Archive of Our Own

"You have to go!"

Jungkook groans into his arms, folded across the table in despair. They've been having the same argument on and off all week and he's starting to get just a little bit tired of it.

"It's gonna be so much fun," Jimin continues to whine, eyes twinkling excitedly from where he’s got his head propped up on the arm of the sofa. “Come on. Please?”

"I don't have to go if I don't want to," Jungkook repeats firmly through gritted teeth for what feels like the millionth time.

"But why not ?"

"Because!" Jungkook frowns down at the math homework that Jimin is supposed to be helping him with. "It sounds stupid, and boring. And it’s not like I have a date anyway." He mutters the last part under his breath; he doesn’t really mean to say it at all, just wants Jimin to drop the subject and drop it quick.

But Jimin is, as ever, determined and too stubborn to know when to quit. "So?” he says. “Neither do I."

"You have Taehyung."

"That's not-" Jimin splutters. "He's not my date, we're just going as friends."

Jungkook knows better than that. He’s seen the way they look at each other when they think he’s not looking. "Sure you are."

Jimin rolls off the sofa with a huff. There’s a dangerous, determined glint in his eye, one that Jungkook is all too familiar with. When Jimin really wants something, he fights for it. Jungkook isn’t very good at saying no whenever that happens. Most of the time he just wants him to be happy, and saying yes is the easiest way to make that happen.

Jimin drapes his full weight around Jungkook’s shoulders, poking him playfully but very pointedly in the ribs. "Come on," he whines again. “Please?”

"No."

“Pretty please?”

“Jimin, I said no .”

Another firm poke, followed by a drawn-out "Pleeeeaaaaase?" and a bone-crushing embrace (read: chokehold) that has Jungkook swearing loudly and scrabbling at Jimin’s arms in retaliation. He might not be stronger but he is faster, and he’s not afraid to play dirty when all the chips are down. He lets his body go slack just long enough for Jimin to let his guard down and then lunges up with a determined grunt. They fall to the carpeted floor in a flurry of shouting and tangled limbs, math homework forgotten, and roll around with the excess energy only two seventeen year-old boys could ever have until one of them can get the upper hand.

This time it just so happens that victory goes to Jungkook. But before he can spend any time rejoicing in his victory, he’s drawn back into the reality of his life by an all-too-familiar voice.

"What the hell are you two yelling about?"

Jungkook’s head swivels round to pin his older brother Seokjin with a glare. It doesn’t seem to phase him at all; he continues to lean against the doorway with practiced regality, bringing one hand up to inspect his nails like he’s bored. And standing just behind him-

“Namjoon,” Jungkook breathes out in surprise. In his moment of distraction, he allows himself to be toppled off of Jimin’s struggling form and he plops back on his ass with an undignified yelp.

Namjoon grins and raises a hand in greeting. “Hey Jungkook. Nice to see you again.”

“Y-yeah,” Jungkook says, still on the floor. He can’t quite get his legs to work, feeling a little dazed and more than a little embarrassed. “You too.” 

Seokjin frowns and crosses his arms. “What, no hello for you dear brother who’s been away at college and that you haven’t seen in months?”

“Sorry,” Jungkook apologizes, quickly scrambling to his feet so he can barrel into Seokjin’s open arms. “I was just - surprised. We weren’t expecting you for another week, and then I saw Namjoon and it was even more surprising and I - yeah. Sorry. Welcome home!”

“Thank you,” Seokjin grumbles against his shoulder. “It’s nice to be back. I missed having your snarky ass around to keep me in check.”

Jungkook lets out a huff of surprised laughter as he pulls away. “Sorry, did I hear that right? Did you just insinuate that you actually like having me around?”

“Yes and I’m never insinuating it again so make the most of it,” Seokjin ruffles his hair and lightly pushes him away. “Now go give Namjoon a hug like I know you’ve been dying to do since you saw him.”

“I-” Jungkook’s cheeks flare red as his eyes flick worriedly over to Namjoon. Namjoon, who already has his arms open wide and ready for Jungkook to fall into.

And Jungkook has already fallen a long time ago, so what’s once more?

Hugging Namjoon is like coming home. His solid arms feel perfect wrapped around Jungkook’s smaller frame, so warm and familiar and safe . Jungkook wants to build a nest and hide inside Namjoon’s arms forever.

Unfortunately, a few seconds is all he has. “It’s really good to see you again too,” he says, slowly (regretfully) pulling away from the embrace.

“So, now that that’s all done," Seokjin interjects, pulling Jungkook back against his side with a somewhat mildly menacing arm around his shoulders. "What were you two yelling about? We could hear you from practically all the way down the other end of the street.”

Before Jungkook can stop him, Jimin's whirling around with a deep pout creasing the lines of his face to loudly complain, "Jungkook doesn't want to come to prom with us. All because he hasn't got a stupid date!"

