Archive of Our Own

It was the beginning of summer and Jimin was grounded. Grounded in block capitals. G R O U N D E D. He accepts that, yes, he may have got a little drunk with Tae and Jungkook, and might have lost his dads' expensive leather jacket from the 80s.  What really topped it off however, was his red eyes. He hadn't done drugs—it was just glitter—but his mother had taken one look at him and decided he was high, which he wasn't. What didn't help his case was that it was 4am and he was being held up by a pretty much sober Taehyung and covered in his own vomit. Also, that this may have happened 12 times in the past month.

"You aren't going to Europe." His mother said over breakfast a couple mornings later.

Jimin's little brother Jihyun tried desperately to hide his giggles, feigning innocence when Jimin glared at him.

Jimin let his spoon fall into his bowl with a clatter, "But I've worked all year to save up for this. I've already ordered tickets!"

"I don't care, Jimin. You need to face the consequences of your behaviour over the last 6 months. If you aren't mature enough to not know that doing drugs is bad, you aren't mature enough to back pack with other teenagers on another continent."

"But it's not just other teenagers. Taehyung is coming."

"Yeah I'm going. It's going to be lit!" Tae said beside Jimin, smiling as Jimin's mother poured him his third bowl of cereal.

"And how many times do I have to say that it was just glitter! This girl put glitter highlight on my face, I rubbed my eyes. Glitter everywhere, mom, glitter everywhere."

His mother shook her head at Jimin, "No you aren't going. It's already been decided. And once your behaviour has improved and you've shown you can be responsible, we'll give you back the ticket money."

"But, Mrs Park—"

"No Tae. Sorry honey but this time I won't be convinced by either you or Jungkook. I love you all, but it's a no."

Jimin tried pouting, leaning across the table, "Mom. Mommy. Please."

"No."

They finish breakfast in silence and Tae tried to make awkward conversations with Jimin's parents and brother that fizzled out after a couple of sentences. The two boys went up to Jimin's room when they were excused and Jimin knocked the half packed suitcase on the floor,
"This is bullshit."

Tae shrugged, "I tried to help. You saw. They won't shift this time."

"They know how much I've been looking forward to this. It isn't fair, Tae."

Tae sat down on Jimin's bed, holding a pillow against his chest, "We could all stay? Go next year. It was fun working together this year, we could do it again."

"No Tae, that's not fair on you or Jungkook. You should both go."

"But it feels wrong without you."

They exchanged a small smile, and Jimin sat down next to Taehyung, letting the taller pull him into a hug, "I'll be fine here by myself. It's just one summer. And it gives you a chance to finally get in there with Jungkookie."

Tae blushed and Jimin smiled."Don't say I don't ever give you anything, Tae. If you both come back, not having had sex on some alpine mountain in a tent, I will be really pissed."

*****

The night before Tae and Jungkook went away, Jimin's parents let the two other boys come over for a movie night, because as Jimin's mother claimed, "We aren't cruel parents.They were allowed a couple of 'supervised beers' as they sat and watched Iron Man on the sofa for the 100th time to keep Jungkook quiet. Taehyung and Jungkook left quite early due to their early flight the next morning, and Jimin truly began to reassess whether his mother's claim was true as he hugged his friends goodbye on the door step.

"It's only two months. 60 days." Taehyung said.

"That's a while actually." Jungkook added, "See you next century, Jimin."

Taehyung smacked the back of Jungkook's head, and pushed him down the path, "We'll try to skype you, okay? If we get wi-fi."

Jimin just nodded as he watched his two friends disappear down the road.

This was going to be a long summer.

*****

As if fate was mocking him the day that Taehyung and Jungkook left, Hoseok, who's party had gotten Jimin grounded, turned up at the door.

"I found this leather jacket and a few people said you had one on. Is it yours?"

*****

"Okay, it's time for you to get out of this room," Jimin's mother announced a week after Tae and Jungkook had left.

She crossed the room, leaning over Jimin's bed to pull up the blinds.

"Jimin, when was the last time you showered?" she asked, screwing up her nose.

"There's no point. I can't go out anywhere. I'm stuck in here. I have no friends and 53 days of empty, lonely nothing."

Jimin's mother looked down at him with a judgmental look, "Go and shower. I didn't raise a tramp," she pulled the duvet off him and gasped, "You are literally wearing the same pyjamas as you were 4 days ago. That's it. Get up. We're going for lunch."

When he didn't move, his mother hit him with a pillow, "Get up. Free food. Your dad and I have stuff to discuss with you anyway."

Jimin peeled himself out of his sheets and into the shower, letting the cold water—it was summer and boiling hot—wash over him. He didn't particularly want to go out with his parents but it looked like he had no choice. Slowly he carded his hands through the honey coloured strands of his hair. At some point he was going to have to dye his roots again, but Tae normally helped him with it and his mother always left his hair patchy.

Robotic movements; Shampoo, Shower gel, Turn off shower, Wrap in towel, Dry, Get dressed.

He met his parents in the kitchen, and his dad, who was in his gardening clothes instead of his normal suit, let out a small cheer, putting his newspaper down on the table, "The hermit appears."

Jimin shrugged, sitting down at the table and putting his head against it.

"Stop being so pathetic." His mother teased, ruffling his hair, "What do you want to eat?"

Jimin shrugged again.

"Italian? How does a pizza sound? You like pizza." His dad prompted.

Jimin sat up, leaning his head on his hand, "I don't mind to be honest."

His mother shook her head, "Don't be bratty, Jimin. Your dad leaves tomorrow for his business trip."

"Go put on your shoes, son. We can even go to that clothes shop you like after dinner if you want. Jihyun is at his friend's place so you can take as long as you like," his dad said.

They all walked into town in silence. Jimin's parents tried multiple times to start conversation with him, asking him if there was anything he wanted to buy, and even told him they could get dessert after from the expensive ice cream shop in the town centre.

Jimin could see through their attempts to make the ruined summer up to him.

They ended up going to the Italian restaurant his dad suggested and Jimin ate his pizza slowly, knowing as soon as he was finished the only place he'd have to go was home.

"Is there anything you want from Germany?" His dad asked, as they all ate a huge dessert platter his parents had decided on.

Jimin shook his head, "No, thank you."

"We've been thinking," His mother started and Jimin's dad flashed her a confused look, "That maybe we might lift your grounding—"

Jimin perked up immediately, looking up at her expression.

Reading him like a book his mother continued, "On 5 conditions—you get a summer job, no parties, you make some friends, help me round the house, and that you don't try anything stupid like drugs again."

Jimin opened his mouth but his dad cut him off, "Yeah we know, 'it was glitter', we were young once too,Jimin."

Jimin pouted, "So I just have to get a job, make friends and be good all summer and you'll pay me back the money and stop treating me like a prisoner."

"Are you sure lifting the grounding is a good idea?" Jimin's dad asked.

"Yeah I think he's learnt now, haven't you Jimin?"

Jimin nodded excitedly."Yes. Yes I have. And when we get home I'm going to get my CV out and get a job, don't you worry."

*****

When they left the restaurant Jimin practically skipped down the road, his parents following in tow as he led the way to his favourite clothes shop, Retro etc..

"I never understand why this stuff appeals to you." His mother said, companionably flicking through hangers beside him, "If I'd known this was all going to come back in in 25 years then I wouldn't have made your dad get rid of all this stuff when we moved into our house."

Jimin shrugged, picking up a green corduroy jacket and holding it to his chest, "How's this one?"

"Don't you have one like that?"

"Yeah but it's tan. This one is green."

"How about this one instead?" His mother said, holding up a rose coloured workers jacket patterned with large orange flowers, "This one is cute, right?"

Jimin shook his head, holding onto the green jacket, "I'm going to go pay for this, mom. Go out and wait with dad, I'll be a couple of minutes."

She went out and Jimin approached the till, paying for the jacket and leaving the shop to find his parents sitting with ice creams. His mother passed him his favourite strawberry flavoured cone and they all began to walk in the direction of their home again. 

His parents started their usual 'adult talk' in front of him so he phased out of conversation, following close behind them through the crowded streets. It wasn't until he heard his mother shriek that he looked up.

There was a group of boys,who looked a couple years older than him, standing near his parents—all of them looking wide eyed at his mother's cone on the floor.

"Sorry ma'am. We didn't see you." Said the tallest boy. He was attractive and tall enough to be a model, but with the way the other tall guy in the group stood next to him, it seemed he was unfortunately taken.

"I wasn't talking to you. He bumped into me. This icecream was expensive!" His mother yelled.

The shorter of the trio stepped forward, the grin falling from his face as he fell into a bow, his black hair flopping across his face, "I'm terribly sorry, Ma'am. I was distracted. Here, give me 5 seconds and I can get you the money for a new one?"

Jimin's mother just threw him a disgusted look, zoning in on the cigarette that he held between two fingers, "Gosh, youth these days. So much disrespect, and you're smoking too. Do you realise the second-hand smoke from those things kills people, not just you?"

The boy had fully straightened up now, flicking the ashes from the cigarette away."Look, I'll just get you the money for a new ice cream?"

He watched his mother lean forward and throw the cigarette on the floor, the trio gaping as she stamped it out, "Yeah, you will."

"Okay."

The boys all began to dig through their pockets, pulling together about 7000 won between them and passing it over, "I don't get paid until tomorrow, but if that doesn't make it up then while I'm on my shift tomorrow morning you can come into the music shop around the corner and I'll give you the rest."

Jimin's mother snatched the money, looking down on the group as she stepped away.

"What would your parents think if they saw you smoking?"Jimin's dad asked.

"Not much. I'm sorry but I don't know what it has to do with you. I've apologised, I've given you money—" This was the exact moment that Jimin made eyecontact with the boy and he stuttered slightly, clearing his throat, "Look, do you want me to get the ice cream too? What flavour do you want? I'll get you two scoops if you'll stop making such a scene."

"I'm making a scene!? You bumped into me and made me drop my ice cream!"

