Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

One Friday night Jungkook gets startled by banging on his door. He is getting ready for a date, listening to music on his stereos, so at first he thinks one of his neighbors has had enough of listening to Big Bang (surely there isn't such a monstrosity as too much Big Bang?), but when he goes to open the door, it reveals one Park Jimin instead.  

"Jimin," he says, taken aback. 

Jimin offers a small smile. He is hugging his arms to his chest, and he looks very cute in his oversized white sweatshirt. "Hi." 

"Uh... what's up?" Jungkook asks, feeling a bit awkward. He is not used to drop-ins. As much as he likes his friends, he is a little strict about needing his own space. His friends know this and stick to previously arranged meet-ups. 

"Not much," Jimin replies swiftly before flashing another smile. "So, listen… I need a place to stay, and Seokjin isn’t picking up."

Jungkook is startled by Jimin's forwardness. “What’s wrong with your place?" he quickly counters. It's not that he doesn't like Jimin or doesn't want to spend time with him, it's just that the entire situation feels off, and he is already running late. 

"Nothing, nothing… I just need a little air," Jimin insists, but it sounds like an excuse. Jungkook frowns. He is about to be late to his date due to this exchange, but having Jimin in his apartment while he is about to score a guy sounds like a very bad idea, so arguing is rather unavoidable. 

"Then go to the park," he states, playing coldhearted when he is everything but, and Jimin knows it. 

Jimin widens his eyes and casts his most pleading gaze Jungkook's way. "Please. It’s only for one night. I’ll be out of your hair first thing tomorrow morning when Seokjin hyung’s building’s door opens," he swears. 

"I don't know. I'm just heading out," Jungkook dodges again. He has never let anyone sleep at his place before. Taehyung has once or twice fallen asleep on the couch during a long night of Overwatch, but he has always gone home after waking up or continued playing. Jungkook doesn't keep people away out of spite, he is just a very private person, and his friends know this better than anyone which makes Jimin begging for an admittance even stranger. 

Curiouser and curiouser. 

"I won't be in your way. I just need a place to crash. Please, it's Christmas," Jimin pleas and hands Jungkook a mistletoe he picked up on his way over. 

"It's October 10^th, Jimin", Jungkook points out dryly mainly just to buy time although he still accepts the little gift. Jimin is very cute (yes and another thousand times yes), and Jungkook wants to be one of those guys who'd say yes in a heartbeat.

Unfortunately, he is not one of those guys. He likes his space and his things undisturbed. 

"But there are already Christmas decorations out and about, so technically the holiday season is upon us. If that won't do the trick, I also bought a glass skull where you can put a candle in if you're feeling Halloween more. Have mercy, Kookie. You know I love you the most out of all my friends," Jimin flatters, his eyes enchanting like aurora borealis, beautiful and captivating.  

Jungkook furrows his brows. "You just admitted you would have gone to Seokjin hyung’s place, had he picked up," he reminds. 

Jimin is done begging and goes straight for the kill. He knows that when it comes to him, Jungkook has a weakness.

"Hyung loves you the most, Jungkookie. You know that, don't you, my precious lovely handsome friend? Such a pretty baby, I love you so, so, so much," he says in the cutest tone he can muster up. 

Based on the look on Jungkook's face, it's more than enough. 

He blushes madly. "Okay, enough. You’re embarrassing me. You can stay. But only if you promise to never ever use aegyo on me again."

Jimin jumps to hug him and even kisses his cheek so fast it leaves Jungkook's head spinning. "My hero," he coos over his shoulder as he barges in (both literally and figuratively), and sets his backpack down next to the couch. 

"That’s aegyo!" Jungkook accuses, his cheeks even redder now. How is he supposed to face his date when he is already flustered and blushing like a schoolboy with a crush? 

The hurricane in human form, also known as Park Jimin, has the audacity to wink. "I never promised to stop, cupcake."

Jimin’s aegyo is no joke, he was told once and he didn't believe them then. Now it's painfully clear just how powerful Jimin acting cute is, especially when Jungkook is on the receiving end of such a lethal dose. 

Closing the door after Jimin, Jungkook sighs and wonders what the heck he has gotten himself into.

Jimin is of surprisingly little disturbance. Jungkook makes a bed for him on the couch, and Jimin goes straight to sleep or at least pretends to. Jungkook wants to ask more details about what happened and why he couldn't just go to his dorm room, but Jimin makes it clear he isn't interested in talking anymore so Jungkook doesn't push it. Instead, he leaves for his date and doesn't come home until late at night. 

When he comes back, Jimin is sleeping soundly. Careful not to wake him, Jungkook pulls the blanket to cover him better before passing out on his king-sized bed. 

The next morning finds them eating cereal together while sitting on the couch watching cartoons as they both decide to skip their morning lectures. It's all very college, casual and a little crazy, but Jungkook is surprised to find that he likes company in the morning. Well, at least the kind of company he hasn't slept with and doesn't want to desperately get rid of before it is revealed that they only slept with him for his family's money. 

Jimin's phone set on the coffee table vibrates loudly, startling Jungkook from his thoughts. 

Jimin picks up his phone, reads the new text and curses. "Fuck." 

"What's up?" Jungkook asks although he has a pretty good idea already. 

"Seokjin is with Namjoon at his aunt's house for the weekend. Apparently they are getting serious enough for him to want Namjoon to meet even his aunt whom his entire family hates."

Jungkook scoffs. "Of course he is. What about everyone else?" 

"Tae, Hoseok and Yoongi are all at that convention for dramas," Jimin reminds him, and Jungkook nearly chokes on his chocolate cereal. 

"How did they get Yoongi to go?" he manages to cough after Jimin has slapped his back a few times and offered him what was left of his water. 

Jimin scoffs. "Are you kidding? Yoongi is the one who bought the tickets. It's so cute you still think he is some sort of a cool bad boy. He is like a little teddy bear." 

"Yoongi hyung is really cool, Min, shut your piehole." 

"Sure he is. But you know that this means that I'm again homeless for the night," Jimin mentions, and he snickers when Jungkook quickly turns away.

If only ignoring him was that easy. 

"Jungkookie..." he calls out in a low voice as he crawls over to where Jungkook is sitting. Jungkook gulps, setting his cereal on the table and tries his hardest to focus on the cartoons instead of Jimin's downright seductive voice right next to his ear. 

Of course, it does not work. 

"Let me stay one more night. Just one more and then I'll go live with Tae," Jimin nearly purrs, and Jungkook gulps. Resisting Jimin is like trying not to look at Medusa, eventually one will be turned into stone. Jungkook is well aware that despite all of his objections he will give in. 

"I've heard that before..." Jungkook mutters. He can practically hear Jimin turn on the charm, and he prays for strength to tell him no.

All of his plans of staying strong go out of the window when Jimin straddles Jungkook to keep him from running away like he was planning to. His heart starts beating crazy fast as if it is attempting to rush right out of his chest, and he wishes desperately that Jimin can't hear it. 

The nuisance in question looks deep into his eyes. "Just one more night, pleaseeee," he begs, and it's really not fair of Jimin to do this, he knows Jungkook can never tell him no. 

Jungkook tries to look anywhere but at Jimin. "No aegyo, Jimin, that was my one and only rule," he mumbles. 

Mirth is dancing in Jimin's eyes. "You never made me promise."

Something is nagging at Jungkook despite his haze. "Wait, why are you going to live with Tae? I thought you just needed a place to stay for the weekend."

Jimin waves his hand dismissively as if the reason for his sudden homelessness wasn't that of interest. "I just had a bit of an argument with my roommate. Nothing for you to worry about. As long as you let me stay one more night."

He wants to drill more answers out of Jimin, but he knows that he is currently in a risky position. Before any more questioning can take place, he needs Jimin to get off his lap and fast. "Ugh, fine, just get off my lap!" he agrees reluctantly. 

Jimin grins. "That's a good boy. So which room is mine?" he queries and complies when Jungkook pushes him off of his lap. No matter, he has already gotten what he wanted. 

Jungkook doesn't know anything anymore. "What?"

"You have a date coming over, do you not?" Jimin asks, enunciating very clearly as if the reason why Jungkook can't concentrate was his pronunciation. 

"Yeah, what does that have to do with anything?" Jungkook questions, suspicion clear in his voice. 

"Well, you'd probably like some privacy," Jimin leads him on. 

Jungkook's eyebrows are now so furrowed it looks like they are attached to his dark eyelashes. "Yeah..." 

"So you need to give me one room to stay in."

"Or you could be out and about while I have a guest over," Jungkook suggests in a loud voice, yet it is still not going through Jimin's thick head. 

"And go where? The root of our predicament is that I have nowhere to go! Besides, I have a paper due Monday morning I haven't even started yet. I gotta stay in tonight," Jimin continues to badger him, and Jungkook sighs. 

"Go to a coffee house or something! I don't want you around when I do my business!" Jungkook says exasperatedly.

"'Do your business'? Wow, how romantic. You are having sex with a person, not dropping a douche. Although judging by your taste in men it just might be both," Jimin sasses. He only just manages to dodge the pillow Jungkook throws his way.  

"There's nothing wrong with my taste in men. Just look at your track record, hyung, I wouldn't brag too much. Besides, it's distracting to have someone near while I'm having sex! Especially if it's you!" Jungkook exclaims and then nearly bites off his own tongue. Why did he have to say that?

Jimin furrows his brows. "Why especially if it's me? What's wrong with especially me? And anyway we are in college, we have both had to suffer through the sounds of people having sex if nowhere else then at parties. My first roommate brought in a new person every weekend!" he complains with a shudder. 

"Why do you think I got a penthouse and not a dorm room?" 

"Because you are too rich for your own good?"

Jungkook rolls his eyes. "Real witty, hyung. No, because I like being on my own. And that includes fucking without anyone listening in!" 

"I wouldn't listen in! Do you really think I want to listen to you having sex? I bet you moan really loudly and I don't want that to get stuck in my head", Jimin snorts. "I'm already enough traumatized by my former roommate and his sexcapades."

Jungkook's breath is caught in his throat. No one else can throw him off like Park Jimin can. "I don't-- shut up!" he snaps in horror.  

His cheeks are turning crimson again which makes Jimin snicker evilly, damn near rubbing his hands together in anticipation. 

"Or maybe you cry afterwards," he teases mercilessly. "Like remember how you cried that day I won at arm wrestling? You moaned and whined like that while playing and then cried when I pinned your arm down."

"I didn't cry, the air was just really dry that day which made my eyes glisten!" Jungkook claims. "And that was four years ago! Do you always have to bring it up?"

"Aww, itty bitty baby, it's nothing to cry over," Jimin can't resist cooing and pinches Jungkook's cheek, making the boy in question whine and slap his hand away. 

"That does it, hyung, you can sleep here tonight, but only after two am when my hook up has left!" Jungkook orders and hopes that that'll be the end of it, but of course it's never that simple with Park Jimin involved. 

"Where am I supposed to go? Come on, Jungkookie. You have two bedrooms on separate ends of this enormous apartment! Surely, you can spare a room for me where I shall stay wearing headphones on so loud I might go deaf."

"That one extra room is for gaming, not for extortionists and squatters!" 

"Great, then you can have your playboy business in there. I know you put a bed in there after the last time Tae slept on your keyboard. I could just take your room."

Jungkook lets out an incredulous snort. "And let you have my bed? No way, couch for you."

"Is that any way to treat your elders? Besides, if you stumble in with some horny dude, do you really want me to be sleeping on the couch?" Jimin jibes. "Or for him to run into me on his way to the bathroom in the morning?" 

Jungkook closes his eyes, cursing wildly while Jimin laughs victoriously. "Fuck. Fine, you get the bedroom. Well played, hyung."

"Why, thank you", Jimin nearly purrs very smugly, and Jungkook does his best not to strangle his best friend right then and there. 

The next morning Jimin sneaks out early in the morning for breakfast and then on to a lecture. He doesn't re-enter the apartment earlier than after midday, hoping that Jungkook's guest would be gone already or by the very least, decent. He tried texting to warn his friend he was coming back, but Jungkook wouldn't answer. Hoping to meet up with Jungkook alone, he bought only two bagels and two coffees as a thank you to Jungkook for letting him stay over despite not being big on house guests. 

All the way up in the elevator he is praying Jungkook and his friend aren't taking the game room's brand new bed for another spin. Jungkook is probably still at the apartment because Jimin borrowed Jungkook's key to let himself in after his lecture, so walking in on his friend and his date is a real concern. 

He really doesn't need an image of a sweaty and panting Jungkook, in all of his naked glory, imprinted on his brain. 

While Jimin is making his way home, Jungkook is running out of ways to hint that his guest should get the hell out of his apartment. The guy from the previous night just can't seem to get the message that he should get going and that the night before was less the Start Of Something New but more of a Gotta Go My Own Way. 

He tried mentioning that he has a lecture to get to, but the guy whose name he can't even recall just states that he has nothing to do all day and that he could stay and wait for Jungkook at his apartment while he is on his lecture. 

Jungkook is starting to feel claustrophobic in his own apartment. 

The guy keeps asking personal questions about his family and is already talking about meeting them as if they didn't just meet last night. He obviously knows who Jungkook is and who his parents are. He can practically see the dollar signs in the guy's eyes and he sighs. 

This is precisely why he left Korea. In his home country, everyone knew about his parents and about the fortune that they had made with their company. He could never be sure who was his actual friend and who was just after their family's riches. When he moved to New York to study, he swore he wouldn't tell anyone what kind of family he had, but that plan didn't really pan out. He failed to consider the power of the internet and the amount of people who read the Forbes 500 and use that knowledge to their advantage. 

"I'd love to meet them," the guy says just then, and Jungkook has trouble breathing. He feels like he has been backed into a corner with nowhere left to run. 

Just then the door opens, and an angel appears in the shape of Park Jimin.

"Kook, baby, I got you the salmon bagel--"

Jimin then looks up and notices the stranger. His cheeks flame as he realizes that he used a petname and has thus very possibly ruined Jungkook's chances with this guy. He feels like hitting his head against the wall. Sure, he and Jungkook know that the petnames they use don't mean anything, but explaining that to a newcomer might be a tad harder. 

"Oh my God, are you in a relationship?!" the boy as expected screams and stands up. Jimin opens his mouth to clear off the misunderstanding, but Jungkook beats him to it. 

Jungkook looks at him like he's an idiot. "No… Yes!" he suddenly changes his answer in the middle of his sentence. "This is my husband."

Jimin's eyes widen to the size of two plates, but Jungkook's attention is elsewhere. He is checking whether or not the guy looks like he believed him. It sounds a little over-the-top to fake a husband when he could have just called Jimin his boyfriend, but he doesn't want to ever have to deal with this person again and hopes that mentioning long-term commitment might scare him away for good. Besides, in the heat of the moment calling Jimin his husband makes perfect sense. 

The guy looks rightfully disgusted about having been made into a cheater, and Jungkook would feel sorry for him if he wasn't 110% sure that the only thing the guy is actually pissed is because someone beat him to marrying Jungkook for his money. 

"What a bastard," he spits pulling on his shirt and exiting quickly. Apparently being the mistress of one of the wealthiest men in the world didn't strike him as appealing as the potential husband gig did. 

"Oh my God, please, oh no..." Jungkook wails until the door slams closed after the gold-digger. Then he smirks. "You’re not going anywhere, Jiminie." 

Jimin frowns. "What are you on about?" he asks as he places the bagels and two coffees on the table. "And since when are we married?" 

Jungkook laughs. "The guy who just left here was a total nightmare, only after my parents' money and he wouldn't take the hint that it was time to go, so when he freaked about seeing you, I kind of went with that."

Jimin squeezes Jungkook's hand in sympathy. "I'm sorry, baby, that sucks," he says. 

Jungkook shrugs, acting like it doesn't still hurt when he realizes there are people around him who don't care about him one bit, but act friendly in the hopes of getting into good graces with his parents. He has already made his peace with it; some people are just scum. But he can't deny that it still stings when he suddenly sees people as who they are.

Only six people have stayed in his life ever since he came to New York, only six people have ever passed when it came down to whether they cared about Jungkook or his family's money. It's a depressing statistics, but as it happens those six people are also the best people he has come across, so he doesn't mind that all the others he has had to forgo. 

"It is what it is. But that's not my point. My point is that he just wouldn't leave. Nothing I said or did seemed to make him leave. When I said I was going to the bathroom, he asked me if he could come too, Jimin. Like a freaking leech. The only thing he was bothered by was you and that got me thinking about what I'd do if it ever happened again. But if you stayed with me, I wouldn't have to worry about it." 

"Or you could stop sleeping around so much. Or you know, just go to their place next time, so you could sneak out in the morning and be done with it," Jimin suggests as he takes a sip of the coffee and grimaces when he notices that he accidentally drank Jungkook's latte. 

He quickly switches the cups and revels in the taste of his own plain black coffee. 

Jungkook looks at him in surprise. "Do you think I sleep around too much?" he asks in a hurt voice. Jungkook always acts like he doesn't care about what people think of him, but Park Jimin is and always will be an exception to that rule. 

Jimin hurries to smooth over his words. "No, of course not. It's your life; you do whatever" - and 'whomever, he-yoo!' he adds as he high-fives amused Jungkook - "feels right. But you gotta admit that you've been kind of accelerating lately, hooking up with a different person each time. No one gets a second date with you." 

"I don't know what it is. People just bore me these days, and I need a change. Please, please, please, Jiminie. Don't you want your favorite dongsaeng to be happy and feel safe in his own home?" Jungkook coaxes, and Jimin has to admit that the charm works both ways as he is suddenly swept off his feet by the compelling force in Jungkook's voice. 

To say Jimin was bothered by Jungkook’s reasoning for him staying longer would be an understatement.

"Of course I do but Jungkook..." he tries to argue, but Jungkook is quick to cut him off, not wanting to leave him with too much time to convince himself that Jungkook's request is a little bit too immoral, even for him whom has always been the most supportive and tolerant out of all of Jungkook's friends. 

"Come on! All you have to do is pretend to be my boyfriend and scare off potential psychos who won’t leave in the morning, and I'll let you stay here as long as you need to. And as an added bonus I won't even ask why you won't go home or what happened between Baekhyun hyung and you. If you go to Seokjin's, all he'll do is grill you about that, you know that, right?" Jungkook lures him in. 

"That's a valid point,"  Jimin mutters. Seokjin means well, and Jimin does appreciate his concern but still, he thinks that Seokjin just might be a little too mature and well-balanced company for him in his current state. Unlike Jungkook who clearly has issues for days and who'd never lecture anyone about having to work through stuff. 

"Hyuunnggggg," Jungkook whines then, sounding like a race car taking off. His whine is perfectly timed too; it sounds just as Jimin is about to successfully tell him no. Paired up with those brown puppy dog eyes, Jimin doesn't even stand a chance since he can't handle Jungkook's aegyo any better than Jungkook can his. "I love you and I miss you, hyuunnggggg."

"Evil child," Jimin grumbles, and the culprit grins because he knows that he has gotten his way. 

"I learned from the best," Jungkook brags, and Jimin makes a face.

"Okay, fine, fine, I’ll do it. But I’m leaving as soon as I find my own place and then you'll be on your own again. This is only a temporary solution. And you cannot tell anyone what I do for you. Seokjin would kill me if he found out," Jimin sets his terms.

Seokjin is really playful and the best drinking buddy anyone could have, but he has a soft spot when it comes to Jungkook. Probably because back when Jungkook first came to New York, his English pronounciation was terrible, and Seokjin helped him out a lot. Thus he is very protective of him despite the fact that he and Jungkook bicker like little children when they are together. 

"Of course," Jungkook swears and grins. Maybe it’d be nice to have a roommate after all. Especially someone like Jimin whom he has been friends for ages and whom he trusts with his life. 

After slight hesitation Jimin grins back.

"So, what are you up to today?" Jungkook asks then. 