"Aww, Jungko-"

"Don't," Jungkook warns as he pushes away from his brother, heat rising to his cheeks. He doesn't need this, doesn't need to look like a lonely, pathetic kid in front of Namjoon of all people. Namjoon who’s in college now and who’s probably used to surrounding himself with people that are infinitely cooler than Jungkook could ever hope to be.

Despite all that, he’s still the first one to speak up to Jungkook’s defense. "He doesn't have to go if he doesn't want to," he says, echoing what Jungkook has been fervently arguing all week. "It's kinda overrated anyway."

"Shut up," Seokjin teases, whacking him playfully on the arm. "Don't act like you didn't love prom."

"I loved the people we went with," Namjoon corrects. "It can be fun to go with friends and still be overrated."

"But we would be going with friends! He still doesn't want to,” Jimin complains. “He’s being so difficult."

“I’m being difficult? You’re the one that keeps badgering me about going to prom even though I’ve said no a hundred times!”

Seeming to sense the exasperation in Jungkook’s tone, Jimin deflates slightly with a frustrated sigh. “I’m sorry, Kook,” he says. “I just...I just want my best friend to be there. We’ve only got a few months left before college. I want to spend as many of them with you as possible.”

“Oh.” Jungkook blinks. He feels bad for not really considering why Jimin was pushing so hard to try and get him to go.

“Aww,” Seokjin coos. “You guys are adorable. Come on Jungkook, why not go? It’s just one night. You’ll live.”

Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I’ll think about it. I...I’m still not sure about going without a date, but I’ll think about it.” He startles when Jimin makes a happy little noise and bounds over to give him a big hug, tilting his head away to avoid having a big, sloppy kiss planted on his cheek. “It’s still not a yes!”

“But it’s a maybe!” Jimin cries joyfully. “And that’s better than anything else I’ve gotten from you all week. I can’t wait to tell Tae, he’s going to be so happy.”

“You’re welcome,” Seokjin says loudly, ruffling both of their heads until they complain and bat him away. “Looks like I came back in the nick of time. Jungkook always listens to his older, wiser brother.”

“I’ve made a point of never listening to you a day in my life, actually.”

“And you wonder why your life is falling apart.”

“I don’t know, it’s been a lot better since you’ve been gone.”

Instead of replying, Seokjin just sticks his tongue out before flipping him off with a pleasant smile. “Alright, I know when I’m not wanted or appreciated,” he says, shouldering his bag and turning back to the stairs. “I won’t stand for this abuse. Later sluts!”

Jungkook turns to Namjoon with wide, incredulous eyes. “How the hell do you live with him in college every day?”

Namjoon shrugs. “It’s not so bad when we’re both buried under several weeks worth of deadlines. Honestly, sometimes we barely even see each other.”

Jungkook expects him to follow Seokjin out, but he lingers a little in the living room entryway. He seems hesitant about something, eyes constantly flicking between Seokjin’s disappearing form and the floor.

"You know," he finally starts, fixing Jungkook with an unreadable look, "If you’re really that set on having a date, I could take you to prom. If- If you want."

Jungkook gapes at him. Shock registers in some distant, repressed corner of his mind to be dealt with at a later time when he’s alone and can fully commit to screaming without anyone else around to hear him. "I- Uh." he says intelligently. “What?”

"Prom," Namjoon repeats with a small grin that makes his dimples appear. Jungkook has to resist the urge to reach out and poke them. "Do you want to go with me?"

Is this a dream? Jungkook wills himself to stop openly gaping like some sort of idiot kid with a schoolboy crush. "Y-You don't have to do that,” he mumbles, twisting his fingers together as he stares at the floor. “You don’t have to ask me just because you feel sorry for me." 

"And what if I'm asking because I want to take you?"

"Why the hell would you ever want to?" Jungkook's self-sabotaging mind asks before he can stop himself. Why would someone like you ever want to hang out with a pathetic kid like me at some stupid highschool prom?

"Because," Namjoon shrugs. "It seems important to your friends that you be there, and it seems important to you that you have a date. I don't want you to miss out. Also I think it’ll be fun if we went together."

"I thought you said it was overrated?"

"Maybe," Namjoon shrugs again. "But why not decide for yourself what you think? Don't take my word for it. I'm wrong about a lot of things."

Jungkook can't really imagine that being true. He's always looked up to Namjoon for being smart and wise, about so many things. If he says prom is overrated then it's probably overrated.

But…

But he still wants to go. Despite himself, despite all his insecurities and his misgivings, he still wants to go. And if Namjoon will be there, if Namjoon wants to go as his date, then he wants to go even more.

He takes a deep breath. Fuck it.

"Ok."

Namjoon’s grin slowly widens. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Let's go to prom together."

"This is a terrible idea. Why did I say yes? Why did you sit there and let me say yes?"

Jimin frowns at Jungkook through the mirror where he’s been sitting trying to apply eyeliner in a straight line for the last fifteen minutes.

"Because it's Namjoon. You know, Namjoon? The guy you’ve had a crush on for years but never did anything about and then he went to college but now he’s back, and offering to take you to prom?"

