Archive of Our Own

The first time Hoseok saw Park Jimin, he thought that he was looking at an angel.

Hoseok was in need of a roommate. A couple of months ago, he finally decided to quit his part-time job as a waiter to fully dedicate to his other job, the one he has studied for and is his passion. Sadly, being a Latin dance instructor isn’t as well paid as he would like, and even though he is teaching more classes now that he dropped his other job and has more time, it still doesn’t pay the bills. Hence, he was looking for someone to share his apartment and help him save some money. He is a bit worried about it, though.

Everyone says that Hoseok is a ball of energy and that he always is the heart of the party, and he actually is, but he likes his moments of peace too. He needs to have his house clean, tidy and calm to recover from his exhausting days, and that means he can’t take the risk of admitting someone that will have parties every weeknight or that doesn’t clean the common spaces. The ideal thing would be to share his apartment with one of his friends, but none of them are available to do it at the moment, leaving him no other choice than to find someone else.

After Namjoon hears about his problem, he tells him about his friend Jimin, who is looking for a place at the moment and fits Hoseok's needs. He knows Namjoon since kindergarten; they've been in the same class through all of their high school years and were really good friends but, unfortunately, they lost touch when they went to different universities. And Hoseok is sure fate is a thing because, years later, he couldn't hold the cry of joy that escaped his throat when he entered the dance studio and saw a tall figure dressed in sweatpants, a loose shirt and a headband helping one of the old women that attended his class while the other students swooned over him. So, a part of being his best student (it is really a wonder to watch him dance salsa), Namjoon is his best friend and also a man with really good judgment, and Hoseok trusts him. He tells Namjoon to ask Jimin if he's interested.

Long story short, Jimin was interested and Namjoon gave Hoseok his number so they could talk. They communicated over text and arranged a day to meet in Hoseok’s apartment, that way Jimin could see the place.

The day of the meeting, the bell rings perfectly on the time they agreed and Hoseok hides the cleaning supplies he had been using all morning to make the flat look good.

“Give me a sec!” he yells in the direction of the door.

He checks that everything is in order one last time and nods to himself as he goes to open the door.

Hoseok didn’t know what he expected, but the sight that greets him when he opens the door nearly makes him fall on his ass. There, standing in his doorway, is the most beautiful man that he has ever seen: full round lips that hold the kindest smile, pretty eyes that turn into crescents due to said smile, a styled hair that doesn’t stay on place for long because the guy runs his fingers through it, and on top of all of that, a very hot body.

This is one of the rare times that Hoseok is at a loss of words.

“Hi! You must be Hoseok. I’m Jimin, nice to meet you.”

Even his voice was beautiful. It wasn’t fair that people like Jimin existed in the same world than him.

Hoseok shakes his head to clear his mind and suppresses the first instinct to ask if he has died and gone to heaven. He remembers that he has to make a good impression and, most importantly, he has to make sure that Jimin covers his requirements as a roommate.

“Hi Jimin, nice to meet you too. Come in so we can talk and I can show you around,” he says with a smile, proud of the steadiness of his voice.

Jimin's smile grows and he enters the apartment, going to the left side of the door to take off his shoes. Hoseok is in trance looking at Jimin and he doesn't realize the presence of another person until a foot stops him from closing the door. He opens the door again and realizes that there is another young boy with a handsome face and a long body looking at him. Hoseok thinks he must have been hiding behind Jimin during their introduction.

“Good afternoon. I’m Taehyung, Jimin’s soulmate,” he says stretching his arm in a business-like tone. After they shake hands, Taehyung hands him a pink card with Jimin’s soulmate written in it in comic sans, as well as his phone number and his email.

For the second time that day, words leave Hoseok and he doesn't know what to say, too shocked by the guy standing in front of him.

“May I come in?”

“Yes, of course,” he answers letting Taehyung in his apartment. He looks at Jimin trying to understand the situation but Jimin only smiles back at him.

He has only known Jimin for two minutes and he already is making a fool of himself.

Then he realizes something. “Huh...I’m sorry but Namjoon didn’t say anything about your boyfriend and I’m only looking for one person.”

“Excuse me, I’m not his boyfriend, I’m his soulmate,” Taehyung says with a serious expression. “That transcends the mortal romantic relationships.”

Jimin takes pity on Hoseok and intervenes. “Don’t worry, Taehyung is not my boyfriend, he is my best friend and he tagged along today.”

“Someone had to look out for you in case he was a murderer, Jiminnie.”

“You know I can take down a murderer with the blink of an eye,” Jimin rolls his eyes.

“Okay, I just wanted to see the place too to have some gossip,” Taehyung admits.

“That’s what I thought,” Jimin says smugly.

Hoseok clears his throat to remember them that he is still in the room and that they are, in fact, in his home. “So, do you want to see the apartment?”

He shows them everything except for his room. Jimin (and Taehyung) seem to like the place saying that, although it’s not a large apartment, it has great lighting and it’s very neat. After they had seen everything, Hoseok asks them if they want something to drink and orders them to sit on the couch while he prepares the drinks.

The three of them chat for a while, and for the things he tells him, Hoseok thinks that Namjoon was right and Jimin fits the profile he is looking for.

“Don’t worry about the parties, I work as a primary school teacher, so I have to get up early on weekdays and in the afternoon I often have things to correct for my students. So that won’t be a problem.”