"Mom, dad, please just leave it." Jimin said, pushing forward and giving the boy an apologetic smile, "I'll run and get you another cone. Just leave him alone. He apologised, it's over now."

Jimin's mother shook her head, flashing the boy one last disgusted look before turning away, "Let's just go, Jimin. I don't want you to get mixed up with the likes of him."

Jimin let his mother pull him away but after a couple of steps, he turned back to find the boy already looking after him.

*****

Jimin's mother wouldn't shut up about the boy who made her drop her ice cream all afternoon and even as Jimin sat at the kitchen table searching for jobs on his laptop, she was complaining about it.

"I don't ever want to see you with that many piercings Jimin."

"Yes, mom."

"And no tattoo. He had a tattoo right?"

"Yes, mom."

"I'll never do anything like that mom," Jihyun said, looking up from the onions he was chopping.

"I know you won't sweetie. You're a good boy." Their mother said, "And no smoking, Jimin. If I ever catch you smoking I'll—"

Jimin stopped listening, having perfected the art of nodding at the correct times and shaking his head when necessary. He didn't even notice if the boy had tattoos or piercings, but he did know that the boy was gorgeous, taller than him by about an inch, and had beautiful deep brown eyes that he could stare at for years without possibly getting bored. Not that Jimin was into that soppy shit of course, but if he were that's totally what he'd do.

"Mom, do you mind if I got into town to pass my CV around tomorrow?" Jimin asked, possibly interrupting his mother in the middle of a sentence.

His mother looked up from where she was pulling a tray out of the oven."Of course sweetie, where were you thinking?"

"I don't know. A couple of restaurants and cafés, maybe a few shops? Might see if Retro etc. is hiring so I can get discounts."

She laughed."Okay. How long do you think you'll be?"

"I don't know. Three hours maybe? Might get lunch."

"Then just message me where you are, okay?"

"Sure."

Jimin packed up his laptop and helped set the table.

*****

The next day when Jimin got into town he passed his CV around, just so his mom wouldn't be suspicious, and then headed towards the music shop. It was an old-fashioned shop, all wooden frames and popular with the Tumblr kids who thought records were better than CDs because they were vintage and all that. Jimin was poor and just downloaded music off music sharing websites online, but he decided that Tae and Jungkook might want some western CDs when they came back from Europe to help them remember their trip of a life-time. Yeah. That was why he decided to go there, not because of the cute boy from the day before.

As soon as he walked through the door the tall man from yesterday, the one that looked like a model, looked up from where he was stacking shelves and gasped. "Please don't tell me your mom sent you to get the rest of the money."

Jimin shrugged, letting the door close behind him, "No, she doesn't know I'm here. I always forget this place exists so I thought I'd come and check it out."

The tall guy nodded, seeming to relax."Yeah, okay. What are you looking for?"

"Western stuff? My friends are in Europe at the moment, so I thought I'd come get them some CDs."

"Oh, they're over here." The tall guy said, leaving the box on the floor and leading him towards a stand on the opposite side of the shop. "No offence," he starts,"but your mom seems a bit—"

"In your face?" Jimin supplied,"Angry? Over dramatic? Yeah, sorry about that."

"No, don't worry. I'm sorry. Life must be shit for you with that... dragon."

Jimin began to scan the CDs for an artist he knew Jungkook liked."You don't know the half of it."

"Well, if you need anything then come and find me, or Namjoon. He's at the counter. We'll be able to direct you towards anything you want to find."

"Thank you," Jimin said, "I'm Jimin."

"Jin."

They gave eachother a nod and then Jin returned to stacking.

*****

"Did you find everything you were looking for today?"Namjoon asked as he scanned the CDs on the till.

It turned out that Namjoon was the other tall guy in the trio, who had been attached to Jin's side the day before. The guy had no idea how lucky he was.

"Yeah, actually. Thank you."

He passed over the money and was watching Namjoon clumsily bag his CDs when a guy walked out a side door and gave him a huge smile.

"Oh my god. Jimin, right? Weird seeing you here. Or anywhere. It's like you've disappeared off of the side of the planet for the last three weeks."

"Yeah, sorry, I was grounded," Jimin said dismissively, letting Hoseok hug him over the counter, "The witch lifted it now though and I'm ready to party."

Hoseok smiled, ruffling Jimin's hair, "You sure about that, kid? You can't handle your alcohol all that well."

"I'm not that bad," Jimin argued and Hoseok just laughed at him.

"Oh hey Hobi, I thought it was Yoongi's shift today?" Jin said, appearing next to Jimin.

Hobi rolled his eyes, "Yeah it was, but he texted me an hour ago asking me to cover for him. Something about being halfway through a song. Asshole."

Jin laughed, "Classic Yoongi."

"You guys met my pal Jimin?"Hoseok asked the others, "Absolute legend. He once downed like ten shots of vodka and threw up in my mom's rose garden. It was lit."

Namjoon gaped at Jimin, "Shit, that was you!"

Jimin shrugged, unable to hide his smile.

"And they still aren't growing properly."Jin said sadly, "Small world. It's weird we've never met before."

Jimin laughed, "It sure is. I've been to almost every one of Hobi's parties since Christmas?"

"That's so fucking weird," Namjoon said, "So have we."

Jin nodded in agreement, "Next time come and say hi. We're usually in the kitchen by the drinks because Yoongi's too lazy to actually get up and pull."

"You gotta respect him. He's looking for the one, you know." Hoseok said solemnly then laughed, "Jimin dances like a pro though, that's probably why you've all never met. He's out there getting whacked with Taehyung and Jungkook."

All of their eyes lit up in recognition at the mention of Taehyung's name.

"So fucking weird."Namjoon repeated.

*****

Jimin somehow found himself returning to the music shop everyday for the next week, and he felt that he could officially tick off 'new friends' from his mother's list when Hoseok added him to a group chat only 4 days in and they were all organising to meet up. He was, however, yet to meet the elusive Yoongi they all kept talking about, but Jimin assumed he was the one who had knocked his mother's cone. He often found himself wanting to ask the others about Yoongi—what he was like, what he was interested in, and whether he could have the boys number, but he didn't want to give himself away yet. He officially had a massive crush on a guy he'd never even spoken to and it was driving him nuts.

A week after he entered the music shop for the first time, Jimin was greeted by Jin whom he'd planned to meet outside Retro etc.. It was about an hour before Jin's shift began at the shop, and they were going to get lunch together.

"You found a job yet?" Jin asked Jimin over a massive burger.

Jimin shook his head, "No, I think I missed the window for summer employment. All the part-time jobs are taken and I can't do full-time due to dance class."

"That sucks,"Jin said, wiping ketchup off his chin. How he still managed to look hot with food round his face was beyond Jimin."If you want, I can see if we have any space on the rota at the shop?"

"Nah, thanks but it's okay. I think I might just sit this summer out. The dance school has asked me to teach a few classes a week to the babies for minimum pay anyway, so I think that'll do."

Jin nodded."Sounds adorable and I'm jealous."

"It's alright. I get paid so that's all that matters." Jimin shrugged.

Jin pretended to look shocked and took a sip of his coke, "So many children's dreams have just been crushed. How dare you!"

"They'll survive. Better show them that life is disappointing now or they are going to get a nasty shock when they find out in 5 years' time that they can't all be prima ballerinas."

"Didn't really have you down as a ballerina,"Jin laughed.

"No, but my mother had other ideas. It's okay, I guess. I prefer contemporary but mom doesn't need to know that."

Jin nodded in understanding, shoving the rest of his burger in his mouth."You done? I'm going to be late if we don't get going now."

"Yep."

They walked the short distance from the take away place to the shop, and Jimin followed Jin in, flashing Namjoon a smile as he approached the counter, "Hey."

"Hey kid. Good burger?"

Jimin nodded, "It was great. How did you know we had burgers, though?"

"Because," said a familiar voice,"half of it is still smeared across your face."

Jimin looked away from Namjoon hurriedly wiping the back of his hand across his mouth.

"You missed a spot." The boy grinned, coming closer to Jimin and wiping the corner of his mouth with his thumb. Slowly, he brought the thumb up to his lips and put it in his mouth, wiping it clean. Jimin just gaped.

"My name's Min Yoongi." The boy said, smiling at Jimin's expression.

Jimin just let out a slightly stuttered breath which he hid unsuccessfully with a cough. "Jimin,"he said.

"Yeah, I know. I've heard a lot about you. You're the son of that woman whose ice cream I knocked to the ground, and you know Hobi."

Jimin managed to pull himself together enough to give Yoongi what he hoped was a cocky smile."Yep I am. And I do. Sorry about my mother. She can be... a bit of a bitch sometimes."

Yoongi just shrugged with a smile that was halfway between teasing and genuine, "So I've heard you've won the hearts of the rest of my friends. I think it's time I get to know you."

"Yoongi hyung, do you wanna go out with me?"

Namjoon immediately spluttered, excusing himself to the back room where he thought they wouldn't be able to hear his and Jin's loud laughter.

It was Yoongi's turn to look slightly shocked and Jimin could feel the blush slowly spreading across his face.

"What the fuck, kid. I don't even know you?"

Jimin let out a garbled noise as he watched Yoongi turn away, "No, shit, sorry. Let me explain."

"Listen kid, you seem nice and all, but it's a bit forward asking out someone you just met and it seems a little—"
"Listen to me okay," Jimin says, surprising himself by reaching out and holding the elder in place, "Shit, this is so perfect. Listen."

"Fine. I'm listening,"Yoongi sighed.

"Beginning of the summer I got grounded and my mom, thinking I'd taken drugs, told me I couldn't go on a trip across Europe that I'd already bought tickets for and everything."

"Did you take the drugs?"

"No. Shut up and listen. Anyway, I've now come to an agreement with her but I'm still pissed, you know? Tae and Kookie keep sending me all these pictures and I didn't even take the drugs; I even got my dad's stupid jacket back. She needs to see that she's wrong for once."

Yoongi was smiling at this point, looking at Jimin as if he were 12 and not merely 2 and a half years younger than him."I'm not being your revenge, kid."

