Archive of Our Own ^beta

Yoongi is a very big fan of consistency. He likes to know what to expect from his friends and family, this makes it easier to lay back and relax. Because Yoongi hates stress. Things have to be, and have been, static for him.

“Did you bring tissues?” Yoongi turned to Seokjin as they stepped into the movie theater.

Jin smiled and nodded, pulling the top of the box out of his bag to show Yoongi. “Jimin’s going to bawl like a baby.”

“Of course,” Yoongi snorted. He shoved his hands into his pockets as he looked around the lobby for the two others, “if he didn’t I would get worried.”

Jin nodded in agreement, finding the pair loitering near the concessions. He called out across the room, catching Jimin and Jungkook’s attention. The two turned away from where they’d been facing the menu and waved the others over.

“What do you want Jungkookie?” Jin asked, leaning on the younger boy’s shoulders from behind. “I owe you since you bought me that tank of gas.”

“Ah, hyung,” Jungkook shook his head, “I only bought you the tank because you’re always giving me rides.”

Jin tapped him in a gentle flick on the back of his head, “You're literally on my way home, it’s not out of the way in the slightest. I’ve told you this. Shut up, what do you want?”

Jungkook’s shoulders slumped but - as Yoongi expected - he gave in and told the older boy he’d like a small popcorn.

“Hyung’s going to get you a medium.” Yoongi whispered, so only Jungkook could hear him. The younger boy groaned but didn’t argue. It’s what Jin did.  He thought all his friends were far too skinny so he’d get them the next size up from what they request.

And as Yoongi predicted, Jin stepped up and asked for two medium popcorns and two large drinks.

Yoongi loves knowing what to expect. It makes him feel more in control.

He would object, but most of the people closest to him know that he didn’t have a great childhood. Before he was born, everything was set up to be great. But his mother fell ill a few weeks before she was due to give birth to him. It was serious, far too serious to recover and be okay. The bottom line was that she would be too weak to deliver a child without serious repercussions. She demanded to go through with the delivery, sentencing herself to death in the end. After her passing, Yoongi’s father tried to care for him on his own. But he wound up resorting to alcohol to reduce stress. It began as something he would do after putting Yoongi to bed. He would have a glass of whiskey to calm his nerves and emotions. But as time advanced and stress built, one glass of whiskey at night wasn’t cutting it anymore. This only became a problem when Yoongi was in elementary school. His father would get angry if he was late home or got his clothes dirty and so forth. He never laid a hand on Yoongi, though. Instead, the man would lock the grade schooler in his room and wouldn’t let him out for hours on end. By fifth grade, Yoongi wised up. He began sneaking out his window and going over to the neighbor’s house for food and the bathroom. He used the excuse of getting locked out too many times to count. Once his father found out, he started locking him in the closet that had the light burned out. That was when child services stepped in. Yoongi got tossed into the foster system, pushed from house to house. The next was always worse than the last. Once he was fifteen he began working non stop, saving up for college. And by the time he graduated high school he had enough to attend the same school as some of his friends. Seokjin was one of them. He hadn’t spoken with the older boy in years after he’d moved houses, but Jin was kind enough to accept him with open arms. Jungkook was another old friend, but they’d stayed in contact after Yoongi moved to a different house. The younger boy didn’t start going to school with him until Yoongi’s sophomore year. It was thanks to Jin that he met Hoseok. Jungkook introduced him to his boyfriend, Taehyung. And then a little later, Jimin, a childhood friend to them both. Namjoon he met on his own through classes. He was proud to introduce him to their friend group himself. Not too long after that, they had a ragtag group of friends that would pile onto Namjoon’s couch every Saturday for movie marathons.

Yoongi loves all them, having bonded with them each in different ways. Hoseok and him were in the same business finance class. There, Yoongi learned that the other boy was a fraidy-cat and loved to dance. Namjoon spent hours in the studio with him to produce songs for projects and assignments. Yoongi would listen to everything the younger boy said with apt attention. It didn't take long for him to learn that Namjoon is one of the smartest people Yoongi’s ever known. Jin was the one to bring up Yoongi’s childhood with the others. He would explain things when the others grew irritated with Yoongi's strange mannerisms. He understood that some of Yoongi’s negative quirks were beyond his control. Jin was quick to back him up when things got a little heavy for him. Taehyung was more of a secondary friend for a while. That is, until Yoongi ran into him at the convenience store at two in the morning. He learned that the boy is an insomniac. After that, the two of them would spend time together on skype calls, talking about pointless things. Or in the library when Yoongi was working on assignments. Taehyung is great company for somebody like Yoongi, quiet but unable to stand silence. Jungkook has always been like a little brother, so it was no surprise that the boy was always asking him for help. Yoongi felt protective of his youngest friend. Jimin was able to weasel his way in to Yoongi's life without him realizing. But he's very good at reading people, he doesn’t need things to be static like Yoongi does to understand a situation. That’s why it was always Jimin to lean a little closer on Yoongi’s bad days.  He'd offer to buy him coffee, when Yoongi drifted off in class. He'd bring him food when he was too busy to get any. Jimin is good at brightening Yoongi’s day. He’s also hilarious. He’s clumsy, and would sometimes forget what he was talking about in the middle of his sentences. He was quick to cry without shame when he heard a sad story. He knew a plethora of ridiculous jokes, and would get into these moods. They were comical enough that Yoongi felt like he needed to record and post them on the internet.

“Yoongi-ah,” Jimin whispered, leaning over the armrest of his cushiony theater seat, “can you pass me the popcorn?”

He ignored the lack of formal speech. He kind of liked when Jimin didn’t use formalities with him, though he wasn't sure why. He nodded and plucked the bag of popcorn off of Jungkook’s lap. The youngest boy didn’t even blink, too immersed in the movie. He handed it off to Jimin, who took it with a quiet "thank you" and began eating as soon as his eyes were back on the screen.

Jin had asked them to go to a movie with him, not mentioning to Jimin or Jungkook that he’d already seen it. It was part of his evil plan to finally see Jungkook cry that he was kind enough to let Yoongi in on. He knew that the main character died at the end. It wasn’t exactly an uplifting story, but rather, a true one.

Sadly, halfway through the movie, Jungkook leaned over to Jin and whispered, “The main chick’s gonna die, isn’t she?” He’d always been good with foreshadowing.

Both Jin and Yoongi grimaced. Yoongi had read the book, he knew what was to come. With their hopes crushed for the evening, they sunk down in their seats, a little dejected. Since that plan failed they only got to see Jimin cry, who had no choice in the matter. Whether he knew what would happen or not, Jimin was too easy.

And as they’d predicted, Jimin was sobbing when the credits rolled across the screen and the lights came back up.

“How c-could you Jin hyung?!” Jimin wailed, burying his head in his hands. “That was the saddest movie I’ve ever wah-ha-ha-hatched.”

“You said that last time, hyung.” Jungkook hummed, watching as Jimin sniffled extra loud with a fond smile.

