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Jimin’s still trying to scratch dried paint from the ends of his hair when he stops in the open doorway of Jungkook’s classroom. He has his canvas bag slung over his shoulder, the one he’s filled steadily over the years with tiny illustrations made from pen. He expects Jungkook to be similarly ready to go, but he isn’t. He’s standing in front of the chalkboard with Yoongi, where they’ve constructed an elaborate idea web.
Yoongi’s grinning. “Genius,” he says, clapping Jungkook on the back. “You’re a fuckin’ genius.”
Jungkook’s cheeks are a little red. He ducks his head, matching grin stretching his cheeks. “Only sometimes.”
They haven’t noticed him yet. Jimin clears his throat. “Jungkook, you wanna head out?” he asks.
Both their heads shoot up. Jungkook looks surprised. “Ah, shit. I lost track of time.” Jimin’s about to wave it away, offer to wait, but Jungkook plunders on. “You go on home, don’t worry about me. I’ll head out with Yoongi hyung later.”
Jimin's stomach sinks right to his feet. "Okay," he says quickly, throwing his hand up in a wave. "Bye, guys."
"I'll stop by when I get back," Jungkook calls after him, but he's already heading down the hall.
Jimin tugs his bag more securely onto his shoulder and huffs while he bypasses the slow elevator for the dark stairwell. It's the third day in a row that Jungkook's taken the bus home with Yoongi instead of him. Sure, they don't live together, but they're practically neighbors. Yoongi's two stops before them. And more importantly, Jungkook isn't dating Yoongi .
Jimin tries to sulk in silence as he marches away from the community center where Jungkook teaches his writing class and Jimin rents a studio. But he can't hold it in for long; he ends up calling Taehyung while he's waiting for the bus, can't keep the moody pout from his tone.
"What's wrong, you big baby?" Taehyung teases.
"Jungkook hangs out with Yoongi hyung more than he hangs out with me."
Taehyung snorts. "I can't remember the last time I saw you and Jungkook apart, so..."
" Taehyung ," Jimin whines. "I'm serious. He hasn't gone home with me for three days. I didn't even eat lunch with him yesterday because he took his break early with Yoongi hyung. Last week, he didn't make it to our coffee date because he got held up planning. With Yoongi hyung ."
"So you're jealous."
"I'm not jealous , I'm just saying it doesn't make any sense - "
"Jealous," Taehyung singsongs. "They're best friends, Jiminie, of course they're gonna hang out." Then, like an afterthought, "You think Jungkook gets jealous when we cuddle?"
Jimin huffs. "'Course he does, he does that tongue thing. It's hot."
Jimin can almost hear Taehyung rolling his eyes in response. "My point is being jealous is fine, but don't bother him about it."
"I'm not bothering him about it," Jimin mumbles. "I know it's, like, irrational and they're allowed to be close and they're both writers, of course they have shit to talk about all the time - "
"Breathe, babe."
Jimin exhales loudly. "I just can't help it." Taehyung clucks his tongue sympathetically. "I don't wanna end up saying something stupid because I can't get out of my head over this."
"Maybe you need some space," Taehyung suggests. "Just keep your distance for a few days until you get over it. So that you don't say something you'll regret."
"You're right," Jimin sighs. "Thanks, Tae."
During the bus ride home, Jimin resolves to move past it. He's not going to let it get to him anymore, even though he can't really get the sight of Jungkook and Yoongi grinning at each other out of his head. It's just that Jimin's a little needy for attention sometimes, and lately he hasn't been getting a lot of it from Jungkook. They've been working on some big project, him and Yoongi, and spending all their time planning. Jimin knows it makes more sense for Jungkook to go to Yoongi about writing than him, but he still feels like he's missing out.
Jimin's getting ready for bed when Jungkook knocks on his apartment door. He lives on the floor above him, which is how they’d met; Jimin had marched upstairs to give him a piece of his mind for playing his music too loud. "Jimin hyung, it's me," he calls. "You asleep?"
Jimin freezes in place. He waits to hear Jungkook's footsteps fade down the hall before he dares to move again. He feels a little guilty, but it isn't the first time he's been asleep when Jungkook stopped by. Jungkook won't notice a thing, Jimin tells himself before turning in for the night.
Jungkook knocks on his door first thing in the morning, too, when Jimin's still rolling around bed trying to convince himself to get up. "Hyung, breakfast?" Jungkook calls through the door, and Jimin groans into his pillow. Sometimes they like to go out for breakfast on Saturdays.
He pushes out of bed and shuffles to the door, hair mussed and face swollen. When he tugs it open, Jungkook coos at the sight of him.
"Cute," he says, tugging him in to drop a kiss on his forehead. Jimin flushes, peering at him from under his lashes. “You up for breakfast?”
Seeing him makes Jimin’s resolve waver. He looks good today, like he does every day, in a button-up and dark jeans. Having less time with him means that these days Jimin misses him all the time. But he’s still feeling a little bitter and petty, and he doesn’t want to start something because he can’t keep his mouth shut.