"No, no, ugh okay, but listen, she went on about you literally for days after the whole ice cream thing. You're literally perfect. Please."

"Jimin, no, you're cute and all but I'm not fake dating you to get back at your mom because she doesn't like you being gay or whatever."

Jimin blinked, "Where did you get that from? She isn't homophobic, it's more the piercings and the cigarettes. She hates that stuff. Can you imagine her reaction if I took you home for dinner?"

"Gee, thanks."

"No, that's not what I meant—"

"What do you think of the piercings and cigarettes?"Yoongi asked him.

"I don't care, to be honest. Your body not mine."

Yoongi wet his lips."I'm still not convinced."

"Fuck, I'll pay you. In food. I don't have much money because it all went towards my ticket to Europe and the only job I can get is teaching little kids ballet. But you can eat whatever you want from my house and if you want I'll buy you gifts, pay for dates and stuff."

"Oh? Dates?"

"Shut up. It's got to be convincing."

Yoongi thought for a second."Fine."

"Really?!"

"Yeah I'll do it."

Jimin fist pumped the air, laughing at the bizarreness of the situation. He, Park jimin, was fake dating a boy, who his mother wasn't going to approve of, and damn revenge was sweet.

*****

They exchanged numbers before Jimin left the store that day, and Jimin practically skipped home. His mother was cooking a casserole when he came and he got pulled into cutting up cabbage and red onions.

"I'm really proud of you Jimin, you've really pulled it together over the last month."His mother said as they stood making a pie for dessert.

"I met someone today,"Jimin told her.

"Oh really. What's he like?"

"Super nice."

"Is he hot?" His mother smiled.

"Of course! What do you take me for?"

"When do I get to meet him?"

"Soon, probably. We're going on a date this weekend, and I'll ask him if he wants to come over after."

Jimin's mother pinched his cheek, and Jimin knew she'd probably deposited some flour there but he let it be.

"Are you going to see him tomorrow after ballet?"

Jimin nodded, "Yeah probably. I'll see the others too. He's a mutual friend."

"That's nice. Just be back for dinner, okay."

"Sure, mom, sure."

*****

Yoongi and Jimin arranged to meet in the town centre by the fountain at 7pm. Jimin's mother straightened Jimin's jacket as he put on his shoes by the door, and ruffled his hair slightly.

"I can't believe I made such a beautiful human being."

"Thanks, mom."

"And that you chose to wear that green thing to a fancy restaurant."

"Please. It looks dapper. I look dapper."

His mother laughed."Don't be back late, okay?"

"It's just dinner. I'll message you when we are on our way back."

"Ok sweetie. See you then."

Jimin approached the fountain, surprised by how nervous he felt. This was a fake date. A fake date with a friend, and he was shitting himself.

"Nice jacket."Yoongi said when he saw Jimin, giving him a quick once-over.

"You too. Come on, I've made reservations so we can't be late."

"Oooh. I've got myself a fancy guy, huh?"

"Shut up. My bank is going to be crying after this."

"Yeah, yeah. Feed me."

*****

Dinner consisted of small talk and the cluttering of cutlery against plates. Neither of them knew what to talk about, having only met a couple days before, and it was possibly the most awkward experience of Jimin's life—and he'd had many awkward experiences. It wasn't until they were eating dessert, a shared sundae they'd gotten at a discount because the waitress thought they were cute together, that they started to talk properly.

"So tell me a bit about your family,"Yoongi said.

Jimin licked the ice cream off his spoon, "Well, you've met my mother. She's an absolute psycho, but she's actually okay sometimes. When she's in a good mood. My dad is a lot worse, to be honest. He acts like a friend but he isn't one. My mom wouldn't be so strict if it weren't for him. And then there's my little brother Jihyun. He's 14 and kinda cute in a voice cracking, not used to his long limbs kinda way. Practically harmless, but the family favourite. And a little bit of a suck up. I just ignore him."

Yoongi nodded."Your parents sound like they might be a challenge."

"Definitely. But that's the fun of this. They're going to be so pissed, but it's their fault. If they had let me go to Europe I wouldn't be hanging out with neighbourhood badboy Min Yoongi."

Yoongi rolled his eyes, pulling the half-finished dessert toward him. When Jimin made a noise of complaint, he only gave him a cat-like grin.

"I deserve this for the hell you're about to put me through. Ask for the check, baby, so we can get going."

*****

When they got back to Jimin's house it was nearing half 9. Just before they were about to walk through the door, Yoongi took Jimin's hand and flashed him a smile.

"Let's put on a show," was all he said, and then they were inside.

His mother came out, in a different and dressier outfit to what she was wearing when he left, Jihyun in tow, and was about to introduce herself when she saw Yoongi. Her bright smile turned to a frown and she glared at Jimin who tightened his grip on Yoongi's hand.

"Jimin, can I speak to you in the kitchen for a minute? Jihyun, show Jimin's friend into the living room."

Jimin turned to Yoongi, who just shrugged, "It's okay. See you in a minute."

Then Yoongi kissed his cheek. Kissed his cheek, and if his mother wasn't practically bearing a hole through him with her penetrating gaze, he thinks he probably would have melted in the spot.

"Now, Jimin."

Jimin gave Yoongi one last gaze before following his mother into the kitchen. She shut the door behind them.

"Who is that?" She asked in a loud whisper.

"Min Yoongi. My date."

"No. Not in my house. You aren't seeing him again."

"Mom, this is my choice not yours. It's nothing to do with you. In four months I'm going to be a legal adult."

"I wish you'd act like it. You know I don't approve of people like him. So many attractive boys Jimin, and you choose him."

"There's nothing wrong with him mother, and I like him. Now can I go back to my date, please? You asked to meet him so come and meet him, and then we'll go upstairs and you won't have to see him again until he leaves."

His mother let out a loud noise of disagreement and walked out into the hallway. Jimin only looked on after her.

"Well, come on then. Come and introduce me to this delinquent."

Jimin followed his mother into the living room, where Jihyun was trying to make awkward small talk with Yoongi about video games and anime figurines. Yoongi was trying his best to look interested, but when he saw Jimin he outwardly seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and gave Jimin a gummy smile. "Hey, your brother was showing me his games."

Jimin returned the smile, going over to Yoongi and motioning for him to get onto his feet.

"Mom, this is my date Yoongi. Yoongi, this is my mom."

"It's nice to meet you,"Yoongi said good naturedly.

His mother looked at his outstretched hand with unhidden disgust."I don't approve of you and I don't want you seeing my son."

Jimin looked over at Yoongi, who's smile seemed a bit strained, and he stepped slightly closer to Jimin as if Jimin was going to be able to protect him.

"I think that's up to Jimin. I really like your son, ma'am."

Jimin's mother shook her head, "Just go upstairs. Hopefully this act of rebellion will pass."

*****

"Sorry about that," Jimin said when they got into his room.

Yoongi shrugged."S'okay. Glad I had that dinner beforehand, though. Would not like to have faced your mom on an empty stomach."

"Well, um," Jimin awkwardly motioned to his bed, "Sit down. I mean, if you want."

Yoongi laughed, taking a seat on Jimin's bed and patting the space beside him, "You too."

Jimin sat down beside Yoongi and suddenly everything felt too close, too warm and too cramped. Yoongi leant back on his arms, surveying the room and giving it a nod of approval.

"Glowing stars are great, but you know what really tops it off?"

Jimin shook his head, avoiding eyecontact with the older boy.

"The pile of hiphop albums on your book shelf."

Jimin looked up at him then. "You like hiphop?"he asked.

"The whole genre is practically a deity to me. When I first started producing my music I thought to myself, one day I want to be like Epik High."

"You make music? What kind?"

"I'm a rapper and I mainly perform underground. It's so great because the vibes are so good and everyone wants to hear what I say. When I'm up on stage performing this completely self-produced being that I have brought to life from nothing it's amazing, you know? I've been saving up to turn my study into a home studio—"

Yoongi kept talking and Jimin couldn't help but watch the way his eyes brightened up and the way the elder was smiling as he explained his passion.
"—and it's really beautiful because every little thought I have. Any negatives, any positives, I can put them into a rap and make something people can enjoy—"

It was truly endearing how much the elder had to say about the matter. He wasn't shy, he wasn't hiding it behind an'oh it's just a hobby'. Yoongi truly and utterly loved everything he was doing and Jimin soon found himself sat cross legged, leaning against Yoongi's arm which had at some point settled behind him, with a smile that matched the elders.

"Namjoon and J-Hope—Hoseok that is, produced something with me last year—"

Jimin realised then that there were footsteps coming up the stairs and slammed a hand over Yoongi's mouth, who made an offended noise.

"Quick, my brother's coming upstairs. Make it look like we were in the middle of something," Jimin whispered.

Yoongi rolled his eyes but quickly laid against Jimin's pillows, rolling his eyes and patting the bed beside him when Jimin didn't follow, "Lay down, you idiot. He's coming!"

Jimin had only just gotten settled beside Yoongi, their legs tangling together and Yoongi's hand finding Jimin's waist when the door opened.

"Do you guys want a—hah," Jihyun said smugly.

And just to emphasise that yes, they were dating and the situation was 'real', Yoongi leant forward as if whispering something to Jimin, but just said in a smooth, quiet voice, "You're blushing."

Jimin felt his face get impossibly redder and sighed as Jihyun shut the door again.They both sat up again immediately,straightening their clothes as Jimin grinned at Yoongi.

"So far so good, hyung."

*****

For their next date, much to Jimin's mother's disgust, Yoongi turned up at Jimin's house in his truck, sounding the horn to let Jimin know he was outside.

"You are not going out with a boy who has a truck like that. He's smoking, look. Again. That's such a fire risk."

"Nonsense. It isn't even lit. Watch me, mom." Jimin said, pulling on his jacket and walking out the door.

JImin could still feel his mother's eyes on him as he climbed into the truck and Yoongi flashed him a smile.

"Like the truck?"

"Yeah, it's a nice touch. And I thought she couldn't possibly hate you anymore than she did before."