Yoongi chuckled and patted the brunette on the back, “Let’s go buy you some ice cream.” He glanced around the emptying theater to avoid seeing Jimin’s adorable pouty face.

“R-Really?” Jimin sniffled, looking through his fingers, “You’d b-buy me ice c-cream?” He looked so pathetic.

Yoongi scrunched up his nose, unable to take his eyes off him. Think platonic! “Not if you keep looking at me like that.” Nailed it.

Jimin wiped his face off, clearing all tear stains and schooled his expression, “Okay,” he said in a sober tone, “let’s go.”

They all bought ice cream, Yoongi buying Jimin’s, and then continued home. When Jin started to talk about the movie, the other three boys laughed as Jimin began crying over his ice cream. “She just didn’t d-deserve it.”

“I would say it’s just a movie, but it’s a true story.” Jungkook sighed. “Well, that’s a life lesson for you, I guess, a lot of people just don’t deserve it.” He shook his head. While his tone was light, there was no mocking or joking hint to it. Jungkook didn’t joke about that sort of thing. At least, not around Yoongi or Jin, who lost his mother to a sickness a few years back.

“Why can’t good people j-just live happy l-lives? Wh-why do bad things have t-to happen?” Jimin pouted out his bottom lip, “I hate the universe.”

Yoongi chuckled, “Right there with you.”

Yoongi was a little drunk, but not nearly as drunk as the rest of his friends. Well, aside from Jungkook, who hadn’t had a single drop of alcohol. The youngest was still below drinking age. But he claimed that he wasn’t drinking because “I have an extremely important soccer game tomorrow and I can’t be hungover”. They all knew it was because their little Jungkookie didn’t want to break the law.

“You guys,” Jimin slurred, falling back in his chair, “you’re all just the best.”

Hoseok giggled high and loud, almost rolling off the couch. He nodded in fast agreement like Jimin had said the most relatable thing ever. “I ag-” he hiccuped, “agree.”

Taehyung wobbled over to Jungkook and plopped himself down on the younger’s lap. For as much of a chatter box the boy was when he was sober, he was quiet when drunk, making everybody feel a bit unnerved. That didn’t make him any less fun, though. He would sit back and watch usually, inputting his own say in the conversation here and there. Taehyung leaned his head in Jungkook’s hair, who looked unperturbed as he listened to Jimin and Hoseok ramble. He even went so far as to run a hand through his boyfriend's hair.

“I just-” Jimin grew teary, “you guys are so great.”

“Yah!” Namjoon exclaimed, “Are you crying?!” The older boy tended to be a bit of a loud drunk.

Jimin sniffled, “You’re the best!”

“Me, specifically,” Jin said with a sage nod of his head, “I’m the best.”

“Yes!” Jimin exclaimed, “Jin hyung! I love you so, so much!” Tears began streaming down the brunettes cheeks, “I love all you guys!”

Yoongi sighed, and fixed a blank gaze on Jimin. “You have to be the weakest boy in the world.”

“Wah?!” Jimin’s eyes turned the size of saucers, his tears shimmering in his eyes.

“You cry about everything.” Yoongi’s main fault when he was drunk was that he lost his “nice guy” filter. It was easier to be rude than super open about his emotions, even with his inhibitions skewed.

Jimin opened his mouth to protest but then closed it, seeming to agree. “I just have trouble controlling my emotions.” He grumbled.

They’d all laughed him off. Making sure to tell him how much they loved that about him to comfort him before he began crying again.

It was during one of Yoongi, Jimin, and Hoseok’s coffee shop visits that Yoongi began noticing things that didn’t fit with their usual flow.

As Jimin reached for his coffee from the barista his hands began to shake. Yoongi didn’t even get a word in before the cup slipped from his grasp and went all over the counter.

Jimin stared at the puddle with wide eyes before his head shot up to look at the barista, “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! My hand slipped.”

“No worries,” The girl said with a forced smile, “I’ll remake it.”

Jimin watched her with worried eyes as she turned away. He bit his lip, looking like he wanted to apologize more, but Hoseok threw an arm over his shoulder. “Ah, what the hell Jiminie?” Hoseok chuckled, passing him some napkins to sop up the puddle.

“Sorry, I put lotion on a second ago. I didn’t realize my hands would be that slippery.”

Yoongi furrowed his brow. He wouldn’t have been concerned if Jimin had mentioned it being chilly in the cafe. The draft causing his hands to shake as he shivered. Instead he said they were slippery, disregarding the fact that he’d even trembled to begin with.

Yoongi felt tempted to bring it up, as part of his Absolutely No Bullshit® policy, but decided to let it go. Maybe Jimin was too embarrassed to admit that he’d let a shiver jar a cup from his hand. The younger boy had excused himself to the restroom not too long after that. He was gone for a good five minutes, leaving Hoseok to accept the drink.

He returned as happy and smiley as ever.

Later that same evening, Namjoon and Yoongi found themselves in holed up in their studio. They were working on getting their lyrics to sync with music for a project.

“Did you text him?” Namjoon asked, leaning back in his desk chair.

Yoongi sent his text, “Yeah.” He glanced around the dark studio, “What time is it?”

Namjoon dropped himself to an upright position and pulled his phone off the mixing board. “Almost seven. I’ll have to text Jin that I’ll miss dinner.” He hunched over his phone as he began going through his contacts.

Yoongi leaned his head on the back of his chair for a few blissful seconds as he soaked up the silence. The buzzing of his phone brought him back to reality.

Chim: omw from the science hall :^]

“Jimin will be here in, like, five minutes.” Yoongi mumbled as he scrolled through old texts with Hoseok to see if they’d made dinner plans that evening. His roommate was always complaining about him never being home.

By the time Namjoon had finished a very apologetic phone call with Seokjin, Yoongi concluded that his dinner plans were for the Tuesday evening, rather than Monday. A second later  Jimin poked his head through the door.

Yoongi wasn’t sure if it was the dim lighting, but Jimin’s features looked… worn. “Hey, kid.” Yoongi grunted, leaning forward in his seat, “You ready to record?”

Jimin nodded, coming into the room and setting down his backpack. “Yeah, the hook, right?”

Both boys confirmed his inquiry, positioning themselves in front of the soundboard. Waiting as Jimin entered the booth.

He cleared his throat and put on the headphones. “Ready when you are.” He called, giving them a thumbs up, in case they didn’t have the mics on.

Namjoon started the track and they waited for the hook of the song. Jimin bobbed his head to the beat in small, miniscule motions. But Yoongi grew distracted, Jimin’s eyes looked sunken in, his hair flatter on his head, his skin pale. There was something about the way he held onto the microphone that made Yoongi uneasy.

But that was all.

“Are you not ordering?” Jungkook asked, looking over at Jimin in curiosity. The younger boy stood next to the line for the fast food, rather than in it.

Jimin shook his head, smiling wide, “Jin hyung took me out to lunch.”

Jungkook groaned, “Goals, I’m running low on cash.”

