ever had to do.

“Why a bike?”

A snort leaves the younger man. Jimin grins, watching him lean over and laugh, before coming back up with stars gleaming in his eyes. “That’s what you want to know?”

“Yes! They’re so dangerous. Why get one?”

Jeongguk shrugs. “They’re cool.”

Jimin rolls his eyes. “Come on. That can’t really be your reason. That’s it? They’re cool?

“They are!” Jeongguk defends with a chuckle that makes the older man’s insides flutter—almost like there are butterflies in his stomach, but that hasn’t happened for years, and never with Jeongguk. “They’re cool and pretty safe with me on them. I’m a careful driver.”

“I’m sure you are,” Jimin says in a way that is entirely sarcastic. His raised eyebrow is telling Jeongguk that he isn’t convinced he is a safe driver and that, even if he is, the motorcycle is still dangerous.

Jeongguk tongues the inside of his cheek, giving Jimin an up and down that makes the older man squirm in his seat. Then, he says smoothly, “You should let me take you on a ride sometime. I’ll show you.”

“Absolutely not,” Jimin asserts even as excitement curls inside of him—not over the idea of being on a bike because he honestly couldn’t care less and does think they are dangerous, but over the thought of Jeongguk driving him around, Jimin’s arms wrapped tightly around his waist with Jeongguk mumbling to him to hold on tight. His cheeks color a warm shade.

“Did you walk here?” Jeongguk asks and, when Jimin nods, he continues, “Let me take you home. It’s a short trip, right? It won’t be that scary and I can convince you. Win-win.”

Jimin shakes his head vehemently, but the younger man is giving him this teasing, easy-going look that is so annoyingly charismatic that it makes Jimin want to fold instantly. After a staredown, with a heavy sigh, he relents. “Fine. One ride. That’s it.”

Jeongguk makes a dramatic show of fist bumping the air, bottom lip tucked between his teeth. Jimin laughs at him but, in the back of his mind, is stuck on how handsome he looks no matter what he is doing.

Soon, the woman is coming back with two servings of food for them and asking if they need anything else. Jeongguk lets her know they are okay, before thanking her as she walks away. They are quick to dig into the food and Jimin almost moans out loud at the taste. The food melts on his tongue like butter, good in all the same ways that he remembers.

“Wow,” Jeongguk says, reading his mind. His brows are furrowed and he’s frowning and Jimin can’t help but be endeared because it’s the same look he has always had when eating good food. “This is fucking incredible. I haven’t been here since we stopped coming together. I was kind of worried I wouldn’t like it anymore.”

Jimin looks at him. “You haven’t been here since then?”

Jeongguk holds his gaze. “No, I…It wasn’t the same, so I couldn’t really bring myself to come back.”

The older man looks at him for a moment before nodding slowly, focusing his attention back on the meal in front of him. In a quiet voice, he speaks again. “Yeah, me too. It didn’t feel right so I didn’t come again. This is the first time I’ve been. Taeyhyung tried to get me to come a few times over the years but I always refused.”

“Can I ask about that?” Jeongguk suddenly says, changing the subject. Jimin furrows his brows at him as he swallows a bite of food. The younger man is quick to clarify. “About you and Tae-hyung? You guys…stopped sleeping together? Like, back in college?”

“Right before we graduated, yeah,” Jimin reveals, a little confused about why Jeongguk is curious to know. Still, he feels the need to explain himself—to reassure Jeongguk. “We only started because everyone kept saying we should date and everyone was kind of doing it, you know? Blurring the lines between friends and more than friends, sleeping around. It was stress relief and we felt comfortable with each other, so you know…”

“You and I never did.”

“Did what?”

“Blur the lines between friends and more than friends,” Jeongguk says. When Jimin meets his gaze, his eyes are intense. It has the older man’s breathing catching in his throat. There is so much emotion in Jeongguk’s eyes, like questions are swirling there that he wants answered. He is looking at Jimin expectantly, something in his gaze—something like longing or desire or wanting. He wants, Jimin realizes. His body reacts to the acknowledgement by igniting—heating up and casting his insides ablaze. It’s crazy how a single look from Jeongguk is enough to make him burn hotter than the sun.

After a long pause, Jimin agrees. “No, we never did.”

The silence lingers. The air between them is thick; tension-filled and charged. All at once, desire swells inside of the older man like never before. It hits him like a splash of cold water to the face first thing in the morning, like drinking hot coffee before it has time to cool off.

He wants Jeongguk. He wants Jeongguk to keep looking at him like that. He wants Jeongguk to want him. He wants Jeongguk to blur the lines between friends and more than friends. He wants him to reach across this table and pull him into a searing kiss. He wants so much that it feels like all the air leaves his lungs at once, his chest pulling tight with pure, honest desire.

Jeongguk’s eyes darken, flickering down to Jimin’s lips before shooting back up again. Jimin’s stomach does flips because that looks an awful lot like Jeongguk was just thinking about the same thing as him.

The silence is finally broken when Jeongguk says in a low tone, “Why is that?”

“What?” Jimin asks, distracted.

“Why did we never…” Jeongguk runs a tongue along his bottom lip, toying with the silver ring on one side. Afterwards, he finishes by saying, “...blur the lines?”

Jimin’s breathing is shallow now. His body is burning up so much that, if he didn’t know any better, he might think he has a fever. “I don’t know. We were always just friends. You were kind of like a younger brother in my eyes back then.”

Jeongguk looks him up and down again and Jimin feels ready to fall apart under his stare. He looks at the older man like he wants to swallow him whole—like he wants to devour him. “Am I still?”

“Are you still what?”

“Like a younger brother in your eyes.”

Jimin doesn’t even have to think about it. It’s obvious that Jeongguk is not the same as he was in college. Back then, it was like the older man had to look out for him—protect him, dote on him, scold him, teach him. Now? Here? Jeongguk is different. He’s lightyears ahead of where Jeongguk ten years ago was. He’s clever and bold and brilliant and Jimin feels entirely new things towards him than he did prior.

“No.”

The younger man raises a dark brow at that. “No?”

“No.”

It feels like that statement finalizes something. Jimin can see the way Jeongguk’s chin tilts up, the way his eyes darken. Something in the air has shifted. Before, it felt like they were bordering on the precipice of okay and not okay.Now, it feels like Jimin has just jumped into the deep end of a pool and he can’t swim and he’s complacent in that as long as it means he can drown in Jeongguk’s onyx eyes instead.

This air feels dangerous.

He likes it—likes the way they both spend the rest of the dinner talking softly about their lives now, even as the tension grows. They both ignore each other’s wanting stares when Jeongguk tells Jimin about how he has been working on final’s assignments for his students since the end of term is coming up soon. That makes Jimin ask if Jeongguk is going to be off for a while for summer, but the younger man tells him quickly that he will still hold courses over the break, so he’ll be working as he usually does. After that, they both pretend Jeongguk isn’t brushing his fingers against Jimin’s on the table as Jimin conveys how much he adores teaching dance. Jimin tells Jeongguk about how he does contemporary and ballet, and Jeongguk watches tentatively as Jimin shares videos of him dancing in his studio before classes, practicing choreography. His moves are graceful, his performance stunning and Jeongguk watches every second of it like he has never seen anything more beautiful. Afterwards, he tells Jimin that he’s never seen a prettier ballerina and Jimin ducks his face when he flushes pink.

Soon, their time in the restaurant is over. Jeongguk pays, even when Jimin insists over and over that he is the older one and should be the one to treat Jeongguk. The younger man laughs at that, flashes him a charming smile, and insists, “I invited you out, hyung. I’m paying.”

Begrudgingly, Jimin accepts and is quickly distracted from his annoyance by Jeongguk putting a hand back on the small of his back and walking them out and back onto the sidewalk. Jimin remembers agreeing to ride on Jeongguk’s motorcycle when the younger man leads them both over to it.

“Are you still willing to let me give you a ride home?” Jeongguk asks, eyes on the older man as he considers him.

Jimin pulls his bottom lip between his teeth. He eyes the massive, black vehicle. It’s even bigger up-close—more intimidating. “Do you even have a helmet for me?”

Jeongguk grins, leaning over and unclasping a matching, spare helmet from where it was stashed away on the other side of the bike. Jimin narrows his eyes at him and Jeongguk laughs at him, already stepping closer and lifting it to put on his head. “Look, I didn’t plan this, I swear. I always keep it on here.”

“I didn’t say anything,” Jimin argues, remaining still as the younger man carefully places the helmet over his head. He purses his lips to suppress a gasp when he feels Jeongguk’s slender fingers brush along his skin as he adjusts and clasps the strap together around the underside of his chin, securing it to his head.

“You didn’t have to. I know that look.”

“I have a look?”

“You have tons of looks. That one a minute ago was one where you think I’m plotting something. Seen it a million times.”

Jimin watches through the glass, hands held together in front of himself, as Jeongguk sways his hair to the side and puts his own helmet on in seconds. His movements are familiar and easy and, for some reason, way too hot. Then again, Jimin thinks that might just be because it’s Jeongguk and—apparently—everything he does is attractive.

He must be quiet for too long because, as Jeongguk throws a leg over one side of the motorcycle, leaning down, he glances over at him. His eyes glint in a way that tells Jimin he is giving him a mischievous smile. “And that look…I don’t know. It’s…”

“It’s what?” Jimin asks, curious to know what he is going to say, but Jeongguk just shakes his head. “Nothing. I’ve just never seen it before. Come here. Get on. I’ll help you get adjusted after.”

Confused by his words, the older man distractedly tosses a leg over the bike, though it goes less smoothly than when the younger man did it. He stumbles a little and braces himself by subconsciously reaching out and wrapping his arms around Jeongguk’s lithe waist, feeling the tightness of his muscles even through his jacket and shirt.

“Sorry,” He squeaks out, blushing and going to remove his arms, but Jeongguk grabs onto his hands, pressing them down and holding him in place.

“No. Keep them there,” He tells him, a little muffled as he starts the engine and it roars to life. Jimin’s breathing catches, adrenaline bursting through him at the sound. He sits up a little more, listening to Jeongguk when he directs him on where to put his feet.

Then, Jeongguk turns back and asks, “Where am I going?”

Jimin blinks. “Oh. Yeah, um, I live in the apartments beside that library we used to go to. Do you remember it? Where Taehyung cried while he was studying for his physics exam? It’s right next door.”

A huff of laughter leaves Jeongguk. “No shit.”

“What?”

“I live, like, five minutes down the road.”

Jimin’s eyes go fantastically wide. “No shit.”

That makes Jeongguk laugh loudly. He adjusts a few things on the bike before turning back to the older man and getting close enough to say, “Hang on tight, okay? Don’t let go of me.”

“I’ll be okay.”

“You will. I told you I’m a good driver but you’re precious cargo, so I have to say it anyway,” Jeongguk tells him smoothly, not giving Jimin a chance to respond before he is moving them, the motorcycle starting off down the road.

It doesn’t move fast—at least, not at first. Jeongguk is careful with him and gives him time to ease into the sensation of being on a bike for the first time. However, the second he feels Jimin relax against him as he takes in the sights around them and gets used to the feeling of moving, he speeds up. He doesn’t go too fast, but he gets up to speed and makes quicker turns around corners. He’s safe the entire time, though and Jimin can tell he normally doesn’t drive like this. His chest tightens because Jeongguk really is treating him like something important.

Before Jimin knows it, he is comfortable on the back of the bike. His butt is perched carefully onto the seat and he is pressed right against Jeongguk, hugging him tightly the entire way. He’s a little upset that he has the helmet on because, without it, he could lean down and put his face on his shoulder. He could breathe in that pleasant cologne that Jeongguk always smells of. He blushes at his own thoughts, lips pursing as he watches the younger man drive through the night, air pushing his leather jacket at times. His hands are tightly gripping the handles and his movement precise as he guides them past surrounding cars and through intersections. Jimin realizes that he likes this—being on the back of Jeongguk’s motorcycle. He feels safe and is smiling at every rev of the engine that Jeongguk makes, certain the younger man starts doing it more after he feels Jimin laughing against his back.

Sooner than Jimin would like, he finds that Jeongguk is slowing down and soon, cutting the engine of the bike as they pull up in front of his apartment building. It’s a cozy place, sitting between two other buildings on a quiet stretch of streets in Seoul. Still, he isn’t happy to see it as he takes the helmet off and gets off the bike as carefully as possible, Jeongguk doing the same in quick succession.

“Why did you keep revving the engine?” Jimin asks to distract himself from having to leave, turning to look at Jeongguk as the younger man leans both hands back on the motorcycle, smiling at him. His hair is tousled from being under the helmet and there is a flush on his cheeks and he’s so handsome under the streetlamps that Jimin—Jimin wants to kiss him.

“Because it kept making you laugh,” Jeongguk tells him.

“It made me laugh because I could feel the engine vibrating the seat more every time you did it,” Jimin explains, giggling and nearly toppling over with his laughter when Jeongguk grins and joins him. Luckily, the younger man senses him leaning too far and reaches out, hands going to Jimin’s waist as he tugs him closer until the older man is pulled taut to him, chests pressed together.

The quick move sobers Jimin enough to swallow his giggles and make him put his hands over Jeongguk’s chest. He tries hard not to think about how hard his pectorals feel beneath his shirt. Jeongguk shakes his head at him, looking down as he bites at his bottom lip. There is a fond look in his dark eyes when he says, “You still do that.”

“Do what?” Jimin asks, low and breathy because he can feel the warmth of Jeongguk’s body like this—smell that fantastic, musky perfume he has on.

“Lean when you’re laughing,” Jeongguk mumbles. His eyes shoot down to Jimin’s lips before coming back up again. Jimin’s heart stutters. “It’s so fucking cute. I love when you do that. I’m happy it hasn’t changed.”

Jimin’s eyelashes flutter, threatening to close when Jeongguk’s nose tips down and brushes against his. They’re so close. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Jeongguk agrees, voice pitched an octave down. It makes heat lick up Jimin’s spine, spreading through his body like it’s pulsing in every vein. He’s never heard Jeongguk speak like that before.

Their noses bump again and Jimin bites back a gasp, desire coursing through him unlike anything he has ever felt before. He knows that this is Jeongguk—that it means he shouldn’t do this, shouldn’t want this, but it doesn’t change the fact that he still does. It doesn’t change the fact that this being Jeongguk sort of makes everything that much better because this is Jeongguk. Jimin knows him. Even if things have changed with their careers and in their personal lives and even if he carries himself with higher regard now—Jimin still feels like he knows him, deep down. This is the same sweet, caring boy from all those years ago. Without the tattoos and the bike and the charisma, this is still his Jeonguk—his Jeongguk that Jimin wants to kiss.

“Jimin,” Jeongguk says, head tilting to the side as he brings one hand up from the older man’s waist and uses it to gently cup his face. Jimin leans into the touch, finally allowing his eyes to slip shut.

“Jeongguk.”

He feels the younger man move closer, feels hot breathing right against his cheek, then his lips. “Jimin, if you don’t want this, tell me to stop right now. Push me away.”

Jimin doesn’t move an inch. He doesn’t tell Jeongguk to stop because he doesn’t want to. He wants this. He wants Jeongguk. He doesn’t care that people are still walking by every so often or that the cars passing them shine their headlights right in their direction, doesn’t care that he probably shouldn’t do this, doesn’t care that they’ve only seen each other twice in the last decade. He wants this, so he stays perfectly still—waiting.

The next thing Jimin feels is soft lips pressed against his.

He melts under the touch, pouting his lips to slot perfectly back against the ones on him. The kiss is softer than he expects and, yet, so much better than anything he could have imagined. Jeongguk’s lips are smooth and plump and mold themselves wonderfully against Jimin’s own. The older man tightens the hold he has on the fabric of Jeongguk’s shirt and pulls back a hair’s breadth, only to dive back in for another, more passionate kiss. Seeming to finally grasp that Jimin is kissing him back, Jeongguk sighs softly against the older man’s mouth, using his hold on the side of Jimin's face to tilt his head back a little as he turns his head more to the side, lips sliding against Jimin’s as he deepens the kiss.

It’s not bruising nor breviloquent—it’s slow and immersive, the way Jeongguk kisses him. He doesn’t kiss like he is in a rush to get Jimin upstairs and onto a bed, but like he has been waiting for this his entire life and he plans on savoring every moment of it—like he wants to kiss Jimin so profoundly, so intensely that he will remember the sensation of Jeongguk’s lips against his with every passing breath for the remainder of his days.

Jeongguk kisses with devotion. He kisses like he is desperate to map out the shape of Jimin’s lips with his alone. The younger man suddenly pulls the hand that was on Jimin’s waist up to cup the other side of his face, tangling into his hair. Using the hold, he pulls the older man’s head to the opposite side, flipping their positions and kissing him harder, deeper—nearly frantic in the way he cards his fingers through Jimin’s soft, brown locks and parts his lips to swipe his tongue fast one time over the older man’s lips.

Heat courses through Jimin. He obediently parts his mouth and allows in Jeongguk’s eager tongue, which makes smooth work of exploring his mouth. Jeongguk searches him like he is looking for something and—when the younger man’s tongue brushes against Jimin’s before pushing against it again in purposeful, wet motions—Jimin whines into his mouth and Jeongguk is retreating because he is grinning. Their eyes remain closed and they spend a beat catching their breaths before Jeongguk is on him again.

Jeongguk tastes like the food and drink they had earlier, mixed with something minty and warm. It’s good, whatever it is, and Jimin is so caught up in the way they fit together that a shocked gasp tumbles from his mouth when cold metal brushes against the side of his mouth. He realizes it’s Jeongguk’s lip ring and pokes his own tongue out to run over it, which makes Jeongguk sigh again.

He pulls one hand from Jimin’s face and brings it down to where Jimin’s hands are balled into fists between them, gently grabbing at his wrist and tugging him up, encouraging him to wrap his arms around Jeongguk’s neck instead. Elated at the permission, Jimin does exactly that; throwing his arms over the back of Jeongguk’s head and letting one hand wander up and tangle into the hair at the nape of his neck. The feeling of Jimin’s blunt nails scraping against his scalp makes Jeongguk groan directly into Jimin’s mouth. It’s Jimin’s turn to smile ino the kiss.

They quickly get the hang of kissing each other. Jimin is malleable and responsive and Jeongguk leads him in a way that pulls small, embarrassing noises from him—one after the other. For some reason, Jeongguk seems to love that—seems to love the way that, every time he nips playfully at Jimin’s lips, the older man moans softly. The tone is nearly inaudible but loud enough that it’s dirty and hot and hits Jeongguk’s ears enough to make him smirk. He seems to love the way that him tugging Jimin further in and forcing him to angle his head up even more makes Jimin’s breathing catch and his pants grow louder, because the sensation of being moved around—of being manhandled—by Jeongguk is so ridiculously hot. Jeongguk especially seems to love the way that—when he slots a thick leg between Jimin’s own and makes him part them, pressing both of them together in entirely new ways—Jimin outright whines into his mouth.

The sound of a car loudly going by, its tires ripe against asphalt, seems to sober both of them up.

Jeongguk breaks off their intense kiss, brushing his nose against Jimin’s. Feeling dizzy, the older man does the motion back and they both breath hard against one another. After some time, Jeongguk gently runs his thumb along Jimin’s face. His voice is deep and affected when he says, “Jimin.”

The older man can only hum, still nearly panting as he works to blink his eyes open. Once he does, he finds that the younger man is already looking down at him, a dazed smile on his face. Jimin nearly starts whining again because Jeongguk is gorgeous like this; lips red and wet, his hair mussed, pupils blown so wide with desire that his irises are nearly gone, his handsome face flushed. Jimin is certain he looks the same and is almost as certain that Jeongguk is having the same thoughts as him when the younger man carefully scans every inch of his skin, seeming to drink him in—trying to commit every second of this to memory. Jimin’s eyes dart down to his lips because he wants to kiss him again—badly.

Jeongguk seems to read his mind. The younger man flashes him a smile and huffs a breathless laugh, eyes darting down to Jimin’s lips. “We shouldn’t.”

“Why not?” Jimin retorts, heartbeat rising as he grows a little weary that Jeongguk doesn’t want to kiss again—that he regrets doing it in the first place. “You…don’t want to?”

The sound that leaves Jeongguk is an exasperated, pained one. His eyes go a little wide. “No! No, I definitely, definitely want to. Don’t get the wrong idea. I just—This is—Are we doing this too fast?”

Jimin cards his hands through Jeongguk’s hair again, grateful for his arms still being wound behind the younger man’s head. Jeongguk’s eyelids flutter at the sensation and Jimin thinks he looks so attractive like this; affected and sincere.

“Do you think we’re doing this too fast?” He asks.

Jeongguk runs a tongue over his lips, toying with his lip ring in a way that captures Jimin’s attention and makes him want to lean in and run his own tongue over the metal bar. The younger man shakes his head. “No.”

“Then neither do I.”

“So, then…” Jeongguk starts saying, eyes gleaming with excitement and something darker—almost primal in nature.

Excitement courses through the older man, who uses Jeongguk’s thigh that is still pressed between his legs to rut forward a little bit, grinding right against the clothed muscle in one bold motion. He lowers his lids and pitches his voice down in a way he has been told is sultry, before repeating, “So, then…?”

Jeongguk dips forward, biting hard on his bottom lip and scanning over Jimin’s face, looking like he would like nothing more than to ravage the older man here and now. Instead, the younger man pulls Jimin as close as he can—which isn’t by much considering how ridiculously flush they already are—before he asks in a low, suggestive voice, “Do you want to show me your apartment, hyung? I’d love a tour.”

They both understand the suggestiveness behind the words. Heat licks up Jimin’s spine. Adrenaline pumps inside of him. He hasn’t felt this way in so long and it’s happening with Jeongguk, of all people.

Jimin releases his hold around the younger man’s neck, lowering his hands until they find Jeongguk. He messily interlaces them, giving the younger man a playful smile as he begins to walk backwards. “I would love to give you a tour.”

The tension in the apartment is thick. Jimin and Jeongguk managed to keep their hands off of one another the entire elevator ride up and—Jimin’s eyes dart up to the clock above a bookshelf in the nearby living room—for the last ten minutes. Jeongguk is on one side of the kitchen, tattooed arms pulled back and taut, hands gripping the edge of the counter behind him. His eyes have hardly left Jimin’s this entire time and the older man feels it as he leans his weight to one side, arms crossed as he lets his hip hit the counter on the other end of the kitchen from Jeongguk.

Once they came upstairs, Jeongguk complimented the interior decorating and Jimin smiled, pointing out his favorite parts like the framed photos of him and Taehyung, his family, and a couple of him with different dance students. He excitedly draws Jeongguk’s attention to the rug in the living room and explains the fantastic deal he got on it at an event he went to a few years back. At some point, Jeongguk asks him more questions that are casual and on the subject of general life and they end up how they are now; undressing each other with their eyes from opposite sides of the kitchen.

“Is the school okay with you having tattoos and piercings?” Jimin asks, genuinely curious but also using the subject to find a way to distract both him and Jeongguk from the primal tension between them. His stomach is bubbling with excitement and nerves and he can’t just go for it like he wants to, because this is Jeongguk and it’s been a while since he’s hooked up and he just—He wants everything to go well.

The younger man plays along, shrugging. “Not really but they don’t tell me anything. They reprimanded me once in my first few weeks there but, after my reputation was established and they realized how valuable my lectures were for students, they kind of stopped saying anything.”

Jimin can’t fight off the smile that forms. “You felt really cocky when that happened, didn’t you?”

Jeongguk places a hand over his heart and makes a dramatic face as if he’s been hit. “Ugh, you wound me, Jimin-shi. Do you think I’m that vain?”