"That's exactly why it's a terrible idea!" Jungkook groans, collapsing back on top of his bed. Or rather, on top of the pile of discarded clothes on top of his bed. He still hasn't been able to make up his mind about what he wants to wear to prom and now he has less than an hour left to decide and get ready. "He's going to realize just how uncool I am, how awkward and hopeless and totally boring I am to be around and it'll all be ruined and I'll have to move out of the country."

"Don't be ridiculous," Jimin scolds. He's finally got his eyeliner on right and he turns to Jungkook with a victorious smile. "It's going to be fine; more than fine! It's going to be an amazing night, just you wait and see."

I doubt it, Jungkook thinks. But he doesn't have any more time to argue. In less than an hour Namjoon is going to show up at his door looking like a goddamn model and here he still stands in the middle of his bedroom in nothing but a pair of red boxer shorts and his best, now-crumpled white shirt.

"Why do I have nothing good to wear," he groans, face-planting into his own pile of shame.

Jimin frowns at him. "What's wrong with the suit you bought a few days ago?"

"It looks weird on me."

"No it doesn't. It looks fuckin' hot Jungkook, so hot it'll probably give Namjoon a boner all night."

Jungkook's cheeks flare up with heat. "Jimin!"

"Sorry, I thought that was the point of getting you a nice suit."

"No, that's what your suit's for."

"My suit's going to give Namjoon a boner?"

"No!" Jungkook shoots him a pointed look. "Taehyung, dumbass."

Now it's Jimin's turn to blush. "Shut up," he grumbles, turning back to the mirror to fix his hair. He doesn't deny it though.

I knew it, Jungkook thinks vindictively. Those two are totally gonna bone.

Out of pure necessity and lack of absolutely any other alternative, Jungkook ends up wearing his new suit. It is quite nice; he'd wanted something that would make him look more mature, like someone Namjoon would want to be with instead of just being his friend’s kid brother playing make-believe at being grown up. It's made of sleek black material that hugs his frame comfortably, making his shoulders look broader and his legs look longer.

He'd wanted to wear a tie with it but Jimin convinces him to go with a bow-tie instead, saying, "Namjoon's going to love it, I promise. He's going to think you look so cute."

"But I want to look cool and sexy, not cute ," Jungkook pouts, glaring at his reflection in the mirror. "I don’t want him to see me as a kid anymore." He runs a frustrated hand through his hair to try and get it to sit right, trying to get it to sit in some magical way that will make his face look less boyish and more defined.

"You're making it worse,” Jimin huffs, slapping his hand away. “Here, let me."

He takes his time fixing Jungkook's hair until it sits in a way that he doesn't hate completely, gently massaging the tension out his neck and shoulders at the same time to try and get him to relax. It works for a while; the rhythmic motion of his hands has the anxiety buried deep in Jungkook's chest unfurling like a sleepy cat until he's all calm, liquid bliss.

But then the doorbell rings, and suddenly his heart starts hammering like a jackrabbit in his chest all over again. "Oh god," he whispers, feeling his fight-or-flight response beginning to kick in, "I think that's him." Distantly, he hears Seokjin open the door followed by the distinctly warm, familiar timbre of Namjoon's voice.

"Go get him, I'll be down in a few minutes."

Jungkook whirls on Jimin, eyes wide. "I can't go down alone! What if he tries to talk to me?"

"Jungkook, you've known him for nearly twelve years. I'm pretty sure you’re capable of holding a conversation with him without combusting."

"But-"

"Go, shoo!" Jimin clucks, gently but firmly manhandling Jungkook towards the door. "You'll be fine. He'll be so lost in your eyes he won't even notice whatever it is that's coming out of your mouth."

Bedroom door firmly slammed in his face, Jungkook has no choice but to turn around and face what feels like impending doom. It feels so surreal, seeing Namjoon waiting at the bottom of the stairs in a sharp tuxedo and knowing that he's waiting there for Jungkook specifically. It's almost magical, like a dream come true. Which it sort of is, he supposes. He can't even remember how many nights he'd spent lying awake thinking of all the impossible ways in which Namjoon might sweep him off his feet. And now Namjoon's here, for him, waiting to take him to prom. (He just wishes it was under different circumstances. He knows Namjoon's only doing it out of sympathy, to be a good friend to Seokjin's little brother who couldn't even find a date for himself. It's nice to pretend, though.)

When Namjoon spots Jungkook at the top of the stairs, his smile softens into an almost dazed expression. He blinks slowly, smile growing as Jungkook descends the last step.

"Wow," he whistles, eyes raking down the length of Jungkook’s body who flushes at the attention. "Looking good, Kook."

"Thanks,” Jungkook replies, flashing him a nervous smile. “You look really nice too."

