Chapter Text
Jimin giggles in a way that has Jeongguk’s heart jumping in his chest. It hasn’t been all that long since they first met.
Over the past two months, Jeongguk has grown closer to Jimin than he ever has been with, well…anyone. He’s liked everything about Jimin since the very first second and to this day, he can’t believe he was lucky enough to cross paths with him. Now they’re here, having so much fun together, spending so much time together. If he’s being honest, he enjoys being glued to Jimin’s side a lot.
Don’t get him wrong, they give each other space, it’s not like they see each other 24/7, but it’s true that they decide to be together more often than not.
“I can’t believe you,” Jimin mumbles, shaking his head, even though he’s still smiling widely.
His pretty smile makes Jeongguk want to lean forward and kiss him, but Jimin is already on the move, gesturing for Jeongguk to follow him. Jeongguk does, trying to get the flour off his hands even though there’s a terrible lot of it―all over his clothes. Even on his hair. It makes his lips pull up into a smile because it just reminds him of everything he and Jimin were doing earlier.
They were supposed to bake cookies, which they managed to just fine, if you include every single thing they got distracted with. First it was the flour falling to the floor, then it was Jimin throwing it towards him just to tease and then it was Jeongguk wrapping his arms around his waist to tease him back. Only they slipped and fell to the ground, creating a bigger mess.
What was supposed to be a half an hour long baking process turned into an hour and a half. At least the cookies are in the oven now, and they have to wait about fifteen to twenty minutes for them to be ready. In the meantime, it’s clear Jimin wants them to clean up.
Jeongguk can’t help the grin that takes over his mouth when he spots the handprint on Jimin’s ass cheek. He put it there a while ago, just to spite him. He’s pretty sure he has Jimin’s handprint on his ass as well.
“What are you grinning about, huh?” Jimin asks, as they reach the bathroom.
His eyes are gleaming with excitement, something that’s always happening when they’re together. Jeongguk wonders if he’s obvious about the way he feels. If Jimin can see it all over his face when he’s looking at him, if he can see how badly Jeongguk always wants him. There are so many emotions curling in his chest that, half the time, he can’t figure out what to even say.
“Just this,” Jeongguk whispers, placing his hand on the same spot on Jimin’s ass cheek. It makes Jimin laugh and swat at his hand, his cheeks tainting a pretty pink. He’s so pretty.
He’s right about to step into the bathroom, but Jeongguk quickly wraps his arms around him, burrowing his face in Jimin’s neck. Jimin doesn’t laugh. He pauses, stops moving and instead leans back against Jeongguk. His hands slide over Jeongguk’s forearms, tracing gently.
“Don’t distract me again,” he murmurs, but he makes no move to step away.
So Jeongguk doesn’t, either. He traces Jimin’s neck with his nose, placing a kiss under his earlobe and taking a deep breath.
“I’m sorry, it’s just…” he trails off, racking his brain for words to explain himself, but he comes short. So he just opens his mouth and says what comes to mind first. “I just never want to let you go. I like you here, in my arms, pretty boy.”
Jimin makes this soft sound, leaning his head back on Jeongguk’s shoulder and tilting his head to the side. His lips press under Jeongguk’s jaw, a shiver rising up his spine.
“Well,” he begin. “I like you here, in my life.”
Something in Jeongguk’s chest aches. It feels so good that it’s borderline painful. He loves the fact that Jimin just said that. He murmurs that he feels the very same way before turning Jimin around in his arms and pressing him to the wall, mouth dropping to his instantly.
Softly, Jimin’s hands cup his cheeks and he keeps him close, kissing him back gently. A familiar sound leaves his mouth and Jeongguk swallows it down. He sounds nice, he sounds eager. Jeongguk groans and steps closer, caging him against the wall.
“You’re distracting me again,” Jimin mumbles against his mouth, but he’s smiling.
He places his hands on Jeongguk’s chest, seemingly unaware of the fact that he’s feeling a million things all of a sudden.
“I want to kiss you until the cookies are ready,” he explains, dropping his forehead on Jimin’s shoulder.
His words make Jimin laugh.
“We can kiss, but lets clean up, yeah?” He asks, his fingers sliding into Jeongguk’s hair, scratching at his scalp and making goosebumps arise all over his arms. “We’re a mess of flour and god, I’m making a mess of your hair,” he suddenly realizes, dropping his hand.
Jeongguk protests with a soft whine.