“That’s perfect then,” Hoseok laughs feeling that this is going better than he imagined.

“Where do you work?” Jimin asks him.

"I teach Latin dances at the dance studio in the center of the city."

At that, Jimin and Taehyung both gasp at the same time and Hoseok thinks he is starting to understand the soulmate thing.

“What?”

“Jimin loves to dance,” Taehyung says.

“Oh, you are a dancer too?” Hoseok asks curiously.

“No no, I just love to dance but I don’t do it professionally neither have I trained for it, but I have always wanted to try latin dances.”

“It’s a perfect match then!” Taehyung exclaims.

Hoseok smiles kindly. “I agree, it’s a perfect match. I have asked all that I needed to know and Jimin, if you are interested, you can move in whenever you want.”

Jimin’s smile grows so much that his eyes practically disappear. He opens his mouth to say something but Taehyung beats him to it.

“Wait a moment. Before, you didn’t want to take us if we were boyfriends. Any problem with gay people?” he asks squaring his shoulders in a defensive way.

"In that case, I should have a problem with myself too, so no."

Taehyung relaxes at that and looks at Jimin, nodding fervently.

“Tae don’t make plans for next weekend and ask that friend of yours for the van.”

****

Living with Jimin is easy. After the first month, Jimin has fully adapted to the place and Hoseok and his new roommate have an easy dynamic between them.

The first two weeks, they only see each other for a short time at the end of the day, when Hoseok goes to the kitchen to make dinner and Jimin is preparing his lunch for the next day. But after they get to know each other better and the awkwardness of the first days vanishes, they share their evenings together.

They make a habit of preparing dinner together (in large amounts so they have the meal for the next day ready) and eat on the couch while they watch some movie, drama or stupid reality shows. Some days Taehyung joins them, and despite Hoseok's first impression of him, he is a really sweet and caring boy and Hoseok likes him a lot. Namjoon comes one night too, to see how are they doing, and Jimin makes them watch The Notebook when he discovers they haven't seen it. The four of them cry together and it’s a nice bonding experience.

Jimin is a beautiful sight in the mornings too, and for the hundredth time, Hoseok despises good-looking people for being gorgeous even with a sleepy face. He enters the kitchen every morning with his chick pajamas and his eyes barely open, looking for everything he needs to make himself coffee, and Hoseok’s stomach flips every time. That’s the first sign that tells him he is in trouble.

****

“When are we doing the housewarming party?”

“What housewarming party? Seokjin, do you realize that I have lived in that apartment for two years? The house is warmed enough by now.”

“No, because Jimin hasn’t been around for two years. When are we doing the roommatewarming party then?”

“Please don’t say that, it doesn’t sound good.”

“I just want to meet the great Park Jimin! You talk about him all the time and I haven’t even seen a picture of the guy! And Namjoon and Jungkook have met him already, it isn’t fair. That’s like, friend favoritism,” he crosses his arms like a petulant child.

“That’s because they are friends with him,” Hoseok says exasperatedly. “And you can drop by anytime you want to meet him.”

“Oh my god Hoseok, I don’t do ‘anytime’. I have to leave a good impression and for that Jimin has to see how great of a host am I.”

“It’s literally his house, you are not the host!”

“You are not focusing on the important!”

Hoseok lets out a long, suffering sigh and massages his temples. “Okay, I’ll ask him if he’s available this week-”

His phone screen lights up with a notification of the group chat he shares with Seokjin, Yoongi, Namjoon, and Jungkook. A notification of Kim Seokjin himself.

Seokjin: Dinner at hoseok’s this saturday!!!

“You are the fucking worst.”

“Language, Hoseok-ah.”

****

On Saturday afternoon, Yoongi and Seokjin arrive at Hoseok’s apartment three hours before everyone else with their hands full of bags. Yoongi complains once again about having to prepare the food, something that happens every time they meet in one of their houses. The perks of having a chef as a friend. They all know that he loves to cook for them anyway.

Seokjin, for his part, brings bags full of stuff to decorate. He has forced Hoseok to send Jimin outside until it’s time for dinner, that way he will see the whole house decorated and would be more surprised.

Hoseok leaves them to it or tries to, at least. It's easy with Yoongi; he locks himself up in the kitchen and cooks calmly while he sings to himself. With Seokjin it's not that easy though, because his hyung demands Hoseok's help (or more like he orders him something and changes his mind after five minutes, ordering him to redo the thing in another way).

In the end, Hoseok’s table is full of things that he doesn’t know what are for, but Seokjin says that are pretty.

After asking permission to Seokjin (because he appreciates his life) for Jimin to come back home and the older gives his approvement, Hoseok sends a text to him. He knows that Jimin would want to change and get ready for their dinner. Jimin loves fashion and always takes into consideration his outfits, spending lots of time making himself look pretty. Not that he needs a lot of effort for that, really.

It doesn't take long for Jimin and Taehyung to arrive at the apartment. When they hear the pair opening the door, Seokjin checks himself in the mirror one last time before walking to the middle of the room, waiting to introduce himself to the two friends. Jimin makes a surprised and pleased sound when he sees the state of their apartment and Seokjin winks at Hoseok, smirking.

“Hello, you must be the famous Park Jimin. Nice to finally meet you,” he says extending his hand.