'Nice' being the understatement of the fucking century. Namjoon looks incredible; even more so than usual. His platinum hair is all sleek and styled up out of his face. He's got his shirt sleeves rolled up to his biceps and his jacket slung over one shoulder, tie loose in a handsomely dishevelled kind of way. He looks so cool. Jungkook feels like he's drowning, like he can’t breathe under all the layers and buttons and unresolved tension that he’s allowed to fester and build inside of him for years. He likes Namjoon so much he feels like he could burst.

"I like your hair," Namjoon comments, jolting Jungkook out of his enamored stupor. He reaches out to brush a loose strand away from his eyes and Jungkook feels his legs turn to jelly.

"Yeah?" He blinks, running a self-conscious hand through his fringe.

"Yeah. It's kinda...Sexy."

Jungkook's brain immediately shuts down as he loses all capacity to process anything beyond the blinding light of Namjoon's smile.

"Oh, I brought you something." Oblivious to Jungkook’s current state of malfunction, Namjoon reaches into one of the inside pockets of his jacket and produces a little black box which he hands to Jungkook. "I think it's a cute tradition and I know purple is your favourite colour, so..."

Jungkook wills his limbs into motion again and carefully accepts the box. He opens it to reveal a beautiful purple corsage inside that matches Namjoon's own. "Oh,” he gasps, legs reduced to jelly for the second time in the span of five minutes. Just a natural side-effect of being wooed by one Kim Namjoon, he supposes. “Namjoon, it's beautiful…I love it."

Namjoon beams, eyes shining with pride. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Do you need help putting it on?"

"Oh, uh-"

Before Jungkook really knows what's happening, Namjoon’s plucking the corsage out of its box and gently pulling him forward by his lapel. In the few seconds it takes him to fix the little flowers into place Jungkook doesn’t breathe even once, too scared that even the slightest movement might disturb this wonderful, beautiful dream he’s stumbled into.

"There," Namjoon says quietly when he’s finished, smiling into the unsteady space between them. Jungkook wants so badly to breach the distance, to stand up on his tippy toes and press a kiss against that dimpled smile like he's dreamed of doing for more years than he can remember.

They're interrupted by a small gasp from somewhere behind them, startling Jungkook out of his reverie.

"You guys look so cute together!" Jimin exclaims. His eyes twinkle with laughter at the way Jungkook fumbles on his feet in an attempt to put some distance between them.

"Aww, look at you two,” Seokjin crones, ambling in lazily to give them both a cursory once-over. Jungkook wonders how he's planning on ruining his life this time. “My best friend and my baby brother, off to prom together."

"Seokjin," Jungkook whines, just as Namjoon throws a casual arm around his shoulders. "I hate it when you call me that."

Seokjin grins. "I know. That’s exactly why I keep doing it. Now!" He claps his hands together ominously. "Who's ready for some photos?"

Jungkook blanches. "What?"

"Photos! Come on, it's tradition that prom couples have shitty home photos taken by their overly eager parents before they head out. And, since mom and dad aren't here tonight, that role falls to me."

"No, absolutely not, we're probably late already-" Jungkook protests, already trying to make his escape towards the door.

"Nope," Seokjin cuts him off, hauling him back by the collar of his shirt. "I don't care. We are doing this."

Jungkook turns to Jimin for support but he just stands there smiling sweetly as Seokjin physically manhandles him and Namjoon into position on the stairs.

If things didn’t feel awkward between them before, they definitely do now. Jungkook blushes and stutters and thinks of nothing but murder as Seokjin directs them into compromising position after compromising position. For someone who’s only ever imagined being this close and touchy with his crush in his mind, Jungkook’s having difficulty having to process the reality of it all at once.

"Could you maybe look a little more, I don't know, couple-y?"

Jungkook glares at Seokjin. He's just about to snap back when he feels Namjoon's arm settle around his waist, pulling him in tight to his side.

"Is this okay?" he whispers.

Jungkook tilts his head to the side and his breath catches in his throat at how close their faces are.  "Y-Yeah," he whispers back, even though it’s not, really. Every inch of his skin feels like it’s on fire, burning up in the sphere of so much Namjoon .

"Perfect, just like that!"

They indulge Seokjin for another ten minutes before Jungkook is forced to put his foot down at the suggestion that Namjoon carries his bridal-style . "I'm going to kill you when I get home," he threatens under his breath as they finally pass him on their way out the door.

Seokjin ignores him, smiling serenely as he waves them off. "Have fun!" he calls out. "Don't forget to have him back before his curfew!"

The three of them pack themselves into Namjoon's tiny car, Jimin in the back and Jungkook up front next to Namjoon. He feels almost stupidly grown up; none of his friends have a car yet. It's just one of the many reasons why Namjoon is so much cooler than he could ever hope to be.

"Sorry it's a bit small," Namjoon apologizes as he turns the key and revs the engine to life. "I'm hoping to get a new car soon."

Jungkook frowns. The car is the perfect size in his opinion. He can totally imagine himself leaning across the small space between them to plant a kiss on one of Namjoon's dimples.

