Chapter Text
“Holy shit!” Namjoon hollers in English.
“Dude!!! Since when?!” Hoseok practically screams.
“You look so cute!” Jin raises his phone (of a matching color) to take a picture.
The loud outbursts from their friends startle Jimin and make him blush from the compliments.
“Thank you...” He says shyly. Although he didn’t mean to, it ended up coming out cutely.
Only Yoongi is silent, staring at his boyfriend’s hair. Jimin starts fidgeting under his gaze, pulling at his sleeves to the point that Taehyung is worried he will tear a hole. After a few awkward moments the three who had just arrived take their seats. Jimin sits awkwardly next to a still-staring Yoongi and the couple squeezes next to him.
“So, uh, hyung . . . do you have anything you want to say?” Jungkook speaks tentatively, as if Yoongi is a lion that he’s scared of provoking.
After more silence and staring, Jimin can’t take it anymore. “I’m so sorry for not asking you first hyung. I thought you would like it, or at least I hoped you would. I’m sorry that you don’t like it, I’ll dye it back.” This snaps Yoongi out of his daze.
“What? No! Jimin, I love it. It looks great!! I . . . just . . . it was shocking. And honestly breathtaking.” Yoongi’s face turns redder and brighter as he continues to speak until it feels as if his whole face is burning.
“Oh. Um, then . . . I can keep it like this?”
“Yes, of course! God, Jimin, you don’t need my permission for everything. Even if I didn’t like it I would deal with it if you liked it. If it’s something that you like and makes you happy, then keep it.” Yoongi looks frantic and a bit taken aback at Jimin’s actions and words.
“Oh, well, um, okay. Thanks. I’m glad you like it.” Jimin looks down at his hands, an even darker blush spreading up to his ears.
Taehyung taps Jimin on the thigh to get his attention.
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay?” Taehyung whispers. “Just now you seriously worried me.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. It was just a bit of an overreaction.”
“Yoongi is different from . . . him. You know? You don’t have to be like that anymore. I thought you were past that?” Taehyung phrases the last sentence as a question.
“I know! I just . . . it’s just that sometimes I feel like I’m back in front of . . . well, you know. I am past it, mostly. You guys and Yoongi have helped a lot. I’m really okay, Tae.” Jimin keeps his voice low but looks earnest enough to convince Taehyung. They both return their attention back to the group in time to hear Hoseok start to tell a funny story about a coworker.
---------------------------------------------------------------
The seven boys leave the cafe after hours of talking. Hoseok leaves first, saying that he needs to give a ride to someone at the studio. Namjoon and Seokjin leave together. Taehyung remembers them saying something about having a date night that will probably consist of watching movies and cuddling. The remaining two couples exit together. Taehyung has an arm draped over Jungkook’s shoulders while Yoongi and Jimin hold hands. Taehyung and Jungkook wave to the other two and turn to leave in the opposite direction. As they are walking away they they hear a distressed cry from behind them. Taehyung lets his arm fall as they both turn towards the sound. They see Jimin lying on the ground cradling his jaw and Yoongi standing defensively in front of him. There are three guys standing in front of Yoongi. Their stance screams hostility and aggression.
Taehyung and Jungkook quickly return to their friends. Once they are close enough they can hear the three strangers spewing all sorts of profanities and insults at the small couple. They both can’t help but to flinch at the slurs being hurled at the two.
“You don’t know us! What right do you have to lay a hand on us?!” For all the rage that Yoongi clearly displays his fear and distress can’t be hidden.
“Stop trying to act tough, fairy. What right or reason do we need for doing anything when you do disgusting things in public like that? You’re a menace to society.” Yoongi recoils at those harsh words.
Jungkook is stunned by the sight before him. Yoongi, the very person who beat Jisung up to the point that he ran away, was cowering before a few homophobic thugs whose bark seemed worse than their bite.
They both slow their pace as they watch Jimin shakily get to his feet. He gently pulls Yoongi’s sleeve and says something quietly to him. Yoongi glances between the thugs, who continue to run their mouths, and his boyfriend before nodding and turning his back to the hostile party.