The older man’s smile widens as he lifts one, unimpressed eyebrow.

The younger man crumbles instantly. With a sigh, he releases the hold across his front and reveals, “Yeah, I felt pretty good about it, okay? It’s nice knowing that I’m helping make a change, even if it’s small. Showing people that tattoos and piercings don’t necessarily mean scary or bad—that it’s all art and I just style myself differently. It’s nice finally having people see past all of that and see, you know—me.

Jimin nods because he understands. “It’s not the same but I kind of feel that way about dancing. People make judgments about others when they meet and I like dispelling those things. I don’t know how to explain it but…it’s like people assume I’m one way and then, when I’m dancing, I can show them who I really am—or, at least, a deeper side of myself. No smokescreen, no misunderstandings. Just me and my expression, you know?”

The smile that works its way onto Jeongguk’s face is nothing short of fond. His eyes seem to glimmer as though stars reside in them. His attention is entirely on Jimin and the older man squirms under the attention, cheeks coloring a dusty, light pink.

“What?” Jimin asks with an awkward laugh because Jeongguk is still just looking at him like that. When the question leaves his mouth, the younger man bites back the grin, though it does nothing to shield it. He shakes his head, kicking his foot against the hardwood floor, mumbling in a light tone, “Nothing.”

Another laugh, less tense this time because Jeongguk seems almost bashful. “No, come on. What is it? It sounded stupid, didn’t it?”

“No,” Jeongguk insists, eyebrows raising to emphasize his point. The look on Jimin’s face must give away that he isn’t going to drop it because the younger man looks at him a moment longer before sighing, relenting. “I just—It almost feels like it isn’t real.”

“Like what isn’t real?”

“This,” Jeongguk says, shrugging with a smile still etched onto his features. “You. I just—You really don’t know how much I wanted this. To talk to you again. To see your face. To watch you smile like that.”

Jimin’s eyes widen, all the air leaving his lungs as he tries to wrap his head around what the younger man is saying. He’s sure his cheeks are a blazing crimson by now. Jeongguk pushes himself off the counter and slowly crosses the threshold of the kitchen to the older man. Jimin stands perfectly still, waiting in anticipation as Jeongguk stops a foot from him and leans down, inadvertently making Jimin turn as he plants both hands on the counter—one of either side of the older man’s body—effectively caging him in. He isn’t holding Jimin there and the older man knows that, if he wanted to, Jeongguk would let him walk away, despite being bigger and fully capable of maintaining this position. However, the older man finds that he doesn’t want to move—far from it, actually. No, instead, Jimin tugs his bottom lip between his teeth and puts his hands behind his back so they are between the counter and himself. He looks up at Jeongguk with his eyes wide and wanting.

The look Jeongguk gives him back tells Jimin the younger man wants nothing more than to close the distance between them. He resists, his voice pitching down. “Did you miss it?”

“Miss what?” Jimin asks to clarify.

“Us.”

The older man doesn’t even have to consider it. “Every day.”

Jimin notes the way Jeongguk’s eyes squint and how his hands squeeze once on the counter top. “What do you miss about it?”

“Just you,” Jimin admits, shocking himself with how easily the words tumble out, like he has been waiting to confess this to Jeongguk for years. “Talking with you, laughing with you. I miss your company, your jokes, and your smile…”

The last few words are a new whisper, the older man bashfully looking away as he utters them. Jeongguk’s eyes follow him closely. Despite the embarrassment, Jimin finds the courage to continue. The younger man has been open this entire time, so he should be too.

“I miss it all, Jeongguk. I miss being close with you and us knowing everything about each other. I think sometimes about the nights in school where one of us would be upset—usually you after you failed an exam—”

They both huff a light laugh at the memory.

“—and we would go stay with each other. We would talk about whatever was bothering us and fall asleep together, and everything would feel better when we got up the next morning. I miss that,” Jimin finishes with a nostalgic smile, finally meeting the younger man’s gaze. “I miss eating together and binging shows on the weekends. I miss—I don’t know. I just…miss it all.”

There’s a beat.

Then, Jeongguk says in a soft voice, “I miss it too. I miss you.”

Jimin turns to look at him, his lips parting around a soft sigh. Dark eyes are focused on him and he swears Jeongguk is closer than he was before. Jimin can feel his body heat from here—can see the swirls of honesty and desire and want in his eyes.

Jeongguk pokes his tongue out, running it over his bottom lip and playing with his lip ring. It seems like a habit and, quite similarly, it seems Jimin has made a habit of watching every second of the movement when he does it.

“Keep looking at me like that,” Jeongguk tells him, making Jimin’s gaze shoot up to him, eyebrows knitting together.

“Like what?”

Jeongguk dips down. Their noses brush against one another. Jimin’s eyes slip shut. Jeongguk’s next words are whispered right against his mouth, the older man able to feel his hot breath right against him.

“Like you want me back.”

The next thing that registers to Jimin’s mind is the soft sensation of Jeongguk’s lips back on his. The kiss is rougher than the other one began, but Jimin is definitely not complaining as he presses back against Jeongguk and makes fast work of moving his lips together against the younger man’s. Jeongguk is receptive instantly, his head tilting to the side, mouth working against Jimin’s as he snakes a hand up from the counter and slowly ghosts it up the older man’s arm—bare now from where Jimin and Jeongguk shucked their jackets off by the front door upon walking in earlier—before letting it wind into the hair on the back of his head. Jeongguk tightens the hold, gripping the brown locks and using the leverage to angle Jimin how he wants, moving the older man in time with him. Jimin’s lips part as a whimper leaves him. He loves being kissed this way; being led, being treated like the most important thing in the room. Jeongguk kisses him like he loves him, despite this only being the second time they have seen each other in the last decade—despite it being a decade since the statement was true—but still, the thought sends Jimin reeling.

Jeongguk pulls back with a wet trail of saliva, panting. “God, I could fucking kiss you forever.”

”Then why’d you stop?” Jimin whines, fighting against the younger man’s hold on his hair to press forward and reconnect their lips. With a smile right against the older man’s mouth, Jeongguk lets him.

Jimin hums into the kiss, basking in the dizzyingly hot sensation of Jeongguk making him part his lips using his own, before slipping his tongue back in the older man’s mouth. Jeongguk tilts his head again and everything suddenly grows messy and desperate. Jimin can feel arousal coursing hot inside of himself like a match being lit. He wants this with Jeongguk—whatever this is, whatever it has the potential to be. He wants it more than he can recall ever wanting something before, and Jeongguk makes it feel so easy to have.

Lifting the hand that’s not gripped tightly in Jimin’s hair, Jeongguk reaches down and grabs Jimin’s hip, using the hold to press the older man flush against the counter and keep him there. The way Jimin moans open-mouthed and breathy in response is nothing short of lewd. His fingers twitch from where they are still caught between his back and the counter. He has wanted to touch Jeongguk this entire time and he can’t resist anymore, so Jimin brings his arms up and around and throws his hands up to clasp on the back of Jeongguk’s neck, tugging the younger man even further down to make out with him.

The movement elicits a groan from Jeongguk, who steps forward to close the minuscule gap between them. It brings their bodies flush together. Jimin whimpers as Jeongguk sighs, the younger man pulling back from the kiss only to tug Jimin’s bottom lip between his teeth and gently tug and suck on it. Horny and unthinking, Jimin grinds forward and effectively rubs his clothed hard-on right against the younger man’s, making both of them moan softly. The deep, low noises Jeongguk is making as Jimin continues rutting against him is only serving to turn the older man on more. In all his thirty-two years of life, he is certain he has never been this aroused before.

Jeongguk breaks the kiss off, only to breath hot and heavy against Jimin’s mouth and ask in the lowest pitch the older man has ever heard from him, “What do you want?”

”What?” Jimin asks, pouting and trying to lean in so he can kiss Jeongguk again. He isn’t thinking about anything except those soft, skillful lips and about how they feel so good against him.

Chuckling, Jeongguk holds him back with the firm—but not painful—grip on the base of Jimin’s roots. “What do you want, Jimin-ah? Do you just want to keep kissing? Or, did you want something else?”

Blinking his eyes open, Jimin tries desperately to focus on the tan, poreless skin in front of him. As his vision settles, he peers up into Jeongguk’s onyx eyes—the ones that are still gazing at him with intent. He bites down on his lip to suppress an embarrassing sound from escaping. His own behavior would, in any other case, be humiliating. He can’t help the way he reacts to Jeongguk. Jimin, being greedy, grinds forward again to press his crotch against Jeongguk’s and tries desperately hard not to think about how the sheer outline of the younger man’s bulge is double Jimin’s size—and Jimin is average. “Want—Want whatever you want, Jeongguk-ah.”

The younger man raises a dark brow, jaw working as he allows Jimin to continue moving filthily against him. “Whatever I want?”

Jimin nods, eager.

Jeongguk gives him a once over before he presses hard against Jimin’s crotch this time—the first time he has initiated the movement. The older man whimpers and takes in the way Jeongguk’s eyes seem to darken. “You sure about that, Jimin? How do you know we want the same thing?”

“I trust you,” Jimin pouts, expression firm as their hips collide again. He bites back another noise. “I know you’ll make both of us feel good, Jeongguk. So, just do whatever you—”

Lips press against the older man’s mouth, effectively shutting him up. It’s such a sudden movement that it stuns Jimin but, within seconds, he is catching up, chasing Jeongguk’s passionate lips and meeting him back in the firm kiss. When the younger man pulls back, he is panting against Jimin’s mouth and looking down at him with so much unexpressed emotion.

“You haven’t seen me in a decade and you say you trust me?” Jeongguk asks, sounding both awed and confused.

Jimin’s brows furrow. “Don’t you trust me? You’re still Jeongguk. Why would I not—?”

Another surprise kiss is placed firmly on the older man’s lips. This time, Jimin laughs breathlessly against the younger man’s mouth and feels the moment Jeongguk’s lips curl up into a smile.

“I trust you too, hyung.”

Oh, so now you suddenly remember your manners—”

Jeongguk chuckles, dipping down and gripping Jimin by the back of the thighs. The older man is shocked into a gasp when he is suddenly lifted from the ground and placed on the counter top—one of Jeongguk’s hands going to the small of his back to steady him, the other splayed out on the top of one of his thick thighs. Jimin’s eyes are wide, mouth parted in shock as he stares down at the younger man. With fondness in his expression, Jeongguk grins and brushes their noses together. “Shut up. You like it.”

“I’ll never admit to liking something like that,” Jimin mumbles, trying to nudge closer to get Jeongguk to kiss him. The younger man teases him though, pulling back every time just far enough so that their lips can’t collide.

“Not admitting something doesn’t make it any less true,” Jeongguk says wisely, evading Jimin’s lips again and dipping down to go for his jaw instead. He kisses softly along the skin there, slowly working his way down to the older man’s neck. Jimin tosses his head back to give him more room, breath catching in his throat when Jeongguk’s moves over and plants wet, sloppy kisses right on the sensitive spot under his ear.

“Can I leave marks on you, hyung?” The younger man suddenly asks, voice sounding strained as though he is barely containing himself.

Jimin knows he should say no. He’ll have to put color corrector and concealer over the marks until they fade so as to avoid getting in trouble with any of his students’ parents and yet, in the moment, having bruises and nips along his smooth skin to remind him for days of Jeongguk’s presence there sounds fantastic.

“Only if I can leave some on you too.”

Jeongguk groans, already working on sucking a small hickey down the column of Jimin’s throat. “God—Fuck yes, you can.”

Jimin hums, smiling happily to himself as the younger man continues ravaging his neck. He leaves bruises and marks one after another, biting and licking at Jimin’s throat. The older man feels a sigh tumble past his lips as attention is given to his neck, Jeongguk littering kisses all around the sensitive spots on his body.

“You’re so pretty, hyung,” Jeongguk tells him.

Jimin’s face gets hot. “Jeongguk, don’t tease me…”

“I’m not teasing,” The younger man insists, tugging the neckline of Jimin’s shirt to the side so he can nip and suck along his collarbones and the junction between his neck and shoulders. “Always thought you were so pretty. You were pretty back then but it’s like—God, it’s like you only got more gorgeous as time went on.”

“You’re hotter now, too,” Jimin confesses, since Jeongguk feels like being so honest right now and Jimin’s mind is foggy with lust so why not also admit what he’s been feeling?

“Yeah?” Jeongguk asks, breathing hotly against the older man’s skin. Suddenly, hands are tugging at the bottom of Jimin’s shirt and the older man easily scoots and raises his arms, allowing Jeongguk to pull the top off of him and toss it onto the floor nearby. Once it’s off, the younger man’s eyes darken, his gaze flickering all over Jimin’s exposed skin.

Jimin flushes under the attention but allows it, especially when Jeongguk’s hands are back on him, tentatively brushing along his right rib with one while the other grabs his waist. Jeongguk’s hands are big and warm and he has his mouth back on Jimin’s immediately, kissing along his chest.

“You got a few tattoos,” Jeongguk points out and it’s only then that Jimin understands that it’s the tattoo on Jimin’s side that he’s been touching.

“Mhm. Not as many as you.”

“It’s hot.”

Jimin’s lips twitch up at that, his voice a little breathless when Jeongguk licks over one of his nipples. “I have—There’s moon phasing on my back.”

Jeongguk hums, sucking the opposite nipple into his mouth and teasing the other one by pinching it between his fingers. The older man moans softly, eyes fluttering but pleading with him to stay open so he can keep looking at Jeongguk. The younger man pulls off after sufficient teasing and says, “Get down.”

“Huh?” Jimin questions, confused as he listens anyway. He is helped by Jeongguk as he hops off the counter, before immediately having his hips gripped by the younger man, who turns him around. Jimin’s hips hit the counter and all he can see is tile and wood suddenly. He makes an unhappy noise and Jeongguk shushes him, letting a hand come up to touch lightly at his neck, working its way down the spine of his back.

“Wanted to see the tattoo,” Jeongguk explains, dipping down and pressing kisses to the older man’s shoulder and the back of his neck. “So fucking pretty, Jimin.”

Jimin sighs happily, letting his eyes slip closed as he takes in the feeling of Jeongguk’s hands on him. It’s pleasant and warm and so familiar, yet so new. Jeongguk has touched his back before, sure, but never like this. He’s kissed places on Jimin’s body, but never with intent. It feels good being touched by Jeongguk this way—something Jimin never thought he would be thinking.

Jeongguk’s kisses trail down at the same rate his hands do and, soon, slender fingers are dipping into the hem of Jimin’s pants and underwear, tugging suggestively. Jeongguk comes up and puts his lips right by Jimin’s ear, making the older man keen.

“Can I take these off?”

Jimin pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, thinking for a second. Then, he nods.

Jeongguk starts working both of the bottoms off at the same time, clearly tired of Jimin having clothes on. It’s eager but graceful, the way Jeongguk slowly lets them slip down before he’s kneeling down and helping Jimin lift one foot after the other to get them down completely. Jimin flushes something vibrant, realizing how close Jeongguk is to his ass.

Eyes still closed, Jimin pants out, “What are you going to do?”

Somewhere behind him, he hears the clothes being tossed aside. Then, Jeongguk speaks, voice lower than Jimin expects. “I want to taste you. Is that okay?”

Jimin gasps, eyes falling wide open. Jeongguk’s voice isn’t only low pitch-wise—it’s literally low. Jimin thinks he can’t mean what he thinks he means, and then he feels two big, firm hands coming up to cup his ass, and his suspicions are confirmed. Jeon Jeongguk, a man he has only seen two times in the past decade who he was once best friends with, is in his apartment, on his knees, about to eat him out.

The thought sends Jimin’s head spinning, body set ablaze. “J-Jeongguk…”

Soft lips press to the side of one of his cheeks, pulling a hum from Jimin when Jeongguk wetly kisses the skin there. His hands squeeze around Jimin’s ass. “Let me, Jimin. I know you taste good. Want it in my mouth.”

“Oh my god,” Jimin says shakily, not believing his ears. Jeongguk places more wet, sloppy kisses around his ass, hands continuing to knead the plumpness of Jimin’s cheeks as he goes. Jimin takes a deep breath, realizing how serious he is. Then, he dips his head and pushes his hips out, urging Jeongguk closer. “Y-Yeah, okay. You can.”

Jeongguk practically growls, immediately shifting his hands and spreading Jimin on either side with his thumbs. The older man puts a hand over his own mouth, aware of how exposed this makes him. He doesn’t have too much time to panic though because, in seconds, a hot tongue is licking a stripe over his hole.

Jimin squeals, his free hand gripping the counter. Jeongguk keeps liking firmly over his entrance, working his tongue in circles and sucking deep breaths in before diving for more like he can’t get enough. Jimin’s legs shake when the tip of Jeongguk’s tongue prods at his entrance, as though testing the waters.

“Please,” Is all Jimin has the nerve to say, still muffled by his own hand.

Jeongguk takes that permission as the only thing in the world he needs. Without reservations, he begins prodding his tongue into Jimin’s hole. Jimin clenches, feeling himself spasm and tighten around the foreign sensation. Jeongguk pulls back, breathing hard and hot against Jimin’s skin, only to say, “Let me in, Jimin.”

The older man whimpers, nodding to himself as Jeongguk’s tongue goes right back where it was. He teases the entrance for a moment, pushing against the pressure every so often. When Jimin makes an effort not to clench this time, he prods again. This time, Jimin takes a deep breath and allows Jeongguk’s tongue to slip past the initial, tight ring of muscle. The second it’s in, they both groan.

Jeongguk squeezes Jimin’s ass, pulling his cheeks further apart to allow more room for him to thrust into Jimin’s hole with his tongue. The older man allows him, leaning further on the counter and pushing his hips back as much as he can, not able to get enough of the sensation. Jeongguk sighs happily, rocking his tongue in until it gets to the thicker base. Eventually, his nose is pressed against Jimin and stays there, fucking the older man with his tongue. Like this, Jimin can feel the silver ring in his bottom lip, cool metal against hot skin.

God, Jeongguk,” Jimin moans, hand leaving his mouth in favor of bringing both of his hands back and setting them right over Jeongguk’s, spreading himself wider than before so he can feel more of Jeongguk’s tongue. The younger man groans at the lewd display, pulling his hands back and letting them come back to rest over top of Jimin’s, helping him stay steady and hold himself open. Jimin whimpers at the feeling of his hot tongue pressing impossibly deeper inside, thrusting in and out at a steady rate, and the sensation of spit starting to leak from his hole and dribble down to his balls, eventually landing on the kitchen floor beneath them. “More.”

Jeongguk hums, tilting his head and angling his tongue differently, eating Jimin out with vigor now. He pulls his tongue out, but only to lick over Jimin’s entrance, and press his lips against it to suck at the puckered hole. It’s so vulgar and hot and it makes Jimin’s abdomen curl with arousal. He moans, leaning down until his head and chest are pressed to the cold counter top, using his hips to thrust back on Jeongguk’s tongue.

Once again, the younger man pulls back. His voice sounds deep when he tells Jimin, “Keep holding yourself open for me. Don’t stop.”

Jimin whimpers but obliges, mourning the loss of Jeongguk’s hands leaving his body at the same time that his tongue returns to his waiting hole. Jeongguk easily slides his tongue back in, Jimin reveling in the feeling and dutifully listening to him, holding himself open the entire time. His thighs shake and he is breathing hard against the counter, his dick hard and leaking between his legs. He doesn’t even care how embarrassing of a position this is because Jeongguk is making him feel so good.

That’s when one of Jeongguk’s hands moves up and Jimin feels him rubbing around his hole with a finger, wetting it with the copious amount of spit that has accumulated.

“Wha—?” Jimin starts but is cut off by his own moan when Jeongguk pulls his tongue back and replaces it with his finger. “Oh.

“Okay?” Jeongguk checks as the digit keeps slipping in, easily filling him until it’s at the second knuckle. Jimin’s mouth parts around a sound that never comes. In answer, he rocks his hips back and forth, fucking himself on the finger. Jeongguk’s laugh is breathy and fond. “More than okay, then.”

“Please,” Jimin begs mindlessly, fingers digging into his plump ass as Jeongguk and him work together to thrust the long, slender finger in and out. Jeongguk, as though reading the older man’s mind, dives in and licks around the stretched entrance of Jimin’s hole, lapping around his own finger.

Jeongguk’s free hand slides up Jimin’s thigh, kneading and gently touching the sensitive inner part. Jimin moans again, whining. “I can take more, Jeongguk.”

“You barely got a finger in you,” Jeongguk reminds him, sounding amused. Jimin, unashamed by his eagerness, makes a petulant noise and rocks back with more enthusiasm. “I can. I can take more. Give me more.”

Jeongguk turns his head, smiling and nipping at one side of Jimin’s ass, but he’s rubbing his entrance with another finger and slowly, carefully letting it slide in. “Needy little thing.”

Jimin whines, cheeks heating at the degrading words, but his dick dribbles out pre-cum between his legs all the same. It’s been so long since he’s been spoken to like that and it never felt this hot before. Jimin winces slightly when the second finger enters past the first ring of muscle. It doesn’t hurt, per se, but it’s uncomfortable. Still, he welcomes it, trying hard not to clench as Jeongguk slips the second finger deeper until it finally meets with the first. Once that’s done, the younger man begins slowly pulling his fingers back, before letting them push back in a little faster.

When Jimin’s reaction is to moan and thrust back, Jeongguk starts moving faster. He rocks his fingers in and out of the older man at a steady pace, occasionally licking at his hole or pressing sloppy kisses onto his ass.

At some point, while Jimin is fucking his hips back on Jeongguk’s fingers, the younger man groans and bites down on the flesh of his plump bottom. “Such a good fucking ass, Jimin. Best one I’ve ever seen.”

And Jimin knows he has a nice butt. He got it through years of dedicated dancing and eating a healthy diet. It’s one of the features he gets complimented on the most. Still, something about hearing the confession from Jeongguk makes it so hot, so meaningful.

“Thank you,” Jimin finds himself saying. “It’s yours, Jeongguk.”

He isn’t sure what makes him say it—not sure why it sounds so right to say it. Still, it’s already slipped past his lips and, once it has, Jeongguk pauses his fingers.

Jimin freezes too, nervous and horny. His face is red and he wishes Jeongguk would just ignore what he said and let them go back to doing what they were doing because it felt so good, but then—

“Yeah?” Jeongguk asks, reaching up and cupping Jimin’s ass with the hand that was playing with his soft thighs. He squeezes and kneads, starting to fuck his fingers into Jimin without reservations this time, moving quicker than they have yet. He sounds a little far gone when he confirms, “It’s mine?”

Jimin moans loudly, hips stuttering and legs shaking as he has two fingers roughly fucked into him. He whines again. “Yes. Yes—Yours. Please, Jeongguk.”

“What, Jimin?” He asks, still unrelenting in his pace. “What do you need?”

“More. More, please. Another.”

Understanding what he means, Jeongguk slows his pace until he stops and Jimin takes in a deep sigh of relief, happy to have a moment to recover. His stomach is taut with arousal and his dick must be red from how neglected it is between his legs, but he doesn’t care about any of it when Jeongguk moves so his face is hovering right over Jimin’s entrance, mumbling, “Stay still.”

Jimin freezes immediately, something about the low, stern pitch of Jeongguk’s voice making him want to listen—making him want to be good. That’s when he hears and feels Jeongguk spit hotly directly onto his hole.

Jimin moans wantonly, mouth agape as he feels spit drip down his crack and over Jeongguk’s fingers, which the younger man moves again—pace slow this time—making the spit dive right into his hole. Jimin squeezes his own cheeks, pulling himself further apart to make room for Jeongguk. “Oh my god.”