"And you must be the famous Kim Seokjin, the responsible for the state of my living room," Jimin answers lightheartedly, shaking his hand.

“And I’m Taehyung, Jimin’s friend for life and soulmate”. Hoseok laughs and wonders if Taehyung always introduces himself that way when he meets new people. “Wow, you are like super handsome and you have great shoulders. Are you a model?”

“No, but I could be, don’t you think?”

Taehyung nods and the conversation turns to Seokjin’s favorite topic: Seokjin’s handsome face. Jimin excuses himself and goes to his room to change.

A little before eight, Namjoon arrives with a smiling Jungkook behind him, following him like a puppy. Jungkook quickly goes to the kitchen to ask Yoongi to let him try the food. Despite Yoongi's groan when Jungkook enters the kitchen, knowing his intentions without a doubt, Hoseok knows that Yoongi will give him everything he asks like he always does.

Yoongi and Jungkook join them in the couch a while after that, the latter coming out of the kitchen chewing something. Yoongi says that the food is ready, the only thing left to do now is waiting for Jimin to come out. Taehyung goes to Jimin’s room to help his soulmate, saying that he probably is having a crisis about what clothes he should wear.

“Hyung, when are you going to come with me to the debate association?” Namjoon asks.

He has been trying to convince Yoongi to go with him for months now. Seokjin rolls his eyes and mouths ‘ here we go again ’ to Hoseok.

"Namjoon I told you, not all of us can be part of the debate, lgbt, anti-speciesism, and save-the-nature organizations, be part of a book club too, do Latin dances, pilates and water polo and have a full-time job at the same time."

“You forgot the French and painting lessons,” Jungkook adds.

Yoongi looks at him like he is regretting giving him food.

Namjoon tries to redirect the conversation. “But Yoongi hyung, you are good with words and I think you’ll have fun. Besides, there’s this guy wh-”

“No no no no, you are not gonna set me up with someone of your debate thing.”

“It’s not that! I promise. Not if you don’t want to, at least”. He looks like he’s considering something for a moment. “Now that I think of it, you would look good together...” Hoseok doesn’t see Yoongi’s expression but when Namjoon looks at his hyung, he clears his throat and changes the topic right away. “Anyway, it’s not that, I promise. Look his name is Yongguk and he is really smart and well-spoken. He always brings these vegan muffins with a red topping to the meetings, a sweetheart I’m telling you.”

“Why does he bring muffins?”

“He says you can’t think with an empty stomach. Look at this video I took of him talking about taking down the capitalist system.”

Namjoon shows him the video on his phone and Yoongi’s mouth goes slack and a blush appears on his cheeks as that guy, Yongguk, speaks very passionately about ‘oppression’ and ‘the bourgeoisie’ and other things that Hoseok doesn’t quite get.

When the video ends, Yoongi scratches his neck and clears his throat. “So yeah, maybe it will be fun. When did you say you guys have the next meeting?”

Before Namjoon can say anything with his smug smile, Jimin comes out of his room and the room falls silent. He’s wearing black jeans that hug his legs wonderfully and a nice blue shirt inside that makes his beautiful body form stand out more. If that alone isn’t enough to take Hoseok’s breath away, he is wearing makeup and his eyes look astounding with the eye-shadow he applied.

Wait.

Is he wearing lipstick?

Oh my god, Jimin is wearing lipstick.

Hoseok is going to combust.

He doesn’t know if he imagines it, but he thinks Jimin looks at him when he comes out of his room. Hoseok thinks he is nervous about the dinner and is looking for reassurance.

Jimin looks at Yoongi then and goes to introduce himself. Yoongi gets up and a pleased expression appears on Jimin’s face. After that, Hoseok sees Jimin standing beside Yoongi and looking at the height of their shoulders, a smirk appearing on his face.

It’s a nice night. They eat and drink, Jimin and Taehyung compliment Yoongi a lot about his food and the older looks shy, as if he wasn’t one of the best cooks in the city.

The pair clicks with Hoseok’s friends really fast and Hoseok, who was nervous about they disliking each other, relaxes.

“Are you having fun?” he whispers to his roommate when the others are laughing at one of Seokjin’s jokes.

Jimin is sitting next to him, so he doesn’t have trouble hearing him. “Yes, very much. I like them,” he smiles.

“I’m glad,” Hoseok smiles back.

They keep smiling at each other until one of their friends breaks the moment.

“Since this is a housewarming party, I think the roommates should say some words,” Yoongi says, drinking his wine.

“And they were roommates,” Jungkook says.

“Oh my god, they were roommates,” Taehyung adds not a second later.

Jungkook’s eyes widen and he points at Taehyung with his finger. They high five and start laughing then.

“What the fuck did just happen?” Namjoon asks.

“I don’t know but I think these two just had a bonding moment that is going to be the start of a wonderful friendship,” Yoongi answers.

Jimin stands up. “I’m going to say some words”.

Everyone looks at him expectantly. Jimin turns a little, giving Hoseok a clear view of his back and yep, the jeans hug his ass very nicely too.

"Since we have a Latin dance teacher right here, we should play some music, don't you think?"

Everyone cheers and Hoseok shakes his head, suddenly embarrassed. Jimin pouts at him and says ‘please ’ in a very cute voice.