“I want you to keep touching me,” he whispers, lips pressing to Jimin’s neck. It’s deliberate and just as gentle, a gesture he can’t quite help when he’s this close to him. “Please, hyung.”
Jimin’s hands fall to his biceps and gently push him back. Their eyes meet. Jimin looks worried. He shakes his head and starts talking.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
A pleasant warmth spreads across Jeongguk’s limbs. He likes it when Jimin calls him that. Scratch that, he likes whatever Jimin calls him. It always makes him grow warm and excited, it makes him want to kiss Jimin even more.
“Nothing,” he mumbles, showing him a pout. “Let’s clean up fast. The faster we do, the faster I can kiss you.”
Jimin laughs and rolls his eyes, but his expression is amused as he pulls Jeongguk into the bathroom. With water from the sink, they wash their hands and arms, they use a towel to brush over their clothes and take care of the flour. Then Jimin helps Jeongguk wash his hair, doing his best to disappear what’s left of the flour.
And because Jeongguk can’t help it, he likes the way Jimin teases him back, plays with him even though it’s sometimes childish, he collects some water on his hand and throws it at him. Jimin gasps, drops falling down his cheeks and from the tips of his hair.
“Jeongguk!” He exclaims, blinking back at him with confusion.
Jeongguk just grins, shrugging without much of regret. He’s expecting it, he laughs when Jimin suddenly throws water at him. He follows suit, throwing more water at him, laughing even more when Jimin wets his hands and touches all over his face, down his neck, over his chest. His clothes and the sides of his pants.
They stumble as they try to get each other wet, bumping into the wall. Jimin yelps when Jeongguk’s arm wraps around his waist and pushes against his chest in protest, laughing even louder as Jeongguk tickles his side.
“Ticklish?” He asks against his ear.
Jimin tickles his side and Jeongguk jerks. They almost fall to the ground. Jeongguk barely manages to catch Jimin as they stumble into the shower. They manage to stabilize themselves and Jeongguk looks down at a breathless Jimin, his eyes forming crescent moons because of his wide smile. What happens next surprises him, even though he’s used to Jimin doing crazy things in response to the ones he does.
When cold water falls over them, he gasps, startles, almost confused about where it’s coming from. But they’ve ended up under the water spray and it falls over them, instantly leaving them wet, completely soaked.
His eyes meet Jimin’s under the spray. It’s difficult with all the water falling over his eyes but Jimin is laughing so loud, head thrown back, body pressed to Jeongguk’s in that way he always does when he’s laughing. He always does it with his whole body, unable to hold himself up.
But something about this moment makes Jeongguk grow serious. There’s just Jimin. Jimin so happy, with such a huge smile and a wonderful expression. Jimin’s hands on his chest, fisting his shirt as he tries to keep himself up through his laughing.
Jeongguk cups his cheeks and kisses him, his laughs falling quiet as his mouth kisses back. He reaches back to turn the stream off and then they stumble in his effort to get Jimin against the wall. It’s slippery because they’re both wet, but they don’t seem to care. Distraction be damned, Jeongguk doesn’t want to move away.
“I just don’t ever want to stop kissing you,” he confesses against his mouth, drops of water mixing in between their lips. Jimin’s hands are on his waist, fisting his shirt still, holding onto him with a grip that feels desperate.
They’re not close enough. Maybe Jimin feels it too.
“Don’t stop kissing me, then,” Jimin whispers back, lips moving slowly against Jeongguk’s.
They’re desperate, but they kiss slowly, they take their time. It’s sensual, it makes Jeongguk’s skin heat up and it makes him want more. Anything Jimin will give him. He groans and presses closer, loving the way Jimin’s body feels against his own. He’s warm, despite the cold water drenching his clothes. And Jeongguk can feel all of him, every single line of his toned body, strong thighs, tight abdomen, firm hands slipping under his shirt.
Jeongguk often wants to undress Jimin and just take a look at his whole body, press kisses to every inch of skin he can spot. It’s no secret he wants Jimin, but this isn’t even about that. It’s about how badly he likes him, it’s about everything he wants to just live with him. He wants Jimin to be engraved in every corner of his brain.
“Jeongguk,” Jimin breathes out, his nails digging into Jeongguk’s skin, pulling a grunt out of him.
