Archive of Our Own

Jimin and Tae

Jimin was sitting on an L shaped sofa next to Taehyung. Tae was dozing off, Hoseok was sitting in the furthest spot in the same sofa, they were taking a break during the Dope MV shooting. They had already been at it for a couple of hours, and they still had some hours before the shooting was completed.

“Tae…” Jimin lightly nudged Tae to get his attention.

“Hmm?” The faint response was enough for Jimin to continue.

“Don’t you think Jungkookie looks different today?” Jimin anxiously waited for Tae’s reply.

“He’s wearing a police officer uniform… instead of a plain shirt and jeans,” Tae muttered matter of factly.

“It’s not just that, there’s just something about him that looks different. I don’t know how to put it in words," Jimin processed his own words - what was he even trying to say?

“You’re trying to tell me that out of nowhere you’ve realized Jungkook looks hot in that uniform?” Tae’s carefree words surprised him. Jimin stared at him in disbelief, speechless. “Don’t give me that look, that’s exactly what you were thinking!” Jimin couldn’t deny it.

“That’s not the point though! How is it even possible? He’s our baby!” Jimin was slightly relieved to learn that they thought the same about Jungkook, but he was also preoccupied; it was one thing to acknowledge the fact that Jungkook was handsome but to admit that it made Jimin feel something deep down was a whole different topic. So he kept that thought to himself.

“Don’t think too much about it Jiminie, Jungkookie’s still our baby - he’s just our annoyingly good-looking baby.” Tae laughed at his own remark and Jimin followed suit, Tae’s laughter was contagious. Jimin decided to not overthink, maybe the next day the funny feeling in the pit of his stomach would go away.

Hoseok

The members were on a break after finishing the first part of the shooting, and Hoseok had already managed to embarrass himself on camera - the car’s door had to be locked when he was trying to act smug - but otherwise, the shooting went by without any incident. He was proud of everyone, their hard work on mastering the fast-paced choreography paid off, and they smoothly synchronized with the cameras. 

He joined Tae and Jimin in the break room and he unintentionally heard their conversation about their maknae. In retrospect, Jungkookie indeed looked hot in the police officer uniform, he pulled it off. Jungkook always worked hard and gave his all in everything he did, and Hoseok already admired that, Jungkook looking good in the costumes and clothes they’re given was nothing new but he always ends up looking adorably good-looking - not hot good-looking - and that made Hoseok see Jungkook in a different light, and it definitely made him feel different, which was probably not a bad thing.

Jin

Everyone was going back to the recording set, their short break came to an end. Jin was on standby with Jungkook. They were waiting for their next scene to start. Jin couldn’t help playing around with his dongsaeng to kill time, Jungkook always complied with him, or almost every time.

“Jungkookie you look really handsome!” Jin was fishing for compliments.

Jungkook seemed caught off guard by the sudden compliment and stared at Jin blankly, he even stopped laughing. But he quickly recovered.

“Do I? I wasn’t sure about the uniform, but thank you hyung! It’s good to know.” Jin could tell Jungkook was messing with him.

“Yah! You brat, you’re supposed to say I look handsome as well!” Jungkook immediately burst out laughing and Jin was annoyed but also amused. Jungkook’s scrunched up nose and bunny teeth got him every time, he had a soft spot for his childish antics. Next thing they knew the director was asking them to get ready.

When they finished their part together Jin observed Jungkook walking away elsewhere, and although he had mindlessly complimented Jungkook, the compliment was spot on. Observing Jungkook, Jin could tell there was a more grown-up aura about the youngest and the way he felt about it was a bit unfamiliar.

Namjoon

After a long and successful shooting, the members were finally changing back to their clothes and removing the makeup by themselves. Sure enough, they were tired but Namjoon knew they all were satisfied with their work. Namjoon finished first and he made his way for the exit when he felt someone jump on his back and held on tightly to him.

“Who is it?” Namjoon continued walking despite the added weight.

“It’s me hyung” Jungkook’s soft words tingled his ear.