“I’m not going to dance alone in front of you all, this isn’t one of my classes. I dance if we all dance.”

“But you have to teach us the choreo,” he pouts even more.

“Namjoon will do it!” Jungkook says a little too loud.

Hoseok sees his way out. "Yes, Namjoon will do it! At this point, he knows it better than me!"

Namjoon looks like he wants to protest but before he does, someone plays a song on his phone, Seokjin pulls Namjoon on his feet and the older starts to dance. Namjoon, seeing the silliness of his hyung, laughs and starts dancing too.

“Jungkook has the biggest crush on Namjoon.”

Hoseok turns his head and sees Taehyung watching Jungkook who is, indeed, looking at Namjoon dancing, with his eyes shining and the purest expression of awe on his face.

“Namjoon and Jungkook have been dating for three years,” Hoseok laughs.

Taehyung gasps, not expecting that answer. "But for the way he looks at him, I thought… Wow. I want someone that looks at me like that after three years."

“Jungkook has had a crush on Namjoon practically since he was born.”

Jimin comes and grabs Taehyung’s hand, taking him to dance. The two of them try to follow Namjoon’s movements but they always end up messing up, so they choose to dance with each other in their own way instead. Watching Jimin dance makes Hoseok think about when he said he wasn’t a professional, the first time they met. He could be if he wanted, he thinks.

Taehyung makes some ridiculous dance, Jungkook joining him right away, and Jimin falls on his knees on the floor laughing and holding his stomach.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Yoongi says, interrupting his thoughts about Jimin’s beautiful laugh.

“Like what? What are you talking about?” Hoseok forces himself to stop smiling.

In that moment Seokjin sits with them, sweaty from all the dancing. Yoongi stares at Hoseok for a long time and he feels the urge to hide.

“You like him,” he states.

Hoseok feels heat on his cheeks and tenses. “No.”

“Who likes who?” Seokjin asks, squinting his eyes at them.

“Hoseok likes Ji-”

“Shh.”

“Oh my god, you like Jimin?”

“Would you two shut up! And lower your voice,” Hoseok says in his best attempt on yelling and whispering at the same time.

“So it’s true,” Seokjin smirks.

Hoseok stands up and walks to where his other friends are dancing. “Time for the teacher to join!”

They all cheer while Seokjin does kissy faces and Yoongi looks at him like he knows all of his secrets.

****

Hoseok comes home one afternoon to find Jimin in the kitchen with his hands full of flour and the apron he is wearing covered in chocolate.

“What are you doing?”

“I was making a cake. Want to help me?”

Jimin sounds hopeful. “I didn’t know you baked,” Hoseok says, eyeing the mess in their kitchen table.

“I don’t, but I wanted to do one,” he sighs. “Help me?”

Jimin does his puppy expression and really, Hoseok can’t deny him anything. “I’m not a great cook either.”

Jimin smiles. “Don’t worry, we’ll follow this recipe.”

Hoseok goes to put his apron and, when he comes back, Jimin throws a handful of flour at him and smudges his cheek with chocolate, all of that in a quick sequence of movements before Hoseok realizes what is happening.

“What are you doing?”

“Now we’re even.”

“No, wait,” he dips his finger in chocolate and paints Jimin’s nose, “now we’re even.”

Jimin laughs and cleans his nose with his finger. He brings his finger down, parts his lips and sucks on his thumb very slowly looking at Hoseok’s eyes.

Hoseok nearly drops the bowl he was holding with the chocolate inside, but luckily, Jimin saves it. He doesn’t know where to look and what to do with himself, so he starts to whisk the eggs.

They follow the recipe but neither of them is very skilled.

"I hope we don't get a stomach ache from this," Hoseok says.

“It’s not for us.”

“For whom then?” Hoseok asks, confused.

“For our neighbors,” Jimin answers with a smirk.

“What neighbors?”

“The ones from the apartment below this one”. Jimin continues following the recipe unbothered.

“What? Why are you making a cake for them?”

He is really confused because they have had problems with said neighbors the week before. One night Jimin was really stressed because he had a lot of gradings to do but their neighbors were doing a lot of noise. Hoseok went downstairs to ask them to keep it quiet but they ignored him.

“Well, you know, they are a bit rude, don’t you think? Maybe they are constipated and that’s why they are in a bad mood. I’m just trying to help.”

Jimin grabs a small crystal jar. It takes Hoseok a minute to put the pieces together.

“Jimin what are you doing?” Hoseok shrieks.

"I'm just being a good neighbor," Jimin tilts his head faking innocence.

“You can’t do that, oh my god. What are you thinking?”

“They were really mean,” Jimin says with a mellow voice.

And really, if Jimin speaks to you like that you can’t deny him anything. The worst thing is that he knows it well.

“Oh my god, we are going to jail,” Hoseok says hysterically. “What am I going to do in jail? Oh my god, I will be murdered on the second day.”

“Hoseok we’re not going to jail for making them shit their pants.”

“How am I going to get the cigarettes? I will have to do dirty jobs to get them.”

“You don’t even smoke, hyung.”

“Jail changes you,” he says panicky.

Jimin sighs and rolls his eyes. “Come on, be useful and read the recipe out loud for me.”

Hoseok realizes that Jimin is not an angel, he is a fallen angel.