“Yeah,” he mumbles, licking into his mouth. “I know. I know, sweet heart. I just can’t―”
He’s cut off by Jimin’s mouth on his, kissing him more urgently, more desperately. They lose their pace, they don’t manage to find their coordination. Jeongguk’s hands trail all over every spot of Jimin he can reach, one of them hooking behind his knee and pulling it up. It’s a little bit mindless, the way in which his body seeks out the pleasure, hips pushing forward, just enough to create the friction they so much need.
The sound Jimin releases is enough to make Jeongguk’s heart jump in his chest, arousal bubbling in his belly. Jeongguk wants to hear more of it. He wants to hear every small sound Jimin can make.
“You drive me crazy,” Jimin whispers, mouth sliding down, towards Jeongguk’s jaw, reaching just under and mouthing at his skin. Jeongguk swears everything starts to spin. His heart is a mess in his chest and Jimin is trembling. Or maybe it’s him. Both of them. But he’s warming up, he can feel it taking over his skin.
“No, you do,” he shoots back, the words breathed into Jimin’s mouth. “You have no idea.”
I do. I do. Jimin’s words are drowned away by the sound of the water falling down beside them, by the loud thumping of Jeongguk’s heart, by the sounds they' make whenever their hips move on their own accord and suddenly pleasure unlike no other is shaking through their bodies. Jeongguk doesn’t remember the last time he felt it this intensely, the desire, the lust, all paired up with everything he feels for Jimin, everything that’s been building in his chest and making it hard to think, to breathe, to function properly.
How can so many things collect in his heart in just a matter of months?
Jeongguk is so lost in his head and in the kiss that he doesn’t hear it at first, the alarm they set up for the cookies. It’s coming from his phone, all the way in the kitchen. And, he thinks, they’re lucky that he heard. Because he was so lost in Jimin he almost missed it.
“The cookies,” Jimin whispers against his mouth, but he’s still kissing. His hands are still under Jeongguk’s shirt, touching his heated skin.
“Yeah,” he mumbles, taking a deep breath and slowly leaning away. “The um, the cookies.”
Jimin giggles softly and pecks his lips.
“Come on, we were starting to get carried away,” he whispers, dropping his head back against the shower tiles.
Jeongguk is aware of the alarm, seconds ticking by. But he leans forward and kisses under Jimin’s jaw, even though he knows he’s supposed to be cooling down and this will definitely not help.
“We should get carried away more often,” he suggests.
Jimin’s hands leave his skin, but they fall over his shirt and rub up and down gently, head tilting to the side to give Jeongguk the space he needs to continue kissing down his neck.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind,” Jimin whispers into his ear, his breath sending a shiver down Jeongguk’s body. The way in which he says it, the hoarse murmur, it makes Jeongguk’s heart jump, excitement undoubtedly taking over his body. “Maybe when the cookies aren’t gonna get burned?” He asks. That snaps him out of it. He clears his throat and steps back, his hands on Jimin’s hips. He’s right. The cookies. They can kiss later. Jimin smiles up at him, pecking the corner of Jeongguk’s mouth. “If you look at me like that…” Jimin trails off, cheeks flushed, lips swollen. God, he looks so breathtaking. So absolutely beautiful. Jeongguk just wants to kiss him again, damn the cookies. “It makes me want to kiss you again and forget about the cookies. Come on, you keep distracting me,” he protests, but his gaze is still hazy and a bit too focused on Jeongguk’s mouth.
Jeongguk doesn’t even bother with apologizing because god knows he’s not sorry. He wants to kiss Jimin over and over again, never let go. Maybe it’s because they’re at the beginning phases of whatever this is, wherever this is going. They’re getting to know each other, they’re learning about each other, spending time together. But the desire and the intense need is just so big, bigger than Jeongguk has ever felt it before.
“I just,” he tries, swallowing down the lump in his throat. “I just wish we could pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist, lay down together and never let go.”
Jimin’s gaze softens and he reaches up, carding his fingers through Jeongguk’s wet hair.
“We can do that,” he reassures. “We can do that whenever, baby. Lets get the cookies and then watch a movie while we eat them and then we can lay down and bed, do nothing more than just―”
“Yes, yes,” Jeongguk interrupts, nodding excitedly. It makes Jimin laugh as he tugs him out of the shower. “Come on, hyung.”
Jimin teases him, tells him he’s a baby sometimes and Jeongguk doesn’t deny it because Jimin makes him like this, he makes him feel so overwhelmed and excited, so eager to be with him. It’s a feeling he’s grown to like, a feeling he’s grown used to and that he’s always chasing.
