Archive of Our Own

This is a place where I don't feel alone
This is a place where I feel at home

'Cause, I built a home
For you
For me

The apartment is nice enough, Seokjin guesses. 

It is small and the stairs leading to the loft make him nervous, but Gochujang seems to like it, purring loudly from inside her carrier. Seokjin wonders when the rug will be pulled from beneath his feet. 

His bag—enchanted to be as deep as he needs for his clothes, for his potions kits, for the ingredients he uses—is a grounding weight in his hands while he listens to the landlady talk to him. She explains the details, the rent and utilities very nearly all inclusive here, and Seokjin thinks he’s being duped. He doesn’t say it out loud, though, instead he smiles thinly and sets his bag down to dig for the deposit he had squirreled away. She takes it graciously and leaves him be.

The door slams shut with a finality that Seokjin finds almost poetic.

“Well. Home sweet home, huh Gochu?” he asks the purring carrier, and almost immediately a door slides shut upstairs. It makes Seokjin jump, but Gochujang’s purring continues on; and faintly he wonders if she’s amused at his reaction. Probably, considering how much of a spiteful furball she was. 

‘At least,’ Seokjin thinks, ‘the apartment was already furnished and also one of the few that didn’t care about my familiar and witchery. Strange, but lucky I guess.’

Kneeling down in the living room, Seokjin unzips the carrier and Gochujang books it for the loft. Her purring echoes in the sparse apartment. Seokjin shakes his head and freezes only once when he hears the stairs creak. He doesn’t turn to acknowledge the noise, instead he busies himself with unpacking his entire life into his new apartment. Logically that could’ve been the cat, making herself comfortable in the new apartment, so he shouldn’t pay much mind to the noises. Seokjin moves himself into the kitchen where he sets his potions kits and ingredients. 

It’ll be cramped, but most of everything will fit, he finds out after a few minutes of rustling around. Seokjin hums quietly to himself as he finishes up fitting everything he has in the kitchen and in some of the storage cabinets. Gochujang is still purring happily away and he knows if he tries to pester her into letting him give her pets, she’ll turn on him. 

A couple more creaks sound, like the weight of a person moving in the apartment and Seokjin whips his head to look around. Nothing. He feels eyes on him for a moment and when he glances up, it’s just Gochujang, staring down at him with an intense look to her blue eyes. Unnerving.

“What are you looking at, Gochu?” Seokjin asks, while Gochujang continues to stare intently down at him. Frowning, Seokjin shakes his head and grabs his phone before making his way to the couch to lounge about until he needed to make dinner. 

The noises stopped happening after that.

ㅡ

Well, they mostly stopped.

—

The apartment doesn’t seem to change much since Seokjin’s moved in, those few weeks ago. He still feels like someone else is there with him, but the feeling almost always disappears after a few moments. 

He chalks it up to it being a new environment.

Also Gochujang trying to scare him.

He brews potions of comfort for his clients, sometimes a few luck potions when there was a particularly insistent customer who wanted it. It’s busy work that keeps his mind from wandering too far off the track when he hears the noises start up. If he focused hard and long enough, it's almost as if there was some other person there with him; he’s not sure if it’s a comfort or something to be frightened of.

Sometimes Seokjin hears the same person moving about creaking noise in the apartment, and he does try to catch whatever it is, but there is no one. It’s starting to move into fucking terrifying territory. And better yet, Gochujang continues to stare off into the distance as if she’s attempting to face what’s been making the noises and Seokjin wonders if he should invest in someone to check the place out. Or perhaps ask the landlady about the apartment’s history. 

He doesn’t want to lose the place though, in case she kicks him out for questioning what should be a very very very nice offer on the apartment. Seokjin can absolutely stand a few weird noises here and there and his demon spawn cat’s incessant staring into the spaces that could occupy a person if they existed there. 

So, all in all… the apartment isn’t that bad. 

It’s during his and Yoongi’s weekly phone call—a condition they made sure to always follow through with, thanks to their eternal roommate contract, clause number forty-five, section A required it—that Seokjin learns the noises could get… feisty. 

“No Yoongichi, you don’t get it! There’s definitely something fishy going on!” 

A pause. 

“Before you talk back it’s not Gochujang’s fish treats,” Seokjin mutters, leaning against the counter as he flicks his fingers back and forth to stir the potion on the stove. The spoon in the pot moves at a steady pace while Seokjin continues to wave his fingers.

“That was awful, I hate it, hyung. But also, haven’t you thought that maybe it is Gochu crawling around the place? ”

Seokjin frowns and ceases his flicking. The pot bubbles up high before he leans over to cut the heat. Gochujang is sleeping on the couch, a calico splotch on the dark fabric, and Seokjin’s silence lingers.

“That’s the thing. I hear movement anyway, as if they’re coming up and down the loft stairs—”

“Neighbors. ”

Seokjin makes a face, just as he hears a familiar creaking. He glances over to the loft stairs, again making note of the fact that Gochujang is asleep on the couch; his skin prickles with the feeling of being watched and he shivers before replying, “—the walls are super soundproof, I went to apologize to the downstairs neighbor because I accidentally dropped a whole cauldron on the floor and she said she didn’t hear a thing.”

Yoongi’s silence stretches for a while and Seokjin wonders if he’s finally gotten through to his ex-roommate. There’s the sound of rustling from the other end of the phone and then Seokjin hears a distant call—maybe Jeongguk, or Namjoon—that Yoongi answers to.

“...okay. Maybe you have something supernatural happening. What are your options? ” 

That’s actually a good question. He doesn’t have anywhere else to go, even if he did decide to up and retreat from the place. There was also the little stipulation of bringing along Gochujang with him—most places seemed to have an exorbitant fee for keeping the pets around, even if they were familiars and technically supposed to be supportive animals for the magical. 

Seokjin huffs, returning his attention to the cooling potion on his stove, Yoongi is just as quiet on the other line, and eventually Seokjin sighs. He flicks a finger at the potion, the liquid dancing higher and higher over the sides and into a few tiny glass bottles he has lined up next to the stove. The liquid bubbles up as its being moved and Seokjin concentrates harder to keep the bubbles to a minimum. 

“I couldn’t tell you. I could just get used to it, I guess?” Seokjin offers, shrugging as he leans over to pick up the corks and press them firmly to seal the potions. “Or I can ignore it, it’s just a little crea—”

The windows rattle. Violently. 

Seokjin jumps, shrieking in surprise at the sudden noise. He hears Gochujang yowl suddenly and dart past him; upstairs into the loft and Seokjin whirls around to try and find the source of the noise. 

“What in the world was that?” Yoongi’s voice is tinny and far away, thanks to Seokjin tugging the phone away from his ear as he makes his way to the floor to ceiling windows. There’s nothing that could have rattled them outside, and he vaguely remembers seeing that the weather was supposed to be nice and not windy at all. 

So what… the actual hell. 

“I think it’s just the wind,” Seokjin says, voice quiet as he attempts to regulate the panic coursing through his veins. Gochujang mewls from the loft. He looks up at the sound and can spy her tail flicking in agitation before it starts to settle down. “Probably. Anyway, I’ll talk to you later; there’s still these pesky luck potions I have to finish for a customer.”

“Yeah...” Yoongi doesn’t sound convinced, the tone approaching the slightly concerned when Seokjin strains his ears long enough. “Hopefully that’s all that was…”

Seokjin glances back at the potions on the stove before shaking his head. This was definitely something he’d figure out later. Possibly. It must’ve been a weather witch having a small hiccup with their magic, maybe, or perhaps a wind sprite got a bit too angry over something and they just so happen to live in the apartment complex Seokjin did. 

Maybe. 

Pursing his lips and packing away the luck be gone potions into the magicked cabinet that kept their potency from waning, Seokjin busies himself with cleaning his kitchen. There definitely is something happening around the apartment, and honestly he’s almost certain it’s going to bite him later if he remained. 

“Gochu! C’mere for a bit,” Seokjin hums, clicking his tongue a few times as said cat makes her way down the stairs and onto “her spot” by the counter. She gives him a dull look, nearly judging as he meets her gaze, “Don’t give me that look, you were spooked too!” 

She hisses. Seokjin rolls his eyes; tsk’ing at the reaction before muttering, “It’s still spooky. You’re sure you're not the one scaring me?”

Gochujang goes silent, before she starts purring. There’s the sound of footsteps and Seokjin whips his head up to look for the source. Nothing. Gochujang seems to follow something with her eyes before she flops over to splay herself out over the counter. Seokjin blinks at the display. He reaches over to pet her, jerking away when she swats at his hand, hissing. 

Alright! She still hates him invading her space.

Seokjin wonders when things will settle down long enough for him to stop using the doses of sleep-snug potions he’s been brewing in between clients.

He hopes it’s soon.

ㅡ

Soon doesn’t come quick enough. 

In fact, Seokjin still hears whoever it is moving around, but this time it feels… settled. Like he and whatever it was that would knock on things have come to a tentative agreement. Seokjin usually greets the knocks in the morning, something that seems to allow him a few hours of uninterrupted peace before he starts up on lunch. Or a potion project.