He is a little bit aroused.

****

The not-liking-Jimin thing gets more difficult as time passes. Instead of going away, his crush gets bigger every time he discovers something new about the boy.

Hoseok isn’t shy for these things, and in any other situation he would confess and see what happens, but with Jimin being his roommate things are more complicated. If he doesn’t feel the same, things could get awkward, and now even more with Jimin and Taehyung becoming part of their group of friends.

So he decides to not say anything for now.

****

They all go to the club one night. If Jimin’s outfits are bad for Hoseok’s health when they have dinner on the daily, it doesn’t compare with Jimin’s outfit when they go out to a club. Hoseok choked with his own saliva when Jimin came out of the bathroom that evening.

Hoseok, like the lightweight he is, is tipsy after one beer, while Jimin and Yoongi have drunk who knows how many glasses and look unaffected. He decides not to drink anymore that night, he knows that if he does he will pass from tipsy to sleepy drunk and he does not want that. He goes to the dance floor instead, where Namjoon and Jungkook are dancing together, holding each other close and with heart eyes. If anyone saw them without listening to the music, they would think that they were dancing to a ballad instead of club music. Namjoon leans and kisses Jungkook on each cheek, gives him a sweet kiss on the mouth after, and Hoseok swears he sees Jungkook trembling. They are disgustingly cheesy.

He goes with Jimin, Taehyung, and Seokjin, who are dancing too although in a very different way than his other two friends. The three of them are slut-dropping and grinding on each other, Seokjin smacking their asses. Hoseok doesn’t ask.

He walks to them and immediately starts to dance, his friends rising their glasses and cheering when they see him. Seokjin frowns and looks to the bar, where he sees Yoongi sitting on a stool drinking.

“Be right back!” Seokjin shouts and goes with a determined pace towards Yoongi.

Hoseok lets his body move to the music, feels the bass in his bones as someone sings about not wanting to fall in love. Soon his friends, Yoongi among them, make a circle around him shouting. Not long after that, more people join them on the dance floor and Hoseok feels a sense of satisfaction through his body as the people appreciate his work.

When the song ends, everyone claps and Hoseok hears some people whistling. He laughs and bows three times. When he looks at his friends, he sees Jimin looking at him from head to toe, tilting his head, and he suddenly feels hot all over.

Taehyung grabs Jungkook by the waist and pushes the younger closer, dancing to the rhythm of the song. Seokjin has made a new random friend and he is dancing with exaggerated facial expressions; Namjoon and Yoongi dance together like grandpas, moving from one foot to the other. Hoseok would laugh at them if Jimin weren't walking towards him with his lip caught between his teeth and a predatory look on his eyes.

Jimin puts his hands around Hoseok’s neck, intertwining his fingers in his nape. He brings his mouth to Hoseok’s ear, his lips brushing against it when he talks. “What does a boy have to do to dance with you.”

Hoseok puts his hands on his hips, suppressing a shiver. “You’re doing it just now. Roommate privilege.”

“Isn’t it because I am pretty?” he pouts.

Jimin is holding his gaze and Hoseok has to avert his eyes because he becomes a mess when Jimin looks at him like that.

“You know you’re pretty, don’t search for compliments,” Hoseok says, letting out a nervous laugh.

Jimin clicks his tongue. “But people giving me compliments are my thing.” He grabs Hoseok’s hands and pulls them on his waist, the two of them being impossible closer. “When are you to do a dance show for me privately?”

Hoseok’s breath catches on his throat.

The thing with Jimin is that he’s flirty. He flirts all the time and he does it for fun, even with his friends. So Hoseok knows he’s just playing now. It doesn’t make the heat in his stomach go away, though. Jimin giggles and Hoseok curses the music for not letting him hear it properly.  

Before Hoseok knows what's happening, Jimin has turned him over and plastered himself on his back, his crotch dangerously close to his ass. Hoseok feels his heart on his throat.

“This is how you’re supposed to dance latin songs, right?”

Jimin moves Hoseok hips with his hands in a slow and sensual way. The beer he had before is making him brave, and he is proud of the steadiness of his voice although he is feeling tingly all over. “Maybe you should come to one of my classes and see it yourself.”

“But I would want all the attention on me,” he says as he presses his hand on his belly, pressing Hoseok against his chest.

The feeling of being manhandled like that makes Hoseok's legs turn to jello. He thinks that Jimin could do whatever he wants to him in that moment and he would let him. He turns his head, looking directly at Jimin's eyes, finding a look of innocence on his face which he knows is fake. Jimin knows perfectly well what he's doing.

Hoseok drops his gaze to Jimin's lips, looking so plump and soft and sinfully pink, making Hoseok crave to kiss them. The corner of Jimin’s lip turns upward and Hoseok knows that he is smug but he can't look away from them.

"That wouldn't be a problem," Hoseok says although it feels like the conversation has been long forgotten. My attention is always on you , he doesn't say.

Jimin laughs and he can feel his breath on his nape. Jimin drags his nose up the side of his neck and this time Hoseok can’t suppress the shiver that runs through his body.

There’s sweat and lustful looks, hands everywhere and indecent touches, grinding and groping. Hoseok could lie and say everything was a blur, that he didn’t know what he was doing, but the thing is, he isn’t even tipsy anymore, the dancing and the events sobering him fully.

