Work Text:
“You’re squishing me.”
“I am not.”
“My lungs have a different opinion on that.” Taehyung pretends to gasp, stretching himself out on the bed underneath where Jimin has draped himself across the top of him as if he were a blanket. Jimin’s legs stacked on top of his own.
Jimin is undeterred, squashing his face into the side of the other man's neck. “I am tiny, I am not squashing you.”
There’s a beat of silence, before a surprised gasps bursts from Taehyung. “Wait. Did you finally just admit you are tiny?”
“I am stressed . Now is not the time to be debating my size.”
Taehyung sighed loudly and forced, moving his hand awkwardly to grab his bookmark to the side of them, placing it in the book he held above his head prior to Jimin spreading himself over him.
He wrapped the smaller man up in his arms, petting the back of his head. “I didn’t mean to make you stressed, I was just curious. My soulmate senses were tingling.”
“I don’t have a crush on Joonie hyung.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t.”
“You said.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
Jimin softens his resolve, his hand sneaking up to play with the side of Taehyung’s dark hair, still curly from his new found obsession with perming it.
“It’s just...” Taehyung starts, causing Jimin’s fingers to tighten on the strands of hair between them. “Are you going to let me talk or are you going to get all black belt ninja on me?”
He sighs in defeat, letting the strands loose, his fingers twisting the hair softly now instead.
“Thank you.” Tae continues. “It’s just…” he pauses to take a quick breath before continuing “there’s been a couple of… how should i say this… moments … lately and they made me a little bit suspicious of your feelings, and well honestly, Joonie hyungs feelings too. So I spoke to Yoongi hyu-“
“ You spoke to Yoongi hyung ?!” Jimin shoots upwards at that, glaring down at his younger friend.
“I had to have someone to talk to!”
“So you spoke to Namjoon’s best friend ?”
“No. I spoke to my boyfriend.”
Jimin glare only darkens at the semantics.
“He won’t tell Joonie hyung. He loves me too much for that.” Taehyung smiles softly, almost as if he would to a wild animal.
“I hate you.”
“You love me.” Taehyung rolls his eyes dramatically as he says the words, laughing quietly at his friend's distress. “Back to my point. I spoke to Yoongi hyung who promptly told me I was seeing things-,”
“- exactly !”
“-until a week later when he changed his mind and agreed with me.”
Jimin sighs loudly, flopping off of Taehyung and moving to the other side of his bed, starting up at the chip in the ceiling from one drunken night where Jungkook attempted to pop a champagne bottle with a knife and it all went terribly wrong. Leading to the knife and bottle flying upwards and everyone ducking for cover under various objects.
“I don’t like Joonie Hyung.”
“You have said.”
“I don’t like him.” He reiterates again.
“I know.”
“He’s just…” He trails off, thinking.
“He’s just, very big, a-and tall and he makes me feel safe and content, like he could protect me from everything. Even though I know I’ll be the one protecting him because he’s so sweet he could never even harm a fly.” He pouts.
Taehyung keeps quiet, only eyeing him softly.
“And he knows something about everything and I like to listen to him ramble. He makes me feel like I’m constantly learning new things, and I like that feeling. I like that feeling so much .”
Jimin’s eyes glaze over softly as he thinks about one of his best friends, his brain barely even keeping track of what he’s saying anymore.
“And he makes me laugh so hard sometimes that I think I’m never going to be able to stop. I can hardly see a thing, but he always takes my face in his hands and wipes away the tears for me whilst I’m still trying to stop myself giggling.”
He smiles fondly, his hands reaching up to his cheeks.
“And his dimples?” He sighs dreamily. “I can’t even think of anything more to say but, they exist, I love them. They’re so dreamy and they just make me so happy whenever they appear because it means he’s happy. And when he’s happy, I’m happy, because he deserves to be so happy. He deserves to have nothing but endless smiles and giggles and laughs and sunshine and rainbows and just… happiness.”
He giggles as he speaks, his hands finding the spots on his own cheeks where Namjoon’s would be.
“And he’s so gentle? He can find a connection with any animal no matter how big, or how small, and animals are good that way, you know? Like, they know good people and they always find a way to be near Joonie Hyung and I like that about him. It makes me feel good to be in the presence of someone the universe approves of.”
A beat. His eyes blink, the world coming back into focus.
“But I don’t like him like that .”
With that Jimin watches as Taehyung nods silently, picking the book up from the other side of them and holding it back up above his head.
“I don’t .” He mutters mostly to himself, not catching the knowing smile that passes over Taehyung’s face.
~*~
“I think you should tell him.” Yoongi shrugs nonchalantly and spins around once in his dark computer chair that probably cost more than some people's monthly salary.
“I think I should do anything but tell him.” Namjoon counters, his legs dangling over the side of the couch towards the back wall of Yoongi’s studio.
He only hears a grunt of disapproval from the other man before continuing.
“Hyung, what would I even say ? ‘Oh, hi Jimin. This is a bit awkward, but I’ve been head over heels in love with you for the past year.’”
Yoongi opens his mouth to speak, but Namjoon cuts him off before he can even speak another word.
“Also, did you know you shine brighter than any other person on this planet? There’s a glow around you almost as if your halo is showing because the world just cannot hide how much of an angel you really are. You’re beautiful, kind, sweet, loving, and it’s almost too much to be contained into a single human being, so… you glow.”
He takes another long breath.
“But even then, that’s not it because there’s this little streak of danger and evil in you and I love that too. That little part of you that could easily defend me from any stranger or intruder. That other part of you that comes out when you’re dancing and I become enamoured to the point where one day I am very worried I will just drop to my knees in front of you and beg you to marry me.”