“You’re so heavy Jungkookie.” Although he complained Namjoon made no effort to get Jungkook off. Jungkook only got down by the building’s exit where there was a vehicle waiting for them.

They climbed inside and waited for the rest to join them.

“Rapmon-hyung.”

“Hmm?”

“I had so much fun today!”

“I know, you were all wide-eyed in the filming set.” Namjoon had noticed the youngest awestruck expression the whole time he asked the filming crew about the cameras and filming equipment.

Jungkook laughed embarrassed. “It was very interesting hyung!”

“I had a good time too, I am kinda tired, but it was worth it. And the costumes were pretty cool too!” Namjoon’s own uniform made him feel confident, but whereas he looked like a tough guy, Jungkook’s uniform made him look confident and grown-up. The sight took him by surprise; he hadn’t expected to be overwhelmed by the sight but he was, maybe he had even stuttered and stumbled when Jungkook entered the filming set with the uniform.

Yoongi

The members were back in their dorm, and Jin was cooking them dinner. Yoongi was sitting on the living room’s sofa idly looking at his phone, with a sleeping Jungkook curled up next to him. They were in the middle of a conversation when Yoongi noticed Jungkook was not responding, he found the boy sleeping, and he let him be, it had been a long day for them, and Yoongi had already taken a nap.

Jungkook woke up on his own and looked around and finally fixed his attention on Yoongi.

“Suga-hyung, dinner’s not ready yet?” The youngest couldn’t even properly keep his eyes open but he was already asking about food.

“Not yet, but Jin-hyung is nearly done.”

“Hmm”, Jungkook lazily stretched his limbs, “you were really cool today hyung”.

Yoongi looked at Jungkook. “What nonsense are you spouting you punk?” He felt slightly embarrassed by the sudden compliment.

“I mean it, hyung! I just wanted to let you know.” Jungkook rubbed his eyes and stared at him innocently.

“Alright, you weren’t half bad either Jungkookie.”

“Thank you hyung.”

That night Yoongi had trouble falling asleep, the memory of Jungkook’s compliment with his Bambi eyes expression kept popping up. He was well aware that he was overthinking the whole thing, but he couldn’t pinpoint - or didn’t want to admit - the reason behind his restlessness.

Something was going on in the group. And it seemed like everyone was slowly becoming aware of it, except for the one that had caused this situation. Being the leader, Namjoon would be doing a bad job if he didn’t notice things like these. And the thing was that suddenly everyone seemed to have something going on about Jungkook.

What had started as honestly strange looks from one another, with Jungkook blissfully oblivious to it all, had turned into the six older members feeling a weird sort of unspoken issue between them, and unconsciously, they all started to slowly set their maknae apart from them, too busy looking at him to include him in their shenanigans.

It became even more obvious later that same year while shooting their next music video. Namjoon was scheduled to start first, already aware of the upcoming days dedicated fully to shoot the continuation of their storyline. Even themselves weren’t really sure of what was going on, but the leader was sure everyone would do their best regardless.

When Namjoon finished shooting his first shot, getting out of the small house a couple of times, he spotted Jungkook sitting alone on the ground over the rails that would feature on his shot. Frowning, he saw how the rest of the boys were huddled together, not really talking amongst each other but all of them giving constant looks towards the younger.

Deciding to approach Jungkook, he smiled softly when he saw him playing around with a bunch of rocks. “Hey, what are you doing?” he asked as a greeting.

Jungkook smiled up at him, making Namjoon’s own smile grow subconsciously. “Rapmonie-hyung! Hi! Did you see the dogs over there?” He pointed at the distance, where two dogs were running around playfully. “One of them bit my hand,” he commented with something like pride.

“So cute,” Namjoon replied, referring both to the dogs and Jungkook being so excited about them. “It’d be cool to get them in the shot, don’t you think?”

Jungkook’s eyes lit up and he nodded quickly, starting to stand up. “I’ll bring one of them, I’ll be right back!”

As Jungkook brushed the back of his lean thighs to get rid of any dirt on his skinny jeans, Namjoon quickly looked away and wondered who and why they had decided to give everyone - to give Jungkook - such tight, tight jeans to wear.