He’s definitely gotten used to narrating what he’s doing to his invisible roommate, if only to appease the spirit. Which! He’s glad to have learned it was a ghost instead of something more… malevolent. Even though the heart attack he got while trying to get the spirit to talk to him was probably not worth it. It works well enough, and Seokjin doesn’t think much of it when he reminds the apartment that his friends were coming over.

It’s been a long few months and he hasn’t had them over in a while, not since he and Yoongi were roommates. He deserves a few moments together with his band of obnoxious little dongsaengs. Who will absolutely eat him out of house and home.

“I’m having people over, by the way!” Seokjin calls out, digging through the cabinets for the plates and bowls he’ll need for the dinner he’s making. There are a series of frantic knocks and if anything they sound… panicked and perhaps worried. Seokjin pauses and frowns, “Are you shy?”

The cabinets rattle at that, angrily it seems.

Gochujang mewls from her perch near the window. Seokjin nods sagely as he sets the plates out and pulls the ingredients for dinner out, “I understand everything.”

The knocks sound again. Seokjin waves his hand and the ingredients for dinner swoop into the pan and start their cooking process. 

“It won’t be for more than a couple of hours, and I’ll kick them out if you get too nervous. Sound good?” Seokjin asks, head tilted as he glances around the apartment. He knows that the spirit is staring at him, Seokjin feels the prickle of energy that usually came with the intense focus the ghost gives him. The silence stretches on and on before: two distinct taps.

Fine.

Seokjin beams. 

It goes as well as one could imagine, with lots of commotion from his friends and also a lot of hissing from Gochujang. Seokjin doesn’t mind, not when his five best friends are crammed together in his obscenely too small living room with plates in their laps and banchan strewn across the too small coffee table.

Seokjin wonders when his little roommate will show themselves, if they ever do; and he hopes that his friends won’t ask too many questions about it. He leans against the kitchen counter, watching his friends fondly. Taehyung is whispering something quietly to Hoseok, startling him and very nearly upending Taehyung who’s perched in his lap. Namjoon and Yoongi watch Jeongguk, who seems to be testing his luck in getting Gochujang to let him pet her. 

It doesn’t work.

She continues to grumble at him, tail flicking in agitation before she ends up hissing at Jeongguk and getting a good swing in. It has Jeongguk yelping in surprise while Yoongi and Namjoon seem to immediately hover over him, and when Jeongguk meets his gaze Seokjin rolls his eyes, mouthing, ‘whipped ’ at him.

Jeongguk sticks his tongue out at him as an answer.

Taehyung is snickering at Seokjin and Jeongguk while Hoseok is glancing up at the loft, a look on his face that makes Seokjin wonder if he sees an extra guest. It doesn’t take much longer before Namjoon, Yoongi, and Jeongguk get up and bring their plates to the kitchen; Seokjin already taking them to clean up later. Hoseok is staring up at the loft while Taehyung gives him a concerned look and Seokjin knows now that Hoseok sees. 

Hoseok is, after all, one hell of a necromancer.

Eventually, their get-together starts the process of slowing down and the others are packing up their stuff, Jeongguk squished in the middle of Yoongi and Namjoon as they shuffle themselves out of the apartment with goodbyes. Taehyung lingers for a little while longer, watching as Hoseok seems to finally pull his gaze away from the loft. Seokjin watches Taehyung give Hoseok’s hand a squeeze before grinning up at Seokjin. 

“You’ll be fine, hyung!” Taehyung says, as if he knows the entire outcome of this situation; and faintly, Seokjin wonders if he has the Sight on top of being fae. He wouldn’t put it past Taehyung to have some secret double life with how much magic he puts out on the daily. 

Either way, Taehyung makes his way outside with a quiet, “I’ll wait out here Hobi-hyung!” and then it’s just Hoseok and Seokjin. Seokjin almost doesn’t want to be alone with Hoseok right now, not with what he’s probably going to tell Seokjin. And he’s right if the pinched, upside-down triangle frown is anything to go by.

“You know hyung…” Hoseok starts, and Seokjin is already making his way to Hoseok to guide him out of the apartment, “Nope! I don’t know, what I do know is that I am going to clean up after you children and then marathon Mario Kart for eight hours straight, it was nice seeing you Hobi!”

Hoseok makes a face at the attempt to wave him off, and Seokjin shakes his head, “I’m fine Hobi, really, if it changes I’ll talk to you okay?”

The assurance must be enough that Hoseok nods his head and allows himself to be pushed out the door. He gives Seokjin a look, brows furrowed as he puts his hands on his hips, “If you say so hyung, but if it does change, tell me.”

Seokjin nods and Hoseok trails after Taehyung, who is leaning against the wall near the elevator. He watches them lean into one another and start whispering, no doubt talking about whatever it was that Hoseok saw. Seokjin frowns before shaking his head; Gochujang meows from her spot on the couch. Glancing at her, he makes his way towards her, ignoring the way she flicks her tail back and forth in warning.

“That went splendidly, huh Gochu?” Seokjin chirps.

He hears a book on his side table in the loft fall to the ground. Gochujang yowls for a moment before jumping off the couch and heading towards her food bowl.

Seokjin sighs heavily.

ㅡ

The sounds don’t come frequently anymore, and Seokjin thinks that maybe, just maybe they’ve worked a system out. He greets the presence now, a simple hum of ‘good morning’ here and there that leaves for a small creak or knock in response. Seokjin knows that acknowledging it might not be the best of ideas, but it’s just him and Gochujang (and occasionally five other people) in the apartment and sometimes… sometimes it just makes sense to let a ghost become your roommate.

Somehow.

By now, it’s gotten colder; the season switching from a nearly unbearable heat to something more manageable. Seokjin already has ideas for seasonal potions for his customers—little pick-me-ups for the new school semester and for the Chuseok holidays that will leave him scrambling for ingredients before long. 

He’s leaning against the counter, notepad opened up to a page filled with scribbles. Some of the notes are grocery lists, of food ideas that the others had requested next time they all gathered at Seokjin’s place, and the ideas for the seasonal potions he wants to try and make. 

The radio is playing something soft in the background, music that he can’t sing obnoxiously to because he’s attempting to focus and Seokjin wonders whether or not the others would enjoy being his test subjects for a hybrid potion. There hasn’t been any noises for a while, and that makes Seokjin almost… worry for his ghostly roommate. The ideas he has written down seem promising, but the longer he stares at the paper the more distracted he feels.

“Alright this isn’t working!” he grumbles, slamming the pen down on the counter in favor of scuttling up the loft stairs to his bed. He digs around for the switch he knows he left there and tugs it out with a triumphant cry. Perhaps a good long eight hour gaming session will knock loose some inspiration for him. As he makes his way back down to the couch, he notices Gochujang pacing anxiously in the entryway. It makes him pause, watching her get more and more agitated, and Seokjin moves toward her. 

“Gochu?” he asks, waiting for the acknowledging meow but it never comes. “Hey, you okay?” 

He sets the switch on the couch, uncaring if it very nearly shattersㅡokay maybe that was a lie he absolutely flailed in place before making sure it was set properly on the couch and away from the edge. Seokjin kneels down a little way from Gochujang as he attempts to get her attention; she steadfastly ignores him.

The temperature in the apartment seems to drop. Seokjin frowns worriedly at the shiver that runs down his spine. There’s something happening that he’s not sure he likes. Gochujang suddenly yowls, darting past Seokjin and somewhere behind the television set. Seokjin straightens up and stares at the spot Gochujang was. The air seems to crackle with energy and thenㅡ then ㅡ

all hell breaks loose.

He shrieks when cabinets open up violently, the glasses rattling dangerously and loudly. There’s loud thumping that seems to come from all sides and he can hear Gochujang meowing loudly. She sounds distressed and when Seokjin turns, he spots the remote being flung across the room, narrowly avoiding Gochujang. He doesn’t hesitate, barreling towards her with a fierce determination; something screeches behind him, otherworldly and angry and Seokjin yelps when it feels like ice cold hands are grabbing at him.

Picking Gochu up in his arms he barely manages to shove his untied shoes on his feet and wrench the door open. Things are being tossed around now, thumps and moans sound from the loft and Seokjin doesn’t look back. Not when he gets outside of his apartment and not when he’s halfway in a taxi and dialling Hoseok’s number.

He also doesn’t think about the overwhelming sadness and loneliness that surged up before everything started getting tossed around.

He doesn’t.

ㅡ

Hoseok is nice enough to not say anything. He doesn’t have to. Seokjin knows he wants to talk about what happened yesterday afternoon, he really does. Taehyung also seems to realize the severity of Seokjin’s thousand yard stare and pointed raising of his voice in squeaky-dad-joke-riddled-frequency everytime the subject attempted to stray towards what happened at the apartment.

So obviously they talk to him, when he’s curled up in a too-big pink sweater, freshly showered and a bit more calm than he was yesterday. He thinks it’s a bit unfair, the cornering of him on either side while he sits on their couch; but he won't begrudge his dongsaengs cuddling him.

For now at least.

Hoseok stares quietly, waiting idly while Seokjin pretends that they really weren’t going to have this conversation halfway through Kiki’s Delivery Service (Taehyung picked it out, obviously). Taehyung is humming along to one of the songs playing on the movie, and Seokjin finally has enough.