Jimin sighs loudly. "School. I was just at a lecture and we got assigned this horrible project. I figure that if I start it now, I'll be done sometime in my early forties," he replies glumly.  

Jungkook nods sympathetically. "Sounds rough." 

"What are you doing now that I've scared off your hook-up?" 

"Avoiding this girl Becca in my study group who keeps texting me that she wants to have a 'private study session'," Jungkook complains, and Jimin pretends to throw up. 

"Did you tell her that she is not exactly your type?" he asks then with a wink. 

Jungkook huffs. "Yeah, I tried to tell her as soon as I realized that she was actually trying to put the moves on me." 

"And?"  

"And then she straight up told me that she didn't believe in being gay. Honest to God, she doesn't think it's a legit thing. To her, it's some sort of an international conspiracy orhestrated by lizard people or something." 

Jimin laughs out of sheer disbelief. It's a nice sound, somehow calming, even when he is giggling so hard he has trouble breathing. When Jimin laughs, his eyes turn into crescents, as if two moons had chosen to leave their positions and hide in his eyes, if only for a moment. 

Jungkook blinks. Since when are his thoughts this poetic? 

"How do you not believe in gay? Like, it's not even a matter of believing, it's a fact. And what does she think gay people are then if it's not real?" Jimin queries although he is not sure if he truly wants to hear the answer. 

Jungkook shrugs. "Fuck if I know, but she's really starting to get on my last nerve because she won't take no for answer." 

Jimin hums. "I hear ya." He is quiet for a moment before adding, "You should have her over for dinner."

Jungkook's jaw drops. "What? Jimin, the whole point of home is to be rid of those you hate," he wheezes. Just the thought of Becca Blitz in his sacred space is enough to make him hyperventilate. 

Jimin only sees the entertaining side of his suggestion.  

"Yeah, but think how funny it'd be to shove all this gay down her throat," he points out with an evil snicker that makes Jungkook smile against his will.

"Think about how funny it'd be when she started meeting me right outside my door every morning after said dinner," Jungkook counters, and finally Jimin sees his point. 

"Okay, okay. No dinner then. But if we ever see her while we are together, let me know, so we can put on a little show," he proposes, mischief twinkling in his eyes like stars. 

"What kind of a show?" Jungkook questions cautiously.  

"Aww, is that fear I detect in your voice, Jeon Jungkook, the university's heartbreaker?" Jimin taunts, and Jungkook pushes him away. 

"No," he denies vehemently, and Jimin snickers. 

"I didn't realize kissing was such a sacred activity to you," he gibes, and Jungkook rolls his eyes. "Or maybe you are scared I'll expose you as a terrible kisser."

Jungkook glares at him. "Quit it. You know it's not about the kissing." 

Jimin jerks his head back as if he is holding back tears. "Wow. Am I really that unattractive to you?" he asks dramatically. 

Jungkook lets out an incredulous laugh. Is Jimin kidding? Does he think that Jungkook is blind? "What? No!"

Jimin nods to himself, fanning his face like he is about to lose it. "Ugly and hideous, huh? So gross that you can't even bear the thought of fake making out with me?" 

Jungkook cups Jimin's face and hesitantly pecks his lips. "You're not unattractive, okay?" he murmurs. 

And Jimin doesn't have the heart to reveal that he was just kidding. Because if he is really, really honest with himself, it wasn't all a joke, there's a small part of him that needs the reassurance every now and then that he is, in fact, desirable. Jungkook's kiss, however, makes sure that he feels radiant and wanted for the rest of the day.

That night when Jungkook comes home from a night lecture, Jimin is watching a drama on the television and occasionally glaring at the thick textbook he should be reading as research for his paper. 

The TV is on loud, so Jimin doesn't hear him come in, he is too invested in his favorite show. For some reason Jimin really likes Korean dramas which Jungkook finds curious since he isn't that sappy otherwise, even if he is probably the most romantic out of their circle of friends. Maybe it's Taehyung's influence on him since Taehyung is known for being hooked on most every drama ever written and ever since Jimin moved to the same off-campus dorm in Brooklyn two years ago, the two have been hanging out more with just the two of them. 

He sneaks up behind Jimin and blows cold air into Jimin's neck. Jimin startles, but doesn't turn around. Jungkook has to try harder to scare him. 

He leans into Jimin's neck, only millimeters away from his skin. "Whatcha watching?" he whispers. 

Jimin jumps to his feet, nearly elbowing Jungkook in the face, and he screams when he hears Jungkook guffaw. Finally Jimin turns around and smiles when he sees who it is.

"Hey, you're home!" Jimin says cheerfully.

"I miraculously lived through the most boring lecture in the history of mankind. What are you watching?" he asks until he recognizes the actress who plays the main guy's evil and manipulative stepmom. Jimin is rewatching his favorite drama which is something he usually only does when he is sick or upset.

"This again? Are you feeling alright, Min?" he asks then and casually brushes the hairs off Jimin's forehead, so he can feel his skin for fever. But his body temperature feels normal, and Jungkook frowns. Since the sickness theory got trashed, it's rather likely that Jimin is upset about something. The million dollar question is of course 'of what' but Jungkook knows that figuring that out won't be easy since Jimin is the only person who is as tight-lipped of his thoughts as Jungkook is. 

Jimin lightly smacks Jungkook's tummy. "Shush, he is about to propose," he scolds giving the TV way more attention than it needs which is another reason why Jungkook thinks that something must be on his mind. 

"You've seen this like a million times," Jungkook complains, but Jimin shushes him again, and he simply slumps down next to him, rolling his eyes. The drama is ridiculous enough to be funny and even though Jungkook laughs at the most inappropriate places and Jimin keeps punching him for mocking his favorite show, they keep watching to the late hours of the night.  

During the night, Jungkook remembers something and goes to dig through something he calls 'the adulting drawer'. It basically contains all of his important papers and documents directly linked with doing adult stuff.  

"Jiminie," he calls out once he returns. 

Jimin looks up from his drama. "Yeah?"

He sets a key on the coffee table. He has had the extra key since the day he moved in although he has never had any use for it. His landlord had two keys made for him since his parents had been the ones who bought the apartment despite repeatedly being told by Jungkook that he wanted to live in a dorm like all the other students. Jungkook was too awkward to say that he didn't need another key since he lived alone and just accepted it, hiding it in one of the many cabinets of the spacious apartment until it finally found home in the adulting drawer. 

"There's finally use for this extra key." 

Jimin frowns. "You could have just given it to one of us, so you'd have a spare key."

Jungkook hadn't honestly even thought about it. He has been raised to only count on himself and never let anyone have access to his home, so leaving the key to one of his friends' possession hadn't occurred to him. 

He doesn't want to admit it, though, so he just huffs. "I am not driving all the way to Brooklyn whenever I lock myself out just so you could have a key to my place. The cost of the taxi is higher than what I have to pay my super for letting me in," he says too quickly as his fingers pick up the key again, twirling it around in his fingers. 

"Snob. Besides I never said you should have given it to me, just that you should have given it to someone. Why so cute, Kookie?" Jimin teases as he snatches the key from him.

Jungkook groans. "Just don't lose it, hyung."

"Why, I never."

"Must I remind you of certain trip to Norway, circa autumn 2016?"

Now it is Jimin's turn to groan. "Shut up."

"That's what I thought."

The next time they properly talk again is the following week's Friday. Up until then they have such busy schedules they only see each other at nights they spend either watching movies, playing video games or just talking until they go to sleep. On Thursday, they actually both fall asleep on the opposite ends of Jungkook's huge L-shaped sofa and wake up the next morning with screwed up necks and a promise to never do it again. 

They run into each other in the lobby as Jimin is rushing in with food as a thank you for Jungkook who woke him up when his alarm didn't and thus saved him from missing an integral test.

Jungkook is returning from a draining study session and when he sees Jimin carrying take-out food, he immediately pulls him into an emotional embrace.  

"I love you," he states as he hugs Jimin's back to his chest. 

Jimin growls. "My food. My precious," he hisses. 

Jungkook pouts and only hugs him tighter, placing his chin on Jimin's shoulder. "But you brought enough for me, too, right?" he persuades. 

"Depends on if you'll let me go so we can get to the apartment and enjoy the food before it gets cold," Jimin says, and before he is even finished talking, Jungkook has already let go and pressed the elevator button. Jimin laughs. "That's the spirit, babe." 

"You two are too cute," the man sitting at the reception desk says. 

"Thanks, Al," Jimin says casually just as Jungkook is about to crack a joke. 

"Have good night, kids," the man replies and smiles as Jimin enthusiastically waves at him until the elevator doors close. 

"Since when do you know my doorman?" Jungkook asks as they soar higher and higher. 

Jimin shrugs. "Since you moved in here. God, Jungkook, entitled much? Can't even spare a word to the peasants?" he teases. 

"I do say hello but that's all. He doesn't need to know more about me," Jungkook defends himself. 

"Yeah, yeah, you like privacy and nobody knows you, not the real you. It's all very 007." 

"I like my space."

"I wonder how long it'll take before you kick me out", Jimin ponders out loud. 

"I'd never kick you out, Jiminie", Jungkook swears with a holier-than-thou look on his face. Then he winks. "Unless you piss me off."

"Right... so by the end of the week?" Jimin estimates, and Jungkook chuckles. 

"You think it'll take that long?"

Jimin shoves him and walks out of the elevator. There is only two doors on the top floor. Both of the condos are owned by Jungkook's parents whom at first planned to turn them into one gigantic penthouse but when Jungkook got into an American university they decided to give the apartments to Jungkook instead. 

Apparently some people are rich enough to buy apartments without actual intentions of living in them. 

Jungkook opens the door for them, and Jimin walks in, setting their food on the coffee table. "Let's watch the next episode while we eat," he suggests as he starts peeling off his thick coat. 

"You have the table manners of a little child. I bet your mum would drop dead if she heard what you just suggested," Jungkook scolds. 

"Come on. I want to watch my drama, but I need to study tonight, so if I kill two birds with one stone, I might be able to survive my test."

"You study too much," Jungkook complains. 

"You study too little," Jimin counters.

"You do know that in college grades no longer mean shit?"

Jimin shrugs. "They might mean something if I stay in the States after I graduate. Jobs are already hard to come by."

"Then let's not stay here but travel the world," Jungkook plans with a dreamy look in his eyes that makes Jimin smile at him fondly. "School is just one part of life, it's not all that matters."

Jimin agrees. "That's very true, but first I have to live through this semester."

"Isn't your test like three weeks away, though? And it's Friday night. You are seriously going to spend it studying at home?"

"I'm old and lame now, Kook. Get used to it." 

Jungkook lets it go then, only huffing in response and choosing to focus more on eating the delicious food, but later that night as he barges into his bedroom where Jimin went to study after dinner, he brings it up again. 

"Let me study," Jimin interrupts before Jungkook even gets the chance to start persuading him. 

"All my clothes are here, and I need to decide what to wear," Jungkook claims as he walks up to the huge closet that is big enough to be a small room and takes off his shirt. He smirks to himself when he feels Jimin eyeing his muscular back. Got you. 

"But since you brought it up, you should go out with me tonight. My friends and I are going to this really cool new club downtown. Apparently the employees there work topless," Jungkook reveals, but his words don't have the reception he might have hoped for. 

"Yay, more chances for disgusting men to ogle at breasts in public," Jimin replies snarkily and changes the page on his textbook.  

"Don't be so bitter, it doesn't suit your angelic image," Jungkook says, leaning down to pinch Jimin's cheek. "Besides, there are topless guys too."

Jimin snorts. "It does, however, satisfy the devil within. And why are you excited to go to some freaking titty bar?"

"Because I like going out and once upon a time so did you. What changed, Jiminie?" Jungkook tries again, but Jimin can't be fooled so easily. 

"No prying, Kookie, you promised." 

"Fine, fine... so which of these fits me better?" Jungkook says, holding up two shirts against his naked torso. 

Jimin finally looks up. "I wouldn't know since you're not wearing either."

"The only way I seem to be able to obtain your attention these days is by showing some skin," Jungkook complains in a fake hurt voice, making Jimin giggle. "The things I do for you." 

Jimin huffs. "You just want me to compliment you because you've been working out so much lately." 

As if on a cue, Jungkook comes to stand right in front of him, so close that their knees are grazing and thus Jimin can no longer simply ignore him. Jungkook tosses the shirts on the floor and winks at his friend. 

"Like what you see?" he brags while sliding a hand down his chest and right onto his zipper, gripping it all the while smirking at Jimin. 

Jimin squeals and pushes him away, but not before giving Jungkook's rock hard tummy a pat. "You're such a tease."

"You like it."

"Shut up and get dressed before you are late again, dork," Jimin commands. Jungkook pouts and he adds, "And yes, you look amazing. All that training is definitely showing. If you were smoking hot before, now you are scorching like the sun." 

Jungkook is practically glowing from the praises. "Now, was that so hard?" 

"No, not... that," Jimin can't resist joking, and they exchange multiple high-fives like the two idiots they are, followed by Jungkook sliding his shirt over his head while Jimin hums the tune of Usher's Yeah. 

Jungkook puts on some music as he continues to trying on clothes as if only to torture Jimin. He keeps his eyes trained at his book, but his consciousness is hyper aware of everything Jungkook does. His eyes capture even the tiniest movements, such as the muscles on Jungkook's shoulder tightening and relaxing every time he changes the shirt and the way the tight shirts hugs Jungkook's body in all the right places. 

Jimin's brain keeps calling him to focus solely on the gorgeous boy before him. It's as if he is a magnet and Jimin but a needle, doomed to seek his presence. 

When Jimin complains that he can't focus, Jungkook rushes to suggest, "Why not come with me? It would do you some good to go clubbing, maybe meet somebody..." 

... get out of the house, so you could get some at someone else's place and I could fuck in peace without thinking about you, his mind less than helpfully complements the idea in his head. 

Jimin shakes his head. "No thanks, I’m not really in the mood," he claims falling back down on the bed and focusing on his textbook again. 

"I don’t usually hear that from any guy lying on my bed," Jungkook jokes. 

"There’s a first time for everything," Jimin replies without lifting his gaze from the book. 

"Seriously, though. You’ve lived with me for two weeks, and not once have I seen you do anything but study."

Jimin flips a page. "Is there a question there?"

Jungkook snatches the book from him. "Why don’t you ever do anything fun?" he challenges. "You used to be my party buddy, what has happened to you?"

Jimin stands up to his knees and reaches for the book, but Jungkook is holding it just out of his reach. "I do a lot of things that are fun!" he claims then. "I'm just really swamped with school right now so I can't party the way I did before."

Jungkook arches a brow. "Like what?"

"I hang out with friends, I go to museums, I watch movies..." 

"So, grandma fun," Jungkook says, and Jimin smacks his chest. 

"Museums are not just for senior citizens!"

"Sure they aren't, ahjumma." 

Jimin gasps at Jungkook's disrespectful words as if they hadn't dropped honorifics ages ago. "You little brat! Get out before I gut you! I think your date wouldn't like you without internal organs."

Jungkook waggles his eyebrows suggestively. "I think he is only interested in one of my organs, however big it might be," he brags. 

Jimin pushes him away giggling. "Just go, Jungkook." 

"I’m not going out until you do." 

"That’s all very charming, but save the moves for your hook-ups because I’m very much not interested."

"Yet another thing I’ve never heard from a guy lying on my bed."

"Would you like me to say it while standing up or something to get the message across?" Jimin taunts.

"Haha, hyung. You just keep breaking my heart," Jungkook complains which earns him another smack. 

"Cosmic revenge for all those whose hearts you’ve broken." 

Jungkook scoffs. "Please. No one’s heart is going to break from a simple one night stand."

"I don’t know about that. Some people get attached pretty quickly," Jimin ponders. 

"You don’t have to tell me. You told me you loved me the day we met," Jungkook reminds him of their dark past. 

All of Jimin's face turns bright red. "That’s not fair! I had hit my head after you tried to run me over, may I add", he swiftly points out. 

"You may not since you’re the one who jumped onto the road. Oh, and remember, after that you called me an angel," Jungkook taunts him further and watches in glee as Jimin's cheek turn into a brighter shade of red. 

"Again, you had run me over with your bike! I hit my head on the ground and thought that I had died!" Jimin exclaims and curses past Jimin for blabbering such things to Jeon Jungkook of all people whom never seemed to forget anything, especially if it was something embarrassing Jimin once did that he can now tease him about.

"And went to heaven because you saw my angelic face?" Jungkook jeers, and Jimin gives up. If only he had met Jungkook in a normal way, maybe at a lecture like everybody else but no. He had to meet the brat by nearly getting trampled by him, and he never let Jimin forget that. 

He throws a pillow at him. “Weren’t you going out or something?”

"I am, I am... But you're going to wish you said yes, babe." 

"I somehow doubt that. Be safe, Kook. And yes I did mean that as in be safe in general and also please practice safe sex," Jimin reminds him, and Jungkook sighs loudly. 

"You're a riot, ahjumma." 

Jimin winks. "That's no way to talk to your husband." 

"I'm never going to live that down, am I?"

"Not in the foreseeable future, no."

Jungkook and Jimin's ridiculous living arrangement turns out to be rather effective. Jimin gets to satisfy his inner quench for drama, and Jungkook receives a human get out of jail free card whenever someone is being too pushy. 

Next time the call sounds it's a night that Jimin was supposed to spend at Taehyung's binging on their favorite dramas, but Jungkook texts him to come home only a few hours after he left. Initially Jimin refuses and tells Jungkook to deal with his own mess, but then Jungkook threatens the safety of his laptop.

Grumbling, Jimin makes his way back to Jungkook's apartment. 

"Hi, honey—oh my God! Who is that, Kookie?" he screeches as soon as he opens the door and sees Jungkook and some random good-looking dude sitting on the couch with two wine glasses in front of them.

Jungkook springs to his feet. "Baby, let me explain." 

"In our home? How could you?!" Jimin wails and shoves Jungkook. He doesn't consider himself to be violent nor is the shove hard by any definition, but he can't deny that it feels deserved. "You disgusting pig!" 

"Please, baby, it’s not what it looks like."

"Sure, it isn't! Just like it wasn't like that with that other guy I caught you bumping behinds with!" Jimin accuses, and Jungkook has trouble keeping a straight face. 

The guy stands up, avoiding Jimin's eyes. "I’m so sorry, I didn’t know!" he professes. 

"Just go," Jimin says and very dramatically points at the door. The poor boy is all too happy to go.

"You sleep with some boy toy after I have devoted my life to you? I thought you loved me, you narcissistic piece of human waste!" he continues ranting until he hears the door slam and hurried footsteps running away. 

"Is he gone?" he asks then in a normal voice, not wanting to blow their cover by turning to look too soon. 

Jungkook nods. "Yup."

"Damn. I was really feeling it tonight."

"Yeah, I could tell. That was incredible. And that shove, nice." 

"I’ve been feeling like smacking some sense into you for ages", Jimin says, and there is a slight bite to his voice that bothers Jungkook to no end. He knows that what he is doing isn't all that ethical, but Jimin has never judged him before. If anything, they have been each other's trusted advisors for years already.  

Despite his inner suspicions, he lets Jimin off the hook without a word of objection. "Fair enough."

Jimin doesn't seem to be in the mood to argue either since he simply sets muffins he had bought for Taehyung down on the dining room table and motions at Jungkook to sit down. "Come on, let’s have dinner."

"So what was wrong with that guy?" Jimin asks as he bites into the muffin.

Jungkook is entirely entranced by the muffin that is not only his favorite flavor, but also from his favorite diner and is surprised by Jimin's question.

"What— Uh, he just wasn't a very nice guy," Jungkook quickly corrects himself, but Jimin has already picked up on his hesitation. He has been suspecting for a while that Jungkook might have slipped from their original agreement of using Jimin to fend off the bad guys to using Jimin to fend off all the guys.