“Joo-,”
“Then there’s the way you put your all into everything you do and you inspire me so much. Although I wish I could make you take a step back sometimes, you don’t have to push yourself so hard - you’re amazing, talented and I want you to see what I see in you. I hate the fact you can’t see that some days when you’re at the end of your tether from teaching dance classes all day. I hate it. I wish I could hug you and make it all go away but that’s not my job and I wish it was. I wish I could be your person, but I’m not and that sucks. But if you’d let me I’d make you so damn happy.”
It takes a second before Yoongi talks again, watching as his younger friend's eyes drift back up to the ceiling.
“Well, I was going to suggest asking him for a coffee date.”
Namjoon grabs one of the pillows from under his head, muffling his scream of frustration against the fabric.
“Look, Joonie, you’re tying yourself up in knots over this, just talk to him. Get closure and move on, or hey… live a long and happy life together and never bug me about his thighs again.”
“He has gorgeous thighs though.” Namjoon turned to look at his best friend, a pout on his lips.
“I know - you have mentioned many, many, many , times.”
“But isn’t it easier for all of this to stay under wraps?” He turns ungracefully until he’s laying on his side, facing Yoongi. The elder had always marveled at his dongsaeng ability to be both a vision of grace at some moments and an uncoordinated mess whilst his brain overworks. “That way at least he can still be in my life? Still my little one, my favourite person, who curls into my side when he’s had one too many drinks, and sings me to sleep over the phone when he knows I’ve had a bad day.” He pouts. “I don’t want to lose that Jimin.”
“Jimin’s a good person, he would never leave you alone like that, he cares for you too much.”
Namjoon makes a sound somewhere between a cry and a wail, his hand coming up to pinch the bridge of his nose. “I hate this. Why couldn’t I have fallen in love with someone who wasn’t one of my best friends.”
“Tae thinks he likes you, you know.”
“He’d probably kill you if he knew you said that to me.”
“Probably, but he loves me too much to do that and you love me too much to tell him that I said it to you.”
“Did you tell him that I love Jimin?”
“Hell no! I knew you actually would kill me or do something equally as evil to me.” He fixes him with an amused but dark stare. “I knew you growing up Joon, I know how passive aggressive you can be. I watched you torture your sister.”
“Well maybe she shouldn’t have been so annoying then.” He smiles fondly, Yoongi knew he was already making several mental notes to call her later that day.
“ Tell . Him .”
“I can’t Yoongi.” Namjoon sighs, his eyes closing. “Just, give me some more time, so at least if I do tell him it’s not a word vomit of every single feeling I’ve locked up inside me for the past year.”
“It’ll be okay Joon.” He smiles sadly. “You’ll always have me, and the others, we love you. Taehyung would talk Jimin round even if it was an absolute disaster. We all love you more than the outcome of one stupid confession.”
Joon laughs bitterly, shaking his head. “There’s a whole lot of love in this group, maybe we should all just jack our love lives in and go poly.”
Yoongi throws the pillow behind his back squarely at Namjoon’s head, fluffing up his already messy hair. “Don’t touch my Taehyung.”
Namjoon laughs, carefree and unashamed for a moment, his eyes soft for his favourite hyung. Yoongi can’t help the smile that grows across his face as he watches the other mans dimples appear.
~*~
“Hyung.” Taehyung let’s himself into the studio with the code only he seems to know. Making a beeping sound along with the door as he lets himself into the dimly lit room.
“Hyung?” He smiles softly at his boyfriend as he watches him bop along to something piping through into his headphones, his eyes squinting at the screen.
Taehyung makes a mental note to send him to the opticians as he places a gentle hand against his shoulder.
He feels the man under his fingers jump, his chair swirling until he’s face to face with the gummy smile he has so much uncontrolled love for. His boyfriend bringing his hand up automatically so their fingers are entwined
“You scared me.” He breathes a sigh of relief, squeezing their hands together, closer, tighter. “Joonie’s been bugging me all day I was finally managing to get some work done.”
“Do you want me to go? I can.” Taehyung motions over his shoulder.
“You’re not bugging me, Joon was.”
The younger one raises an eyebrow at that. “Joon never bugs you.”
“He might do, you don’t know.”
“I know you too well hyung, and besides I am here on an extraction mission.” At Yoongi’s raised eyebrows and slow refusal Taehyung changes his words. “An extraction of information - I am not forcing you to leave, don’t look so panicked.” He pauses for a moment. “Although I would like a date night tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, got you.” Yoongi nods, quickly ficking over to his calendar on the computer and scrawling the word ‘Taehyung - do not move’ in the evening slot. It was the small things that made Taehyung’s heart flutter and he could feel it doing somersaults at the gesture.
“What info do you need?” Yoongi pulled himself upward moving to the couch.
“Namjoon.” With that Yoongi paused, his eyes going wide.
“What about Namjoon? Namjoon’s fine? Have you heard something, is he not okay?...” He trailed off, a worried look in his eyes.
“I’m 99% sure Jimin is in love with Namjoon.” Yoongi dropped his head backward against the back of the couch, air exhalling from his lungs quickly.
“I thought you were about to tell me he was injured or hurt or in trouble.” He brings his hand up to his heart. “Don’t do that to me.”
“Aw, look at you caring for your best friend, that’s adorable.” Taehyung pouts, pinching his cheek.
“You already told me you thought Jimin likes Namjoon. This isn’t news, I’m confused.”
“Is Joon in love with Jimin?”
At the slight movement of hesitation on Yoongi’s face he got his answer.
Taehyung’s smile grew.
“We’ve got to get suits hyung!”