“I’ll buy for you.” Yoongi grunted, stepping in front of the younger boy and to the register. He began ordering before Jungkook could protest. The pressure of the cashier’s gaze pushed Jungkook into ordering.

“You didn’t have to do that, hyung.” Jungkook grumbled as they walked over to their table, “I only wanted to complain.”

Hoseok, who was already seated, looked up from his phone. He  surveyed the situation before his mouth fell open. “Wait, did he just buy you food?”

Jungkook nodded.

“What?! He never buys me food!” Hoseok pouted out his bottom lip and looked over at Jimin, “You don’t buy me food either, what the hell! Why doesn’t anybody buy me food?”

“Because you have a full time job, nitwit.” Yoongi sat down across from him, “Besides, I owed Jungkook.”

Hoseok rolled his eyes, “Bullshit. Whatever. Jin hyung buys me food.”

“Hyung buys everybody food,” Jimin scoffed as he sat down as well, “don’t go feeling too special.”

“Don’t kill my vibe, brat.” Hoseok flicked the brunette on the forehead, causing a loud squawk from Jimin.

Yoongi looked down to see that Jin had replied to his text from earlier asking how his day was.

Jinnie: Fine, I had to skip lunch tho bc my chem lab went longer than it should’ve D:

Yoongi’s head whipped up to Jimin, who was sitting back in the booth smiling at something Hoseok said. He’d lied. It had been two days since he had Jimin in his studio, and the boy’s sunken in features proved that it wasn’t the lighting in the booth that made him look tired.

Perhaps he wasn’t hungry and didn’t want them fussing over him.

Yoongi didn’t get the chance to assemble all his strange suspicions about Jimin into something concrete. The truth was shoved into his face before he could even consider asking Jimin what was going on.

Jimin’s truth came in the form of a woman in a sharp black pant suit. She was walking onto the main quad, a bouquet of flowers in hand and a phone pressed to her ear. Yoongi happened to be putting something into his backpack. Hunched over his bag in front of the library. Her eyes searched the area for a moment, looking for any stationary student before they landed on him.

As she approached Yoongi, he felt the temptation to bolt. Her eyes bore into him like she was about to fire him from a job. “Do you know Park Jimin?” She asked, her tone impatient as she moved to press her phone to her chest, blocking the microphone. “About yeigh high,” she raised the bouquet to be horizontal and below Yoongi’s height by a mear inch or two, “brown hair.”

Yoongi blinked twice before answering, “Yeah?”

She looked relieved and surprised, smiling at him. “Great, I struck out.” She shifted, holding out the roses. “Will you ask him to put these on his mother’s grave for me?”

“His mother’s-” Yoongi’s eyes went wide, “What?!”

The woman looked exasperated, “I’m his aunt, my husband was his mom’s brother. I have an important client on the line, please.”

“His mom-” Yoongi stuttered, “He went to see his mother, like, two weeks ago. What are you talking about?”

She raised her eyebrows, “She died last week. Did he not tell you?”

Yoongi stared at her with wide eyes, unable to form a coherent sentence. Jimin’s mother was dead? Why hadn’t he told Yoongi- hell, anybody.

“You must not know him too well.” The woman pulled the flowers back, “I’ll go find him myself.” With that, she was walking away, high heels clacking on the sidewalk.

Yoongi stood in front of the library for five minutes, looking down the open quad, unsure of what to do.

After that, Yoongi wished it would’ve been clearer. That there would have been some kind of grand realization. One  where all the puzzle pieces clicked into place and he would see that Jimin suffered a terrible loss. But there wasn’t. Jimin was the same as he’d always been. He cried when they watched Marley and Me that weekend like he would’ve any other day. He was as clingy as always with the others. He brought Namjoon and him soup when they were on the homestretch of finishing their project. Yoongi even came back to his apartment one day to see him and Hoseok dancing on furniture. Not once did he look like his own mother, who he has said before is his favorite person in the world, died. He was the same as he’d always been.

Granted, there were small moments. Like when somebody would be talking to Jimin and he would be listening, but then his face might go blank for a second. Like he tuned out for a moment. But he would always snap back into himself before anybody noticed. Anybody but Yoongi, who had been watching him like a hawk since meeting the boy’s aunt.

He wasn’t eating often. He would eat on the occasional group outing. But each time, halfway through the meal, Jimin would push his plate away and say that he was “stuffed”. The most worrisome thing that Yoongi noticed was the look on his face as he ate. He grimaced with each bite, like everything that touched his tongue was disgusting.

One day, Jimin came to class with red rimmed eyes and Yoongi had been quick to ask if he was okay.

“Ah yeah,” Jimin sniffled, shaking his head in exasperation, “allergies are killing me. You know how it is.”

Yoongi almost said it right then and there- that he knew about his mom. That Jimin didn’t have to keep acting so strong all the time. But for some odd reason, he kept his mouth shut.

A week later, Yoongi was beginning to get tired of it. Jimin had made no indication that one of his favorite people was dead. And Yoongi felt like shit for not saying anything. He’d made his conclusion. He would talk to Jimin by inviting him out for dinner at a fast food place. He’d say the others would be coming, but not tell any of them, and then tell Jimin they said they were too busy. Plan Get Jimin To Confess He’s Sadder Than He Is And Tell Him It’s Okay® was underway.

Well, it was, until Jimin walked into the fast food place with a large bruise on his upper arm, and bloodshot eyes.

Yoongi shot up from his spot at their usual booth. He rounded the table and made it to Jimin it four large strides. “What’s wrong?”

“Huh?” Jimin looked over at him, seeming surprised by his sudden appearance, “Ah, sorry I’m a little late, hyung. I got held up with homework. Where are the others?”

“That doesn’t matter. You’ve been crying.” Yoongi pressed, opening the door again and leading Jimin outside. Only the lights on the side of the building and the small stream leaking out from the glass door lit Jimin’s wobbling expression. He was barely holding himself together.

Jimin smiled, laughing in feigned confusion, “What? Hyung, my allergies are just bad. I haven't been crying.”

“No, Jimin.” Yoongi said, his voice gentle, “What happened to your arm?”

“I ran into a door.” Jimin answered, furrowing his brow at Yoongi. “What’s wrong hyung? Are you okay? You look tired.”

Yoongi wanted to roll his eyes, to tell Jimin to stop worrying about other people for two seconds. He gathered himself and levelled his voice. “I talked to your aunt, Jimin. When she was on campus last week.”

Jimin paled- paler than he already was. He didn’t look like he knew what to say. “What are you talking abo-”

Yoongi’s heart seized, “Why didn’t you tell anybody?”

“T-Tell what?” Jimin’s voice came out choked. His facade was crumbling. Soon, Jimin’s walls would fall and Yoongi would see the truth. He’d be able to stop telling himself that the woman had been looking for a different Park Jimin.

Yoongi took the boy’s hand and led him back to his car. He opened the passenger side door, urging Jimin inside before he shut it and got into the driver’s side. He didn’t put the keys into the ignition, instead, he turned to Jimin and looked at him. Waiting.