Jeongguk chuckles, prodding at Jimin’s hole with a third finger. He teases it around the ring, occasionally dipping the tip inside to see how tight it’s going to be. “You liked that.”

The older man can’t speak, merely licking over his lips and nodding dumbly against the counter, even though he knows Jeongguk can’t see him. It earns him another deep laugh from the younger man as he finally slides the tip of the third finger inside, making Jimin tense up before immediately remembering to relax, breathing steadily as he welcomes the addition, even when it stings slightly. “You like being degraded a little, don’t you, Jimin? Like being spat on?”

This feels like one of the questions Jimin is supposed to answer, despite his mind being a little fuzzy from the sensation of three fingers filling him up and Jeongguk talking down to him in that hot way again. Still, he tries and manages, “Y-Yeah.”

“I know you do,” Jeongguk says, voice only a little teasing as he pushes in until his fingers reach the hilt. Once there, he lets Jimin’s hole clench and release a few times, before starting to pull back again. “You like it when I drop the honorifics, too. You like it when I speak down to you.”

“Yeah,” Jimin says again, a little whine at the end as Jeongguk’s fingers rock back into him, harder this time. The younger man sets a pace, thrusting in and out enough to keep Jimin whimpering and pushing his hips back for more. “Love it.”

Jeongguk laughs again, twisting his fingers inside of Jimin to thrust into him at a new angle, stretching him and making the older man writhe on the counter. “Look at you, Jimin. So wet. Such a mess right now. Do you like it? Me reducing you to this?”

Jimin wants to respond, wants to confirm what Jeongguk is saying because his dick is twitching and he’s positive he’s never been this turned on before and it’s all he can do not to start begging for more again. Before he can though, Jeongguk is pressing firm kisses on his lower back and butt, speaking again.

“I love it,” He confesses. “Love having you like this; pliant for me. So desperate to be filled.”

Jimin thinks about it—all of it. How he’s naked when Jeongguk is still fully clothed, about how this is the sexiest thing he’s ever experienced, about how safe he feels letting Jeongguk be the one to see him like this. His tipping point comes and he finds himself unable to hold back. He lifts his head from the counter, looking back at the man on his knees behind him. His face is flushed and he knows he is a mess, but he is immediately distracted by Jeongguk. He’s a vision; kneeling with three fingers fucking into Jimin, sleeves of his shirt rolled up so Jimin can see his glorious tattoos. His lips are red and his hair is a little mussed and he’s looking back up at Jimin with an intensity the older man has never seen before. He looks ready to ravage Jimin.

“Please, Jeongguk,” Jimin whines, shocked by the stinging feeling of tears in his eyes out of nowhere. Even as shame courses through his body, he keeps begging. “Please, fuck me. Need it. Need you.”

Jeongguk’s eyebrows raise, like he’s a little shocked by the words, but then he’s smirking. Jimin has the urge to look away because he’s way too hot for his own good. He remains though, holding eye contact as Jeongguk finger-fucks him a little harder. “Are you sure?”

Jimin doesn’t even have to think about it. “I’m sure. Please, Jeongguk. Want you.”

The fingers slowly slip out of him, making Jimin’s face twist up unhappily as he mourns the loss. It leaves him cold and empty, the spit on him hitting the air-conditioned room and making him frown. Jeongguk tries to make it up to him by kissing and nipping some more at his ass, before he slowly rises to his feet. He takes Jimin by the hips, slowly guiding the older man to face him. Once Jimin does—albeit, a little shakily—Jeongguk kisses him breathless.

Jimin melts into it. He wants to be kissed by Jeongguk forever, unsure if he’s ever felt a more passionate touch in his life. All too soon, the younger man is pulling away. Jimin goes to say something, but is startled from his thoughts when Jeongguk bends down, hands cupping the underside of Jimin’s thighs. The older man’s eyes go wide and he squeals, his feet suddenly off the ground. Jeongguk watches him the whole time, not even straining a little as he picks Jimin up and adjusts so his hands are holding him up by his bare butt. He’s stark naked and being picked up effortlessly by a fully-clothed Jeon Jeongguk.

The older man flushes bright red when Jeongguk starts moving them out of the kitchen. “J-Jeonguk, what are you doing?”

Jeongguk grins up at him, blindly moving through the hall of an apartment he is unfamiliar with. “We need lube and condoms if I’m going to fuck you, hyung. Come on, tell me which door leads to your room.”

Jimin’s eyes go wide and he dives down, hiding his face in Jeongguk’s neck, which only makes the younger man laugh fondly again. “First one to the right.”

Dutifully, Jeongguk finds it. He skillfully works the knob open and lets it go wide, walking them into the space. As Jeongguk guides them both to the bed, Jimin makes use of his position and kisses shy, little marks on his neck. Jeongguk sighs and tilts his head, allowing more access. With the encouragement, Jimin grows bolder. He sucks on the soft part under Jeongguk’s ear, and nips along his jaw, licking hotly over the column of his throat at one point. The younger man lets him do it all but finally has to cut his fun short when, carefully, he tilts them down and lets Jimin fall onto the plush softness of the bed.

Jimin gracefully plops down, pouting a little when Jeongguk pulls back and lifts himself off the bed, standing next to it. He eyes Jimin’s nightstand and then points, “Are they in there?”

The older man hums in answer and Jeongguk walks over, pulling the top drawer open. Jimin quietly gets off the bed he was just put on and moves to step behind Jeongguk. While the younger man searches for the lube and condoms stuffed away in the full drawer, Jimin reaches out and wraps his hands around Jeongguk, kissing softly at the back of his neck.

The younger man startles for a second, before laughing softly. He lets Jimin’s hands wander his covered chest and abdomen, before feeling Jimin’s hands tugging at the bottom of his shirt and asking with humor evident in his tone, “Want my shirt off?”

Jimin nods eagerly against his back, watching with rapt attention as Jeongguk temporarily stops looking for the lube and condoms so he can assist Jimin in lifting his shirt off. Once it is, Jimin’s mouth waters. Jeongguk’s back is to him but it’s already such a sight. Firm muscles and defined dips. It’s like he’s carved from marble, sculptured to perfection.

Unable to help himself, Jimin whines softly and lets his hands wander up and down Jeongguk’s back, feeling how smooth the skin is, before he gets impatient and wraps them around his front, gasping a little when he feels the tight abs on his stomach and the firmness of his pectorals. Jeongguk allows him to do it, hands occasionally grasping at the top of Jimin’s and guiding him on where and how he likes to be touched. Every time Jeongguk’s pleasantly sighs when Jimin rubs over his nipples, or groans when he gets a sloppy kiss to the back of his neck, it turns Jimin on more.

Jeongguk eventually retrieves the lube and a condom and turns around to face Jimin, tossing them on the bed. Jimin temporarily meets his eyes before his attention is immediately stolen by the sight of Jeongguk’s front. Jimin bites hard on his bottom lip, touching his abs and squeezing at his small waist.

“You’re so hot, Jeongguk,” He says, a little strained. “How are you real?”

The younger man laughs softly at that, looking down at Jimin as he shakes his head. “I could say that about you.”

Jimin meets his eyes then, holding Jeongguk’s gaze as he slowly moves closer. He meets Jeongguk in a sloppy, passionate kiss. Their lips collide and mold perfectly against one another as the older man sneakily works his hands down until they reach the button on the top of Jeongguk’s pants. He carefully undoes the button, before starting on the zipper. As it comes undone, Jeongguk breaks off their kiss and pants out, “Want me naked that bad, huh? Had to do it yourself? Couldn’t wait?”

The older man whines, pushing his lips to Jeongguk’s in another hard kiss. He nods against him, making the younger man smile. As that happens, Jimin dips his fingers into the top of Jeongguk’s pants and slowly works his pants off, nudging them to fall down his legs. Jeongguk helps by stepping out of the pants and kicking them to the side. They make out all the while, Jimin focusing on the way Jeongguk sucks on his bottom lip.

“Give me your tongue,” Jeongguk breathes out hotly. Deciding to be a tease, Jimin lets his tongue dart out for a second before hiding it back in his mouth. He grins when Jeongguk chases after it with his lips but misses. He hears the low growl the younger man lets out and barely has time to think before Jeongguk is reaching up with one hand, cupping Jimin’s chin and grabbing on either side of his face, his fingers dipping into the soft skin of Jimin’s cheeks. The older man whines when Jeongguk squeezes, forcing his mouth to part.

I said—Give me your tongue,” Jeongguk repeats. It’s said so low and so threatening that Jimin shivers, immediately obeying. He sticks his tongue out, face burning hot with embarrassment. Jeongguk leans back enough to look at him, sultry eyes scanning over Jimin’s face. Then, his lips slowly spreads into a smirk.

Without warning, Jeongguk spits directly into his mouth.

Jimin moans, eyes fluttering as he lets his tongue stick out, the spit landing there before slowly sliding further back. His brows knit together and he stares up at Jeongguk pleadingly, feeling his abdomen tighten with arousal.

“Good boy,” Jeongguk praises, eyeing him darkly. “Now, swallow.”

Jimin feels his dick pulse between his legs from where it’s still very hard and where he’s still very naked. Still, without reservations, he listens. Jeongguk relaxes his hold and allows Jimin’s lips to close as he thickly swallows all of the spit that collected there. Shame courses through him just as much as hot, needy desire does. He’s never been treated this way in bed and the fact that it’s Jeongguk doing it only makes it better.

Once he’s done as was requested, Jeongguk rewards him with another passionate kiss. Their lips meet and Jeongguk’s hold on his face shifts until the younger man has a handful of the hair at Jimin’s nape. He uses the grip to guide Jimin’s head, tilting him to the side to deepen the kiss. Dizzy with want, Jimin lets him for a while, slowly working his hands down and beginning to play with the waistband on Jeongguk’s underwear.

After a while of kissing, Jimin breaks off, panting. He holds Jeongguk’s gaze as he slowly slinks down until he is on his knees in front of the younger man. His legs hit the rug beneath his feet and he enjoys the shivering satisfaction he gets at watching Jeongguk’s eyes follow him, widening before they eventually darken.

Jimin leans in and presses his mouth against the bulge in his black briefs, breathing hotly over it. He keeps Jeongguk’s eyes on him and parts his lips, letting his mouth wrap around the clothed dick. He licks and sucks and watches as Jeongguk’s mouth falls open, his eyebrows knitting together.

Jeongguk licks over his lips, a hand coming out to pet through the fluffy hair on the top of Jimin’s head. The older man encourages him by leaning in and Jeongguk takes that as permission to dip his fingers down to the roots and grip. He doesn’t tug or move Jimin, just holds him there, letting him mouth at his covered dick and dampen the material with saliva.

“And what exactly do you think you’re doing?” Jeongguk asks, raising a dark brow.

“Want to suck you off.” Jimin smiles suggestively, pulling back only so he can dip his fingers into the waistband and begin pulling the underwear down. Jeongguk lets him and, the moment it moves down to his hips, his cock—thick and hard—springs out and lands right in front of Jimin’s face. The older man bites at his bottom lip, watching the sight with rapt attention as he finishes getting Jeongguk’s underwear off and lets the younger man kick them to the side.

“Fuck, you’re big,” Jimin says breathily. He reaches out and grasps a hand around Jeongguk’s dick, trying not to whimper out loud when his small hands barely fit around it. It’s easily double the size of Jimin’s own and the older man’s hole clenches between his legs, abdomen tightening with arousal at the thought of having this inside of him. He looks back up at Jeongguk, leaning down to lick at the slit on the tip.

Jeongguk smiles, but it’s dazed as he watches Jimin slowly lick more and more at the head of his dick, before finally wrapping his plump lips around it. “You think you can take all of it?”

Jimin pulls back to grin, using the mix of spit and pre-cum at the tip to wet the hand he has wrapped around Jeongguk, before stroking him up and down with it repeatedly. “I know I can.”

Jeongguk laughs breathlessly, poking his tongue out to mouth at the silver ring still sitting in his lip. “Then, get to work.”

Obediently, Jimin does. He sucks the head back into his mouth, hand working up and down the rest as he licks stripes along the length while he goes. He gathers as much spit into his mouth as he can before diving further, getting about half-way down before he starts to feel Jeongguk’s dick hit the back of his mouth. He pulls back and breathes in deeply, and then repeats the motion, going further this time. He closes his eyes and focuses, trying to turn his head in the opposite direction that he twists his wrist to give Jeongguk more stimulation. Finally, he gets far enough that he’s taken most of Jeongguk.

He pulls off and strokes him a few times, tears springing in his eyes again from the effort of trying not to choke. Still, he has something to prove so he licks a few more times before returning to sucking as far down as he can. When it gets to the point he stopped at before, Jimin relaxes his throat and pushes further. Finally, he feels Jeongguk all the way in his throat and hums as his nose presses against the younger man’s skin.

Above him, Jeongguk groans loudly.

Feeling accomplished, Jimin pulls back. Saliva coats Jeongguk’s entire dick and, after stroking him a few times, Jimin moves to suck him into his mouth again, licking as much as he can while he goes. It feels good every time he reaches the bottom and Jeongguk hits deep in his throat. He can feel his neglected dick twitching between his legs and he wishes he could stay like this forever; lips swollen, tears in his eyes, looking up at Jeongguk’s face—twisted up in pleasure—as he sucks his dick.

“Fuck, Jimin,” Jeongguk moans at one point. His hand cards through Jimin’s hair and the older man blinks up at him, not flinching when the grip tightens. Jeongguk’s brows pull together. He looks so turned on that it’s making Jimin needy. He wishes he had a pillow or something between his legs so he could rut against it while he does this. “God. Can I fuck your mouth? You seem like you can take it.”

Jimin hums in answer, trying to nod but it’s not very successful. Jeongguk groans again, using the hold on his hair to pull him off his dick until only the tip is left inside. Once that happens, Jeongguk’s lips part and he sighs, looking down at the flushed face of the older man who is staring up at him with so much desire, so much trust.

Jeongguk brings his other hand to Jimin’s hair, letting it card through the locks as well, until he has a good grip on Jimin’s head from either side. He licks over his lips, eyebrows raising expectantly down at the older man. “If you need me to stop, tap me. Okay?”

Jimin hums again, eyes fluttering before he holds them open.

A little experimentally, Jeongguk rocks his hips forward. When his tip hits the back of Jimin’s throat, the older man doesn’t waver. The younger man sighs, then starts thrusting a little more—with purpose, this time. He watches as he fucks into Jimin’s open mouth, saliva dribbling out and slipping down the older man’s chin as Jeongguk sets a pace.

“Fuck,” The younger man swears, moving a little faster when he realizes how eagerly Jimin takes him into his mouth. “So good at taking dick.”

Jimin hums, letting his eyes slip closed as he enjoys feeling his throat expand repeatedly around Jeongguk’s length. He rocks his own hips forward into nothing, licking mindlessly at the underside of the younger man’s dick when he gets a chance.

“Eyes open,” Jeongguk commands. Jimin immediately obeys, letting his eyes snap open and land on the younger man. It’s hard with tears springing in his vision, threatening to spill over with every rough thrust in, but he does it anyway. “Good boy. Look at me.”

Jimin’s hole flutters, clenching and releasing. He can only imagine, as he looks up at the younger man. If this is how Jeongguk is fucking his mouth—God, Jimin can only imagine how he’s going to be once he’s inside of him. The thought makes him dizzy, arousal pulling taut over and over in his abdomen. He whines around Jeongguk’s dick, giving the man above him pleading eyes.

“So good,” Jeongguk praises. “You like being used like this, Jimin? You look so pretty when you’re taking cock.”

Whimpering, Jimin’s eyebrows knit together and he tries to nod again. Jeongguk watches a tear slip from his eye and reaches around with one hand, letting his thumb catch the tear and wipe it away. There’s an almost fond look on his face when he adds thoughtfully, “You even look pretty when you cry. How is that fair?”

Jimin bucks his hips again, moaning. He tilts his head and takes Jeongguk further, making the younger man groan.

“I’m already fucking your mouth and you’re still desperate for more,” Jeongguk tells him. Jimin feels another tear slip down his face. “Do you want me to fuck you, Jimin?”

The older man hums, loud and enthusiastic, hallowing his cheeks and giving a particularly hard suck at Jeongguk’s cock. In response, the younger man moans and uses the tight grip on Jimin’s hair to force the older man off completely. Jimin’s lips pull off with a wet pop, a string of saliva connecting from his mouth to Jeongguk’s dick.

“Get on the bed for me,” Jeongguk commands softly, nodding his head in the direction of the mattress Jimin was on only moments prior. He extends a hand and helps the older man up, giving Jimin a kiss as he rises back onto his feet.

“What position?” Jimin questions as he kneels on soft sheets, looking over his shoulder at the younger man who is still standing, tearing open the wrapper of a condom. He’s a sight to behold, truly; naked and built, his dick up near his navel and glistening wet, his dark eyes trained on Jimin like he can’t wait for more.

Jeongguk quirks a brow, his tone mischievous as Jimin watches—a little too hungrily—as he easily rolls the condom down himself with one hand. “Oh? I get to pick?”

Jimin’s cheeks color and he clasps his hands together in front of himself, feeling nervous at so much of Jeongguk’s attention directed to him as the younger man looks him up and down before deciding, “On your back, pretty. There’s something I want to do but we’ll work our way there, yeah? We’ll start light for you.”

The way Jeongguk phrases it has sparks of heat shooting through Jimin like an electric current. His dick pulses between his legs, and he wants to tell him to not start light—don’t go easy on him, to please—give him everything. Still, Jeongguk wants him on his back so Jimin’s head hits the pillow, his brown hair falling around it in waves. The younger man climbs onto the bed after him and the older man spreads his legs to accommodate him. Jeongguk dutifully accepts the invite and kneels between his open legs, and Jimin tries to not blush at how exposed he is.

Jeongguk leans down, one hand on the inside of Jimin’s thigh and the other propped beside the pillow, and connects their lips. As he works on getting his tongue into Jimin’s mouth, the older man blindly searches the bed until he finds the lube. Once it’s in hand, he squirts a generous amount into his other hand and tosses the bottle aside, warming it before reaching down between the both of them and grabbing Jeongguk’s dick, applying the slick substance by stroking him up and down.

It pulls a surprised gasp from the younger man, followed by a groan. Jimin drinks up every noise and squeezes one time before he finally releases Jeongguk, reaching down with the lubed-up hand to put the remaining over his prepped entrance.

Jeongguk continues kissing him as he lines himself up at Jimin’s hole, teasing them both by rubbing the blunt head up and down between his cheeks a few times. The older man releases a stuttered breath against Jeongguk’s mouth, making the younger man smirk.

“Jeongguk…” He mutters, a silent plea for more.

The younger man must be just as worked up as he is because, rather than tease like Jimin anticipates, Jeongguk starts applying more pressure until the fluttering entrance is stretching around his thick head. The older man bites down on a hiss at the stark pain, and Jeongguk shushes him and brings his hand up, threading it through Jimin’s hair and holding him steady—grounding him. “Breathe. You’ve got it, baby. Let me in. Breathe. There you go—”

Jimin whines as he continues being filled up. Jeongguk stretches his walls, his hole hugging the length inside in a vice grip, quivering as he slowly pushes himself deeper in. His mouth drops open and his eyes squeeze tight because he’s positive he’s never taken something this big before. Jeongguk is a little bigger than the thickest and longest dildo he owns, and he rarely stretches himself out long enough to use it.

There you go,” Jeongguk praises when he bottoms out, hips hitting Jimin’s thighs. The older man’s heart flutters at the words, and he makes a small, pathetic noise in response. Jeongguk strokes his temple with his thumb and distracts him by kissing around his cheeks, neck and forehead. “Took all of me on the first try. How do you feel?”

Jimin wraps his arms around the back of Jeongguk’s neck and takes a deep breath. After a moment, he opens his eyes. Jeongguk is staring down at him with all the concern and care in the world, smiling softly and patiently. “I’m good. You—You can move.”

He raises a brow, scanning the older man’s eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Mhm,” The older man responds, pecking Jeongguk on the lips one time—partly just because he looks so kissable and he is sort of addicted to the feeling, but also to prove he is fine now. He even squeezes experimentally around the younger man and the uncomfortable feeling has subsided. Jeongguk releases a stuttered breath at the tight sensation.

He drops his head, looking down at where they are connected, before Jimin’s gaze again his bottom lip tucked between his teeth, tonguing at his lip ring. “Okay. Tell me if you don’t like the pace, or if it starts hurting, got it?”

Dutifully, Jimin nods and is rewarded by Jeongguk slowly slipping out of him. He doesn’t go far—He only makes it to the edge to leave the tip in, stalling for a moment, before sliding back in all the way. The lube makes the glide sloppy and easy and Jimin moans, mouth dropping open around a silent gasp as he feels how thick and deep Jeongguk is inside of him.

“Good?” Jeongguk breathed out, checking on him as he repeats the motion, slowly gaining momentum. Every thrust feels better than the last. The younger man has a strong body and it’s clear he puts it to good use. Jimin can tell in the way Jeongguk barely breaks a sweat as he sets a pace, fucking him long and deep. He drags out until the head catches on the older man’s rim, and fucks back in until he’s at the hilt—filling Jimin more than he ever thought possible.

“S-So good,” He stutters, whining when Jeongguk takes that as the go-ahead to start fucking him like he means it. He grabs onto Jimin’s waist, fingers digging into his plump, pale skin, using the leverage to rock in harder and faster.

“Ah. Ah, Jeongguk—”

“You take me so well, Jimin. You were meant to take cock. Fucking made for it, pretty,” Jeongguk tells him and it’s the perfect mix of praise and degredation to make Jimin’s heart swell with pride and the same time shame swirls in his tummy. He’s achingly hard between his legs but all of his focus is on Jeongguk and watching the younger man ravage him.

He’s never been fucked so thoroughly by someone. Jeongguk handles him with utmost care; taking him apart and simultaneously building him up. It’s a dizzying experience and all he can think is—

“More,” Jimin whines, fingers twisted in the sheets as the bed rocks against the wall and his hole is stretched beyond belief over and over by Jeongguk’s relentless pace. “More, Gguk-ah. Please.”

Jeongguk laughs, shaking his head as he thrusts particularly hard. The sound is a little mean and condescending and Jimin’s flushed dick twitches against his abdomen. He raises a dark brow at the older man. “You sure, baby? Positive you want more? I’m going easy on you right now. Don’t want to push you too hard."

Jimin pouts, shaking his head. “No. No. Please, don’t go easy on me. Please, Jeongguk—Fuck me. Want y-you to ruin me, please—”

The younger man growls low, pulling all the way out with a lewd noise and enticing a protesting whine from the older man. He ignores it and guides a shaky Jimin up. He shifts them around until Jeongguk is sitting up—his back to the wall—with Jimin in his lap, facing away—back to chest. “Want me to ruin you, pretty? Is that what you said? I fucking will.”

Jimin mewls, eyes rolling back and senseless sounds spilling from his open mouth as Jeongguk manhandles him until he has his strong arms hooked around Jimin’s thighs, making the older man press his knees up to his chest. He makes easy work of lifting Jimin in the air like he weighs nothing and prompting guiding the older man back onto his long, thick length—filling him to the brim at an entirely new angle.

Jimin whines the entire time he is seated on Jeongguk’s cock, not believing what is happening. He rests his arms on top of Jeongguk’s and feels his own body being repeatedly lifted and lowered onto the dick inside of him. His vision blurs and he lets his eyes fall shut, letting his head lull forward and holding on for dead life as he’s used like a human fleshlight.

