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“No no no no! Damn it, I almost had it!” Hoseok screams from the driver’s seat.
Jimin groans. It has been 15 minutes and they’re still trying to find a parking spot.
Hoseok glares at the car that managed to snatch up the empty spot. “Stupid pick-up trucks, thinking that they can bully us small cars.” Grumbling, he pulls away and begins searching for another free spot.
“Hyung!” Jimin whines, “Why are we even here? We’ve been trying to park the car for 84 years!”
“You don’t understand Jimin,” Hoseok grounds out, almost desperately, “Today is buy-a-drink-&-get-free-wings day! The promo is only for today!”
Jimin doesn’t let up, “If you want wings, I’ll gladly buy you some if it means not having to wait forever for parking!”
Hoseok whips around, a wild look in his eyes, “I won’t settle for any other wings but from here. It’s Jin’s wings or nothing!”
Yoongi, who has been sitting in the passenger seat silently listening to the other two bicker, casually points ahead of them. “Babe, that car is backing out.”
Hoseok’s head snaps forward again. Smiles of glee appear on both Jimin and Hoseok’s faces, finally .
Once they’ve safely (Jimin would use that word very lightly) parked the car, Hoseok plants a big, wet smooch on Yoongi’s cheek, “You’re an absolute lifesaver, kitten.”
Yoongi rolls his eyes, but Jimin pretends not to notice as Yoongi wraps a scarf around Hoseok’s neck, insisting that he was going to get frostbite from the walk to the restaurant. Jimin smiles to himself, it’s times like this that he wishes to feel the warmth and connection of having a specific someone by his side too.
“Jimin-ah, hurry up! My wings are waiting!” Hoseok calls from the doorway.
The three men push their way through the overwhelming crowd, trying to follow one of the staff to their table. Once seated, Hoseok checks on everyone, “Nobody lost a finger or two trying to get through that?”
Jimin snorts, “Thank fuck we made reservations, our minds are just so gigantic.”
Yoongi frowns, “Weird that there are so many people though.”
“Kitten, I already told you, it’s the wings- ”
“No, Yoongi-hyung is right.” Jimin looks around the restaurant. “Even with promotions, this is a lot of people. Half of the city probably made their way here.”
Hoseok shrugs uncaringly, “Even better business for Jin-hyung then.”
The conversation tapers off as they flip through the menu. Jimin takes a moment to observe the crowd waiting by the entrance. Funny how most of them are teenage girls, and are those posters they’re carrying?
Deciding that it was too much of a bother, Jimin throws the thought from his head, agreeing with Hoseok. Guess Jin-hyung will be earning some bank tonight.
The noise level of the room suddenly increases in volume, making Jimin look up. He spots Jin hyung approaching their table with a wide grin.
“What is up, mother fuckers! I’m glad you’re all here today. Yoongi, I see you’ve dyed your hair for the third time this week, love that for you!” His broad shoulders shake with laughter even as Yoongi flips him off.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t do that because I am a good hyung and can restrain myself from chucking all of you out of my restaurant.”
Hoseok’s eyes bulge with panic, “Hyung, no! I really need your wings, my broke ass can’t afford to eat here more than once a month and the promo is only for today!”
Jin rolls his eyes. “Oh Hobi, you absolute drama queen. Relax, I’m not throwing my own blood out. Besides, if you love my food so much, just come in anytime and it’ll be on the house.”
Before Yoongi can point out that none of them are blood-related, Hoseok clasps Jin’s hands in his own, “Thank you for doing God’s work.” His eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Jimin and Yoongi share an exasperated look with one another. Drama queen + drama queen = an unnecessary theatre production that attracts more attention than any normal person would be comfortable with.
While Jin and Hoseok talk about the quality of the restaurant’s food, Jimin sees another figure, slightly hidden behind Jin hyung. Looks pretty young. He sends the person a smile, the other shyly returning the gesture.
“Jin hyung, are you training a newbie? In this crowd?” Jimin lifts an eyebrow.
Jin bursts into laughter and the newbie’s eyes widen in what seems to be shock.
“Oh Jimin, my little mochi puffball, your sense of humor has really evolved.” Jin hyung wipes a fake tear from his eye. “I’m so proud to call you my son.”
Jimin’s brows knit together in confusion. “What’s so funny? What are you talking about? ”
Jin’s smile melts into a puzzled look, “What are you talking about? You don’t really think that he- ” Jin turns to look at the newbie, back to Jimin. His jaw drops, “Oh my god.”