“Hyung,” Jimin's voice was a little more than a whisper. He pretended to look back at him, but Yoongi could see that he was looking past his shoulder in the low light. “what’s going on?” Jimin couldn’t look him in the eye.

“I know about your mom, Jimin.” Yoongi's voice was gentle and careful as he spoke.

Jimin’s lips quirked down, still trying with all his might to keep up his mask. “Wh-What about her?”

“Jimin,” Yoongi's voice broke, laced with an immense sadness.

With that, Jimin’s face fell. His lips pressed together and his eyes grew watery. It took a total of two seconds for the tears to begin cascading down his cheeks. His shoulders shook for a moment before he hunched over himself and covered his face with his hands. It was a silent affair, sadder than if he were to burst out sobbing.

Yoongi swallowed hard, but didn’t speak. He set his hand on the nape of Jimin’s neck his thumb brushing over the skin there. This only resulted in Jimin letting out a heart wrenching sob. It sounded so broken.

He sat there with Jimin for a long, long time. The younger boy cried and cried and he leaned into Yoong’s touch. After ten minutes, Jimin’s sobs died down and they sat in silence. Jimin stayed put, with his head in his hands, Yoongi kept his hand on the back of his neck.

Soon, the silence started to make Yoongi a little nervous, so he prompted, “Jiminie.” Not wanting to go on, considering he didn’t have anything to say.

“It was a car accident.” Jimin croaked, “She got T-boned on the way home from work. Somebody ran a red light.” He swallowed hard. “They said she died on impact.”

Yoongi closed his eyes, and tried to breathe evenly. He didn’t need to cry for Jimin or his mother, that wouldn’t do anybody good. He had no good reason to grieve the loss of a woman he didn’t know. But he did have reason to feel unimaginable sorrow for Jimin’s loss.

“Y-You know about my mom.” Jimin mumbled, “You don’t know ab-bout my dad.” He trembled under Yoongi's hand.

“What is it Jimin?” Yoongi asked, a wary feeling creeping up. He removed his hand from the nap of Jimin’s neck to let the boy feel less crowded.

Jimin sat up, showing off his puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks. He had no reason to hide them after the scene he’d made. His eyes looked so sad. “He-” he swallowed, seeming to rethink his statement. “I found him this afternoon.”

Yoongi’s heart dropped.

“He didn’t- he wasn’t okay. My mom and him… They were- they were so, so happy together.” Jimin’s mouth pushed down into a frown, “He c-couldn’t live without her.”

“Jimin.” Yoongi breathed, shifting onto his hands in anticipation. He didn’t want to hear it. He really didn’t want to hear it.

“He shot himself.” Jimin's voice was breaking. He looked down at his trembling hands, “H-He… killed himself. A-And I was the one that f-found him.”

Yoongi moved abruptly, yanking his door open and getting out of the car. He rounded the front and pulled open the passenger side door. Jimin hadn't moved, he probably didn't even register that Yoongi got out. Yoongi knelt next to Jimin and moved to hold his wet cheeks in his hands. “I’m so, so sorry Jimin.”

Jimin bit his lip and tried to conceal the quiet whimper that was fighting its way out of the back of his throat.

“You don’t have to hold back your tears anymore, Jiminie.” Yoongi murmured, “Cry. You need to cry.”

“I a-already did.” Jimin’s voice was small and very, very sad. There were already tears falling down his cheeks again.

“Do it again. Keep crying.” Yoongi stood up and pulled Jimin into a hug, “You are going through so much. You can’t push this down.”

Jimin gripped the back of Yoongi’s shirt. Yoongi could feel his fingers trembling.

“You need to let go. You can be weak.”

With that Jimin buried his face in Yoongi’s collar and began sobbing again.

As horrible sobs sent shivers through Jimin’s body, Yoongi moved one arm and hooked it under his knees. He lifted Jimin off the passenger seat and sat down where the younger boy had been. He set Jimin on top of him so that it was easier for him to hold onto him. The younger boy’s legs hung out the ajar door, so Yoongi didn’t bother closing it. Screw anybody that had to park in the empty space next to them. Jimin was crying his eyes out in Yoongi’s lap and the older boy would sooner stab somebody with his aux cord then tell Jimin to move.

Yoongi ran a hand through the boy’s hair, gripping his waist with his other hand. “I wish there was something I could do for you.” He murmured, though he wasn’t sure if Jimin could even hear him. The boy began to cry harder.

Yoongi had taken Jimin back to his own apartment after making sure the boy ate and texted Jungkook to not worry about his roommate. He ignored the replies filled with question marks and suggestive little winky faces. It wasn’t the time for that, but Jungkook didn’t know that.

“Hyung,” Jimin mumbled, sitting back on the couch, “you could’ve just taken me home. I’m okay.”

“No you aren’t.” Yoongi grunted, turning on the TV, “Hoseok isn’t home, so if you want, you can sleep in his bed tonight.”

Jimin swallowed and nodded, after that, they were both quiet. Jimin scooted closer to Yoongi a moment later and laid his head on his shoulder. Yoongi peaked over to see him watching the nature show with tired eyes.

"What happened to your arm, Jimin-ah?" Yoongi asked, his voice filling the quiet air.

Jimin paused, "What?"

"The bruise." Yoongi motioned to the purple coloring peeking out from the hem of Jimin's t-shirt sleeve.

"Oh," Jimin looked at it, "I'm not sure. I think I fell into something after... When I saw my dad."

Yoongi nodded, feeling like shit for bringing it up.

As Yoongi expected, Jimin fell asleep on his shoulder. As soon as he felt the soft puff of air on his neck, Yoongi grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. The room bathed in the dark blue hue of the clear night outside his window. Yoongi shifted, keeping Jimin’s head stationary on his shoulder, and then lifted the younger boy off the couch. By the time Yoongi reached Hoseok’s bed, he felt like his arms were jelly. But he refused to drop Jimin, so he suppressed his groan and laid him down as careful as possible.

He pulled the comforter over the small boy. He felt his heart clench for the one millionth time that night as he looked at the faint tear tracks on his cheeks. He thumbed them away with a deft hand.

A horrible thought occurred to Yoongi, If nobody knew what Jimin had been going through, all this time, Jimin's been alone.

He blinked and then he was moving to lay down next to the smaller boy. It was almost like one of those jerk reactions that you got when the doctor hit your knee with that weird hammer. He pulled the covers over both of them and then wrapped an arm around Jimin’s waist. Yoongi pulled him as close as he could, breathing in the scent of his shampoo.

“Yoongi-ah?” Jimin’s cracked voice woke Yoongi from his slumber, “Hyung, what are you doing?”

Yoongi cracked opened his eyes, only to be greeted with the plush lips of Park Jimin. “Ah, I slept here last night.” He mumbled, moving away from the boy to save himself the flush that was begging to creep up the back of his neck.

“Don’t you… Have your own bed?” Jimin asked, pushing himself away while rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Yoongi nodded, looking up at him from further down on the bed. “Would you like me to leave?”

