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If you asked Jimin when he met his friends for the first time he’d have a hard time telling you.
Unless you were asking him about Min Yoongi, because Jimin often thought about all his favorite moments with that particular hyung.
When Jungkook and Namjoon started dating, Yoongi was last of Joon’s friends that they’d met.
Namjoon said it was because Yoongi was a little shy but that had never really mattered to Jimin.
He was often quiet when the whole group was together, but not because he was bored or being rude, he seemed happy enough to just be with his friends while the rest of them were loud and wild.
And when Yoongi did speak up, it was usually because he was excited about whatever they were talking about.
Jimin had also learned that Yoongi was more prone to be chatty when he had a few drinks in him, but during those times he was usually just being silly and not so serious.
Even though Jimin liked to hear his voice, hear what he had to say, it didn’t bother him when Yoongi was being quiet.
He liked Yoongi just the way he was, and there was plenty to like.
The way he was always there for the others, for example, or the way that he was always open to giving them advice when he asked for it.
Sometimes when Jimin was feeling down he liked to just go out with Yoongi somewhere, because he wouldn’t have to be alone but the other wouldn’t bother him about what was upsetting him unless Jimin asked to talk it out.
Often Jimin didn’t want to talk about it though, because sometimes the reason he was feeling down was because of Yoongi and his hyung had no idea.
Yoongi had no idea that Jimin had always had a crush on him, that he was always looking at his hyung when he wasn’t paying attention.
Or that Jimin absorbed every careful word Yoongi spoke, and smiled whenever Yoongi was being silly.
He had no idea that Jimin hadn’t seriously dated anyone in years because he kept holding out hope Yoongi would suddenly start to like him.
Jungkook and Taehyung nearly drove themselves to madness trying to convince Jimin that he just needed to confess to Yoongi how he felt.
If for no other reason than to make himself feel better about it, because Yoongi wouldn’t tease him about it even if he didn’t have the same feelings towards Jimin.
But Jimin had always doubted whether he could handle that kind of rejection from someone he adored so much.
At the same time, they weren’t in college anymore and he was starting to worry he was wasting his time.
Jimin knew that he couldn’t just move on from Yoongi with ease and maybe it was time to just own up to his crush.
One night, the group had gathered together to watch a new documentary that Namjoon had continually told them over and over about.
Usually Jimin wasn’t into those type of movies but Jungkook had told him and Taehyung that they weren’t allowed to skip out on movie night.
And since Jimin had learned that everyone was going, including Yoongi, he’d been more willing to go along with it.
Part of the group squished together on the couch, Namjoon sitting next to Jungkook and with Yoongi sitting next to Jin.
Laying down on the floor with pillows, Taehyung and Hoseok had their feet swinging in the air.
But Jimin had plopped down on a slightly uncomfortable bean bag chair, giving him a better view of his friends than it did of the television.
As soon as Namjoon pulled up the movie on the screen there was groaning from the others.
“A documentary about penguins?” Hoseok asked with dismay.
“Penguins?” Jin joined in. “What’s so interesting about them?”
Jimin was about ready to giggle at his friends but when Yoongi started to speak he diverted all his attention to him.
“Actually,” Yoongi ran a hand through his hair and Jimin wished he could touch the silky strands. “Penguins are pretty interesting.”
Jimin was surprised, his eyebrows actually went up.
He knew that Yoongi liked to read a lot, and had plenty of random knowledge on things he didn’t expect. Penguins was definitely one to add to the list.
“Did you know that when a male penguin falls in love with a female penguin, he searches the entire beach to find the perfect Pebble to present to her.” Yoongi told the others who didn’t looked swayed.
Namjoon nodded with enthusiasm though, “They’re so interesting.”
“And some male penguins will raise abandoned eggs together too,” Yoongi added and it seemed to get their other friends more interested.
“We do love the gays no matter the species,” Taehyung announced loudly which made Hoseok and Jin start to laugh.
Jimin bit down on his bottom lip and looked over at Yoongi who was smiling fondly at his friends.
No one argued further as the movie started, but Jimin had a hard time focusing, continually trying to peak a look at Yoongi the whole time.
His hair was in its natural state, jet black but a little messy from being played with.
The sweater he was wearing was pulled over his arms until his hands were partly covered, making them look like paws.
And his pretty lips were the perfect shade of pink.
Jimin had always wondered what they felt like, especially when Yoongi touched them while he was talking.
Jimin knew he had to come clean about his crush, and he had an idea of how he wanted to do it.
###
It was a few weeks later that Jimin finally got the others to agree to go to the beach with him.
He didn’t just want to ask Yoongi Incase he lost his nerves and couldn’t go through with it.
There were some complaints from the others, Hoseok wanted to know why Jimin thought it was a good idea to go to the beach in the middle of November.
He tried to tell them it would be less crowded, and pretty in the colder season.
Amazingly, Yoongi stuck up for him and said it could be fun.
It helped that he promised to bring food for them to eat.
And Jimin had to clutch his heart as it ached with how much affection he had for Yoongi.
Still, he was happy that on the day they were all free to go the weather ended up being relatively mild.