There hasn't been that many guys since the first one, only three, but Jimin is rather certain that at least two of them were not after Jungkook's money but his heart. 

That is why he steps out of their routine and argues, "He seemed nice enough."

Jungkook stares at him before barking, "Well, he wasn't. Okay?"

"Okay. I mean, you're the one who wanted to sleep with him, so you oughta know him better."

"Is there something you'd like to say to me?" Jungkook flat out asks, growing weary of their game of cat and mouse. 

"Yes, there sure is. Why are you getting so defensive over a simple observation?" Jimin questions. 

Jungkook isn't giving in one inch. "It's not a simple observation if there is an agenda behind it."

"Is it possible that you might be projecting your own feelings onto me to avoid having to take responsibility for your choices that no longer seem so appealing?" 

"Jimin!" Jungkook exclaims exasperatedly. "Taking one Psych class does not make you a qualified shrink!"

"Sorry," Jimin apologizes and seeks Jungkook's fingers to squeeze for a wordless apology, but the boy moves his hand away, subconsciously pouting. Jimin hides a smile. 

"Are you mad at me?" he questions then. 

"Why?"

"Because you won't look at me."

Jungkook scoffs. "We're not an actual couple. I don't have to spend my days gazing into your eyes," he replies so snippily that it's almost amusing.   

"I'm a little annoyed with you, too. I was having a lot of fun with Tae."

"But we agreed—" Jungkook quickly reminds him, but he gets cut off.

"I know what we agreed. I'm just not sure that it was wise of me to agree. It seems cruel to play with good people's hearts simply because you are afraid of commitment."

"So what are you saying? Are you leaving me?" Jungkook snaps, a strange feeling that he doesn't want to put a name on swirling in his stomach. 

Jimin cracks a small smile. "That has always been the plan, babe."

Jungkook takes a breath, mentally battling himself before deciding to come clean. 

"That guy who you walked in on... He kept calling you nasty names and when I told him that we were actually living together and that I didn't appreciate his comments, he didn't believe me. He went around the apartment and pointed out all the things that should be different if we really lived together. You know, like how you should have initials on your towels since I do. Stupid shit like that. And when he found your bag in the bedroom and my stuff in the game room, he had a freaking field day. I thought that the only way to get rid of him for good would be if you walked in with your own key."

Words rarely escape Jimin, but he finds himself forced silent now. "Oh," is his only comment on the matter. 

"Oh indeed."

"You should have called the police. They could have thrown him out too."

Jungkook scoffs. "Oh yeah, and give my parents a reason to haul my ass back to Korea?" 

"It's a great ass," Jimin smiles, and Jungkook laughs, if a little tiredly. "Where do you even find these guys? You keep picking up only douches."

"Well, what kind of people usually agree to follow someone to a stranger's apartment to have sex?"

"Fair point," Jimin thinks, and then they are quiet for a while, both lost in their own thoughts. Until Jimin speaks up again, breaking the silence. 

"Hey, listen, you got me thinking..." he starts to say, but Jungkook looks up just then, and he hesitates.  

"What?" 

Jimin chickens out. "Never mind." 

"What? Come on, Jiminie. You’re my husband, you can tell me anything," Jungkook says with a wink which strangely enough convinces Jimin to finish his sentence.  

"Well, if you really want them to believe us, it should look like two people live here. But there isn’t even any pictures of our friends."

"Photographs are too personal. I don’t like hanging them on my walls."

Jimin hiccups. "Too personal? This is your apartment. It should look personal," he points out after gulping down water. 

"Yeah, well…" Jungkook shrugs, not knowing how to continue his sentence. "If you want, you can hang some up. I have tons of pictures of us on my laptop, we could get some made into photographs." 

"That'd be nice. But aren't you worried that one of your hook-ups might see them and realize that you're an actual person and not just a lay?" Jimin teases, and Jungkook rolls his eyes, smacking his friend's arm. 

"I'll take that risk. And maybe I want them to only see me as a lay. A great lay, may I add. But the thing is that if I wanted to be in a relationship I would be, but I’m not and I don’t."

"This is how to be a heartbreaker.

Boys they like a little danger

We'll get him falling for a stranger, a player

Singing I lo-lo-love you", Jimin sings and jumps out of Jungkook's reach.  

The next day, right before class Jungkook encounters an old enemy. The freaky girl from his study group, Becca Blitz. He tries to avoid her to the best of his ability, but she seeks him out anyway. 

Her smile is too wide, somehow an attack on its own. "Hey, Jungkookie. Let's sit together, won't we?" she chirps, and he wants nothing more than to escape her. 

"Ah, excuse me, I need to... go," Jungkook mumbles quickly walking to the direction of a vending machine under the pretense that he is going grab something to drink during the lecture. 

Instead he texts Jimin, the one person whom has always rescued him from messes like these and who doesn't have class until two. You gotta get here fast, the psycho girl has transferred into yet another one of my classes! 

Jimin's response is swift. Jungkook thanks his lucky stars for such a great friend until he actually reads the text. Just tell her no. I'm busy. I'm making fajitas. 

Next, he calls him up. "You owe me," he spits as soon as Jimin answers.  

"Sorry, can't hear you over all that bullshit. I've more than paid you back by kicking out your one night stands." 

Damn it. Jimin is right. "Fine! I'll owe you!" 

He can almost hear the smirk in Jimin's voice as he answers, "Now that's what I like to hear. I'll meet you after class and scare her off." 

Jungkook feels like he is sitting on needles the entire lecture. Becca Blitz made sure to sit next to him, and she keeps leaning against him and whispering into his ear. Jungkook doesn't want to be rude, but at the same time he is feeling anxious and trapped. 

Once the lecture ends, he is the first to stand up and scurry off, searching for Jimin with his eyes and Becca Blitz hot on his heel. He turns around a corner and finally spots Jimin in the yard. He has almost made it when a frail voice calls him back. 

Meanwhile, Jimin is walking their way, and it's strange to see how he has the entire yard in his pull. He doesn't need to do much, it's just something about his natural charisma that makes everyone stand up straight and take notice when he walks in. 

"Who is that?" some freshman nearby asks his friends. 

Despite all the eyes on him, Jimin is only focused on one person. He notices a girl standing next to Jungkook and his lips curve up to a smirk, busy hatching a plan on his mind. 

Jungkook can practically hear his guardian angel (he must have one since he has survived through all of his catastrophic ideas) whisper in his ear the words: 'it was at this moment he knew, he fucked up'. 

The girl is staring at Jungkook, so she doesn't notice Jimin approaching until Jimin has already sneaked a hand in Jungkook's neck and leaned in to kiss him. He tastes a little bit like salsa, so Jungkook is guessing he ate those fajitas before coming to meet him, and for some reason the thought makes him smile. 

There are wolf whistles from passers-by and some giggling from the girls in Jungkook's lecture, but all he can hear is the blood pounding in his ears. Jimin is everywhere: his fingers are in Jungkook's hair, his lips on his mouth devouring him, his hips leaning against Jungkook's. 

Jimin seems to absorb his soul through his lips and Jungkook has no objections, but at the same time he is so stunned that he has trouble reciprocating. The older boy is holding Jungkook by the waist, the gesture somehow possessive yet soothing at the same time. 

Jungkook is experiencing difficulties breathing. Since when does Jimin kiss like that?

"Nice work, but Becca already left. The girl next to me was just some random girl who asked for my number," he states once he can form words again. 

Jimin looks very pleased with himself despite missing the one girl he was meant to repel. "Oh. Well, then my jealousy was still justified. No girls need to have your number for dating purposes," he says and pecks the tip of Jungkook's nose for good measure. 

Jungkook shakes his head, laughing. "You are a nut job." 

Jimin smiles. "Might be. Come on, let's go eat, I left you some fajitas."

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the happy fucking couple," someone calls out to them then, and the guy who caused Jimin and Jungkook to become roomies walks up to them with a friend. 

Jimin and Jungkook exchange a quick panicked look before Jungkook steps slightly closer to Jimin who discreetly puts an arm around him. 

"How's it going?" Jungkook says, playing it cool. 

The guy ignores his attempt for small-talk, and Jungkook can't really blame him. The whole situation is just so wrong and profoundly weird. "So, I've been talking to a bunch of people and no one seems to have ever heard anything about you being married."

"And? I don't like people knowing my business," Jungkook quickly counters. Finally his secretive nature comes to benefit him. 

"That's just it, Jungkookie. Everyone agreed that if you had a hubby you'd never cheat on him. Funny, isn't it? It appears that your friends hold you in a higher value than they should." 

Jungkook hesitates, so Jimin steps in. "He didn't cheat. We separated for a while to focus on school and agreed to see other people to figure out if what we had was worth salvaging. What you witnessed was me returning to our apartment to beg my husband to take me back because there is no one like him." 

"Your 'husband' has been banging half the school," the guy spits at Jimin, but he remains calm, refusing to let the guy annoy him into telling the truth. 

"It's none of your beeswax what my husband does. He's a very physical person, so he also deals with emotions physically," Jimin claims, and Jungkook tries not to let his jaw drop at the description. He supposes that it's not inaccurate, he just hadn't realized that Jimin understood him so well. 

Even if he didn't actually use his hook-ups to determine whether he should stay married to Jimin, but to determine what he wanted from a relationship and what kind of people he even liked. Still, the theory applied. 

"Just drop the act. You're not even married!" the guy snaps then, having lost all of his humor. 

Jimin smirks at his anger. "Sure we are."

"Happiest day of my life," Jungkook chimes in, smiling at Jimin whom coos at him. 

"Aww, babe!" 

"When was the wedding then?" the guy's friend asks when the other seems too enraged to speak. 

"December 14th, three years ago," Jimin easily lies since on that date they had been to a wedding of Jimin's dad's colleague Seokjin's mom also worked with. Jimin had brought along Namjoon as his avec and Seokjin Jungkook. Seokjin and Namjoon hooked up, so Jungkook and Jimin were left to entertain themselves. 

"My Jiminie loves Christmas, so we wanted to give him one more thing to celebrate that month," Jungkook says to demonstrate how well he knows Jimin. Their 'love story' sounds believable enough, although they are making it up as they go. Thankfully this isn't the first time he and Jimin have had to come up with a story on spot. 

"We first wanted to get married in June, but then we thought 'what a cliche' and went with a winter wedding instead," Jimin adds. 

"Oh really? Where was your wedding? Which song did you dance to? What food did you offer? Band or DJ?" the guy interrogates, and Jimin would tell him to mind his own business if he wasn't having so much fun making up their fake love story. 

"We got married in New Zealand which was amazing. Gorgeous scenery. Our song is Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran and during our first dance as husbands Kook held my hand so tightly that my pinkie actually fractured," he describes and shoots a wink at Jungkook whom groans. 

"I didn't even hold it that tightly, you just have the bones of a bird," Jungkook rushes to defend himself. The words come out naturally cranky since once upon a time at a wedding that wasn't theirs Jungkook had fractured Jimin's pinkie for holding on too tightly. It was back when they had just met in high school and didn't really know each other. Jungkook was a shy kid and got really flustered when Jimin asked him to dance. 

Jimin laughs. "I'm not holding a grudge, babe. It was cute that you were so nervous," he replies, and he really means it. At first when Jimin and Jungkook met, they had teased each other a lot, but that fracture was what had made them true friends. 

The guy's friend gives the guy a long sharp glare. "I see. Sorry we bothered you, won't happen again," he says and drags his friend away.

As they walk away, Jungkook and Jimin can hear him lecturing, "How dare you make me grill that innocent couple with you? They are obviously madly in love, you need to lay the fuck off of them." 

Jungkook and Jimin bump their fists in quiet victory. 

"Halloween party in Flatbush!" Jungkook hollers as soon as he walks into the game room where Jimin is lying on the bed with his textbook.

"I've got to study", he very predictably announces without even considering Jungkook's offer. That is about to change since tonight he won't just drop the question even if Jimin tells him to. He has been cooped up inside the apartment for far too long, only leaving to go to lectures. 

"No, you don't," Jungkook denies and simply steals Jimin's book from him. 

"Give that back," Jimin commands, standing up and trying to retrieve what is his while Jungkook keeps him at bay with one hand while the other is busy flipping a portrait open and revealing a safe behind it.

Jimin suddenly gets a very bad feeling from what's about to happen next. "Jeon Jungkook, you give that book back right now or else," he threatens but to no avail.

"No, I will not. I'm holding it hostage this evening because you are coming with me to a party," Jungkook says slamming the safe's door closed and then pressing a few buttons to lock it. 

Jungkook's actions leave Jimin speechless. 

"Jungkook-ssi, I really don't want to go," he enunciates once his brain starts working again. He often switches to formal Korean when he is upset with Jungkook, and Jungkook knows that which is why he hates it when he does. Their group of friends doesn't really bother with honorifics after so many years of being friends and due to New York's equality policies catching onto them as well. So when Jimin starts speaking in formal Korean, Jungkook always knows that he has fucked up. 

Jungkook shoots him a look. "Don't start with the honorifics. Jimin, you are coming. This isn't a negotiation." 

"I don't even have a costume," Jimin beats around the bush. 

Jungkook flashes a victorious grin when he hears Jimin advancing from definite 'no' to an excuse because excuses can be persuaded, excuses are a 'maybe'. 

"I knew you'd say that which is why when I picked up my outfit, I got you something too. Apparently, there is a discount if you buy a couple costume. Personally, I thought that it was an outrageous misuse of personal power as an entrepreneur, but then I remembered that everyone hates couple's costumes and literally no one buys them except for gross overly attached psycho couples which is why I think it'd be perfect for us, hubby," he babbles on in a calculated bubbly voice and shows off what he bought. 

"Sweet mother of Mary, what are thoooooose?" Jimin gasps as Jungkook brings out two costumes. 

"Don't be rude. Instead, be Luigi to my Mario," Jungkook proposes, and Jimin throws a pillow his way. 

"Aren't they brothers? Gross. Besides, these costumes barely even look like Luigi and Mario's," he critiques as he examines the costumes that only share the same colors as the original Mario Bros.

"Killjoy. Unfortunately, you are still going to suit up and wear this monstrosity," Jungkook commands and Jimin boos. Then Jungkook smirks. "And since we are just friends, what does it matter if we go as characters who are brothers?"

Jimin rolls his eyes. "I meant that it's gross they were in the couple costumes section since they are brothers and hopefully no one wants to see Luigi and Mario making out," he answers, carefully avoiding the trap laid out for him. 

"Well, thankfully you and I are wearing these bad boys to make sure no couples wear them and make everyone uncomfortable with their PDA."

"Why don't you wear one of these and you could be like, it's-a me, Mario, international playboy, instead," Jimin mutters and Jungkook frowns. 

"What happened, Jimin? Why are you living with me?" Jungkook asks before thinking it through. He isn't used to Jimin keeping secrets like this although Jimin is known to be very secretive. He just never was towards Jungkook. 

Jimin wags a finger at him. "Tut, tut. We had a deal, Jungkookie."

"I know, but—" Jungkook tries to argue, but Jimin is not having it. 

"No buts. Give me my book back and let me study." 

"You don't even study that much. I've seen you stare at the same page for an hour when you think that I'm not paying attention. Something happened. Why won't you tell me what it was?" Jungkook pushes. 

Jimin moves toward the door. "I'll go study at the cafe downstairs instead, so you can focus on getting ready," he says only to be caught by the shoulders and turned around to face his roommate.

Jungkook's eyes are too brown, too sincere, too distracting. "Jimin-ah. Don't be like this. I'm just worried," he says, and Jimin tries to hold on to his ire that he can feel drifting away like a kite caught in a whirlwind. 

"Well, don't be. I'm fine."

"It's been three weeks. Are you just never going to speak to Baekhyun hyung again?" 

Jimin slips from Jungkook's grip and starts to say, "If you want me to go—"

"Shut up. You know that's not it. The only place I want you to go is Flatbush and this awesome party my friend told me about," Jungkook interrupts.

"No, thank you." 

Suddenly Jungkook pounces on Jimin who groans loudly at the sudden weight on him as they both fall back on the bed. "Dude, get off," he orders and tries to push away Jungkook whom won't budge. 

"Go with me or I'll make you the biggest hickey known to man just in time for your presentation on Monday," Jungkook says, and to show Jimin that he means business, he kisses the spot right above Jimin's collarbone, making Jimin shudder. 

Jimin struggles to get free. "That's extortion, Jeon Jungkook." 

Jungkook grins like a wolf about to devour a helpless baby chick. "Why, yes it is. Apparently the game room actually is for extortionists and squatters."

Giving up the fight, Jimin stares into his eyes, and Jungkook stares back, their faces only inches apart. "You are one needy little baby, you know that?" Jimin huffs then.  

"I do know that, thank you. But look at the upside: I'm your needy little baby, hubby."

"How is that the upside?" Jimin points out and grins when Jungkook squeezes his side in retaliation. 

"Don't be mean, Jiminie. Secretly you do want to come, but your inner ahjumma is holding you back which is why as your husband, it's my duty to save you from dying from sexual starvation."

"Oh yeah? Whatcha gonna do, hubby?" Jimin challenges, and just like that, the atmosphere changes from playful to prurient. 

Jungkook alters his position so that now his leg is between Jimin's, slowly moving it in place while very deliberately brushing against Jimin's groin, caging him against the bed. 

Jimin's eyes fly open. 

"You bastard," he wheezes, willing himself not to get aroused. 

Jungkook snickers evilly. "I'm all ready and willing to play dirty just to get you to come with me," he says, and Jimin groans at his purposely poorly chosen words. "Either come with me or suffer the consequences." 

Jimin glares at him. "I will get you back for this." 

"I sure hope you will. It'd be selfish to never give and only receive," Jungkook claims, and he runs before Jimin can smack him. 

The first thing Jimin and Jungkook see outside the warehouse where the party is held at is a girl dressed up as a pumpkin throwing up and her friend, John Lennon, holding her hair all the while calling a cab for her and it is only nine in the evening. 

Jimin nods to himself. "This is a Brooklyn party, all right." 

"Don't knock it 'til you try it."

"I have tried it. I've spent three Halloweens in Brooklyn. I live in Brooklyn. I know all about Brooklyn parties."

"But have you been to a Halloween rave before?"

"You brought me to a rave? Duuuuude," Jimin complains and turns on his heels to leave before they even reach the warehouse door. 

Jungkook pulls him back. "Easy, babe. There's a haunted house, too. At the very least check it out, please."

"Okay then. Let us mingle, hubby. Meet back here later," Jimin suggests as he makes his way toward the line for the bar.   

"Deal." 

Soon enough Jungkook wishes they had stayed together when he spots a familiar face and what's more, when said familiar face spots him.

"Hey Jungkook," Becca greets him, and as always, horribly mispronouncing his name despite hearing time and time again other people saying it in a correct way. Becca over enunciates the letters, making his name sound more like freaking 'Tsungkuk' than Jungkook and he hates it. He'd prefer that she didn't call out to him in the first place, but it's definitely worse when she says his name wrong.

This time it seems that she has been drinking on top of everything else, and she slurs his name a bit more.

Jungkook grinds his teeth.

"What are you doing after this party? I'm thinking, you, me and a bottle of whipped cream," she says in a voice that is probably meant to be seductive, but it does nothing to Jungkook.

"Becca. I told you I'm not interested. As a matter of fact, I'm here with someone."

"Oh really? Where is she?" Becca challenges with the most condescending look on her round face, and Jungkook hates her more than he has ever hated anyone before. 

"He is around here... somewhere," Jungkook claims, wildly glancing around for Jimin to randomly appear next to him like he has a habit of doing when he notices Jungkook in a tight spot.  

Becca laughs obnoxiously loudly. "Sure he is. And what exactly does he look like?"

Now Jungkook digs out his phone, ready to present as evidence the selfie he and Jimin took the previous weekend and that he set as his phone's background for precisely questions like this. 