The entire table is giving Jin weird looks, but he ignores them. He grabs the newbie by the shoulders, exposing him to the dim lighting of the restaurant. Almost thrusting the other into Jimin’s face, Jin asks, “Are you sure you don’t know who he is?”
Jimin jerks back from the closed distance between him and the newbie, a flush forming on both their faces. “I-I think I’d recognize him if I knew who he was. Also, what the fuck are you doing?”
A glint appears in Jin’s eyes. Ignoring the newbie’s subtle attempts to back away, Jin smirks. “So what you’re saying is, this newbie is so handsome that you would be able to recognize him if you saw him again?”
Jimin splutters, trying to find an appropriate answer. “W-What? No! I mean, not to offend you, you are handsome- Wait, not in that way. Like, you’re objectively handsome, you know? I-I’m just going to shut up now.” He looks at his sweaty fists, clenched in his lap. Jimin could feel the burn of blood rushing to his face.
This. Is. So. Embarrassing!
The newbie lets out a strangled laugh. “I-I don’t hear that too often, thank you?”
Jin pats him on the back. “Well, you’re supposed to be in-training , aren’t you? Get to work!”
The younger rolls his eyes but complies. Bringing up the iPad, he asks the table, “What would you like to eat today?”
Before anyone else could get a word out, Jin yells, “Stop! Yah, JK, didn’t I say you should be asking them for drinks first?”
The newbie, JK , huffs. “Fine. What drinks would you like to order?”
Jin pats his shoulder. “Now you’re getting it.” He turns to the table, “You’re his first customers, so bear with us.”
Jimin gives JK an encouraging smile, “Don’t worry, you’re doing great for your first time.” He speaks in a stage-whisper, “Personally, I think it’s really unfair that Jin-hyung made you work your first day where there would be so many people.”
JK’s cheeks bloom with a light pink flush, “B-But I’m not-”
“Drinks! We’ve been standing here for hours and you still haven’t ordered drinks!” Jin quickly interrupts JK.
As the seated guests flip look through the beverage menu, Jin murmurs to his newbie , “Don’t let them know who you are just yet.”
JK whispers back, “And why would I do that?”
“Because my fiance is literally your producer and I want to see where this can go. Also because I’m your hyung you little brat.”
Jin hears a resigned sigh next to him and grins. He looks at the annoyed expression on the younger’s face. Jeon Jungkook, a rapidly-rising idol with growing Korean and international fanbases, is currently serving at a waiter at Jin’s restaurant as his part in the charity for orphanages in Seoul. And also seems to have an interest in one of his closest friends, Park Jimin. Who had no idea who Jeon Jungkook was. Jin chuckles inwardly, Namjoon is in for a good storytime tonight.
It’s Yoongi who speaks up first. “I’ll just get a can of sikhye, thanks.”
He receives weird looks from Hoseok and Jimin. “What? I’m planning of getting spicy wings.” JK shrugs and taps away at the iPad screen.
Hoseok winks at Jin, “You already know what I’m down for.”
The owner of the restaurant snorts. When JK gives him a confused look, he simply answers with, “One bottle of Sprite.”
Jimin giggles at his hyung’s antics.
“Yah, JK! I said one not a hundred and one!”
“S-sorry, I was...distracted?”
Jin puts a hand on his hip sassily. “How about not ogling at Jimin and actually looking at the screen?”
JK’s face burns a bright red, he looks down at the iPad to avoid Jimin’s gaze. “A-Anyways, Jimin-ssi, your drink?”
“J-Just one banana milk, please.”
JK furiously types the order into the system before bending into a quick bow. “I’ll be back with your drinks soon!” He rushes out and speeds away.
Jin is the first to speak up. “ Banana milk , Jimin?”
Jimin groans. “I panicked and that was the first thing I thought of!”
Yoongi snickers, “He didn’t want to expose his alcoholism this early into the relationship.”
“R-Relationship?! I literally just met him a few minutes ago, hyung!”
Jin snorts, “Spare me, I think your faces were redder than the tomatoes I use for my Appetizing Alfredo .”
Jimin lays his head on the table. “Hyung, why do you always have to hire the cute ones?”
“Because I love doing charity.” Jin howls inwardly at his little pun there.
“It certainly isn’t doing any charity for me.” Jimin pouts.
“Mmhm, unfortunate. Now, I’d love to stay and gossip with y’all, but I need to make sure that the kid isn’t depleting my stock of banana milk. I’ll be back soon!” Jin waves at the table as he leaves. Not much later, they hear his raised voice yell about how he was being disrespected in his own restaurant.