“I’m too sleepy,” he declares. “Another day?”
Jungkook looks disappointed. “We can get coffee to wake you up.”
Jimin shakes his head. “Another day,” he insists, then a little snidely because he can’t help himself, “Take Yoongi hyung for breakfast.”
The jab doesn’t hit its mark. Jungkook perks up. “Hey, that’s a good idea. You go back to sleep, baby.”
He steals another kiss before he leaves. As soon as he shuts the door, Jimin throws himself back onto his bed, kicking his legs in frustration. Of course that would backfire. Now Jungkook and Yoongi are going to have breakfast together, and Jimin’s going to lie in bed and think about how miserable he is.
Jungkook texts him that evening about a movie, and this time when Jimin turns him down, it’s out of pure bitterness. “Go watch a movie with Yoongi hyung ,” Jimin mutters in the direction of his phone, then angrily returns to doing the dishes. He feels bad about it later, texts Jungkook a sweet goodnight message with lots of heart emojis.
By coincidence, the next two days are just busy. Jimin’s out with Taehyung on Sunday, and on Monday he doesn’t stop by his studio, occupied with gallery work instead. He doesn’t see Jungkook until Monday night when he comes home to find him sitting in front of his apartment door.
“Jungkookie?” he says, surprised. Jungkook’s wearing his coat like he just got in, came straight here instead of his own place. He looks a little tired.
“Hey, hyung,” Jungkook says. “You busy?”
Jimin shakes his head. “I’m done for the day. Come in?”
He lets them both in, taking Jungkook’s coat and his own to hang on the hook.
“Let me find us some dinner.” Jimin heads for the fridge, wondering if he even has anything to eat. He hasn’t been home enough to worry about food. He’s unwrapping a bowl of leftover stew when he feels arms around his waist, warmth against his back. Jungkook leans into him and tugs him close at the same time, burying his face in Jimin’s hair.
Jimin startles, arms wrapping around Jungkook’s on instinct. Enveloped by Jungkook’s familiar scent, he relaxes, resting against him and letting his eyes drift shut. They’re silent for a while, and it’s refreshing, soothing. Jimin feels like the day’s weariness has been lifted right off his shoulders.
He reaches back and pets Jungkook’s hair gently. “You okay?”
“Hyung,” he murmurs, and the heaviness of his tone has Jimin’s stomach clenching with worry. “You still like me, right?”
The question’s so absurd that Jimin laughs. But when he’s met with silence, he turns around in Jungkook’s hold to see that his expression is entirely serious. Jimin sobers, brow furrowing. “Jungkookie, of course I do. Why would you ask that?”
Jungkook frowns, and Jimin reaches to run a thumb along Jungkook’s cheek. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“Oh,” Jimin breathes, guilt crashing into him like a wave. He hadn’t meant for it to turn out like this.
“Yoongi hyung said you were probably just busy or stressed about something and that I should give you time, but I just - I dunno. I got worried.”
“I’m so sorry!” Jimin exclaims, flinging his arms around Jungkook’s neck and burrowing into him with such force that Jungkook stumbles backward a step.
“Woah,” Jungkook says, rubbing his back. “I’m sorry if I misunderstood - ”
“I was being an idiot.” Jimin’s voice is muffled by Jungkook’s shirt. He doesn’t make a move to pull away, too embarrassed, until Jungkook tugs at him gently.
“What do you mean?” He tilts Jimin’s chin up until they’re looking at each other.
“I was jealous,” Jimin mumbles, shame flooding his cheeks. “Of you and Yoongi hyung.”
Jungkook furrows his brow. “But - ”
“I know, I know. You guys are best friends. But I just got jealous anyway and I was being dumb so I thought I should just keep my distance for a little while. Because I didn’t wanna say something mean.”
“You could have just told me,” Jungkook admonishes. “You should have said something.”
“But I didn’t want to make you feel bad when you didn’t do anything. Or like you couldn’t hang out with him anymore. I was just being dumb .”
Jungkook catches his face in his hands. “It’s okay,” he insists. “Just give me some warning next time. Don’t leave me hanging like that.”
“Okay.” His voice comes out a little strange, mouth squeezed between Jungkook’s hands. “I’m sorry.”
Jungkook kisses him, and he melts into it, holding onto him like a lifeline. The tension in his body finally releases now that they’re together again. When they pull apart, Jimin winds his arms around Jungkook’s waist and rests against him.
“My baby wasn’t getting enough attention, huh?” Jungkook teases, rubbing Jimin’s shoulders.
“Shut up,” Jimin huffs. “Can’t believe you thought I didn’t like you anymore.”
“You’re important to me, okay?” Jungkook says seriously. “You don’t ever have to doubt that.”
“Okay,” Jimin’s voice is quiet but sure. “You, too. I can’t even imagine not liking you.”
“Sap,” Jungkook says fondly, and Jimin swats at his arm. “Let’s go get some dinner.”
Jimin interlaces their fingers together and follows him out, contentment settling in his heart.