Becca peaks at the photo. "That just looks like two friends," she claims, and Jungkook can't believe he is having this discussion with someone so educated and well-read. How can she be so dense?

"Do friends do this?"

And with that, Jungkook is spun around and kissed so deeply that it has his knees buckling. He smiles into the kiss. Jimin came through after all.

Jimin tastes like vodka and cherry cola so Jungkook blames the drunken hazy feeling spreading in his brain on him. He is not as stunned as he was before and is able to respond well (and very enthusiastically), but still Jimin's kisses are unlike anyone else's, and he isn't quite sure why that is. Maybe because he is a great kisser? Because he seeems to know exactly how to touch Jungkook without being told? In any case, he is enchanted. 

Finally stopping from trying to consume Jungkook's lips, Jimin turns to smirk at Becca. "You were saying?" 

Becca scowls at him, taking a step back. "You're disgusting."

Jimin smiles brightly to her face, so brightly that Jungkook tightens his hold on Jimin's waist, so he won't do anything stupid like throw his drink square in Becca Blitz's face. "Sorry, bitch. He is taken and you are just going to have to get over it," Jimin states gleefully. 

Becca walks off with one last murderous glare that both Jimin and Jungkook ignore in favor of greeting one another. 

Jimin smiles up at Jungkook as he turns to look at him and leaning further against his body. "Hey, hubby."

"Hey. You really went all out, huh?"

"She pissed me off. Was it too much?" Jimin worries then. Maybe he had gone too far?

Jungkook laughs and shakes his head. "She should piss you off more."

Jimin giggles and smacks his ass before wandering off again. He heads into the haunted house alone, but as soon as he walks inside, he wishes he had asked Jungkook to come with him. 

It's scary, to say the least, and as much as Jimin likes to act like he is fearless, in reality he is bit of scaredy cat. Not that he'd ever admit it, but he can only deal with scary things when he is around Jungkook for two reasons. One, he can't show weakness to Jungkook or he'd risk being mocked until kingdom come. Two, he is certain that Jungkook could beat up all and any ghosts, monsters and murderers attempting to kill them in their sleep. 

Jimin's pride doesn't allow for him to back right out of the haunted house, so he toughens up. He is doing okay (if maybe a bit squeaky) until he enters a maze full of mirrors. He walks until he finds that he has trapped himself in a cul-de-sac and looks up from his feet he has rather adamantly stared at all through the haunted house to avoid being spooked.  

There is a face in the mirror, a disturbance in the Force. Just as he is about to scream he realizes that it's a familiar face, sad eyes heavily colored with dark eyeliner and his currently light-colored hair styled up according to the latest trend that he himself probably started.  

"Jimin-ah..." the newcomer calls out in a quiet voice. 

"Nope," Jimin replies curtly. "Nope."

And pushes his way between two teens making out against the mirror on his left to get away from one Buyn Baekhyun.  

Jungkook doesn't see Jimin again until an hour later when he tries to just walk past him with a brief 'see you at home'.

He catches Jimin by his forearm which makes the sexy doctor he is currently flirting with raise a brow.

"Jiminie hyung, where are you going?" he asks in Korean because he doesn't want the doctor to understand them. He and Jimin usually try to keep their speech in English while around other people, but they always speak Korean when they are alone.

Jimin gives him a slight smile. "I'm not feeling well. Too much alcohol, too little food. You know how it is. I'll see you later."

"Jiminie..." he speaks without honorifics because there is no Koreans near and thus he can't be called out for using informal language with someone older than him. 

"You speak Chinese. That's so cool!" the doctor cheers in ignorance. Jungkook just sighs in response and chases after Jimin who is disappearing into the crowd. 

He sees Jimin jump into a cab and drive away right as he is about to reach him. That confirms Jimin's state of mind since he hardly ever takes a cab, always choosing public transportation or even walking instead.

Unless he needs to make a speedy exit.

Someone rushes out there just then, looking around as if searching for something. Jungkook routinely checks who it is and smiles when he recognizes the newcomer. 

It's Jimin's roommate Baekhyun. He smiles and gives Jungkook a hug. "Jungkook-ah, hey. Happy Halloween." 

"Hyung, how are you?" Jungkook greets back, quickly switching back to formal Korean. Baekhyun is older than both him and Jimin and a lot less lenient in allowing informal speech. Most Koreans are, Jungkook and his friends are a big exception to the rule. 

"Good, good... So, uh, is Jimin here? I thought I saw him with you earlier," Baekhyun hesitantly asks. 

"No, he just left. Said that he wasn't feeling well." 

Baekhyun nods to himself, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "More like he saw me and didn't want to deal with me." 

"What even happened between you two? Why isn't he living with you anymore? You used to adore him," Jungkook can't help but pry when an opportunity presents itself. 

Baekhyun offers him a small sad smile. "I still do. Jimin... Jimin is the sweetest person I know." 

"So what did you do that drove him to live with me?" 

Baekhyun is slightly thrown off by Jungkook's directness. "I, uh, I... Well, remember Chanyeol?" he splutters. 

Jungkook's brows rise. Oh no. "Jimin hyung's ex?"

Baekhyun nods, his eyes downcast. "Yeah... I kind of... fell for him." 

"You stole his boyfriend?" Jungkook asks point-blank. No wonder Jimin has been so weird lately. 

Baekhyun gives Jungkook a little smack on the arm for thinking such a thing about him.

"No, of course not! Nothing happened while they dated. But few months after they broke up I ran into Chanyeol and we got to talking because we had gotten pretty close while he still dated Jiminie. And, well..." his voice fades away and he looks ashamed. 

Jungkook feels a little bad for him, especially now that he knows that Baekhyun hasn't broken Jimin's heart by cheating with his boyfriend. "Does Jimin hyung know all this?" 

Baekhyun shakes his head. "No. He won't let me explain. He kind of... walked in on us and hasn't spoken to me since," he confesses and Jungkook grimaces. A lot of things are now starting to make sense to him like how Jimin didn't want to come out since the party was in his old neighborhood: he didn't want to run into Baekhyun. 

"Hyung hasn't told me any of this." 

Baekhyun shrugs. "You know how he is. He likes to deal with things on his own." 

"Yeah, I guess that's true." 

"Could you please tell him to call me?" the older man pleas. 

"Ah, hyung..." Jungkook starts, feeling uncomfortable to be put in the middle of someone else's fight. 

"Nothing else, I promise, okay?" Baekhyun hurries to explain. His eyes look so dark and sad. "I just want him to know that I'm sorry." 

Jungkook nods. "I'll tell him. But I can't promise he'll still want to talk to you." 

"That's okay. He needs to calm down first." 

Then Chanyeol starts walking their way with Baekhyun's drink, and Jungkook needs to keep moving. He may understand Baekhyun's reasoning, but the thing is that with all probability Chanyeol still broke Jimin's heart, and Jungkook doesn't think he could act friendly with someone who had Jimin and was stupid enough to let him go and even fall for someone else. 

How on earth couldn't Chanyeol see how lucky he was? 

"Let me give you a physical," the drunken doctor slurs to him, appearing out of nowhere just as Jungkook is about to leave the party. 

Jungkook shakes his head. "Not tonight, Doc," he denies. He has got someone much more important on his mind. 

Jimin is sulking on the sofa by the time Jungkook reaches the apartment. He barely responds when Jungkook walks in, his full attention on the very same drama. This time Jungkook understands the meaning behind the choice, realizes why Jimin has resorted to his old favorite show to keep his temper in check.

"I ran into Baekhyun hyung. He wishes you'd call him," Jungkook starts off. He doesn't see the benefit of calming Jimin down before questioning his past actions; in fact, he is certain that as soon as Jimin calms down, he'll shut down again. 

Jimin huffs. "I bet he does." 

"Don't you think you should?" Jungkook questions quietly. He has known Baekhyun for two years, and he is absolutely certain that Baekhyun would never set out to hurt Jimin. Usually Baekhyun made others hurt if they even dared to think about causing Jimin any harm. 

"Babe, I love that you're concerning yourself with this, but you don't even know what happened," Jimin replies with a fake smile that Jungkook can see right through. 

"Baekhyun hyung told me." 

"Of course he did. That boy can't keep his mouth shut any more than he can keep his legs crossed," Jimin mutters, bitterness oozing off of every syllable. 

"He sounded really sad, Min." 

"I don't care if he is sad, Jungkook. You don't lie to the people you love, and from what I've heard Baekhyun has been lying to me for over six months." 

"Don't you feel bad for him?" 

Jimin shoots him a sharp look. "Jungkook, whose side are you on?" 

"There are no sid— yours, yours, yours!" he exclaims when Jimin pinches his underarm, tightening and tightening the hold of his skinny fingers on Jungkook's sensitive skin until he caves in. 

"That's what I thought. I'm not ready to forgive him. He has made me question whether we were ever really friends at all, and it's breaking my heart." 

"Don't you think you should hear him out?" 

Jimin shakes his head. "No. If I see Baekhyun I'll forgive him instantly because I can't stand to see him unhappy, and if I did forgive him just like that I'd never forgive myself for being such a pushover." 

"You're not a pushover, hyung." 

"Not usually," Jimin agrees and sighs. "But Byun Baekhyun gets under my skin in a way that only very few people can." 

"Okay. Fuck him then. Margaritas?" Jungkook offers and waves the jug in his hand. 

Jimin bursts out laughing. "Margaritas," he agrees in the middle of his giggles.

Jungkook brings out the bottle of tequila and Jimin ransacks the fridge for lime juice. They play poker and drink margaritas until they feel sick just looking at the margarita jug. It's nice and careless, everything that Jungkook promised the night to be albeit he didn't mean for their night to end with just the two of them at home goofing around like two idiots but it still serves the purpose to cheer Jimin up. 

They play poker and crack ridiculous jokes and eventually fall asleep on the couch again which is not any better for their spines now than it was the last time they did it. 

"So we hear that congratulations are in order," Yoongi states as he settles onto the large grey sofa in Jungkook's living room. 

Taehyung nods. "Yeah, although I'm a little hurt that I didn't even get an invitation despite supposedly being best friends with the both of you," he complains very convincingly.  

Jimin and Jungkook both groan loudly and glance at one another as if to say: how are we going to get out of this one?

"I thought we were friends and then you guys go and get married and get separated and then move back in together, all this without breathing a word to me," Hoseok chimes and then fakes tears. 

Seokjin delivers the final blow. "How could you even consider a divorce? You need to think about the children!" he cries out, and Namjoon almost chuckles but catches himself on the last minute, so he can pretend to be upset too. 

"Okay, so, listen..." Jungkook starts to say and Jimin looks away, wanting nothing to do with this confession since he is very aware of how stupid their arrangement is. "We just said that to get rid of some weirdo who wouldn't leave my apartment and now he is taking revenge by making sure everyone knows that I'm a married man."

"No need to make excuses, Kook. I totally ship it," Hoseok announces mischievously and pats both of their heads rather hard. 

Jungkook huffs. "Oh, fuck off. I just need to lay low for a while and let it all blow over." 

"You just like having someone cooking for you and washing your laundry," Taehyung teases. "Mr. and Mr. Jeon."

The words somehow rub Jungkook the wrong way although he isn't quite sure why. Still, he punches Taehyung's shoulder a bit harder than need be before walking off to get another beer. 

The next week Jungkook is heading home after a rather painful study group meeting with Becca Blitz. He is in a terrible mood: deterred from the amount of school work he'll have to do and exhausted from having his sexuality and relationship disrespected whenever there was even half a chance. Sure, it's not a real relationship, but it very well could be, and Jungkook is tired of playing deaf to all the ignorant not to mention insulting remarks that Becca keeps making. He tries to tell himself that he only has to deal with Becca for few more weeks until their group project is due, but he is so beaten down that the usual peptalk doesn't seem to be working anymore. 

He opens the apartment door and is immediately greeted by a warmth that never was there before. The photographs alone that they hung on the walls bring forth a sense of happiness that is hard to define. His apartment is no longer just a space with walls and a roof, it's a home that seems to embrace him as soon as he steps over the threshold. 

The apartment is clean, Jimin must have guilty-cleaned like he tends to do to avoid talking like they should. He doesn't want to address the weirdness that has been surrounding them ever since their friends's visit. There is also a basket full of dry clothes, so Jimin has done laundry too. He must be feeling extra awkward. 

Jimin himself is currently trying to outsing the radio while doing dishes that didn't fit in the washing machine. The white T-shirt he is wearing is already littered with wet splashes, and Jungkook can picture him focusing so hard on his singing that he hasn't even noticed the wet shirt. 

But Jungkook certainly has and he can't tear his eyes away, can't stop staring at the places where the clammy T-shirt clings to Jimin's skin, revealing each muscle on Jimin's upper body.

Jungkook's throat goes dry and he nearly jumps out of his skin when a pot of food on the stove lets out a hiss. 

And that's when Jungkook realizes that he is going to miss Jimin like hell if he ever finds a new place. 

Jimin turns around just then and notices him standing on the doorstep. "Oh hey, I didn’t hear you come in. You hungry? My class ended early, so I made kimbap and some other dishes." 

Jungkook doesn't reply, he just stares at him blankly. Jimin looks at him in curiosity. "Jungkook, what is it?" 

"It’s just… that’s my shirt", Jungkook somehow manages to answer although it feels as if though his tongue has turned into cotton. 

Jimin frowns. "So? You wore my hoodie last week. And you have practically stolen all my rings."

He is not wrong. And it's definitely not the first time Jimin has worn his clothes and he never said anything about it. "Yeah, I mean… but it’s just…" he struggles to find the words. 

"It’s just what?" Jimin asks, growing impatient.

"That’s my favorite shirt," Jungkook claims, and Jimin snorts incredulously. 

"What? You have like 50 identical white T-shirts. How is this your favorite?" he demands to know and pulls at the white fabric, only drawing Jungkook's attention back to his body.  

He gulps and tries to gather his thoughts enough to form even a somewhat coherent counter argument. "They’re not identical!"

"They’re all white T-shirts! How exactly are they different?"

"They are from different places! And one of them has a blue stitching!" 

"Okay, fuck, I’ll take it off!" Jimin exclaims in frustration and makes a move to take off the shirt, but Jungkook is quick to stop him. Shirtless Jimin just might be too much for him to handle.

Jimin looks at him funny. "Which is it? You don’t want me to wear it or you don’t want me to take it off? What do you want me to do?”

Jungkook shakes his head. “Nothing. It’s… nothing. Forget I said anything." 

"Jungkook," Jimin calls out, looking for an explanation, but Jungkook deliberately ignores him and goes to the game room. Jimin huffs in annoyance, but decides to let it go for now. He figures that Jungkook has just had a long day. 

Until it happens again the next day, this time over Jimin using the last of their milk supply. Again Jimin lets him rant in the hopes he might slip out what he's actually angry about. 

But then he flips over Jimin's socks on the floor. 

Now Jimin loses it. "Jungkook, what is it?" he yells. "What's wrong?" 

"Nothing is—"

There is fire in Jimin's otherwise kind eyes. "Don't you dare say nothing is wrong when you are constantly picking petty fights," he nearly growls, and Jungkook backs down even if only slightly, relying on semantics. 

"Is it picking fights if I'm simply reminding you that—" 

Jimin is not having it. "Cut the crap. We've known each other for almost five years, don't you think I can tell when you've got something on your mind?" 

Jungkook picks up a paper and starts reading out loud apartments that are for rent. "Oh look, there is this great one bedroom apartment available right away in Bed-Stuy. And there is another one available in Park Slope." 

Jimin stares at him, seething in silence. He can't very well argue back since he should have been looking for an apartment all along. And he has meant to do just that; he has just been having so much fun with Jungkook that it sort of slipped his mind. 

"You want me to go? Is that what all this is about?" he asks with a voice that has been forced steady and calm. Most people would never notice it, but Jungkook knows Jimin well. Too well. 

"This was always supposed to be a temporary solution," Jungkook replies icily, reiterating something he has been trying to tell himself ever since he realized that he didn't want Jimin to leave.   

Jimin stays silent for a long time before nodding. "As you wish," he says quietly before walking out of the door and Jungkook's heart drops to the floor, crashing like a snow globe despite everything he has done to try and keep it intact. 

That night when Jimin finally returns to the apartment, Jungkook is still awake. Like he could sleep when his mind won't leave Jimin's side, conjuring up more and more horrible images of what he might be doing now that he is furious at Jungkook and alone somewhere in New York City on a Friday night. 

When the key turns in the lock, Jungkook lets out a long panic-ridden sigh he didn't know he was holding. He came back. 

"Jimin," he calls out as soon as the boy in question steps inside, shedding his coat. 

"Hey." Jimin is quiet for a moment before adding, "I thought you'd be sleeping already." 

"Couldn't sleep."

"So, listen... I talked to a few friends today, and one of them has a place where I can stay for a few days. I'll leave in the morning if that's cool with you." 

Jungkook stands up. "No, Jiminie, don't go. I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it." 

Jimin shakes his head. The night out of the apartment has given him a lot of time to think about their fight. "No, you were right." 

"I wasn't. It's just been a weird week, and yesterday was plain horrible. I'm really sorry for taking it out on you." 

"Yeah, me too," Jimin says as he slumps down on the couch. 

"Look, I found us a song to commemorate our first fight." 

Jimin rolls his eyes. "This was so not our first fight." 

"No, our first fight as fake husbands. God, Min, keep up," Jungkook scolds playfully. 

Jimin laughs out loud when Jungkook plays 'Un-Break My Heart' on his phone he quickly plugs into the speaker, thus allowing the song to softly play at a pleasant volume that at the same time sounds like the singer is whispering into their ears but not disturbing their conversation. 

Jungkook then offers his hand to Jimin to take, so they could dance together, but Jimin refuses, laughing at the silly gesture. 

Jungkook shoots Jimin a pleading look. "Please. It's Christmas." 

"It's November 6th, Jungkook," Jimin dead-pans.  

"Minie..." Jungkook muses and reaches for Jimin's hand whom doesn't try to stop him and allows Jungkook to entwine their fingers. Jungkook pulls him to his feet, beginning to sway alongside him. 

The apartment is quiet, bathing in the dim light of the crescent moon. New York never sleeps, but in that moment, they can almost delude themselves into thinking it just might, for them, close one eye. 

Another song plays, but they pay no mind to the change, only focusing on the relaxed atmosphere and taking comfort in each other's presence. 

This is nice, Jimin thinks in a somewhat haze caused by the moonlight and the mere oddness of this little moment they are having. There is some strange poetic beauty in sharing a romantic midnight dance with such a notorious heartbreaker. 

The same haze is clouding Jungkook's mind as he leans into Jimin's neck, allowing his warm breath to tickle the delicate skin there.

"Stop that," Jimin murmurs. 

Jungkook smiles into his neck. "Stop what?" he asks, playing dumb. 

Jimin doesn't reply in words. He simply leans in and kisses him. The kiss is different from the ones they've shared before in their relationship that has for a long time teetered between friendly and romantic. It's not a greeting kiss, it is not a good luck kiss nor is it a prank. When Jimin kisses him, Jungkook's lips feel as if they have been burned, attacked in the gentlest way possible and this time it's him who has trouble functioning. 

Jimin curses under his breath. "This is a bad idea," he says and pulls away. He walks into the game room, and it's clear that Jungkook is sleeping alone that night.  

And then the next morning he also wakes up alone, only to find all of Jimin's belongings gone and his key neatly sitting on the coffee table, and he realizes with the burning sense of something angry and broken and painful in his chest that just like before, Jimin never promised. 

He never promised not to leave. 

...

Chapter Text

November is wooing December with constant bouts of snow. Howling wind keeps Jungkook company in his ivory tower while on the other side of New York City snowflakes keep peppering Jimin's skin with freezing kisses as he trudges through the snow, wishing he still had Jungkook's car to drive himself around with.