He can't just say that to his face, though. "No, it's really cool!" he says instead. It feels a bit lame and lackluster compared to the truth of what he wants to say, that he could never not be impressed by absolutely everything Namjoon does, but it makes Namjoon smile all the same.

They stop off at Taehyung's place first to pick him up. He would have met them earlier to get ready at Jungkook’s place but he'd claimed that he had some "important task" to attend to and that he’d meet them later. They find out exactly what “important task” means when Taehyung opens the door and they're met by his grinning face framed by a shock of bright blue hair.

Jimin gapes as Taehyung spins round with a flourish. "Tae, your hair!" he gasps.

"Like it?"

"I love it!"

Taehyung laughs delightedly before launching himself into Jimin's open arms. "I was so scared it was gonna look shit."

"It looks great! No one is going to be able to take their eyes off of you on the dancefloor."

"Even you?"

Jimin boops him on the nose. "Especially me."

Jungkook has always been a little bit jealous of the easy affection that seems to flow between them. But that feels like a distant memory now with Namjoon's arm settled comfortably around his shoulders, grounding him and reminding him of all the love and affection that fills his own heart to the brim. Affection that has always really been there between them in some way, something softer and shyer than what Jimin and Taehyung have, but there nonetheless.

They all leave Taehyung's house to squeeze themselves back into Namjoon's tiny car. Jimin ends up practically half-sitting in Taehyung's lap, but he doesn't seem to mind at all. He’s smiling wider than he has all week, and it’s infectious; Jungkook can feel laughter bubbling inside of him with every joke they crack and every story they tell. It spills out of him in joyous waves when Namjoon cranks the radio up for them to sing along to the radio, and they don’t stop for the remainder of their ride to the school.

Jungkook can't stop himself from stealing glances at Namjoon’s side-profile the whole way there, at all the soft, delicate lines of his face illuminated in shimmering reds and golds in the passing streetlights. Namjoon catches him looking and smiles, reaching over to lock their hands together briefly, and Jungkook thinks this is exactly what happiness feels like.

When they arrive at the school gym, Namjoon almost stumbles over his own two feet in his rush to get out of the car. Jungkook doesn't understand what all the rush is for, until Namjoon pulls his door open and holds his hand out to help him get out. Jungkook accepts it after a solid five seconds of internal screaming, and something warm and made of pure starlight rushes down his spine when Namjoon doesn't let go the whole way to the entrance.

The gym has been completely transformed inside from a sweaty, exhaustion-filled box to a shimmering, starlit scene of silver and gold. It's nothing ground-breaking, but with Namjoon by his side and their fingers laced together Jungkook feels like he's standing in the middle of paradise.

Jimin and Taehyung immediately make a beeline for one of the long tables lined with food, leaving Namjoon and Jungkook standing awkwardly together by the entrance.

“That was quick,” Namjoon comments, sounding amused.

“Better get used to it. I feel like we’re going to be running around looking for those two all night. Which is exactly why I didn’t want to come here alone.”

Namjoon bumps their shoulders together, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “But you’re not alone; you have me. So why don’t we go exploring together?”

Relief washes through Jungkook’s body. Thank god one of them has a got a handle on their emotions tonight, because if it were up to him they’d probably still be standing awkwardly by the door. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

They head in the opposite direction from where Taehyung and Jimin have scampered off to towards where some party games that have been set up. Jungkook slows slightly as they pass the photo-op booth on their way, staring in wonder at the multitude of props and costumes they have set up for anyone to use. He kind of wants to ask Namjoon if they can go try it out, it’s just - they’re one of the only queer couples there and he suddenly feels a little exposed. What if people stare? What if it makes Namjoon feel uncomfortable?

Namjoon notices him staring and slows to a stop. “Did you want to go take some photos?”

“N-No,” Jungkook startles, snapping his eyes away from the booth. “We don’t have to. I was just…looking.”

Namjoon rolls his eyes with a fond smile, immediately beginning to lead him over by the hand. "I know that look; that's the look you get when you want something really badly and you're not going to be happy until you get it.”

“Really, we don’t have to!”

“It’s fine!” Namjoon waves his protests off. “It's all part of the experience. I don't want you to miss out."

It's so easy for Jungkook to follow his lead. He's been following Namjoon for what feels like eternity, and he knows he'd follow him for many more eternities to come. 

They take mostly cheesy photos together with the most absurd props possible, pulling faces and goofing around to try and make the other laugh. Jungkook snorts at the Marilyn Monroe get-up that Namjoon tries to squeeze into and Namjoon is sent nearly into hysterics when Jungkook suddenly whips around wearing quite possibly the largest fake moustache either of them has ever seen. It’s all fun and games, until Namjoon decides to go in for the classic prom pose where he holds his waist from behind, smushing their cheeks together for effect, at which point Jungkook swears he nearly blacks out. 

He already knows he's going to cherish these photos forever.

After that they manage to rendez-vous with Taehyung and Jimin by the punch bowls for all of five minutes before losing them in the crowd again. It's pretty much exactly what Jungkook expected would happen and he doesn't doubt it'll keep happening for the rest of the night.