It was later that day that Taehyung became aware of it too. They had been shooting all day, and now they found themselves in the middle of a shabby alley, taking the opportunity to rest and goof around since their only instruction was to “act like punks”, and well, sitting down and waddling around seemed like a good place to start.

Jungkook sat down with a huff next to him. “I’m so tired,” he announced with a weak laugh.

He laughed and patted their maknae’s head, restraining from ruffling his hair to avoid problems with their stylists. “We’ll be done soon,” he muttered around the lollipop he was sucking on. “Whoever decided to leave “Run” as the song title must be regretting it.”

There was a laugh and then Yoongi piped in calling out, “Remember we all agreed on it! I regret it as much as you do.”

Taehyung groaned in complaint, but Jungkook only laughed. “Are you tired already? Hyungs, you know we have to run more tomorrow, right?”

“You’re not tired because you keep the energy from your youth, Jungkookie,” Jimin said as he laid down in the middle of the alley. He looked Taehyung’s way and raised his eyebrows, looking between him and Jungkook. Taehyung blushed but rolled his eyes, deciding to ignore him.

“You’re only two years older, hyung,” Jungkook said with a roll of his eyes.

Taehyung took the lollipop off his mouth to speak clearly. “You’d be surprised at the difference two years can make.”

It was then when Jungkook decided to lean towards Taehyung, getting real close to his face. Taehyung froze and tried to keep his face calm. “I don’t see that much of a difference,” Jungkook muttered, looking at his face closely.

After what felt like too many seconds, Jungkook took his distance again. Taehyung remembered belatedly that he should laugh at his response or something, so he laughed weakly and returned the lollipop to his mouth, diverting his gaze to the rest, noticing with raised eyebrows how every one of them looked at them at a given moment.

Interesting.

The following day was as much, if not more, tiring as the previous one. The running had started as soon as they arrived at the location near the bridge, it wasn’t even past noon and Jin was already sweating. A shame, really.

“Alright, guys!” the producer called out. “Next are some panned out shots of you laying on the grass, pick a spot, and get comfy while we prepare the cameras.”

There was a collective groan of relief as they all let themselves down to the slightly damp grass. “Hey, this is damp!” Jin called out with a slight wince. “Is that okay?”

“Knock yourself out!”

Jin sat and supported his weight back on his arms. “Ah, I’m tired of running!” He closed his eyes and threw his head back, enjoying the soft breeze on his slowly cooling face. A short while after, he heard rustling and then felt the weight of a head resting on his lap. 

“Couldn’t you choose a better spot?” he asked Jungkook with a laugh, jostling his leg to annoy him but otherwise letting him be.

Jungkook sighed with closed eyes and smiled. “My hair will get wet,” he offered as an explanation. “And you’re the hyung, you gotta take care of me.”

“Yah,” Jin protested. “Don’t use the hyung card only when it’s convenient!”

Things were silent for a while, everyone making the most of their downtime. Jin took the time to look at Jungkook’s calm face. The memories of the last music video they shot resurfaced, and he got a little lost recalling the attractive - and conflicting for himself - look he’d managed to pull.

Even at the current moment, Jin could appreciate Jungkook had… changed . The way he looked and the way he behaved had changed enough for Jin to realize that calling him a kid was now mostly a habit than a fact.

Jungkook was no longer a kid, and Jin was becoming so aware of it.

“Time to take your places!” the producer announced. “Jungkook-ssi, we want you to lay on your own.”

“On it!” Jungkook sat up and placed a hand on Jin's leg to support himself as he stood up. “Thanks for the pillow, Jin-hyung!”

Jin missed the warmth on his leg immediately but waved as he walked away, trying to return his thoughts to the task at hand.

“You better save some food for me,” Jungkook muttered in a sulk, kicking the soccer ball towards Jimin.

“Aren’t you glad you get to play with me?” Jimin teased, passing the ball back.

Jungkook stared at him. “Jiminie-hyung, I’m hungry,” he whined.