"How angry was she?"

 "There was practically steam coming out of her ears."

"Nice."

Namjoon and Jin owned an apartment on the opposite side of town, and they had all decided to go and hang out there seeing as everyone had rare clear schedules for the day.

"Jin was saying how much he was looking forward to seeing you," Yoongi said during the short drive. "Something about you being adorable and him wanting to feed you."

"I'll accept food anytime of the week. I'm too scared to eat my mom's food at the moment. I reckon she's trying to kill me."

"Yeah, I wouldn't risk it either. We'll have to go out for more dinners then, if you aren't getting food from home. I like free food."

"Hah. Aren't you funny. No way."

Yoongi pretended to pout, turning to Jimin and throwing him a quick, lazy wink before turning back to the road, "So what did your mom say after I left?"

"Nothing. She was surprisingly quiet. It was creepy. Jihyun didn't say anything though, so that's probably why. She was probably hoping she wouldn't see you again."

Yoongi laughed, "Joke's on her. I'm sticking around as long as the free food does."

They arrived at Namjoon and Jin's flat soon after that, and the door was answered by Jin who immediately pulled Jimin into a tight hug, "Jiminnie! Hey! Oh, and Yoongi too."

Hobi showed up behind Jin, giving them a smirk, "Did you guys come together? I didn't realise you knew eachother that well."

"How do you know Yoongi, again?"Namjoon piped up from inside the flat, and Jin erupted into giggles.

"He's my boyfriend." Jimin says, linking their arms together, and Jin's window wiper laugh appeared, making everyone, even Yoongi who was trying his best to seem unimpressed with Jimin, laugh.

When they had all eventually calmed down Yoongi managed an unconvincing, "Literally, fuck you."

Jin immediately lead Jimin into the kitchen while the other three crowded around Namjoon's laptop, sharing the headphones and making music. Yoongi seemed to immediately take the lead, rearranging the tracks and the other two made noises of appreciation at the new mixture of sounds.

"Here, eat this," Jin said, forcing a spoonful of pasta into Jimin's mouth and then dipping it into another pot, "And this. Here."

"It's nice." Jimin said through a mouthful of food.

Jin pointed a finger at him, "Don't eat with your mouthfull."

Jimin nodded in apology, waiting until his mouth was empty."It's nice."

"Thank you."

They fell into a comfortable silence as Jin began to mix more stuff into the pans and heat different things up.

"Where did you learn to cook?"Jimin asked.

"I taught myself. When you know someone as clumsy as Joonie, you have to become self-reliant pretty quickly. And when he's your boyfriend; it was just safer for everyone for me to takeover kitchen duties as soon as we started college."

Jimin laughed at the idea of Namjoon being able to cook anything and took a sip of the hot drink Jin had given him.

"Jimin. Your phone has been ringing continuously for the past 5 minutes. Who's Tae Tae?" Yoongi asked coming into the kitchen.

"Ah shit, thanks." Jimin said reaching for the phone, "I'm going to go outside to take this."

"Just leave it on latch so you can get in afterwards," Jin said, watching the exchange.

Yoongi followed Jimin out to the door, "I'll let you in after."

"Yeah, thanks."

He pressed answer, "Hey, Tae."

"Jimin hey! I haven't spoken to you in years. How are you? Are you still grounded?"

Jimin laughed, "No, she lifted it a couple of weeks ago. How's Spain?"

"Fucking beautiful Jimbles, Absolutely fucking beautiful. And on the topic of fucking—"

"Shit, you guys didn't!"

"Yep. In Switzerland. In a tent, in the Alps, just as you suggested."

"Good job, bro, good job."

"We're taking lots of photos for you. I'm really sad you couldn't come. It's gorgeous. What have you been up to?"

"Nothing much. Met some cool guys. May or may not be fake dating a guy to piss off my mom."

Taehyung let out a dramatic gasp, "I cannot wait for this story."

"Yeah it's pretty good, " Jimin laughed, "I'll text it to you, or this call is going to cost you a fortune."

"So considerate as always. Do you want to speak to Kookie?"

After speaking to Jungkook, Taehyung ended the phonecall and Jimin sunk to the floor clutching his phone to his chest. Talking to his two best friends reminded him of how much he missed them being around for the past two weeks, and Jimin couldn't help feeling slightly sad. His friends were on the trip of a lifetime without him, making memories without him, and the situation just sucked.

"You ok?" Yoongi asked from the doorway, making Jimin jump.

He quickly turned away, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hand, and got to his feet, "Yep, I'm good. Let's go in and eat."

Yoongi dropped the topic, stepping away so that Jimin could come back in to the flat.

"How is Europe?" Jin asked when Jimin came back into the kitchen.

Jimin shrugged, "Good, apparently. My friends fucked in a tent in the alps."

"That's... nice." Jin blinked, "Can you call the others in to get their food? Get them off of their computers and we can watch some movies."

*****

Jin was officially the best cook Jimin had ever met—he couldn't hold back the noises of appreciation as he ate his way through his 4th helping of the pasta stew.

"Shut up, Jimin. You sound like a mating turtle." Hobi stated, hitting Jimin with a pillow.

Jimin looked up to see the 4 other boys looking at him with suppressed grins, bowls already on the table.

"I'm just glad someone appreciates my cooking this much." Jin said, ruffling Jimin's hair, "You're welcome anytime."

"I appreciate your cooking,"Yoongi argued.

"Yeah, but you aren't as cute and you don't have funny stories of your friends fucking in tents in Europe."

Yoongi nodded."Touché."

"So what movie should we watch?" Jin asked as he collected the bowls.

"No series. I've got to go in 3 hours,"Yoongi told them. "Do you want a lift, Jimin?"

"Yes please."

"I'm in the mood for Brave." Namjoon proposed.

Hobi immediately nodded, "I'm always a slut for Disney."

Yoongi groaned, putting his head in his hands."Why do we always have to watch a Disney film?"

"Because Disney is great. 3 out of 5, majority vote, Disney it is."

"4 out of 5." Jimin added and Yoongi glared at him, crossing his arms,

"I could just leave right now."

"But you aren't going to." Jin smiled.

"Hell no, I'm not. I'm going to sit through this Disney movie like a champ and sing along to all the songs."

Jimin laughed, sliding over so that Jin could sit next to him.

Jin beckoned Jimin over. "Let me cuddle my favourite dongsaeng."

Jimin happily let the older boy pull him so close he was practically on his lap, and stayed like that all through the movie.

*****

"Are you sure you don't want to stay for dinner?" Jimin asked Yoongi as they pulled up in the truck outside his house.

"I'd love to, but I have to work tonight. I haven't started my summer project for college yet and we are, already a month into summer."

Jimin tried to hide his disappointment behind a smile, "Just wait a second then," he told him before passing Yoongi a 50,000 won note.

Yoongi looked at the note in his hand and then back up to Jimin. "Do I look like a charity case to you, kid?"

"You agreed to be paid, didn't you hyung?"

"I can't take this, Jimin."

"Why not?"

"Just save it for when we next go out."

Jimin bit his lip, still uncertain, but then nodded. "Okay."

*****

The next week, Jimin went to visit Yoongi at the store and was surprised to find Hobi covering his shift.

"What did he say he was doing?" Jimin asked.

Hobi shrugged."God knows. I agreed because I could do with the money. Call him, he might be free."

"Okay. Thanks Hobi."

"No problem, Jiminnie."

Jimin walked out of the shop, taking his phone out of his pocket. He didn't want to bother the elder if he was busy, but he also really wanted to see him.

He pressed the call button before he could talk himself out of it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's jimin."

"Yeah I know, dumbass." Yoongi laughed,"It comes up with your name on the screen."

"Oh, yeah.

"So what's up?"

"I just wanted to know if you were free?

"For what?"

"A date? My mother was annoying me this morning so I told her we were going out. I need some photos to put on Facebook so that she can see them."

Yoongi sighed, "I don't see why not. Where do I meet you?"

"Outside Retro etc.?"

"Give me 20 minutes."

"See you soon."

*****

Yoongi turns up a punctual 23 minutes later in loose fitting jeans and an oversized t-shirt which screamed that he was clearly in bed and had thrown on the first clothes he saw, when Jimin interrupted him.

"I was doing homework," Yoongi complained.

"I like to think I'm a lot better company than homework."

Yoongi screwed up his face."I beg to differ."

Jimin pouted, crossing his arms, and Yoongi ruffled his hair."Why this place?"

"I like this shop," Jimin told him.

"Why it's just a load of overpriced, mothballed clothes."

"We suddenly can't be friends anymore."

"Fair. Lead the way then."

Jimin walked into the shop and Yoongi followed, watching as Jimin shuffled through the rails.

"How do you find stuff in here?"Yoongi asked after a few minutes.

"Sometimes you don't. It's all luck," Jimin explained, "Aha!"

Yoongi moved closer to see what Jimin had found, screwing up his face at the faded red bomber jacket Jimin was holding. "I don't understand fashion."

Jimin laughed, facing the mirror and holding it up to himself, "That's evidently clear. You only own like one outfit."

"And it's comfortable."Yoongiadded.

"Fair."

Yoongi nodded at the bomber, "Try it on then."

"Oh, okay."Jimin shrugged the jacket on, turning to face Yoongi, and the elder looked at him with so much intensity that Jimin found himself blushing,

"Does it look okay?" Jimin asked.

"Yeah,"Yoongi nodded, "Yeah, looks good. Want me to buy it for you?"

Jimin immediately shook his head, "No, don't. I pay, remember? Part of the agreement."

"Don't be stupid. You've spent so much money on me at this point; the least I can do is buy you a jacket."

"...just this one thing, then. Let me finish scouring in case I missed anything better."

Yoongi nodded, "Just this one thing."

Just this one thing soon turned into 2 jackets, lunch and at least 25,000 won spent in the arcade because there was a bouncy ball right near the edge of the 2p machine that they just had to win.

"Why are you paying for all this?" Jimin asked as Yoongi put some money into a claw machine full of Rilakkuma plushies.

