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"Hold still," the make-up noona instructs, one hand gently grasping Jeongguk's chin, the other swiping gloss carefully on his lips. His view's limited with his head tilted backwards like this, but if he follows the line down the bridge of his nose, he can see Seokjin and Jimin sprawled in various states of dolled-up.
Seokjin's howling about something again, his squeaky laughs floating above the whir of the hair driers and the music blaring from the wide screen perched above the line of mirrors. Jimin's curled up in laughter too, albeit quietly. His shoulders shake as he throws himself across Seokjin's lap, unafraid to mess up his already-coiffed hair.
It's calm by the time Jeongguk approaches, Seokjin off to wardrobe and Jimin scrolling mindlessly on his phone.
"Jeongguk-ssi." Jimin acknowledges, not looking up from his screen. Jeongguk doesn't answer, choosing to slot himself in the narrow space between Jimin and the armrest. It's a tight squeeze, the bare skin of their arms flush against each other. He tips his head back and closes his eyes, slips into the familiar lie that a ten-minute nap is enough to power through the next three frantic hours.
He feels a hand pet his hair gently, still unstyled and soft. "Jeonggukie."
Jeongguk ignores him, turns his head slightly inwards. He would've wanted to rub his face in the crook of Jimin's neck, but his face is done and he doesn't want to sit through another etiquette lecture from manager-nim again. "Gukkie,"
Jimin smells like the Chanel perfume he got from Paris. Crisp and clean, it brings to mind Jimin basking in the Parisian sun, a cheeky smile as he greets Jeongguk happy birthday. It was a ruse of course; the real Jimin had already been on a plane back to Korea, and Jeongguk had unashamedly cried at when he opened his door to Jimin grinning so wide his eyes had curved up to crescents, his hands holding a cake box, shopping bags dangling from his wrists. He feels warmth surge through his chest, and he noses the slope of Jimin's shoulders, precautions about his face already forgotten.
Jimin sighed. Long-suffering, but fondly too. He finally put down his phone and slunk downwards, so that their noses were grazing each other's instead.
"Are you tired?" Jimin asks. He's exquisite like this- face made up, silver eyeshadow on his lids and a gem beneath each eye; his smooth skin made poreless and glowing from within, blonde hair swept off his forehead. He looks like the Jimin that always emerges first in brand rankings, the Jimin that trends in Twitter every other day, the Jimin that has people speechless at his charm regardless of age or gender.
It's crazy, an executive once said in one of the board meetings Namjoon forces everyone to go to once in a while, everyone loves Jimin.
And Jeongguk, well. He has always loved him just a little bit more.
"No." He replies after far too long, Jimin's eyebrows already creased with worry. His other arm reaches across and rubs his knuckles up and down Jimin's free arm. "I'm fine, Jimin."
"Hyung." Jimin corrects on auto-pilot, but there's no heat to it.
"Oh," Jeongguk smiles just a bit, and then it widens when it's mirrored on Jimin's face. "Am I hyung now?"
Jimin bursts into giggles, a high-pitch lilt that sounds so much like his own these days. How many years have they spent like this, shoulder to shoulder as they messed around like the actual young adults they were, the burden of fame easing away with every shared joke between them?
"Do you really want to go there?" Jimin's still giggling, shaking his head. "Huh, Jeonggukie-hyung?"
"Jimin-ssi!" Jeongguk yells, echoing through the room. Nobody bats an eye; this happens far too often for them to be startled anymore. Jimin nearly doubles over as he bursts into giggles again, slapping Jeongguk's chest. Jeongguk ignores him, snapping in Satoori, "You don't play fair! You can't call me that and expect to get away with it!"
Jimin grins wickedly, voice dropping to a murmur. "Yeah? What're you gonna do about it, Gukkie?" He pushes his face close enough to Jeongguk that his every breath hits his lips. "Hyung?"
Jeongguk tackles Jimin in a hug, the latter letting out a yelp of surprise as they tumble down the sofa. Both of Jeongguk's arms circle Jimin's torso, his face flush against his chest, his silk tank top rubbing cooly against his cheek. "You shouldn't say things like that, Jimin-ah."
He can feel Jimin's thighs flexing underneath his stomach. Jeongguk knows he's strong enough to throw him off, but he lets Jeongguk pin him, can feel the way his body vibrates with joy at being close. "Gukkie," he tries again. Jeongguk tilts his head up, his chin sinking into Jimin's tummy. Jimin's smiling that smile again, the one he reserves only for Jeongguk, soft and sweet and radiating with affection, so much that it once made him terrified of being at the receiving end of all that love, believing himself unworthy of being adored by someone like Jimin, who was kind and fierce and strong and beautiful. Now though, he has learned to bask gracefully in that love, and to return it in equal, if not greater, measure. It's the kind of relationship that took its sweet time to grow, but it was certainly worth waiting for.
Jimin lets out a resigned sigh when he doesn't answer, head flopping back, no longer caring about the state of his hair. "What is up with you today, puppy?"
Jeongguk sits up, but he doesn't let Jimin out of his embrace. He pulls him so he sits promptly on his lap, and Jimin's hand go straight to his hair on autopilot, fingertips gently rubbing across his scalp. "I just miss you, hyung."
"Silly puppy, we've been together all day!" Jimin scolds playfully, before dropping his forehead to rest against Jeongguk's. The corners of mouth drops down into a pout, and Jeongguk desperately recalls all the instances they were scolded for being indecent and shameless to kill any desire to kiss Jimin's frown away. "What am I gonna do with you, Jeonggukie?"
"Be my boyfriend." He answers, face dead serious. Jimin's head drops to the crook of his shoulder as he dissolves into laughter again. Jeongguk tilts his head to whisper directly to his ear. "Why are you laughing, Jimin-ssi? Do you not want me to be hyung's boyfriend?"
"You are an idiot, Jeongguk-ah." Jimin says, gasping as he tries to catch his breath. "You are my boyfriend, you big baby."
Jeongguk lets out a pleased sigh, and Jimin places the faintest of kisses on Jeongguk's exposed neck, discrete enough not to attract any attention. "Good." Jeongguk nods, satisfied. He pushes Jimin lightly on the shoulders, letting him sit back so he can stare directly at his face. "I just..."
Jimin nods, perceptive as always. He rests his hands on Jeongguk's neck, thumb rubbing circles gently into the skin. Jimin looks completely serious and sincere as he says, "My boyfriend. My puppy prince. My Jeonggukie."
"Ah," Jeongguk groans as he feels his cheeks and ears heat up. "Hyung."
"Oh, so now I'm hyung?" Jimin's hands move up to cup his jaw, stare fixed on Jeongguk. "I love you."
Jeongguk's smile feels dopey, but he welcomes it anyway, knowing that it's Jimin's favorite, the one where he looks, as his hyungs say it, whipped.
"I love you."
It's true; everyone loves Jimin, and Jeongguk loves him just a little bit more, and Jimin- well.
Jimin loves him the most.