“Why?”
“For their wedding.” He rolls his eyes as if it was obvious.
~*~
“This is all Jimin’s fault.” Jungkook sighs, kicking the ground beneath his feet.
“-Jimin hyung .” Jin interrupts, fixing him with a glare.
“Wait, why is it my fault?” Oblivious to the lack of honorifics. It was almost starting to bore Jungkook how easily Jimin would let it slide, but seeing the annoyed tick in Jin’s neck each time made it worth it.
“There’s a table for six right there, and that’s a table for eight with people still sat on it, therefore if we were a table of six we could be sitting right now, but we aren’t so we can’t.”
“And that’s my fault?”
“Exactly.”
“Don’t be mean to Jimin.” Namjoon rolls his eyes at the youngest of the group, wrapping an arm around Jimin’s shoulder, who happily leans in sticking his tongue out towards Jungkook.
“Besides, you’re the youngest so doesn’t that technically make it your fault.” Jin barely has the words out before he’s hit with a fake punch on the shoulder from Jungkook. A squawking sound coming from him as he pretends to be injured.
“Why are we friends with them?” Jimin muses loudly enough for the others to hear them.
“Sometimes I wonder.”
“Do you want to run away together? We can start a new group. You, me, and whoever we meet along the way.” Jimin stares dreamily up at Namjoon, his hands pointing off into the horizon.
“ Yah ! Namjoon if you dare ever leave me alone with these 4 I will scour the earth until I find you and drag you back kicking and screaming. I need you.” Yoongi cries to the side of them.
“Sirs, your table is ready.” The host from earlier waves her hand towards the six seater table from earlier, another random table pulled up on the end to make room for the 7 of them.
“See, I told you it was Jimin’s fault.” Jungkook mumbles as he follows Namjoon towards the end of the table.
He hears an indignant sound come from somewhere behind him that sounds very much like an unimpressed Jimin, laughing to himself as he mentally pats himself on the back for winding up his hyung.
It was as he slowly lowered himself into his seat, wondering what beer he might order with his chicken that he was pulled hard on the back of his jumper. He squeaks out in surprise as he’s thrown backwards and towards the alternate end of the table.
“Wha-?” He begins to question as everyone gathers into their seats, oblivious to the current situation as Jimin sits prim and proper in his seat, directly next to Joon.
“Jimin?” He questions into nothingness as the elder one simply ignores him. Draping himself over Namjoon’s side as he forgoes his own menu in preference of Joon’s. Giggling at something softly as he points towards the menu. The two in their own world.
“What just happened?” He muses as he sits down next to Taehyung who looks at him with a knowing glance.
Yoongi glances up at him from the other side of the table, his hand diagonally across the table holding Taehyung’s who sits next to Jungkook. “Did you sit next to Joon?” He takes in his winded expression and slightly ruffled shirt.
“I just… went to a seat.” He speaks quietly, his brows furrowed in confusion, smoothing out top.
Jin looks up after a moment. “Wait. You lasted this long without being attacked by Jimin for sitting next to Joonie?” He whistles. “You did well.”
“It’s because he’s the youngest. He’s probably been allowed to get away with it.” Hobi waves his hand at them all as if it was obvious, the others all nodding as if this whole situation made any kind of sense.
“Congrats kid, you finally grew up.” Yoongi winked at his youngest friend.
“So wait. You’re telling me that Jimin has attacked all of you if you managed to sit next to Namjoon for the last, what, 7 years?”
They all nodded in sage wisdom.
“One time I managed to sit down and he still stole my seat. I didn’t even stand up; he just sat on top of me until I moved.” Hobi looks as if he’s sharing a state secret, his eyes wide and full of terror.
“One time he threw a napkin at my head to distract me then pushed me into another seat.” Jin nods along with the others.
“And Joon has never noticed?”
“Neither have you until this moment.” Taehyung winks, patting his head sweetly with his free hand.
“So what... is… is Jimin like in love with Joon, or something?” He asks, eyes wide.
Jin and Hobi both laugh loudly, shaking their head at the question as if it was the most perposteous think they’d ever heard.
Slowly Jungkook let’s his eyes slide towards Jimin and Namjoon, the younger of the two currently curled up into his side, Joon’s arm wrapped around his shoulder. The pair of them attempting to decide whether they want to order a large meal or two smaller ones and share between them.
“Jimin’s in love with Joon isn’t he?” Jungkook's eyes somehow go wider, turning to Taehyung, who surprisingly had a wide smirk across his face, his eyes alive and dancing.
He receives no response, but that’s all he needs to put the pieces together.
“And Joon’s in love with Jimin?” He slides his eyes over to Yoongi, who only shrugs his shoulders in return.
“And no one knows.” He groans loudly, his head hitting the table below him. “Ow.” He says as he rubs where his forehead just connected with his chopsticks.
“I’ll tell you all about it later kid. I promise.” He feels a pat on the back of his hair, Yoongi’s fingers ruffling it slightly.
“I hate secrets.” He moans to the wood of the table and himself.
“One more on the enlightened side. Now we wait for the others to join us.” Taehyung spoke giddily next to him, bouncing in his seat.
“Wait!” He moves up, giddy with excitement. “Three of us know, so why can't we just tell Jimin and Joon and see what happens?” Jungkook looked up confused.
“They’re both stubborn, they’ll never believe us.” He waves him off. “They need to work this out alone.”
Jungkook groans once more, his head landing back on the table, ignoring the disapproving tut from Jin’s direction.
“Getting closer to my suit hyung.” He grins at his partner.
“Suit?” Jungkook looks up at Yoongi confused.
“For the wedding of course.” Taehyung replies.