A spark of adrenaline shoots through the younger couple as they see the thugs become livid at the realization that they are being ignored. They both rush forward as fast as they can as the malicious goons reach towards the oblivious couple. Jungkook crashes into one just as that person’s hand closes around a fist-full of Yoongi’s shirt, bringing all three of them to the ground. Taehyung grabs at the other who is after his best friend and manages to trip him before he can make contact. Taehyung preemptively places himself between Jimin and any opposing force. Jungkook and Yoongi disentangle themselves from their adversary and back away. The third opponent has just been standing there the whole time, not initially taking action and now not knowing what to do. The three seem a bit nervous now that they are outnumbered and now that two of their opponents are much taller.
After moments of hesitation the thugs decide to give up and leave the four of them alone. They know they can’t win.
A soft sob is heard behind Taehyung as soon as the thugs are out of sight. The three others turn quickly to Jimin, who has started crying and cradling his jaw again. Taehyung immediately throws his arms gently around his best friend and holds him close. The two start gently rocking from side to side as Taehyung gently shushes Jimin and whispers reassurances to him. Yoongi and Jungkook stand awkwardly to the side, not entirely sure what to do. Yoongi feels like he should be there in Taehyung’s place, but also gets the feeling that somehow the younger friend is being more comforting than he could even hope to be.
Taehyung eventually steps back from Jimin. “I’m going to take Jiminie to the hospital to make sure there’s nothing wrong with his jaw. You guys are welcome to come.”
Yoongi moves next to his boyfriend and takes his hand, entwining their fingers together. “I’m going with you.” He says this more to Jimin than to Taehyung.
“I’d like to go with you guys too,” Jungkook says. He doesn’t want to admit that he’s too scared to walk home alone after that encounter so he quickly adds, “I’m kinda tired and Taehyung was my ride anyway.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------
“So it turns out that the bone is bruised, but nothing is broken or out of place. It’s a miracle.” Taehyung announces to the two who were waiting to be updated.
Yoongi and Jungkook let out sighs of relief.
“He can go home tonight if he wants to. The doctors gave me a list to give to his parents of things he can and can’t do until he’s healed.”
“So now we just wait for his decision?” Yoongi asks, keeping his voice light.
“Yep. He seems to be leaning towards going home.”
“Am I allowed to kiss him?”
Taehyung laughs at the hopeful tone in Yoogi’s voice. “Probably not. His jaw is causing him a lot of pain right now.”
Yoongi barely conceals his pout. Jungkook laughs out loud, which makes Yoongi give him a playful glare. The three of them sit around in relative silence for a little while, sharing reassuring glances and the occasional joke to relieve tension.
Eventually a doctor walks towards them, Jimin in tow. Jimin is holding an ice pack to his face, but otherwise he looks fine.
“He’s all set to got home. I already gave you everything you need earlier.”
“Thank you!” They all say with various levels of enthusiasm and sincerity. They all then crowd around Jimin as the doctor walks away.
“Are you okay? Does it hurt a lot?” Yoongi fusses over his boyfriend.
“No, they gave me painkillers.” Jimin rolls his eyes at his worrying boyfriend. “Yoongi, I’m fine.” He says with a bit more of a laugh in his voice as Yoongi pries the ice pack away from Jimin’s face to look at the injury.
Jungkook stands close, holding Taehyung’s hand while Taehyung rests his head on Jimin’s shoulder. Taehyung feels like a weight is being lifted off of his shoulders as he watches Yoongi worries over his best friend and treats him with as much care as possible.
My boyfriend doesn’t like when I do that.
My boyfriend doesn’t like when I eat that.
My boyfriend said I’m fat. I’m going to start dieting and working out more.
My boyfriend doesn’t like this haircut, we’re going to the salon together so I can get a different one.
Taehyung shakes his head slightly, getting rid of the bad memories. Yoongi is nothing like Jimin’s previous boyfriend. Yoongi would never hurt him intentionally. Taehyung straightens up to give the couple a bit of space. After a while he speaks up.
“Um it’s kinda late, and I need to bring Jungkook home.” Yoongi and Jimin finally leave their own world and come back to the present.