Jeongguk’s lips are on the back of his neck and trail wet marks all the way until he gets to his ear, sucking the lobe between his lips to tug at it gently. He bucks his hips up as he moves Jimin’s lithe body down, angling and changing the momentum until the moment it happens.

Jimin gasps so hard that it stings in his throat. Then, his thighs quiver and his toes curl in the air. “Right there! Oh, fucking—God, yes. J-Jeongguk, please. Please, right there.”

The younger man chuckles against his ear, the sensation sending a shiver down Jimin’s spine and toying with the growing heat in his abdomen. “Found your special spot, angel?”

Yes. Yes, yes—Puh—Please, Gguk—” Jimin babbles, drool spilling down over his bottom lip and onto his chin, but he doesn’t care as he is roughly fucked. He can’t think—doesn’t want to, doesn’t see the need to. Jeongguk has him. He’s going to make him feel good.

“Take it, baby. Take everything I give you,” Jeongguk mumbles hotly right next to his head. Jimin feels the constant pressure on his prostate cause his sensitivity to build rapidly. Soon, he is whimpering and saying things that don’t even make sense.

“Love your cock, G-Gguk. So good. Fill me so—so well. Wan’ it every day. Will you do it? Gonna use me every day?”

Jeongguk groans and Jimin feels the cock inside him pulse. “I will. I’ll fuck you the way you deserve, Jimin. Give you everything that others couldn’t.”

“Please?” Jimin begs, clenching tight around Jeongguk’s thick length. “Please, I deserve it. ‘M good. I’m so good—”

“You are,” Jeongguk agrees, praising him with a soft coo. He kisses behind his ear and starts thrusting wildly up into him as he works Jimin harder onto him from on top—practically dropping the older man onto his dick each time. The pressure builds dangerously for both of them and Jimin can feel how close he is—just on the precipice of release. The slick, lewd, sloppy noises of all of the lube being fucked in and out of Jimin’s bruised, swollen entrance makes the older man moan wantonly.

“You’re so good, Jimin. Perfect hole to fuck,” Jeongguk tells him. His voice is strained and breathy, his thrusts grow more sloppy and off-time as he also draws close. He leans right against Jimin’s sensitive ear and mutters, “Wish I didn’t have the condom on. I want to fuck my cum into you and mark you as my own. Doesn’t that sound so good, sweetheart?”

That does it for Jimin.

He writhes on the bed, back arching as his orgasm hits. He drops his head against Jeongguk’s shoulder and squeezes so tight around his thick length as ribbons of sticky, hot cum shoot all over his own front half, that it brings Jeongguk to orgasm too. The younger man groans deep and rough sitting Jimin down until he is balls deep, hips stilling as his thick length repeatedly pulses inside.

Fuck,” Jeongguk growls, forehead falling to Jimin’s shoulder. They pant hard through the glittery moments after their climaxes, holding each other and reveling in the wonderful sensation.

“Wow,” Jimin finally croaks out, which pulls a breathless laugh from the younger man, who gently pulls him off of his cock—making Jimin whine in protest—and adjusts them until they are side by side on the bed. Jeongguk takes the condom off and ties it, tossing it perfectly into a waste bin at the other side of the room. Jimin scoots into him until he has warm, tattooed arms wrapped around him and his cheek on Jeongguk’s bare chest.

They lay there for a long time—long enough that the stained cum and lube go dry and Jimin starts getting the itchy feeling of being in need of a shower. He mutters as much and Jeongguk merely hums before effortlessly picking the older man up bridal style and walking them to his adjoining bathroom.

Jimin’s mind is hazy and he doesn’t remember much aside from kind words and soft touches as he was put back together by the younger man. He recalls gentle kisses and warm water. At some point, he falls asleep with Jeongguk muttering, “I’ll take care of you, baby. Rest for a little bit.”

The older man is immediately out.

It’s about an hour later once they’re both cleaned up and cuddled together in bed with Jeongguk on his back and Jimin curled up on his chest. The younger man leans down and kisses the top of the older man’s head.

Jimin smiles softly, finally feeling the fog of good sec starting to dissipate after drinking water and being thoroughly looked after without even having to ask. He wonders when Jeongguk got to be so experienced and mature—wordlessly performing sacrifices for others. The more he sits on it, the more he thinks he was always like that.

“Did you enjoy yourself, hyung?” Jeongguk asks softly.

“Very much. Did you?”

“Very much.”

There’s a lull for a while. Both men get comfortable on the bed and rest together, not speaking as they bask in each other’s company. Jeongguk is warm, Jimin finds. He is warm and firm but gentle simultaneously. He holds Jimin tight and shifts every so often, but only to try and somehow scoot closer.

After a while of just relaxing and cuddling goes by, Jeongguk sucks in a deep breath and sighs, mumbling, “It’s probably late now. I guess I should start getting ready to go.”

Jimin’s eyes fly open from where he had them shut and he is quick to move down and grab the arm Jeongguk has thrown around him, gripping around the younger man’s wrist tightly. “Wait, what? You’re leaving?”

Jeongguk halts from where he was lifting his head. There’s a quick delay before he says, a little unsure this time, “Um, I was going to? I just—I figured you would want me to go after we were done.”

“No, I don’t want you to go,” Jimin grumbles, pouting at the thought alone. His heart beats wildly in his chest and he hopes the younger man can’t tell by his voice or body language how badly he wants him to stay.

The arm around him tightens. He can feel Jeongguk’s eyes on him, watching him for a reaction—to see if this is genuine. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m—Unless you want to go? That’s—It’s okay if you want to—”

“No, no. I’m—I want to stay. I just had to make sure that you wanted me to stay.”

Jimin goes pink. He mumbles, “I want you to stay.”

Jeongguk’s exhale almost sounds relieved. “Okay. I’ll—I’m staying then. We can spend the night together and have breakfast in the morning, if you want?”

“I’d like that. I can cook something.”

“Okay.” Jeongguk smiles, shifting so he is laying back down again. His hold on Jimin squeezes like he’s happy the older man is still in his arms. “Are you tired yet, hyung?”

Jimin snorts and then immediately claps his hands over his mouth, shoulders shaking with laughter as he tries to reverse the effects of such an unattractive noise leaving him. “Am I—Am I tired? Why would you even bother asking that after fucking me seven ways to Sunday, Jeon Jeongguk? Am I tired? I’m fucking exhausted—”

Jeongguk’s laugh is giggly and breathy and it makes Jimin grin.

“Me too. That was, like, I think the best sex I’ve ever had,” The younger man states.

The older man snickers but there’s a soft blush and smile residing on his face when he teases, “Yeah, sure. Okay.”

“I’m serious,” Jeongguk grits out playfully, emphasizing his point by tickling Jimin’s side with his fingers long enough to make the older man squeal and squirm. “Was that not the best sex you’ve ever had?”

“It was—Easily. I was just messing with you. You sounded like you’ve slept with quite a few people over the years, so I figured—”

“I haven’t slept with quite a few people,” Jeongguk defends but there’s humor in his words. “I’ve had a handful of fuck buddies and one-night stands, and that’s it. A lot of sex, sure, but not with tons of different people.”

“And which are we?” Jimin asks, not really caring about how much sex Jeongguk has had. Sure, he feels a little twinge of upset for not knowing about that part of his history, but not because of jealousy or envy—only because he wasn’t in his life to be in the know while it was all happening. They weren’t friends.

“Which are we what?”

“Are we a one-night stand or are we fuck buddies?” Jimin asks bluntly, too tired to tiptoe around the question.

Jeongguk is quiet for a moment, leaving anxiety to build in the older man’s stomach. He doesn’t want this to have just been a one-night stand. He wants more with Jeongguk. He can’t imagine having a taste of something this glorious and having that be it.

A thoughtful hum finally comes. “I guess it’s up to you. I’m okay with it being a one-time thing if you don’t see yourself doing it again, but hyung—I really had a nice time. You’re…incredible. I would love it if we did this again and made it a regular thing. If that’s something you want too.”

Jimin breathes a sigh of relief. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

“We’ll just go at our own pace then, yeah? Do what feels right.”

“I like this idea.”

“Of course, you do. It’s my idea which makes it naturally likable.”

The older man snorts. Then, he smiles sleepily and says, “You know what my favorite thing about you is?”

Mm. Do tell. I like compliments about myself.”

“It’s how humble you are.”

Jeongguk’s hard laughter makes Jimin grin, and by the time they both slip off to sleep, his cheeks hurt from smiling.

Light bleeds in through gaps in the curtains, spilling over the four corners of the bedroom and highlighting the figures resting tangled in sheets in the middle.

With a harsh inhale, Jimin’s eyes flutter open. He processes the coolness of the duvet against warm skin and sighs happily. He makes a move to stretch but is halted by a firm hold wrapped around his middle.

He freezes, looking down at the buff, tattooed arm that is keeping him in place. His eyes go wide and he purses his lips, all the memories of the night prior rushing to him. The man turns his head and finds the peaceful, sleeping face of Jeon Jeongguk.

Unable to help himself, he admires the younger man as he rests. His black hair falls in curls over his face. His skin is flawless even up close, and his lips are pretty and pout naturally in his sleep. Jimin’s eyes train on the mole under his bottom lip and he smiles, thinking about how cute Jeongguk is. Sure, he’s all tattoos and piercings and he’s a demon in bed—as he recently discovered—but he’s so startlingly cute at the same time. He’s as genuine as he was all those years ago, and him finding himself only serves to make him more charming. It’s dangerous—how tantalizing his duality is. He has a way of disarming Jimin, of making him drop all of his walls like they were never there to begin with.

Looking at his sleeping form, the older man’s heart flips and he feels worry pitch at his insides, because he’s already so far gone for the person tangled in his sheets, and he didn’t even realize the capacity of it until right now.

He looks over at the sunlight bleeding in and decides that it must be at least nine or ten. Being that it’s the weekend, they’re free to sleep in, but he can feel how mussed his hair is from sleep, and how desperately he needs to brush his teeth, so he makes a move to slowly detach himself from Jeongguk’s hold by lifting the younger man’s arm and trying to slip under it.

It doesn’t work at all.

Jeongguk groans low in his throat and tightens his hold on Jimin, dragging him into his chest and keeping him there in a firm grip. The older man bites back a grin, freezing and looking over to see if he stirred the younger man at all. The peaceful expression on his face remains, so Jimin holds for a beat before trying to escape Jeongguk’s arms again.

The younger man, it seems, is having none of that.

Jimin stills in bed at the sound of another groan, followed by Jeongguk shifting them so he’s practically on top of the older man, caging him in his arms against the sheets. In a deep, sleepy voice, Jeongguk mumbles, “Where do you think you’re going, angel?”

The older man’s heart kicks at the pet name and he is a little breathless when he goes decidedly limp in Jeongguk’s warm hold and responds softly. “Nowhere.”

“Mm. Good. Stay here,” Jeongguk commands sleepily and his tone is so sexy and it is far too early for Jimin’s dick to be chubbing up this way—especially over something as simple as the sound of his voice. The younger man’s arms tighten and Jimin sighs happily, all too eager to resign himself to his fate and laze around with Jeongguk for as long as the other man wants.

Jeongguk dips down so his face is in Jimin’s neck and he surprises the older man by peppering soft kisses along the bruised skin. Then, the younger man asks quietly, “Sleep well?”

“Mhm. Better with you here.”

“Me too. I stay up too late at my own place,” Jeongguk admits in a near whisper, trailing a hand up the older man’s waist and slipping it under his shirt to touch over the hot skin there. “This is the best I’ve slept in years, I think.”

That makes Jimin smile, a hum coming from him. “We should get up, you know. I believe someone had the wonderful idea of breakfast, and I’m hungry.”

Jeongguk grins against his neck before raising his head to look at the younger man. His eyes are still a little droopy with sleep, and he’s effortless handsome like this; bare-faced and well rested. He props himself up on one hand—elbow to the bed—and leans down so he can whisper right against Jimin’s lips, “Are you sure you want to get up now? There’s still so many things I want to do to you.”

A shiver racks down the older man’s spine but, as the younger man dips down to plant what is certainly going to be a series of sinful kisses on his mouth, he presses a finger to Jeongguk’s lips, holding him back. When Jeongguk’s eyebrow raises and he gives him a look, Jimin grins cheekily and shakes his head. “You can kiss me all you want once we’re out of bed with freshly brushed teeth.”

Jimin throws his head back laughing when Jeongguk rolls his eyes and tugs them both out of bed immediately.

Luckily, there are spare toothbrushes under the sink, and both men stand beside one another and take their time brushing their teeth. Jeongguk keeps a hand on the small of his back the whole time and Jimin shocks himself by not blushing at seeing how good they look together in the mirror.

They remain in the clothes they tugged on the night prior and Jimin barely makes it to the kitchen to work on something for breakfast before Jeongguk is on him.

Jimin crosses the threshold and is instantly pushed up against the nearest wall, Jeongguk’s hands on his hips, both of their mouths clashing together in a sloppy, passionate kiss. Somehow, Jeongguk’s kisses only seem to grow more ardent every time they’re on the older man—or maybe that’s just Jimin’s wishful thinking. Regardless, their messy kisses quickly devolve into a hot makeout session with Jeongguk groaning into his mouth and slipping his thigh between the older man’s legs. Jimin, weak to his touch, is already half-hard and grinds down against the thigh given to him.

“Jeongguk,” Jimin breaks off with a pant, whining softly at the feeling of the younger man taking the opportunity to trail wet kisses and nips down his neck instead. “W-We can’t. Food, remember?”

The younger man licks the shell of his ear before pulling the lobe between his teeth and tugging at it. “Why don’t I just eat you instead? Hm?”

“Jeongguk…”

Using his hold on the older man’s hips, Jeongguk guides Jimin to grind against his thigh, encouraging the teasing. “Want to, angel? You tasted so good. I couldn’t get enough. I want you on my tongue every fucking day.”

The whimper finally escapes in a pitiful tone, and Jimin’s mouth drops open. Without any fight, he allows the younger man to move them off the wall and direct them to the dining table connected to the kitchen. Jeongguk attaches his lips back to the older man as he slips his fingers under Jimin’s shirt and hooks them into the waistband of his underwear, slipping them down and letting them fall to the floor at the older man’s feet. Jimin steps out of them and Jeongguk kicks them to the side without even looking. Then, he mumbles, “Up on the table, pretty.”

Jimin worries at his bottom lip but nods, listening and getting Jeongguk’s help to sit on the edge of his own dining table—bare ass pressed against wood so cold and so sudden that it makes another small sound tumble from his lips. His cock is hard by now and his entire lower half is on display for Jeongguk as the younger man yanks on his hips and adjusts him so that Jimin lays flat on his back across the length of the hard surface, his lower half nearly off the table as Jeongguk kisses down his chest, sucking and licking at his dusty brown nipples as he goes. Once he’s done there, he licks down Jimin’s navel and makes a whine rise in the older man’s throat when he breathes hotly on his hard dick, before skipping right over it and kissing the sensitive inside of his thighs.

“As much as I would love to make your eyes roll into the back of your head while I suck you off, I think I’ll save it for next time,” Jeongguk states as he licks a trail of saliva further down Jimin’s thigh and then pulls a mewl from the older man by sucking a hard mark into his skin. “Right now, I want to see if I can make you come just from my tongue.”

“Oh my god,"Jimin mutters, shock evident in his breathy tone. Jeongguk smirks against his skin, nipping and placing more sloppy kisses as he draws closer to his hole.

When he finally reaches the older man’s heat, he breathes hotly over the sensitive, fluttering hole and makes Jimin whine. He grins and Jimin eyes his movements, Jeongguk’s eyes flicking up to stare right at him the moment his tongue licks a fat stripe over his hole.

“Ah,” Jimin breathes out, hips shaking needily as he resists the desire to shover forward and get Jeongguk’s tongue back. The younger man smirks at him, eyes crinkling at the corners, something mean in his expression as he licks again—not stopping this time.

Saliva drips down Jimin’s crack and, when his hole winks, it dips inside too. Jeongguk teases him over and over by licking up and down over the entrance, and circling the rim in repetitive motions. He watches Jimin’s reactions closely and makes the older man keen and cry out in desperation.

“Beg, angel.”

Jimin doesn’t hesitate, feeling like he no longer just wants Jeongguk’s tongue in him, but needs it. “Puh—Please, Jeongguk. Please, give me your tongue inside.”

“Good boy,” Jeongguk hums, praising him and dipping back down to fulfill the polite request. He gently strokes over Jimin’s thighs and soft tummy as he finally, finally lets his tongue dive inside. After that, he starts eating Jimin out like his life depends on it—No more teasing, no wasting time.

It’s sloppy and wet and loud and filthy. Jeongguk works his tongue in and out, fucking Jimin with it in the same way he would his fingers; running along his walls and twisting it around, trying to get so far inside that his nose presses against Jimin’s skin. Even then, Jeongguk just angles his head to the side and shakes it, trying to fuck him deeper and make him wetter.

“Oh. Oh—Jeongguk,” Jimin moans pathetically, thighs quivering as his hard, untouched dick twitches against his stomach, aching. Heat curls in his abdomen and, unable to think about anything except for Jeongguk and his glorious tongue, he reaches a hand out and tangles it in the younger man’s hair, tugging and attempting to get him closer, deeper.

“Just like that, baby,” Jeongguk pulls out to praise, reaching down to spread Jimin’s cheeks apart with his thumbs hooked on either side. He reveals Jimin’s fluttering, glistening entrance and spits hot and thick right into it, making Jimin cry out as his face goes red and the arousal grows. “My pretty boy. Tight, perfect fucking hole.”

Jimin keens as the younger man returns his tongue into his entrance. He follows it up with a loud gasp, mouth dropping open around pants as he gets closer to a rapidly approaching orgasm. Jeongguk is much deeper than before now that he has Jimin spread open properly for him. It allows him to fuck his tongue in and out until it reaches the wider base.

“Hnng. Oh. Fuck. Ah—”

The older man whines and wills his eyes not to close involuntarily as he watches Jeongguk ravage him with his mouth alone. He can feel how close he is and he starts yanking harder at the younger man’s hair, trying to get him impossibly closer. It must feel good, because Jeongguk growls and shoves his face further in, slurping and thrusting and creating the most lewd wet noises Jimin has ever heard.

“Jeongguk,” Jimin whines. “Jeongguk. C-Close—”

“Come for me, pretty. Make a mess,” Jeongguk commands, tongue returning instantly as he simultaneously lands a firm spank to one side of Jimin’s ass.

The stimulation of both at the same time does it for him. Jimin cries out, tears springing in his eyes and back arching off the wooden surface as he comes untouched. He shakes through the waves of it, hand gripping Jeongguk’s hair as he uncontrollably moves his hips, riding the younger man’s tongue. Jeongguk groans and allows it, still thrusting his tongue in and out until Jimin whines in overstimulation, shifting away from the sensation.

The younger man rises to his feet and kisses Jimin's body, letting him recoup. They stay that way for a few moments, Jeongguk gently petting the older man’s soft skin and praising him in soft words about how good he is and how well he did. There’s cum on Jimin's abdomen and chest but neither cares as it dries sticky while Jeongguk leans down and gently presses their mouths together.

That’s when Jimin feels how hard Jeongguk is in his pants when he presses against him.

He makes a soft sound and the younger man pulls away, so Jimin pouts. “I want you to come, too. Will…Will you fuck me?”

Jeongguk laughs but it’s not unkind. He strokes a hand through Jimin’s hair. “As much as I would love to, we went pretty hard on you last night. You’re spent, sweetheart. You need a break now.”

The younger man moves up like he is going to separate and clean Jimin up, and the older man doesn’t want that so he grabs Jeongguk’s wrist and guides him back down. His eyes are wide and innocent when he pleads, “I want it, though. Even if it’s not full sex. Want to make you feel good. Please, Jeongguk.”

Jeongguk scans his face for a moment before he sighs, smiling fondly. “Fine but no penetration, okay?”

Jimin nods eagerly. “Okay. Anything. Anything is fine.”

The younger man kisses him once more on the lips before leaning up, examining Jimin’s body and humming while he thinks. It’s kind of hot, Jimin thinks; Jeongguk deciding on what part of the older man’s body he wants to use like he’s picking out dinner at a grocery store.

He shivers, enjoying the way he feels useful.

“Can I fuck your thighs instead, baby?” Jeonguk finally asks, eyes hooded as he works his pants and underwear down to his knees in one go. His hard dick springs up, leaking and red at the tip. Jimin, still sensitive and floaty, nods eagerly.

“Good boy,” The younger man coos, making Jimin gasp when he moves his legs and exposes his softening dick to the cold air. Jeongguk makes quick work of positioning Jimin how he wants by raising his legs so straight in the air that the older man’s cheeks color, before he presses them together and sets them across his firm chest, putting them to one side so Jimin’s feet are beside his head. Jeongguk brings his own hand to his face—hugging Jimin’s thighs to him with the other—and spits loud and lewd into his palm, bringing it down to stroke his thick cock.

Jimin whines, eyes fluttering as he watches the display, spent dick twitching between his legs even though he knows there is no way he can go again right now. He flickers his gaze up to Jeongguk and watches as the younger man tongues at his lip ring, looking down as he guides the head of his length right to the thickest part of the older man’s plush legs.

Jeongguk’s spit-coated cock slides easily between the soft plushness of Jimin’s thighs and the older man whines at the feeling. The younger man grips the tops of his thighs and watches the tip and first inch or two appear on the other side, resting just above Jimin’s own spent dick, and sighs breathily. He’s quick to take advantage of the moment, thrusting his hips back and forth and pistoning his cock between Jimin’s hairless, smooth skin. It’s sensitive—more so since he’s just orgasmed—and Jeongguk’s hard dick slipping in over and over makes Jimin moan softly. He stares with rapt attention as the length that was inside of him only hours prior is now on full display as Jeongguk uses his body.

The thought brings a flush to his face, which only grows when Jeongguk’s eyes meet his own.

“So pretty, Jimin-ah. Being so good—letting me use you like this.”

The older man tugs his bottom lip between his teeth, biting back a pathetic whimper. He loves that Jeongguk knows—that he’s always right there with him. He sees the way Jeongguk’s face is red and his eyes lidded and he wants him to feel good, so he squeezes his thighs together as best as he can.

The younger man seems to love it, if the way he grunts and starts thrusting harder and faster is anything to go by. They both watch as his cock slips in and out, and Jimin can’t hold back the pleasant little noises leaving him. Jeongguk is fucking his thighs the same way he fucked him the night prior—with just as much enthusiasm and skill. He angles himself a little lower and uses the hand not gripping Jimin’s thighs to glide up his stomach until his palm is splayed out over the middle of Jimin’s tummy. The older man whimpers at the sight of Jeongguk’s big hand spreading so wide that his thumb and pinky nearly reach either side of Jimin’s waist, and the tip of his middle finger sits between his ribs.

“Fuck,” Jeongguk groans, tongue running sensually over his lips and playing with the silver on one side as he continues watching the lewd display. His brows are knitted together and his abdomen is clenching over and over has he fucks Jimin’s thighs. “Shit. I’m not going to last. This is—Fuck, Jimin. ‘M already close. Shit. You feel too good. And eating you out and hearing your sounds was just—Holy shit.”

Jimin releases his lip and whines loudly, reminded of their time together the night before. His legs shake from where Jeongguk is still holding them up and to the side and he stares up at the younger man with hooded eyes, babbling, “Give it to me, Gguk-ah. Puh—Please? Come all over me. Use me.”

“God, baby. Fuck, that mouth of yours is filthy—” Jeongguk releases a shaky breath, hips stuttering. His eyes flutter shut as his head dips back and Jimin watches, captivated as the younger man reaches his climax, cum shooting out and coating the older man’s thighs and pale stomach. Jimin watches it drip down his legs as Jeongguk stills and licks over his lips, almost regretful that he didn’t suck him off instead.

