Chapter Text
"jungkook! jungkook! jungkook!"
jimin's fellow colleagues are currently cheering on an obnoxious, annoying, know-it-all meathead, who is attempting to stuff an entire packet of gummy bears in his mouth right now. and jimin just wants to enjoy his lunch in peace, is that too much to ask for?
if jimin was a civilian in need, and walked into this precinct only to be greeted by this sight, he'd probably sue the government for wasting taxpayers' money on this bunch of crackheads for police officers.
"don't you nutchops have something better to do," grumbles jimin with a roll of his eyes.
"stop being such a grinch, baby. everyone's just having fun," jungkook replies, looking like his mouth is about to burst. jimin feels his blood boil at the nickname, because he knows it's a dig at his not-that-tall stature.
he feels his patience (and IQ) lowering by the second.
jimin might seem like the mean one here, but he'd like to think of himself as the only sane one here. honestly, he believed the police are supposed to bring security and safety to civilians, and walking in on a group of grown men cheering on another grown man engaging in the chubby bunny challenge in a police station doesn't exactly make one feel safe or secure.
he glances back at jungkook again, lowkey interested in whether he will succeed or choke and die. preferably the latter.
fresh out of the academy at 23 years old, jungkook is the newest addition to the force. four months ago he seemed like this innocent doe-eyed kid that seemed pretty nice to have around, but that all changed by the third hour, where he felt comfortable enough to unleash his true, chaotic self. the rest of jimin's colleagues warmed up to him pretty fast, enjoying his jokes, but jimin couldn't stand it one bit. he didn't go through years of academy training and graduated as valedictorian of his class to be stuck with an annoying kid who wouldn't stop making jokes about his height and his "grinch-ness".
the thing is, jungkook's work performance is pretty good, jimin's not gonna lie. he is probably one of the officers with the best physique (which jimin kind of hates him for, not out of jealousy, he swears) and agility, which comes in handy for patrolling duties and stuff. but brawn isn't the only important thing, those paperwork aren't going to file themselves, contrary to jungkook's belief, judging by the ever-growing stack of papers on his desk.
jimin suspects jeon jungkook may just be the real life version of robocop and spongebob merged into one body, thus creating a super strong, super annoying being.
"oh my god oh my god it's the last three bears!" the exhilarated scream of one of his colleagues, taehyung, interrupts his thoughts.
jimin turns his attention back to jungkook, whose face is starting to turn red as he struggles to stuff the second last gummy bear in.
"i'm—" jimin watches on as colourful gummy bears explode out of jungkook's mouth, and onto those around him. "damn it! i almost got it!"
"fuck my mouth was open!" yugyeom, their detective, hollers before running to the washroom.
"alright, back to work boys," says namjoon, the captain of their precinct. standing at a height of nearly six feet, with hair that's never out of place, broad shoulders and a lean body, namjoon gives off an air of authority and intimidation, but he's actually a really friendly and kind superior. his gaze meets jimin's and he breaks into a dimpled smile.
"captain, how can you condone this?" jimin huffs.
"it's all in good, harmless fun, jimin," namjoon laughs and gives him a pat on the shoulder. "maybe you should loosen up a little."
jimin merely responds with a tight smile.
maybe another reason jimin's feeling so cranky today is because he has patrol duty. with jeon fucking jungkook.
"what took you so long," jimin demands while getting into the squad car.
"the gummy bears i ingested didn't agree with my stomach but i'm all good now," jungkook shoots jimin his usual frivolous grin. "let's go, baby."
"i told you to stop calling me that."
"why?"
because it's a dig at my height, isn't it, jimin feels like saying, but it sort of pains him to admit it out loud.
"because i don't like it," jimin retorts instead.
"alright alright i'll keep that in mind." jungkook raises both his hands in surrender.
time crawls as the both of them cruised around. jungkook's going a little too fast for jimin to scan the surroundings, and jimin tries to put his emotions aside and play nice for once.
"slow down, will ya," jimin says quietly.
"i'm already going real slow," jungkook argues.
"it's not slow enough!" jimin snaps and pinches the bridge of his nose. so much for trying to play nice.
"okay." jungkook mutters. unlike his usual flippant demeanour, he seemed to tense up slightly at jimin's tone.
jimin falls silent after that, feeling a little guilty. he considers apologising for his outburst but jungkook speaks up before he could.
"why do you hate me so much?"
jimin is speechless for a second, flustered at the blunt question. jimin is a hothead, he knows that. most of the time, he is either flustered or angry, so it's no surprise now that once his fluster subsided, the anger kicks in.
"why don't you ask that mustard stain on the front of your uniform."
"you hate me because i like mustard?" jimin lurches forward as the car comes to a sudden halt. jungkook turns to shoot him an incredulous look.
"no. i hate the way you don't take your job as a police officer seriously enough to keep your uniform clean."
"you think i don't take my job seriously?"
"well, showing up late for patrol and engaging in childish games don't exactly scream 'serious', do they?" jimin forces himself to look jungkook in the eye.
jungkook's stoic expression falters for a second and jimin thinks he sees a flash of hurt in jungkook's eyes. jimin looks away and briefly wonders if he has gone too far; if his anger is justified. but then came a scoff.
"it's called having fun, baby," jungkook purposely enunciates the last word, with a smirk on his face. "you should try it sometime."
"you said you would stop calling me that." jimin says through gritted teeth and feels blood rushing to his cheeks.
"no i didn't. i said i would keep that in mind," jungkook's signature grin is back. it seems like nothing could get under his skin, making jungkook untouchable in that aspect, unlike jimin who lets every little thing get under his. jungkook especially seems to take pleasure in jimin's anger, so jimin tries to calm himself down.