In a moment of clarity, he realizes that Jimin definitely isn't sober and that shakes him out of it.

“Jimin, let’s dance with the others,” he says putting distance between them.

Jimin grabs his forearm and drags him against him again. “Don’t wanna.”

“Come on”. Hoseok intertwines their fingers, pulling him along the bodies on the dance floor.

When Jimin and Taehyung reunite, Hoseok sees Yoongi on the bar and goes with him.

“Don’t say a word.”

Yoongi keeps his mouth shut.

****

They don’t talk about it.

Hoseok is sure Jimin remembers, he wasn’t that drunk, but both of them ignore it. He thinks about that night a lot, though.

Hoseok isn’t blind, he knows that Jimin is attracted to him and they could have sex, but that’s not what he wants. It’s not that the thought of sleeping with Jimin doesn’t appeal him, it does, but he likes Jimin a lot and Hoseok wants more than just a one night stand. He doesn’t know if Jimin feels the same.

So they pretend that night didn’t happen.

****

The first thing Hoseok sees when he enters the studio for his salsa class that afternoon it’s all of his students surrounding someone with infatuated expressions as said someone is talking about something and giggling. Someone he has been having breakfast with this morning.

“Jimin?”

That’s when the people in the room notice he’s there.

"Hi, Hoseok. I didn't have to work this afternoon and I asked Namjoon and Jungkook to come with them. I hope you don't mind."

"No, of course, I don't m-"

People around Jimin go to their usual spots in the class, letting Hoseok see Jimin’s full body.

He is wearing leggings.

Jimin’s nice thick thighs (which Hoseok has dreamed about more than he would like to admit) are hugged by tight black material that doesn’t leave much for the imagination.

“I don’t mind,” he finishes his sentence and hopes that his nose isn’t bleeding.

Jimin walks to him when Hoseok goes to drop all of his stuff at the front of the class. “Are you sure? I don’t want to disturb.”

“You don’t disturb, Jimin.”

Jimin gives him one of his bright smiles and he goes weak on the knees.

“Thank you, teacher!” he makes finger guns at him and Hoseok rolls his eyes fondly.

The class goes as usual; Hoseok teaches the steps of the choreo they will be doing today with Jungkook’s help and his students practice them individually at first with Hoseok going around the class and correcting them if someone is making mistakes.

Hoseok thinks again that Jimin is good at dancing. Of course, he isn't perfect, and he struggles a little given that it's his first class, but he has elegance in his movements and it's such a beautiful sight seeing his body flow with the music.

“Am I doing it right?” he asks when Hoseok stops by his side and watches him for a moment.

“Yes, but you have to do it like this, watch. You put your feet here and then pam, pam, pam,” he shows him the right way to do it while he speaks. “And then you pam,” lifts his arm, “pam,” moves his hips, “and papapam.”

Jimin looks at him funny and laughs. “Okay.”

When it’s time to dance in pairs, Hoseok realizes they’re uneven when Jimin is left alone in the middle of the class.

“I guess I will have to dance with the teacher.”

They dance together in front of the class so everyone can follow Hoseok. It’s easy to dance with Jimin. He’s a quick learner and they work well together. He’s flexible too, Hoseok notices, which also helps.

"You should consider coming regularly to my classes Jimin-ah, you're good."

“Oh, you miss me that much when you’re not home, huh?” Jimin says wiggling his eyebrows.

Hoseok laughs. “I’m serious, though.”

“I’ll consider it after this month ends, I have a lot of work.”

Hoseok spins Jimin and pushes him backwards, laying Jimin’s back on his arm.

“Deal.”

“Do you want to take me to a competition like those two?” he says looking at Namjoon and Jungkook.

They are really good and have been going to some competitions, even taking some medals home.

"That takes a lot of technique and understanding with your partner. And this is your first time dancing salsa"

"Well, you are in charge of teaching me the technique, leave the understanding to me."

Jimin’s comebacks always catch him off guard.

When the class ends, everyone says their farewells and Hoseok is left alone in the studio with his three friends.

“Isn’t Jimin hyung good, Hoseok hyung?” Jungkook asks with his big and genuine eyes.

“Yes he is, I told him before. He should come more often.”

Jimin shows a pleased expression on his face.

“Look at his smug face, you’re feeding his praise thing,” Namjoon says rolling his eyes.

“But he’s not as good as you, Joonie hyung,” Jungkook says quickly.

Namjoon’s face softens. “And I’ll never be as good as you, baby. The best boy.”

Jungkook’s face turns red and he has to lean on the wall because his knees fail him.

Hoseok hopes that the disgust he is feeling shows in his face. “The audacity of those two to talk about praise.”

“Let’s go before they have vanilla sex in front of us or worse, recite poetry about each other’s eyes.”

****

Hoseok is cleaning the dishes when he hears the front door. He immediately notices that something is wrong when Jimin doesn't come to the kitchen, as usual, to ask him about his day.

He hears the shower running and finishes doing the dishes. He starts to cut some vegetables and after a while, hears the bathroom door, but still, no Jimin comes to the kitchen.

Hoseok sticks his head out of the kitchen door and sees Jimin, curled up on the corner of the couch, watching tv.

“Jimin-ah, I’m making bibimbap for dinner. Is that okay with you?”

“I’m not hungry.”