“So…”
Jimin mutters sternly, “Not a word from either of you.”
“Want to give me a legitimate reason for what you just did?”
Jin slings an arm around the younger’s narrower-than-his-own shoulders, “Ah, young JK, You’ll soon realize that I’m doing you a favor.”
Jungkook narrows his eyes and shrugs the older’s arm off. “What do you mean a favor ? What we just did was basically lying.”
Putting his hands on his hips, Jin smirks, “You don’t fool me, JK. You’ve got the hots for my little baby mochi.”
The rosiness from before returns to Jungkook’s face. “I-I most certainly do not have the hots for him! I was just embarrassed, by you !”
Seokjin gives him a fake, sweet smile. “I’m sure that’s the case honey bunny. Now, take those goddamn drinks to your soulmate’s table before i send you over to the piranhas waiting at the front door.”
Jungkook’s round eyes widen. “Okay, okay! I’ll go!” He quickly picks up the drinks and makes for the kitchen door. Just before he walks out, Jin yells, “Remember to take down their food instead of staring at Jimin the entire time!”
Jungkook’s entire face flares a bright red as he replies by flipping Jin off and marching out the kitchen.
“Here’s your sikhye and sprite,” Jungkook places the drinks in front of the couple, “And your banana milk.” He adds softly as he serves Jimin. The latter smiles at him, causing Jungkook to feel something weird in his stomach.
“Thanks, JK .” Jimin’s sweet voice reaches his ears and Jungkook feels his heart thumping faster. This man is going to actually take him out . Literally. Jungkook’s heart is beating a little too fast to be normal, his body temperature is a little higher than it should be, his skin is feeling a little too tight around his body, and-
“Hey, are you okay?”
Jungkook blinks as Jimin’s words pierce through his mind, a little heavier now with concern.
“I-I think I might be going into anaphylactic shock?”
Everyone seated at the table stares at him in silence for a moment.
“Oh my god, okay. Yoongi, Seok, call the emergency number right now! JK, do you have an EpiPen with you?”
Jungkook leans on the side of the booth. “I-I think there should be one in my bag. J-Jin hyung should know where it is.”
Jimin breathed out. “Okay. Sit down here and I’ll get your stuff, okay?” Without waiting for JK’s reply, Jimin runs towards the kitchen.
Bursting through the kitchen doors, Jimin’s mind is running at 184 miles per second, trying to determine which solution would get JK to safety faster. Seokjin. First, he needs to find Seokjin.
“Seokjin-hyung!” He screams as he wildly turns his head, trying to look for the chef.
The older is immediately by his side and notices the obvious distress on the dancer’s face. “Jimin, what’s wrong?”
“JK- anaphylactic shock- needs EpiPen- his bag-” Jimin spills out.
Realization blossoms on Seokjin’s face. “Fuck. okay. I’ll get his bag. You stay here and take deep breaths for me okay? I’ll be right back.”
Jimin nods, trying to do as his hyung said and count as he inhaled and exhaled. As soon as his breathing is regulated, Seokjin is running towards him, a red and black duffel bag across his shoulder. They dash out of the kitchen and to the booth where Jungkook is sitting down. Hoseok is on the phone and Yoongi is talking to the youngest.
“We-We’ve got his bag. Does anyone know how to use the EpiPen?” Jimin asks.
Jungkook weakly holds out his hand, “I can do it myself.”
Once the EpiPen is in his hand, Jungkook pulls out the safety tab and stabs it into his thigh. Allowing the epinephrine to course through his veins, he leans back into the seat of the booth.
“The emergency line just texted me, they’re arriving soon.” Hoseok says quickly.
Jimin nods, “Let’s get him outside so Jin can deal with the restaurant.” He loops Jungkook’s arm over his shoulder and helps him walk out the side door of the building. Yoongi and Hoseok followed closely as Jin went to inform his staff.
“Did you guys find out what he was allergic to?” Jimin asks as a chilly wind blows into the night.
“I asked him earlier and he was pretty sure it was mangos.”
Hoseok frowns. “Mangos?” He looks at Yoongi and Jimin, “Does Jin serve any dishes with mango here?”
“No, I don’t.” Jin speed-walks towards them. “Namjoon and I knew that Jungkook is allergic to mango, so we made sure that the entire restaurant is mango-free.”
“Then how did he get a reaction?”
“One of your customers might’ve brought in mango products or had mango scents.” Yoongi thought aloud.
“I have a strict no-mango rule on this premises! I even had a whole poster made, dedicated to that!” Seokjin paces around them.