But it's not really the car he misses. 

They haven't spoken in almost two weeks, and Jimin is jumping up the walls even though the silence is his own fault since he is the one who has been avoiding Jungkook. He doesn't know what to say. Everything feels weird and annoying and wrong, so he pushes it out of his head, refusing to recognize the irony of the situation. Jungkook was supposed to be his hideout from Baekhyun, but now he is on the run again, this time hiding out in Seokjin's tiny apartment.

Little does Jimin know that he'll be having to think of something to say very quickly and very soon.

Splat! Something cold and white hits his head, dripping down his nose.

Jimin stops walking and glares at the approaching boy. "What did you do that for?" he queries, but in all fairness, he already knows what this is about.

Jungkook glares right back. "Why haven’t you responded to any of my texts."

It's not a question, it's a demand. Jimin sighs. Here we go. He had a feeling avoiding Jungkook wouldn't be that easy, and looking into the younger boy's dark angry eyes, he suddenly feels nervous. 

"I’ve been busy," Jimin claims, faking nonchalance.

Jungkook arches a brow; it's a skill that Jimin envies. He has always wished he could only raise one eyebrow, add a little charisma to his cute face. "Too busy for your friends? Even those who gave you a roof over your head?" he questions, and Jimin tries to fight off the guilt reeling at the pit of his stomach.

Jimin sighs. "Look, I’m sorry, okay? School has been crazy because the year is ending."

"You don’t have to tell me. I’ve had four tests and two group projects due only this week. But I still managed to respond to texts," Jungkook acknowledges in a rather snarky tone.

The older boy puts up his hands in defeat. "Fine, I’m a shitty friend. I’m sorry."

"Stop saying that. Where have you been? Who do you live with?" Jungkook interrogates, ignoring Jimin's excuses.

"Seokjin hyung."

"Is this about… earlier?" he asks then, rare sign of hesitation in his voice. 

"No, of course not. Why would you ever think that? Nothing even happened earlier," Jimin answers a little too quickly.

Jungkook won't let him escape his intrusive eyes: he makes sure to maintain eye contact the entire time he is speaking.

"You kissed me, then told me it was a bad idea, ran out of my apartment the next morning and didn’t talk to me for two weeks. I think it’s a fair assumption that it might have caused you to retreat," he iterates in a haughty tone. 

"Well, it isn’t because it wasn’t. But now I really must go. See you," Jimin replies in a rather complicated manner and tries to hurry off again, but he doesn't get very far.

A hand clasps around his wrist. "No, wait. Dinner tonight?" Jungkook suggests, and Jimin wants to both agree and disagree. He has never liked confusion, and right now being near Jungkook is too much for his heart. 

"I’m busy…" Jimin begins to allude, but it's clear that Jungkook didn't seek him out to lose sight of him again.

"Lunch? Breakfast? Brunch? Dinner? Come on, pick one," he encourages.

Jimin can see that Jungkook isn't giving up, so he agrees. "Fine. I can do brunch tomorrow after my lecture. Eleven, at Mitchell’s."

"I’ll see you there."

The next morning Jimin arrives early at Mitchell's, but Jungkook is already there, waiting for him in front of the restaurant. After exchanging curt and awkward hello's they walk inside to their favorite brunch place. They're recognized by the owner and stopped as soon as they walk in. The owner speaks to them for a very long time in Polish, sounding delighted, so they just smile and nod, hoping he said something nice.

Jungkook and Jimin then find themselves a table in the peaceful corner next to the large windows. They leave their belongings at the table, not worried about anyone taking them since no one is sitting in the tables next to them and the food cart is very near to their table, so they can keep an eye on their stuff. They wordlessly gather food on their plates and then meet back at the table like so many times before.

They eat in silence, and it's only after they have both gotten food a few times more that Jimin speaks up.

"So how have you been?" he asks, trying to sound casual.

"Come home, Minie," Jungkook asks straight away, catching Jimin off-guard. It's the way he said it, as if there were springs in his tongue and the words had just been sitting in his mouth waiting to be launched. Like he couldn't hold them in any longer.

Jimin swallows. "I... can't."

Jungkook isn't going down without a fight. "Why not?"

"Because."

"Because of what?" Jungkook demands.

Jimin isn't ready to answer that question yet. "Just no. I know it's a new word for you, but try to cope, okay?" he sasses and attempts a smile that Jungkook doesn't return.

"Or you could just say yes. I know it's a new word for you, but just try, okay?" he shoots back. 

Jimin huffs. "Cute."

"I know I am. But come on, don't you want to come back? It has to be cramped at Seokjin's with Namjoon and his mom visiting and everything?" Jungkook persuades, and Jimin doesn't want to give in so easily, but in reality, he desires nothing more than to return to Jungkook. To pick up where they left off, to live with him again. It doesn't feel safe, however, since his own heart isn't to be trusted around the younger boy.

"Yeah, but..." he tries to argue, but he forgets what his argument was.

"Dongsaeng loves you the most, Jiminie. You know that, don't you, my precious lovely handsome friend? Such a pretty baby, I love you so, so, so much," Jungkook says suddenly in his aegyo voice that has crumbled Jimin's resistance too many times before.

Jimin giggles out of sheer surprise. "I can't believe you memorized it," he protests.

"Of course I did. How else was I supposed to seduce you into coming home with me?" his opponent, best friend and occasional love interest admits, leaning closer.

Jimin pulls back, acting like he isn't affected by Jungkook's words. "Ha ha, Jungpuke. Since when has international playboy had to steal lines from others to seal the deal?"

"Since you came along. None of my material works on you, so I was hoping you wouldn't have your guard up against your own cheesy lines," Jungkook replies earnestly, and it seems as if he has no idea of the thunderstorm his words set off in Jimin's chest. 

Jimin's ears are burning. "You're unbelievable."

"Come home", Jungkook asks again, his voice even more pleading now.

Jimin looks away.

Jungkook takes a hold of his hands and squeezes to regain his attention. As if he ever lost it.

"Say 'I do'," he coaxes, and Jimin giggles, giving up. It was never a fair fight, anyway, since he loves living with Jungkook, and it is really cramped at Seokjin's apartment.

"Okay. I do," he agrees, and Jungkook bursts into a radiant smile. "I do, I do, I do, I do, I do."

The waitress walking past their table squeals at his words. "Oh my God, they are getting engaged! Elise, get the camera!"

"Oh, no, I was just singing..." Jimin tries to explain, but he gets rudely interrupted.

Jungkook stands up and cheers. "He said yes!" he says faking happy tears, and the waitresses scream and hug him, drowning him in congratulations while one of them brings out a camera as big as Jimin's head.

Jimin can only shake his head. Jungkook is so fucking extra.

After eating their meals on the house in addition to the celebratory cake and some pancakes the chef at the restaurant insisted on baking just for them, Jimin and Jungkook make their way back to the apartment, very full but also very happy. They left the restaurant holding hands to keep up appearances, and they just never let go. Not while walking through the town, not while sitting in the subway and still not letting go as they arrive at the lobby of Jungkook's building. They talk and laugh a lot, but neither one of them bring up their hands holding onto one another so tightly. It feels scary to question it, wrong to think anything more of it. It's just Jungkook and Jimin, Jimin and Jungkook, like it always has been. 

Al's face brightens significantly as he sees two of them instead of one, and a smile spreads across his face as he notices their entwined fingers.

"Hey, Jimin, good to have you back. This one has been brooding nonstop since you left," he instantly tells on Jungkook, making Jimin laugh.

Jungkook blushes. "What are you talking about?" he mutters as if he doesn't already know.

"Every morning when he left for school his face was like a thunderstorm, ready to strike anyone down had they tried to talk to him. Thankfully nobody did, but Mrs. Applebee made the mistake of smiling to him once," Al mentions and shudders dramatically. 

"You're exaggerating. How do you know I wasn't just pissed about being awake so early?"

"Noon is hardly early, Jeon Jungkook. And you forget that I work afternoons too. I saw you then too and you looked even angrier. Besides my co-worker noticed it too. She calls you Heartbreakskater. Or Feels On Wheels when you were driving and not taking the subway."

Jimin frowns, and Jungkook is quick to correct Al, "I wasn't heartbroken. I was angry at Jimin."

Just then the elevator dings, and Jimin is pulled rather swiftly inside it. 

"You were angry at me? I just went to Seokjin's like I always was supposed to," he points out then, and Jungkook is pleased they are alone for this conversation they have been trying to avoid because he doesn't want Al gossiping their business to the entire building. 

"Without saying a word!" he argues back in a hushed tone. 

"I left you a note!"

Jungkook's laughter is downright mocking. "Yeah, a note that said 'sayonara sucker, I got me a new sugar daddy.'"

Jimin huffs. "That is so not what it said."

In reality, Jimin had left a perfectly polite and overly perky note where he had thanked Jungkook for his hospitability and explained that he was going to stay with another friend. Jungkook had only read it once before crumpling the paper and tossing it into the bin, but each word was engraved in his mind. 

"So I paraphrased a little."

"A little?!"

Surprisingly, Jungkook is the first one to raise the white flag. "Let's not fight. I was angry because you left so abruptly and over something that... I was just confused." 

Jimin nods, squeezing Jungkook's hand. "I know. I'm sorry I left like that. I just needed... space." 

"And you went to Seokjin's? His apartment is the size of a shoe box even without the extra guests," Jungkook jokes, happy to have avoided a full-blown argument. 

"I couldn't go to Tae, he has been watching too many dramas where the boy from the other side of the tracks falls for the pretty girl from a good family. He keeps asking me if we are dating already," Jimin says and rolls his eyes. 

Jungkook laughs. "Yeah. Psycho Becca has been on my case since she noticed that I don't drive you to school anymore."

"We need to square things with that freak. Once and for all. Either she leaves you alone or we'll start making out every morning in front of her every class," Jimin plots, picturing Becca's signature condescending look on her face and clenches his teeth. 

Jungkook's thoughts take him on an entirely different route. "You can't handle making out with me. One real kiss and you ran," he teases. 

"It wasn't because of—" Jimin protests, but he gets interrupted. 

"Sure, it wasn't," Jungkook says very smugly, making Jimin narrow his eyes at him before lunging at him, taking him by surprise.  

Jimin catches a hold of Jungkook's coat and pushes him against the elevator wall, kissing him. Jungkook expects his lips to feel rough and hasty, but they are soft yet very intoxicating. Every kiss has his head spinning faster and then a little faster, as if his feet are glued to a merry-go-around. 

"Welcome home," Jungkook pants slightly as Jimin steps back, allowing him to breathe right again.  

Jimin smirks. "It's good to be back," he replies. "And hey, I bet your neighbors appreciate my return too if it means that they no longer have to fear meeting eyes with you." 

Jungkook rolls his eyes. "He exaggerated," he protests. 

"Still... good to know you missed me, Feels on Wheels," Jimin teases, and Jungkook groans, pushing Jimin away as he walks up to his apartment door.

At first, it seems as though they are easing into their old routine rather well, especially now that Jimin no longer has to play the jealous lover. But Jimin comes to notice that there is a change, a shift in balance between them.

The nature of said shift suddenly becomes crystal clear to him one Tuesday afternoon when he is hanging up Christmas decorations. He had bought them the previous weekend since much to his abhorrence, Jungkook didn't have any.

He at first meant to wait until Jungkook came home to fix the obvious height issue, but when Jungkook texts that he is coming home late, he decided to screw it and hang them himself, even if he'd have to put two chairs on top of one another to reach the stupid high ceilings of Jungkook's ridiculously lavish apartment.  

Currently he is placing candles on every surface possible. He is also trying to figure where to put the three Christmas wreaths he bought simply because he could not decide which of them he liked best. His hand pauses on top of the mistletoe he has yet to unwrap because he can't decide whether it's lame or cute. 

He hums as he works, trying to get into the Christmas mood despite it only being the end of November. 

"You better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout

I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town."

"That's such a creepy song."

Jimin straightens his pose so quickly he nearly bounces through the ceiling. "Jesus! Would you give fella a lil warning before you come in!"

Jungkook smirks. "I always give a warning before I come," he insinuates and hops back just in time to avoid Jimin's hand reaching for his head.

"What are you doing home so early? I thought you had a thing."

"I did, but I blew it off," Jungkook replies, shrugging off his coat and placing it on one of the hangers that Jimin bought after getting annoyed with always having to put his coat on a nail in the wall with six other coats already hanging there, causing all of the coats to subsequently fall down. Jungkook had insisted that he absolutely did not need more hangers than four, so Jimin is amused to see him use one. 

"Why?"

"What's with the third degree? Can't I want to come home earlier than usual? It's my apartment, after all. What, you were planning an orgy while I was away?" Jungkook says a little more snappily than usual. 

"Actually, yeah, so if you wouldn't mind..." Jimin jokes making a motion at Jungkook to head on back out of the apartment which makes Jungkook's expression darken and Jimin's smile brighten. 

"I'm kidding, Kookie, damn. You know you're the only man in my life," he promises amenably and blows Jungkook a kiss that the younger boy doesn't bother to catch. 

"Save for all your friends and your professors and people on the streets randomly coming to ask your number..." Jungkook lists with a thinly veiled dismay. 

Jimin sighs. "That happened like twice—"

"—four times, but who's counting—"

"And both those times they were just some old creeps."

"One of them was that med student you crushed on all through last year!" Jungkook protests. He had been trying not to bring it up, but it has been bugging him for three days, and he can't hold it in anymore. The guy was really tall and muscular, exactly Jimin's type, and Jungkook swears he almost broke two ribs by resisting his arm's desire to push the guy away and pull Jimin closer to himself. 

Jimin, none the wiser of Jungkook's thoughts or internal struggles, nods. "Exactly. Old news. I'm looking for someone new."

"You are?" Jungkook asks with a straight face, but with a trepidation in his heart. 

"Yeah. I think you were onto something when you said that I never do anything fun. I should start putting myself more out there again, stop being so guarded," Jimin ponders, walking into the kitchen next with a lap full of Christmas ribbons that he is about hang there. 

"No, wait..." Jungkook mumbles, not sure how his sentence would end since he didn't mean to say it out loud. Jungkook tries to find something to say as Jimin floods his apartment with Christmas, but he comes up blank. He is too distracted by Jimin's bright smile as he hangs the decorations and hums along to the carols on the radio. 

The Christmas decorating maniac goes to the bathroom next, Jungkook in tow and reveals the Christmas tree that he left waiting for a placement there. 

Jungkook lets out a whistle as he sees the size of the tree. "How on earth did you get that thing into the apartment?"

"Oh, some guy Nick at the desk downstairs helped me out," Jimin replies nonchalantly, attempting to pick the tree up only to get stang by the tree's needles despite the neat packet the salesman had wrapped the tall tree in. He glares at the tree and tries again, this time braving the stings and almost manages to move it, but then his grip slips again. 

He curses wildly. 

Jungkook's thoughts are still on yet another guy buzzing around Jimin. His brain is still processing what Jimin had just said, jamming on three words especially. 

sOmE gUy NiCk. 

"Great," he says through gritted teeth, picks up the tree and carries it into the living room like it's nothing. He doesn't act like he even hears Jimin's pleas to help him, he only stops once he reaches the living room.  

"Where do you want it?" he grunts then. 

Jimin realizes that Jungkook will not explain to him what this was about, so he follows the flow and drops the subject. "Near the window, but more in to the corner, so it won't be in direct light," he advises, and Jungkook complies, easily following the less than clear instructions. 

"That's perfect. Thanks, babe," Jimin compliments, and Jungkook almost smiles, but the whole other guys thing still bugs him even though it shouldn't.

After all, the reason why Jimin moved in before was because of Jungkook's other guys, so he really has no business being jealous. Yet that's exactly what he is since the heart rarely listens to the brain when it comes to what a person should be feeling. All he can hope for is that Jimin won't notice his annoyance.  

Of course just then Jimin inquires: "What is it?"

Jungkook stares into his friend's worried eyes and prepares to act dumb, as if nothing is wrong.

"I don't like it when you hang around random guys," comes out instead. It's not really his fault: he is used to telling Jimin most everything. With all the tension that has been in the air lately, it's a wonder he hasn't blurted out something equally dumb earlier.

Silence falls, and Jungkook rushes to break it before it gets incredibly awkward. "Sorry. That was such a stupid thing to say." 

"What random guys?" Jimin asks, and Jungkook can't read him at all, can't tell if he is angry, disappointed, annoyed, or amused. 

"Never mind."

"Are you jealous?" Jimin asks then, his eyes disappearing as always when he is trying to hide a smile. 

Jungkook's cheeks are scorching. "No," he grumbles.  

"Really? So if I were to walk downstairs right now and ask Nick out you'd be cool with it?" Jimin challenges, and he knows, he knows, how his words make Jungkook's heart skip a beat. 

He still tries to play it cool, forcing a stiff smile on his face, even if it tastes like rust on his lips. "O-of course." 

True to his word, Jimin turns to walk out, and Jungkook curses in his mind, knowing full well that Jimin will win this round too. 

He doesn't say anything, he just places a firm arm around Jimin's waist, effectively keeping him in place and consequently confirming what Jimin had already suspected. Jimin smirks to himself, but keeps quiet which Jungkook is thankful for. He is not sure how he feels anymore, but he is 110% sure that he couldn't handle watching Jimin date someone else. Of course that only leaves two options, either cutting Jimin completely out of his life or dating him himself, but luckily, he doesn't have to figure it all out today. 

"I want to put up the star," Jimin demands after they have already put on the lights and other ornaments. 

"Sure, if you can reach that high," Jungkook says bluntly, and Jimin makes a face at him. 

"Don't be a douche and just give me that chair."

"You can't reach it like that. You won't get close enough because of the bookshelf." 

"Damn. Do you think I could just throw it towards the peak of the tree and hope for the best?" Jimin wonders, only half-kidding as he measures the distance with his eyes. 

"Jimbles, you are great at basketball, but not binding-the-laws-of-physics great. I could just lift you," Jungkook offers. 

Jimin shakes his head. "No, I'm too heavy. I'll take my chances with the chair." 

"Too heavy? Are you kidding?" Jungkook scoffs, and before Jimin can protest he has already picked him up and guided Jimin's legs around his torso to keep him upright. 

"That's hot," Jimin says suddenly. 

"What is?" 

"That you can hold me up like this. Opens up a lot of interesting possibilities", Jimin mentions teasingly, and Jungkook's breath catches in his throat. 

He blushes. "What are you saying?"

"Aw, how cute. How are you the university heartbreaker if you blush just by talking to little old me?" Jimin teases, but he is quickly silenced.

Jungkook arches a brow at him and walks a few steps ahead, still holding Jimin in his arms until they hit a wall. He pushes Jimin further against the wall, stealing the breath right out of his lungs. He won't utter a word, but his hands on Jimin's waist are speaking volumes. They slowly run up and down Jimin's side, calling forth goosebumps in the trail of his fingers. Jungkook's breath is warm and inviting as it mixes with Jimin's. 

The arms Jimin has placed around Jungkook's neck to stay upright feel awkward now that he is not using them to pull him in for a kiss. Is that what he wants to do? He finds it's harder to think coherently when Jungkook is so close to him. 

Jungkook still says nothing, he just stares into his eyes until Jimin submits and looks away from such a commanding glare.

"Okay, fine, you win," he mutters, and Jungkook smirks. 

He lowers his hands and briefly squeezes Jimin's ass, making him yelp in surprise. "You were saying?" he taunts. 

Jimin shoots him a look. "You are so arrogant," he scolds, but his words have no effect on Jungkook. If anything, they only egg him on. 

"Careful now, Jiminie, or I'll show you just how well I can make you listen to me," he whispers back.  

Jimin doesn't dare speak, the atmosphere is a far cry from the usual nonchalance and it is almost as if one wrong move could bring the world as they know it crumbling down. In this moment, there is something more laced with the playfulness and meaningless flirting; something hot, exciting and dangerous.