"Because I want to? Go ahead. I saw you eyeing these up earlier."

"You do realise these are just a set up?" Jimin said, stepping forward to take the controls and watching as the machine made no effort to even pick up the toy he was aiming for.

"Nah. People win stuff from these all the time in dramas. Let me have a go."

Jimin stepped aside, allowing Yoongi to move in front of him, and put more money in the machine."Seriously,Yoongi hyung. Please don't waste your money on this."

Yoongi looked up at Jimin with a glint of challenge in his eyes,

"Fucking watch me."

Half an hour later Jimin was sitting beside the machine, and the only thing stopping him from going to sleep was the repetitive noise of the claw machine.

In the end, Jimin put in his earphones to stop himself going insane, and quietly sang along to songs on his phone while Yoongi continued to fight with the machine.

"How much have you spent on that?" Jimin asked around the hour mark.

Yoongi gave him a penetrating glare."I'll win this time. You'll see."

Jimin watched as the claw moved down and once again, barely even gripped the toy before sliding back up and into the corner.

"Once more,"Yoongi said.

"Once more."

Yoongi fed the machine a coin and watched the claw move to the side and down, and then it actually gripped one of the toys close to the chute, lifting it and dropping it so that it landed in the prize section.

Jimin looked up at Yoongi, shocked."Holy shit."

Yoongi himself looked like he was about to cry, "Holy shit," He echoed.

"Collect your prize, winner."

Yoongi, still slightly dazed, knelt down to retrieve the plushie and then pulled Jimin to his feet by the arm. He thrust the plushie in Jimin's direction. "For you."

"I couldn't possibly take that! You legit spent about 100,000 won on that. It's too much."

"Fucking take it, Park Jimin."

Jimin took it, wide eyed at Yoongi's tone of voice, and clutched it to his chest, "Okay? Thank you."

Yoongi nodded, satisfied and picked up Jimin's bags from the floor.

"Where are we going now?" Jimin asked.

"Your voice." Yoongi said, "It's beautiful. Perfect for my new song. Come on."

"What?"

"I want to use your voice in my song."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't sing?"

"Bullshit. Come on. Humour me? Just record it once and if you sound like shit, you sound like shit. It'll still be fun."

Jimin bit his lip, "Okay, fine. Lead the way, then."

Yoongi was right about the recording being fun, and late that night Yoongi drove Jimin home, pulling up outside his house in his truck just like last time.

"I'll see you later. This was fun Jiminnie."

*****

A few days later, Jimin and Yoongi were doing homework in Jimin's room; Jimin finally starting the assignment his college had set him for when he started in September, and Yoongi adding finishing touches to his.

"How do I even write an essay about the structure and life of cells? Seriously, this is bullshit." Jimin complained after about an hour.

Yoongi pulled out one earphone, "You decided to do biochem, Jiminnie. I'm a music major. I have no idea. Ask Namjoon, he's the brains."

Jimin sighed, looking over his textbook and flopping across his desk."This is so hard. Life is so hard."

"Oh, boohoo. I'm Park Jimin, and I'm being given a scholarship-paid education,"Yoongi teased drily.

Jimin glared at him, "Yeah, only because I can dance. If Tae were here he'd be giving me sympathy right about now."

"I'm not Tae, kid."Yoongi shrugged, "I'm all for bitterness and tough love."

Jimin pouted and Yoongi sighed. "Fine, I'd be willing to offer a hug to show my deepest condolences if you're—"

The stopped talking at the sound of the front door opening and Jimin's eyes widened when they heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

"I think that's my mother," Jimin said.

"And?"

Jimin stood. "Kiss me."

"...What."

Jimin stumbled onto Yoongi's lap and the elder gasped in shock, flailing slightly before gripping Jimin round the waist, somehow getting underneath his shirt. The footsteps paused outside the door and Jimin cupped Yoongi's cheeks between his hands because Yoongi was frozen for a moment too long, and then moved their lips closer together, just as the door was opening.

"Jimin, can you come and do the dishes?"

She took in the sight in front of her, Jimin pulling away as if he'd just been caught doing something, and making eyecontact for long enough to make his mother blush.

"I'll um, I'll be downstairs." His mother said in a flustered tone and the left the room, slamming the door behind her.

Yoongi immediately pulled away, pushing Jimin off his lap, and Jimin let out a sheepish laugh.

"You could at least warn a guy, or something."Yoongi stuttered.

Jimin laughed, "I did."

"No—But—Ugh."

That's when the panic set in. "Fuck. You have to stay with me longer hyung, she's going to kill me."

*****

To say dinner was awkward was an understatement, and Jimin held Yoongi's hand the entire time under the table just to really sell it. It was clear to Yoongi though that Jimin was just worried about his mother, and if Yoongi wasn't also in the firing line of the glares Mrs Park was throwing across the table, it would have almost been funny.

Soon after dinner Yoongi told Jimin he really had to go, and even as Jimin followed Yoongi to the door, his mother watched them carefully.

"I'll see you soon,"Yoongi said, pulling Jimin closer by the shoulder and Jimin nodded, allowing Yoongi to rest his lips against his cheek.

"Want me to kiss you for real?" Yoongi whispers.

 Jimin slowly nodded yes, and Yoongi then slowly reached out, tilting Jimin's face up with his fingers, and kissed Jimin soft and sweet. It wasn't even a proper passionate kiss, but Jimin still found his stomach filling with butterflies and his heart beating faster, as the elder pulled away too soon and cupped Jimin's cheek.

"Good night, Jimin."Yoongi murmured.

"Good night."

Yoongi opened the door and Jimin watched him walk down the path. He turned back halfway, feeling Jimin's eyes on him, and sent Jimin a wink that had him smiling."Bye."

"Bye."

As soon as the door was shut, Jimin's mother pulled him into the kitchen by the arm and pushed him down, making him sit at the table.

"I can't believe you're still seeing that boy."

"I like Yoongi," Jimin told her, crossing his arms on the table.

"He's a bad influence. I won't have you seeing him, Jimin. He's bad for you."

"I'm not a baby, mom. I know what I'm doing."

"No you don't, Jimin. This summer you've been out of control. First the parties, then the drugs and now this boy!" His mother yells. "Jimin, I don't know who you are anymore and I don't like the person you're becoming."

"I never did drugs."

"You're missing the main point. I thought you were getting better, finally stepping up and being responsible and mature, and now it's like we're back at the beginning again. Did missing out on your Europe trip even teach you anything?"

"It taught me how to make new friends who I love, and branch away from what I've known all my life."

"What's wrong with Jungkook and Taehyung?"

"Nothing mom, but if I'd spent my whole summer moping about them leaving my summer would have sucked," he sighed."I'm happy. Let me be happy."

"We'll, see what your dad has to say when he gets back and hears what you've been up to these past three weeks. Yoongi is bad for you, and if someone finally makes you see sense it will be your father."

Jimin just rolled his eyes, going upstairs to his room and flopping on to his bed.

Yoongi kissed him. Yoongi wanted to kiss him. Could this day get any better? He fell asleep with a smile on his face.

*****

When Jimin woke up the next morning he could already smell bacon being cooked in the kitchen and it only hit him half way down the stairs what that meant. His father was home.

"Jimin. Come here a second,"called a voice that confirmed it.

Jimin paused.

He could either lock himself in his room, or run while he still could.

So he chose the run option, grabbing his jacket and shoes and spriniting out the door before his dad even had the chance to confront him. He began to head towards Tae's, where he would usually go to in situations like this, but then he remembered, just as he reached his best friend's road that Tae and Jungkook wouldn't be back for about 29 days and he was completely alone. The next option was Jin or of course Yoongi, but they were still on casual, best behaviour friend level and Jimin didn't want to burden any of them with his problems. In the end he found himself wandering the park on the outskirts of town, grateful that he'd at least gotten dressed before he came downstairs so that he wasn't plodding around like some homeless person in his pyjamas.

Jimin came across a small playground after about an hour and ended up sitting on a swing, scuffing his shoes across the floor and sniffling into his sleeve. The sun was halfway across the sky, and it would have been a nice day, if Jimin knew that he wasn't going to get shouted out as soon as he walked through his front door, and that he had no one to back him up. He sat there watching the shadow of the swingset slowly move around the park until he heard some people in the distance.

Immediately he knew they were teenagers like himself, similar age. There were about 4 or 5 of them, carrying instruments and a speaker. He was immediately intrigued by what they were doing, watching them come closer despite his inner self telling him other unknown teenagers were scary and that he should stop staring before he gets caught and beaten up, or something.

He looked away just as they approached the 30ft mark and he could begin to make out facial features, putting his hand in his pocket and realising he had nothing to distract himself with. He'd left his phone at home.

Life was awful.

"Jiminnie, is that you?" said a familiar voice, and Jimin looks up from the tarmac to see Yoongi standing over him, illuminated by the sun behind him, and if everything didn't suck so much Jimin probably would have laughed. Instead he just let out a choked noise, and quickly wiped his face to hide the fact that not even half an hour ago he was ugly sobbing into his hoodie sleeve.

"Hey, you okay?" Yoongi asked, kneeling before him.

Jimin somehow managed to muster a smile, looking up at Yoongi, "Yeah, I'm ok. Just thought I'd come out for a while, seeing as the weather's nice."

"That's bullshit."Yoongi stated, "Here, wait."

Yoongi ran to the fence surrounding the park, shouting to get the attention of his friends, "Hey guys, I'm going to hang out with Jimin for a bit," before he returned to Jimin,

"Bet I can get up the climbing frame faster than you."

Jimin laughed."Race you."

They both clambered up the climbing frame like small children, and Jimin of course beat Yoongi by a mile because Yoongi clearly let him win. They sat on a balcony against the railings, opposite the bridge to the slide, and Yoongi pulled Jimin against him, playing with the younger's hand in his.

"I know you aren't okay but I'm not going to make you tell me what's wrong. But I am here for you, okay?"

