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At first, Jimin isn’t sure what’s happening.
He knows he can be forgetful at times, but he knows he only has one toothbrush, and its currently sitting in the bathroom he shares with Taehyung and Jeongguk. Despite this, he finds himself staring at a brand new toothbrush, still in its package, sitting on his bed as if dropped from the heavens. Jimin spends a look moment studying the dental instrument, then calls over his shoulder,
“Taehyung?”
“Yea?” The response comes from down the hall, from wherever Taehyung is in the house.
“Did you buy a new toothbrush and leave it on my bed?” There’s a pause before Taehyung’s reply.
“...No?” Well, that answers several questions, and creates several more. Their bedrooms are open to any of the pack, usually upon the invitation of the room’s inhabitants, but only Taehyung has been in and out of their room recently. Last night, Jimin had slept with Namjoon, and the night before that, he had had a sleepover in Hoseok and Jeongguk’s room. He’d only been in his room to grab items briefly or change his clothes. In all honesty, the toothbrush could have been sitting there for days without him noticing.
Jimin shrugs. It’s not like it’s a bomb, a dairy product, or a crying child; therefore, it’s not time sensitive. In fact, it’s a rather practical miracle, with his current toothbrush starting to fray. He puts the toothbrush in the bathroom and promptly forgets about it.
Until more things start appearing in his stuff, all auspiciously when he needs them. A new pack of socks when his old ones develop holes. A box of his favorite cereal when he runs out. A new mouse for his computer when the old one dies. In a pack of seven people, most everything is communal, from shirts to showers. Jimin is used to having other people’s stuff in his stuff; in fact, he likes it that way.
But all of the stuff Jimin gets is brand new, clean, never used by another person. And it’s clearly meant for him, being left in places like his bed or on his shelf in the bathroom. It’s all very practical, and Jimin has to admit, it’s nice to have new things all the time.
But the mystery of who, or what, keeps leaving him these things keeps him up at night and daydreaming during his work. It’s not Taehyung, the younger boy being with Jimin during the time of delivery for most of the items, and therefore an ironclad alibi. Taehyung lays back with his hands folded underneath his head.
“Jiminie, if I was going to buy you a new pack of socks, why wouldn’t I just tell you I bought you a new pack of socks?” Jimin throws up his hands.
“Exactly! Someone in this house is giving me stuff, and I don’t understand all the secrecy around it; we share stuff all the time. It’s got to be one of the pack. Only someone in the pack would know I needed a new toothbrush or about my favorite cereal-”
“-I dunno, you’ve waxed poetic about your cereal in the grocery store before-”
“-So it’s got to be Jeongguk or the hyungs, and I’m not sure Jeongguk would buy me a bag of chips if I asked him, the brat.” Jimin leans forward with his elbows on his knees, his chin resting on his hands. “Speaking of the hyungs, it could be Jin-hyung, but he’s too busy to go to the store and buy things.” Taehyung makes a sound of agreement, his eyes shut.
“Yea, Jin-hyung’s been going crazy over Yoongi’s birthday next week, so I doubt he’s got time to buy you socks and cereal.” Jimin gestures indignantly.
“And a new mouse! Don’t forget that.” Taehyung sighs,
“And a new mouse for your laptop, I didn’t forget, Jiminie. So it’s not me, Jeongguk, or Jin-hyung. That leaves Yoongi-hyung, Joon-hyung, and Hobi-hyung.” Taehyung ticks them off on his fingers as he speaks. Jimin thinks out loud,
“Well, like you said it’s Yoongi-hyung’s birthday next week, so I doubt he’d be the one getting me gifts. And he’s more the type to be blunt, he doesn’t do subtlety. But I can’t think of a reason why Joonie-hyung or Hobi-hyung would or would not.” Taehyung waves his hand grandly.
“There you have it, you’ve narrowed it down to two suspects. What’re you gonna do about it?” Jimin shrugs,
“I don’t know yet. But I’ll be watching those two like a hawk.” Taehyung doesn’t laugh, because he knows the beta isn’t exaggerating.
Sure enough, the next day finds Jimin effectively stalking his packmates. It’s dull work for the most part, both Hoseok and Namjoon at work for most of the time. But Hoseok comes home early that afternoon, and Jimin makes sure to track his every movement. The beta watches TV for a bit, then goes to his room to listen to music and relax. Jimin passes by his room door periodically, trying not to seem suspicious. At one point, Hoseok gets up to get a snack, and it’s the most exciting part of Jimin’s self-imposed stake-out. But when all the other beta does is open a bag of honey butter chips and head back to his room, Jimin’s hope start to dwindle.
He gets another burst of excitement when Namjoon finally comes home, but the alpha immediately changes out of his work clothes and sits on the couch, reading webcomics on his phone. Then there’s dinner, in which all of them are present and accounted for, then dishes, which both Hoseok and Namjoon help with.