Grunting, Jeongguk drops Jimin’s legs, allowing them to wrap around his waist instead. Neither of them seem to mind the mess of sweat and spit and cum as the younger man presses down and rests on top of the older man. Jeongguk buries his face in the crook of Jimin’s neck and works through the aftershocks of his orgasm, kissing softly at the older man’s throat.

Their chests move in tandem; hard and fast. Both men work to catch their breath and, through pants, Jeongguk says into Jimin’s neck, “That was—Fuck.”

The older man’s laugh is pitched and hoarse from how wrecked his voice is. “Yes. Fuck.”

Jeongguk’s hands trail up his sides, gently touching along the soft skin. “You’re just so fucking gorgeous, hyung. I can’t get enough of you.”

“I agree,” Jimin says, grinning laxly. “Seriously, though—Food now. I’m starving.”

The younger man nods and leans up, smiling cheekily down at the brunette as he raises a single, dark brow. “Can you even stand? How exactly do you still plan on cooking?”

Jimin flushes pink, eying Jeongguk playfully. “Take out, then?”

The younger man huffs a laugh, his smile so beautiful that it stuns Jimin momentarily. Jeongguk shakes his head. “No way—Not this early. Here, I can cook. Let me get us clean and I’ll make something.”

Jimin tries to argue as Jeongguk steps around and gathers a rag that he runs under some water before he comes back to clean the older man off, but his body is limp and he’s utterly useless after so much sex back to back. “Jeongguk-ah, you don’t even know where anything is in here. I can—”

Before he can finish, a squeal escapes his mouth as Jeongguk finishes cleaning them off and helps slip their clothes back on, before picking Jimin up bridal style and carrying him into the adjacent living room. He plops him down on one end of the coach, facing the kitchen, and says, “No way. You just park your cute ass here—pun absolutely intended, by the way—and, when I need to know where something is, you can tell me. Sound good?”

He lifts a dark brow and sounds so convincing and Jimin’s body is tired and he’s so far gone for him already so he just sighs and smiles softly, “Fine. Have it your way.”

“I always do,” Jeongguk teases with a wink before leaning down to plant a light kiss on his mouth. Then, he pulls away and slips off to the kitchen, experimentally tugging open the fridge and pantry, before assumedly settling on something to make as he begins searching for utensils and pans.

“Which cabinet has the pots?” Jeongguk asks, gently walking around the space and gathering things. He washes his hands thoroughly and Jimin calls back out, “The one on the right of the oven.”

It’s abnormal—watching his friend from a decade ago conduct himself in his apartment the morning after they slept together for the first time like he lives there himself. Jeongguk’s confident demeanor is addictive in the same way everything else about him is. His kisses are addicting, the way he looks at Jimin like he hung the moon is addicting—all of it.

As Jimin watches him flip an egg in a pan and finish cooking some rice on the other end of the kitchen, he feels his heart pulse again. Everything gets exponentially worse whenever Jeongguk starts softly singing to himself. His voice is beautiful, which Jimin always told him in college. He could’ve been a professional singer if he wanted to—Jimin’s certain of it. He smiles softly as he takes in every soft note and melody from the younger man. His heart all but stops when Jeongguk brings a spatula to his lips and dramatically turns to Jimin, pretending to perform for him with big gestures and silly giggles in between. Jimin laughs so hard that he topples over on the couch and his stomach is twisted into knots by the end.

When Jeongguk is done cooking, he comes into the living room because—as he so delicately puts it—he knows Jimin doesn’t want to “fuck on the table they just defiled”, which is true. So, they lean against the back of the couch and eat on the same side of the coffee table instead. Jeongguk made far more food than is necessary for the two of them, but they enjoy it all the same.

They spend their meal time by chatting quietly. Jeongguk asks Jimin a couple of questions about being a ballet teacher and Jimin gets to hear more about what Jeongguk teaches at the university. It’s all very…domestic. It’s familiar in a way that reminds the older man of the time they spent together as friends ten years ago, and yet, it’s so different.

Jeongguk leaves after they spend time cleaning the kitchen together—Yes, including the dining table, which Jimin scrubbed within an inch of his life with a little elbow grease and his blood, sweat, and tears.

The younger man isn’t in a hurry to leave. He kisses Jimin against the front door until they’re both panting and debating finding their way to the couch for another round, before Jimin finally forces himself to pull away. Jeongguk tells him he would love to hang out more, but he has some work to do at his office on campus for lectures tomorrow, and Jimin nods in understanding, sneaking in one final kiss as Jeongguk slips out of the door; dressed in his clothes from yesterday and wearing a massive grin to match.

When the door falls shut, Jimin drops his weight against it and tips his head back to the wood. He lets out a long, loud sigh into his—now empty—apartment and says out loud, “Fuck. I like him.”

Obviously, Jimin immediately reports his findings to his best friend, Kim Taehyung.

His diagnosis?

Kim Taehyung

Get that dick, babe

Park Jimin

you’re so NOT helpful

Kim Taehyung

Sorry, but

This is Jeon Jeongguk we’re talking about.

Who you were friends with in college who had a FAT crush on you, and now he’s super sexy and suave and you guys have ridiculous chemistry and are obviously perfect for each other and I’m supposed to tell you to NOT hop on his dick?

Park Jimin

you’re severely missing the point

tae, having sex is not the same as LIKING HIM

i’ve seen him ONCE

we’ve fucked ONCE

and i already like him

isn’t this like…

super bad?

Kim Taehyung

Is my name McLovin?

No?

Okay, so this is not super bad.

Minie

Babe

Listen

Sometimes, you just need to learn to go with the flow. If he seemed like he was having fun and giving you the same energy back, and you guys agreed you’re just going to test the water and do what feels good, then FOR THE LOVE OF FUCK pLEASE just do that.

You don’t need to overthink this

Park Jimin

but what if i catch feelings really bad and he just wants to have sex?

Kim Taehyung

Then that would suck

But something tells me that’s not going to happen

Park Jimin

:(

you don’t know that

Kim Taehyung

No, I don’t and neither do you

So, do what feels good, okay?

And if he breaks your heart, I’ll break his dick and come over with ice cream, yeah? :)

Park Jimin

okay…

strawberry?

Kim Taehyung

Yes, Minie

Strawberry

Park Jimin

okay then

i guess i’ll just go with it and see what happens

Kim Taehyung

Good

Also, apparently Hobi-hyung and Yoongi-hyung are having a house party to celebrate getting engaged and we’re invited

Park Jimin

wait, really?

Kim Taehyung

Yep. Hoseok-hyung sent me a text this morning with the invite. He didn’t have your number to give you yours so I told him I’d let you know.

Would you want to go? It looks like it’ll be fun

Park Jimin

sure, i don’t see why not

when is it?

Kim Taehyung

On Saturday

Park Jimin

okay, yeah. I’m down to go

Kim Taehyung

Yesssss

The Kim pair are going to be there too, according to Yoongi-hyung, so I’m going to try to swoop my way into a threesome

Like Batman

Park Jimin

you know, it is a bit weird how all three of you are Kims. Are you absolutely positive neither of them is your distant relative?

Kim Taehyung

Park Jimin, that’s not funny even as a joke

This is my dream we’re talking about

Park Jimin

your dream being to get double-teamed by two hunk hyungs with the same last name as you?

Kim Taehynug

Precisely.

Park Jimin

i’m going to be roped into the plan to achieve this dream, aren’t I?

Kim Taehyung

You know it, Minie

Park Jimin

and the party is part of your deception?

Kim Taehyung

Not deception—Strategy.

Also yes.

So I’m coming to get you at nine PM sharp and we’re going to show up hot and stretched

Park Jimin

yes

wait

sorry, did you say stretched?

was that a typo?

Kim Taehyung

Lunch break is over

Text you later, baby boy

Park Jimin

kim taehyung, get back here right now

kim taehyung

kim taehyung, you better say you love me or I will screenshot all of those thirsty messages about kim namjoon and send them straight to him on Instagram so help me

Kim Taehyung

LOVE YOUUUUU

Park Jimin

that’s what i thought, you whore

i love you too

see you saturday

also i would never send him those, i was kidding

Kim Taehyung

I know :p

See you on Saturday

Next Saturday comes around far quicker than Jimin anticipates. The week flies by so fast that he doesn’t even get a chance to see Jeongguk in person again. They text—quite a bit, actually—but they don’t meet up, despite both clearly wanting to.

Jeongguk and he message almost every day, usually about menial things or to make a joke, or check in. Sometimes, it’s to ask when the other is free, but both of their schedules are chaotic for the week. Jimin has late classes because his students are preparing for an upcoming recital, and Jeongguk has been swamped with work since finals are around the corner.

They’re both cordial over texts—for the most part. Sometimes, Jeongguk slips in a little flirting, which Jimin obviously reciprocates. Sometimes, he gets a little flustered whenever the younger man calls him a pet name, or says something extremely direct. He likes referring to Jimin as “sweetheart” and “angel” and “baby” and they all make the older man’s heart race in a way that cannot be normal in the context of something that’s supposed to be this casual. He knows his attraction is only growing, even without seeing Jeongguk in person.

It’s about half an hour before the party and Jimin is getting ready in his apartment, attempting to find something appealing to pair with some jeans Taehyung said he should wear, when Jeongguk sends him the most direct text he’s sent so far. It’s out of nowhere—they haven’t texted yet today. Jimin flushes a pretty pink as he reads the words that appear on his screen.

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Fuck, I need to have you again

I haven’t been able to get you out of my head

Park Jimin

me either

do you know when you’ll be free?

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Not for at least another week.

I would’ve been available tonight but I already promised I’d do something with my friends

I want to cancel so bad so I can see you

Would you see me?

If I canceled?

Park Jimin

i really would but i’m busy too :<<

taehyungie roped me into a scheme of his

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

I love Kim Taehyung but god do I hate him right now

Park Jimin

lolol

you and me both

he has me wearing jeans that i’m pretty sure aren’t supposed to fit on me anymore

like i’m positive i’ve had these since college

they’ve got to be hanging on by a thread atp

[Image Attached]

Jimin sends the photo he quickly took of a side view of his bottom half in the tight, black jeans before he can second guess himself. He knows his ass pops in them and the picture is extremely flattering, but he still gets a little nervous as he worries at his bottom lip and awaits a response from the younger man. He sees the typing bubble appear and disappear over and over, before there is finally a response.

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

Fuck whoever gets to see you in that sexy fucking outfit tonight.

They don’t deserve it

Jimin grins, biting back his smile as his cheeks grow redder at his own flirtatious response.

Park Jimin

who does deserve it then?

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

I’ll earn it

The next time I get you in bed, I’m going to fuck you until you cry, okay? And then I’m going to work you on my fingers until you’re so spent that you can’t even get hard anymore

Does that sound good?

The older man has to physically sit down on his bed as his vision blurs reading over the messages. He can feel how hard he is getting in his jeans and the strain is bordering on painful. He’s never been spoken to so boldly. Jeongguk is hot. So hot, and Jimin doesn’t quite know how to handle him yet, but he likes every second of it.

Park Jimin

jeongguk-ah…we both have to go places. you can’t start this with me right now.

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

And why not, angel?

Park Jimin

because i’ll get turned on and have to make a mess of myself thinking about you before I have to leave :<

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

You’re a fucking siren

The older man sees the text and throws his head back laughing. His grin slips away and fades into something mischievous when he sees the next message Jeongguk sends through.

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

I’m gonna fucking ruin you the next time I see you, sweetheart.

Don’t care where, don’t care when

Just you wait.

Park Jimin

i’ll look forward to it then

think of me lots in the meantime, okay? ;)

Jeon Jeongguk (Attractive)

As if I don’t do that anyway

Have a good time scheming with Taehyung, baby

Jimin’s heart pulses at the pet name and he hears a series of knocks on his door, signaling that the man in question has finally arrived to pick him up. He shoots back a quick text to Jeongguk before pocketing his phone.

Park Jimin

you too. have a good time with your friends tn <3

When Jimin pulls the front door open, he finds Taehyung standing on the other side, pockets in his slacks, a mischievous grin on his face. They look each other up and down simultaneously. Taehyung is dressed in a pair of beige pants and a cotton shirt rolled at the sleeves, his hair done along with his makeup. He looks effortlessly handsome.

“You look hot as fuck in those jeans,” Taehyung tells him bluntly, eyebrows raised. “Wow.”

Jimin smiles but rolls his eyes, “Shut up. Like you don’t look like a walking wet dream.”

“Shh,” Taehyung says, eyeing Jimin’s lower half and pulling a hand from his pocket to twirl his pointer finger in a gesture. “Turn for me.”

The older man sighs but obliges, stepping off the door and putting his hands in the air, doing a slow, three-sixty spin for his best friend. His cheeks color when Taehyung whistles in a low tone the second his ass is in sight. When Jimin turns back to him and crosses his arms over his chest, giving him a look, Taehyung meets his eyes and asks bluntly, “Remind me again why we don’t fuck anymore?”

“Because we were about as compatible in bed as oil and water.”

“Right,” Taehyung gives him another once over, shaking his head. “A damn shame.”

Jimin snickers and grabs his keys. “Don’t start with me this early, Kim Taehyung. Come on, let’s go.”

“You’re right. I have a dick appointment. Well—” Taehyung grins boxily at his best friend as Jimin closes and latches the door to his apartment. “—Actually, two of them.”

A fond eye roll. “You’re very confident.”

“I’m not confident,” Taehyung insists as they walk down the hall. “Just a desperate slut, that’s all.”

Jimin snorts laughter and covers his mouth with his hand, shaking his head as they reach the end of the hall and his best friend presses the button for the elevator. After a moment passes, the older man curiously asks, “Do you actually like them at all, or are you just in it for the possibility of sex?”

Taehyung shrugs, stepping on as the elevator opens for them. “I just go where the wind takes me—Er, or, where my dick takes me. I guess.”

Jimin leans on the back wall in the confined space as the doors shut and Taehyung clicks the button for the lobby. “And right now that’s in the direction of two older men in a committed relationship.”

“Precisely.”

“And what’s the plan for tonight?”

“Nothing, really. I’m just going to try and position myself near them so I can get a conversation going and gauge the vibes. I really was going to drop it after the reunion, but when you told me they said I was hot—Hah. It was all downhill from there,” Taehyung smirks, raising his dark brows at the older man. “Now I know they’re at least attracted to me and have spoken about me, so I’m not going to quit without giving it a solid try.”

Jimin sighs and the elevator stops and dings, the doors sliding open to signal the men to exit, which they do. “And what do you need my help for in this?”

“I might need you as a diversion if anyone tries to swoop into my conversation with them, or might use you as a way to get closer to them tonight,” Taehyung informs him casually, placing a hand on the older man’s shoulder and saying dramatically, “You’re my wingman tonight, Minie. It all rides on you.”

“No pressure.”

“Atta boy. That’s the spirit. Now, let’s get over to Hoseokie-hyung’s place so I can bed two fine ass men. What do you say?”

The older man rolls his eyes again, smiling. “Let’s go get you some dick.”

“Hell yeah!”

When Jimin and Taehyung show up to the front door of Hoseok and Yoongi’s apartment, the older of the two is anticipating a small gathering of close friends and family, with wine and cheeses—the whole thing. Instead, they are greeted by a rager of a party.

Hoseok is the one to open the door. He’s dressed in stylish yet casual clothes, has a beer in one hand and his other extended to the pair. Loud music floods out of the door and spills down the hall, making it difficult to hear the older man when he beams at the two friends and practically shouts, “I’m so happy you two came! Come in! Come in!”

Taehyung is the first to enter and he waits for Jimin, who looks around—a little apprehensive—before stepping inside. He hasn’t been to a party like this in—Well, probably since college, actually. There are strobe lights and solo cups and people packed from wall to wall as far as the eye can see, dancing and talking and listening to the music. He sees people smoking, and others making out, and he looks at Hoseok with wide eyes, who just grins cheekily, because he didn’t know they partied like this. Maybe he should have anticipated it from two creatives who work in a fast-paced environment, but it’s so stark the contrast from his ballet classes and early evenings that he’s speechless.

“No noise complaints yet?” Taehyung jokes, which only makes Hoseok laugh and puts a hand on his shoulder, helping guide them further into the spacious apartment. It’s no doubt that Hoseok and Yoongi have done well for themselves and, if they do have neighbors, they’re probably spread out enough not to be too bothered.

“Don’t worry about that! You guys are here to have fun!” Hoseok assures. His eyes sparkle at Jimin and the older man can’t help but offer a small smile in return. Hoseok’s cheeks are tinted like he’s already tipsy, and he’s genuine in his kindness—His energy is infectious. “There’s drinks in the kitchen! You can grab anything you like, and there’s snacks on the counters!”

“Who is everyone?” Jimin asks loudly, glancing around at the sea of people. “How do you guys even know so many people?”

Hoseok giggles at this and gestures widely. “Most of these guys are colleagues! Some are dancers I’ve toured with, others I’ve taught. A few are personal friends and the rest are from Yoongi-hyung’s company!”

Jimin nods in understanding. He glances around the room and doesn’t see anyone he recognizes, except for a handful of dancers he has witnessed dancing with Hoseok on Instagram Stories.

“Go meet people and have fun! You can come grab me if you need me for anything,” Hoseok says. Then, he makes a mischievous expression and wiggles the hand that has a ring on it at both of them. “Otherwise, I’ll be with my fiancée!”

“Will do!” Taehyung agrees, grinning boxily. Jimin nods in tandem and, after quick hugs, Hoseok disappears through the crowd.

The moment his absence sinks in, the younger man turns to his best friend and decides, “Drinks now. Kims after.”

Jimin snickers but agrees and they both carefully make their way through the crowd. Taehyung is wide enough to just shoulder his way around, but Jimin is smaller and, therefore, goes the coward’s way out by folding himself in to appear smaller and shooting a shy smile and apologizing when he bumps into someone.

They make it to the kitchen and are greeted by rows of liquor and juices set out on a bar, along with everything someone could need for tequila shots; a container of salt, plus cut limes on a board. There are people talking and mixing drinks, and dancing. Taehyung guides them to the cups, and snatches two up, before sliding his way past some people with Jimin in tow, and immediately going for cranberry juice and an open bottle of vodka. He mixes them up two Cape Codders and Jimin grins as he watches him, shaking his head. When Taehyung lifts a brow in question, the older man says loudly, “I haven’t done a house party like this since college.”

“Don’t act like we don’t go out to clubs and shit,” Taehyung laughs.

Jimin rolls his eyes, expression fond as he thinks of the most recent outing they had at a club, which was a few weeks ago. They both got tipsy and started dancing together, and Taehyung shot puppy eyes at a beautiful woman at the bar and she bought him another drink every single time. They went home late and passed out on Jimin’s couch. When they woke up late Sunday afternoon, they were cuddled, still wearing last night’s makeup, and Bluey was playing on the television.

“Yeah, but you know it’s different,” The older man insists. Taehyung nods and hands Jimin his drink, taking a gulp of his own immediately. Afterwards, he swallows hard and says, “Fair enough. It is different. We’re really drinking out of red solos like this is some American movie.”

Jimin laughs and the two begin making their way out of the kitchen. Taehyung brings them through the living room and down a hallway, eyes scoping around for Namjoon and Seokjin the whole time.

They peer into rooms and check corners, but the pair are nowhere to be found. Taehyung pouts when they’ve searched the last room and Jimin gives him a pat on the back, solo cup still in hand as he finally takes one, tentative sip. “It’s okay, Tae! We’ll find them around here somewhere.”

“What if they aren’t here? Should we ask Hoseokie-hyung?” Taehyung questions, most of his drink is gone.

“Kim Taehyung,” Jimin says, backing him into a wall in the living room by placing a firm palm over his chest. The younger man pouts down at his friend. The older man glares. “You did not drag me to a house party and make me squeeze my ass into these tight, slutty jeans when I could have hung out with Jeongguk again for the first time since last week just to give up this easily. You’re stubborn as fuck and my best friend, and this is not how this is going to go. Now, remind me again why we’re here?”

By the end of the speech, Taehyung is biting back a grin. He sighs and leans his head back against the wall, saying plainly, “So I can get double-teamed by the Kims.”

“And what are we going to do?”

“Find the Kims so they can double-team me.”

“Exactly!” Jimin exclaims, using his free hand to grab Taehyung’s wrist and drag him towards the kitchen again. “So, let’s get you some more liquid courage and hunt them down.”

Taehyung smiles down at him, a playful look in his eyes as they move past warm bodies to get to the alcohol again. “You know, Minie, you’re very hot when you’re determined. Has Jeongguk seen this side of you yet—”

“Shut up,” Jimin cuts him off, eyes set on a far wall in the kitchen. They go wide at the sight of something but Taehyung is too caught up in messing with him to notice.

He keeps talking, “He’s going to think it’s so sexy—I already know. That man is so far gone for you. I’m shocked he didn’t come all the way here tonight just to stare at you in those pants. College him would have died—

“Shh! Tae, Look!” Jimin urges hurriedly, yanking Taehyung and gesturing his head to the far wall. The younger man’s brows furrow but he looks in the direction his best friend points and his eyes also go wide.

“Holy shit, it’s them!” Taehyung tells Jimin like he doesn’t already know. They both look at one another in shock before staring back at the other side of the kitchen. Standing in a group and talking are Kim Namjoon, Kim Seokjin, Jung Hoseok, and Min Yoongi.

Jimin scans them as they chat with one another and his eyes go wide as they fall on the sight of a figure dressed in a tight black t-shirt and jeans, stomper boots on as he leans against the wall and says something to the other four.

“Damn, Jeongguk is here too? Actually, I guess I should have assumed that. He is friends with all of them,” Taehyung notes out loud, but Jimin is too caught by the sight of the younger man to say anything. His heart is palpitating and he’s gripping his solo cup hard enough to leave dents and he can’t believe Jeongguk is right there.

He looks good. And he’s laughing at something Yoongi is saying with a smirk to the others. Taehyung is quick to tug them in the direction of the friend group, even as Jimin drags his feet and hisses, “Tae! We can’t just—”

“Hobi-hyung! Yoongi-hyung!” His best friend is already calling out. Five pairs of eyes look over at them as Taehyung halts them before the group with a friendly smile on his deceitfully handsome face. Jimin greets them with a shy look of his own but his eyes immediately train on Jeongguk, who is already staring at him.

His body goes still and he bites at his bottom lip, trying to pay attention as Taehyung talks animatedly with Hoseok, making an excuse about complimenting their home, and congratulating them on the engagement formally. Yoongi thanks him in a low tone, and Hoseok gets teary-eyed at how sweet Taehyung is—a true devil in disguise, even though Jimin knows he means the words, he also knows it’s all a ploy to get the attention of the Kim couple. And oh, does he get it. Near-sober Taehyung is entirely different from wasted Taehyung, and he is effortlessly charming when he wants to be. Namjoon and Seokjin glanced at each other as the two friends approached, but their eyes haven’t left Taehyung once since.

It’s much like how Jeongguk is still looking at Jimin, making the older man feel goosebumps rise on the back of his neck. He averts his gaze from Jeongguk to feign listening to the other three’s conversation, but he can only think about the focus on him. Jeongguk’s eyes are dark and yearning. He has his hands in his pockets and, at some point, Jimin watched from his peripheral vision as he stuck his tongue into his cheek, protruding it. Somehow, Taehyung whines enough to convince the group to do tequila shots with him, and Hoseok seems to love the idea while everyone else looks apprehensive. The host grabs up shot glasses, a fresh bottle of tequila, and the board with salt and limes before perusing his way through the apartment, getting stalled to say greetings to guests and to take quick videos.