Jimin nodded, letting the warmth of the elder boy and the sun, which had now fully risen, lull him into an artificial peace just for an hour or two.

"I should probably go home." Jimin said eventually.

"Should I walk you home?"Yoongi asked.

Jimin shook his head."It's probably for the best if you don't."

Yoongi gave him a long hug and Jimin clung to Yoongi's jumper, not wanting to let go, because he knew that as soon as he got home his parents would probably ground him again—this time until the next century.

"Text me when you get home?"Yoongi asked slightly sadly.

Jimin nodded. "Okay."

*****

When Jimin got home his mom and dad were surprisingly calm, both of them waiting for him expectantly at the kitchen table with cups of coffee.

"We're calling a family meeting." His dad said, straightening his newspaper and placing it on the table.

Jimin looked to his mother who nodded and refolded her arms on the table.

"What about Jihyun?" Jimin asked.

"When you were out sulking, Jihyun went to his friend's place. He isn't involved in this, anyway. This is about you, Jimin, and your behaviour this summer."

Jimin sat down opposite his parents, pulling his jumper sleeves over his hands and playing with the fabric."I don't understand what I've done wrong. Mom gave me conditions this summer. New job; check, no parties; check, new friends; check. I've done literally all my chores and Jihyun's for the last month without fail, made dinner at least 4 times a week, and I haven't done drugs, not that I even did them in the first place."

"Don't take that tone with me—it's disrespectful. You know exactly what you're doing. I've heard all about this Yoongi guy from your mother and I don't think you should see him anymore because he's a bad influence; he's cocky and arrogant, and he's ruining you, Jimin. At the beginning of this summer we thought you were finally going to step up and try to get your life back on track, especially with the cancelled Europe trip, but we were clearly wrong."

"That cancelled Europe trip was the start of this. Don't you think if I had gone to Europe with Tae and Jungkook then I wouldn't be seeing Yoongi now? I like Yoongi, and he's not a bad influence. I know that he didn't exactly give the best first impression, but he's apologised and tried to make it up to mom multiple times. Everytime he comes he brings us flowers without fail, he treats me with complete and utter respect, and hell, since I've known him I haven't see him actually smoke a cigarette once if that's what you're worried about."

His dad stood up so abruptly that Jimin and his mother jumped in their seats, "That's it. Your grounded. We don't want you to contact Min Yoongi during that time and—one more thing, you're going to stay with your grandparents for the rest of the summer."

Jimin looked up at his parents through watery eyes, "Fine. Ruin my summer. I don't care. First Tae and Jungkook, and now my new friends. You know what, maybe you guys would prefer it if I just went upstairs and didn't come out again."

His parents fell into a shocked silence and Jimin left the room, going up the stairs and slamming his bedroom door shut. He headed straight to the shower, stepping under the water and kneeling under the spray, sobbing into his knees still fully clothed.

*****

Yoongi was worried about Jimin. When he'd seen the younger boy in the park earlier that day it was clear he'd been crying, tear tracks still fresh on his cheeks. And Jimin wiping his face and hiding his emotions with a smile, like he did that time at Namjoon and Jin's flat, wasn't believable in the slightest. Except Yoongi was himself, and emotionally constipated, so instead of trying to comfort Jimin with words and figure out what was happening, he just weakly hugged him and played with his fingers, because to his brain that was apparently how comforting someone works. But the one thing that worried Yoongi the most was the fact Jimin hadn't messaged Yoongi to say he'd got home, and he hadn't answered his calls either.

"Everything okay?"Namjoon asked Yoongi that night as they were working in the studio on Jimin's song.

"Yeah. No. I don't know. Something's happening with Jimin that he won't tell me about and I haven't heard from him all day."

"Actually, now that you mention it, neither have Jin and I. Have you seen him?"

"Yeah, he was in the park earlier when I was there with my music group. We hung out for a couple of hours and then he went home."

"Maybe he just has stuff to do? He was struggling with his essay right?"

Yoongi shrugged, not at all believing Namjoon's suggestion."I don't know, Joon."

They began to work on the song again and continued for a focused hour in silence until Yoongi's phone buzzed on the table.

He immediately picked it up to see a text from Jimin and opened it on his phone.

I really miss you rn tae..This summer has been complete and utter bullshit,theyve grounded me again and won't let me see yoongi which sucks because things were just getting good you know and they say hes a bad influence and im ruining my life which im not ;; I completed the checklist and im actually trying to be a good person tae but theyre doing the whole guilt thing and idon't know what to do anymore..I wish you were here so that you could give me a massive hug and tell me its going to be ok because right now everything is just bad and I need to see yours and kookies faces again

Yoongi read the message twice, confused by the presence of Taehyung's name and why he'd received it, but watched the little bubble thing move until another message came through.

I don't want to ruin your holiday but icried in the shower earlierafter they had a go at me..My dad shouted really loudly and they both just looked so disappointed and iwish you were there like you always are to soften the blows somehow and make them see logic im so lost tae so lost

Im sorry to be so negative sorry enjoy italy ok youre going to greece next right? Bring me back some olive oil soap and let me know when we can next skype maybe? im grounded until further notice so it will be nice to see your faces ;; love you both x

"Who is it?"Namjoon asked, looking confused at Yoongi's cloudy expression.

Yoongi pulled on his coat."Jimin."

"See? I told you he's okay."

"I'm going to go see him. Can you save and lock up? And send me the file."

Namjoon nodded,still confused, but agreed."Yeah, sure."

Yoongi called Jimin multiple times during the way out the building to his truck, and then around the super market as he bought Jimin his favourite chocolate and strawberry milk. When he received no answer, he had to just send the younger a text.

I'm coming over Jimin

And sure enough, a little after 3am Yoongi found himself climbing up the trellis under Jimin's window and knocking on the glass, glad to see the light still on. When Jimin didn't answer,Yoongi knocked again and finally the younger appeared, slightly red eyed, and opened the window.

"What are you doing here?" Jimin whispered, helping the Yoongi through the window.

"Came to see you after I got that text you meant to send Taehyung."

Jimin immediately went wide-eyed, snatching his phone up from the desk and almost slapping himself in the face when he realised his mistake.

"Shit, I'm sorry. Ignore that. I was just venting."

"No, Jimin. You're miserable and I wanted to make sure you were alright."

Jimin practically deflated in front of Yoongi then, sitting on the bed, "Everyone's asleep hyung, couldn't you have just used the door?"

"Now you tell me," Yoongi says in a jokingly annoyed voice, sitting beside Jimin, "Let it all out. I'll listen."

Jimin looks at Yoongi carefully, clearly unsure.

"I'm being serious."

Jimin bites his lip, "Okay, fine."

"Start at the beginning."

"Well, beginning of our summer holiday I went to Hobi's party and got flat out drunk, like I legit remember nothing from that night except where Tae and Jungkook filled in the gaps. However, beginning of the night I do remember this girl insisted on giving me some glitter highlight because I have good cheekbones or something. Fast forward four hours and I'm in the garden covered in vomit and Tae is dragging me home telling me how much of a mess I am."

Yoongi shook his head, "You are a mess, Park Jimin."

"Anyway, we got home and my mom answered the door in her dressing gown and somehow she decided the glitter in my eyes meant I'd been taking weed or crack or something, and a couple of mornings after when I finally managed to crawl out of bed without throwing up, she grounded me and told me I couldn't go to Europe after I'd spent the whole year saving for the trip with Tae and Kookie."

When Jimin paused again,Yoongi looked up from where he'd leant back against the pillows and gave the younger a small smile."Would you hate me if I say I understand why they grounded you?"

Jimin shrugged, "No, to be honest I get that. I'd been doing it on and off all year. I do think it was a bit harsh for them to not let me go to Europe though. I didn't even take any stupid drugs."

"So Tae and Kookie went to Europe without you?"

"Yeah, I told them to because I'd have felt bad for making them also cancel the trip. I'd get the money back from my parents, they wouldn't."

"So where does tonight come into this?"

"Well, a week after they left you appeared all rough and bad boy like. And she hates your guts—honestly, it's great. I wanted to show them that they should have let me go to Europe, but now they're telling me how much I'm fucking up my life." He turned to Yoongi then, "Do you think I'm fucking up my life?"

Yoongi looked at Jimin."Do you think I'm fucking up your life? With your parents, I mean."

Jimin immediately shook his head, "Of course not! I'm so glad I met you, and Jin and Namjoon. Without you this summer would have been complete shit."

"What did they say tonight?"

"My parents?"

"Yeah."

"They basically told me I was a fuck up and also that if I do one more thing or see you one more time, they're going to send me to my grandma's for the rest of the summer."

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

Jimin shrugged, "I didn't want to burden you with my problems. Don't worry, It'll sort itself out. It always does. My parents are just so frustrating."

They both fall into silence, Jimin rolling his lip between his teeth as Yoongi tries to work out what to say. Eventually,Yoongi speaks up in a rough voice.

"Come here."

Jimin lays down beside him and Yoongi immediately settles an arm behind Jimin's head.

"What about your family? You never talk about them?" Jimin asks.

Yoongi shrugs, looking up at the ceiling, "I don't know. I'm not in contact with them anymore."

Jimin leans up on his side, intrigued. "Really? Why?"

"Disagreements.They didn't want me to study music, and I did. They're only paying my college fees at the moment because I'm minoring in business."

"I'm sorry."

"Nah, don't be. You didn't know."

"Surely you miss them though, right? Clearly I don't get on with my parents, but I couldn't imagine them completely cutting me off or vice versa."

"Yeah, I mean it sucks, but I'm doing what I love and I chose this. Maybe one day they'll appreciate that. I can see both sides, my parents want what's best for me so we compromised."

"Why do I feel like you're actually trying to hide a life lesson in a story," Jimin mused.

Yoongi grinned."I don't know what you're talking about."

Jimin nudged him with his arm and Yoongi laughed, catching his fist and intertwining their hands together,

"How's the music going?"Jimin asked.

"I finished it tonight, actually. Want to hear?"

"Holy shit, yes?"