He thought he'd be afraid of spending so much time alone with Namjoon. Growing up, he always had Seokjin or Jimin or some other friend as a sort of buffer between them, someone to bounce the awkwardness off of when he felt too overwhelmed by the weight of Namjoon's presence. But it's actually so easy, to just be together. Namjoon talks enough for the two of them and Jungkook is content to smile and nod and lose himself in the sweet cadence of his voice and his deep, brown eyes. But he never makes Jungkook feel left out either, always asking questions and listening intently to whatever he has to say. They laugh a lot too; at the punch that's so disgusting it makes them both gag. At Namjoon failing at ring-toss and Jungkook failing even worse at the claw machine. Namjoon has to hold him back before he kicks the damn thing and he giggles the whole time, like he finds Jungkook adorable. Jungkook feels like he's floating on air.

They balance each other out really well. It's awkward, definitely, but not in the soul-crushing way Jungkook had feared. Their awkwardness has something gentle in it, something honest and vulnerable in the way they brush their hands together but never really commit to holding. In the way they keep shyly looking at each other and then looking away but neither of them says anything about it.

Jimin pulls him aside later when they finally meet up again. "So,” he starts, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. “How's it going with Namjoon?"

"Fine," Jungkook mutters, blushing.

"I'd say more than fine from the looks of it," Jimin teases, elbowing him playfully in the side. "He can't seem to take his eyes off of you."

"Shut up."

"I'm being serious! I bet he's even looking at you now, wondering when you'll be back at his side."

Jungkook glances up just in time to see Namjoon falter and look away, a private smile crinkling the sides of his eyes. "T-That doesn't mean anything."

Jimin gives him a pointed look but otherwise leaves the matter be. He's got Taehyung pulling on his right arm trying to tug him out onto the dancefloor anyway; it's a far more tempting proposition than staying and trying to needle Jungkook for more information.

To Jungkook, on the other hand, the dancing is the part that he’d been dreading the most. He’s not exactly keen to put himself out there like that, perfectly content with keeping to the sidelines and watching everyone else make fools of themselves. He expects Namjoon to feel the same, but then Namjoon's tugging on his hand again like he knows it's his one weakness and trying to convince him to come out onto the dancefloor too.

"I don't know how to dance!" he calls out over the music, still allowing himself to be pulled along.

"Me neither!" Namjoon calls back. He’s smiling wider than he has all night, eyes shining like stars underneath the filtered silver lights. "Why don't we try not knowing how to dance together? Two negatives make a positive, right?"

"I don't think that's how it works."

Namjoon laughs, and before Jungkook knows what's happening he's being gently pulled closer and closer until he feels a warm, solid arm wrapping around his waist.

"Is this okay?"

Jungkook stares up into the soft, familiar brown of Namjoon’s eyes, and all he can do is nod with a quiet, “Yes.”

It’s not the ideal position for dancing to the upbeat songs currently playing, Jungkook’s arm half-slung around Namjoon’s neck as they awkwardly hold hands and try to sway in time to a tempo two times too fast. It’s so ridiculous that it has Jungkook giggling uncontrollably, the laughter wracking through his body sending him careening into Namjoon’s chest.

And Namjoon is there to catch him, as always. “What’s so funny?” he asks, catching Jungkook around the waist with a low rumble of amusement.

“I don’t think this is how we’re supposed to dance to fast songs,” Jungkook giggles against his shoulder as he tries to right himself.

“Would you rather be doing that?”

Jungkook follows Namjoon’s gaze to where Jimin is throwing it back against Taehyung, wide smiles etched into both their faces like they’re the only two people in the world.

Jungkook shudders. “God no. I take it back, this is fine actually. Perfectly appropriate.”

The music suddenly slows to a more even tempo then, something that hangs in the balance between upbeat and laid back. It feels like the beginning of an evening winding down, spilling into the steady beat of night.

“Looks like the slow-dancing part of the night is about to start anyway,” Namjoon comments. “But we can always stop if you w-”

“No!” Jungkook freezes, taken aback by the strength of his own tone. “I mean, we - we might as well stay. It’s all part of the experience, right?”

Namjoon's smile almost looks relieved. “It is,” he agrees easily, arms tightening ever so slightly around Jungkook’s waist. “Wouldn’t want you to miss out.”

Jungkook feels so safe and secure in Namjoon's arms. He hesitates for a moment before wrapping his own arms in a tighter loop around his neck, and he revels in the way it brings them closer together, their breaths mingling together almost as one as sweet music bends and breaks around them.

It’s the most intimate thing Jungkook has ever done. He stares at his hands, the floor, anywhere but Namjoon's face, afraid of what he might see there, wanting to see that deep valley of affection he’s been lost in for years but knowing he likely won’t find it.

“Hey,” Namjoon loosens one arm from around his waist to tilt his chin up with two fingers. “What’s up?”