They do a good job taking the cookies out and putting them in a plate to grow colder while they change. Jimin lends Jeongguk clothes that are big on him and changes too. Once they’re both dry and have the cookies, they go to Jimin’s room and sit down cross-legged in front of each other. They share the cookies between smiles.
“They turned out good,” Jimin whispers, finishing up his cookie and immediately grabbing another one.
“They did,” Jeongguk agrees, but he’s a bit distracted, he won’t lie. He can’t stop looking at Jimin. He never wants to stop looking at him. “You’re great at baking. God, you’re great at cooking in general. I had your soup in my head for days after you fed me.”
Jimin laughs. Jeongguk isn’t lying. He’d lock Jimin up and make him cook for him every day if he could. He doesn’t remember the last time he ate something so delicious, home-made, that is. It’s been too long since someone has taken the time to make something for him, so he can’t forget about it. He can’t stop thinking about it.
“I’ll feed you whenever,” Jimin promises, showing him an easy smile. They’re probably eating too many cookies, but they’re so delicious Jeongguk doesn’t want to stop. “Just tell me and I’ll come over to cook for you.”
Jeongguk grabs the plate despite Jimin’s protests and puts it on the nightstand, pulling Jimin down so they’re laying on their sides, facing each other.
“Will you, hyung?” He asks softly, reaching out to card Jimin’s hair back before reaching for Jimin’s hand and holding it in between them, pressed to the mattress.
Jimin hums, sliding the slightest bit closer. “I’ll feed you whenever, baby. You deserve to be fed.”
Jeongguk chuckles at that. Jimin has no idea how much he makes him feel, really. He has no idea that sometimes small words like those ones can give Jeongguk more happiness than he’s ever felt.
“I don’t deserve you,” he mumbles.
Jimin’s eyebrows furrow.
“You deserve only good things,” he reassures.
He smiles so sweetly, so reassuringly. He reaches out and tugs Jeongguk closer, pressing his face to his chest, holding him tightly to his body. Jeongguk goes, wrapping an arm around him, placing his hand on the low of his back. He feels warm and nice, so perfect.
“You make me happy.”
The words feel so much more intense than they sound. Jeongguk’s heart is beating fast and Jimin’s fingers are in his hair and there’s nothing in the world that Jeongguk wants more than to stay here for a very long time. Nothing and nobody has ever made him feel like Jimin. He knows that there is still a lot of time to go by, for them to get to know each other, but right now, in this moment, he knows that he wants Jimin for as long as he can have him. He wants Jimin to want him just as much, for as long as possible.
“You make me happy too,” Jimin whispers.
Jeongguk doesn’t say anything else, still feeling overwhelmed. Instead, he closes his eyes and focuses on Jimin’s heartbeat, a bit faster than usual. For some strange reason, it makes Jeongguk’s heart beat faster as well.
Long silence follows. They just lay there, they take each other’s closeness in and enjoy the moment. It’s warm in Jimin’s arms, in his bed, in his clothes. Jeongguk wills himself to stay calm even though his emotions are still all over the place.
“How is the tattoo design going?” Jimin asks, after a while.
That gives Jeongguk something to distract himself with so he’s quick to reply, eager and excited because it’s something that he likes a lot.
“Great,” he says, reaching for his phone quickly. “Wanna see it?”
“Yes, please.”
With a smile, Jeongguk is quick to open up his gallery and search for the pictures. It’s a very big and beautiful design. The patterns are elegant and Jeongguk really likes what he’s doing with it. The person pretty much gave him creative liberty and he’s been adding stuff here and there, little details that just feel right and go with the theme they wanted. He hopes that the person will like the design he’s created. There’s still a long way to go and things to talk about, fix. But he’s enjoying it immensely and the pay is good.
“It’s beautiful,” Jimin whispers. “You’re a really great artist, Jeongguk. You always leave me so in awe with your work.”
Jeongguk feels pride in Jimin’s compliment. He likes it a lot when people like his art, but having those words come from Jimin makes him feel a special type of way. Art has been something so important for him over the past years. It’s not always that people have nice things to say about it.
“Thank you,” he replies, putting the phone away after they stare at the art for a longer moment. “How about you, angel? How did the weekend go with your parents?”
Jimin tenses up. He doesn’t like talking about his parents much, Jeongguk has learned over the time they’ve been seeing each other. He never talks all that much about it because it seems to be a touchy subject to him, but Jeongguk always makes sure to ask if everything is okay.