“Alright, spit it out,” he sighs gustily, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead while Hoseok and Taehyung both glance at him.

“Spit what out hyung?” Taehyung inquires, and that alone sort of makes Seokjin rethink his whole plan of “talking about it” if it seemed like Taehyung didn’t know what he was talking about in the first place. Hoseok on the other hand, has gone a bit straightㅡsitting up as he frowns his triangle frown at Seokjin.

“We just wanted to know what had you so… spooked, hyung. You never crack like thatㅡwell,” Hoseok says, pausing to make a face, “not counting that time Taehyungie threw that one Halloween party and Yoongi-hyung scared you.” 

Seokjin knows this. Knows that he prides himself on being infallible, and seeing Seokjin rattled must have rattled both of them. Seokjin sighs. Hoseok continues to triangle frown at him. Taehyung is split between watching the movie while also waiting for Seokjin to speak up.

“I don’t know,” Seokjin starts, opening his mouth and closing it, “for a while it was okay. I think I figured out how to cohabitate with the ghost, but then it just… exploded?” Gesturing idly, Seokjin stares at the television without actually absorbing the events happening on the screen. Hoseok is silent, while Taehyung hums encouragingly.

“Gochu started acting odd before things went to shit, and there was this… feeling,” Seokjin continues, and he watches as Hoseok seems to perk up at that.

“What do you mean… feeling, hyung?”

Seokjin shrugs, “I felt lonely. Sad. So lonely and sad it hurt, Hoseok-ah.”

Hoseok’s mouth twists, and Seokjin wonders if there’s something more to this entire thing. Taehyung nudges Seokjin, murmuring quietly, “Maybe Hobi-hyung could help?”

It’s a thought. As much as Seokjin wants to brush it under the rug and forget it even happened, well, he’s pretty sure that’s impossible to do. Not to mention the fact he isn’t even sure what he’d do if it happened again. Frowning, he glances at both Hoseok and Taheyung before sighing and slumping his shoulders.

“Fine, let me get Gochujang and we can go.”

When the three of them, plus Gochujang, arrive at the apartment Seokjin is expecting a notice about the shenanigans that occurred. Instead, there’s nothing. No notice, note, or angry landlady to scold him or tell him to pack up and leave. 

Eerie. 

Hoseok frowns at the sight of the door as Taheyung holds onto a backpack beside him. Seokjin doesn’t think to ask what’s in the bag because he’s pretty sure he’ll find out soon enough. 

Seokjin puts in his apartment code, pushing the door open slowly. It stops at some point, blocked by a pillow, and Seokjin braces himself for the worst possible outcome. When he gets the door open, Hoseok is striding past him with a determined glint in his eye; and Taehyung trails after him eagerly, backpack bouncing innocently.

He watches as Hoseok glances around the apartment, at the mess he’s absolutely going to have to clean soon, and Seokjin hopes that he knows what he’s doing. Hoseok nods slowly, eyeing the upturned things in curiosity before it morphs into a sad little frown. It makes Seokjin wonder what he’s looking at. Or hearing.

“Taehyung, c’mere and help clean this up?” Hoseok asks, while Seokjin lets Gochujang wander around. The air feels charged with something he can’t quite explain. The three of them clean Seokjin’s apartment, an attempt to clear everything out into something more manageable than the mess that was there prior. 

Seokjin watches as Hoseok has Taehyung give him the backpack and he’s not surprised to see the items that come out of the bag. Hoseok’s supplies look like any old set of candles and matches but Seokjin thinks faintly there’s more to it. At least, it feels that way when Hoseok starts murmuring and Taehyung shivers at the words.

Taehyung and Hoseok move around the apartment carefully, and Seokjin wonders what it is exactly that has his nerves set on edge. Hoseok pauses his murmuring in favor of standing in the middle of the living room, hand intertwined with Taehyung’s. He gives Seokjin a glance before, “Hyung, come here so we can exorcise the ghost, everything’s set up.”

Blinking, Seokjin nods slowly. He doesn’t get it, not exactly, but if it means that the ghost would be gone and he never got that feeling of excruciating sadness and loneliness again, then he’s a ghost buster (he’s also sure Hoseok would murder him if he called him that, probably)! Moving to where Taehyung and Hoseok stand, Seokjin’s startled to realize it’s alarmingly chilly in that spot. He wonders if Hoseok notices it too.

Hoseok does seem to ignore the way his breath fans out, visible in the dropping temperature and Seokjin has a weird feeling. It’s unnerving, yet, there’s an electricity that has him wanting this to be over so he can go back to making luck and other miscellaneous potions for customers. Hoseok lights a few candles, tugging out what Seokjin assumes is his necromancer book that he can’t quite remember the name of. Taehyung is humming quietly to himself as he helps Hoseok.

Holding his hands out, Taehyung gestures towards Seokjin to take his outstretched hands. Seokjin does, hesitantly, and then Hoseok’s book is floating to allow him to hold onto Seokjin’s hands. He gives both of them an appraising look before nodding. Gochujang meows from her spot on the counter. Seokjin glances at her for a quick moment, and almost shouts at the shadow that passes by her and up into the loft. 

Hoseok notices too.

Frowning again, he shakes his head and huffs. The air curls around him as he exhales. Seokjin peers at him curiously before a page in his book flips. There’s something in the air that crackles and gets Seokjin’s heart racing. He watches the pages on the book turn, and Hoseok is murmuring to the living room. The air temperature drops again and he shivers when the shadows seem to get larger. Hoseok’s voice turns into background noise, and Taehyung’s voice chimes in every so often. Their hands are clasped together, and Seokjin can feel the magic coursing through their veins and through him. 

The shadows seem to close in. Cabinets are opening and closing, the sound banging loudly in the apartment; Gochujang is waiting at the top of the loft, eyes fixated on the center of the room where they’re standing around. The air pressure drops again and Seokjin feels himself close his eyes. 

He hears Hoseok let out a startled yelp, hears Taehyung’s shout follow after, and their hands jerk his own roughly. Seokjin’s eyes slam open as the cacophony of sounds erupts into something ear-piercing. The lights flicker and the only indication Seokjin has that they’ve busted is the shattering noise and then everything is pitch black. 

“...Was that… supposed to happen, Hoseok-ah?” Seokjin whispers, voice almost entirely too loud in the silent apartment. 

Hoseok makes a whimpering noise as he squeezes Seokjin’s hand. Taehyung’s voice echoes into the room with a curious lilt, “Uh? There’s… someone else here.”

Seokjin feels his heart stop. 

“What do you mean Taehyung-ah?”

Seokjin blinks into the darkness before he slips his hands out from Hoseok and Taehyung’s hands. Then he flicks his fingers and a flame flickers to life. 

Wide brown eyes stare back at him. 

They’re not Taehyung’s. 

They’re not Hoseok’s either.

Seokjin screams. 

The other boy screams too.

ㅡ

“So what you’re telling me,” Seokjin starts, staring down at the person sitting on his couch in a cream colored sweater, “is that… you’re the one who was knocking things over and generally terrorizing the shit out of me?” 

The boy, Park Jimin, apparently as he introduced himself once they all stopped screaming at one another in terror, nods cheerily. His eyes crease into crescents as Seokjin continues to stare him down. Hoseok is attempting to flip through his grimoire, in search of some kind of answer as to how Jimin is sitting there on the couch with a tangible, solid, and very real body.

Jimin seems entertained enough, for someone who was once invisible and now suddenly can be seen, and Seokjin frowns. Taehyung is prodding gently at Jimin’s cheeks, squishing them this way and that; and somehow, he isn’t bothered by it in the slightest. 

‘It’s probably got something to do with Taehyung’s… entire being,’ Seokjin thinks idly, standing from his spot on one of the chairs with a huff. He makes his way to the kitchen, where Gochujang sits at her spot. Hoseok is muttering to himself in confusion, book opened on his lap as he sits on the floor in front of Taehyung.

“Tea, Hoseok-ah?” Seokjin asks, and instead of hearing an answer from Hoseok, he hears twin chimes from Taehyung and Jimin, “Yes please hyung!”

Seokjin reaches into one of the cabinets for the stronger teas, the ones he uses for especially rough nights; and Seokjin thinks amusedly that this occasion definitely calls for some extra leaf power. Putting water in the kettle and leaving it to heat up, Seokjin digs around for enough mugs for everyone. 

Gochujang hisses at him when he steps closer to her, eyes slitted as he clicks his tongue at her. Jimin seems to perk up at the sound, eyes sparkling as he tries to call Gochujang over. Turning, Seokjin shakes his head, “She’s picky. She doesn’t like anyon—what the fuck.”

Gochujang is already halfway across the room and curling up neatly in Jimin’s lap. Taehyung blinks and looks down at the cat in Jimin’s lap. Seokjin meets Taehyung’s eyes. Hoseok flips a page in his grimoire. Seokjin opens his mouth. Closes it. Jimin looks dazzled. 

“She likes me!” Jimin coos, rubbing one of Gochujang’s ears gently. Seokjin feels like he should be more betrayed, watching his familiar snuggle up against what was once a ghost boy. The kettle starts to whistle. 