Yoongi scrambled up, digging in his coat pocket for his phone,"It turned out so well, here—use two earphones for full immersion."

Jimin nodded in agreement, taking the earphones and watching Yoongi press play.

"Shit, is that me?"

"Yep."

"You made me sound so good."

That wasn't me, Jiminnie,that was you. I didn't have to touch your track at all."

"Wow."

"Told you you can sing."

"No I can't."

"Bullshit."

Jimin pulled the earphones out."Thank you."

"For what?"

"I don't know," Jimin said, "For coming over, letting me vent, climbing up my fucking trellis at 3am."

"Don't get all weepy on me, please, you know I don't do tears."

Jimin sniffed loudly, quickly wiping his eyes with a sleeve, "Okay sorry."

They both laid back down again, this time facing eachother; legs tangled and Yoongi's hand slowly stroking through the strands of Jimin's hair. "Your roots are so bad."

Jimin smiled through a muffled sob. "Shut up."

"Tell me about your art. On your walls."

"Which piece?"

"All of it."

Jimin shuffled slightly closer, "Most of them aren't mine. They're Jungkook's."

"What about the alien above the desk?"

"Oh, he's mine."

"He's my favourite."

Jimin smiled, his cheeks turning slightly red."You're only saying that to cheer me up."

"No, I'm serious. The first day I came in I saw that green alien on your wall and knew he was my favourite, and I didn't even like you then."

They both fall silent, Yoongi realising what he'd just said while Jimin shuffled awkwardly in his embrace.

"Hyung we're fake dating right?"

"Oh… yeah."

Jimin looked up at Yoongi ,right into his eyes."Can I kiss you?"

"Yeah."

Jimin looked away with an awkward smile, propping himself up on one elbow and looking down at Yoongi who was looking at him in a way that made Jimin both want to squeal but also lock himself in the bathroom. That one look was so intimate that it alone was enough to make his breath stutter and the butterflies appear in his chest again.

Yoongi's hand came up to cup Jimin's face, the other hand tracing down from his waist to his hip, and Jimin slowly leant in so their lips were barely brushing. Eyes still open, they stared at eachother for a second, Yoongi completely immobile and Jimin putting too much into it, until suddenly they closed their eyes, and Yoongi was everywhere. His lips begin to move with Jimin's, his hands slowly tracing circles on the small of Jimin's back and everything was warm and overwhelmingly everywhere, and Jimin could barely breathe. Jimin tasted Yoongi tentatively with his tongue and the elder responded,opening his mouth with a low moan.

Eventually they both pulled away, foreheads pressed together as they caught their breath.

"I don't think I'm convinced, you know." Jimin said bravely.

Yoongi laughed."Kiss me again then."

*****

The next morning they woke up a tangle of limbs, laying half on top of eachother.

"Where are your pants?" was the first thing Jimin asked, voice cracking.

Yoongi opened one eye, giving Jimin a small smile."Jeans are uncomfortable."

"Oh. Fair."

Yoongi slowly traced his hand from where it was resting in Jimin's hair and pressed on a purple mark on the younger's neck, "Sorry. I promised they wouldn't mark. I didn't want to get you in trouble."

"S'okay. I don't mind" Jimin mumbled sleepily, leaning forwards and pressing their lips together.

"Shit, what time is it?" Yoongi asked when he pulled away.

Jimin pouted and turned his phone on to check,"Like, seven-thirty AM. Why?"

"Fuck, I'm on early shift at the music shop. I'm sorry, I gotta go."

Jimin's pout deepened into a frown, "Oh."

"Shit Jiminnie, I'm really sorry. I'll come round later, okay? We can watch some movies."

"Okay."

Yoongi climbed out of bed, grabbing his trousers and pulling them on, "Will your parents be awake yet? I don't really fancy climbing down that trellis."

Jimin shook his head, "No, I doubt it. Go through the front door. No one will notice."

"See you tonight."Yoongi murmured, leaning down and kissing Jimin's forehead.

"Tonight." Jimin murmured, looping his arms around the elders neck and kissing him short and sweet.

The next of the morning's events happened too quickly for Jimin to process. One second he was rolling into the warm space Yoongi left in his bed, inhaling the elders scent and unable to hide his smile, and the next, his parents are shouting.

"Park Jimin, what is going on?"

Jimin, still half asleep, peeled himself out of bed and started towards the stairs. He could see Yoongi near the door and his dad blocking the exit with his whole body. His mother was standing cross-armed in her dressing gown at the bottom of the stairs.

Jimin gasped.

"Why were you in my son's room?" Jimin's dad asked Yoongi when he realised he wasn't going to get an answer from Jimin.

"I just came round to see him sir, I swear. We didn't mean to fall asleep—"

"Jimin, what is that on your neck?" Jimin's mother suddenly shrieked.

Jimin's dad visibly tensed, "Table, Jimin. Now! And you get out!"

Jimin walked the rest of the way down the stairs, past his mother who was looking at him so disappointedly that Jimin could feel tears burning in his eyes.

"I can't believe you've done this Jimin," His dad muttered in an unsettlingly calm voice.

Yoongi looked towards Jimin with panicked eyes, "I don't want you both to assume the worst; we literally just—"

"Shut up and just get out!" Jimin's dad seethed, slamming his hand down on top of the table, "I don't want to know what you were both doing. I didn't ask that. It's clear what you were doing. What I wanted to know was why Jimin thought it was acceptable."

Jimin blinked back tears, "Dad, it's not what you think. We literally just talked and then fell asleep."

Jimin's dad ignored Jimin completely, grabbing Yoongi by the shoulder and pulling him towards the front door.

Yoongi only just managed to give Jimin an apologetic look before he had a door shoved in his face and Jimin felt the tears finally spilling, "I don't know why you both always think the worst of me. You keep asking me to be mature and take control of my own life, but how can I do that when you won't trust me and ground me every twenty seconds?"

"And to think we were going to let you see this boy," Jimin's mother murmured from the doorway.

"Last night we thought we would be able to tolerate your boyfriend if we had to. But unsafe sex is too far!" Jimin's dad yelled.

"I don't know what you want me to say to make you believe me. Hell, if you want details then sure Yoongi and I may have made out a little, but unsafe sex? No way."

"Jimin, you have disgraced this family," Jimin's dad continued, ignoring Jimin's comments completely, "You are out of control."

"I don't know what we are going to do with you. You were such a sweet boy only six months ago. Where did I go wrong?" Jimin's mother cried.

"I thought this was going to be a good summer but all you guys have done is isolated me from my best friends, and then my new friends, and I don't know what to do. I'm trying my best!" Jimin sobbed.

"Jimin, this was one step too far—you're going to your grandmother's." Jimin's dad shouted.

Jimin started crying properly, but his dad didn't even look at him, "Go pack your bag.We leave in an hour."

Jimin was halfway up the stairs when his dad spoke again, "And give me your phone. I'll give it back when we're in Busan but until then, I don't want you to have contact with that boy."

He was silent the whole drive to Busan, and even after his dad left him at his grandmother's, and when he was eating dinner in front of the TV, he remained silent.

"Let me know when you are ready to talk sweetie," His grandma smiled, bringing him some warm cookies from the oven.

Jimin managed a weak smile."Thanks, grandma."

"Let me know if you need anything, okay? I'm always on your side, baby."

*****

The next morning at breakfast, Jimin told his grandma what had happened right from the party to the morning before, when his father had kicked Yoongi out of their house. His grandma listened all the way through, her lips puckered and forehead increasingly wrinkling as Jimin told the story. She didn't speak until he finished.

"You really like this Yoongi?"

Jimin nodded."Yeah a lot."

"Okay."

They didn't speak about it further and Jimin's grandma soon gave him a shopping list and sent him into town, the whole ordeal being forgotten.

*****

It's a week later that Jimin received his first text from Yoongi, about 5 days after he'd accepted that he was never going to hear from the elder ever again.

jimin are you alright? when your dad kicked me out last week my phone completely shattered and i only just got it back from the shop now. im so sorry i couldn't text you and see if everything's ok. your parents wouldn't let me in this whole week and said you weren't at home? is that true, did they actually send you to your grandparents?? Im so sorry jimin i should have just climbed down that fucking trellis and maybe then this wouldn't have happened. message me? I need to know you're ok.

Jimin immediately began to type out a reply.

Hey yoongi?

Yeah everything is ok. My parents deleted your number. They sent me to my grandmothers and ive been staying there all week. it's not your fault, ok?? It would have happened eventually anyway. I'm happy here. X

The reply came within seconds.

thank god you're alright. what's your address there? i have something for you.

Jimin didn't think much of it, sending the address and then going back over to the market stall his grandma was standing at, helping the elderly woman pick cabbages and then carrots, while charming the stall holder who squished his cheeks before they left and gave him an apple.

"Who messaged you?" His grandma asked as they cut the vegetables for dinner that night.

Jimin cleared his throat. "Yoongi. He wanted to make sure I was alright. And said he had something for me. I sent him the address so tell me if I get any post okay?"

His grandmother smiled, "Okay, sweetie, I've just realised that I don't have enough potatoes so could you go and pick some more?"

He'd just carried in the potatoes when there was a loud knock on the door.

"Can you get that Jimin?" His grandma said, elbows deep in kimchi.

"Sure."

Jimin brushed the mud off of his sweats, pulling the door open. The boy on the other side smiles when he sees Jimin.

"I missed you."

Jimin gapes at him,"What are you doing here? If you came all the way here to tell me—"

"Park Jimin, you idiot, I like you."

Jimin paused, looking up at Yoongi to see the elder already looking at him with soft eyes."What?"

"I like you."Yoongi smiled.

"Who is it?" Jimin's grandma shouted from the kitchen.

Jimin, still speechless, doesn't answer and the elderly lady came out into the hallway to see what was happening.

"Hello dear, what can I do for you?"

"Hello ma'am. I'm Min Yoongi, a friend of Jimin's from Seoul? I'm hoping you don't mind me visiting like this but I had something really important to give him."