In fact, Jimin’s about ready to give up on his entire plan until he spies a certain lanky beta disappearing into his and Taehyung’s room. Jimin feels his heart start to race as he dashes as silently as he can to his room, catching himself in the doorway and shouting,
“AHA!” Hoseok looks like a deer caught in the headlights, a new stick of deodorant still in his hands, which are hovering above Jimin’s pillow. He still doesn’t know Hoseok’s motive, but he’s too excited to think about it properly.
“I, uhm, I can explain-”
“So you’re the one who’s been leaving me stuff all over the place!” Hoseok answers hesitantly.
“...Yes?” Jimin throws his arms up triumphantly.
“I knew it! It was either Joon-hyung or you, but I had a feeling it was you. You’re not that stealthy, you know.” Hoseok crosses his arms, still holding the deodorant.
“What do you mean by that? I’m very sneaky! I’m the most sneaky!” Jimin rolls his eyes.
“You’re the loudest person I know besides Jin-hyung, and your subtlety is lacking when you look both ways before slinking away from the kitchen.” Hoseok winces.
“Fair point, you caught me.” As his exhilaration fades, Jimin is left with a question.
“But...why? Why are you leaving me stuff I need?” Hoseok shuffles his feet, looking down. He mumbles something Jimin can’t quite hear. “What was that?”
“I said, I’m trying to court you.” Jimin’s eyes widen.
“Court me? But I’m not an omega, and you’re not an alpha. And we’re in the same pack.”
“I know, but I still wanted to prove myself to you, y'know, earn your respect. And I wasn’t sure what to give you because most courting gifts are traditionally for omegas specifically, so I just got you what you needed.” Jimin’s brain is still behind by a solid thirty seconds. He opens and closes his mouth several times. He says the first thing that comes to mind.
“But, we’ve had sex before.” Great sex in fact, but Jimin omits that particular detail. Hoseok blinks.
“What does that have to do with anything?” Jimin motions with his hands.
“Isn’t courting, like, archaic foreplay to try and get into someone’s pants?” Hoseok shrugs.
“I don’t know, but since we’ve already done that, I guess you know my motives are pure. I just really like you Jimin, and I wanted to do this right.” Jimin finally enters the room and moves closer to Hoseok. He loops his arms around the taller beta’s neck.
“You’re an idiot sometimes, but you’re the most chivalrous, beautiful idiot I’ve ever met.” Hoseok grins,
“Why, thank you, I do try-” Jimin cuts him off with a kiss. Hoseok melts into him, the two wrapped up in their own little world. When they separate, Jimin says breathlessly,
“I accept.” Hoseok blinks dumbly at him, his lips swollen.
“Accept what?” Jimin giggles.
“Your courting attempts. I accept them. Isn’t that tradition as well?” A slow smile spreads across the older beta’s face. He laughs, picking up Jimin and spinning him around. Jimin shrieks and clings to Hoseok for dear life. When Hoseok finally sets him down, Jimin flutters his eyelashes at him.
“I hope you bought condoms with that stick of deodorant.” Hoseok at least has the decency to look sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I might have bought a box last week, when I got you the toothbrush...But it’s a very practical purchase! I live in a house with six significant others, and y’all are nasty.” Jimin laughs, and takes Hoseok’s hand.
“Lead the way, Mr. Traditional Man.” Hoseok leers at him as they make their way to the older beta’s room.
“If courting is old timey, does this mean we’re doing it missionary style tonight?” Jimin rolls his eyes, but gives a shake of his hips as he walks in front of Hoseok.
“I guess we’ll see.” Hoseok shuts the door behind them, and it doesn’t open for a long time.
When Taehyung hears the story the next day, he laughs for a solid minute. He wipes tears from his eyes.
“So Hobi-hyung was trying to court you the whole time? What a dork! He does realize courting is just a fancy way to get sex, right?” Jimin throws up his hands.
“I told him that! But it was sweet, regardless. And I guess he got sex out of it anyways.” Taehyung wrinkles his nose and Jimin laughs. Taehyung flops backwards onto his bed, sighing.
“So, courting isn’t limited to alphas and omegas. I guess I never thought about it that way. You only hear stories about alphas being the ones to court omegas.” Jimin shrugs.
“I guess courting is for everyone nowadays, and that’s pretty cool.” Taehyung has that look on his face like he’s scheming up a plan, and Jimin knows better than to ask.
And sure enough, three days later Seokjin finds a bouquet of magnolias on his bedside table, along with a pack of the eldest omega’s favorite chocolates. Seokjin picks up the flowers and looks around in confusion, eyes landing on Taehyung, holding a single magnolia between his teeth and winking at him from the doorway.
From where he’s sat in the living room next to Hoseok, Jimin hears Seokjin’s happy exclamation and Taehyung’s low laughter. He grins and snuggles into Hoseok’s lap. Certainly, courting is for everyone, regardless of dynamic.
And hey, he got a new toothbrush out of the whole mess, so he’s not complaining.