Seokjin huffs, turning back around to pour the tea. Hoseok yelps in frustration and slams his book closed.

ㅡ

Jimin doesn’t know a lot, Seokjin comes to find out. 

He knows he’s been dead for a while, but he hasn’t gone poltergeistㅡsomething that Hoseok is terrified to learn, being alone and not on the other side tended to be bad for spirits; but Hoseok theorized it’s because Jimin’s got unfinished business to attend to. Or maybe he’s more than just a simple spirit, even with no business to attend to. Seokjin doesn’t quite remember the spiel Hoseok left him with, too busy staring flatly at Gochujang, who decided that Seokjin isn’t worth her time anymore and that Jimin would be a better choice in company.

How dare she, he was a ten. A catch!

Jimin doesn’t seem to grasp the severity of Gochu’s betrayal. He coos and cuddles her without pain or the pleasure of meeting her claws. Seokjin tried to pet her once Hoseok and Taehyung left, and nearly got a finger bitten off. Jimin found it endearing, before cuddling her right then and there.

“Remember Gochu, I control the Churu you get,” Seokjin hisses, much to Jimin’s amusement. 

“She’s an angel, hyung, I don’t know why you think otherwise,” Jimin snickers, watching as Seokjin huffs and flails his arms in protest, “She’s a menace! She plots the demise of me and the world you know!”

Jimin laughs, eyes crinkling, and it’s in that moment that Seokjin realizes that there’s another body here. Another person, and not just an entity that knocked on walls and opened doors. Instead of dwelling on what that means for the future, Seokjin downs the rest of his tea. 

It’s gone cold, there on the counter, but Seokjin is too focused on the way Jimin dotes on Gochujang to notice.

When it gets later, Seokjin shows Jimin the apartment. Not that he really needed the tour, but there's something strange in being idle while Jimin watches his back with the same, familiar intensity that he did before he was tangible. He shows off the bathroom, making a mental note he should probably find Jimin proper clothes instead of his too small hand-me-downs, especially since the weather is getting colder, and then pulls the couch out into a futon. 

Faintly, he’s grateful that the couch was one, and he can’t explain why. It feels too thoroughly planned out, and Seokjin makes it a priority to shove any ideas straight back into the void.

Seokjin makes a face at the way Gochujang curls up easily on the new space, dumping the extra blanket he grabbed onto the couch for Jimin, and turning away with a huff. He makes his way up the loft stairs, Jimin’s amused gaze on his back the entire way. 

On his way up to his bed, Seokjin tries not to feel too jealous at Gochujang’s affectionate streak towards Jimin.

ㅡ

In the morning, Seokjin startles awake. His body is tense, as if he’s forgotten something and it needs attention immediately, and Seokjin groans into his pillow sleepily. Rolling over and then attempting to not smash his head against the low loft ceiling, Seokjin manages to shuffle from his cocoon of blankets. 

Wobbling down the stairs, Seokjin is on autopilot as he steps into the bathroom to pee, wash his hands, and immediately attempt to do his skincare routine while still half-conscious. It works! Sort of, in the way most anything works when you’re half-conscious and still running on leftover adrenaline your body is pumping through you. Eventually, Seokjin makes his way out of the bathroom and into the kitchenette of his apartment.

It’s when he is halfway through reaching into the cabinet for a mug that the aftermath of yesterday’s events come rushing back to him. Seokjin pauses in reaching for a single mug, and then he looks over his shoulder. There, in the living room is a sleeping bundle of blankets, Gochujang curled primly on top. He blinks, picking out his favorite mug along with a second one before setting the kettle on to boil.

He stares at Gochujang a few moments longer before he turns back to the kettle. Seokjin digs the tea bags from the depths of the small pantry and sets them into his mug to steep. He’ll probably ask Jimin if he wanted tea when he woke up, hopefully soon. 

Glancing over at the couch he’s not surprised that the bundle of blankets haven’t moved. Not that Seokjin was idly keeping track of Jimin, no way, not in the slightest. He just… didn’t want to wake him up and that was why he was watching. 

Yeah, that.

Leaning against the counter, Seokjin sips at the tea slowly. It’s warm and soothing, and he feels himself waking up just a little bit more. He knows he’s probably going to work more on potions, perhaps a spell or two now that the main and biggest distraction has been… mostly handled. Nodding to himself and absolutely not looking at the lump of blankets that was Jimin, Seokjin downs the rest of his tea and turns around to dig through the cabinets again. 

He drags his cauldron from the depths and sets it gently on the stove before digging around for the prepackaged ingredients for this batch of patience potions. Cracking his knuckles, he gives one last look at Jimin and dives into cooking. It shouldn’t take much time, considering he pre-measured most of everything. 

ㅡ

“What are you brewing?” 

The voice comes out of nowhere, startling Seokjin and he yelps. Jerking back from being hunched over the bubbling cauldron, he is(n’t) surprised to see Jimin behind him. He has a blanket slung over his shoulders and his hair is a bird’s nest as he watches Seokjin sleepily. 

“Patience potion,” Seokjin wheezes out, hands clutching his chest as Jimin tilts his head, “You’ve finally awakened. Nice coma?”

Jimin snorts, clutching the blanket closer to him as he makes himself comfortable on the stool nearby. Seokjin is pretty sure by this point the water in the kettle has gone ice cold; judging by what time it was already and he mimics the head tilt that Jimin did.

“Hungry? Tea, maybe?” Seokjin asks, like a good and gracious and not to mention very thoughtful host. Jimin beams at him and nods, “Do you have any cereal?”

Seokjin blinks. 

Any retort Seokjin had prepared is gone, replaced only with confusion. Jimin is looking at him expectantly and Seokjin nods, slowly. He did have cereal, but he didn't quite expect that to be the thing Jimin wanted with his newly physical body. Then again, he’s pretty sure he won’t expect anything the boy wanted at all considering all Seokjin went off of was vaguely timed knocks. 

It’s when Jimin is standing not even two inches from his face that Seokjin snaps out of his daze. He nods slowly and Jimin is beaming again, the previous concerned-slashed-confused look melting off quickly. Seokjin turns and immediately starts preparing a bowl of sugary cereal he usually only ate when he was especially stressed out.

He guesses this is good enough of an excuse? Then again, he has been rather lenient with his excuses. 

The bowl of cereal disappears quick enough, and Seokjin turns back to his patience potion bubbling slowly away. He’s glad that it wasn’t the kind of potion that required constant attention, all it needed was a little patience, and Seokjin brings a spoon out of a drawer to give the potion a quick stir.

Jimin’s gaze is back on him, watching intently. 

“What’s the patience potion for?” Jimin’s voice chimes in, out of the silence, and Seokjin hums in acknowledgement. It takes a moment for him to really tug himself from his concentrating, but eventually Seokjin flicks his fingers at the cauldron and it starts to mix itself. 

“A client. For...” Seokjin leans to the side, close to Jimin, who seems just as eager for the answer as ever, “.... patience!”

Jimin’s flat, unamused look is enough to leave Seokjin giggling; laugh squeaky and very much enjoying the reaction out of the younger. Calming down long enough to wipe the tears from his eyes, Seokjin turns back to the potions as he digs under the cabinets for the bottles.

Setting the bottles down across the counter, he shoots Jimin a curious look before setting to work moving the potion from cauldron to bottle. Sealing the bottles and placing them in the magicked cabinet for storage, Seokjin turns to Jimin. 

“There! All done,” he says, and Jimin gives the cabinet where Seokjin placed the potions in a look before smiling up at the elder. 

“Is potion making hard?” Jimin asks, while Seokjin starts cleaning up his workspace. He hears the telltale thud of Gochujang moving from the top of the loft stairs onto the counter where the discarded ingredient bags lay. He gives her a stern look before glancing back at Jimin. 

“Not exactly? It’s a lot like cooking meals, really. Except with a ton more ingredients someone probably shouldn’t ingest.” Seokjin starts, slowly tapping his hand against Gochu’s back in an attempt to get her to move off the bags he needs to clean up. She does not budge. Instead of moving, she sprawls out further and Seokjin pouts, “Gochu, move you fuzzy furbag.”

Jimin makes a noise as he moves towards her. Seokjin braces himself to hear the familiar sounds of her hissing and swatting at Jimin. He makes a move to tug on Jimin’s shoulder, like a good hyung looking out for his dongsaeng, except. 

Except! 

Gochujang is there, curling herself comfortably, in the crook of Jimin’s arms and Seokjin feels a pang of betrayal again as she starts purring. Flailing his arms, he swipes at the bags and tosses them into the recycling. He gives Gochujang a look, while Jimin cooed happily over the fuzzy lump in his arms. 

“How does she stand you. This is a betrayal, Gochu. Betrayal!” Raising his voice, he watches as Jimin’s eyes close when he laughs, “I don’t know what you’re talking about hyung, Gochu likes everyone!” 

Seokjin snaps his mouth shut at that. 

‘Likes everyone,’ Seokjin thinks, blinking as Jimin makes his way towards the couch; Gochujang is curled in his arms, blanket somehow balanced precariously over his shoulders like a cape, and Seokjin wonders if this was really once a ghost that lived in his apartment. It seemed more like he was a demon, sent to woo and charm everyone he met. 