Jimin's pulse is going off, and this time he is the one struggling against the blood flow to his cheeks. And he'd be lying if he claimed that some blood wasn't going down as well. He can only pray that Jungkook won't notice his situation. 

It's so quiet between them that he can hear the clock in the kitchen ticking. Tick. Tick. Tick. Something is pulling at his nerves, but he isn't quite sure what it is. His chest feels tight as if it is doing its damnedest to contain some feeling inside, struggling to keep it from escaping and causing Jimin to act on it. 

"Let me down," Jimin asks in a voice that is only slightly above a whisper. 

At first, Jungkook does nothing. He looks into Jimin's eyes, and Jimin has to fight a shiver.

Jungkook waits a little more before allowing him to slide down, but even then he guides him down excruciatingly slowly. Jimin wants to both drop down to his knees and to punch him in the face, and he is not certain which desire is stronger. 

"It's been two months of you driving me, and I still can't believe this. Who the hell drives themselves in NYC?" Jimin grumbles as he takes his seat next to Jungkook in the cold car. Usually they'd wait until the heating system worked its magic, but this morning they are running late due to having an arm-wrestling competition over who has to take out the trash. Jimin won the first round, and of course, Jungkook couldn't just accept defeat and coaxed Jimin into playing another round which Jungkook won, turning it into an endless cycle. 

"I like driving. Sometimes I drive out of the city when I need to think about something," Jungkook defends himself. 

"But this city is one giant rush hour. We'll never get to uni in time," Jimin stresses, staring outside of the frosty window onto the busy street where they should be heading out next.

Jungkook's car is usually in impeccable shape and instantly warm due to spending its night in the parking garage built under the apartment complex. But this time he had borrowed his car to Taehyung who returned it so late Jungkook and Jimin were both asleep already. Taeehyung had to leave it parked on an alley which was not only annoying but risky, too. 

"Have a little faith, babe. We'll get there," he says, squeezing Jimin's thigh. He leaves his hand on his knee, but it's debatable whether he does so to console Jimin, or to frustrate him. Lately they have been plaing a game, a game of chicken to see how much teasing the other can take before breaking.

It started out as a joke when Jungkook first challenged Jimin into arm-wrestling rematch, and it just continued from there. 

"Okay let's set the record straight," Jungkook had called out as soon as he got home one afternoon. 

Jimin looked up from the essay he was typing. "What?" 

"Arm-wrestling. You and me. Right now. I'll make you cry," Jungkook demanded as he sat down across from Jimin and pushed his laptop out of the way. 

Jimin smirked. "So you admit that—"

Jungkook didn't let him finish, he just grabbed his hand and pinned it down. Jimin's jaw dropped. "No fair, I wasn't ready."

"She wasn't readyyy," Jungkook mocked, and as a result, he lowered his guard, and Jimin was able to turn things around by forcing Jungkook's hand on the table. 

"So it's like that?"

Jimin grinned smugly. "Oh yeah, it's like that. What, are you going to cry?" he taunted, and Jungkook glared at him, putting more force into his arm. 

They battled for a while, both almost winning and losing, but always somehow saved right before their hand touched the surface of the table.  

"Best out of three?" Jimin suggests breathlessly. 

"Bring it on, Chicken Little," Jungkook replied albeit a tad hoarsely. 

Jimin's eyes narrowed. "Oh, it's on," he announced and pushed at Jungkook's arm that Jungkook was hell-bent on not moving. Running out of stamina, Jimin suddenly poked at Jungkook's crotch with his free hand, flustering his opponent enough to win the round. 

"Oh Jiminie, you so don't want to play that game with me," Jungkook warned. 

Jimin winked. "Maybe I do."  

They went back and forth a little while longer, with Jimin resulting in cheating every time he came close to losing. Their competition had finally ended in Jungkook's sudden victory after he had put his entire force and mass behind his wrestle and kept Jimin's arm pinned down until he admitted defeat. 

Ever since that arm-wrestling match things had been... interesting. Jimin keeps making up excuses and challenges Jungkook to a rematch whenever he can and cheats his ass off until being put into his place by the stronger of them.

For now, Jimin always swears afterwards and Jungkook pats his head in mock comfort. 

Sure, sure. 

Right now, Jimin is looking out of the window, and he smiles softly when Jungkook hums along to the radio. There is a pleasant note to his voice, gentle yet strong, high yet low. It's difficult to define, so Jimin doesn't even try. It's just Jungkook, and that's all he needs to know to love it. 

He stares at Jungkook's long fingers still resting on his thigh, and he wants to hold his hand, but at the same time, he wants his hand to stay put. 

Disappointment flushes through his system when Jungkook then retrieves his hand, and they pull up to the parking lot. 

"Meet you back at the car for lunch," Jimin yells over his shoulder before sprinting towards his lecture hall while Jungkook heads to the other direction. 

A few hours later, Jimin catches up to Jungkook walking to the car and joins him, gushing about some new Korean restaurant he wants to check out. 

"Look honey, it's your stalker," Jimin says to Jungkook who scans the parking lot, and sure enough, waiting next to his car stands a familiar figure in her grey coat and thick blue scarf. 

He groans. "She has been laying low since you moved back in, and I was hoping she had given up. Apparently not." 

"Jungkook, you haven't returned your part of the project," Becca starts sharply as soon as they are in the hearing distance. She is clearly not happy to see Jungkook with Jimin again. 

"Yes, I have. I emailed my part to Jordan on Sunday."

"He doesn't have it."

"Then I'll email it to him again. Excuse me," Jungkook says in a voice that is forced to neutral and tries to walk past Becca, but she isn't done talking.

"Maybe you've just been too busy with your little friend," Becca says and glares at Jimin who winks and grabs Jungkook's hand just to rub her nose in their closeness. Sure, it's petty, but also well-deserved, and Jimin can't deny the mirth on his face after Becca looks away, balling her fists.

"In my opinion, one day you'll come to your senses and forget all of this boyfriend crap." 

"Dangerous waters, Becca," Jungkook warns her, but Jimin holds him back, squeezing his hand. 

"I'm actually his husband, Becca," he says in a calm voice, friendly even, but Becca still can't handle it.

"Please. You are not even a real couple," the girl sneers, refusing to believe it until an unlikely ally convinces her otherwise. 

"No way, girl. They are bulletproof, I already checked," the guy who grilled them before of their relationship and whose name Jungkook just remembers to be Simon, replies bitterly as he walks by them. Fate rarely plays along to people's plans, but just then Jimin can only admire its impeccable timing.

Jimin and Jungkook exchange a secret smile while they squeeze their hands together tighter and hold in their laughter until Becca has stormed off. 

"Checkmate," Jimin whispers pecking Jungkook's cheek, and Jungkook smiles, feeling lighter than he has since Becca Blitz started fucking his life up.  

Jungkook wakes up with strained muscles all over his body. He has been curling into a small ball in order to produce more warmth, and he wakes up when even that can't shelter him from the cold anymore. 

The reason seems clear: there is something wrong with the heating system. 

He walks into Jimin's room to check out how he is doing, but as soon as he opens the door he has to fight a chuckle about to leave his lips. Jimin didn't notice the cold because he is already covered in blankets like some sort of a slumber party monster. 

Deciding to fuck it and go steal some of Jimin's warmth until the morning, Jungkook slips into the bed next to Jimin and revels in the warm blankets that immediately envelopes him. He hasn't been sleeping well all week due to early classes, and all he is looking for is quickly falling asleep. As his head meets the fluffy pillow, he is half-asleep already. 

"Hey, babe. What's up?" Jimin asks in a hushed tone, not moving away despite Jungkook's cold form meeting his warm one.

"Heater broke. I'm sleeping here tonight," Jungkook replies as he digs himself deeper inside the blankets. 

"Aww, Jungkookie, no need to come up with lame excuses, I'm always up for cuddles," Jimin mumbles as Jungkook alters his sleeping position, so that his shoulder touches Jimin's, sighing at the sudden sprout of warmth. 

"I'm not really a cuddler," he points out as Jimin places one hand over his hip.

Jimin isn't bothered by his words. "Well, I am, so watch out."

"Stay in your lane," Jungkook commands, pushing Jimin's arm away. He is surprised to find how much colder he feels without Jimin's body heat.   

Jimin giggles sleepily, and the sound is warm to Jungkook's ears. "Can't promise that."

His words remind Jungkook of something, one painful beat of his heart reminding him of the two weeks of hell he went through. "You can't promise anything," he mutters a little bitterly. 

"What was that?"

"Nothing, just... good night, Jiminie," Jungkook says, moving closer to Jimin, and if his arm curls around his waist, it's just to hog warmth, not because he needs to make sure that the elusive boy doesn't leave him again in the dark of the night. 

Jimin smiles, internally giggling at him for caving in to cuddling. "Good night, Kook."

The next day they go shopping since as it turns out the problem with their heater is easy enough to fix, but there is some important part missing. Jungkook makes a deal with their super: if he finds the part, the super will set it on for free before he leaves for his weekend away.

They find the part pretty quickly, but since the super won't be done with other work until six, they start window shopping. They manage to find a whole bunch of Christmas presents to their family and friends.

Somehow that turns into them shopping for furniture although Jimin isn't sure where he is moving next and Jungkook prefers not to think about him leaving at all. 

"What you need is a new bed. Your old bed sucks. The matress made my spine resemble a Z after I stayed over last year," Jungkook complains as they lay on two beds after having lunch and needing a place where they can rest a bit.  

"Oh, I forgot. Mr. Jeon Jungkook only sleeps on twelve layers of matresses, and God forbid there is one pea underneath," Jimin heckles as he gets up and walks to check out a massive California king bed on the other end of the store where all super expensive furniture are. 

As petty revenge, Jungkook follows Jimin and pushes him down on the bed on display. Jimin stumbles back and tries to catch a hold of Jungkook's hand to keep his balance, but all that does is pull Jungkook down with him. 

"Quite the strategy to get me into bed with you," Jungkook flirts, and Jimin laughs, albeit a bit breathlessly after being knocked out of air by Jungkook's body falling partially on top of his. Even though they are not doing anything wrong Jimin is kind of glad of the tacky golden bookshelves and one giant wardrobe hiding them from any curious eyes. 

"You know me. I just can't resist obnoxious hot guys that are secretly huge nerds."

Jungkook winks. "So are you saying I'm exactly your type?"

"Are you saying that you are a huge nerd?" Jimin counters, making a smile bloom on Jungkook's face. 

"Maybe I am," he says rolling off of Jimin. 

Jimin smiles to himself. "Well, then maybe you are my type."

They are quiet for a while again, listening to the speakers blare Do They Know It's Christmas? 

"I can't believe it's almost Christmas," Jimin says then just as the song changes to another Christmas song, this time about a certain exploited reindeer. 

"I know. Every year on Christmas I almost want to be back in Korea. I'm not usually too homesick, but somehow Christmas just gets to me. Just imagine Busan and snow, pretty lights everywhere..." Jungkook trails off, his mind far away. 

Jimin turns to look at him. "Why don't you go home for Christmas then?"

"No one is home. My parents usually work through the holidays, they come to spend Christmas with me in January. My brother spends his holidays off somewhere warm chasing after chicks way out of his league," Jungkook explains. He doesn't sound sad at all, but still Jimin feels bad. 

"Well, I'm homeless this year during Christmas, and my parents whom I usually spend the holidays with just informed me that they won some stupid cruise and that they are even taking my little brother with them. 'Jimin-ah, we spent Chuseok with you, now we are spending Christmas with your brother'," Jimin complains with an impression of his mother down to a tee.

"Families suck."

Jimin nods, letting out an aggravated huff. "Totally. As revenge, I think you and I should have an epic Jimin+Jungkook Christmas this year," he swears, extending his hand toward Jungkook. 

Jungkook bumps the offered fist. "Let's make them rue the day they left us." 

"If we ever get up from here. I'm starting to think that I want to lie here until the day I die," Jimin sighs dreamily. 

"You should buy this bed," Jungkook agrees, closing his eyes. 

Jimin smiles with his eyes already closed. "Don’t tempt me. I can’t buy anything yet since I don’t know what kind of apartment I’ll be moving into."

"If you won’t buy it, I will."

Jimin's eyes open, and he smacks Jungkook's tummy. "Hey, no fair! If you buy it, I will sleep over all the time, and that would kind of defeat the whole purpose of me moving out."

Jungkook grins. "Then I'm definitely buying it."

"You don't play fair."

"Says you. Just imagine waking up in this bed for the rest of your life..." Jungkook tempts, spreading his arms on the smooth bed sheets as if making a snow angel. 

"You're evil. Evil, evil, evil," Jimin mutters in protest. 

Jungkook checks the clock on his phone and stands up from the bed. "Hey, it's past five, we should get going."

"Okay. Pull me up," Jimin replies and reaches for Jungkook's hands who easily pulls him up. 

As they reach the super's office, they are informed by Al that the super finished his work for the day before noon and decided to leave early for his fishing trip. 

"I can't believe that lazy man left even though he promised to help us out," Jungkook curses, thoughts of who knows how many freezing nights looming over him. 

Al glares at him. "Larry has worked here for 37 years. The man deserves his fishing trip."

"I'm sure he does. Just like Jimin and I deserve to not die of hypothermia during his fishing trip," Jungkook points out. Sensing his ire, Jimin takes a hold of his hand, squeezing it to calm him down a bit. 

"Just for that, I'm using our right to offer our services only during business hours. You can get a service man via this building, but he won't arrive until Monday."

"That's rude."

"So were you. If Larry Connelly wants a few goddamn days off, you will give him a few days off. If you can't stand the cold, you should check into a hotel, Mr. Jeon."

Jungkook counts to ten in his mind and then says, "I apologize, Al. It was inconsiderate of me to say that. I'm just frustrated. We waited for him all day, and he doesn't seem like the kind of guy to go back on his word."

Out of the blue, the other man seems embarrassed. "Well, he isn't. I told him I'd take care of the radiator, but when I took a look of it, I realized that it wasn't one of the new radiators that most the apartments here have, but one of the older models that I know nothing about," he reluctantly admits. 

"So either way we need to wait until Larry returns?"

"Yeah, that sounds about right."

"Thank you so much for all your help," Jungkook says perfectly politely, but his sarcasm isn't lost on Al who makes a face at him. 

This time Jimin drags Jungkook away and presses the top floor button on the elevator board. 

Jimin is in a great mood. "Well, you know what this means, Jungkookie. It's cuddle time! Unless you want to lose toes to the cold," he chirps as he jumps on Jungkook's back for a piggyback ride. 

Jungkook huffs, but carries him inside anyway. When he opens the door, the apartment isn't necessarily cold, just a bit chillier than usual. He grumbles all the way to his bedroom and pounces on the bed. Jimin follows him, knowing Jungkook well enough to know that he needs to be cheered up. 

He swaddles Jungkook in the blankets despite his initial objections. 

"I call this a baerrito," Jimin says after he is finished and pats the nearly mummified Jungkook on his thigh. 

Jungkook tries to glare at him, but ends up laughing anyway, especially when Jimin starts to tickle him before plopping down next to him. 

Jungkook expects it to be awkward. Sure, they are friends, but being forced to constantly be near one another just for warmth could get annoying. But he is surprised to find that once again his bond with Jimin comes through, and the night is spent in comfortable silence. 

It's just the two of them, doing what they always do, with the exception that this time they are sharing a blanket. Jungkook scrolls on his phone while Jimin studies and then takes a nap. 

Only once the night falls does it get awkward. Well, at least Jungkook thinks so. Jimin doesn't seem to agree since he switches to only a thin shirt and slips under covers, casual as ever, as if this sort of thing happens every time although Jungkook's pulse going haywire is a clear indication that it does not. 

Jungkook tries to stutter something about extra blankets so he could sleep in the game room, but Jimin isn't even listening. He snuggles so close to him that neither one of them think the word 'cold' once during the night.

And maybe Jungkook gets the best night's sleep he has had in years.

And maybe he doesn't even argue the next night when Jimin again curls up next to him.

Maybe he just puts an arm around him and falls asleep in minutes as opposed to his usual hour, his restless mind for once serene and silent.

"So what do you want to do on Christmas?" Jimin asks one morning. 

Jungkook shrugs. "I'm up for anything you want to do," he replies, and Jimin isn't sure if the remark is meant to sound as suggestive as it sounds in his ears. The game of chicken that they have been playing is starting to mess with his head -- he's losing his grip on what between them is real and what's not. When they kiss is it real, or is it just to play the game? When he feels Jungkook's eyes sweep over him, does it mean that he looks good, or is Jungkook expecting him to notice? 

The peace of mind he once possessed is in pieces now; what the fuck does he mean to Jungkook? He knows that they are best friends, but is there more to it than that? Does he himself even want more? He knows that he wants Jungkook (good God, yes), but is it just a crush? Just lust? Is it worth risking their bond for? Will it ruin everything if he makes a move to find out where Jungkook thinks they stand? 

He shakes his head, incredulous that he is even considering this. He should have known better. Fuck, he did know better, this is exactly why he left before. His heart was clouding his thoughts, keeping him from thinking things through. He can feel it happening again, his head being pulled underwater, but this time he knows that he can't run away anymore, he needs to make a decision once and for all. 

But how in hell is he supposed to know what the right choice is? 

Jungkook touches his cheek so delicately that it's like a butterfly's wing. "Babe. Hey, where'd you go?" he wants to know. 

Jimin startles out of his pondering. "What? Nowhere. I was just thinking that fuck Christmas."

Jungkook's brows rise. "Fuck Christmas?"

Jimin nods. "Yup. It's a stupid capitalist jubilation of materia. As a protest I think we should do the least Christmas-y things we can think of. Like go to a trampoline park."

Jungkook easily follows his train of thought. "Eat tacos."

"Go swimming." 

"Listen to every summer song we can think of." 

Jimin bursts into a radiant smile that both heals and steals Jungkook's heart. "I love you," Jimin sighs. "You get me."

Jungkook high-fives him, and if their fingers cling together longer than they should no one needs to know. 

It's the day before Christmas, and Jimin has only just made it inside the apartment with heavy grocery bags that quite possibly also hold inside Jungkook's Christmas present when a knock is heard on the door. He figures that it's just Jungkook messing with him again, so after tossing Jungkook's present in the closet, he swings the door open.

Someone who looks a lot like Jungkook, but just quite isn't him, stands on the doorstep.

"Hi. It's Jimin, right? Jungkookie talks about you all the time," the boy says as he inches past Jimin right into the apartment.

Jimin can only think of one name, mentioned offhandedly in a conversation ages ago. "Junghyun-ssi?"

"Ayy, I knew he wouldn't be able to not brag about me, although when he left, he swore he'd never tell about us to anyone. I swear, that guy acts like we are the Malfoys or something. I mean, Mum and Dad kind of are the Malfoys, but I'm more of a Weasley. Good old blood traitor. Hey, have you got any food?" the boy babbles on as he walks towards the kitchen.

"Uh, Jungkook is supposed bring some after his lecture ends," Jimin answers, still a bit uncertain on how he should proceed as he loads the fridge with groceries. They had agreed that if Jimin took care of their non-Christmas groceries, Jungkook would provide fast food as a thank you for his effort. They would have gone together, but Jungkook had a lecture, and Jimin didn't, so they decided to split up. 

Junghyun flashes a smile. "Super. That'll give us a moment to get to know one another."

"Swell. Let me just make one quick phone call."

Junghyun smiles sweetly at him, and somehow Jimin is suddenly absolutely certain that he knows exactly who Jimin is going to call and even what he will say.

Still, he only gestures at him to go on. "Take your time, Jimin," he says, and Jimin needs no further encouragement as he dials the familiar number. 

Jungkook picks up after the third ring. "Hey, babe."

"Jungkookie, your brother is here."