Jimin swallowed, seeming to consider Yoongi’s offer for a moment before he shook his head, the action subtle. “You’re warm.”

“Good,” Yoongi grumbled, burrowing back into his pillow, “I wasn’t going to leave either way.”

Jimin snorted, and sat up. He looked around for a moment, taking in the messy floor, the posters of boy and girl bands, and the piles of DVDs in front of the television. “Am I in… Hoseok hyung’s room?”

Yoongi nodded into the pillow.

“Why aren’t we in your room, at least?” Jimin giggled.

Yoongi groaned and moved to unbury his head, feeling his hair flop in any and all directions. “Hobi’s room is closer to the living room.” He mumbled, “You’re kind of heavy.”

Jimin’s cheeks brightened in color, “Did you… carry me?”

Yoongi nodded, sitting up as well. He rubbed his eyes blearily, “I feel like I slept for eight years, what time is it?”

Jimin swallowed and leaned over the side of the bed to see Hoseok’s alarm clock. “It’s ten.”

Yoongi nodded, “We should get up. Don’t you have a dance practice at, like, noon?” though he made no move to stand.

“Yeah,” Jimin pushed the comforter off his legs and a gust of cold morning air hit Yoongi’s entire body.

The older boy groaned and reached out to pull the comforter back. Consequently, he ended up grabbing Jimin by the stomach. He shrugged, before he went ahead and pulled Jimin back until the younger boy pressed against his chest, radiating warmth. “Much better.”

The sound of the front door opening came before Jimin could say anything. “Yah!” Hoseok shouted, stomping into their apartment, “I’m back Yoongi-ssi!”

Yoongi rolled his eyes and released Jimin from his grasp. “We should get up before he starts assuming things.”

Jimin nodded, rolling over and getting off the bed.

Hoseok talking to the air surrounding him grew louder as he approached the bedroom. “I swear I remembered to put my laundry in the dryer-” the door swung open to reveal a blank faced Hoseok. He took in a long breath before saying, “Why am I not surprised?”

“What?” Yoongi blinked.

Hoseok threw his hands into the air and turned on his heel, “I cannot believe you two diddly-done it on my goddamned bed!” His voice carried through the whole apartment as he moved away from the bedroom. “This is like that moment in all those quirky college movies where the friend gets sexiled and I end up falling in love with the person I keep rooming with or something. Or I have to…” His voice faded as he moved further away.

“Diddly-did… what?” Jimin’s eyes were wide, “What the hell, I thought you said he wouldn’t assume things.” He sent an accusatory look at Yoongi from where he stood near the window.

“At no point did I say that he wouldn’t assume things, I said we should get up before he did. ” Yoongi couldn’t suppress his smirk as he watched Jimin flounder around the room. He almost looked like he was trying to collect his things, like they’d actually done what Hoseok assumed. The truth was, the only thing that he was missing were his shoes… and those were by the front door.

“Wh-I don’t have time for this.” Jimin stumbled over a shoe on the floor, “I have to go.”

Yoongi tilted his head, “Where to?”

“The-” Jimin moved his head in some kind of circular motion. Like he was looking for a believable lie, or that if he jumbled up his brain it would help him find the answer. Like Scrabble or something. “I have a breakfast invitation!” He settled on.

“With who?”

It was like Yoongi had played some kind of unexpected trump card. Jimin blanked. “Wh- J- Hoseok!”

“You have a breakfast date with… Hoseok?”

“Yes!” Jimin turned around, walking into the living room and exclaiming, “Let’s go hyung! We have breakfast to eat!”

“Wh- Woah, shit!” There was a loud banging noise from the other room, the sound of a struggle, and then somebody hissing orders. “What the hell Jimin!” Hoseok grunted, getting pulled out of the apartment against his will.

Yoongi laid back down on the bed. He knew good and well they didn’t mention a single thing from the night before. But now that Jimin knew Yoongi was there for him, that he knew what happened, Jimin would come to him if he ever needed to.

Yoongi was wrong. Jimin never came to him- didn’t even bring it up. It was like it never even happened.

“Hey, Yoongi-yah!” Jimin called from the other side of the quad, “Hyung! Jungkookie wants to know if you’re-” Jimin was cut off by Jungkook’s hand over his mouth. The younger boy threw his full weight onto Jimin.

Yoongi crossed the quad, adjusting his bag on his shoulder, “What do you want?” He raised an eyebrow at Jungkook, “I have a class to get to, don’t hold me up, brat.”

“No! Nothing, hyung!” Jungkook said, his voice frantic and breathy, “There was nothing, go ahead to class!”

“Yuck!” Jimin exclaimed, as Jungkook removed his hand, “you’re hands taste like shit!” he spat for extra effect.

Jungkook’s eyes went wide in exaggerated surprise and he looked over at the older boy. “You kiss your mother with that mouth?”

Yoongi’s eyes landed on Jimin. It was very minute, but the boy’s expression faltered for a moment before he regained his composure.

“Yah, Jungkookie!” Jimin barked, “If you aren’t going to show me any respect I’m leaving!”

“Fine,” Jungkook turned up his nose, “leave, Jimin.” he made a special point to bring out the fact that he dropped the formality.

Jimin faked a gasp and turned his back to the younger boy, “Fine. I’ll go. See you later, brat.” He looked over at Yoongi, who had been watching, “I’ll see you later hyung.” When their eyes met, Yoongi was shaken to see unshed tears welling in them.

Yoongi almost let Jimin leave. Luckily, his brain kicked in in time to grab Jimin before he was out of reach. He pulled him in the opposite direction.

“Hyung, leave it.” Jimin whispered, stumbling after him.

Yoongi only continued walking until they were on the other side of the wall from Jungkook, who hadn’t noticed anything. He turned Jimin so the younger boy’s back was against the wall. He didn’t move too far away from him, blocking his face from any wandering eyes, "Take a deep breath.”

Jimin swallowed, looking up at him with a wobbling lip. “This is pathetic, isn’t it?” He laughed bitterly, swiping at his eyes.

“No,” Yoongi said. He placed his hand in Jimin’s hair, moving his fingers through the strands, “it isn’t pathetic in the slightest.”

Jimin took in a shaky breath, “This isn’t the time or place to have a break down, hyung.”

“There never is a good time or place for a break down.” Yoongi said sagely. “Just-” He sighed and pulled Jimin into him, trapping him in a crushing hug. Luckily, the younger boy responded by burying his face in Yoongi’s shoulder and letting a small sob hiccup his breathing.

“This is d-dumb.” Jimin whimpered, gripping Yoongi's shirt with white knuckles. “I’m in th-the middle of camp-pus c-crying my eyes out b-because my fr-friend made a joke about m-me kissing my d-duh-dead mother.” The longer he spoke, the harder he cried.

Yoongi held him close, one hand rubbing the boy’s back and the other buried in his hair. Urging him to continue crying on his shoulder. “You’re okay, take a deep breath.”