They still had to wear jackets but it didn’t seem like they’d freeze being outside.
As soon as they got there Jungkook and Taehyung ran towards the water with Namjoon and Hoseok trailing after them much slowly.
“When can we eat?” Jin asked Yoongi, and Jimin would have laughed if he hadn’t been so nervous.
Some of them ended up pulling out tiny shovels and buckets to play in the sand.
It looked kind of ridiculous but they all had fun anyways.
Yoongi got busy with his camera, taking pictures of his friends while Jimin watched him.
Yoongi always seemed more comfortable behind the camera rather than in front of it, and Jimin was just glad for the distraction.
He went off along the shoreline to check out what he could find.
There were so many stones and he couldn’t just sit there and sort through them all.
He pulled his hood up over his face to protect his cheeks from the wind, which was why he didn’t notice Taehyung catch up to him.
“What are you doing?” Taehyung scared him as he spoke and Jimin jumped a little.
“Looking for something,” Jimin mumbled.
Taehyung frowned a little, “What?”
Jimin was a little worried that if he told someone else it would sound silly.
But then if it was silly did he really want to try it on Yoongi?
“I’m trying to find a special gift for Yoongi,” Jimin said. “A pretty stone he might like.”
Taehyung’s eyes went wide, “Are you going to tell him?!”
Jimin tried to shush him, “Keep it quiet!”
“You should check the water,” Taehyung ignored Jimin’s shushing. “The really pretty ones will be in there!”
Together they took turns sticking their fingers into the cold water, grabbing stones that caught their eyes.
There were so many options, Jimin gravitated towards pretty shiny ones.
While Taehyung liked those that had swirls of colors mixed together.
But none of them felt right and their fingers were starting to freeze.
“Yoongi wouldn’t pick any of these himself,” Jimin realized unhappily.
“What kind of stones do you think he likes?”
It was kind of an odd question to think about.
“Something not so flashy,” Jimin thought. “A cute stone that others might look over.”
He wanted a stone that reminded him of Yoongi, Jimin realized.
A special one that maybe most wouldn’t realize was so special.
Small and pretty when you took the time to look at it.
He found one just when he was ready to give up, his fingers were bright red.
It was smooth when he ran his thumb over it and was nearly perfectly black.
To some it might look boring, but Jimin thought it was gorgeous.
“It’s cute,” Taehyung confirmed before Jimin slipped it in his pocket.
They were right on time because Namjoon was calling them back for lunch.
“What were you doing in the water?” Hoseok asked when they got back.
“Nothing,” Jimin said quickly.
He was happy to take a spot next to Yoongi who was unwrapping sandwiches and passing them around to everyone.
“What do you want Jimin?” Yoongi asked him.
“Whatever you think,” Jimin wasn’t even hungry, he was too nervous.
Yoongi smiled and handed him Jimin’s usual favorite.
“Did you make this just for me?” Jimin asked quietly.
Yoongi hummed but got busy opening one up for himself.
And Jimin watched the way he observed the others enjoying the meal.
He didn’t ask anyone for thanks, he was happy just to see them happy.
When his eyes drifted to Jimin, they locked gazes for a moment before Yoongi gave him a shy smile and looked away.
Jimin touched the stone in his pocket, wondering how he could get Yoongi aside.
He caught Taehyung giving him a goofy grin and Jimin made a face at him so he’d stop.
“Can I borrow your camera hyung?” Jimin turned back towards Yoongi.
“Yeah,” Yoongi grabbed it out of his bag and handed it over.
He walked away from the group once again to go take some pictures of the scenery.
The water looked sharper in the cold sunlight and Jimin knew he’d remember the sight forever.
When he turned back towards his friends, Yoongi was leaving them to walk over to him.
Jimin snapped some pictures of Yoongi walking to him, wind blowing his hair a little and the view of all their friends sitting together in the background.
“You keep walking off,” Yoongi commented.
“I do,” Jimin took another picture of him and Yoongi scrunched up his face.
“Let me take a picture of you instead,” Yoongi suggested.
“Not yet,” Jimin tried to take another picture but Yoongi stuck out his tongue. “Hyung smile for me!”
Yoongi did but it was still silly.
“Look at the others,” Jimin said.
“Why?”
“You always smile when you look at your friends,” Jimin told him.
Yoongi hummed and press his lips together, “just move the camera away from your face a bit then Jiminah.”
Jimin did, holding the camera away enough so Yoongi could see him.
And Yoongi did smile then, his lips twisting up adorably.
Jimin snapped a picture.
“Your cheeks are red,” Yoongi told him. “Maybe you should lift your hood?”
Yoongi helped him after Jimin let the camera drop to his side.
“You too hyung,” Jimin did the same to Yoongi and somehow they were closer than he’d realized.
His breath felt like it caught in his throat, Yoongi was still smiling at him.
“Do you remember that movie Namjoon had us watch?” Jimin asked quietly.
Yoongi nodded once, “It wasn’t long ago.”
“It made me want to come here,” Jimin admitted.
Yoongi didn’t say anything but he watched Jimin carefully in the way he did when he knew there was more but didn’t want to ask.