Jungkook lets out an exasperated sigh. "Great. Well, just kick him out. He is most definitely in some trouble, and you shouldn't have to deal with it."

"Technically it's your parents' apartment, I can't kick him out. Nor would I if I could."

"Trust me, Min, he is 'double, double toil and trouble'," Jungkook quotes, and Jimin can't help but smile when he notices that at least something he has helped Jungkook study has stuck in his mind. 

"Macbeth. Nice. That Literature class is really paying off," he compliments. 

"Thanks."

"I'm not kicking him out, babe," he reasserts, and Jungkook huffs in displeasure, but he isn't surprised. Jimin is too nice for his own good. 

"You really should," he still states, if only for the record. 

Jimin smiles at his tone. "Come home faster," he pushes, and it's Jungkook's turn to smile. 

"For you, I'd climb mountains and fight bears and lifts cars. But there is one thing I can't defeat, and that is New York City subway."

"What good are you to me then, Sir Jungkook?"

"It won't be too long. Just take it easy, and don't give him my chips."

"Too late," Jimin notes as he witnesses Junghyun stuff a handful of Jungkook's precious chips into his mouth and hangs up in the middle of Jungkook roaring.

"So how long have you've been dating?" Junghyun asks, and Jimin realizes too little, too late, that he should have gone further away to talk to Jungkook.

Jimin shakes his head. "Oh, we're not dating."

"Oh, gotcha," Junghyun says and winks.

Jimin stares at him. "Seriously. We are friends, that's all."

"Of course. You are 'friends'," Junghyun agrees and winks again.

Jimin realizes that he can't convince him otherwise, so he gives up. "So what kind of trouble are you in?" he interrogates then.

Junghyun chuckles, shaking his head. "Jungkookie is such a funny dude. I bet he told you to kick me out too? Man, that guy can hold a grudge."

"What do you mean?"

"One year he came home for Christmas and knocked on my door. But I was just about to score this girl, so I pretended that he was a Girl Scout selling cookies and shut the door in his face."

"Jesus," Jimin sighs.

"I had been trying to get with her all semester! Besides I opened the door as soon as we were done. Jungkookie just can't get over it," Junghyun explains, but his explanation does nothing to win Jimin over. If anything, it only shoves Jimin further into Team Jungkook.

"He had just been through a fourteen hour flight from New York to Seoul and from there to Busan and you left him in the hallway?"

"You sound just like Jungkookie. But it's cute that you choose to defend him, even though you should be trying your hardest to win me over," Junghyun points out with a knowing look that doesn't make sense to Jimin.

"What?"

"You know, since we might become family through your 'friendship'," Junghyun hints again, this time wagging his eyebrows. 

Jimin sighs. "For the last time, Junghyun-ssi, we are not dating."

"Uh-huh. If that's true then what's with all the couple crap? How long have you been living with him anyway?" Junghyun questions, and when Jimin looks a little lost, he starts to list. "Photos of you everywhere. Orange pillows on the couch although bright colors are really not Jungkook's style. Oatmeal in the kitchen cabinet even though Jungkook doesn't eat it. No dirty dishes in the dishwasher even though Jungkook is like the worst housekeeper in the world. A book on probabilities in the living room although Jungkook hates math. Shall I go on?" 

The doorbell rings. Eager to get away from their current conversation, Jimin excuses himself from his present company to go and open the door.

Two people stand on the doorstep, a man and a woman.

"Hello," they greet politely in Korean.

Jimin bows his head in greeting. "Hello."

"Oh, fuck," slips out of Junghyun's mouth as soon as he notices the two people in the hallway. Junghyun doesn't wait for a lecture, but takes off in the direction of Jungkook's bedroom.

His parents' expressions go from serene to seething real quick. "Jeon Junghyun-ssi!" Mama Jeon screeches as soon as she sees her oldest son. "Stop right there!"

"Excuse us, Jimin-ssi," Jungkook's dad says just then with a pleasant smile.

Jimin moves out of the way and motions at them to come in. "Uh... come right on in," he asks feeling very stupid since not only is it not his apartment, but he has just invited the actual owners in as if they were simply guests on their own property.

"Junghyun-ah! How dare you leave Korea without saying a word? And right before announcing your promotion, no less!" Mama Jeon scolds the bedroom door that Junghyun has locked to her face.

Papa Jeon remains remarkably calm, but he picks the lock on the bedroom door, and Junghyun immediately storms out to avoid being trapped in with his parents.

You need to get here NOW, Jimin texts Jungkook, but just as soon as he hits send, Jungkook is already busting in.

"Hey Jiminie, sorry I'm late. Don't be mad, I brought food--" he starts to say, but halts as he witnesses his entire family standing in the living room with Jimin trying to blend in with the wall behind him.

"Surprise," Junghyun announces gleefully and attacks Jungkook with a bear hug. Jungkook looks at Jimin. Jimin nods to the living room where now two more people are emerging.

Jungkook looks taken aback as he pats Junghyun's back. "Mum. Dad."

"Jungkookie, my son. How are you?" his father says and hugs him and his mother does the same.

"I'm good. What are you all doing here?" Jungkook inquiries with a little less sense of subtlety than he would have hoped for.

His mother furrows her brows at her. "Does a mother need a reason to come see her beloved son only the day before Christmas?"

Jungkook is quick to withdraw. "No, of course not, Mum. You're always welcome here."

"As it happens, we do have a reason for coming here," Mr. Jeon admits.

"Here we go," Junghyun sighs.

They glance very discreetly at Jimin who immediately gets the message that they are about to discuss family only business so he quickly speaks up, "Would you excuse me, I need to study now. It was lovely meeting you all."

"As it was you, Jimin-ssi."

An hour later, the Jeon family meeting is still going strong. Jimin has stayed true to his word, and he hasn't reemerged from the master bedroom. There is even some music playing in low volume to prevent him from hearing what Jungkook and his family are discussing. 

"Why aren't you ripping into Kook? He is the one whom has been living with someone for who knows how long," Junghyun throws his brother in the line of questioning for a change. 

Jungkook shoots him a glare, and Junghyun shrugs apologetically in response. He seems to be saying that it's Jungkook's turn to be under fire. 

"We are not here to discuss Jungkook's life although that is an excellent point. When were you going to tell us? Before or after the wedding?" his mother takes the bait, and Jungkook sighs loudly to make a point. 

"Jimin hyung is just a friend. His roommate did something kind of stupid, and he has been living with me while they figure it out," he explains, briefly wondering if his parents can pick up on the slight distaste in his voice. He can understand unexpectantly falling in love with someone you shouldn't, but not if the alternative choice was Park Jimin. Park Jimin. Who in their right mind would say no to that? 

"And how long has he been living here?"

Jungkook knows that his parents are always worried about people taking advantage of him. "He pays for groceries and participates in the rent as much as he can despite being a regular student," he reassures his parents to ease their minds. 

"We are not worried about the money, Jeon Jungkook. The fact that you thought so offends us," Mr. Jeon states sternly, and his wife nods very determinatedly. 

"I apologize," Jungkook says immediately, the spitting image of a good son. 

"But we are worried about your heart if you truly are not in a relationship with someone you clearly care so much for," his mother adds more gently.

"My heart is safe and sound in my chest, beating steadily, Mum. And in any case, as you said, you are not here to discuss the matters of my heart, but hyung leaving Korea to avoid being made the head of his department."

All eyes turn back to Junghyun whom sighs. "I don't want to start in such a high-up position. It's too much pressure. What if I fail?" he admits. 

"Then we'll just disown you," Mr. Jeon dead-pans.

His wife immediately joins in on the fun. "Throw you out of the house, so you'll have no choice, but to go live in the forest where you'll be mauled and eaten by hungry wolves."

Their son doesn't look impressed. "You guys are hilarious. You should have your own show," he nags. 

"If you don't wish to lead your department, you could have just told us that. You'd be amazed what we can accomplice with simply talking to each other."

"I thought you'd be angry with me."

"No, although fleeing to New York certainly didn't improve our communication," Mrs. Jeon points out dryly. 

"But then again you made us take the time to come visit your brother which was a good thing," her husband adds. "And discover his current living situation."

Mrs. Jeon smiles and squeezes Jungkook's arm. "He is lovely, Jungkookie. We approve," she says, and suddenly Jungkook's ears are burning. 

"It was about time you stopped messing around and found someone worthy of your time," his father agrees. 

"Call him here, we wish to say a proper goodbye before our flight. And we do insist you bring him to lunch with us in the beginning of next year when we are here again." 

"Jimin hyung, my parents wish to speak with you," Jungkook calls out in the politest way he can so that his family doesn't get any more ammo for their cause.

Jimin appears in the living room, and Jungkook motions at him to approach them. 

Jungkook's parents are very polite and their goodbyes heartfelt. From the very little Jungkook has told him about his family, Jimin would have expected them to be a lot scarier, but they just seem like nice normal people. 

They apologize for having to leave so early, because they have a meeting before their flight leaves, but they make Jimin promise to attend a lunch with them in January. 

Junghyun stays behind with his brother to wait out the meeting before leaving for the airport. As Mr. and Mrs. Jeon walk out of the apartment, he goes to the bathroom which leaves Jimin and Jungkook alone for the first time that day. 

"Your parents seem really sweet," Jimin says then, unconsciously tapping his feet. 

"They are a riot," Jungkook mutters thinking about all of what his parents had said. 

"Your dad looks so much like you."

Jungkook smiles at this. "When my parents first met my mum chased my dad because she thought he was handsome. I mean, he wasn't 'angelic', but handsome nonetheless," he can't help teasing.

Jimin groans loudly as Jungkook claps his hands in mischievous glee. "I have never in my life chased you," he protests, but that does nothing to deter Jungkook. 

"'I love you' were the first words you ever spoke to me. That's pretty creepy," Jungkook teases, and a blushing Jimin kicks his foot.  

"I had hit my head, you pumpkin brain."

"What are you guys talking about?" Junghyun wants to know as he reemerges from the bathroom. Jimin casts a warning glare in Jungkook's way who surprisingly enough complies and doesn't repeat what they were just discussing. 

Instead he says, "How Mum and Dad met." 

"Oh right. Mum pursued Dad until he caved in."

Jimin laughs. "Way to kill the romance," he commences. 

"Thank you, romance killer is what I aspire to be when I grow up. Hey, Jimin, you may not know this, but our Jungkookie was quite the singer back in Korea," Junghyun then announces. He has a habit of changing the subject so quickly that it makes other conversationalists' heads spin.

"Really? Well, he does have a lovely voice", Jimin replies calmly. 

Jungkook turns to look at him. "When have you ever heard me sing?"

Jimin chuckles. "Is this a trick question?"

"What do you mean?" Jungkook asks just as Junghyun goes to gather his mittens and scarf from the radiator where he had left them to dry, so he can catch his flight while warmly dressed. 

Jimin laughs again before again glancing at Jungkook's clueless face which convinces him that somehow this really is brand new information to him.

"Dude, you sing all the time. When you do the dishes, when you drive, when you're in the shower, when you try to decide what to wear, when you're trying to annoy me... all the time," he explains.

Jungkook considers this for a moment before nodding to himself. "Oh. I guess I've never noticed it myself."

"I don't mind. Your voice is beautiful. Oh, and there is one other time that I've heard you sing. Remember? That one time in Hoboken at that shady karaoke bar where we nearly died of strawberry margaritas? You threw up on the floor while belting out I Will Always Love You and then threw up on the mic too which made at least three other people throw up, and we had to run all the way to the subway stop to avoid the angry bar owner, and we just kept hurling all the way to my place?"

Jungkook gasps. "Jiminie, we swore a sacred oath to never ever speak of it again," he whispers in a scandalized tone. 

Jimin salutes him. "Duly noted, boss. Or should I say Ms. Houston?"

"Park Jimin, I'm warning you," Jungkook hisses as Junghyun comes back and starts putting on his coat.  

"Is it too late to say sorry?

You know I'm missing more than your body," Jimin sings and dodge Jungkook's kick by only an inch. 

They stand up to properly say goodbye to Junghyun, but he has a rather strange way of parting ways. 

He glances at Jimin offering his hand to Jungkook who stumbled a little getting up.

Then he announces, "You two are so fucking dense." 

And with that, he is out of the door.

On Christmas Day, Jungkook wakes up to Park fucking Jimin jumping on him. Right on top of him, body slamming all air out of him. 

"Fuck... you," he manages to wheeze after a minute. He opens his eyes and finds Jimin's eyes only a few centimeters from his own. His heart skips a beat, and he has trouble responding to the smile Jimin flashes at him. 

"I couldn't let you sleep all day."

"It was your stupid idea to try watch all of the Lord of the Rings in one evening. It's your fault that I'm tired." 

"I stand by my choices, my precious," Jimin hisses playfully into Jungkook's ear, and Jungkook can't stifle the shudder Jimin's warm breath on his neck causes.

"First off: trampoline park. Then swimming at this tiny swimming hall my friend manages because she has agreed to rock a beach party theme just for us because they are not expecting more than like three customers, tops, in addition to us. She said to get there at four, so all the old people will have gone home for supper already." 

Jungkook hugs Jimin close to his chest. "Maybe just sleep today?" 

Jimin stays put, his head lulling to the side to rest against Jungkook's chest. Then he pokes Jungkook. "Nope, I want to go to the trampoline park, so that you can lose to me in air-basketball." 

"Never gonna happen", Jungkook snorts and manages to crawl up from their bed. It takes a while before what he thought becomes clear to him, and he has to correct himself. 

His bed. His bed. Not theirs. 

The only other people at the trampoline park is a group of preteens so both Jimin and Jungkook play nicely, competing on who can jump higher and who can score most on basketball. It's fun and innocent and it's as if they have morphed back into kids too.

The same can't be said about the swimming hall that they upon arrival find utterly deserted save for Jimin's friend whom after letting them in went back to napping in the lifeguard booth.

Jimin and Jungkook quickly get changed into swimwear and head out on to the pool. Jungkook makes a cannonball jump into the pools whereas Jimin plans a classier dismount only to be pushed into the water by Jungkook on his way to the water slide. They play-fight and mess around, and when they get tired they lie on a unicorn floatie, exhausted but happy. 

All is still well and civil until they hit the locker room. They shower in silence because there is an old man listening in. But when he leaves, the atmosphere does a 180. 

Jimin is done first, so he rushes to dry himself off and get dressed. He has just pulled his pants on when Jungkook appears. 

Jimin forgets about everything else but Jungkook as he stares at his body, only clothed in a wet towel. It's as if almost all the teasing from the past weeks, all the jokes and the flirting and the touches, culminates in that one moment, and he can't take it anymore. He can't tear his eyes away, all he wants is to kiss Jungkook. 

And run his tongue down the smooth skin, chase every water drop and capture them with his mouth. 

Jungkook notices the nearly hungry look in Jimin's eyes and asks: "What?"

But he knows very well 'what' since he has been feeling the change in the vibe too. In lieu of a reply, Jimin comes closer, trapping Jungkook against one of the lockers and grins when he feels Jungkook take a deep breath. 

"Should we... talk about this?" Jungkook questions motioning at the barely non-existent space between them. 

"Probably. Or we could see how fast I can make you come," Jimin suggests instead and pulls Jungkook inside one of the changing stalls. He pushes him against it, already attacking his neck with his lips while his hands slip lower. 

Jungkook is already panting, putty in his hands. Jimin smirks. He'd love to take his time, hear Jungkook beg for it but they are in public and the swimming hall is about to close. 

So he settles on making Jungkook come in record time. It's not too difficult since Jungkook has been half-hard since he caught a glimpse of Jimin's bare ass. Jimin keeps attacking Jungkook's neck with kisses while working on his dick, whispering dirty words in his ear. 

Jungkook comes with a low groan, and Jimin checks the time. "Two minutes", he brags, and Jungkook rolls his eyes, but doesn't argue. What Jimin does he does it well. 

He reaches for Jimin, ready to return the favor, but Jimin pushes his hand away. "That's okay, I'm satisfied with just having made a personal record for both of us," he beams. "Now I just want to go home, this locker room is kind of creepy when it's this quiet." 

"You do realize that you lost, hyung", Jungkook then speaks up. When Jimin turns to look at him in question, he smirks. "You gave in first." 

On their way home Jungkook falls asleep, his head resting on Jimin's shoulder. 

Some old lady passes them by on her way out of the subway. "Your boyfriend is very cute," she croons. 

Jimin doesn't bother correcting her. "Yes, he is." 

He reluctantly wakes up Jungkook right before their stop. Sleepy Jungkook is very clingy and holds onto Jimin like a koala. Thankfully, the walk isn't long and soon enough they are in the elevator. Jimin barely has time to wave to Al before Jungkook traps him against the elevator mirror with his body. 

Jimin is suddenly very aware of Jungkook's heartbeats against his own. His heart hurts, but he is not sure if it's a good or a bad thing. He guides Jungkook to the apartment, acting like the boy cuddling him while standing up has no effect on him.  

"Let's just exchange gifts before we sleep," Jimin suggests as he takes off his coat and sets his keys on the table. He'd wait until tomorrow, but he is too excited about his gift to sleep first. 

Jungkook nods and walks up to the safe. He throws a small packet to Jimin who raises a brow, but catches it anyway. "Merry Christmas," Jungkook says, feeling shy all of a sudden.  

Jimin retrieves his gift from inside the unused hanbok hanging in Jungkook's closet.

Jungkook curses when he sees where his present was hidden. "Are you kidding?" he complains. "I went through this entire apartment and looked everywhere, twice, but I never looked inside that thing." 

Jimin looks very smug. "Well, the whole point is that you never find the presents before Christmas anyway."

"But I was dying for a hint on what to get you this year."

"Well, let's see how you did on your own," Jimin smiles and opens the small box. It reveals a framed picture of them at the wedding so many years ago that Jimin had said he wanted to put on his wall. On the bottom of the box is another present, a beautiful set of silver rings that Jimin had admired once while they were out shopping.

Jungkook smiles sheepishly when Jimin turns to look at him with his mouth open in awe. "Sorry for stealing your rings," he says.  

"These are amazing, Kookie. I love them," Jimin swears and hugs Jungkook. 

"Now, open yours, open yours!" he rushes Jungkook once he pulls away and Jungkook does as he is told, ripping open the pretty package. 

Jungkook stares at the old video game in the box. "This is... Jiminie, how did you know?" he gasps. The video game was his favorite when he was younger, but then he broke his copy and he couldn't get a new one because the company who made the game went bankrupt -- only a handful of games were ever made.

Jimin had stumbled onto the game while at a flee market with Hoseok who had suddenly developed a burning desire to hunt for antiquities. 

"Because I listen, dummy," he says in a low fond tone that their friends call Jimin's Jungkook voice. 

"I love it. Thank you," Jungkook says quietly, squeezing Jimin's hand tightly. 

"You're welcome." 

Inspired by the holiday spirit after Jungkook falls asleep, Jimin slips out of the bed and goes to the gameroom. He dials Baekhyun's number for the first time in two months.

It rings only once before his former roommate answers with a rushed, "Jimin?"

He suddenly wants to end the call. Is he ready to let go of the sense of betrayal that he has been carrying inside ever since he walked in on his ex and roommate getting it on after his double lecture unexpectedly got canceled? 

No, he decides. I need to move past this. 

"Hi," he greets, wishing his voice sounded a little stronger. 

Baekhyun sounds both relieved and cautious. "I'm glad you called. I've been trying to reach you."

"I know. Asking Jungkook to get me to call you... that's low, hyung. You know how I feel about him."

"I heard that you went to him after you left our place. I also know that it was him who came by one day to empty your closet and who also took most of your personal belongings while I was out." 

"So what? It was my stuff," Jimin responds defensively. 

Baekhyun sighs. "I'm not angry. Obviously. But I wish you'd let me explain." 