“Sh-she…” Jimin’s voice broke, “She left me.”

Yoongi’s nose and eyes burned with withheld emotion. He gripped the sobbing boy tighter, “I’m so sorry, Jimin.”

Jimin leaned almost completely on Yoongi and the older boy was ready to accept all the weight. He would do anything to take some of it off Jimin’s shoulder. “And she took… she took him with her. N-Now-” Jimin took a gasping breath as new tears began soaking into Yoongi’s shirt, “Now my whole family is d-dead.”

“I’m so sorry.” Yoongi whispered, squeezing his eyes shut. “I’m so, so sorry Jimin.”

Jimin didn’t have much else to say after that. But he continued crying until Yoongi was late enough to his next class that he decided he’d rather spend the rest of the day with Jimin.

“What movie, then?”

“I told you hyung,” Jimin groaned, “You pick, I don’t care.”

Yoongi let out a small harumph and sat back on his couch, “You have to care about something.” He paused to think for a moment, “I don’t know what to watch. If you don’t pick I’m going to have to sit here and stare at you.”

Jimin’s shoulders slumped, “Fine.” He said, pouting out his bottom lip, “Let’s have a staring contest then.”

Yoongi shifted to sit facing Jimin, his face blank, Jimin mimicked his action. Yoongi cleared his mind and stared at the other boy’s eyes, zoning out with ease. They sat there for a for a few minutes before anything happened. Jimin suddenly turned a bright shade of pink and he bit down on his lip. It didn’t seem like he was zoning out as much as Yoongi was. But since he was knocked out of his reverie, Yoongi began surveying Jimin’s face in confusion. His pupils had dilated, cheeks reddened, mouth wavered.

“What are you thinking, Jimin-ah?” Yoongi asked, his tone teasing.

Jimin swallowed and fumbled for a reply, “Ah, you’re really close. I didn’t notice until a moment ago.”

Yoongi frowned, “I’m not that close,” he decided to make more fun of the blushing boy, “I could be closer.” He lifted up on his hands and shifted so that their knees were touching.

There was a soft gasp of air as Jimin realized what Yoongi was doing. His cheeks turned impossibly redder and he fought a smile onto his face. “Hyung, quit teasing me. You only do these things to get a rise out of me.”

Yoongi shrugged and nodded, “I think you look cuter when you blush.”

Jimin’s eyes went wide and he almost backed away, almost. But this was turning into a different type of competition, so he set his jaw and stayed put.

“I bet your cheeks are all warm too.” Yoongi placed his hands on both of Jimin’s bright pink cheeks. He splayed his long fingers across the apples of his cheeks. If he were to say he was doing this purely for the pleasure of teasing a dongsaeng he would be lying. His heart would give him away, and his thoughts were screaming What are you doing?!

Jimin’s soft pink lips parted, swollen and reddened from being bitten a moment before. “Hyung,” he whispered, his eyes searching Yoongi’s face.

Yoongi ran his thumbs over his cheekbones and then inched his hands down until he was cupping Jimin’s jaw.

In a nervous tick, Jimin’s tongue darted out and wetted his lips, not even thinking about it until after he’d done it. His cheeks were flaming.

Yoongi glance down at Jimin’s mouth, his eyes staying there for a long moment before he moved his thumb over his lips. He brushed over them in idle fascination. He wasn’t thinking either, it seemed.

When Jimin let out a shaky breath and leaned into his palms, Yoongi took that as his cue to move. But rather than away, he moved even closer. Close enough to feel Jimin’s soft puffs of air grazing his lips. “Is this okay?” He whispered, looking at Jimin’s hooded eyes.

In response, Jimin closed the distance between them.

When their lips met, Yoongi let out a breath that Jimin gasped in. It felt like they were stationary there for a very long time. Pressing their lips together softly, Yoongi holding onto Jimin’s cheeks. Then Yoongi closed his eyes completely and tilted his head to lean in closer.

Jimin made a soft noise and raised his hands to hold onto Yoongi’s wrists, leveraging his weight so he could lean into him. Yoongi moved his mouth languidly over Jimin’s. His lips sliding against the younger’s in a perfect motion. Slowly, he moved one of his hands to the back of Jimin’s neck, tilting his head back and using his extra centimeter height difference to move above him. He urged him backwards until he had Jimin laying under him, his small hands holding him at the nape of his neck. Yoongi’s hands on the pillow under Jimin's head. It was slow moving and easy, kissing Jimin. And it stayed like that.

After what felt like hours, Yoongi broke away from the kiss and opened his eyes. He caught the wonderful flutter of Jimin's eyelashes before he was greeted with the sparkling brown irises.

“Do you-” Yoongi didn’t know how to ask if Jimin really felt anything towards him or if this was some kind of comfort thing. “I think I like you.” Real smooth shithead.

Jimin swallowed, smiling softly as he teased, “I would hope so, you kissed me for, like, five minutes.”

Yoongi let out a soft breath, paired with a smile, he supposed it qualified as a laugh. “Do… Do you-”

“I let you kiss me for five minutes, hyung.” Jimin murmured, looking at him with sparkling eyes, “I like you a lot too.”

“Good,” Yoongi sighed in relief, “if you hadn’t this would’ve been a lot more awkward.” He pressed a chaste kiss to Jimin’s lips and then sat up, pulling Jimin up with him.

After they were both upright again, Jimin reached over and patted down Yoongi’s hair where he’d mused it. “I like to spend time with you,” he murmured, a fond look in his eyes, “you make me think about happy things. You’re like my own little happy pill. It’s weird, because you don’t look like the type of person that could make my day.” His hand settled on Yoongi’s cheek, “I think that’s part of the appeal, though.”

Yoongi laughed shortly, leaning into his palm, “A man of many mysteries.”

Jimin snorted, “Yeah, sure.” He scooted closer, close enough to rest his head on Yoongi’s shoulder. “Let’s watch… Aladdin.”

“Aladdin? We haven’t watched that one in months.”

Jimin shifted to look up at him from his spot on Yoongi’s shoulder, “Yeah, it’s my favorite.”

Yoongi smiled down at him, “I like it a lot too.”

“So, what’s going on with you and Jimin?”

Yoongi looked up from his textbook to see Taehyung arching an eyebrow at him from across the table. “What do you mean?”

“You two have started spending an awful lot of time together.” Taehyung waggled his eyebrows, “Is anything happening ?”

Yoongi shook his head, “No, we’ve just been hanging out.” He shrugged, waiting for Taehyung to continue to press it. Because that’s what their friends did. They pressed a subject until they found out that the truth.

But Taehyung didn’t argue, instead his suggestive expression made way for something much more concerned. “I trust that since you’ve been spending time with him, you’ve been helping him?”

“What?” Yoongi was sure that Jimin had refused to tell any of their other friends about what had happened.

“I don’t know what’s going with him, but there’s definitely something. I assume you’ve been helping him feel better.” Taehyung clarified, to which Yoongi nodded slowly. Taehyung seemed content with the confirmation, but mumbled, “I wish I knew.”