There’s a bothered sound that comes from Jimin’s lips before he responds. “Fine, I guess.”
He lifts his gaze and searches for Jimin’s eyes.
“You can tell me about it, only if you want to, hyung.”
Jimin sighs and cards his fingers through Jeongguk’s hair. But he seems a bit distracted, almost as if he’s doing it to distract himself from the memories of the weekend. It must not have gone too good, then.
“They just…want me to be a certain way. They have these standards they want me to match up to and it’s not who I am. I can’t be perfect the way they want me. I’m tired of trying to live up to their expectations,” he explains. His words are strained, as if it’s hard talking about it. But when he finds Jeongguk’s eyes, he relaxes and smiles the smallest of smiles. “I just want to do the things that I like and not be asked to always have good grades and becomes the profesional they want me to be. I’m tired of being told that I have to set my priorities straight.”
Jeongguk nods in understanding. He knows what it’s like to have people tell you you have to fit into a certain box, that you have to be a certain way. It’s one of the reasons he didn’t hesitate to go searching for his dreams at a very early age. It took him a while, but he’s happy about what he’s doing right now. There’s a long way to go, but he’ll get there. He’s sure that Jimin can get there too. He’s so determined, so sure of himself.
“You don’t have to fit into anybody’s standards,” he replies. “Believe me, I know what it’s like to have people try to control you, force you into a certain box. You’re so strong and so determined, I know you can get wherever you want if you set your mind on it and I’m glad that you’re fighting to do what you like most instead of letting them have their way.”
Jimin’s smile grows, excitement dancing in his gaze. He slides closer, nose brushing against Jeongguk’s as he talks.
“I know,” he murmurs. “That’s what I’m working on. And I’m okay,” he promises.
That’s the only thing Jeongguk wants. He nods and grins up at Jimin, pecking his lips briefly.
“You know, I’m glad that you walked into the tattoo store that day,” he whispers, reaching out to trace Jimin’s jaw with his fingertips. “And I’m glad that I kissed you and that we saw each other again afterwards. And that we’re here. I’m so glad you walked into my life, pretty boy.”
Jimin’s gaze softens.
“I’m glad about all of that, too,” he whispers. Then, he grows quiet, seeming to grow lost in his thoughts. Jeongguk just watches him, waiting for him to figure out whatever he wants to say. Finally, he does. “Does it scare you?” Jimin asks, his thumb brushing over Jeongguk’s cheekbone, a soothing touch that makes it hard to keep his eyes open.
But curiosity makes him focus, gaze on Jimin’s.
“What does?”
Jimin nibbles on his lower lip. He seems hesitant. Jeongguk slides closer, his hand on his hip, keeping his body pressed to his.
“This. Us,” he finally whispers. “How fast things are going, but how good it all feels?”
Jeongguk, tilts his head back, enough that his lips brush against Jimin’s for a brief moment. He shows him a small smile.
“Yes,” he answers. “Sometimes.”
Jimin presses his forehead to Jeongguk’s, closing his eyes, still touching his face, still soothing him in this nice type of way.
“Why?”
The answer leaves Jeongguk’s mouth without him having to think it much.
“I’ve never felt this way before,” he murmurs, keeping his eyes on Jimin’s face because now he just can’t help it. He’s so beautiful to see, he’s so perfect up this close. Jeongguk never wants to be away. “You make me feel so much that sometimes I can’t understand it. And then I get scared because I want to be with you all the time and I’m worried it’s too good to be true.”
“Don’t ever worry,” Jimin pleads, his eyes opening, his gaze turning urgent. “I feel the same way. I’ve never liked someone so much, I’ve never connected with someone so easily.”
Jeongguk smiles. He loves how the words sound coming from Jimin’s lips.
“I like you a lot, Jimin,” he confesses, even though he’s said it a lot of times before.
It’s not often that he uses Jimin’s name, but Jimin’s expression lets him know that he likes it. He smiles and pecks Jeongguk’s lips briefly and nods.
“I like you a lot, too,” he promises.
Jeongguk slips an arm under Jimin’s head and hugs him tight to his chest with his other arm. He burrows his face in Jimin’s neck and takes a deep breath. Jimin’s lips press to the top of his head and Jeongguk closes his eyes. He’s happy here. He’s so happy in Jimin’s arms.