Jimin and Taehyung walk behind Hoseok and Yoongi, with Namjoon, Seokjin, and Jeongguk in tow. The eager dancer finally brings them out to the balcony and throws the door open. It’s spacious and dimly lit, only a few people loitering near the guard rails as they smoke and drink and talk. They pay no mind to the seven friends that find spots along the outdoor furniture and lay out the things they need on a nearby table. There’s a coffee table in the middle, and Hoseok clears it off. The night air is warm and breezy, and Jimin takes a deep breath before perching himself on a loveseat beside Taehyung. Seokjin and Namjoon sit on the longer couch, Hoseok in a chair with Yoongi on his lap. When Jimin glances around, he finds Jeongguk leaning against the wall behind Seokjin and Namjoon, his eyes still on Jimin.

The older man flushes and quickly darts his eyes away, feeling nervous for some weird reason. Jeongguk hasn’t spoken to him yet, but he supposes it could be because they’re surrounded by their friends—most of which don’t know that they’ve fucked since the last time all seven of them were in a place together.

Hoseok announces that they are going to do shots and Taehyung pipes up eagerly, “Oh! What about body shots?”

Everyone’s eyes go to him and he grins, tilting his head and feigning like this hasn’t been his scheme the whole time. “We should do body shots, hyung! They’re so much more fun than regular shots.”

Hoseok grins, his eyes sparkling like he’s never heard anything better. He looks over at his fiancée, who eyes him with equal parts weary and entertained. “Yoongi, would you allow me the honor of licking salt off your gorgeous body?”

Yoongi goes bright pink but snickers. “I’ll let you but there’s no way I’m going first.”

“I will!” Taehyung volunteers, already tossing his shirt off and discarding it on the end of the loveseat. Jimin has to cover his mouth with his hand to hide his smile when he sees Namjoon and Seokjin simultaneously zero in on Taehyung’s tanned and taut chest, and his soft tummy. He rises from the couch and splays himself out on the coffee table in the middle, hissing when his back hits the cold surface. He relaxes and glances at the men around, no doubt lingering on Namjoon and Seokjin to his side. “Any takers?”

Jimin knows that he is the backup plan—If the Kims need a little push, he should go first and warm them up so they go next. He and Taehyung share a second of eye contact and, as best friends of over a decade, he already understands this. There’s a pause where no one takes the offer, and Jimin sets his drink down, not willing to let Taehyung get embarrassed or discouraged in any way. However, as he opens his mouth, he watches Seokjin pass his drink off to his boyfriend and mumble low, “Fuck it.”

Namjoon’s eyes go wide but he watches with rapt attention as Seokjin gets up from the couch and gathers up the shot that Hoseok was busy pouring. He sets it on the table beside Taehyung and kneels to his right, making eye contact with the younger man who bites his lip and looks up at him. Seokjin releases a shaky breath, no doubt seeing the unbridled hunger in Taehyung’s eyes, before he gingerly accepts the salt from Hoseok and asks the man laid out on the table, “Where can I put it?”

Taehyung grins, holding eye contact with Seokjin as he calls out to the man behind him, “Namjoon, where can he put it?”

Namjoon’s grip on the cups in hand tighten and Jimin takes note of how interested he looks in what’s happening between his partner and Taehyung. A little shakily, he says, “Up his chest. Down the middle.”

The man on the table’s eyes gleam like that’s the best news he has ever received and he hums as Seokjin starts tapping salt along his sternum. It’s far more than is necessary for a shot, but that’s all part of the fun. Seokjin finishes up and, with a deep breath, he takes the shot in one hand and lime in the other, before diving down and licking a firm stripe from the bottom of Taehyung’s chest all the way up to his clavicle, leaving a trail of saliva in his wake. The sensation of a warm tongue followed by cool air hitting the spit must feel good, because Taehyung shivers and parts his lips, a breathless laugh escaping. Seokjin’s cheeks color and he raises up, downing the tequila in one go, before popping the lime into his mouth and setting the glass down on the table.

Hoseok’s mouth drops open and Yoongi is smirking in his lap. The younger of the two laughs as Seokjin tosses the lime into the glass and passes it back to Hoseok to discard, sitting back on the couch beside his boyfriend. “Fuck, that was hot.”

Taehyung, looking blissed out on the table, nods.

Yoongi raises a brow in Seokjin’s direction. “Hyung, what happened to you not drinking for your diet?”

The older man shrugs and leans back, one hand playing with Namjoon’s hair, which makes his boyfriend’s eyelids flutter momentarily. “He’s hot.”

Instead of getting upset, Namjoon nods in agreement. On the table, Taehyung hums and eyes Namjoon, who freezes under his gaze. He asks in a low voice, “Do you want to try too?”

Namjoon licks over his lips and glances at Seokjin, who releases his hair and nods slowly, mumbling, “You can if you want, baby.”

Wordlessly, Namjoon slips onto his knees as Hoseok readies another shot and lime. He goes to grab the salt but Taehyung holds a hand to him and smiles, before glancing at Seokjin. “Hyung, would you come pour the salt for him?”

Seokjin’s eyes visibly darken and both Taehyung and Namjoon watch in anticipation as the oldest of the group stands from the couch and circles the other side of the table so that he is opposite his boyfriend. Taehyung passes the salt to him wordlessly, biting back a smile. Seokjin looks at Namjoon before glancing at Taehyung, and then down at his exposed skin. Running his tongue over his bottom lip, Seokjin starts tapping salt out from the middle of Taehyung’s chest, and keeps going until Namjoon inhales sharply. Seokjin stopped the salt at Taehyung’s navel—avoiding his belly button—until he reached the waistband of his pants—down his trimmed happy trail and everything. Namjoon’s eyes are sort of glazed over as he watches Seokjin put the salt on the table and look at him, wordlessly passing the shot but holding onto the lime.

Namjoon glances at Taehyung, who nods once, and then he’s on him. He starts from his chest and licks repeatedly as he goes, unlike Seokjin who went in one stripe. His eyes flutter when he reaches Taehyung’s soft tummy, licking down until he gets to his navel. Taehyung’s lips fall open around a soft, pleased sound and Seokjin looks torn between watching his boyfriend lick him, and watching Taehyung’s reaction to his boyfriend licking, so he decidedly darts his dark gaze between both of them instead.

Jimin is grinning and makes eye contact with Taehyung the second Namjoon lifts himself, drinking the crude shot of tequila in one go, before having Seokjin reach over and put the lime to his lips—both of them holding eye contact as Seokjin holds the lime and lets Namjoon suck from it, face twisting up. Taehyung mirrors his best friend’s grin and winks, which makes Jimin release a breathy laugh. He can’t believe his ridiculous ploy worked so well, and it’s not even done yet.

Once the shot is done and the boyfriends have passed the shot glass to Hoseok and tossed the lime, Hoseok is the first one to speak again. He whistles low and looks at Yoongi with affection. “Yeah, I'm doing that to you. Come here.”

Taehyung lifts himself from the table and cheeses, mischief flickering in his expression when he looks at Namjoon. “Do you want a turn now? We still haven’t done them properly.”

Namjoon’s eyes go a little wide and he looks over at his partner, who raises a brow in question, silently communicating, “Do you want to?”

After a moment of clear hesitation, Taehyung kneels next to Namjoon—planning to take his place—and nods to Jimin. “Minie can do it with you. Will you, Minie?”

Jimin bites down on his lower lip and shifts. “Sure, I mean—If there’s someone who will do it with me—”

“I’ll do it.”

Jeongguk’s voice comes from the side as he steps off the wall and saunters over, arms still crossed. Jimin’s eyes go wide as he looks over at the younger man, who is looking between all of them but mostly at Jimin. Jeongguk shrugs, casually saying, “I’ll do a shot off you.”

Jimin and him hold eye contact for a long moment. The last time he saw Jeongguk, the younger man was eating him out on his table. The last time they spoke, Jeongguk said he was going to ravage him the next time he saw him. It’s the first time he’s spoken directly to Jimin all night and here they are; Jeongguk offering to do a proper body shot off of him while their peers watch.

His cheeks color and he breathes out, “Okay.”

“It’s settled then!” Taehyung happily announces, glancing at Namjoon and tilting his head curiously. “Are you down now, Namjoon-hyung?”

“Hyung?” Seokjin questions, raising a brow. Taehyung smirks, looking at him. “You both just had your tongues on my body. I think we’re close enough for me to call you hyung.”

Seokjin snorts while Namjoon laughs, soft and breathy. Namjoon follows it up by taking his shirt off and tossing it onto the couch behind them, slowly getting onto the table between Taeyhung and Seokjin. He glances between the two, flushed down to his chest, and says softly, “I’m ready.”

His boyfriend’s eyes darken while Taehyung’s glint with fondness. He makes their shots and passes the salt off to Seokjin, who makes Namjoon gasp when he starts tapping the salt out from his neck and all the way down his body in a thick line, until he reaches the waistline of his pants. It’s a lot of salt—plenty for two people—and Taehyung grins when he makes eye contact with Seokjin, the younger of the two coaxing Namjoon into softly holding a lime between his lips. Hoseok and Yoongi take the salt next, staying on the chair as Yoongi lays down flat across Hoseok—shirt pulled up to his neckline. He’s pale and smiling softly, laughing as he lets Hoseok tap the salt along his chest, continuing up until he reaches his sternum. He holds the salt in the air, an obvious gesture for Jeongguk to come collect it. Jeongguk steps over, readying two shots—passing one off to Hoseok, who thanks him—before grabbing the salt and a lime and walking back over to the loveseat Jimin is perched on.

While Taehyung and Seokjin take turns licking around different parts of Namjoon’s body, Jimin waits until Jeongguk is watching and stares at him as he slowly lifts his shirt and pulls it off, fixing his brunette hair as he neatly places the shirt over one of the arms on the loveseat. Jeongguk’s eyes wander down his exposed skin and Jimin tries to hold back a flush, straining his neck to look up at the younger man as he sets the shot and lime down on a side table, the salt in hand as he raises his dark brows and says lowly, “Lay down, pretty.”

All of the air is stolen from Jimin’s lungs. He thought Jeongguk would pretend everything was casual in front of their friends—would play it like nothing is going on—and maybe he still is, because it’s clear everyone else is too distracted to pay attention to his words, but it’s shocking nonetheless to hear the saccharine pet name drip from Jeongguk’s lips like honey again after going a week without it. His heart flutters and he obeys immediately, turning and resting flat across the loveseat. He rests his head just under the arm and crooks the back of his knees over the arm on the other end. Jeongguk sits down on the space beside him, propping one hand on the cushion beside the older man’s head. He looks at Jimin for a second, as though waiting for him to back out. When he doesn’t, Jeongguk’s eyes dart down to his body, and he starts tapping the salt out where he wants it.

Jimin gasps, arms propped up by his head, as he feels where Jeongguk puts the salt. It’s a lot. Far more than was used with Taehyung or Yoongi. Jeongguk trails it slowly from the column of his throat, down one of his collarbones, along one side of his chest—running it right over his nipple—before reaching all the way down to his navel, and coming back up the other side. Jeongguk does the same thing on the other side before assessing his work and turning to set the salt down on the side table. When he glances away, he ends up looking over at the three on the table. His eyes go a little wide and it directs Jimin’s attention there as well—whose eyes go wide too when he watches what is happening.

Taehyung is downing his shot while Seokjin’s is empty, and he is leaning down to suck on the lime resting between his boyfriend’s lips. Namjoon watches him do it and, as Seokjin pulls away, both boyfriends wait for Taehyung to lean down and suck from the same lime, but he doesn’t. Instead, his eyes shoot between both boyfriends and he makes a split decision to put a hand on the back of Seokjin’s neck, using the hold to tug him forward and smash their lips together. Namjoon and Seokjin’s eyes go wide, but the older one soon melts into the kiss. He lets Taehyung’s tongue slide into his mouth, tasting the lime and tequila there. Eventually, the youngest pulls away, breathing hard, eyes glazed over as he stares down at Namjoon. Namjoon looks blissful and a little shocked all at once. That only grows when Taehyung gently pulls the lime from his mouth and dips down, connecting their lips too. Seokjin’s mouth parts and he hungrily watches the display.

Jimin puts a hand over his mouth, trying not to smile. He glances at Yoongi and Hoseok to see if they have noticed but the salt and tequila on their end is long gone. Yoongi is in his fiancee's lap and the two of them are in the throes of a deep makeout session, hands wandering and cheeks flushed from all the drinking they’ve done tonight.

Jimin suddenly feels warmth on his waist and gasps quietly, attention pulled back to Jeongguk immediately. The younger man has one hand still propped near his head, the other grazing his waist in a soft hold, and he’s looking down at Jimin with a slightly amused expression. “Eyes on me now, okay?”

Biting his lower lip, Jimin nods. Looking into Jeongguk’s dark brown eyes with the pupils blown so wide that they almost appear black, he really isn’t sure how he could look away anyway. Jeongguk is a sight to behold. He’s gorgeous and self-assured and he’s looking at Jimin like he wants to have him all to himself—Why on Earth would he look anywhere else?

“Good,” Jeongguk tells him, and Jimin’s abdomen tightens. Fuck, he really hopes he doesn’t get hard while this happens. He didn’t even consider the repercussions of having Jeongguk’s hands and tongue all over him in front of people.

But, based on how his body is already heating and Jeongguk is staring at him, he’s going to be entirely unsuccessful in his desire to not get wildly turned on.

Jeongguk gathers the shot and lime, passing the shot off to place in one of Jimin’s flat palms. He raises a brow. “Hold this for me?”

Jimin nods, realizing he hasn’t spoken once during the entire time he’s been shirtless but it’s because he feels like he can’t. Not with Jeongguk here. Not after all of the things they texted only hours prior.

“Open your mouth,” Jeongguk requests. Jimin parts his lips enough for the younger man to slot the lime between them. He holds his lips firmly together, wanting to keep the lime up enough for Jeongguk to properly use it later. His cheeks warm against his will. Jeongguk is going to suck the lime right from his mouth. It’s not like they haven’t done more—much Jeonguk—but it’s such a sensual act and there’s so much pulsing tension between them, ripe and thick in the air.

Jeongguk returns both hands on either side of his waist and scans the trail of salt he left, running his tongue along his bottom lip and playing with the silver on one end. He looks hungry.

When his eyes meet Jimin’s wide ones, he raises a brow, asking in a low tone, “Ready?”

He gets a soft hum in answer.

Jeongguk instantly dives down—as though it had been hard for him to hold back all this time. He starts by kissing just above the salt line on Jimin’s neck, making the older man tense at the sudden contact. Then, his hot, wet tongue shoots out of his mouth and he licks a long stripe of the salt from Jimin’s clavicle to where it stops on the column of his throat. The older man sucks in a harsh breath when, instead of simply licking, Jeongguk sucks and kisses and licks down his body. He makes it to Jimin’s nipple and shamelessly sucks it into his mouth, retrieving the salt from the area. Jimin’s fingers twitch, threatening to reach down and tug at strands of Jeongguk’s hair. He resists, not wanting to make this more than it already is—They are still in front of people.

It’s almost like Jeongguk wants to get a reaction out of him—The way he tugs on Jimin’s nipple and gives it a final, harsh suck while looking directly up at the older man. Jimin bites down hard on his quivering bottom lip, brows knitted together as he desperately tries not to react. Jeongguk hums as he pulls back, before leaning all the way down to Jimin’s waistband and licking the line of salt up from there to the nipple he just played with. He returns to his navel after that and licks up more salt until he reaches the middle of Jimin’s abdomen and decides to suck a dark mark into the pale skin residing there.

Jimin can vaguely hear talking in the background. His mouth tightens around the lime as he gasps, and the tequila in the shot glass he is holding threatens to spill over as his body shakes under Jeongguk’s ministrations. The hands on his waist squeeze and he feels the younger man’s tongue lick up to his other nipple. Jeongguk pulls it between his teeth and licks a fat stripe over it, before sucking at it until the bud gets hard. Jimin releases a soft, muffled breath then—unable to hold it back. Jeongguk groans in response, before working his way up from Jimin’s nipple to his collarbone using his tongue. Once he arrives there, he nips at the sensitive skin and sucks another mark on the middle of his collarbone.

Jimin can’t help himself anymore.

He tangles his free hand in Jeongguk’s hair and moans low in his throat as the younger man finishes licking the rest of the salt from his neck, making his sweet time in leaving sloppy, wet kisses everywhere and reviving hickeys that were faded from their last encounter. The trail his saliva leaves is cold and makes Jimin shiver, tugging at the younger man’s hair. When Jeongguk lifts his head finally, his eyes are lidded, his hair mussed, his lips red. He licks over them and holds eye contact with Jimin as he takes the shot glass from him, only looking away to toss his head back and effortlessly down it in one go.

His face doesn’t even twist up at the crude flavor. Instead, he focuses back on Jimin and leans down to his face. “Keep looking at me.”

Jimin balls his hands into fists and goes still, eyes wide open and trained on Jeongguk because, again—How could he possibly look anywhere else? Especially when Jeongguk is suddenly leaning down and wrapping his lips around the lime, letting it stay in Jimin's mouth as he sucks gently on it. Their eyes are on each other, and Jimin’s eyes flutter at the sensation of his mouth moving and knowing it’s because of Jeongguk’s own mouth, but not being able to feel him due to the lime obstructing their contact. He makes a pathetic sound and Jeongguk hums, sucking on the lime for a second longer before letting his teeth sink into it and pulling it from Jimin’s lips as he sits back up.

He removes the lime from his lips, licking over them as he discards the lime in the shot glass and sets it on the side table. Jimin moves to sit up. He feels his tight jeans straining in the front and his face is flushed, and he knows the others are too busy to pay them any mind but it’s still embarrassing to be this affected over a body shot. A horny as fuck body shot, yes—though a body shot nonetheless.

As he tries to lift himself and put his shirt back on, however, Jeongguk places a palm flat against his chest and presses him back down on the loveseat. A gasp tears through the older man and his brows furrow at the younger. Jeongguk puts one hand on the armrest above him and towers over him, eyes dark. “Who said I was done with you?”

A shiver racks down Jimin’s spine. “But—The shot—It’s finished—”

“The shot is finished. I’m not,” Jeongguk clarifies.

Shamefully, Jimin’s dick twitches in his clothes. He relaxes and allows the younger man to properly hover over him on the couch; one of Jeongguk’s legs slotting between his own. “But—The others—”

Jeongguk raises a brow. “What others?”

Jimin blinks at him and then turns his head where their other friends were sitting just minutes ago. No one is there. There are empty shot glasses and two t-shirts hanging around, but all of the others have up and left at some point—including the people that were smoking on the balcony. Jimin’s mouth opens and closes around empty words and Jeongguk seems to sense his befuddlement because he swoops in to explain, “All three of the Kims left a while ago. You didn’t hear them say they were going to ‘bring Taehyung home’?”

Jeongguk says the last part with a glint on his words, his lips turned up, and Jimin shakes his head.

“Yeah, well, they left. And Hobi-hyung and Yoongi-hyung got up a minute ago—More than likely to go fuck in their room,” Jeongguk says bluntly, and Jimin can’t help but grin fondly. The younger man looks down at him and something in his expression changes—mischief and lust evident tenfold. His voice dips down. “Just you and me now, baby.”

“Oh,” Is all Jimin can say. Jeongguk grins at him and runs his tongue over his lips, looking him up and down.

His gaze lingers for a moment too long on Jimin’s pants. Then, he uses the hand that isn’t propping himself up to run along Jimin’s size—light and teasing, making goosebumps rise on the older man’s skin. “You really do look fucking incredible in these jeans. I’m lucky I got to see you in them tonight.”

Jimin’s mind is sent back to the texts they sent each other a few hours ago—to all of the things Jeongguk said. When the younger man leans down and starts kissing around his neck again—paying special attention to the sensitive spot under his jaw—he can’t help himself when he throws his arms around his neck and says, “Jeongguk—The texts you sent earlier—”

“Mhm. I remember,” He says as he breaks off from sucking another mark into Jimin’s skin. He slips a hand under the older man’s body, warm palm on the small of his back, and pulls him close so their upper halves are flush against each other. Jimin gasps at the contact. “I didn’t expect you to be here. I guess I should have figured Taehyung’s scheme would involve getting into Namjoon and Seokjin’s pants.”

Jimin huffs a laugh but it’s weak and distracted because Jeongguk is nibbling on his ear lobe, his other hand toying with his nipples like he can’t get enough of teasing him. “I should have thought that—Of course, you’d be here, since you’re friends with Namjoon and Yoongi and—”

“Mhm. I was going to cancel for you if you were free. Funny that I’m lucky enough that we were already going to be at the same place, huh, baby? Now, I can make good on what I told you. Do you remember what I said?”

The older man’s abdomen tightens at the words, lust causing his mind to go fuzzy. He tries to recall the exact words Jeongguk used. “You said that you were going to…to…”

“Say it,” Jeongguk commands, placing sloppy kisses down the column of his throat now.

“S-Said you were gonna—” Jimin gasps sharply when the younger man bites hard on his collarbone. He’s sure it’ll leave a mark and pride blooms inside his chest at the thought of wearing Jeongguk’s marks proudly. “—ruin me.”

Jeongguk dips down to his ear and licks over the shell in a way that has Jimin shivering. “Mhm. And I plan on doing exactly that.”

He emphasizes the point with a hand tugging on the front of his jeans until he pops the button on the top. Jimin gasps, eyes widening. “But we’re—Jeongguk, we’re in public.”

Like the little shit he is, Jeongguk lifts his head from the older man’s neck, hand working his zipper down as he glances around before saying, “I don’t see any other member of the public here.”

Jimin gives him a light slap to the arm, which makes Jeongguk grin down at him. His eyes sparkle like there is a galaxy inside them and Jimin finds himself a little lost in the stars when he says, “You know what I mean. We’re in Hoseok and Yoongi’s apartment, and there are people everywhere. There’s no way we’re doing anything out here.”

Jeongguk sighs but retreats his hand from working Jimin’s zipper down. He leaves it as is—giving some relief to the older man’s strained cock beneath his underwear—and stands to his feet, taking Jimin’s hand to pull him up with him. The older man allows himself to be tugged to his feet, though he’s a little shaky from their antics, and doesn’t even have to be told to hold his arms up when Jeongguk grabs his shirt and puts it back on him. Once the younger man has done that, Jimin starts to go for his pants to fix them, when Jeongguk yanks him by the arm and begins guiding them to the door that leads back into the apartment.

“Jeongguk, my pants—”

“Are about to come off,” Jeonguk tells him, turning to Jimin and using his free hand to guide the older man’s chin up for—what winds up being—a very gentle kiss. After they break apart, some of the urgency between them has dissipated and Jimin feels like he can breathe again. Jeongguk grabs the handle and, before opening it, raises a brow and asks, “Do you want to do this? Because, just know—if we do—I’m making you come before we leave this building.”

Heat soars in the older man’s body and he nods. “Yes. Yeah, I—I want to.”

Jeongguk grins, opening the door and allowing all of the sound from the party that was previously muffled to come back full force. If the place was packed before, it’s overcrowded now, as the night has raged on. Jimin has Jeongguk walk in front, following his lead and trying to stay desperately close so he doesn’t get lost. When they enter a long hall and start walking through a massive group of drunk people, Jimin feels his heart race and nearly trips as he moves close and grips onto the back of Jeongguk’s shirt by slipping his hand under his leather jacket. He feels as the shirt pulls taut against the younger man’s chest on his front, but doesn’t remove the hold because Jeongguk keeps walking like it is nothing, and Jimin really doesn’t want to get lost.