Kitchen cleaned up enough for Seokjin’s tastes, he glances over where Jimin sits and wonders what they should do now. Seokjin isn’t used to this, used to a person in his space—not since Yoongi and even then Yoongi was barely there, only popping his head out to eat with Seokjin and talk to him in five words or less, there was a reason they worked so well together—and it leaves him feeling too big yet too small in his own skin. 

Seokjin isn’t sure how to feel about this anymore. 

—

Hoseok comes by later in the afternoon, bringing Taehyung with him, and Seokjin is once again wheedled into cooking. He doesn’t mind it, only puts up a fuss for Jimin to sweetly placate him with compliments that leave his ears burning (of which Hoseok and Taehyung chime in) as well as promising he’d help.

He doesn’t, but Seokjin lets him off the hook for it anyway.

The four of them sit in the living room, with one of Hoseok’s big and intimidating books flipped open to some page that Seokjin can barely understand on a good day. Hoseok is making a face, while Seokjin doesn’t know what any of this means. Taehyung has already checked out, head curled up on Jimin’s lap while Jimin carded his fingers through Taehyung’s hair.

“What’s the verdict then, Hobi-hyung?” Taehyung asks, voice muted as if he didn’t want to necessarily startle Hoseok. It happens anyway and Hoseok jumps slightly out of his focusing.

“Somehow, with Jimin’s—” Pausing to flap a hand vaguely in Jimin’s direction, Hoseok makes a noise, “—ghost-thing, Taehyungie’s fae blood, my necromancy, and Seokjin-hyung’s….. charm? We’ve given him a physical body.”

Seokjin squawks at that, flailing his hands at Hoseok to distract from the way he can feel his ears burn at the clear compliment to his magic, “Yah! My charm is something people would be honored to even have a drop of! Show some more respect Hoseok-ah!”

Hoseok snickers, flipping through the book once more. 

“Well, at least you have a roommate again!” Taehyung cheers, grinning up at Jimin. “You were getting antsy without a roommate to coddle, like Yoongi-hyung.”

Seokjin whips around to point at Taehyung menacingly, “Excuse you?!”

Jimin is laughing, head thrown back in his glee and also dislodging Taehyung from his lap; Seokjin feels his ear burn yet again as he feels himself start up one of his rants. He does it to diffuse the situation, to make sure that no one knows that yes, yes he missed Yoongi and their weekly phone calls were not enough; that’s him, Kim Seokjin avoider of emotions.

“That doesn’t mean anything Kim Taehyung! You know I have my precious Gochu to keep me company,” Seokjin hisses, gesturing to the sleeping cat in her bed she’s made of the discarded blankets of Jimin’s bed. Said cat does nothing in response, despite being talked about. Instead she curls further into her ball she’s made of herself.

Seokjin calls that a win.

Jimin is still laughing at him, along with Hoseok and Taehyung, and he thinks that Jimin crashing here quite literally out of thin air might be an okay development. Probably.

—

“Hyuuuung,” Jimin’s voice is faint, very whispered as Seokjin curls further into his blankets. “Hyung…”

Seokjin furrows his brows at the sound, the last dredges of sleep still valiantly attempting to cling to his eyelids, and tries to roll over. His hand bumps against a solid form. He snaps his eyes open to meet wide brown eyes of someone—no, Jimin. With a strangled croak, Seokjin scoots away from how close they are and gurgles, “What?”

Jimin beams at him.

“I’m bored and you’ve been sleeping for so long, hyung!” Jimin says, and Seokjin makes a face as he sits up. Jimin rolls over only slightly, enough to tug most of the blankets off Seokjin; further waking him. Seokjin wonders if Jimin’s even tried to go outside.

The thought suddenly strikes Seokjin and he feels bad. 

The thought apparently shows on Seokjin’s face because Jimin is now staring at him in confusion slash concern and Seokjin grumbles, “When you were ghost…”

Jimin sits up at this, tilting his head to the side curiously rather than in concern now, “Yeah hyung? What about it?” Seokjin hums.

“Have you ever… tried going outside?” Seokjin asks, and Jimin looks startled at the notion. Seokjin wonders if this means that he hasn’t attempted to go outside. The silence between them stretches out for a moment longer and then, “...no.”

Jimin looks like his world was turned upside down at the idea. Seokjin makes a noise of acknowledgement. Seokjin stands up and very carefully makes his way downstairs to attempt to do his skincare routine. Jimin follows behind him, and Seokjin can feel the questions bubbling on the tip of Jimin’s tongue. 

“Then that’s settled,” Seokjin says, pausing in the doorway of the bathroom and looking back at Jimin, “How about we go grocery shopping. You, Hoseok, and Taehyung are animals and ate most of my food.” He looks confused before the realization dawns on him. He looks delighted at the declaration, the sad air that seemed to hover over him gone.

Seokjin grins and turns around to start his skincare routine. Jimin hovers in the doorway as well, watching, and Seokjin tries not to make it apparent he’s also watching what Jimin is doing through the haze of water on his eyelashes. 

Eventually he finishes the routine, brushed his teeth—after making sure that Jimin brushes his teeth as well, a habit he’ll definitely get into if Jimin is his permanent roommate now—and digs around in the closet for a suitable outfit to wear. 

“Maybe we could also go find you some better fitting clothes?” Seokjin offers, “Once we finish grocery shopping at least? Or we could do clothes first and then groceries…” 

Jimin looks excited at it all. He nods and tugs at Seokjin impatiently; and the elder rolls his eyes as he follows behind Jimin leading the way. He’s bracing himself for some kind of disaster, or Jimin disappearing completely at the attempt to leave the apartment. 

When Jimin opens the door, Seokjin feels himself hold his breath at the sight of the younger walking out the door and into the hall. Nothing happens. Seokjin lets out a sigh he was holding in and shakes his head. He isn’t quite sure what he was expecting—perhaps something blocking Jimin, him getting yanked back into the apartment, something, but… nothing happens and Seokjin isn’t sure if he’s glad or disappointed. 

Jimin, however, seems over the moon. 

“Well, can we call this experiment a success and go already hyung?” Jimin asks, tugging again at Seokjin’s hand. Seokjin jerks back to attention, chuckling at the way Jimin puffs his cheeks out in his impatience. 

“Okay, okay let’s go,” he replies, letting the door fall shut. Jimin all but sprints ahead to the elevator while Seokjin follows at a more leisurely pace. 

Seokjin is glad that now he can take Jimin places; if only to keep the younger’s energy levels from getting too out of hand. Probably. 

—

Turns out, it doesn’t take much at all to keep Jimin occupied, now that they’re able to go outside. Seokjin watches with thinly veiled amusement as Jimin flits from clothing rack to clothing rack in his perusing. Seokjin does take his time looking too, idly digging through the racks of clothing that he knows he won’t buy—too occupied with his too big shirts and sweaters that hide his shoulders.

Jimin eventually makes his way back to Seokjin, arms laden with clothes to try on, and Jimin has a look in his eye that screams Seokjin will watch him and give his opinion on each outfit combination. It makes a wry smile bloom on his features and Seokjin sighs heavily and dramatically as he follows behind Jimin.

“You know you won’t find an outfit combination that will suit you, especially when you’re next to me, Jimin-ah,” Seokjin says, for something to do with his mouth, and Jimin whirls around with a glint in his eye. It sparkles, the way he looks Seokjin up and down and there’s something about it that leaves Seokjin warm. It’s a feeling he wants to cling to, oddly enough. 

Watching as Jimin darts into an unoccupied fitting room, Seokjin makes himself content with the knowledge their grocery shopping won’t happen until later. Jimin hums to himself, quiet enough only Seokjin seems to be able to hear, and he wonders just how long Jimin’s been around. He seemed to be enthusiastic about getting out, so it must have been a while for him at least.

The thought brings a lump to Seokjin’s throat. It feels almost similar to what he felt before, when things started to get twisted and wonky in the apartment; when Gochujang lost her marbles and Seokjin got the scare of his life. He doesn’t want to think about it, and shoves the thought deep, deep, deep into the back of his mind.

Jimin jerks the curtains open suddenly, jerking Seokjin from his musing—of which was becoming too melancholic, obviously—with a grin. Posing against the doorway of the fitting room stall, Jimin shoots Seokjin a look.

It sends a shiver down Seokjin’s spine, like Jimin can see him. He doesn’t like it, yet he wants Jimin’s gaze on him.

Seokjin whistles exaggeratedly, eyebrows wiggling as Jimin turns around; the jeans he has on accentuate his ass and the shirt he’s wearing leaves… nothing to the imagination, a black and white shirt that looks almost transparent on him. Jimin moves in another half circle and Seokjin notices the dark shadowed blotch—a tattoo? A bruise?—on his left side where the white section of the shirt is.

“What do you think hyung?” He asks, and Seokjin wiggles his eyebrows again.

“Stunning, but not nearly as stunning as me!” Seokjin coos, reaching forward to pinch at Jimin’s cheeks. It sends his metaphorical feathers ruffling, and Jimin swats at Seokjin’s offending hand, “Try harder Jimin-ah!”