“Oh, right. Can you give us rides home too?” Jimin looks like he is *that* close to using puppy eyes to convince Taehyung.
“Like you even need to ask, what type of friend would I be if I didn’t offer a ride?” Taehyung gives a look as if that was the most obvious answer. “Jungkook gets dropped off first though.”
“Thank you.”
In the car, Yoongi and Jimin cuddle in the backseat. Yoongi is careful not to jostle Jimin’s head to much and to avoid his face. Meanwhile, Jungkook sits shotgun, nervously fidgeting in his seat. He keeps remembering all of the times his dad has gotten angry with him for being out of the house later than he said he would be. He desperately wants to grab Taehyung’s hand to seek comfort, but Taehyung is driving so that’s not really an option. When they get to Jungkook’s house, he leans over and gives Taehyung a peck on the cheek.
“See you tomorrow, Tae.” He gives a small smile and steps out of the car.
“See ya, Kookie!” Jimin yells from the backseat, drowning out Taehyung’s “You too”. Taehyung turns to playfully slap his friend on the arm.
Jungkook laughs while saying, “See you,” and turns toward his house.
When Jungkook gets inside, he doesn’t bother sneaking. His father got mad at him last time for doing that, so he figures he’ll just deal with the consequences of whatever noise he makes.
“What the hell are you doing getting home this late? Your excuse better be good. I did not raise you to be like those good-for-nothing low life. ” Jungkook turns in surprise to where a light had just turned on in the living room next to the entry room. His father looks even more angry than the last time.
“I was just-”
“Were you hanging out with those terrible people you call friends again?”
“They aren’t terrible people! And if you would just listen to me-”
“They are leading you down the wrong path. And what’s worse it that they are gay! There’s no way I’m going to let them make you like them.”
“I thought you didn’t care about that anymore.” Jungkook can feel himself start to clam up. He doesn’t want to feel this scared of his own father but he can’t help it.
“Of course I would care about it if there is the risk of such vermin making my son become the same way.” By now he is standing right in front of Jungkook.
“It’s not a bad thing to be gay,” Jungkook says in a small voice. His father roughly grabs his arm as he raises his voice and Jungkook flinches.
“See?! This is what I’m talking about! Next they’ll have you kissing guys! Listen to me, stay away from them! I don’t want you to go anywhere near them, they are a bad influence on you!’’ His grip gradually becomes tighter as he continues to yell. Jungkook tries to shy away from his father.
“Please stop.” Jungkook says in barely a whisper, and then louder, “Please, you’re hurting me.” His father looks slightly startled and, after a moment, lets go of Jungkook’s arm. There’s silence for a moment before he breaks it.
“So where were you?” His tone is tense, but no longer hostile.
“I was at the hospital. One of my friends almost got beat up, the bone in his jaw is bruised. The person giving me a ride home had to be the one to drive him to and from the hospital, so I had to go with them.” Jungkook says all of this quietly, but not mumbling.
“Okay, just go to your room. We’ll talk about this in the morning.” His father won’t look at him so he just hangs his head and does as he’s told.
“Yes, father.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jungkook: Okay so telling dad might not be as easy as I thought it would be.
Taehyung: Why?
Jimin: What happened?
Jungkook: I also really think that Tae shouldn’t be there when I tell him.
Taehyung: Why? What did he do?
Jungkook: He didn’t do anything. We talked and it turns out he’s a bit more judgemental than I thought
Jimin: By judgemental you mean homophobic
Taehyung: Jimin!
Jimin: What? I’m right, aren’t I?
Jungkook: . . . maybe . . .
Jimin: See?
Jungkook: He said he doesn’t want me to be hanging out with you guys. He says you are terrible people and “low-lifes”, mostly because you guys are gay.
Jimin: How would he know?
Taehyung: I think the rainbow hair and holding hands gives it away.
Jimin: Touche
Jungkook: Btw I’m obviously not going to listen to him, but I need to be careful about staying out too late and stuff. Anything that could get on his bad side could be the last straw.
Taehyung: Good to know
Jimin: kk
Taehyung: What about sleepovers?
Jungkook: Idk, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there
Taehyung: okay