Eventually, Jeongguk pulls open a door in the hall and walks through, taking Jimin’s hand to pull him inside with him. The door falls shut behind them and Jimin hears a latch of it being locked as they are encased in darkness.

“Jeongguk?” He asks softly, feeling the warmth of the younger man’s body as Jeongguk tugs him close with an arm around his waist. He feels Jeongguk’s other hand go to the door behind them, pinning Jimin to it as he leans down and brushes their noses together.

“Yes?”

“Where are we?”

A breathy chuckle. “One of the hyungs’ closets. It’s for linens and shit. Unfortunately, there is no light switch.”

Jimin grins. “This is ridiculous. It reminds me of when people would play seven minutes in heaven at parties in college.”

Jeongguk hums, nosing along Jimin’s jaw and neck, teasing him by breathing hotly along the skin. “Mhm. I remember you got paired with Taehyung in sophmore year—at that New Years party we went to—and it was after that night that you guys decided to start sleeping together. I was so fucking jealous when I saw you walk out of the closet with him. Your cheeks were red and your hair—it was blonde back then—was messy and you looked so hot. Taehyung wouldn’t stop cracking jokes about the reactions you were giving him—”

“Oh, yes, I remember that! I was annoyed because he was bragging to the hyungs and I was all embarrassed and tipsy,” Jimin laughs, though it’s breathless and distracted because Jeongguk is recalling a time where he was apparently jealous of Taehyung because he made-out with Jimin, and Jeongguk had feelings for him at the time. And Jimin from back then had no idea. The way Jeongguk speaks about it makes it sound both like he is calling a distant memory, and also like it happened yesterday. It makes Jimin’s heart race because his feelings still feel present when he speaks like that—He makes it sound like he still likes Jimin, even after ten years apart.

Jeongguk makes a low noise and leans in to brush their lips together. Then, he mumbles, “I missed you this week, hyung.”

Jimin’s brows furrow but his heart thuds hard in his chest. “It was only a week.”

"You’re saying you didn’t miss me?” Jeongguk asks teasingly, bringing both hands under Jimin’s shirt and trailing them up his sides in a way that makes the older man’s lips part around a sigh. Jeongguk’s voice dips down and he tells the older man, “Can’t say I believe you, especially when you seem so excited right now.”

He emphasizes his point by pressing his hips against the older man’s, pulling a gasp from Jimin as their hard-ons brush together.

“You are too,” Jimin defends breathily.

“Mhm,” Jeongguk says, already bringing one hand down to hurriedly slip between them and work the button and zipper of his own pants off. Once that’s done, he tugs his pants and underwear down enough for Jimin to feel his cock freeing—since it accidentally knocks against the older man’s hip and makes him whine softly. Jeongguk chuckles at his reaction and does the same to him; slipping the bottom half of his clothing down and making the older man gasp when he moves forward, both of their bare, bard lengths brushing together. “I’ve been wanting to hear your pretty moans again for the last week.”

Jeongguk finishes the statement and then Jimin feels him raise a hand, followed by hearing the telltale—all too familiar—sound of Jeongguk spitting.

“Oh, God,” Is all Jimin can say, processing what the younger man is going to do. Jeongguk laughs again, a little breathy this time as he wraps a big hand around both of their cocks—Jimin’s practically dwarfed compared to Jeongguk’s hand and the sheer size of his length—and begins slowly stroking them up and down together.

Jeongguk exhales and leans in to brush his nose teasingly along Jimin’s cheek, before shifting to place a kiss at the spot just under his ear. “No one out there can hear you when the music is playing like this. Go ahead and be loud for me, baby. Give me what I’ve been waiting to hear.”

The older man is weak in the knees at the words and far too turned on to do anything but listen, so he lets his mouth drop open, head falling back against the door, hands balling into fists at Jeongguk’s chest as the younger man starts working them in tandem.

Jeongguk is a fast learner—something Jimin has always known—and that same mantra applies to sex. The younger man picks up on the way Jimin’s hips buck when he twists his wrist, or how he lets out an airy moan when Jeongguk rubs his palm over their tips at the same moment. He uses every little thing he learns to get them both closer and closer to that familiar edge.

Jimin whines, basking in the glorious sensation of having Jeongguk’s hand on him—having his dick on him too. He’s warm and firm and working so hard to make both of them feel good, and Jimin’s heart flutters despite nothing about this moment being innocent or sweet.

“Jeongguk—Feels good, Jeongguk. Ah—” Jimin talks, feeling his abdomen tighten as the heat builds. “Please. Please—”

“I like you so much, hyung,” Jeongguk babbles like he isn’t thinking. He’s panting hard but Jimin is the same. His hand working over both of their cocks feels so good that the older man is barely thinking about the words he is saying. All his horny brain knows is that his heart feels good when the sentences hit his ears. “Fuck, I like you. I love making you feel like this. Love taking you apart. Love hearing you make those cute little sounds for me.”

When the words ‘I like you’ finally register, Jimin’s brows furrow and he raises his arms to throw around the back of Jeongguk’s neck, wanting to feel him as close as he can. He breathes out, “W-Wait, what—?”

“Nothing. Nothing. Ignore me,” Jeongguk shakes his head, nose brushing against the shell of Jimin’s ear in a way that has the older man shivering. “I’ve been drinking. Ignore me. Just—Fuck, I missed this.”

“Me too,” Jimin reveals, whimpering at the end when Jeongguk’s wrist flicks just right. A second later, Jeongguk rolls his palm over their heads, rubbing them together and adding delicious pressure while smearing their pre-cum, and Jimin moans. “Missed you.”

“Yeah? Missed me?” Jeongguk goads. He presses his lips to the older man’s ear and mumbles, “Prove it to me, baby. Come for me. Make a mess. Show me how much you missed me.”

And, again, Jimin is too far gone to do anything other than listen. He stumbles into his climax; shaking and mewling and feeling his hands tighten in the fabric of Jeongguk’s shirt until he’s certain his knuckles have gone white. The younger man listens closely to every sound he draws out and follows closely behind.

Jeongguk groans loudly the moment he orgasms. He rests his forehead on Jimin’s shoulder and works them both into overstimulation, cum all over his fist and both of their softening lengths.

Fuck,” The younger man sighs out, sounding thoroughly satisfied. Jimin feels much the same. He nods even though Jeongguk can’t see him and then Jeongguk steps back. He feels what sounds like soft cloth moving and, next thing he knows, what feels like a towel is gently running along his over-sensitive dick, working him clean.

“Wha—?”

“I told you—Linen closet,” Jeongguk says cheekily, Jimin hearing him clean himself off too, both of them fixing their pants as the younger man discards the towels into a basket he bumps into on the side. He mumbles something about how what the hyungs’ don’t know won’t hurt them, and then he’s taking Jimin by the hips and flipping their positions, pulling the older man close.

They spend the next several minutes recouping; Jeongguk sitting down with his back to the door, and Jimin in his lap with his forehead on Jeongguk’s shoulder.

The only sounds are the muffled noise from the party and panting as both of them try to catch their breath. Jeongguk has one hand around Jimin’s waist, the other holding the back of his head, petting him and pressing occasional kisses to the top of his head.

Eventually, Jimin sighs and mumbles, "I should get going.”

“Did you and Taehyung come together?”

“Mhm. It’s okay, though. I don’t need him to get back. We took the train.”

Jeongguk makes a soft noise, a mix between fond and worried. “Hyung, it’s past midnight. The trains have stopped running.”

“Oh,” Jimin says dumbly, lifting his head from the younger man’s shoulder and stretching his arms. He can feel the exhaustion overtaking his body. Jeongguk has a way of making him feel warm and safe, and the exertion of sex only mixes with it to make him feel sleepy and wanting a nap. “It’s okay. I’ll walk. Not too far.”

“Absolutely not. I can take you home.”

“Didn’t you drink? Should you even be driving?”

Jeongguk huffs a laugh. “I only had one shot.”

Jimin blinks in the direction of the younger man’s face, despite knowing he can’t see him. “Wait. But you said—”

“I know what I said,” Jeongguk says, sighing as Jimin lifts from his lap, standing to his feet right after too. The older man can hear him adjusting his clothes. “I meant it. Ignore it. It was probably just the heat of the moment, you know?”

Probably?”

Definitely, then. Okay?” Jeongguk says and Jimin can hear the grin. The younger man takes his smaller hand into a hold. “Come on, let me take you home.”

Without hesitation, Jimin does.

It’s a little over a week after the party that Jimin gets a message from Jeongguk saying he wants to meet him for lunch. They’d been talking every day still—as Jeongguk promised—and Jimin’s crush was growing to dangerous levels. He immediately took up the offer to meet for lunch. They hadn’t seen one another since the party, and he was craving Jeongguk’s touch on him—craving his smile, his laugh, everything.

Luckily, it’s a Tuesday when they meet and Jimin doesn’t have classes until five in the evening on Tuesdays. He takes a short train ride to a place near Seoul National University, and double-checks the name of the restaurant they are meeting at on his phone before actually walking inside. It’s a nice, warm environment indoors; plants, paintings, intimate seating arrangements. The man at the front desk greets him and Jimin lets him know he is meeting someone. Jeongguk had texted him about five minutes prior to let him know he had secured them a table already, and was waiting for when the older man arrived. The host takes him to a table located beside a window in the back of the restaurant, and Jimin tugs anxiously at the sleeves of his coat, spotting Jeongguk sitting down and looking out the window, sipping at a glass of water.

Jimin’s breath catches in his throat at the sight of him. In the afternoon light, he looks every bit the stunning man that he is. He’s dressed in slacks and a button-up, sleeves rolled up with a watch on one wrist, black-framed glasses perched on his face. His black hair is styled and fluffy and Jimin bites his lip, trying not to smile as he approaches the table with the host. Jeongguk must hear their footsteps, because he turns and smiles charmingly at Jimin. The older man wants to cry at the sight of his big, brown eyes in the glasses as he directs that cute smile to him. His heart pulses hard. Jeongguk is a dangerous combination of adorable and too hot all at once, and it makes everything so much harder for Jimin.

“Hey,” Jeongguk greets easily once Jimin takes the seat opposite him and the host walks away. He holds his arms over one another on the table and tilts his head. “I hope the trip over here wasn’t bad?”

Jimin smiles softly, shaking his head. “No, not at all. The train ride was short. How has work been so far?”

Jeongguk’s smile widens and he gets this twinkle in his eyes like he thinks it’s adorable that Jimin is asking about his day. “Good. My last lecture ended just now at eleven, and I don’t have another class until three.”

“Wow. Long break.”

“Mhm. I usually go home for a while, or work in my office. Kills time.”

“But today you wanted to have lunch with me?” Jimin asks with a look he knows is flirty.

Jeongguk mirrors it. “Yes, today I wanted to have lunch with you. Have you been here before?”

Jimin shakes his head, looking over the menu.

“It’s good. You’d like their tonkatsu.”

Jimin lifts a brow, smiling. “Would I? And how do you know I wouldn't prefer the…”

He glances over the items before settling on, “...the yakitori?”

Jeongguk raises his own brow, giving Jimin a look so flirtatious that the older man’s breath catches. “You prefer beef to chicken, and you would hate the yakitori anyway because you can’t stand when they put the meat on bamboo skewers, because you say they’re too fragile.”

“You…remember all that…?” Jimin asks, blinking in disbelief.

“Mhm,” Jeongguk agrees like it’s nothing, taking another sip of his water before casually adding, “You got bamboo skewers that time we went to the place that was right by my first apartment, and you swore them off because the bamboo hadn’t been properly soaked, and the skewers broke off in the meat.”

Jeongguk smiles as he speaks, laughing near the end as he recalls the memory. “You were so mad.”

“Because that wasn’t the first time!” Jimin defends, laughing too. “Sometimes they burn or there is too much meat and they break anyway. It’s not my fault!”

“I never said I disagreed,” Jeongguk insists, raising his hands in mock surrender. He’s grinning and Jimin smiles back and—Wow, he wants to kiss him. The laughter subsides and then there is a moment where they’re both just looking at one another, and Jimin swears Jeongguk can tell what he wants based on the way his eyes squint and his lips twitch up.

The younger man opens his mouth like he wants to say something, but then the waiter comes over, and the moment is gone. They get their orders taken—Yes, Jimin gets the tonkatsu, which makes Jeongguk give him a shit-eating grin and he ignores him by looking pointedly out the window, cheeks flushed. They eat together and talk about their week, and Jeongguk asks if Jimin would want to see his office. Easily, the older man agrees because one; he wants to spend more time with Jeongguk and two; he wants to know more about him. As the days go by, he finds himself wanting to know everything he possibly can about the younger man—everything he’s missed in the last ten years. He’s sure he’s getting too attached for how casual their arrangement is supposed to be, but he can't resist the temptation that is Jeon Jeongguk.

So, they pay for their meal and walk back to campus together. Halfway there, Jimin is nearly knocked into a pole by some kids in a group barreling by and is saved from his doom by Jeongguk’s hand intertwining with one of his and tugging him out of the way. Jeongguk grins down at him and Jimin thinks he will let his hand go once the danger is gone, but he doesn’t. Instead, Jeongguk squeezes his hand tighter, and Jimin has to look away as his face flushes and his heart races.

They hold hands the entire way back to the school, and Jeongguk only releases him to unlock his office. They only pass a couple students on the way and, luckily, all of them seem to either not notice the professor with a random man, or dutifully ignore it.

Once they’re inside, Jeongguk latches the door back and tosses his belongings into a drawer in his desk, directing Jimin to shrug his coat off and place it over the back of the chair in front of his desk—the one students would normally sit in for meetings with their professor. Jeongguk pockets his hands into his slacks and allows Jimin space to look around. It’s nicer than he expects it to be; bookshelves full of literature, a chest of drawers containing files and class work and other important documents. Everything is dark oak, and there is a window with a curtain over it in the middle. On his desk, Jeongguk has a laptop set up, and stacks of papers on the other side. Just based on the way he maintains the space, it’s evident that he works hard.

Jimin brushes a finger along a row of books. “Remind me again what you teach?”

“Psychology of Sexuality Studies.”

The older man offers a sheepish look. “Which means…?”

Jeongguk grins. “It’s an interdisciplinary course. In its essence, it’s an analysis of human sexuality. Anything from the origins, to the sociological, and physiological depths of it. I teach my students about the effects of sexuality and gender stereotypes, and the scale that sexuality sits on—anything from its political effects, to the differences between cultures.”

Jimin blinks at the younger man as he walks closer. Jeongguk is leaning against his desk and watching him as he approaches. Jimin reaches up to Jeongguk’s stomach and clutches the fabric of his button-up between his fingers. “And you wonder why your students want to sleep with you.”

The younger man scoffs and throws his head back, laughing. Jimin takes the opportunity to place a soft kiss on the column of his throat before pulling back to look up at him. Incredulously, Jeongguk asks, “What are you talking about?”

“You’re young and hot and you’re talking so smartly about a class that, in concept, is sexual and takes some guts to teach here.”

Jeongguk shakes his head, smiling fondly as his eyes dance around Jimin’s face. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Certainly not.”

The younger man just shakes his head again and then he looks at the older man for a long moment. They smile at one another and then Jeongguk’s eyes dart down to his lips. Unconsciously, Jimin runs his tongue along them and Jeongguk’s gaze tracks the movement. Firm hands go to his hips and, before he knows it, Jeongguk is leaning down and pressing their lips together. It’s one kiss—a simple peck—and Jeongguk only pulls back enough to look at Jimin and say softly, “The only person I want to sleep with is you.”

Jimin’s heart flips. “Me too. It’s—I just want you.”

Jeongguk’s eyes scan him and then the younger man bites back a smile. He squints his eyes in the way he always does when he is curious and Jimin loves that he recognizes the look. “Would you—Do you want to get dinner with me this weekend? Just to spend more time together. And—I’m not trying to throw anything on you so totally feel free to say no—but would you…be interested in making lunch a semi-regular thing? I just—I always want to see you more. You don’t have to answer now if you need time to—”

“I would love that, actually. I usually have time on Tuesdays and Thursdays before classes, and I’m free this Sunday for dinner.”

The younger man’s eyes glint with visible excitement. “Okay. Cool. Tuesdays and Thursdays are good for me too, and I’m not working Sunday so I could text you a time to meet?”

Jimin can’t hide his smile. “Yeah, that would be good.”

“Good.” Jeongguk dips down and connects their lips again.

Things spiral from there. Of course, for some reason, when it comes to them it can never just be kissing. Kissing turns into tongues down throats, turns into them grinding their hips together, turns into Jimin hurriedly unbuttoning Jeongguk’s shirt as the younger man simultaneously strips him, turns into Jimin asking through bated breath just how soundproof Jeongguk’s office is.

From there, Jimin ends up naked and bent over Jeongguk’s desk—his cheek to the cold wood and tears in his eyes—as Jeongguk eats him out like his life depends on it. Jimin tangles fingers into his hair and muffles his sounds behind his free hand while the younger man’s tongue slips in and out of him. He begs Jeongguk to fuck him, but the younger man consoles him with kisses to his ass and gentle pets down his back because he doesn’t keep condoms or lube in his office—even though he vows to start after today—and Jimin pouts until Jeongguk has two fingers inside of him and makes him come by milking his prostate.

Once the mess is cleaned and Jeongguk’s hair is thoroughly raked through, Jimin gets Jeongguk to sit down in his chair behind the desk, and tugs his pants and underwear down far enough to get his warm mouth around the younger man’s hard cock. It’s red at the tip and Jeongguk hisses—head thrown back on the chair—the second he feels Jimin’s soft lips on the tip, and a wet tongue along the sensitive underside. Jimin sucks him off until there are tears streaming down his face—Jeongguk’s hand on the back of his head and forcing him down as he thrusts up because he knows Jimin can take it—working him closer to the edge. It’s only when, at some point, Jimin looks up at Jeongguk with watery eyes—mouth stuffed full of cock—that the younger man starts talking like he has no filter.

“Gorgeous boy. So good for me. Take cock like you were made for it.”

Jimin hums around his dick and the vibrations must be a pleasant sensation for the younger man, because he moans softly. Feeling good and useful, Jimin’s eyes flutter and threaten to close. He’s stopped by a gentle slap to his cheek. It’s more of a tap, really, but it’s unexpected and good and guides the older man to look wide-eyed up at Jeongguk. “Don’t look away. Eyes on me, baby.”

The older man fully whines around Jeongguk’s cock. His soft dick pulses between his bare legs and he can still feel the warmth of the younger man’s slap to his face like it never left. He’s never been hit anywhere but his ass during sex and didn’t think it would feel so good.

“What?” Jeongguk asks, tone curious. Unable to speak, Jimin simply closes his eyes, hoping to feel another slap to his face. He feels a gentle knuckle to the skin instead and can practically hear the smirk in Jeongguk’s voice when the understanding registers. “Oh. I see. You liked that, didn’t you?”

Jimin hums in answer and Jeongguk rewards him by giving him another—slightly more enforced—slap on the cheek. It stings a little and Jimin’s eyes flutter open as he moans, sucking harder on Jeongguk’s cock, tongue eagerly swiping up and down. The tears streaming down his face grow in number when Jeongguk’s eyes darken and he hits him again. His brows furrow and he breathes out hard, like he can hardly believe the sight in front of him. “A pain slut, too? Fuck, pretty. You’re driving me fucking insane.”

The older man relaxes his throat and welcomes the way Jeongguk thrusts up faster now, clearly close to toppling over the edge. All it takes is another moan around the younger man’s cock as Jimin swirls his tongue beneath the head, and Jeongguk is groaning loudly and tossing his head back. “Shit. Gonna come, angel. Be good and take it.”

Jimin’s head is pushed down all the way as Jeongguk stills, hot cum shooting down his throat as the younger man’s orgasm hits. Jimin hums softly, happy to swallow and lap up the cum as it’s released. Once Jeongguk’s body relaxes into the chair, Jimin presses his forehead to his navel and stays down, but pulls back enough to breath. He calms his heart rate and cockwarms Jeongguk, liking the warmth in his mouth and the weight on his tongue. Once the length is half-mast and the younger man’s breathing goes back to normal, Jeongguk gently guides him off before pulling his clothes back up and getting Jimin to sit in his lap. He kisses Jimin, seeming to not care about his own taste on Jimin’s lips.

Then, Jimin rests his head on Jeongguk’s shoulder and allows the younger man to gently stroke up and down his back. He’s still mostly naked, though Jeongguk threw his own top over Jimin’s top half—shirt still unbuttoned—so that he wouldn’t be cold with the aircon kicking on every few minutes. They rest like that, basking in the afterglow and enjoying one another’s company, until Jeongguk says softly, “Didn’t think you would be into slapping like that.”

“Neither did I. I’ve never done it.”

The younger man’s hand on his back pauses for a beat, before resuming when Jeongguk curiously asks, “Really? Why not? You never wanted to try in the past?”

Jimin shrugs, tummy full and body tired. “Never felt comfortable enough with past partners.”

He can hear the way Jeongguk’s breathing catches. “But you were with me? Haven’t you had long-term stuff in the past?”

“Sure but, even with them, I wouldn’t have done it—I wouldn’t have done half the stuff you and I do together. With you, it’s just…I don’t know. It’s different.”

Jeongguk exhales long and long. Then, he places a gentle kiss on the top of Jimin’s head and mumbles, “I’m glad.”

Things calm down after that. Jeongguk keeps Jimin—in all his naked glory—on his lap and shows him some curriculum stuff on his computer and Jimin asks occasional questions about what specifics go into what he teaches, and Jeongguk delves into little rants about sexual history and identity, and Jimin hangs onto every word with a soft smile. Once two o’clock hits, they both start getting ready to part ways. They get dressed and Jeongguk puts Jimin against a wall to make out with him one last time before sending him through the door.

They part with smiles and waves and promises to meet for dinner on Sunday, and Jimin’s heart flutters when he walks down distantly familiar corridors. He worries at his bottom lip the entire duration of his trip home, feeling giddy and anxious all at once.

He doesn’t want to say it—doesn’t even want to think it. He knows it’s too early, too much—not good. Whatever he and Jeongguk have, it barely started two weeks ago and they’ve only see each other on a few occasions, and they agreed to keep it casual. So, why does this feel like a bigger deal than anything he’s felt for someone in the past? Why does this feel like the first blossoms on a cherry tree coming to life?

Why does this feel like the beginning of love?

Jimin and Jeongguk see each other much more often after the establishment of a routine.

Jeongguk and him go for dinner at a nice restaurant in the middle of Seoul on Sunday. Jeongguk picks Jimin up on his bike and they laugh until their cheeks hurt while consuming good food, and stumble their way into Jeongguk’s apartment after—kissing heatedly—with their cheeks flushed from the glass of wine they each had. Jimin barely has time to take in the monochromatic aesthetic and the floor to ceiling windows because he’s too busy tugging at Jeongguk’s hair and having his bottom lip sucked to bother. They strip each other down and Jeongguk turns him over on his stomach and fingers him until he cries, before tearing a condom packet on and sliding into him easily after such thorough prepping. They go until they’ve both come twice and Jimin’s ass is red from being spanked. After that, Jeongguk cuddles him in bed and whines for Jimin to stay the night when he attempts to get dressed. He does stay, even though it hurts his yearning heart to be in such intimate proximity with the younger man when he doesn’t have sex to distract him. They sleep with Jimin spooned in Jeongguk’s arms, and wake up early enough the next morning for Jeongguk to drop Jimin off back home before he has to go to SNU.