Jungkook can only hit his head back against the table in response.
~*~
Jungkook, Taehyung and Yoongi were acting weird.
Hobi couldn’t pinpoint it any further than that but he knew they were acting weird.
“It’s in your head.” Jin rolled his eyes as he moved towards the snack stand at the cinema.
Hobi had always prided himself on his ability to emotionally pinpoint every member of their friendship group. Joon was good with the big things - organising, conflict resolution, work issues and finances. Hobi? Hobi was good with recognising when someone was off, he understood emotions, he liked it when people worked through them and resolved issues. He was good at that.
And right now, he knew that something wasn’t right, but he couldn’t work out what and that was not something he was okay with.
“Hobi.” Jimin spoke softly upwards to him, as always rooted to the side of Joon, his arms wrapped around Namjoon’s loose arm, his head cushioned against his shoulder. “You look sad?” He pouted.
Namjoon whipped his head up from where he had been looking at his phone, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay? Do you want to leave? We can go walk around for a bit or something?” Joon’s voice sounded somewhat distressed, his eyes panicked until Jimin softly kissed the sleeve of his shirt, his hand moving up and down his arm calmingly.
He watches as the alarm melted from Namjoon’s face, his nose brushing lightly over Jimin’s hair in thanks.
Huh .
That was new… right ?
Or was it?
He turned slightly to where Jungkook, Tae and Yoongi stood huddled in like the three musketeers, their eyes trained on the pair in front of him.
“No, no , I’m fine! It’s just been a long week, I mean choreography, it’s…” He threw his hand up in the air and made a silly noise. Jimin fell into Namjoon as he giggled. Hobi was surprised Jimin even had room to fall into Namjoon, the two pressed together practically on one side.
“We’re sharing, right?” Jimin mumbled to Joon as he looked up at the snack stand in front of them. His eyes trained on the popcorn.
“As long as we get the m&m-,”
“And mix them into the popcorn, I know the drill hyung.” Jimin giggled as they moved forward as one to the stand, neither one of them making any effort to move apart.
“Are they…?” He quickly mumbled to the three, his eyes wide with confusion.
“No.”
“Are we sure because…”
“Jimin’s in love with Joon but doesn’t realise it and Joon’s in love with Jimin but thinks Jimin’s not in love with him.” It all tumbles out of Jungkook in one breath, his eyes wide with confusion and anxiety. “ OW !” He cries as he’s hit from behind by one, or both, of the couple surrounding him.
“That was a secret .” Taehyung snaps at Jungkook, his eyes wide.
“So Jimin’s in love with Joon, but he doesn’t realise it.” Hobi repeats, needing some kind of clarification.
“Yes.” Yoongi confirms.
“And how do we know this?”
“My soulmate senses are tingling. I know.”
Hobi raises an eyebrow at that. “Don’t-don’t ask.” Jungkook shakes his head.
“Look, either way.” Yoongi begins, motioning over to the pair at the counter, Jimin giggling as he places a piece of popcorn in Joon’s mouth. “I think we all just need to end this, or let them move on, because I refuse to let Joon get hurt.”
“So, either we sit them down and have an awkward conversation - which doesn’t sound very fun. Or we try to let them figure it out by giving them a quiet push.” Hobi clarifies.
“We sit them down.” Yoongi confirms, nodding his head.
“Wait no, i like Hobi’s idea, I already tried talking to Jimin and I got nowhere!” He pouts before turning a smirking grin towards Hobi. “ So , what are you thinking?” He digs his hand deep into Jungkook’s popcorn who tuts and moans at the size of the handful he grabs.
“Well Jimin always sits next to Joonie right?”
“Yeah..” Jungkook says, eyes confused.
“So what if one of us sat next to Joonie? Give him a kick start on figuring out his feelings.”
“No.” Jungkook shakes his head, eyes wide. “Nope. Definitely not. I’m out, I refuse to take the wrath after last week at dinner. Nope.”
“I don’t mind doing it.” Yoongi shrugs.
“But then Jimin will just whinge at me all evening.” Taehyung bemoans.
“Okay, so I’ll do it.” Hobi shrugs. He motions over to Jin currently checking himself in a promotional mirror for some new movie coming out. “I think he’s out.” They all groan fondly as Jin blows a kiss to the mirror. “And Joonie and Jimin already think I’m being weird today so Joonie will want to comfort me and Jimin can’t argue.” He grins.
“I still vote that we just sit them both down and have a conversation.” Jungkook reminds them all.
“I’m with Jungkook.” Yoongi points to the youngest.
“Let us have fun tonight, if nothing happens Yoongi and Tae can sit them down next week.”
Taehyung bounces on the balls of his feet, a smirk appearing on his face. “Yet one more step closer to buying my suit.”
“A suit?” Hobi questions.
“For the wedding.” Yoongi and Jungkook both roll their eyes without more information.
“Stop throwing popcorn at me!” He half hisses at Jimin next to him.
“You stole my seat.” He pouts.
“I didn’t steal your seat, Joonie gallantly offered to sit next to me.” Hobi commends, patting Joonie on the hand gently.
“Just because he offered doesn’t mean you didn’t steal my seat.”
“It’s a cinema Jimin, there is no assigned seating.”
“Actually I think you’ll find my ticket has that seat number on it and Joonie’s ticket has his seat number on it so it’s my damn seat .”
“ Shhh !” They both look up to see Jin leaning forward next to Jimin fixing them with a death glare.
“Did you seriously make sure you both have tickets with these numbers on it?” Hobi snickers, his voice an octave quieter to appease Jin. Joon half asleep in the seat next to him, exhausted from working too much.