He didn’t know how to explain everything he was saying so instead he reached inside his pocket.
“Hold out your hand hyung?”
Yoongi didn’t ask why he just listened and Jimin nervously planted the pebble into his palm.
Immediately, Yoongi reached a finger over to touch it carefully.
“I picked it out for you,” Jimin explained.
Yoongi was quiet and Jimin got more nervous.
“I thought you might like it,” Jimin said worried he was wrong. “You liked the penguins.”
Finally Yoongi looked up at him from the stone, his mouth was open a little.
His lips were getting chapped and Jimin reached to press his thumb against it softly.
“I wanted to find a way to tell you...”
Yoongi nodded even though Jimin didn’t finish his sentence.
Jimin wanted to finish explaining, he knew he need to.
But when Jin scared them both by yelling loudly the moment felt ruined.
“Stop it!” Jin was yelling as some birds flew near their picnic.
Yoongi looked back at Jimin before they both moved at the same time to help them.
As it turned out, everyone was cold and ready to leave once they’d packed up the rest of the food.
They all piled back into the car but Jimin was too nervous to sit next to Yoongi.
When he turned towards him later in the ride he saw Yoongi looking through the pictures on his camera.
He was smiling softly, Jimin’s favorite smile.
The one he did when he thought no one was looking.
Jimin took a picture of him on his phone, glad that it was on silent so Yoongi wouldn’t notice.
He didn’t go unnoticed when he gasped a moment later though.
Yoongi had pulled the small stone out of his pocket to run his finger over it, and Jimin had been surprised.
Looking up quickly, their eyes met again and Jimin wanted to look away but then Yoongi smiled again.
“I love it,” Yoongi told him.
“What?” Namjoon said loudly and Yoongi closed his fist around the stone protectively.
Jimin sighed.
When his phone vibrated a few minutes later Jimin pulled it out.
A smile reaching his lips when he saw it was from Yoongi.
- Messages -
Yoongi: Did you know some penguins mate for life?
Jimin: Do they? That’s cute
Yoongi: And they work together to raise their chicks
Jimin: Thats why they’re couple goals 🥺
Yoongi: Yeah 😊
Jimin looked up to peek at Yoongi, he was already looking at him though.
His eyebrows were raised slightly and Jimin realized he was doing that thing.
Yoongi was giving him a chance to make a move or not, he wasn’t going to ask.
- Messages-
Jimin: So if we were penguins would you accept that stone?
Yoongi: Are you trying to ask me out Jiminie?
Jimin: Maybe...
Yoongi: Well I already accepted the stone
Jimin: 🥰
###
On their first date they went to the zoo.
Jimin nearly had a heart attack when he got to hold Yoongi’s hand as he told him random facts about all the animals.
He really melted when Yoongi showed him he’d brought the small stone with him as they looked at the penguins.
They got drinks afterwards and Jimin found the courage to admit to Yoongi how long he’d liked him.
Yoongi had listened quietly, smiling and holding his hand.
Jimin was much less quiet when Yoongi told him he’d liked him too.
“Maybe it’s dumb but I always thought you’d tell me when you were ready,” Yoongi admitted softly.
“Nothing you do is dumb,” Jimin told him quickly.
Yoongi smiled like he was amused and Jimin pouted.
“We could have been together all this time,” Jimin told him.
“But we have been,” Yoongi titled his head. “You’ve always been special to me...and I like to think I’ve been special to you.”
Jimin nodded, “You’re right.”
“So it wasn’t a waste,” Yoongi concluded. “Most penguins know each other for years before they mate.”
Jimin couldn’t help but laugh now, “I’m glad I always have you to make me feel better.”
Yoongi gripped his hand a little tighter, “Always.”
At the end of the night Yoongi had a surprise for Jimin.
“I wanted to get you something too,” Yoongi pulled a baby penguin plushie out of his jacket pocket.
“Hyung,” Jimin reached for it immediately. “You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted you to know for sure,” Yoongi told him. “I’m picking you too.”
Jimin wanted to kiss Yoongi, he couldn’t stand how badly he wanted to.
And so he did.
Their lips were both a little chapped from the cold winter wind, but Jimin didn’t care.
The rest of his body felt warm, right down to his heart where Yoongi’s hand rested on his chest.
He knew he could kiss Yoongi every day and never get bored.
“So,” Jimin pulled away to catch his breath, touching his fingers to Yoongi’s hair. “What do you think of penguin themed weddings?”
“That might be a little too corny,” Yoongi scrunched up his nose and they both laughed.
But Jimin kept that Penguin with him on his bed every night going forward.
Except for nights when Yoongi stayed over, and then it got moved to his shelf.
While Yoongi kept his stone in a special box Jimin got for him, taking it with him for dates.
Sometimes their friends made fun of them for it, but Jimin didn’t care.
All he cared about was that he got to hold Yoongi whenever they were together and listen to his random facts more than anyone else.
“Did you know that male Penguins will pick out the nesting spot for their mates?” Yoongi asked Jimin one night, and they started looking for an apartment together the next day.