They do lunch on Tuesday and Thursday every week. It’s different places every time—they each take turns picking—but, no matter where they end up, it’s always fun. Sometimes, they go on a walk after. One day, they go shopping because they’re near a good district for that kind of outing. Most days, they go back to Jeongguk’s office. When they do that, it usually starts with Jeongguk attempting to work while Jimin reads one of the many books in his collection, or with them finding a movie to watch on the laptop and Jeongguk sitting Jimin comfortably in his lap for the entire duration. It usually devolves into them going at each other like animals until there is cum somewhere it shouldn’t be and the entire office needs to be aired out because it smells like sex and sweat. It’s truly Jeongguk’s fault because he did, in fact, start storing condoms and lube in one of the locked drawers to his desk.

On the weekends, they usually make time to see one another on at least one day. That’s when they usually go to one another’s apartments. When they end up at Jimin’s, the older man usually orders take-out and they watch a movie, or start a new series—typically anime since they both like it. When they wind up at Jeongguk’s, the younger man likes to cook while they drink soju or wine, and he gets Jimin to play video games with him after because they’re both competitive, and it makes them laugh a lot. When falling into bed together afterwards and spending the night becomes a regular thing, neither of them points it out.

It goes on for three months like that.

Jimin loves it. Jeongguk loves it. Their friends know something is up, and neither of them mind.

It feels good. It feels right.

It’s that feeling that makes it so easy for Jimin to cuddle up to Jeongguk’s chest one night when they’re freshly showered after having sex in the older man’s apartment and trace the tattoos on the younger man’s arms as he says softly, “Would you be interested in seeing one of my classes sometime?”

Jeongguk hums, the sound sleepy and low. Still, his voice pitches up with enthusiasm when he responds, “Absolutely, hyung. I would love to. You wouldn’t mind?”

“Mh-mh.” Jimin shakes his head as best as he can from his secured position. The room smells like the shampoo they just used, and the crisp sheets they laid down are soft on Jimin’s skin. His eyes droop as exhaustion begins taking over. “I want you to. I think it would be nice to share my life with you.”

Jeongguk goes still.

Jimin is suddenly so drawn to the warmth of sleep that he doesn’t process how the words sound. In his mind, they are simple and true, and therefore, can’t be that serious. Still, the younger man must hear them for what they are, because it takes him a long moment of being frozen before he runs a hand gently up and down Jimin’s back and mutters, “I think it would be nice to share my life with you, too, hyung.”

“Mm. Okay,” Jimin mumbles easily, words a little slurred. “Next week?”

“Next week is perfect,” Jeongguk tells him with a soft kiss to the top of his head. “Goodnight, angel.”

“Goodnight.”

Jeongguk keeps his word about attending the class.

Both men seem to eagerly await the day of its arrival, and Jimin keeps flickering his eyes to the glass separating the side of his dance room from the hallway, bouncing anxiously on his feet all the while. His phone buzzes in his pocket as students filter into class. He greets them distractedly, and offers smiles and kisses on their heads, and lets them ramble to him about how their week has been. His outfit is a simple pair of leggings and a white crop top, paired with his ballet slippers. He has his brown hair pulled back into a ponytail because it’s getting too long to tame, and Taehyung is usually the one to cut it for him but his best friend has been busy chasing after both of the Kims for the last several months and Jimin has been spending all his time with Jeongguk, and they keep rescheduling.

He checks his phone just as class begins and sees a text from Jeongguk letting him know he is in the elevator of the building now. He releases a long breath and sets his phone off to the side, moving to the front to formally welcome his class and review what they will be doing for the next hour.

Parents and people interested in joining his class sit in the hallway, watching as the lessons begin. Jimin easily spots Jeongguk’s dark attire when the man strolls in and takes a seat between two mothers who blush wildly at the sight of him. Jeongguk ignores them both aside from friendly greetings because his eyes are on Jimin the entire time.

Jimin feels his heart flutter, and knows his cheeks are pink when he starts the music to their latest routine and performs the entire thing as a visual for the students before they begin. He created the choreography and knows it by heart, so he dances to the slow beat without any mistakes. His body ebbs and flows and he tries hard not to think about Jeongguk’s eyes on him as he moves fluidly. He finishes the dance with his eyes closed in the ending pose, and lets them open to the sound of praises and cheers from his class.

He goes bright red when he sees Jeongguk grinning, clapping from the hallway. He can’t hear him, and knows the people in the hall can only distantly make out his words and the music through the muffled glass, but the visual is enough to affect him.

After that, he sort of gets lost in the class—which is probably best for the sake of his aching heart anyway. He encourages his students and walks around the room, helping them adjust their motions and perfect their poses as he goes. They perform the routine over and over, and he laughs at funny mistakes, and consoles a student who is being particularly hard on themselves for not understanding one of the more difficult moves. By the time the timer on his phone goes off, he hardly realizes an hour has gone by.

Reality snaps back in when he starts sending them off with kind words and gentle touches. He slowly readies and gathers his bag and phone—pulling his hair gently from its updo—the last one to leave the studio after all of the other people have gone. Jeongguk is still waiting for him in the hall, leaning against a wall and scrolling on his phone, when the older man finally approaches.

“You waited for me?” Jimin asks, smiling shyly.

Jeongguk pushes off the wall and steps up to him, both hands cupping the older man’s face as he presses their lips together in a hard and passionate kiss. Jimin is so startled by the suddenness of it that his lips part around a gasp, and Jeongguk takes full advantage by slipping his tongue into the older man’s mouth. They kiss like that for a while—for which, the entire duration, Jimin’s heart is hammering in his chest. His cheeks are pink and breathing labored by the time Jeongguk pulls away to look in his eyes and say, “Of course, I waited. I came here to see you.”

Jimin’s chest tightens. He looks into Jeongguk’s onyx eyes and sees all of the sincerity and fondness swirling in them like stars, and he can’t handle how badly he wants. Jeongguk looks at him in a way that reminds the older man of how couples look at one another in movies. He looks at Jimin and it’s telling of his adoration and his kindness, and Jimin is selfish and he wants. He thinks of the way Jeongguk looks at him now and wonders what it would be like to be loved by Jeon Jeongguk. Something almost envious swells in his chest when he thinks of himself from ten years ago and how close he came to truly seeing and understanding the love in Jeongguk’s eyes. If only he valued it as he does now—if only he wanted it as he does now.

Instead of saying something stupid like “I think I’m in love with you” or “Do you think you could fall in love with me?”, Jimin asks, “How was it?”

“The class?” Jeongguk questions, grinning and looking off like he is recalling the moments he just witnessed, recreating them in all their original intensity. “It was incredible. You’re incredible. I said when you first told me you were teaching kids that I bet you were good with them, and I was right. You were stunning.”

The older man huffs a laugh, slightly shaking his head. “Stop. I can’t be that interesting. I was more so talking about the routine.”

Jeongguk strokes a thumb gently over Jimin’s cheekbone, still gazing down at him. “The routine was amazing, but you were most definitely the best part. You’re a phenomenal dancer and teacher, hyung. You looked gorgeous doing that routine. You got so lost in everything. I can tell how much you love doing this.”

Jimin can’t help how dark the blush on his face gets. He bites back a grin. “You’re—That’s—Yeah. Yeah, I do love it.”

The younger man grins, gazing in the older man’s eyes for a moment longer. His head shakes and he’s doing the same thing he did at the reunion where they rekindled their relationship; he’s looking at Jimin like he can’t believe he’s real.

“Are you doing something after this?” Jeongguk asks vaguely.

“No,” Jimin responds, just as vague.

“Okay, good, because I just watched you bend and move in ways I didn’t even realize were possible and it’s been really difficult to get through this entire conversation while ignoring the fact that I’d love nothing more than to press you against the mirrors in that dance room and fuck you until you cry—”

A gasp tears through Jimin, scandalized. In a hushed tone, he hisses, “Jeon Jeongguk, we cannot have sex here! That’s just asking to get—”

“Not here,” Jeongguk consoles with a kiss on Jimin's cheek. He takes the duffel bag from the older man easily and props it onto his own shoulder, lacing his fingers together with Jimin’s- using his other hand—Something that has become routine. “My place. Do you want to go?”

Jimin rolls his eyes but allows himself to be tugged down the empty hallway. “As if I would ever say no to that.”

They take Jeongguk’s motorcycle back to the younger man’s apartment and Jimin grins the entire way because Jeongguk constantly revs the engine just to make the seat vibrate and get him to laugh. They chat aimlessly about how the last few days have been for them on their way up to the younger man’s apartment and Jimin is giggling as they walk through the door, saying something about how Taehyung slipped getting out of the tub while he was on facetime with Jimin a few days prior. Jeongguk is grinning at him and nodding as he locks the door behind them. He helps Jimin work his coat, and bag, and shoes off because the older man is distracted as he speaks. The moment their shoes and jackets are off, Jeongguk is putting his two hands under Jimin’s legging-covered thighs and picking him up high, walking them to the bedroom as he speaks.

“Jeongguk, what are you doing?” Jimin asks, eyes wide but he is smiling because the mischievous expression on the younger man’s face never fails to make him giddy.

“What does it look like?” Jeongguk asks when they enter the room, immediately laying Jimin down on the bed with his head to the plush pillows, and climbing over him—his legs in-between the older man’s. Before Jimin can get a word in, Jeongguk’s lips are on his. Soft, supple, warm. The older man hums into the kiss and throws his arms around the back of Jeongguk’s neck, kissing him back and moaning quietly when the younger man tilts his head to deepen the kiss. They fall into step together; Jimin’s hands tangled in Jeongguk’s unruly hair, Jeongguk’s hands gripping his lithe waist after slipping under his shirt. The soft whirl of the aircon in the background is the only noise aside from the wet glide of their mouths together. It’s easy to be with Jeongguk like this in the way that Jimin feels comfortable and happy, but it’s also the most difficult thing he has ever done because it seems to get harder for him to deny his feelings with every passing day. His heart weighs down, yet soars all at once.

Jimin breaks off with a string of saliva between them and Jeongguk takes the moment where the older man starts catching his breath to move down to his neck, and starts planting kisses there instead. Jimin sighs, eyes fluttering shut. “I’ll never get tired of kissing you.”

“Good,” Jeongguk mutters, the words vibrating softly against the older man’s skin. “Because I’ll never get tired of kissing you either.”

A happy hum escapes the brunette as he smiles. “Why does this work so well?”

He doesn’t know what prompts him to ask—doesn’t know why he doesn’t take it back or adjust the wording. He can’t seem to think clearly when he is with Jeongguk, and he only gets worse every time he’s in the younger man’s presence. He reveals things like a game of scramble; randomly pulling letters and stringing them together using the first thing that comes to mind. Unfortunately, the first thing that comes to mind around Jeongguk is always Jimin’s intense affections for him.

Jeongguk pauses his lips from defiling the older man’s skin and breathes hotly against it instead. Eventually, he lifts his head and looks Jimin in the eyes as he says calmly, “Because we like each other.”

Jimin freezes under him. The words hit him like a ton of bricks.

For a moment, it’s silent because he is speechless.

He wants Jeongguk’s words to mean something—wants them to mean that he has feelings for Jimin in the same way Jimin has feelings for him but the older man knows that isn’t the case. This is casual and the only one that seems to be treating it as such is Jeongguk. Still, despite himself and trying endlessly to rationalize, hope blooms in Jimin’s chest. With it, more pain follows.

Every time Jeongguk says something like that—something that, in any other context, would mean more,it hurts. Anytime he holds Jimin’s hand or they have lunch together to “hang out”, or Jeongguk tells him he looks gorgeous, it weighs on Jimin more. In a strange way, Jeongguk feels like a cat sitting on Jimin’s chest. He loves cats. They’re cute and fluffy and have those adorable big eyes and so, in theory, he wants the cat on his chest, but the cat is too heavy and it kneads its paws into his shirt—nails digging in and breaking skin through thin cloth—to get comfortable and, no matter how much he wants to—He knows the cat shouldn’t be there.

He knows he shouldn’t be there.

In that moment, the clenching in his chest grows harder and he feels tears threatening to sting in his eyes and—Jimin suddenly can’t do this. It’s too much. He can’t be here with Jeongguk and spend another night sleeping with him, being cuddled through the night, and leaving in the morning, only to do it all over again next week. He can’t pretend. He can’t stand to have Jeongguk look at him with all of the adoration in the world, and mask the desire to know what it would feel like to be loved by him—to be more with him.

So, after clearing his throat, he slips past Jeongguk’s hold and rises to hit feet, trying to look at the younger man as little as possible when he announces, “I—I need to go.”

“Wait—What?” Jeongguk asks, darting up from the bed and following Jimin back out of the bedroom. The older man racks his brain for an explanation, an excuse—anything so that he won’t have to be vulnerable—won’t have to be the one that ruined a good thing. “Hyung, wait. Where are you going? Did you forget something at the studio?”

“No,” Jimin says quickly because, if he lies about that, Jeongguk will just try to go back to the dance building with him. He can’t stand to be around him like this for that long right now. As he makes it to the door and slips his shoes and coat back on. “I—There was—I forgot I had plans with Tae. He’s supposed to cut my hair today.”

Jeongguk brows furrow and he wanders over to the older man, looking rightfully confused. “You said on the way up that Taehyung and you rescheduled because you and I had plans today. What do you mean he—?”

Jimin’s blood runs a little cold and he reaches for his bag, trying to gather his thoughts. He feels like he is on a raft in the middle of the ocean and Jeongguk just poked a hole in it. “Um, yeah, well…He texted me. Uh, just now.”

Jeongguk blinks at him, tone slightly frustrated the next time he speaks. “Hyung, you haven’t looked at your phone the entire time you’ve been here.”

The older man falls silent, mouth opening and closing as he tries desperately work himself out of the water and only a life vest, but nothing happens. Instead, Jeongguk’s shoulders fall and he steps closer, gently gathering Jimin by his upper arms and tilting down to make the older man make eye contact with him. In the softest tone the brunette has ever heard from him, Jeongguk says, “Jimin-ah…what is going on? What happened? Everything was fine two minutes ago. Why are you trying to leave all of a sudden?”

Jimin tries to resist—tries to avert his gaze and hide the tears starting to swell in his eyes. He bites at his bottom lip to stop Jeongguk from seeing the way it quivers. His attempts are futile when matched with the younger man’s persistence and the moment they hold eye contact and he sees the warmth and worry in Jeongguk’s dark brown orbs, he breaks like a dam.

He chokes on a sob and lets out a series of hiccuped breaths as fat, hot tears spill into his vision and slip down his cheeks. He whimpers and Jeongguk places one hand on the back of his head, pulling Jimin’s face to the crook of his neck and gliding the other to the small of his back to hold him tightly. “Oh, Jimin…”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” The older man repeats over and over, feeling ashamed and dumb. Not only is he ruining what they have, but he is hurting Jeongguk in the process. He’s never lied to him outside of withholding the extent of his own feelings, and doing it just now didn’t feel good. Unable to stop himself, he throws his arms around Jeongguk’s waist and clings to him like a lifeline as he cries. “Don’t like lying to you. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay, baby. I’m here. I’m here for you, okay? Just talk to me. Tell me what’s going on. I promise I’ll listen.”

“C-Can’t.”

“Yes, you can. You can do it. There’s nothing in this entire world you could say to me to make me upset with you. Please, talk to me.”

Jimin shakes his head, stuttering on a sharp exhale. “It’s—Jeongguk, it hurts.”

Seeming concerned at the phrasing, Jeongguk pulls Jimin away from him and reaches a hand up to stroke the tears off his cheek, assessing him with his eyes as though Jimin is talking about a physical injury. His eyes are wide and his expression is a little panicked. “What hurts? What hurts, baby? Tell me so I can help. I can’t help if I don’t know what’s going on.”

Not wanting to lie anymore, and feeling too exhausted to keep up this ruse when Jeongguk is giving him these worried looks, Jimin caves.

“I’m falling in love with you,” He says between ragged breaths, tears still falling—even more so after his confession. He closes his eyes, unable to watch as Jeongguk’s get wide. He releases a long exhale and admits, “I think I’ve been falling more in love with you since the day we saw each other again at the reunion. I—I know we said this was something we would just do casually and play by ear, and it’s been—Jeongguk, it’s been wonderful. This has been, without a doubt, the happiest three months of my life. I—But I know this isn’t what we said it would be. We said we would blur the lines, but never that it would become this serious and I know it isn’t this serious for you. I know your feelings left years ago, and that I’m too late and—”

Jimin’s spiraling is seized by a hard, deep press to his lips. Jeongguk cups his face on either side and holds their mouths together for a long moment. It’s as passionate as the first kiss they shared, and feels so meaningful and important and grounding that it calms Jimin’s rapid heart. When the kiss finally breaks off, the older man’s tears have stopped and he manages to flutter his eyes open and meet Jeongguk’s gaze.

He’s shocked by what he finds in the younger man’s dark irises; confusion, hope, deseration, despair, longing, fondness—Love. It’s all there. It stuns him into silence.

Jeongguk fills the space. His words are soft and slow.

“Say that again.”

Jimin brows furrow and his bottom lip pouts. “I—Say what? That I’m falling in love with you—?”

Jeongguk kisses him hard again, this time only for a second before he pulls back to grin down at the older man. The hope from before blossoms in Jimin again.

“Hyung, I—Fuck, how do I say this without sounding crazy?” Jeongguk sighs loudly, blinking over and over and tugging at the silver in his bottom lip as he tries to find the words. Finally, he looks at Jimin and shakes his head. It’s that familiar way he does it where he looks at Jimin like he can’t be real. “I—Jimin, I never stopped.”

“Never stopped what?” The older man asks dumbly, needing it to be spelled out for him because his brain is in overdrive at this point.

“I never stopped loving you,” Jeongguk breathes out. “For a long time, I tried to get over it. Namjoon and Seokjin-hyung would take me to clubs or try to set dates up for me, but nothing was the same. Nobody held a candle to you. At some point, I just kind of accepted that you were the love of my life and that it was destined to never work out, and I tried to ignore it and move on. I thought I was getting over it, honestly, but then we saw each other at the reunion and…I just knew. It was like all the old feelings came rushing back and, the more time we spent together, the more the new feelings blossomed. I didn’t want to say anything because I was worried you didn’t feel the same. I thought you wanted things to remain casual like they have been but—Fuck. Jimin, I—God, I want so much more than that. I love you so much—even more than I did back then, but I’m not running away this time, and neither should you.”

Jimin has fresh tears in his eyes, brimming at the edges and threatening to spill over, but he holds them back. He looks at Jeongguk for a long moment, hands desperately clutching at the fabric of his shirt, and mumbles, “Is this real?”

“It’s real. It can be. Only if you want it.”

“I want it,” Jimin laughs incredulously, smiling so hard that it hurts his cheeks. Jeongguk grins back, still gently thumbing over his cheekbones. “I want it so much, Jeongguk. I want you. I love you and I want more with you.”

“Then, let’s do it,” Jeongguk agrees, voice breathy like a weight has been lifted from his own chest. He dips down to kiss Jimin multiple times in quick succession, before pulling back again to look fondly down at him. “Let’s date. It’s not like much would change, if we’re being honest. Except—”

“Except, we’d have more,” Jimin finishes.

Jeongguk nods. “We’d have more.”

Their lips connect again. Jimin allows Jeongguk to pick him up and carry him back to the bedroom, and this time he doesn’t run away. He allows Jeongguk to praise him as he undresses them both, basking in the weight of Jeongguk’s stare. He recognizes it as love now—the way Jeongguk looks at him. It’s the same way he’s always looked at Jimin. They touch and tease and kiss and, after Jeongguk slips inside of him and reaches up with one hand to intertwine their fingers above Jimin’s head, the younger man shakes his head as he gazes down at the older man. He mutters over and over, “I love you. I love you, angel. I love you.”

Jimin cries as he finishes because he realizes in that moment that every time Jeongguk has looked at him like he can’t quite believe he is real, he’s been saying those words in his head.

After they’ve had sex twice and eaten dinner Jeongguk ordered for them, the two boyfriends are cuddled up in bed—dressed in t-shirts and boxers. Jimin has his head on Jeongguk’s lap and is listening to the steady beat of his heart as Jeongguk hums the tune of a song and strokes a hand through the older man’s brown hair.

Jimin gasps and reaches for his phone out of nowhere, earning him a fond but confused look from the younger man.

“What is it?”

“We have to tell Taehyung!” Jimin says, already pulling up facetime and ringing his best friend.

“Tell him what? That we’re dating?”

Halfway through Jeongguk’s question, a chime echoes into the room and Taehyung’s blissed out face appears on screen, surrounded by pillows and blankets. The starry-eyed best friend laughs at Jimin’s grin. “What, Minie? What are you calling for? I thought you were with Jeongguk.”

“I am. We have news.”

Taehyung’s eyebrows shoot up and he analyzes Jimin’s cheered expression through the screen for a moment before his mouth drops open. “Shut the fuck up. You guys didn’t.”

Jimin nods happily, biting back a smile as he threads his fingers through Jeongguk’s and lifts their clasped hands to the phone screen. In his peripheral vision, he can see Jeongguk grinning. “We did! It’s official. We’re dating.”

“Ah! My loves! I’m so happy for you!” Taehyung shouts in excitement and his phone screen rustles around for a second before he looks off-screen and yells, “Jin-hyung, you owe me and Joon fifty thousand won each!”

In the distant background, there’s a loud and scandalized, “What!?”

Jeongguk snickers and Jimin’s eyes go fantastically wide. He hisses quietly, “You’re over at the Kims?"

Taehyung moves his eyebrows suggestively, smirking. “I’m more than over here. I’m naked under the covers, Minie. Me and Seokjin-hyung just took turns—”

“Ah!” Jimin yells, blushing furiously. “Don’t want to know! Don’t want to know! Just wanted to tell you the good news, so I’ll let you get back to doing what you were doing! I love you!”

Jimin can feel Jeongguk’s laughter as he moves in constant vibrations against the older man’s back, but he pointedly ignores it as Taehyung tosses his head back laughing, before grinning at the screen and saying to Jimin, “Fine, but I’m telling you about it next time I see you anyway! I love you both! Congratulations!”

“Bye!” Jimin sings-songs before ending the facetime call.

He tosses his phone to the side and relaxes back against Jeongguk’s chest with a sigh. The younger man plants a gentle kiss to the top of his head before asking in a low voice, “I love you, angel.”

Jimin grins, eyes turning to crescents. He peers up at Jeongguk and meets the gaze of those onyx eyes he has known for so many years. In a lot of ways, Jeongguk is different but some things are the same—his eyes being one of those things. Full of honesty and warmth. Jimin isn’t sure how it took him so long to see it for what it is, but he’s glad to have finally seen the light, even if it is over a decade after having first met with a huge gap in the middle where they didn’t see one another.

Jeongguk and him are here now—back together—and Jimin wouldn’t trade it for the world.

“I love you,” Jimin says back and wow, does it feel good.

He doesn’t know what the future has in store for him and Jeongguk. Only time will tell but, whatever it is, he wants to do it together.

With his boyfriend.

It reminds Jimin of something and he reaches over for his phone again, mouth pulled into a circle. Jeongguk watches him with his chin hooked over Jimin’s shoulder and asks, “What are you doing?”

Jimin hides his screen for a second, typing something, before bringing it back for the younger man to peer at. The moment Jeongguk’s eyes land on the phone, he breaks out into a fit of laughter. “That’s very funny, sweetheart. You’re cute.”

“I know,” Jimin jests, receiving a peck from Jeongguk as he smiles down at his screen.

He changed Jeongguk’s name in his contacts. His new name?

Boyfriend (Attractive)

fin.

Oubaitori - Anonymous - 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys (2024)
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