"Go ahead. Explain. Since when have you and Chanyeol hyung been fucking?" Jimin forces himself to ask, hardening his heart that is begging him to forgive and forget already. 

Baekhyun takes a breath. "Jiminie..." he pleas quietly, but Jimin elects to ignore it.

"You said you wanted to explain. Answer the question."

"Three months."

Jimin scoffs. "First lie."

"It's not a lie. We started talking again, on and off, six months ago, but we only started dating three months ago. I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how to break it to you." 

"It was better for me to catch you two in action?" 

"No, of course not. I thought I'd be alone for the night. I'd never want to hurt you, Jimin. I know you might not believe it, but it's true. I'm sorry for causing you pain, I should have come clean much earlier. But you need to know something. It's not some crush, or one night stand type of thing. I've been in love with Chanyeol before you two even met. When he told me he felt the same..." Baekhyun trails off in the middle of his sentence, but Jimin knows exactly what he means. 

"Look hyung, this whole thing is too messy for me to comprehend right now. But the way I see it, Chanyeol hyung is a free man, and if you two make each other happ, great. I'm not moving back in, and quite frankly I'm not agreeing to a double date with you guys any time too soon, but life is short, hyung, and I don't want to spend it hating on anyone." 

"I'm sorry it went like this."

Jimin sighs. "Me too. Merry Christmas, hyung."

"Merry Christmas, Jimin." 

"We're out of spoons," Hoseok announces as he enters the kitchen. Jimin and Jungkook invited their friends over on the 28th of December to celebrate it after they had all returned to the city from their respective homes.  

Jimin looks at him funny. "Not possible. There were seven spoons, one for everyone."

"Yoongi flicked one at Tae after he kept pestering him about his next mixtape and it landed in the aquarium."

"Jesus Christ. Are we running a daycare here, or something?" Jungkook complains to Jimin who hums in agreement.

"Top drawer," he says without looking when Hoseok approaches the kitchen drawers looking a little hesitant. Hoseok nods, takes the spoon and leaves.

Jimin expects Jungkook to follow him out, but the boy isn't budging.

"Go entertain your guests," Jimin ushers him then.

"They are your guests, too. You entertain them," Jungkook states adamantly, crossing his arms on his chest and leaning against the counter all the while keeping his eyes on Jimin whom rolls his eyes at him. 

"By entertaining, I meant go make sure they don't break anything. I won't be held liable for my actions if someone breaks the lamp we just bought yesterday," Jimin threatens, but in Jungkook's eyes, he's still nothing short of adorable.  

"It's one lamp. If it breaks I'll buy you another one," Jungkook promises sweetly, and suddenly Jimin's heart is doing somersaults.

"Is that so?" he asks, keeping his focus on the sauce he is mixing. 

Jungkook hums in response, his eyes so keen on the boy in front of him that the latter can almost feel his gaze on his skin. 

"Yeah. Fill the entire apartment with them. You'll grow so sick of lamps that we'll live the next year in total darkness," Jungkook exaggerates. Jimin's laugh gets caught in his throat.

It gets quiet then because they've been dancing around the subject of next year for a while now, neither one of them knowing how to bring it up. What will happen between next year? Will they stay together? Will Jimin move out?

Only one thing is for sure: they can't keep living in this uncertainty.

The question of their future is poked again much earlier than they thought it would be. Their friends are about to brave the New York winter and its freezing winds. They are all gathered in Jungkook's apartment's lobby and putting on their coats while chatting animatedly of the night they just had.

"Best Christmas ever. The one I just spent at my parents' seems like a cheap knock-off," Hoseok praises as he reaches over to pull Jimin into a hug.

"Thank you for coming," Jimin responds, and Hoseok hides a smile in his shoulder. It's such a host thing to say, it's easy to forget that Jimin isn't going to stay and Hoseok thinks that no one knows this as well as Jimin himself.

"You guys really outdid yourselves. Then again that wasn't hard since you two usually just serve cheese balls whenever I come by your place," Taehyung points out. There is strange look in his eyes when he says 'your place' and he stares at both Jungkook and Jimin very intensely when he says it. The two don't show much of a reaction to his words except for slight concern since Taehyung looks a little crazy with his bulging eyes trained on them.

Taehyung chuckles under his breath.

"We are saving the good china and the British scones for the Queen once she swings by," Jungkook teases, and Taehyung punches his shoulder.

"Jimin-ah, are you coming? My mom went home so there's room at my place again. We all know how Jungkookie likes his space so now he can revel in his Fortress of Solitude again," Seokjin offers kindly. He doesn't seem to realize at all what an awkward situation he has placed both Jimin and Jungkook in. Their friends exchange looks, but no one dares to rock the boat by speaking up despite their thoughts being so loud that they might as well.

Jungkook and Jimin look at one another. "Uh..." Jimin says, completely caught off guard.

"And Jungkook has that big make up exam coming up, so he'd probably want to get some peace and quiet to study?" Seokjin pressures further. Jungkook gulps.

"I..." Jimin is searching for words and staring at Jungkook, hoping that he'll jump in. But Jungkook is equally frozen, so Jimin scrambles to his feet, prepared to follow his friends out just to keep up pretenses if nothing else.

"He needs to help me clean up. We played rock-paper-scissors earlier, and as can be expected Unlucky Hands over here lost five times in a row, and as punishment, he is obligated to clean up," Jungkook finally comes through with an excuse that they both recognize that they need for reasons they aren't sure should be spoken out loud. 

Jimin is quick to jump on the bandwagon. "I should have known better, but he annoyed me until I agreed to play, and as luck would have it, here we are", he rambles on.

Seokjin nods. "Yes, we are," he agrees mysteriously, and Jimin is unable to decode the look in his eyes. 

"I'll, uh, I'll let you know about what I'm going to do about this whole moving business," he adds awkwardly. 

"Alright, well, good night, you two," Namjoon says and hugs Jungkook once more before ushering the squad out of the apartment.

As soon as the door shuts behind them, a riot breaks out in the hallway.

"What the hell was that, hyung? Why did you ask Jimin to come with us? Didn't you notice--" Taehyung spits out immediately, and the rest of the group nod along, throwing incredulous looks in Seokjin's way.

Seokjin himself isn't phased one bit. "Are you idiots? Of course I did it on purpose. Jimin is no longer just bunking at JK's, they are freaking living together, and they didn't tell us anything. I was trying to make them admit it."

Yoongi nods. "I bet Jimin hasn't even looked at apartments in weeks."

"No way, not since he moved back in. Man, I can't believe them!" Seokjin growls, shaking his head so violently that Namjoon has to guide him by the arm, so he won't hit his forehead on the elevator door.

"Do you guys think they are together? Like, are they dating?" Taehyung questions as he presses the down floor.

"Well, if they aren't they should be. They are so freaking gross together. 'Look at this, Jungkookie made it'!" Seokjin imitates in a high-pitched voice that strangely enough sounds a bit like Jimin.

Hoseok is all too happy to join in. "'Jungkookie and I went shopping last week, and he bought me this shirt, isn't it cute?'" he enunciates, making Yoongi crack up.

"'Jungkookie, could you open this jar's lid for me since you are so strong and muscular?'" Taehyung says next, fanning his hand like a Southern belle.

"You guys are too much," Namjoon sighs, making everyone's snickers stop immediately. Then he smirks. "I mean, is no one going to mention how freaking whipped Mr. International Playboy is?? All night he kept going: 'Jimin, is this right? Jimin, do you want this one or that one? Jiminie, where are you? Jimin, Jimin, Jiminie'?"

His friends make the elevator shake with their laughter and punch him in the back in appreciation.

"At last, they left," Jimin jokes after their friends leave. Truth is that he is a little nervous to be alone with Jungkook. Something has been hanging in the air between the two of them ever since that little joke Jungkook made about the following year.

They both feel it but neither one of them is quite sure how to bring it up.

To hide the uncomfortable and very unusual silence, Jimin puts on Christmas music while they clean up after the party.

When it no longer seems to do the trick, he starts singing along.

"I don't care about the presents

Underneath the Christmas tree."

He gestures at Jungkook to continue, but the boy just stares at him with a blank look on his face.

Jimin frowns. "No, you're supposed to say: 'I just want you for my own, more than you could ever know'. Honestly, Kook, how can you not know the lyrics? This is the most prominent Christmas song of our generation." 

"I'm just not that big on Christmas," Jungkook shrugs. 

Jimin gasps. "Not that big on-- Jeon Jungkook, you shall not speak such hurtful words in the presence of the inventor of Christmas!"

Jungkook is a little lost and glances at the red and white figure next to him. "Santa Claus?"

Jimin casts an unforgiving glare his way. "Mariah!"

"Sorry," Jungkook says then and hides a smile when Jimin sings along to the rest of the song on his own, adding some rather interesting dance moves to the bunch. Usually Jungkook would join him, always singing a little louder and dancing a little crazier but tonight there is a weight holding him down to planet Tellus.

Once the song is over, Jungkook just can't hold it in anymore.

"Why did you say that you'd think about Seokjin's offer? I told you that you could stay with me for as long as you need," he erupts. 

Jimin shrugs, avoiding Jungkook's eyes. "He just caught me off-guard. I've sort been neglecting the whole apartment hunting business lately, and he knocked some sense into me."

"But things are good the way they are. I didn't plan on a roommate, but you have to admit that we make a good team."

Jimin nods and then looks away. "Yeah, I know, it's just... I really can't stay", he says, his voice lowering and lowering towards the end of his sentence. 

Jungkook smiles and tries to beat Jimin at his own game. "But baby, it's cold outside."

There is a certain type of sadness in Jimin's smile. "Jungkookie..."

"Why should things have to change? We are doing great just as we are," Jungkook continues somewhat stubbornly. 

Jimin sighs. "Well, sure, right now we are. But we can't keep playing fake boyfriends. What if you find someone you really like? With me around, you are holding yourself back because I'm here to make sure that you never have to get too serious about anyone."

"I haven't dated anyone in almost two months. No one since you moved back in," Jungkook points out. Can't you take a freaking hint, Park Jimin?

"Exactly. I'm holding you back."

"You are not holding me back. You keep me grounded, focused, and I'm finally seeing things clear."

"What things?"

Jungkook takes a big breath. Here it comes. "Jimin... I don't want you to go," he confesses. 

"I'm not going anywhere. Not right now, anyway."

"I want you to live here with me."

Jimin laughs. The sound is too high-pitched and nervous, even though he is trying to play it cool. "Not a chance. I couldn't afford even the tenth of your rent."

"You wouldn't have to pay for anything."

"I think you know me better than that. I'd never feel at home here if I let you pay for everything."

"I love you, Jimin," Jungkook tries next, pouring every bit of sincerity from his heart into his voice, hoping that he'll understand, knows what he means without being told. 

Jimin smiles. "I know that. I love you too, babe. So, so much," he replies, taking Jungkook's hand in his. 

"No, Jimin, I... I love you in the way of heart beating out of my chest, on the verge madness when I think about you leaving, can't think about anyone else but you."

Jimin is quiet for a moment. Jungkook tries to pull his hand away, but Jimin tightens his hold on his fingers.

"I shouldn't have said that, I'm sorry."

"Please just give me a minute to get my head around this, okay?" Jimin asks, and since Jungkook is so bad at telling him no, he grumbles but sits down anyway, still holding Jimin's hand and letting his thumb caress his skin as Jimin takes a few calming breaths before releasing one major rant. 

What follows is definitely not what Jungkook ever expected. 

"I have had a crush on you since the day I met you. At first, I thought it might work out with us, but then when nothing happened I figured that you only thought of me as a friend. That was more than enough for me. So you and I became friends, and we both dated on our own, and things were good. My crush was still there, but in a more distant way, the way one might love a celebrity."

"But then I stayed over here with you, and it got so much worse. I swear, before coming here, I tried calling and texting everyone else because I knew that even if I had my crush under control staying here with you, just for one night, might be too much for my treacherous heart. Seeing you in the morning, hearing your voice croak when you said good morning... it was all just this constant giant reminder of what we'd never be. I hated myself for still being so hung up on you, especially when I had thought that I was finally over you. But the more time I spent with you, I realized that I was freaking in love with you, and that was when I bolted."

"You have no idea how many times I just wanted to kiss you so badly that my hands shook. And now after I suffered through all that, you are telling me that you suddenly love me too?" Jimin ends his rant with a long and heavy sigh. "You stress me the fuck out, Jeon Jungkook." 

Jungkook winks with a fond look in his eyes. "Should have gone for it, babe," he says, and pulls Jimin in for a kiss. It's crazy how easy it is, how little effort it takes when they've both been dancing around it, terrified to take the first step and reveal the soft underbelly, reveal the one place where they can be hurt.

"This is crazy," Jimin pants between kisses. "Just yesterday I was trying so hard to not kiss you, and now--"

"Should have kissed me," Jungkook repeats, his fingers disappearing into Jimin's hair. 

"How was I supposed to know you felt the same? You're not that easy to read," Jimin complains. 

"All I ever do is hang out with you."

"So? We have always been like that." 

"How about the game of chicken we've been playing lately? Surely you thought there was something more to that?" Jungkook tries again. "Or you know, what happened in the locker room." 

Jimin shrugs. "We both love winning. And we were hella horny that day." 

Jungkook lets out a low whistle. "Wow. Your delusions are in deep."

"Your fault. You mess with my head." 

"I know I was at fault too. I mean, I asked you to move in with me to get rid of creeps? Who does that to someone they like?" Jungkook sighs, smacking his forehead to emphatize his point, but Jimin stops him from doing it again, never wanting to see Jungkook hurt, even by his own hand. 

Jimin smiles a bit sheepishly when Jungkook chuckles fondly at the gesture. "Well, who the fuck would agree to something like that?" he counters then. 

"You are too nice for your own good." 

"I'm not that nice," Jimin replies, parting his legs a bit, so that Jungkook can lie comfortably lie on top of him. 

Jungkook waggles his eyebrows. "No, you're naughty," he agrees.  

Jimin gasps, smacking his chest lightly. "You perv." 

"He's making a list
And checking it twice
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is coming to town." 

Jimin puts hands on his ears, screaming, "Ew! Don't make it dirty, it's one of my favorite Christmas songs!" 

"He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake!"

"Okay, great, never ever going to hear that song the same again!" 

"What? I was just singing. I thought you wanted me to be more festive," Jungkook teases, and Jimin gets up and walks off, speaking over his shoulder. 

"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch. The three words that best describe you are as follows, and I quote: 'Stink, stank, stunk'!" he recites, and Jungkook clutches his heart as if wounded. 

In the morning of the very last day of the year, Jimin wakes up in Jungkook's arms. His chest feels tight and warm as he looks at the sleeping boy's gorgeous face. 

"Stay with me," he suddenly mumbles, eyes still closed and voice half-asleep.  

Jimin giggles, pecking his forehead, but when he tries to leave, the arms around him tighten, keeping him close. "I'm serious. Stay with me. Fuck finding another place. Just stay with me," Jungkook asks in a low voice. 

Jimin shakes his head. "We just started officially dating, I don't think we are quite there yet."

"You've been living with me for two months already. We have already proven that the Jimin+Jungkook team living under one roof works. Even if we start officially dating, it's still just us. Just Jimin and just Jungkook. With preferably a lot more smooching," Jungkook says before pausing to place a tender kiss to Jimin's temple. 

Jimin laughs, but he soon turns serious again. "But what if it doesn't work out between us? What if we try and we fuck up and we lose our friendship in the middle of all that?" 

"What if it does work out? What if we stay together forever? What if I'll marry you? Do you really want our wedding toast to be like: 'yeah, Jungkook was crazy in love but Jimin was like 'ehhhh, better not...'?" Then he smiles. "And in which fucked up universe would either one of us ever let go of the bond you and I have?" 

Jimin bites his lip. He agrees, of course he does, Jungkook is the most important person in his life. But he can't help but recall all the love stories that turned awry so quickly despite burning so brightly.

"I don't know..." he whispers. An actual relationship just sounds so final, so real. When they were just hanging out, it felt easier, like there was no pressure at all about what their relationship should be like. But when one latches a label on something, they accidentally might end up destroying it in the process. 

"And if it doesn't work out so what?" Jungkook continues. "If we fuck for three years and then realize we never should have done it -- I personally don't see this ever happening, but for argument's sake -- so what? The world will not end. I have enough confidence in us that I know that we would find a way to push through that initial awkwardness and be friends again. Because Park Jimin, you and I, we were meant together, and no ordinary break-up can conquer us." 

"You drive a good bargain. And I'm not arguing because I don't feel the same. I worry because the last thing in the world I'd ever want is to hurt you, and I've been taught to think that all romantic relationships, no matter how good, always end in tears. There are so many things that could go wrong. What if we fuck it up by getting too serious too quickly? I can't believe I have to tell you this, you have even more commitment issues than I do."

Jungkook kisses Jimin's head. "No, I think you have just passed me, babe."

"How are you so calm?" 

"I love you. And I know what it feels like when you leave me, and I don't like it," Jungkook replies, his voice turning serious for a moment. 

Jimin nods, digging himself further into Jungkook. "I hated leaving you. I couldn't sleep without you," he confesses.  

"I couldn't sleep without you either. You've turned me into a cuddler," Jungkook complains playfully. 

Jimin chuckles softly. "Always happy to corrupt you." 

Jungkook is quiet for a long time, just hugging Jimin to his chest before saying, "At least think about it?"

Jimin can't contain his smile. Everything has been beautiful since they confessed, and even if he is unsure of their future, he is just happy to be near Jungkook.

"Couldn't stop even if I wanted to." 

That night their friends gather in Jungkook's apartment before going out to watch the fireworks. They drink and mess around, teasing each other mercilessly.

No one brings up Jimin and Jungkook's situation until one unfortunate question in Truth Or Dare.

"Who do you love the most?"

"Jiminie loves Kookie the most," Taehyung cuts in with the cringiest aegyo voice he can muster up. Jimin pushes him away, but nods.

"He's not wrong." 

"How can this be? I thought I was your number one, Jimin," Hoseok protests, and Seokjin agrees. 

"Does our bond mean nothing to you anymore?" 

"You're all great, but you are no Jeon Jungkook," Jimin answers and grins at Jungkook across the room. Their friends roll their eyes, groan and complain about his cheesiness, but secretly they are all glad that the two have finally worked things out. 

It's the midnight countdown to a brand new year. They are standing on a crowded dance floor, counting the seconds. 

"10, 9, 8..."

Their friends are with their own New Years dates, but they can still spare a few smug glances at Jimin and Jungkook who only have eyes for one another and then giggling when they catch someone else staring at the couple that has been in the makings for a long time already. 

"7, 6, 5, 4..." 

Jungkook has such nice eyes, Jimin notices, and not for the first time. His lips are also rather enticing, and when he wets them his tongue, Jimin has a tough time waiting for the stupid countdown to end, so he can kiss him already. 

"3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!" sounds from every corner of the club, and then people all around them lean in for a kiss, some for a hug, but the moment has arrived nonetheless. Jimin's stomach pinches. This is it. 

He leans in, but Jungkook's is already one step further. His hand is already in Jimin's nape, gripping his hair. Jimin's moan gets muffled by Jungkook's lips covering his, over and over again.  

When Jungkook steps back to take a breath, he says, "Stay with me, Park Jimin."

"Okay." 

Jungkook's eyes turn round as they tend to when he is really surprised. "Do you really mean it?" he asks cautiously, making Jimin smile widely. 

"Yes. You were right. I want to stay with you and see what happens next. So what if we crash and burn? I love you. That won't ever change, not even if we break up, and I'm tired of pretending otherwise. You're the one," he swears. 

"Promise me," Jungkook asks in an unsteady voice, intertwining his fingers with Jimin's. He can't stop smiling; it's as if he is going to burst into flames and become the new sun. 

"I promise," Jimin says, and it is the one promise that he keeps. 

...