“I take no chances.” Jimin hisses back. “I don’t even get to share my popcorn with him.” He pouts.
“You can always share your popcorn with me?”
“No.” He barks out, causing Tae to hush them that time. “You stole my seat, you don’t deserve my popcorn.”
“Well I didn’t want your stupid popcorn anyway.” With that he’s barraged with said popcorn hitting his cheek.
“Joonie would want my popcorn.” He pouts next to him, picking up a piece only to let it drop back into the bag.
“Joon’s literally snoring in my ear, your seat is not what it’s cracked up to be.” With that he feels a weight on his shoulder as Namjoon rests his head there, snuggling into his neck.
Jimin speaks quietly the words coming out from between his teeth as he eye’s Joon making himself comfortable. “You stole my seat.”
Hobi can only grin at his friend's supposed misfortune as he drops his head against Namjoon’s and closes his eyes in amplified contentment.
At least he attempts to look as content as he can with popcorn flying at his head and becoming stuck in his hair.
Jimin for the most part gives up then, snuggling back into his seat quietly, his head resting on the side of Hobi, his hand coming across to brush some stray popcorn from Namjoon’s hair. The way Jimin softly run his fingers through the strands was almost enough to make Hobi want to give up his seat there and then.
Until a pair of lips got dangerously close to his ear and all bets were off.
“Give me my seat.” They seethed.
“No.” Hobi’s resolve was starting to harden, but he was also slowly becoming afraid for his life.
“Give me my seat.”
“No.”
“Give.” They breathes. “Me.” A grind of teeth. “My-,”
“For christ sake Hobi give him the damn seat.” Jin half screams from the other side of Jimin.
With that even Namjoon jumps awake, his eyes blurry as he looks up towards everyone else in their group. “Wha? Is everyone…?”
He blinks in confusion as Hobi is pulled away from his chair by a crazed looking Jimin. The smaller man throwing himself into the seat next to him seconds later smiling sweetly and softly up at him as if nothing had happened. “Hi Joonie.”
As if a switch has been flicked, Hobi can only watch in quiet amusement as Joon’s entire face lights up and his arm encircles Jimin’s shoulder bringing him into his side, his head resting on top of Jimin as they cradle the popcorn between them.
He wasn’t quite sure when the two of them became that in sync with one another, but he couldn’t help the way he felt his heart twitch at the sight, his happiness only growing at the thought of his friends being content.
He leans forward catching Yoongi’s eye who only nods in agreement, mouthing a quick ‘they’re cute.’
Jungkook leans forward with begging eyes, ‘please let’s just talk to them.’
Yoongi pats his hand and nods his head. “Soon.” He whispers to them all.
“Would you all please just shut up ?” Jin rolls his eyes.
~*~
Taehyung eyes Jimin in the back of the car, his eyes staring lazily out the window as Yoongi drives them back to their apartment, his hand wrapped up in his elder hyungs on his lap.
“It was weird.”
“What was?” The eldest hums.
“Not sitting next to Joonie Hyung. I didn’t like it.”
There’s a soft chuckle from Yoongi next to him.
“It was only for half the movie.” Tae softly reminds him.
“I don’t care. It wasn’t the same.” He pouts. “I’ll have to re-watch it with Joonie at some point, he always makes movies more enjoyable.” He nods at his own plan.
“Just because of that?” Yoongi smiles towards his younger friend in the rear-view mirror.
“Joonie always tells me facts about the production of the movie, he even looks things up just so he can tell me things about the actors. It’s like having my own little commentary.”
Taehyung smiles softly towards his hyung.
“I want to watch every movie with Joonie hyung.”
He pauses, looking pensively out the window.
“He’s just…”
He sighs smiling softly, shaking his head, keeping the thought to himself.
Taehyung has to stop himself from giddily bouncing in his seat.
~*~
Jin had reached his breaking point.
Of course he knows, they’re all acting as if he’s completely oblivious but he knew before Joon even figured it out.
But was he letting them know he knew? No. Because then he would have to get involved, and that just sounds like a lot of effort and he was too beautiful to be getting stress wrinkles.
He was letting his dongsaeng’s sort this one out for a change.
However, as he sat in the back of this dimly lit club in some random part of Gangam it was becoming harder and harder to actively stay out of it.
He bit his lip as he watched Namjoon glumly stare out at the dancefloor watching Jimin dancing with about 20 guys, doing things with his hips that Jin is pretty sure is illegal in some parts of the world.
He sighed loudly, cursing himself for biting his lip and ruining his perfectly applied lip tint. It brought Namjoon’s attention to him, his heart panged at the eyes that met him, normally bright and so full of life, now tinged with sadness. A part of Joon missing without Jimin next to him - not to mention having to witness some random asshole grinding on the man you love but have no claim over can’t be easy.
“I’m going to have to deal with this aren’t I?” Joon blinked up at him in confusion.
He made a heaving sound as he lifted from his seat, acting as if his old age had come early.
“Hyung is going to make everything better, stay here.” He ruffled a flummoxed Joon’s hair as he passed him, heading towards the bar, and the four idiots gathered around it.
“How many of you bozo’s know, how many of you are pretending you don’t know and why the hell am I the one who always has to solve everything?” He rolled his eyes in the most exaggerated way he could manage.
Yoongi threw his head back laughing, his hand slamming onto the bar in front of him causing Taehyung to jump a little. “I knew you knew.”
“Of course I knew, and I knew you knew. You looked like a deer in headlights when you came back to our apartment after he told you.” He sighed.
“You.” He points at Taehyung. “Spill.”
Jungkook cuts in, eyes wide. “So everyone knows? It’s not a secret anymore?”