Jimin huffs and rolls his eyes. He disappears behind the curtains again, and Seokjin sags in relief. Seokjin looks around the store, spotting some more clothes that he could probably try on later; and Jimin soon comes out again. Gesturing to himself, Jimin looks over at Seokjin with an expectant look. Seokjin looks the younger up and down as if he’s judging, and Jimin makes a face, “Aish, Jimin-ah you’re just the cutest little thing!” 

Jimin beams at the praise, even though it’s not much of a compliment at all, but Seokjin likes the way Jimin’s face looks so happy to hear Seokjin say something nice to him. He must have gone a while without talking to people, it’s understandable, Seokjin thinks.

Watching as Jimin nods to himself and darts back into the fitting room. Seokjin wonders if this is the last bit of their shopping experience, considering that now they’ve been out so long he can feel his stomach grumble at him for something to eat. 

Eventually, Jimin emerges from the fitting room, arms laden with his clothes and Seokjin laughs at the determined look on his face. The two of them make their way towards the register. Seokjin winces mentally at the amount, but he knows with a couple of well placed client requests, he’s sure he’ll be able to make it back no problem. 

“Thanks for this hyung…” Jimin says, looking over his shoulder at Seokjin. His face is split in a huge grin as Seokjin shakes his head, “It’s the least I could do, especially since you can’t go running around in my clothes all the time.” 

As the cashier hands them their bags of purchases, Jimin nods slowly before looking back to Seokjin. The question on his face is telling, just before Jimin and Seokjin’s stomachs gurgle angrily. The two of them pause, eyes meeting each other before they both burst into laughter.

—

The grocery store trip goes about as well as Seokjin expected for two very hungry adult males. Jimin was adamant in stuffing as many things as he could get his tiny hands on, curiosity and excitement written in the way he holds up every box of food and ‘oohing and ahhing at it every time. 

So maybe Seokjin buys a little more extra sweets (sugary American cereals) than he usually did, but he does have someone else living in his apartment with him. It should be understandable there would be a bit more food being passed around in the apartment, especially if Hoseok and Taehyung think about coming over more often to try and explain how the hell Jimin got there.

What Seokjin does make sure he buys, is the choicest cuts of meat because god dammit he’s going to show off his cooking skills since the last meal they had together was something hastily thrown together in order to satisfy the ravenous hungers of both Hoseok and Taehyung. Sliding a bag of scallops into the basket, Seokjin wonders if this would be enough to bribe back Gochujang’s affections. 

Not that he was desperate to have her acknowledge him. He just wanted to let her know that he was the One around the house. 

(Yoongi would beg to differ and call him out on his bullshit, but he’s not here is he now.)

Eventually the two of them finish up their shopping; somehow Jimin managed to charm a couple of samples out of the ajumma's manning the tables, and Seokjin watches in awe as Jimin walks away with cheeks full of food. He now sees why exactly Taehyung was fascinated with pushing and prodding Jimin’s cheeks. He kind of wants to do it too. 

The trip home is just as uneventful as Seokjin hoped it would be, especially now that he’s learned that Jimin’s apparently got some magic of his own in him. Or it’s the residue from the whole “was once a ghost” thing. 

When the two of them enter the apartment, laden with groceries and clothing, Seokjin immediately sets to work putting things away while also digging out the ingredients he was going to make for Jimin and him. 

Seokjin watches idly as Jimin pauses midway through putting the cereal boxes away in favor of petting Gochujang, and he feels a familiar push in his chest that makes his breath catch. It’s fondness, he knows, watching Jimin pet and coo over her, and Seokjin hates just how quickly he’s gone from an obnoxious brat to an only slightly obnoxious brat. 

He wants to see this sight more often. 

And that want, a quiet thing that hovers around Seokjin, quite honestly, terrifies him. 

—

Seokjin anticipates his feelings to go haywire in the next coming months. Especially since the new year is around the corner and it appears that Jimin has gone from being as loud and annoying as possible to bearable. It’s nice now. Not that it wasn’t beforehand, but that was when he was getting used to the idea of a ghost-turned-human becoming his new roommate. 

Now, Seokjin is disgustingly fond of Jimin and he should hate it, but his heart has already decided he would keep Jimin forever.

It’s obvious, really, in the way Jimin’s toothbrush sits next to Seokjin’s in the Mario head cup he uses to house them. It is both warm and terror inducing to see, every morning when he and Jimin brush their teeth together; and then later do their skincare routine. It’s obvious that the lump that curls itself tight in Seokjin’s throat when Jimin compliments him isn’t him about to throw up, oh not in the slightest. Seokjin wonders if Jimin’s caught on.

He hopes he doesn’t catch on. Hopes Jimin never catches wind that Seokjin is… falling for him.

It’d be better that way, honestly, and as Seokjin digs out the cauldron and potion ingredients he tries not to watch the way Jimin lights up and sits at the too-small counter to watch Seokjin work. This whole situation is god awful and he honestly hates it took him practically no time at all to become this enamored by Jimin.

Jimin is oblivious to the inner turmoil that is Seokjin’s heart trouble, judging by the way he stares intently at the potion ingredients. His brow furrows as he works out the meanings of the ingredients before looking up at Seokjin curiously, “You’re making a truth potion?”

The irony is not lost on Seokjin, and he absolutely despises this client’s timing. Granted it was a huge amount the client would contribute, and he knows how finicky truth potions are; he definitely has safety measures in place, just for the sole fact he’s seen how terribly abusive the potions could become. He wonders if this is an act of fate or something telling him to suck it up and confront these… inclinations of affection towards Jimin.

Haha, yeah right.

Seokjin blinks curiously when he feels pressure against his shoulder, Jimin is leaning against his back, resting his face in the juncture where his shoulder meets neck, and the only thing that registers is warmth . Jimin is warm against him. Alive. Real. 

“Y-Yeah. S’not the most common potions I end up making, but this client I’ve known for a while,” Seokjin hums, placing a couple of vials of the ingredients into the cauldron, “plus they pay well.” 

Jimin snickers at that, body pressed against Seokjin’s, and he can feel exactly how amused at his words Jimin is. It’s funny, how his chest does the funkiest little twist-hop-stutter, and he tries to ignore the way he wants to indulge. Get it together, there’s no way he’s going to let his heart do the flips it wants to do. 

Seokjin tries again to ignore the warmth from Jimin pressed against him. The cauldron bubbles ominously on the stove.

Seokjin stirs it once.

—

Things get… odd after the truth potion. Seokjin realizes this halfway through patting the snail’s tears essence serum on his face, alone in the bathroom without Jimin. He’s been doing this a lot lately; getting up before Jimin’s even conscious and working so much he barely sees the younger despite him having nowhere else to go. It’s clearly doing… something.

Jimin seems sadder, though it couldn’t possibly be because Seokjin is doing his iconic feelings dodge shuffle, right? Right, and when he gets done with this portion of his skincare routine, he’s going to deny it ever happening in the first place as he texts Yoongi. 

Yoongi’s messages come every ten minutes in reply to him, and while annoying as it is having to wait for his answers, it at least keeps him from panicking too hard. Kind of.

Seokjin wanders out of the bathroom eventually, skincare routine done and he glances out into the living room, where Jimin is sleeping. He’s curled up on the couch and somehow manages to look sad even while unconscious. 

‘Yoongichii, on a scale of 1-10 what would you say this weird gurgling churning in my chest is?’

The reply isn’t exactly what he expected, but at least Yoongi is answering him in his dire time of need. What a doting dongsaeng. A good ex-roommate whom he misses dearly and perhaps needs a good dose of advice from. 

‘Hyung what the fuck is it time for your weird ‘I don’t have emotions so obviously this isn’t an emotional meltdown I’m having but an upset stomach’ stint?’

Seokjin frowns as he types his reply, ‘I don’t have those though, Yoongi.’

The reply comes almost instantly. 

‘C Through? ’

—

Seokjin knows that it’s unfair of him, leaving Jimin alone without telling, but he didn’t though. He left a note next to his sleeping form along with a bowl of cereal (charmed to make sure nothing spoilt if he slept late, which Seokjin anticipates anyway) so he wasn’t being an asshole. Probably.

Burying himself further into his down coat, Seokjin enters C Through Cafe with eyes focused directly on the table he and Yoongi usually sat at. It’s in the corner, near the restrooms but not too close, and Yoongi is already there. He looks small bundled up in probably two jackets because Jeongguk and Namjoon baby him nonstop; and Yoongi protests but Seokjin knows he adores it. 

Forever roommates, after all.

Yoongi leans forward, chin resting on his hands as Seokjin sits down. There’s already a drink where his spot is, and Yoongi has a look in his eye that makes Seokjin nervous.

“Emotions, huh hyung?” Yoongi says, looking amused when Seokjin chokes down a sip of his drink.

“They are unneeded and I never had any to begin with,” Seokjin sniffs daintily. Yoongi sucks in air through his teeth, a caustic sound that Seokjin knows he’s conveying his displeasure. 

The two of them sit in silence. Seokjin takes another sip of his drink. Yoongi stares, quietly.

Then, “...he wasn‘t supposed to be so endearing.”