Hoseok purses his lips. “You can’t go to bed without eating anything.”

“Well, I’m not hungry, so yes, I can,” he snaps back.

Hoseok sighs. “Are you okay, Jimin?”

“Yes,” he answers stubbornly.

“Well, I’m making dinner and we’ll eat watching the movie of your choice,” he says trying a different approach and leaving before Jimin can say a word.

Jimin won’t admit that he’s feeling bad because, as Hoseok has come to learn in the months that they shared together, Jimin is a really caring person, always looking for his people and helping them, but when it comes to his own struggles, he keeps it all to himself. Hoseok knows better than to bother him about it because that way he only closes himself off more.

“What movie are we watching?” Hoseok asks when he finishes the dinner and sits on the couch. He hands a dish to Jimin and the other looks at it for a moment before sighing and taking it.

“I’m really not hungry”. Despite saying that, he grabs his chopsticks.

“Come on, you’ll feel better with a full stomach,” Hoseok says gently.

Jimin deflates and takes some meat. “Thank you,” he says softly, not looking up from his plate, his voice barely a whisper.

They end up watching The Good Dinosaur and, at some point, when they finish their food and leave the plates on the table, Jimin curls up on Hoseok’s side, resting his head on his chest. Hoseok plays with his hair and hears some sniffling after a while. He is certain that Jimin’s crying isn’t only due to the movie.

After the movie finishes, Jimin disentangles himself from Hoseok’s body, letting Hoseok see his red, puffy eyes and his wet cheeks. Hoseok cleans his tears gently with his thumb.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Jimin shakes his head.

“Is it work related?”

He nods.

“Can you do something about it?”

He shakes his head again.

“Then it’s okay to feel bad, but don’t be too hard on yourself if it’s not on your hand to do anything.”

Jimin closes his eyes and lets Hoseok caress his face and comb his hair. An idea occurs to Hoseok.

“I know exactly what you need to feel better!”

Jimin opens his eyes and looks at him with scepticism.

“Come on,” Hoseok stands up and offers his hand to Jimin to do the same. Jimin grabs it and stands too, Hoseok dragging him along and putting him on the middle of the room. “Wait here a moment.”

“Hoseok, what are you doing?”

“Do you trust me?” he asks as he connects his phone to the speakers.

“Yeah but-”

“Here it is!” he puts his reggaeton playlist and Jimin looks at him confused when the music starts.

“What is this?”

Hoseok starts to move his hips and he walks to where Jimin is standing. “Dancing to reggaeton when you’re sad it’s magic, it erases your worries!”

“What are you saying?” Jimin laughs a little and Hoseok counts that as a win.

“Come on Jimin, feel the music.”

Hoseok grabs him by the waist and they move their hips to the rhythm of the music together. Even though they are dancing really close, this doesn’t feel like the last time at all. There is no sexual tension in the air, their intentions aren’t teasing the other. This just feels like two friends being silly.

It’s obvious that Jimin is feeling down from the way he lets Hoseok move him around as they dance. The other times they have danced together he has let Hoseok lead, of course, he is the professional dancer here, but there was always a hint of dominance in his movements. Now, however, it feels like when you drag someone who is sleepy to bed.

They dance a couple of songs more and a couple of times, when Hoseok is being his loud and silly self, a tiny smile appears on Jimin’s mouth.

After the fourth song, Hoseok stops the music on his phone and unplugs the speakers.

“And now it’s time to sleep, you’ve had a long day. Come on, wash your teeth while I put clean sheets on your bed so you sleep better. That’s what my mother always says.”

Jimin looks like he wants to protest but finally shakes his head and goes to the bathroom as Hoseok has told him. He comes to the room perfectly on time when Hoseok has finished making the bed.

“Come on, lie down, I’ll tuck you in!” he says opens the quilt.

Jimin rolls his eyes. “You don’t have to.”

“I know I don’t have to, but I want to. Come on.”

Jimin gets under the covers and Hoseok pushes them to his chin.

“Happy?” Jimin says lightheartedly.

“Very. Want me to read you something to sleep?”

Jimin eyes disappear with his smile and Hoseok’s stomach does a twist. “What are you saying, hyung.”

“Come on, sleep now, you have to rest,” he gives Jimin a kiss on his forehead. “Tomorrow you’ll see things differently.”

Hoseok walks to the door and when he stops to turn off the light, he thinks he hears a little thank you .

****

The next day Hoseok doesn't see Jimin. He has to attend to a play in the school in the afternoon and after that, there's a dinner with the other teachers. He's a little worried, even though Jimin assures him that he's okay over text, and tries to stay awake to talk to him when he comes back, but and Hoseok is fast asleep by the time he arrives home.

The next day, although it's a Saturday and he could laze in bed a little more, Hoseok gets up really early and decides to do something productive. Around eleven, he hears Jimin's door opening.

“Good morning!”

“How are you so cheerful in the morning? It amazes me,” Jimin says as he leans on the counter, grabbing an apple and playing with passing it between his hands.

“It’s my superpower”. He opens the rice cooker and grabs two plates to serve the breakfast. “You look better today.”

He does. His mouth isn’t turned downwards anymore and his eyes have recovered their usual sparkle.

“I feel better,” Jimin says with a small voice.