“Hyung’s going to solve this.” He pet’s the youngest hair, bringing him into his side softly, watching Jungkook melt against him in relief - his youngest dongsaeng truly held a special place in his heart.
Taehyung’s eyes go wide as he spills everything he knows, ticking them off on his fingers as he goes. From Taehyung confronting Jimin, to Tae confronting Yoongi, to Jungkook figuring it out at the restaurant, to Hobi attempting to kick start Jimin at the cinema, it all stumbles out in one run-on sentence.
“Is that what that whole seat thing was about? You made me miss Brad Pitt, in all his fine glory, for that ?” He shakes his head in disappointment.
“I’m sorry?” Hobi looks toward him wide eyed, slightly confused.
“As you should be.” Jin waves him off. “Now, boys, I’m really disappointed. You should know the weak link isn’t Jimin, it’s Joon.” He motions to their friend currently zoning in on Jimin on the floor, his eyes never wavering. “He’s way more close to breaking. We just have to push.” He taps his chin, thinking.
“You.” He points to Yoongi. “Give him shots. Not enough so he gets drunk, but enough so he has a loose tongue.” He thinks some more. “Tell him Taehyung knows. Bring it up but only after a few shots.”
He points at Taehyung. “Be within the vicinity. When Yoongi nods at you, sweep in and talk Joon through the panic he’s eventually going to go into knowing you know. Hint strongly at Jimin liking him, but don’t say it, if you say it he’ll think it’s a set up by Yoongi.”
Taehyung salutes him, flagging the bartender down to order the shots.
“You.” He motions at Hobi. “Go dance with Jimin, encourage what is happening on that dance floor right now, grind on him a bit if you have to, we need to keep Joonie’s jealousy simmering as he talks to Yoongi.”
“Now that I can do.” Already skipping off onto the dance floor.
“Why do I feel like he got the best job? He just gets to dance with hot guys.” Taehyung pouts.
“You’re practically married to Yoongi.” Jin rolls his eyes. “Wouldn’t be believable.”
“It’s called acting.” He flicks imaginary hair over his shoulder, before turning to the bartender.
Jin can barely contain the fond smile as he watches Yoongi’s eyes go dreamy at the thought of being married to Taehyung.
“What do I do hyung?” Jungkook looks up at him with wide eyes.
“Keep being pretty.” Jin pets his hair while pouting.
At that he receives a rather sour look.
“We’ve got the best role of all my dear Jungkook.” He sits up on a bar stool, bringing Jungkook to him, his back to his chest. “We’re going to wait until Joonie looks like he’s about to march over there and drag Jimin off the dance floor.”
“At that moment, and only at that moment we make our move. We grab Jimin from all of those guys and we take Jimin to get a round of drinks. We explain that Joonie seemed to look rather jealous over his dancing friends.” He grins. “Then we both jokingly insinuate that Joon is probably in love with him.” He fake giggles at the idea.
“Then we bring them back to the table, round everyone up for a group dance and all conveniently leave the two love birds to walk home by themselves.”
“And that’s going to work?” He raises a brow.
“When have I ever been wrong my little one?”
At that he receives a begrudging nod.
Jin watches as Namjoon attempts to rise from his seat, Yoongi’s hand protectively wrapped around his forearm as he shakes his head.
“Now.” He half pushes Jungkook to the dance floor as they notice Jimin becoming particularly submerged by a group of new guys, barely visible to Joon anymore causing the panic, Hobi to his side.
“It’s always cute how Joon thinks he needs to protect Jimin when he could level most of these guys without blinking.” Jungkook muses as he works his way over giving a swift nod to Hobi who loses himself in the crowd.
“Jimin, drink with us.” Jungkook pouts in only the way the maknae of the group can, wrapping his arms around his waist.
“My treat.” Jin adds, as he wraps his arms around the two of them.
“Okay, I probably should take a breather.” He asquinges. Sending an adorable wave to Namjoon as he breaks through the crowd which is met with a jealous look, but a soft wave. The alcohol was working, Taehyung was poised behind the table.
Jin grinned in triumph.
“We think Namjoon’s in love with you.” Jungkook blurts out his eyes wide once seated with drinks in their hands.
“Subtle.” Jin mumbles to himself.
“You think what ?” He throws himself backwards into his chair laughing, his whole body crashing forward moments later into Jungkook.
“I’m sorry.” Jungkook cringes, his body turned to Jin. “I just… I want this over with.” He cringes again.
Jin Sighs, shaking his head fondly, he was nothing if not adaptable. “Namjoon, has been showing signs that he might be…” He trails off as he let’s the news sink in.
“Devastatingly in love with you.” Jungkook finishes, his head bobbing.
“Okay, now you’re not helping.” Jin mumbles. “Go dance with Hobi for a little bit.” He points to where Hoseok was currently initiating a dance battle with some random person on the dance floor.
“Hyung, what’s going on?” Jimin half laughs as he watches Jungkook leave the table and head towards Hobi.
“Look, I’m saying that as your favourite hyung-,”
“-Joonie’s my favourite hyung-”
Jin sighs exaggeratedly. “I am everyone's favourite hyung, you are in denial.” He takes Jimin’s hand in his, looking into his eyes. “We’re concerned about Joonie. I think he might be… I think he might have feelings for you, and I think it’s something you need to be considerate of going forward.”
“But I’m always considerate of Joonie’s feelings.” Jimin pouts, his eyes drifting to Namjoon who currently was involved in a chokehold hug from Taehyung.