Yoongi raises his eyebrow, waiting, and Seokjin groans dramatically. The sounds of the cafe swallow that noise up greedily, and Seokjin downs the rest of his drink. If he was going to expunge all these… feelings out, might as well go out with a bang. Yoongi’s eyebrows remain raised, and Seokjin frowns. He hunches over in his seat as he waves his hand vaguely in a direction.

“Jimin. He was supposed to just be a roommate who had terrible eating habits and apparently someone Gochu likes better than me! Me of all people, Yoongi-yah! But no! No the little wiggly thing in my chest has to take one look at him and listen to his demands for steak dinners and go, ‘Yes. Yes you will become fond’ without my permission!” Seokjin can feel his voice crack, eke higher in pitch and franticness at the realization that oh my god he really, really, really liked Jimin.

“Well, hyung, for one that wiggly thing is your heart,” Yoongi starts after a moment of silence punctuated only by Seokjin’s panting, “and the thing is, you ended up half in love with him anyway from the moment Hoseok and Taehyung and you managed to conjure a body for him.” 

Seokjin gapes, “Excuse me?!”

Yoongi shrugs. Seokjin exhales slowly. 

“They’ve mentioned it a few times since visiting you to check up on Jimin, Taehyung especially likes mentioning how you follow him around like a duckling.” Yoongi snickers, deftly deflecting Seokjin’s hand that comes up to try and swipe at him. He can feel the tips of his ears burning at the thought of Taehyung and Hoseok talking about the fact that he's obviously in over his head with Jimin. 

Which he isn’t.

Of course. 

“I do not,” Seokjin hisses, ears absolutely burning. Yoongi cackles, that ugly little gremlin laugh that positively doesn’t make Seokjin want to coo over his ex-roommate’s shenanigans, no way at all.

“Oh yes you do hyung, Taehyung-ah likes to mimic it whenever he comes over to play Overwatch with Jeongguk. You do,” Yoongi continues to laugh while Seokjin attempts to get his heart rate to slow down. 

Eventually, Yoongi stops though he continues to shoot Seokjin exasperated-yet-fond looks when Seokjin meets his eyes, “I’ll be frank hyung. Jimin coming into your life? Probably has been the best thing happening since I put in that roommate phone call clause.”

A pause. 

“Which you’ve been ignoring, by the way.” 

Shit. 

Seokjin huffs, crossing his arms and very obviously trying not to look like he’s pouting at the truths Yoongi is giving him. He knows that despite the ribbing and teasing, Yoongi knows him. Knows that he’s got something happening in his heart for Jimin and as much as it pained Seokjin to even admit that mentally has him reeling for a solution to letting Jimin know. 

“I don’t want Jimin to know.”

Yoongi makes a face, torn between disgust and utter fondness at Seokjin’s repulsion of… Feeling Things, before shaking his head, “Trust me, if you’d stop being… you and look at the kid you’d realize he thinks the sun shines out of your stupid face.”

Seokjin’s ears burn all over again. 

“My face isn’t stupid it’s exquisite, Yoongichi.”

Yoongi snorts and shrugs, “Sure it is hyung. Do you feel better after that emotional discharge?” 

Seokjin opens his mouth to retort before realizing that… yes, he does feel better lamenting the truths he let slip to Yoongi about Jimin. No he does not want to particularly reflect on what that means, but well, at least it's aired out and his heart feels lighter than usual after holding that so close to his chest. 

He won't tell Yoongi that though. No way. Instead, he looks up at Yoongi and his dumb smug little smile before sighing and digging through his wallet. 

"I want dessert, Yoongichi do you want anything?" 

It's the closest thing he can get to a thank you. 

He's glad that Yoongi understands when he says, "I thought that was the reason you met up with me here, hyung." 

Seokjin shakes his head before standing up and heading to the counter, "No Yoongi-yah it's because you enacted our roommate clause for visitation rights, obviously ."

"Sure it was, hyung. Sure it was."

—

When Seokjin gets back to their—he wonders faintly and very quickly when it became their apartment, and realizes that if he does think on it too hard he will have another meltdown and he does not want that, twice in one day is a little much—apartment, Jimin is nowhere to be found. Gochujang meows from her perch on the counter, almost accusing as Seokjin tugs his shoes off and looks around. 

"Jimin-ah...?" Seokjin calls out, looking into the bathroom before peering further into the living room. Jimin isn't on the pull out couch, instead it's been pulled into the couch again. The blankets are neatly folded and it only takes a second of panic for Seokjin to check the shoe rack—Jimin's shoes are still there and he hates that the overwhelming feeling of relief that cools the panic that started rising in his chest. 

Gochujang meows again, more urgently and more annoyingly, and Seokjin glances at her curiously, "What is it Gochu? Do you know where Jiminnie is?"

Plopping down from her perch, Gochujang trots upstairs into the loft area, and Seokjin is momentarily confused before... oh. 

Oh. 

Climbing the stairs quietly, Seokjin feels even more relief that he finds Jimin curled up on his bed sleeping soundly. He wonders if Jimin will be upset with him that he left, and Seokjin climbs back down to actually calm himself down a bit more. He knows that he might have overreacted, but it's a confirmation that Jimin means... a lot to him.

Gochujang is staring at him when he comes back into the kitchen and it makes him nervous, watching him like she was. Seokjin stares back at her curiously, frowning when she moves closer and headbutts him for affection. It’s weird, not that he’s complaining about it, but… she doesn’t usually come to him like this. 

Not unless he was seriously messed up with… emotions (ugh, shudder) and couldn’t get his brain to stop thinking about it. Which, he guesses is what’s happening. Reaching his hand up to run it gently down her fur, he’s surprised to hear her purr at him. It’s comforting, and he hums quietly. 

“I… think I’m going to be fine now, Gochu,” Seokjin murmurs, leaning forward to press his forehead softly against her head, “as long as I never ever, ever, ever tell Jimin how much I like him.”

At that, Gochujang pops him directly in the face with her paw. Yelping then attempting to frantically choke it back down as not to wake Jimin up, Seokjin reels backwards. He flails as she primly hops off the counter and makes her way upstairs to Seokjin’s bed. 

“Gochujang…!” Seokjin hisses, rubbing at his face. She didn’t claw him, but the scare is enough to make him wonder just exactly what her deal was. 

But that’s the thing, isn’t it? That Seokjin knows what her deal is. Will he himself admit it out loud?

Haha, no way in hell. 

A few moments later Seokjin finds himself stress brewing potions. 

He’s not exactly sure why he’s stressed (a lie) but he’s managed to stockpile enough potions that he won’t have to worry about meeting client deadlines for… a while actually. Which means Jimin takes the lull in Seokjin’s attention span as a chance to sneak up behind him and wrap his arms around his waist. 

Tensing at the sudden movement, Seokjin yelps and jerks back from the stove. He drops the spoon into the cauldron with a metallic clank and he feels Jimin laughing at his surprise. 

“Yah ! I’m cooking here!” Seokjin protests, flailing a bit in Jimin’s grip but doing nothing to release him from the barnacle-like hold he’s in. Jimin laughs harder, shaking against Seokjin before, “Hyung you’ve been doing this for like, hours now. ‘m hungry…”

Blinking, Seokjin glances to the side where Gochujang is staring right at him. He can tell exactly what she’s trying to convey, too, and Seokjin huffs and attempts to shimmy both him and Jimin away from the cauldron. 

“Alright, there should still be some leftover meat in the fridge, maybe some kimchi too..." Seokjin soothes, placating Jimin enough to have him letting him go to be able to move around the kitchenette. Seokjin can feel Jimin's gaze on him the entire time that he moves around to gather ingredients. It feels like the first time around, when he started making potions and having Jimin hovering around him and watching his every move. 

Seokjin hates that he likes the attention Jimin puts on him. He's not sure why (another lie) Jimin seems to be fond of him, but he guesses he won't complain if that means he'd be able to see that crescent eyed smile Jimin does whenever Seokjin tells him a stupid joke that the others would definitely had groaned at.

Ugh, acknowledging the giant elephant in the room sucks because it's the only thing that Seokjin can think about or focus on. Especially when Jimin looks at him with wide pleading eyes that beg him to cook him food because "it's the best coming from you, hyung! " and the one trick to get Seokjin to do anything is praise him. 

Or praise his cooking rather. 

Either way, Seokjin thinks there's plenty in the fridge for him to make some kimchi jjigae for both him and Jimin, and he turns to look at the cauldron. He flicks a hand at it and the spoon he dropped into it flies up and out of that and into the sink. The potion isn't ruined per se, but it's definitely not a client worthy thing. 

Seokjin digs around in the cabinet for the bottles he kept for the failed attempts at creating new stock and hums as he dumps the cauldron of the liquid into it. Jimin watches him as he does this, and Seokjin raises his eyebrow curiously at the look Jimin has on his face. 

"What?" He asks, genuinely confused as to why Jimin is looking at him like he's a snack—and then his and Yoongi's conversation comes to mind and there's a tightness in his chest that makes Seokjin want to run. Except that he said he was going to make kimchi jjigae for them and honestly he's sort of hungry too, despite the drink and sweet pastry he had while with Yoongi. 