"let's stop wasting time on needless small talk, shall we?" jimin says with a sweet smile. "drive."
"your wish is my command, sweetheart."
jimin flings the car door open the second it stops and slams it behind him, before storming into the station. he plops down on his seat with a huff and stares at his computer's wallpaper. it is of a corgi staring happily at the camera, and jimin specifically chose this picture to dispel his negative thoughts, but it isn't really helping much right now.
"yo jimin, do you need an umbrella?" taehyung calls from his desk that is just opposite jimin's.
"what?"
"there is literally a dark cloud above your head. with thunderbolts and everything. did something happen?"
seeing that jimin's too busy fuming, taehyung turns his attention to jungkook instead.
"kook, did something happen during patrol?"
"no, not at all." jimin could hear the sarcasm in jungkook's voice. "it was a pleasure patrolling with jimin."
"oh okay." taehyung seems oblivious to the hostility that's going on between them. "then i guess it's just jimin being jimin."
jungkook has on an unreadable expression on his face when his gaze meets jimin's, and jimin looks away.
"jimin," namjoon suddenly calls from his office. "come here for a sec."
"what's the matter, captain?" jimin asks after namjoon gently closed the door behind them.
"relax," namjoon flashes a warm smile at him. "have a seat."
jimin sits down carefully and accepts the lollipop namjoon offers.
"is everything okay?"
"what do you mean?" jimin frowns in confusion.
"correct me if i'm wrong, but you don't seem to be on good terms with jungkook."
jimin bites his lips nervously. he shouldn't have let his emotions get the better of him. that little shit must have snitched.
"did... he say something?" jimin chances a look at namjoon's expression.
"no, he didn't say anything. but your disdain for the kid is pretty," namjoon pauses with a chuckle. "obvious."
jimin lowers his head in embarrassment.
"you're a good cop, jimin, one of my best, i'll be the first to say that. but you're only human so i understand if someone seems annoying to you, y'know we all get irritated by someone every once in a while," says namjoon. "however, when it starts to affect your work, i think that's where i have to step in."
jimin swallows as he watches namjoon's expression darken.
"did jungkook do anything," namjoon leans in with a serious expression. "inappropriate towards you? or anyone?"
"no no no, of course not!" jimin hastily replies and namjoon visibly relaxes.
"then why do you seem to have a problem getting along with him?"
"he's an okay kid, it's just," he jokes too much, plays too much and laughs too much. and he's taller than me. "maybe we're too different."
"different how?" namjoon tilts his head as he considers jimin's words.
"he's too," jimin racks his brain for more tactful alternatives to 'reckless and annoying'. "happy-go-lucky and energetic for my liking."
namjoon lets out a hearty laugh. "is that it?"
"yeah, pretty much." jimin shrugs.
"you're a nice kid, jimin," namjoon smiles kindly. "and he'll need your guidance. i hope you can be able to see past your differences and get along with him. or shall i ban their lunchtime games?"
"no please don't," jimin shakes his head vigorously. he doesn't want everyone else's fun to be ruined on his account. "i will try my best to have an amicable relationship with jungkook."
"thank you jimin, that's what i'd like to hear."
that night, while watching a particularly tear-jerking drama, jimin is reminded of the hurt look on jungkook's face during their patrol.
what did jungkook even do to annoy him so much? the games? the nicknames? the jokes? but jungkook does it to everyone, and no one else minds.
maybe jimin's really being too narrow-minded and mean. plus it's not like the rowdy lunchtime games are getting in the way of anyone's work, and it's only during lunch. and everyone has different ways of releasing stress.
he supposes he could cut jeon jungkook some slack.
the next day, jimin holds a stake-out at his desk.
finally. the rabbit has left the burrow! he repeats, the rabbit has left the burrow!
jimin casually tails jungkook as he walks to the pantry.
"morning—"
"ah!"
jungkook jumps nearly three feet in the air before turning to face jimin with a questioning look.
"sorry, did i scare you?" jimin gives a sheepish smile while rubbing his nape.
"no i just felt like shouting," jungkook deadpans before rolling his eyes when jimin merely stares blankly. "yeah you scared me!"
"oops. sorry."
jimin proceeds to busy his hands by washing a cup while jungkook makes himself some coffee.
"you want a cup?" jungkook offers and jimin flinches a little at the sudden question.
"sure. thanks."
they stand in awkward silence while the coffee machine does its thing. jungkook lets out a low whistle.
it's now or never.
"jungkook..." jimin's voice trails off when jungkook looks him directly in the eye. "i'm sorry."
"for?"
jungkook arches a brow and surveys jimin with a knowing look.
"for how i acted during our patrol yesterday. and for the way i treated you all this while."
their coffee is done, but no one made any move.
jungkook doesn't say anything, so jimin apologises again.
"i'm really sorry, for being such a dick and all. i hope you can forgive me." jimin lowers his head, too afraid to look at jungkook's face.
the silence drags on for a while and for a second jimin thought that jungkook has left.
"i forgive you, sweetheart," jungkook smiles before pouting. "don't you go hurting my feelings like that again, okay?"
jungkook hands jimin his cup with a wink before leaving. jimin blushes, just a little.
after apologising, jimin feels as if a large rock has been lifted off his chest. he feels at peace, and also ready to put their differences aside and get along, and realises that perhaps it was just his prejudices clouding his judgement.
suddenly, jimin feels a little sick, as he comes to a realisation.
getting along with jeon jungkook might not be as hard after all, but getting used to being called 'sweetheart' without blushing will no doubt be a whole lot harder.