“You are, and you’re the best at it. You’re the only one among us who can just get Joon to stop and enjoy the moment and not over think for one measly second.” He sighs fondly. “But, realistically don’t you think that says a lot? You’re the only one of us that can calm Joon down in a second, you’re the only one who can get his brain to stop overworking, you’re the only one who can get him to live care-free and in the moment. Even Yoongi can’t pull that off.”
“So what are you saying?”
“I’m saying what Jungkook said, but… lighter. We think Joonie might be crushing on our favourite little one, and we’re getting concerned about you both.” He smiles softly at the other, his tone as quiet as it can be in a club with music pounding around them.
He thinks for a moment.
“Also, we all think you’d make a really cute couple.” He adds, not missing the way a small smile grows on Jimin’s face.
It's soon shaken away.
“Joonie doesn’t like me.” He laughs. “Joonie could have anyone .” He moves his hands around the club. “That guy there, been checking him out since we walked in.” He points to someone else. “That guy there, has thought about buying Joon a drink for the last hour but Yoongi keeps giving him death glares for some reason.” He points to another guy. “He asked Joonie to dance an hour ago but hyung didn’t want to leave the table empty.” He points to one last guy. “He did manage to ask Joonie for a drink, but he pretended Yoongi was his boyfriend.”
He shrugs, motioning to them all once more. “He can have anyone .”
“You caught all that from the dancefloor?” Jin laughs.
“If any of them got too close I have to be prepared to fight them off.” He shrugs.
“Why are you fighting off potential lovers for Joon?” Jin raises a brow.
“Because he only deserves the best and he isn’t going to find it in some random ass club.” He shrugs as if it was obvious.
“I think you want Joon to yourself.”
Jimin laughs again, shaking his head.
“Joonie’s going to find love in some boring art museum and they’re going to live happily ever after.”
“Not with you?”
He laughs again.
“Okay. So. Where are you going to find love?”
“What?” Jimin asks, sobering up.
“Well we’ve talked a lot about Joonie finding love, where do you think you’ll find love?”
“I haven’t…” He trails off.
“Well.” He shrugs. “I personally think you’ve already found it.” Jin winks before standing.
“Anyway, I’m done being the sensible hyung for a little bit.” He stretches his arms above his head as Jimin blinks up at him in confusion. “Think I might go get one of those guys Joonie turned down.” He shrugs before making his way over to the main table.
He leaves Jimin in his wake, a picture of confusion as he stares at his retreating back.
~*~
“They ditched us didn’t they?” Joon asks as he looks around the near empty bar, a still slightly shell shocked Jimin to his side.
“Who?” He asks.
“The others…” He laughs in bewilderment, looking at the other. “Who else would I be…” He stops at seeing Jimin’s eyes blown wide. “Wait a second, are you okay?” He drops everything, putting his hands on either side of Jimin’s cheeks.
Jimin takes a moment to register him, his forehead crunching in even more confusion as his eyes roam his face. “Joonie?” He doesn’t even know what he’s asking for but Joon seems to understand, wrapping him up in his arms.
“It looks like it’s been a rough night for the both of us.” He sighs into the top of Jimin’s hair.
“What happened to you?” Jimin asks, his hands bunching up into the material of his shirt.
“Taehyung and Yoongi, attempting to make me believe things that aren’t true.” He laughs, running his cheek across Jimin’s hair. “What happened to you?”
“Jungkook and Jin attempting to make me believe and understand things that aren’t true.” He brings his nose until it’s buried into Namjoon’s shirt. “Can we please leave? I’m fed up with shouting.”
Namjoon nods instantly, pulling Jimin to him as he winds their way out of the club.
Once they step out into the cool May evening, Namjoon drapes his coat across Jimin’s shoulders, the younger one having foregone a coat in the argument of fashion. Jimin doesn’t miss how easily he gives it to him, almost as if he’s on autopilot.
It’s at that moment Jimin realises how many of Namjoon’s coats he’s had wrapped around him over the past year alone.
“Don’t want to go home.” Jimin mumbles. Unable to face the thought of seeing Taehyung before he’s managed to stop Jin’s words from running through his mind.
Namjoon nods in agreement, his eyes roaming Jimin’s face. He didn’t want to go home either, he didn’t need to stare at the ceiling in the darkness of his apartment for the next few hours. He needs Jimin. Jimin who always manages to make his brain stop and allows him to just breathe.
He can afford himself that for a little bit longer before he has to start addressing his new found world.
“Do you want to walk down to the river?” He whispers, wrapping Jimin up in his arms and beginning to lead the way already knowing the answer.
“Please.” The other breathes.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Namjoon asks as they look out across the lights of Seoul reflecting in the water below them, Seoul’s North Tower beaming out on the horizon.
“No. Definitely not.” Jimin laughs quietly. “Not yet, anyway.” He picks up a piece of gravel from the floor throwing it into the river with a loud ‘plonk’. “Do you?”
Namjoon shakes his head in lieu of answering, doing the same with another stone from the ground.
They stand in silence for what felt like hours, their breathing the only sound between the two of them as they let everything sink in.
Eventually Jimin breaks the peace.
“Do you know you always give me your coat?”
“What?” Namjoon laughs at the sudden conversation change.
“You always give me your coat, when we go out, you never wear it, not even in the dead of winter. Why do you bring it?”
“Because you never bring a coat.” He shrugs as if it was obvious.
“You bring a coat just for me to wear?”
“You never wear anything that’s warm, I worry.” He smiles softly, almost as if he’s embarrassed by what he’s admitting. Jimin can see the smallest hint of a dimple poking into his cheek and his heart physically aches.
“Thank you.” He whispers, bringing the coat closer around him, breathing in the faint scent of Namjoon’s cologne.