“You did the best you could, hyung. But,” Jimin grimaces, “Some people are just ignorant and couldn’t give a fuck about taking health precautions.”
Jin buries his face in his hands. “This is my fault. I was the one who suggested letting Jungkook serve in my restaurant. I was so stupid, I didn’t even consider that this could happen-”
“Stop.” Jungkook interrupts Jin’s self-depreciating rant. “Jimin hyung is right. This isn’t your fault and I’m not blaming you for any of this. You did what you could. I’m going to be okay.”
Jin takes a moment to digest Jungkook’s words before nodding. “You’re right. Thanks Jungkook-ah, hyung is just really worried for you right now.”
Jungkook smiles. “I appreciate that, but don’t you think there’s someone else who would probably want to know about this?”
The chef gasps, “Namjoon! Oh my god I totally forgot about him. I’ll have to call him and tell him about this. Boys,” He looks at them, “Namjoon and I will meet you at the hospital. Text me if anything happens. Anything at all!”
Hoseok nods, “Yeah, of course hyung. We’ll keep you updated.”
Seokjin smooths Jungkook’s dark hair back and kisses the top of his head. “Namjoon and I will be right there, okay? Don’t worry, these hyungs are going to take good care of you. I’ll see you soon.” He hugs the younger before sprinting back into the restaurant.
Jimin observes the interaction, confused by the affection shared between Jin and Jungkook. He opens his mouth to ask, but the loud whirring of sirens clam him shut. This can wait. Making sure that Jungkook is safe is the most important thing right now.
Yoongi and Hoseok ended up driving themselves to the hospital because there was a maximum of one accompanying passenger with the patient. When asked if he wanted to be accompanied by anyone, Jungkook shyly says, “Jimin hyung,” with no hesitance. Jimin simply steps closer to the younger, feeling a surge of protectiveness for the seemingly vulnerable Jungkook.
The ride to the hospital was mostly silent between Jimin and Jungkook. Jimin had just played with the tips of Jungkook’s fingers, too nervous to look the other in the eye. Jungkook seemed rather content, considering his situation. Somehow, neither Jimin nor Jungkook can tell, their fingers are laced together and their palms rest on one another.
“I’m sorry you have to see me like this, I swear I’m usually at least average looking.” Jungkook jokes.
Jimin is flustered. “No, please! I don’t think anyone has ever looked better going into anaphylactic shock. Sure you might be the first person I’ve ever seen going into anaphylactic shock, but still!”
Jungkook laughs, a clear and bright sound. “Thank you, I think?”
Jungkook was finished being examined by the doctor and he’s now being kept in observation in case a second reaction is triggered.
“So…” Jimin trails, “How many times have you went into anaphylaxis?”
Jungkook hums in thought. “I think this might be the fifth time.”
Jimin’s eyes widen, “Fifth time? What happened the last four times?”
Jungkook’s eyes sparkle with slight mischief, “Well, it all started with me ordering a mango slushie at some boujie vegan cafe when I was four…”
Jungkook’s on his second anaphylactic experience when Yoongi and Hoseok burst into the room.
“Jungkook! You’re ok!”
“Hey kid, feeling any better?”
“Oh my god you guys are so loud.”
Jungkook simply laughs in the middle of the slight chaos.
The same scene is repeated again as Seokjin and Namjoon rush into the room, coddling and checking Jungkook for any problems.
“Aish, stop!” Jungkook cutely whines, “I’m not your child.”
“Aw, how cute,” Jin coos, “Joonie, he really thinks that we don’t have his adoption papers in our safe.”
“Oh my god, shut up…” Jungkook groans, curling into himself as Jin and Namjoon continue to humor their parental sides.
After a few hours of talking, laughing, and embarrassing each other, the doctor enters the room. He checks up on Jungkook one last time before declaring him free to leave.
“Hurry up, you oldies!” Jungkook whines. Jimin laughs as the younger bounces of the balls of his feet, impatient waiting for the engaged couple. Jin takes offence to that and goes off about how respect and seniority is dead in his household.
“That’s one way to get them to leave us alone.”
A shiver runs up Jimin’s spine as he feels Jungkook’s warm breath brush past his ear. He tries to suppress the ball of excitement that suddenly rouses in him. He raises his eyebrow, “And why do we need to be alone?”
Jungkook grins, “So we can exchange numbers, obviously.”
Jimin goes home that night with a refreshing buzz in his nerves and a new contact in his phone that may or not not be <33
Jungkook<33.