Yoongi diverted his gaze to the table. He had begged Jimin to tell the others that he’d lost his parents. But Jimin said he didn’t want to concern them or make them pity him. He just wanted life to go on.

“He’ll tell you when he’s ready, Tae.” Yoongi said softly.

Taehyung pressed his lips together, seeming miffed with that answer, but he didn’t say anything else.

“Just,” Yoongi bit down on his lip for a moment, trying to keep things quiet enough for Jimin to be able to deal with them when he was ready, “Just go easy on him, okay?”

“Why do you get to know these things about him and I don’t?” Taehyung’s mouth was set in a thin line, “I’ve been his friends for years and suddenly you know his whole life story.”

“Tae, I was just in the right place at the right time. If you’d been in the same place I was you would be where I am.”

Taehyung rolled his eyes, “Don’t try to confuse me, that’s obvious.” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in his chair. “I just don’t get why he tells you these things when he’s not even making it obvious enough for anybody else to know.”

“How do you know that something’s going on?” Yoongi asked curiously, he kept all bite out of his voice. He didn’t have the time for drama.

Taehyung practically snarled, his lip curling up. “Because I’m his friend. I know how he looks when he’s hurting.” He proceeded to slam his textbook closed and gather his things. “I’m closer to him than you’ve ever been-”

“I know.” Yoongi said urgently, he really didn’t want this to blow up. “I know Tae, and like I said, I wouldn’t know what was going on if I hadn’t found out on accident. Please wait for him to tell you.” His tone was bordering desperate as the other boy stood from their study table. “He doesn’t want anybody to know, and since I’m the only person I’m trying to help him as much as I can.”

Taehyung looked at him with, frown marring his features. Though that frown quickly loosened into something much sadder. “I just don’t want him to think he can’t talk to me. I want to help.”

Yoongi nodded, “I’ve been trying to get him to reach out to you guys. He just doesn’t want… pity.”

Taehyung bit his lip. “I want to talk to him. I won’t mention your name or anything, I won’t tell him we brought this up. I just want to see if he’ll tell me.”

“I hope he does.” Yoongi said quietly.

Taehyung took in a shaky breath, adjusting his backpack strap. “Thank you, hyung.” He shifted on his feet, “I’m sorry I went off, I’m worried.”

“It’s okay, Tae.” Yoongi pressed a smile, “You should go talk to him.”

As it turned out, Jimin did end up spilling the news to Taehyung. Taehyung looked so distraught when he told Yoongi. In fact, they had to cut their conversation short because Taehyung couldn’t stop crying.

A week after Taehyung found out the news, Yoongi received a very urgent phone call from Seokjin. His voice was urgent as he told him to come to the diner on the corner of campus.

“What’s wrong?” Yoongi asked, booking it down the stairs of the English hall. Luckily, it was one of the closer buildings to the edge of campus.

There were a few muffled noises in the background and the sound of wind blowing in the microphone. They must’ve been outside the diner. “It’s Jimin, he- he started hyperventilating and then crying, and I have no clue why, but Jungkook said-”

“I’m coming,” Yoongi ran a little faster, “has anybody talked to Taehyung?”

“What? No,” Jin seemed preoccupied as he spoke, “I called you first because he kept saying that he needed to talk to you.”

Yoongi’s heart palpitated in his chest and he felt guilty for it. “What did Jungkook say? You mentioned him.”

“Jungkook said something about a song.” Jin was clearly flustered, unsure of what to do. “A song came on that both of them knew and- and Jimin… I don’t know, Yoongi, this isn’t like his usual crying when he’s sad about a movie or something. He’s, like, freaking out.”

Yoongi finally broke through the grassy area he’d been running through and crossed the street that the diner was on. He saw three people standing under the mural on the wall of the building, one of them standing with a phone to his ear, the other two sitting down. Yoongi ended the call and shoved his phone into his pocket. He skidded to a halt in front of the two boys on the ground. Jungkook was holding onto a shaking Jimin, very confused and nervous.

“Jimin,” Yoongi breathed, kneeling next to him, “hey, what’s up?”

Jimin looked up through trembling fingers at him. “H-Hyung,” he whimpered, “I- I don’t- her song- her favorite s-song started playing a-and I-”

Yoongi hushed him and pulled him into his chest, Jungkook let him go easily but didn’t move too far away. By then, Seokjin had come closer as well. Yoongi held onto Jimin, his palms warm on the shivering boy’s back. Yoongi pressed his lips to the top of Jimin’s head. When he looked back up, Jungkook had placed his hand on Jimin’s knee, rubbing his thumb over his skin. Jin stayed back, watching with concern as Jimin cried and cried.

After a few minutes, Jimin seemed to calm down some. Enough to speak and catch his breath. “I-I have something to tell you guys.” Jimin whispered, looking at Jungkook and Jin through bloodshot eyes.

Jin nodded and Jungkook waited patiently for him to continue.

Jimin cleared his throat and his voice was so soft that even Yoongi wasn’t sure if he could hear him properly. “About a month ago…” He swallowed the emotion threatening to overflow again, “my mom died in a car accident.”

“What?” Seokjin gasped, dropping to his knees to get closer to Jimin, “Oh my god.”

Jungkook’s eyes had gone wide and his mouth slack, no sound came out, but his eyes began to brim with tears.

“A-And,” Jimin continued, taking a moment to breath. “About three weeks a-ago,” he sniffled hard, his lips downturning as he pushed himself to speak. “I found my d-dad with a bullet in his- in his head.”

Both of the boys didn’t seem to know what to say, they just stared at Jimin in utter shock for a moment. The tears in Jungkook’s eyes overflowed and began spilling down his cheeks.

Yoongi tightened his hold on Jimin, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of his head again. “Take a deep breath, baby,” he murmured in his ear as Jimin began to shake again.

“Jimin,” Jungkook choked, “I’m so… so sorry.”

“I never know what to say when people say that to me.” Jimin said, there was a twinge of an attempt at humor in his voice, but it came out dry. “Am I supposed to lie and say that it’s okay? Am I supposed to remind you that it’s not your fault?”

Jin leaned down and sandwich Jimin in a hug against Yoongi. “Jiminie,” He whispered, “you don’t have to say anything. This is horrible.”

Jimin clutched the older boy’s arm that was over his chest and squeezed his eyes closed. He was surrounded by people that loved him and he began wondering why he’d deprived himself of that feeling for so long.

Eventually, Jimin was able to come out and tell Namjoon and Hoseok. Seeing as they were the only two left that didn’t know the truth. It wasn’t too hard to talk to them when Yoongi was sitting right next to him, his shoulder pressed against the younger boy’s.

The feeling of six other people supporting him didn’t feel as much like pity as Jimin thought it would. But more along the lines of unending amounts of love shoved in his direction.

He wasn’t a sob story, but he was somebody that could use hugs sometimes. And that was something everybody was ready and willing to dish out at the drop of a hat.