Jimin's grandma smiled, "Did you give it to him already?"

Jimin nodded, "Yeah I think so."

They made eye-contact, and Jimin blushed.

"Would you like to join us for dinner, dear? We're making kimichi stew."

"If that's ok?"

"Of course. Any friend of Jimin's is a friend of mine."

Grandma quickly led Yoongi in leaving Jimin gaping in the doorway in the open doorway by himself. Yoongi was there. Yoongi had travelled 2 hours to tell him he liked him.

"Jimin shut the door, the mosquitos will get in!" Grandma shouted from the kitchen and Jimin shut his mouth, and the door, trailing after them into the kitchen.He wasn't even surprised to see his grandma already had Yoongi helping her stir the kimchi.

"Dear, can you wash the potatoes and put them in the pan? Thank you, sweetheart."

Jimin silently peeled the potatoes in the sink, watching Yoongi stir the kimchi while his grandma, completely entranced, sipped her green tea on the opposite chair.

"—the first words Jimin said to me were 'will you go out with me' can you believe that—"

Jimin frowned at the snippet of conversation, glaring up at the elder with red cheeks, as his grandma let out a warm laugh.

"Always charming is our Jimin."

Jimin pouted, "Well I believe Yoongi's first words were something along the lines of 'Fuck you' so—"

Yoongi winked at Jimin, startling him into silence, and his grandma laughed again.

"So why have my son and daughter-in-law decided to separate you two? I don't see the issue here." Jimin's grandma said.

Jimin cleared his throat."They think I took drugs earlier this summer, and that I've been out of control, so they didn't let me go to Europe with Tae and JK. Then, a couple days later, we ran into Yoongi and his friends, and had a small ice cream related incident, and mom absolutely hated Yoongi. Possibly related to him maybe smoking and thinking he was a bad influence, but of course I just stalked him and asked him out to anger them further."

"When you put it like that," Yoongi said, "It sounds really bad."

Jimin rolled his eyes, "Well how would you describe it then?"

"Well, okay, we saw each other the first time with the ice cream incident and as soon as we made eye contact around your mom who was bright red at this point and yelling, I decided you were gorgeous and adorable and that I was going to keep an eye out for you to ask you on a date sometime. But then I got sent loads of summer work and didn't have the chance, until one day I came in and your grandson," he turns to Jimin's grandma then, "was standing there, possibly glowing like an angel, and I just knew right there and then that I liked him. And then our friend introduced him, and the idiot asked me out on a date. "

"Fine, I'll admit I was ridiculously attracted to you and may have had a massive crush on you." Jimin smiled, "I wasn't just using you, I swear."

Grandma smiled as she watched the two of them, "You boys are so cute."

Jimin blushed for the third time in 10 minutes, having completely forgotten his grandma was in the room, and turned back to the sink again, whilst Yoongi went back to the kimchi and asked the elderly lady what recipe she used because it smelt delicious, which made grandma smile.

In fact it wasn't until after dinner when they were all sat around with milk and cookies, Yoongi's hand tucked into Jimin's under the table, that Yoongi spoke up."Would you mind if I took Jimin back to Seoul with me tomorrow?"

Grandma gave them both a soft smile, "Please do, and show my son who's boss. You're good for Jimin."

Jimin squeezed Yoongi's hand, and Yoongi squeezed back, and for the first time in a week, Jimin felt everything was finally coming together.

*****

The next morning Jimin and Yoongi got on the Seoul train, hand in hand, and made the journey back to Jimin's house.

"Mom and dad might actually kill us this time.You do realise that, right?" Jimin said as they arrived in Seoul.

Yoongi shrugged, "We'll just have to explain this to them properly, then. I really fucking like you Jimin, and I'm not going to let your parents keep us apart any longer."

Jimin faltered and Yoongi squeezed his hand, pulling him forward into a hug,

"It'll be fine, I promise. I won't let them send you to Busan again."

Jimin nodded, his hands brushing Yoongi's hips as he pulled away slightly, "Let's go."

"Let's go."

It was midday when Yoongi's truck pulled up outside Jimin's house, and Jimin turned to Yoongi, clasping his hand tightly over the console.

"I'm shitting myself."

"Well I'm not. Come on."

Yoongi marched to the door, Jimin's warm little hand in his, and practically hammered on it.

"Yoongi..." Jimin whispered, pulling him back, but the door was already opening.

"If you don't leave my property right now I'm going to call the—" Jimin's dad faltered when he saw Jimin hiding behind Yoongi, "What the hell is going on?"

"I went to visit Jimin, which is more than you've done over the week I'm sure, and let me tell you, when I found out you sent him away I was furious!"

"I feel like it's not really your place to judge how we choose to discipline—"

"I wasn't finished! I wish you would both start listening instead of making stupid assumptions. After all, none of these supposed issues you've had with Jimin would even exist if you'd just listened to him."

At this point Jimin's mother, having heard the shouting, emerged on the porch, "Fine, we'll listen—just stop making a scene; the neighbours will see."

Jimin's parents stepped back to let them both in and Yoongi led Jimin in, refusing the seat offered to them, and stood, hand still around Jimin's, in the middle of the kitchen.

"Can't we discuss this like normal people?" Jimin's mother asked.

Yoongi shrugged, "Jimin and I have been trying to do that for about two weeks, but you know."

"I want to start with the lack of trust you have in me." Jimin said, shocking the room to silence, "So yeah, I went to loads of parties, which is completely fine because my friends and I were sensible and safe. We never did drugs, and I never will, unless you count alcohol."

Jimin's dad sighed, "We do trust you Jimin, it's just that the signs were there; we couldn't—"

"Let him speak!"Yoongi growled.

"I never did drugs, dad. And you both should have let me go to Europe because you know how hard I worked for that trip. You decided to isolate me from my childhood best friends for what? Absolutely nothing."

Yoongi was smiling now, watching Jimin proudly,

"And then onto Yoongi and I. You two have never given him a chance and he has been nothing but good to me. He came over and comforted me when I was miserable and came all the way to Busan to tell me he liked me, and you still don't approve. He's good for me, and it's time you two let me be responsible for my own life."

"He didn't really set the best first impression Jimin. He was smoking, which, with your record from this summer—"

"You are never going to listen to me, are you? I didn't do those drugs mom, and I really like Yoongi. And last week, like I said, we didn't have sex or do whatever you thought. We just hugged. You sent me to Busan for hugging someone."

Jimin's dad stood up as Jimin spoke and Yoongi instinctively pulled Jimin behind him as his dad approached, but all Jimin's dad did was sigh.

"Let's take this to the living room, okay? We'll make some tea and discuss it like civilised people, or else we'll just go around in circles forever."

Yoongi nodded."I think that's a good idea."

When they were all sat with tea, Yoongi sat up straight, looking at Jimin's parent's with what he hoped was sincerity."I want you two to understand that I really like Jimin, and no matter what issues you have with me I'd like if you could put them aside because all I want is Jimin to be happy,and right now, he's miserable."

Jimin's mother looked to Jimin, face unsure, and Yoongi continued.

"I'd really like it if you could give me a chance to prove myself. I've liked Jimin ever since I first saw him and I haven't smoked a single cigarette since then because I knew you both didn't approve, and I wanted you to."

"I didn't know that," Jimin whispered, and Yoongi gave him a soft smile.

"I don't really know what else you want us to say. Please trust Jimin's decisions because from what I know, they are good ones. He's got great friends, a great job and is overall the most caring person I know."

Jimin's mother was still looking at Jimin, her eyes now visibly wet ,"I think we've been unfair to Jimin this summer. He may be a bit stupid sometimes but he's seventeen. I mean how many seventeen-year olds do you know that will help their elderly neighbour carry their shopping two miles home every weekend, rain or shine, and voluntarily take the shelter dogs for walks because we can't have one at the moment?"

Jimin's dad also seemed deep in thought, taking a long sip of the tea before speaking."This summer has been a weird one for us all, and you've got to understand that we were trying to do what was best for not just Jimin, but the family. We've gone from having two young boys, to two teenage sons, one of which is going to be an adult in 4 months."

"I think what he's trying to say," Jimin's mother supplied, wiping her eyes, "Is that we freaked out because you've suddenly gone from being our baby boy, to this man who can drink and go to parties and have boyfriends, and we need to trust you to make wise decisions and be there for you when you aren't."

"Instead of sending him to Busan," Jimin's dad agreed.

"What's happening?" Jimin asked, confused.

"We're apologising," Jimin's mother said, "We're both sorry that we didn't trust you to be responsible, and that we took your trip away from you, and sent you to Busan instead of trying to sort out our issues."

Jimin's dad nodded, "Yeah. We're sorry."

"Does that mean we can carry on dating?" Jimin asked, taking Yoongi's hand and holding it close to his heart.

His parents looked at eachother and then at Jimin and Yoongi, "Yes, okay."

Jimin jumped at Yoongi, tackling him into a hug,

"But," His dad interrupted, "Three rules; safe sex, you don't let him get in the way of school, and Yoongi, if you ever hurt my son, just know that if I find out then your truck won't work ever again."

*****

That night Yoongi stayed over Jimin's, not only because he missed the younger 'bothering him' at the store all week, but also because it rubbed it in to Jimin's parents in a satisfactory way.

"I like you." Jimin whispered, as they were both laying on his bed, their foreheads pressed together.

"I like you too."

Jimin shook his head, "No, shut up. I realised I hadn't actually said it back properly and you've said it like 5 times in front of my family."

"It's fine. You didn't need to. I knew—"

"Min Yoongi, I really like you. Like really. I like the way you make small noises while you sleep, and the way you always let me be with you, even if you're working on a complicated track, and the way I feel when you kiss me—"

Yoongi silenced Jimin with a kiss, tangling one hand in the younger's hair and using the other to pull Jimin closer to him.

"Just like that," Jimin gasped against the Yoongi's lips, and Yoongi smiled as he pulled away.

"I'm a lucky man."Yoongi murmured.

"So am I."

"To have such a gorgeous boyfriend who I can call mine."