“Nothing! I’m just…” Jungkook searches for the right word. “I’m really happy that I came. Thank you for offering to take me; I know it probably wasn’t in your plans to come back to highschool on your one week off from college.”

“Maybe not,” Namjoon says with a small shrug. “But I’m really glad that I asked. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be on a Saturday night than right here, at a low-budget school prom in a gym, with you.”

Jungkook has to bite his lip to stop his face from splitting in two with the force of his smile. “You’re just saying that.”

“I’m not,” Namjoon mumbles. He tilts his head until their foreheads are just about touching, ears turning redder than Jungkook has ever seen them. “I’m serious, Jungkook. Wherever you are is where I’d rather be.”

Jungkook has never been rendered so completely speechless before. He doesn’t trust himself with words right now, so instead of responding he leans in until his face rests perfectly inside the crook of Namjoon’s neck and holds him close.

After dancing for what feels like an eternity (or what Jungkook had hoped would be an eternity in Namjoon's arms), they eventually break off to the side for a break. Jungkook immediately misses the heat of being pressed so close together. Feeling a bit bolder now, he doesn't shy away from leaning against Namjoon's shoulder.

"Had enough?" Namjoon teases. He wraps an easy arm around Jungkook's shoulder, pulling him closer. Funny, how much the walls between them have eroded in the space of just a few hours. All it took was some time alone.

Never, thinks Jungkook. I could never have enough of you. 

"Mm, kinda," he says instead. "But I don't really want to go home yet either."

Namjoon is silent for a moment. When Jungkook glances up at him, he's got his serious thinking face on. "Why don't we just go somewhere else then?" he says.

"Like where?"

"I know a place."

After giving up on finding Jimin and Taehyung (who are probably off making out in a dark corner somewhere anyway) to let them know that they're leaving and will pick them up later, Jungkook follows Namjoon out of the school gym and back to his parked car.

He doesn't have to ask where they're going. He trusts Namjoon implicitly, always has, and he’s yet to be led in the wrong direction. He’d trusted Namjoon with not telling Seokjin that he broke his cd player. He’d trusted him with helping him decide what he wanted to do in college. He’d even trusted him enough to come out to him first, even before Jimin or his own family, because he’d always made Jungkook feel safe and accepted. 

So he just sits there and trusts and enjoys the comfortable silence between them, relishing in how lucky he feels to be here beside his favourite person in the world.

They drive out of the main city and towards the towering hills that surround them, up winding roads that lead them far away from the living, breathing mass below. They drive and drive until Namjoon finally pulls into a spot overlooking the city and it feels almost exactly as romantic as every rom-com Jungkook has binged had led him to believe. More and more, he’s starting to believe this night is all a dream.

When they get out of the car, Namjoon goes rooting around in the trunk until he produces a thick, blue woolen blanket with a satisfied grunt.

“What’s that for?” Jungkook asks, confused. They’re both wearing several layers and it’s not exactly cold out.

Namjoon walks around to the front of the car where he spreads the blanket out over the hood. “Ta-da!” he announces with a small flourish, standing back to examine his handiwork.

“Cozy.”

“It is, until your back pops and your ass starts to go numb.”

Jungkook’s mouth twitches in amusement. “You’re really selling this experience to me.”

Namjoon smiles apologetically, hopping up so he can lie back against the windshield. “Sorry,” he says, “I know it’s probably not many people’s idea of a nice time, but-”

“It’s perfect,” Jungkook interrupts. He hates that he sounds a little breathless when he says it, like he’s so in awe of everything Namjoon does that it permeates every inch of his being. He hates that he’s so goddamn obvious all the time.

He coughs to try and cover up his embarrassment, hoisting himself up onto the hood until they’re sitting side by side. He’s surprised to find that the car actually feels a lot smaller from up here. He isn’t sure if it’s because of the wide expanse of city stretching out for miles below them, or the enormity of the affection he feels for the person sitting so close to him that their shoulders touch with every breath.

They don’t speak for a while. They just sit in silence and watch the world unwind below them like a distantly beating heart, the lights of passing traffic flickering in time to Jungkook’s own pulse. It’s peaceful; a nice change of pace compared to the frantic mass of people they’d been drowning in barely half an hour ago. Jungkook feels like he can breathe again even as he sits next to the one person who takes his breath away.

“Thank you for taking me here,” he blurts out. He’s loathe to break the easy silence between them, but he misses the sound of Namjoon’s voice. “It’s nice to get away from...everything.”

Namjoon turns to him with a relieved smile. “No problem. I miss being able to just drive away from all the noise. It can get a bit much in the city sometimes.” His smile turns a little sad when he looks away and it hurts Jungkook somewhere deep in his chest.

“You miss being home?"

“Yeah,” Namjoon sighs. His eyes flick back to Jungkook’s face, softening slightly. “But I miss the people more.”

“But you have Seokjin with you.”

“I meant...I miss the people I left behind.”

“Oh,” Jungkook breathes, eyes wide. He means me. “Um. I’m sure they miss you too. A lot. Like-” he blushes, quickly losing confidence, “Probably every day.”