"Nothing, hyung, just really hungry..." Pouting, Jimin flutters his eyelashes at him; and Seokjin feels his heart stutter in his chest again. Ugh, realizing the big Crush-with-a-capital-C he had on Jimin is terrible for his health. He does not want to think about the future effects of this on his heart, so he turns back to busy himself with cooking. 

It works, for the most part. Jimin is content to sit at the counter to watch him, idly petting Gochu whenever she mewled at him; and Seokjin wonders when she became so soft for a single person when all she did around him was hike her head high and not give him the time of day unless he especially needed help with finicky potions. Seokjin feels like he could get used to the sight, of Gochujang cuddled up to Jimin as he watches Seokjin make potions, and that's something he's definitely not touching with a fifty foot pole. 

With that in mind he shoves the thoughts back into the depths of his brain to never think about again.

-

Seokjin hopes that he’s not obvious. He shouldn’t be, he’s doing all he can to keep a professional roommate relationship with Jimin and it shouldn’t hurt him to see his smile wilt when he doesn’t let Jimin snuggle with him while he’s trying to brew potions or when he sidesteps Jimin’s sleepy affections when they’re switching in the bathroom to shower. The longer it goes on, however, the more Seokjin thinks he’s miserable without Jimin’s constant stream of affection and company.

Jimin used to hang around the apartment all the time, but now he keeps leaving to go hang out with Taehyung and Hoseok. He's become a ghost all over again, and if Seokjin wasn't in such a... sad mood over it, he thinks he'd laugh at the irony. 

Seokjin doesn’t want to say he’s jealous, but he’s pretty sure he’s done this to himself. But the apartment is empty and Seokjin already brewed too many potions the other day in his stressed out state, so there are no distractions for him. Gochujang sits at the top of the loft stairs, staring down at him.

She’s been doing that a lot more now, and Seokjin’s been wondering why she’s constantly looking down at him (that’s another lie he knows exactly what she’s judging him for); and he meets her gaze cooly. Then he promptly sticks his tongue out at her. She flicks her tail in annoyance and turns around to disappear further into Seokjin’s bed space.

“You can’t make me tell him, Gochu!” Seokjin huffs, crossing his arms over his chest as he glances around the apartment. He hates that he can tell there’s someone else living here, can tell that he’s not alone anymore and it’s terrible.

(he is also, a very big liar.)

His phone starts buzzing after a few moments of silence, and Seokjin stares at it on the kitchen counter. He doesn’t particularly feel like answering, but the buzzing isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Picking it up to scan the messages, Seokjin feels his heart drop straight to the floor. It’s Hoseok, but also Taehyung, and he flicks open the messages quickly.

‘Seokjin-hyung you better answer for your crimes!! Making Jiminnie sad is awful what did you do!!!’

‘Wait no I know what you did come and fix it!’

‘I don’t know what’s been happening between you two but Jimin wants to be sent back, so I better see you running over before I send the bones after you. Come get your shit together and tell Jimin about your stupid crush!!’

‘I offered you emotional support in these trying times, so hyung, don’t make my advice useless.’

“He wants… to go back ?!” Seokjin shrieks, eyes widening at the increasingly frantic messages. He looks up at Gochujang, who has come back to the top of the loft stairs to meow at him. It’s as good as any encouragement to get out and get his ghost back.

Seokjin just hopes Jimin will listen to him when he tells him he does want him to stay.

-

He doesn’t mean for this entire fiasco to turn into an episode of Taehyung’s favorite drama, but here Seokjin is, bursting into Hoseok and Taehyung’s apartment huffing and puffing and looking around for Jimin. Said boy is currently seated on the couch, bookended by both Taehyung and Hoseok, who snap their heads up to look at him immediately. Hoseok makes a face, a look that is both relieved and also annoyed at the inconvenience; while Taehyung scowls at Seokjin. 

Clamoring over the couch, much to Jimin and Hoseok’s surprise, Taehyung stomps over to a still panting Seokjin and shoves a finger into his chest. Seokjin can feel his wibbly magic leaking, upset and hurt that Jimin is apparently wanting to go back to being a ghost; and Seokjin opens his mouth before Taehyung can start getting more upset.

“I know I’m stupid! This isn’t something I wanted an audience for but Jimin-ah! Jiminnie!” Seokjin starts, voice loud enough it rattles around in the apartment, “It has come to my attention that I'm a big fool who likes you way too much and… ugh, I want to keep having steak dinners with you and go grocery shopping to get disgustingly sugary American cereals with you, so. There.”

Hoseok and Taehyung are wide-eyed and thankfully silent.

Jimin is too, and that’s the scariest thing Seokjin thinks he’s seen so far. Not counting the moment he locked eyes with Jimin, all those months ago. That definitely doesn’t count.

“Hyung?” Jimin is quietly standing up, and somewhere in between Seokjin listening to his heartbeat erratically in chest, Hoseok and Taehyung have disappeared; hopefully somewhere where the rest of his emotional outburst cannot be heard and therefore blackmail material for them to use against Seokjin, “You… like me?”

Seokjin sucks in a breath and pouts, “Didn’t you hear me Jimin-ah. Grocery shopping with you, I don’t offer that up willingly you know.”

Jimin is grinning now, eyes shining with unshed tears and then they’re crescent shaped and happy and it’s a look Seokjin thinks he’d rather see all the time. 

“Say it again hyung I don’t think I heard you right.”

Seokjin makes a face. Steps closer to Jimin, who eagerly moves closer as well. His hands reach up to wrap themselves around Seokjin’s waist, like he would do while Seokjin brewed potions; and Seokjin leans into the touch, “I take it back. You’re no longer my favorite ghost.”

Jimin tosses his head back to laugh at that, and Seokjin can’t help the smile that wants to bloom across his face. Jimin is giggling in Seokjin’s arms and he stops after a few moments, and Seokjin? Seokjin feels the pull and moves before he even registers it. He leans close, locks eyes with Jimin who looks surprised but also enthralled with the idea that Seokjin is about to kiss him. 

So he does.

He hears the twin gasps of surprise from Hoseok and Taehyung and opts to ignore it in favor of kissing Jimin longer. His lips are soft, plush against his own and his brain is yelling awful terrible things about how they could have been doing this a lot sooner; he ignores those in favor of tightening his hold on Jimin and kissing him more.

When they finally pull away, Jimin has a gentle look in his eyes—fondness and affection and a tiny bit of frustration at possibly Seokjin but that’s okay. That’s really fine, Seokjin’s managed to kiss the ghost, so it’s good now.

It’s all good now.

-

‘It’s been a long year ,’ Seokjin thinks as he hovers over the stove to watch over the steak cooking on it. The plates are mostly set up on the tiny counter nearby, and Jimin is seated on the stool watching. Seokjin knows this because he can feel the familiar gaze boring holes into the side of his face as he concentrates on not charring the meat beyond recognition. Jimin is petting Gochu occasionally when she pokes her head up from her perch on his lap, and Seokjin does not get jealous at the fact she adores him more than Seokjin.

He doesn’t.

“It smells really good hyung,” Jimin says, leaning forward and fluttering his eyelashes up at Seokjin. He knows what Jimin's playing at. Seokjin squints suspiciously as he picks the steaks off the pan and sets them aside to rest. 

“Of course it does, I’m the best at steaks,” Seokjin preens, wiggling his eyebrows at Jimin who giggles at his antics, “And no you can’t taste test until everything’s done and the meat is rested.”

Jimin pouts.

Seokjin rolls his eyes at the theatrics before moving closer to press a quick kiss to Jimin’s forehead, “It’ll be done quick, wanna eat here or in the living room?”

“Here’s good hyung!” Jimin chirps, beaming as he purses his lips for another kiss; and Seokjin obviously indulges him, pressing kiss after kiss against Jimin’s lips. It kills at least the rest of the time it takes for the meat to rest and Seokjin reluctantly pulls himself away to plate their food.

“Now you can stop drooling all over poor Gochu,” Seokjin ribs, snickering at the offended look both of them send him. He sets Jimin’s plate in front of him and sits down across from Jimin. Seokjin eagerly starts cutting into his steak, excitement bubbling up at being able to finally eat this meat obvious in his movements.

Jimin is still staring at him.

Blinking and looking up at Jimin curiously, cheeks bulging from the food in his mouth, Seokjin raises an eyebrow in confusion. Jimin hides the amused grin behind his hand as he waves the other, “Nothing! Nothing hyung, just thinking about all the future steak dinners we can have after this.”

Seokjin does his best not to choke and die on the swallow of steak that goes down his windpipe; and Jimin looks almost frantic as he sputters and clears his airways.

“You’re not allowed to say that,” Seokjin hisses, leaning forward to stare up at Jimin’s growing amused face, “It’s not past eight, you fool you promised in the boyfriend clause nothing sappy before eight pm!”

Jimin gives him a shit eating grin. He knows that grin. Knows it all too well, actually.

“Oops? ‘m sorry hyung,” Jimin apologizes while also not really apologizing, “let me make it up to you later?”

Seokjin hates how fondly he’s looking at Jimin, and he hates that he’s going to absolutely allow him to get away with that shit for months to come.

God dammit.