Something neither Jimin nor Yoongi saw coming was the amount of time they would end up spending together. It was like this strange switch had been flipped. Anytime they were free they would ask if the other could hang out. Or when they went to get lunch they’d meet, or study sessions in the library. It was strange, but also pleasant. Why they hadn’t spent more time together before everything happened was lost on Jimin. Yoongi was amazing company.

“Are you ever going to get back into playing the piano?” Jimin asked one afternoon as they sat in bean bags, tucked away in an empty corner of the library.

Yoongi looked up from his laptop, his eyebrows raised, “How did you know I played?”

Jimin smiled knowingly, “You have piano fingers, for one. The way you produce is a lot more musical, easier to harmonize with but not as easy to sing along to.” Jimin spoke so wisely that Yoongi burst out laughing when he conceded rather sheepishly, “Also, Jungkookie mentioned it once.”

“Ah, you really had me going there.” Yoongi said as soon as his laughs had subsided to soft chuckles, “But, uh… I haven’t thought about playing. It’s been a while.”

“Could you play for me sometime?” Jimin asked.

Yoongi looked over at him, his tongue forming the words to tell him it’d been too long, he couldn’t possibly. But the look on Jimin’s face, the sweet inquiry. He found himself smiling and saying, “Anytime you’d like.”

Jimin’s smile grew to curve up his eyes. He stood from his bean bag chair, setting his notebooks on the ground next to him. He lifted Yoongi’s laptop off his lap and replaced it with himself. Yoongi was happy to wrap his arms around the boy’s lithe waist. Jimin looked angelic with the fluorescents of the library haloing his head. “Are we dating? Is that what you would call this?” Jimin asked.

Yoongi shrugged, “I don’t always find labels necessary, but you could call this dating, I think.”

“Okay good.” Jimin said, pausing a moment before asking, “Then it wouldn’t be out of line to say I love you?” His cheeks turned bright red the moment he said it.

Yoongi smiled unthinkingly, so broad and wide it almost hurt. “I wouldn’t say that is out of line at all. I love you too.”

Jimin breathed out in relief. He bit down on his bottom lip before leaning in and kissing Yoongi softly. He went to pull back, but Yoongi hummed in protest against his lips. He Pulled him tighter against him, keeping their lips connected for a little longer. Jimin giggled, happy to oblige.

“Ugh, gross.”

The two broke apart to see Taehyung and Jungkook standing at the end of an isle that lead to their tucked-away corner. They both wore matching expressions of mocking disgust, their noses scrunched cutely.

“You two can’t complain. Anytime anybody hangs out with both of you you start sucking face halfway through the outing. Then it gets awkward.” Jimin said pointedly, not moving off of Yoongi’s lap.

“What are you two even doing here?” Yoongi asked grumpily, locking his arms around Jimin’s waist.

Jungkook glanced over his shoulder at the aisle of books they’d just walked through. “To be honest, we’ve been wandering around trying to find books on mythology for, like, twenty minutes. We heard you guys talking and thought you might be able to help.”

“There’s a directory by the elevator.” Jimin offered.

“If you don’t feel like walking all the way back over there, I’m pretty sure it’s in the last aisle by the window.” Yoongi said and pointed towards the north wall. “Now get out of our hair.”

Taehyung scrunched his nose again, “Yuck, you two are so gross.”

“Oh, you haven’t seen gross.” Yoongi hissed, “Now scat.” He flicked his hand for a little more effect.

“Bullshit.” Taehyung planted his feet and crossed his arms, “No balls, you won’t.”

“Won’t what Tae?” Jungkook asked. His eyebrows furrowed as he looked over at the determination on his boyfriend’s face.

Taehyung scoffed, “Let’s be real. These two virgins haven’t done more that cute little kisses on the lips and pecks on the cheeks.”

Jimin turned beet red and seemed to shy away a little.

Yoongi, on the other hand, smirked.

“Ah, we should just go.” Jungkook said, pushing Taehyung as he caught Yoongi’s expression. He most likely was trying to save Jimin at this point.

“No, no.” Yoongi said, “Taehyung has a point.” He slowly slid his hand up Jimin’s side, inching up his back until he stopped it buried it his hair.

Taehyung narrowed his eyes, sure that Yoongi wouldn’t go any further. Sadly, Jungkook knew Yoongi too well and backed away, ready to shield his eyes.

“Yah!” Jimin squeaked, “Hyung, quit it! Let it go!”

Yoongi looked away from Taehyung, his eyes landing heavily on Jimin. Disregarding Jimin’s protests, he blinked ever so slowly at him. “Jimin-ah,” He made his voice sound husky, pulling Jimin’s head closer.

Jimin visibly swallowed.

Yoongi relished in the look of terror on Jimin’s features for a moment before he smiled slyly. “You’re right Taehyung.” He called before looking over at the other boy, “I can’t.”

Taehyung wiped the brief look of his own anticipation off his face, replacing it with a pleased one. “Hah! Knew it!”

“Tae,” Jungkook regarded the other boy with concern. “That was like some weird voyeurism bullshit.” He ignored the squawk of protest and grabbed Taehyung’s arm. “Can we go?” He didn’t wait for an answer before he was dragging Taehyung away.

Yoongi watched them go in amusement, his interest drawn away by the shifting of Jimin on his lap. When he looked, the younger boy was sheepish.

“I thought you were really going to do it.” Jimin mumbled, looking at his hands, “Sorry, I should’ve known-”

Yoongi pulled Jimin’s chin up and crushed their mouths together, the sudden action wiping Jimin’s features of embarrassment. When he pulled back, Jimin opened and closed his mouth as he tried to find something to say. “Never underestimate me, Jiminie.” Yoongi said.

“Wh- Yeah, but- You-”

Yoongi pulled Jimin back into him and kissed him slower this time, swiping his tongue over his lower lip. He knew exactly what to do to make Jimin gasp and squirm.

Finally, they broke apart and Jimin was looking at him with this fond, dazed gaze. Yoongi didn’t even have to pry before Jimin said, “Thank you, for everything.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” Yoongi scoffed, rolling his eyes and adjusting his hold on the younger boy.

Jimin thought for a moment before he spoke again, “I would be lost if you hadn’t been here for me. I mean it when I say I owe you everything.”

“I wouldn’t be where I am without you either Jimin-ah. You were helping me way before I started kissing you and holding your hand.” Yoongi swept a hand over Jimin’s forehead, “It’s a win-win, so let’s just drop the debt and enjoy ourselves, yeah?”

Jimin bit down on his lip through a smile, overflowing with emotion. “‘Kay,” he swooped down and pressed a soft kiss to Yoongi’s mouth. He let it melt into something longer and more sweet by wrapping his arms around his neck.

Everything might have fallen apart around Jimin. The scaffolding building his life collapsing on top of him. Nobody could save him from that. But Yoongi was there to pull him from the rubble and clean him up. And that was okay. Because sometimes getting hurt is inevitable. What matters is who is there to pick you up when you fall.