The elder doesn’t respond, only nodding softly.
It takes another hour for them to say anything else, other than occasional comments about the moon, or the stars they can manage to see through the thick haze of the city.
“Jin think’s we’re secretly in love with each other.”
His eyes blow wide, cringing at the words being formulated by his traitorous brain. He should have known this would happen, the words running around his brain as if on a loop for the last three hours.
“Taehyung does too for that matter.”
There’s nothing but silence for a few more moments, his mind trying desperately to form an apology so he doesn’t ruin this moment or friendship in any way.
“I-,”
He cuts himself off when he hears a small weak chuckle to the side of him, the sound surprising him.
“Imagine that.” The small voice next to him says.
Jimin can feel his lips and mouth go bone dry as his brain tries desperately to decipher what that means. In the end he decides not to figure it out, only echoing his words quietly into the night air. “Imagine.”
He hears a hum, Namjoon turning his head slightly so he’s looking at him softly, his brow furrowed, as if he’s looking for an emotion on Jimin’s face, but he can’t turn towards him, he needs to keep staring into the distance.
There’s a pause, before a deep intake of breath is heard.
“Yoongi thinks the same.”
Jimin nods pensively.
A few more moments of silence pass, their breathing the only thing that can be heard with the exception of the flowing water below them.
Jimin finally braves moving his eyes towards the other man, catching his eye line as the others gaze is still trained on him.
“Well…”
He rubs the back of his neck, closing his eyes for a long moment. Almost too long. Jimin can feel the wind from the water hitting his cheeks and he almost wants to scream at Joon for not finishing his sentence.
“Well.” He clears his throat, as he tries once more, closing his eyes tight.
“To…” His voice cracks on the word and they both smile despite the situation.
“Well, to t-to be fair…” Namjoon tilts his head, taking a deep breath. “H-he… he, he doesn’t think that when it comes to me, h-he..” Jimin watches him close his eyes. “He knows.”
He opens them again, his features almost guilty.
“Oh.” He says quietly, his eyes focusing in on some random tower block in front of him with some of the lights still on.
“Oh.” Joon echoes him this time.
“I-I…” he takes a deep breath as he decides to do this, his eyes closing, and his head nodding as if his body is confirming with his mind that it is content with this. It needs to happen.
“I t-think that Taehyung knows that about me too.” He whispers the last words, his eyes opening as they slide back to the elder.
Namjoon hums in acknowledgement not saying any more, only looking up towards the sky at the moon, half covered by the clouds.
It’s quiet for a few more moments, the two of them letting the information settle over their skin, their bones, their hearts.
It’s some time later when the first words are spoken, “I was reading-.”
Jimin can’t help the way a smile breaks out across his face, God he loves this man, he loves his facts, he would go to the ends of the world just to hear his voice tell him one little fact.
But not now. Now he needs something else.
“- Kim Namjoon I swear if you launch into trivia instead of kissing me right now I’m going to scream.” Jimin cuts in, causing Joon to laugh loudly, the unashamed laugh that always makes the younger’s heart flutter.
Before he can put into action his plan however, he is swept up in Namjoon’s arms, their lips finally meeting in the middle after far too long of a wait.
Jimin melts into the kiss, his arms reaching up to wrap around the back of Namjoon’s neck whilst his fingers find the stray ends of his hair. The coat around his shoulder glides to the floor but neither of them can find it in them to care.
Namjoon’s arms are steady around his waist, an anchor tying him to the ground when he feels like he might fly into space and join the moon at any given moment.
“I love you, by the way.” Namjoon mumbles when they finally break apart.
“I love you too.” Jimin whispers into the small space between them.
They both smile softly at one another before their lips meet once more.
~*~
6 eights and a ten
Jiminie🐥 (04:13)
hi.
Jiminie🐥 (04:13)
thank you 💗
Soulmate💜 (04:13)
i KNEW my soulmate senses were tingling
Yoongles🐱 (04:14)
he’s been awake the last 2 hours waiting for this text.
Kookie🐰 (04:15)
does that mean no more secrets?
Kookie🐰 (04:15)
i’m so happy for you hyungies!
Soulmate💜 (04:16)
Kookie calling Jiminie hyung?
Yoongles🐱 (04:17)
hell has frozen over
Joonie Bear🧸 (04:17)
no more secrets.
Jinnie🐹 (04:18)
ah, see what did i say?
Jinnie🐹 (04:18)
leave it to hyung
Jinnie🐹 (04:18)
you look adorable together, btw
Hobi Hobi☀️ (04:19)
i am actually screaming with happiness
Kookie🐰 (04:19)
as his roomate I can confirm, he is screaming
Hobi Hobi☀️ (04:19)
you look so CUTE
Hobi Hobi☀️ (04:20)
(ps sorry about the cinema)
Joonie Bear🧸 (04:21)
thank you all for making us see sense
Joonie Bear🧸 (04:21)
wait - what about the cinema?
Yoongles🐱 (04:22)
we’ll tell you when you’re older.
Soulmate 💜 (04:24)
Jimin? Minnie?
Joonie Bear🧸 (04:25)
shh
Joonie Bear🧸 (04:25)
i’m going to go join him and kiss him now
Joonie Bear🧸 (04:26)
because i can and he likes when i do that 🥰
Yoongles🐱 (04:27)
they’re already annoying
Jinnie🐹 (04:27)
they’re already annoying
Hobi Hobi☀️ (04:27)
they’re already annoying
Kookie🐰 (04:27)
they’re already annoying
Soulmate💜 (04:28)
hyungs, kookie - we’re going suit shopping🕺🏼🕺🏼🕺🏼