Namjoon laughs softly. “Maybe they could visit me sometime, then.”

“Definitely,” Jungkook blinks rapidly. He’s getting lost in the metaphor, lost in Namjoon’s eyes, lost in all the words he wants to say but isn’t sure how to articulate in any way that does justice to the way he feels.  “I mean - I’m sure they’d love to. The people that miss you.”

“Great,” Namjoon laughs and closes his eyes, leaning back against the windshield. “I’ll let them know when I’m free next.”

Comfortable silence settles around them once more, broken only by the sounds of distant traffic and Jungkook’s traitorous heart hammering away in his chest.

He thinks it could go on forever, when suddenly Namjoon clears his throat. "You know, I always wanted to bring someone up here," he admits into the twilit darkness. There’s something unreadable in his tone that Jungkook can’t quite decipher and he’s staring down at his hands, almost like he’s - nervous?

"Why haven't you until now?"

Namjoon takes a deep breath, then allows his eyes to drift back up to meet Jungkook's. “Because...” he says. "Because none of them were you."

"I-" Jungkook feels like he's missing something. "W-Why me?"

"Are you really going to make me spell it out for you?"

Jungkook feels a little panicky. He's not sure why. "I don't know what you're spelling. I don't even know what language it's in."

Namjoon takes another deep breath. And another. And - "I like you, Jungkook. I think...I think I've liked you for a long time."

Jungkook is almost certain he must have misheard. “You what?”

“I like you,” Namjoon huffs. “Please don’t make me say it again.”

“Oh my god.”

“Is that a good ‘oh my god’ or a bad ‘oh my god’?”

“Good!” Jungkook blurts, sitting up with a start. “Definitely good. Great, in fact. Oh my god .” Then, in a smaller voice, “You really mean it?”

“I really, sincerely, with all of my heart, mean it. I really, really, really like you, Jungkook.”  

"Can I kiss you?"

Namjoon lets out a startled laugh. "Always."

And just like that, Jungkook crosses what had felt like an infinite divide between them in a single breath. Namjoon accepts his kiss with a content little hum, lips parting easily like they were made to fit together, and Jungkook can’t stop the soft keening noise that spills from the back of his throat. He kisses Namjoon eagerly, pushing forward with open enthusiasm as he only knows how, and Namjoon smiles into the kiss.

“Is it okay for me to assume that this means you like me too?”

“So much,” Jungkook intones a little desperately between kisses. “I like you so much Namjoon, for so long . You have no idea.”

“I think I’m starting to get a bit of an idea.” Namjoon laughs at the way Jungkook’s kisses have already turned a little messy, too eager for more, too eager to stop. He has to curl his fingers into Jungkook’s lapel to slow him down, and Jungkook pulls back abruptly.

“Sorry, I’m just-” overjoyed, ecstatic, ass-over-tits in love “-excited,” he finishes lamely.

“I like excited. I like you. ”

“God, never stop saying that.”

Namjoon kisses Jungkook’s nose. “I like you.” And then his cheek. “I really like you.” And then his neck. “I-”

Jungkook laughs and surges forward, and when they kiss again Namjoon no longer tries to hold him back. He ends up straddling Namjoon’s lap, somehow, although he’s not exactly sure how it happened. One second he was thinking about how nice Namjoon’s thighs are and the next thing he knew he was sitting on them. Namjoon doesn’t seem to mind.

It’s only when the car starts tilting dangerously to the right that they start to register the reality around them again beyond just the desperate heat contained between their two bodies.

In their brief pause, Namjoon glances at his watch and swears. “Shit. We probably need to head back to pick Taehyung and Jimin up.”

“Fuck ‘em,” Jungkook snaps, leaning in to press a kiss against his neck. “I’m sure they can find their own way home.”

“We can’t just leave them,” Namjoon laughs.

“Why not?”

“Because I really don’t want my boyfriend’s best friends to hate me.”

Jungkook gapes. “Y-You want me to be your boyfriend?”

Namjoon blinks quickly, seeming to just now register what he’d just said. “Um. O-Only if you want to, of course.”

Jungkook surges forward into another kiss, almost tipping them both off the side of the car, and Namjoon laughs again. “You know, you have this funny habit of kissing me instead of answering my questions.”

“Better get used to it,” Jungkook says as he snuggles himself closer against Namjoon’s side. “Your boyfriend’s got a lot of weird habits that you’re going to have to get used to.”

Namjoon laughs and wraps his arms around him protectively.

“Can’t wait.”

It’s not until later, when Taehyung and Jimin have been safely dropped back home (together, Jungkook notes with a knowing smile) and Jungkook is curled against Namjoon’s body on his tiny living room sofa that Namjoon finally asks, "So; final verdict on going to prom? Overrated or not?"

"Not," Jungkook sighs happily into his chest. "Definitely not overrated.”

He’s never been so glad to have said ‘yes’ to anything before in his life.