Hoseok grabs the two plates and sits on the kitchen table, Jimin sitting in front of him when Hoseok tells him. “I’m glad. Did you have fun yesterday?”

“Yeah, the kids did amazing and the dinner was great.”

“That’s nice,” he smiles at him.

Hoseok can tell Jimin’s mind is elsewhere. They eat in silence and Hoseok waits for him to say what’s bugging him, but he doesn’t have to wait too much.

“Thank you, for the other night,” Jimin says, not looking Hoseok in the eyes. “It really helped and you were right about what you said. So thank you, really, it means a lot.”

Jimin’s cheeks turn a little red and Hoseok doesn’t understand what’s happening. Why is Jimin acting so weird when he is just thanking him? “You don’t have to thank me for anything.”

They finish their food in silence and Jimin cleans the dishes while Hoseok sweeps the kitchen floor. They go to the couch after, Jimin letting Hoseok choose something to see and Hoseok still confused about his behavior.

Jimin clears his throat during a boring scene in the movie and Hoseok turns his head to look at him.

“So, I was just thinking, maybe…” he worries his lip and lets out a nervous laugh. “Maybe we could go out to dinner someday?”

“Sure,” Hoseok says. Was this what Jimin was so nervous about? Asking him to have dinner outside?

Jimin’s eyebrows go up to his forehead and his mouth hangs open. “Really?” he asks, shocked.

“Yeah, I’ll ask the guys when are they available to g-”

Jimin takes a cushion, crushes his face with it and screams, the sound muffled by it.

“Are you okay, Jimin-ah?”

He puts down the cushion and stares at him with something like annoyance on his face that makes Hoseok want to hide. Jimin massages his temples and sighs.

“I meant if you maybe wanted to go out with me. Like, the two of us alone,” he lowers his gaze again.

“Oh?”

Hoseok thinks he is starting to understand what Jimin is trying to say but his brain isn’t working properly for some reason.

“Like a date, Hoseok.”

If his brain wasn’t working properly before now it just completely shut down. He feels his eyes bugging out and tries a few times to say something but the words don’t come out of his mouth.

“Nevermind, forget I said anything. I’m a fool.”

“Wait, what?”

“Forget it, Hoseok,” Jimin makes an attempt to stand up but Hoseok doesn’t let him.

“You like me?”

“You don’t need to mock me.”

“I’m not mocking you. Answer my question, please,” Hoseok says with determination.

“Yes, I like you,” he finally answers, looking like he desperately wants to hide.

The whole situation feels surreal and Hoseok can help but laugh nervously. He stops immediately when he sees the hurt in Jimin’s expression and realizes that he is interpreting the situation incorrectly.

“Oh my god, I’m sorry, I’m not laughing at you I swear. I’m just nervous, let me collect my thoughts”. He takes a deep breath. “I like you too.”

Jimin looks skeptical. “Look Hoseok, just stop. I thought that you… nevermind.”

“Jimin, I’m sorry, I just didn’t think that you would ever ask me out on a date, you caught me off guard. Look at me,” he puts his finger under Jimin’s chin and lifts his head, “I like you. I like you a lot, Jimin. I never imagined that you liked me back.”

Although Jimin still looks doubtful, a hint of hopefulness appears in his eyes. Hoseok caresses his round cheek with his thumb. “Are you serious?”

“Of course. How could I not fall for you when you are the most amazing person I know? Not realistic”. He smiles at Jimin. “I would love to go out with you.”

It takes a minute for Jimin to process what Hoseok has said, but when he does, he starts giggling with his red cheeks and covering his mouth with his hands. It’s the cutest thing Hoseok has seen and his heart flutters.

They keep looking at each other with shy smiles for who knows how long.

“What do we do now?” Hoseok asks.

“You kiss me, dumbass,” Jimin says rolling his eyes.

“Oh.”

Hoseok is suddenly nervous, but it’s a good nervousness. It’s the feeling you get when you want something so much and you’re about to have it; the anticipation when you’re about to take the first sip of water after being thirsty for so long.

In the end, Jimin kisses him because apparently, Hoseok took too long for his patience. When their lips touch, all thoughts leave his brain and everything is Jimin .

Jimin kisses exactly the way Hoseok has expected him to: sweet, caring, teasing and looking for control. He gets lost on his soft and plump lips, and when Jimin’s tongue touches his lips, Hoseok goes delirious.

They make out for minutes, hours or days, Hoseok doesn’t know and doesn’t care either. Sadly, they inevitably have to pull away, but when he sees Jimin's state, with his hair messed up and his lips bright pink due to Hoseok ministrations, he isn't too bothered.

“I changed my mind, I want to have our first date here,” Jimin says. “Tonight.”

“That’s what we have been doing since you moved in, just that they were not called dates.”

“Come on, make me dinner. You have to seduce me.”

“I got the impression that you were pretty seduced a few minutes ago.”

He does the pouty expression he does when he wants to achieve something. “Please?”

And who is he to deny Jimin anything?

He pecks his lips and stands to take their long-forgotten dirty dishes from breakfast to the kitchen. Jimin looks at him with so much fondness that he feels like crying.

When he is about to pass the threshold of the door kitchen, Jimin calls his name. “Yeah?” he says turning to look at him.

“Does this mean that I can go to your classes for free from now on?”

Hoseok snorts and shakes his head.