Jimin walked closer to bump shoulders with the younger. “It’s just for a bit,” he tried to comfort him. “And then we’ll eat together, how about that?”

Jungkook bumped back and nodded. “We better start soon,” he nodded towards the rest of the guys, already digging into their food. “We need them eating to shoot this.”

They nodded at the same time and started playing around with the soccer ball. Jimin didn’t need that much concentration for the idle back and forth so instead he focused on looking at his fellow members. Jungkook, despite his initial sulk, seemed happy playing now.

When he looked at the rest of the guys, he was amused to see all the eyes were clearly on Jungkook. He had expected it from Taehyung, considering the talk they’d had months before, but every single one of them looked as focused and mesmerized as Jimin himself.

Thinking that it probably wouldn’t look that good on camera, Jimin yelled and started doing kick-ups. As if it were second nature, the rest of the guys started cheering him on, counting every kick out loud, the diversion working perfectly.

Eventually, they ran out of food, and the crew had enough footage of Jimin and Jungkook playing with the ball, so they were allowed to go and eat before their next shoot. As he clung onto Jungkook’s shoulders, letting his weight fall on him, Jimin wondered how crazy it’d be if they were all looking at Jungkook with the same thoughts in their minds.

It was late at night that same day. They had finished their shooting in the tunnel and energies were running low already.

"Are we done yet?" Hoseok watched Jungkook ask out loud, his eyes drowsy with sleep. He was endeared at the sight.

He approached the younger, hugging him from behind. "Is our Jungkookie finally tired?" He asked in a teasing voice. 

Jungkook let his head fall back, resting on Hoseok's shoulder. "I could fall asleep any second."

His heart raced some, but Hoseok tried not to focus too much on that. "I'll catch you if you do, don't worry," he promised. "We're going to rest now, see? They're picking up already. Let's go to the van."

Everyone started their way back to the van, with both of them on the lead, Hoseok's arm around Jungkook's torso, noticing with concern how his body seemed to get heavier and heavier. When they arrived at the vehicle, Hoseok got in first, scooting to the far end of the back seat, beckoning Jungkook to sit next to him.

"You can lean on me so you can rest for a while," he whispered, and Jungkook obeyed immediately, lowering his body until his head fit nicely against the crook of Hoseok's shoulder and neck.

The van was already full by the time Jungkook fell fast asleep, and when Hoseok asked out loud "Isn't he the cutest?" and received a chorus of "yes", he was left wondering since when everyone seemed to be so tuned to everything Jungkook-related.

"Action!"

Yoongi started trashing the room, throwing everything he had at hand, sweeping the small table clean of its contents. He felt Jungkook's hand on his shoulder and he quickly turned around, throwing his hand away. He yelled as hard as he could; it was then that Jungkook hugged his body real tight, and Yoongi waited a second before pulling away and pushing Jungkook towards the wall.

They had rehearsed this a couple of times, but Yoongi was still wary about the whole pushing around. Jungkook pretended to punch him and Yoongi stumbled back, following all his cues when Jungkook made him stand up again, staring at each other before Yoongi finally pushed Jungkook onto the floor near the couch, rushing to grab the chair near, raising it to throw it, and:

"Cut!"

Yoongi set the chair down immediately and rushed to Jungkook's side. "Are you okay?" He asked him, offering a hand to help him stand.

Jungkook took said hand but pulled it instead, making Yoongi stumble and fall to sit on the floor next to him. "Now we're even."

"You know I don't actually want to fight you, right?" Yoongi deadpanned. "You punched me too."

"But you actually pushed me, mine was just pretend," he pointed out. "That's what you get for not treating me to kebabs, hyung."

Yoongi couldn't help the smile that grew across his face. "As soon as we get some time off we'll go, how about that?"

"We're on," Jungkook agreed with a wide smile, standing up before turning to offer a hand to Yoongi. "Come on, Suga-hyung."

Yoongi held onto the hand, gasping in surprise when Jungkook managed to get him on his feet with no help from his part. "Jungkook-ah, get more buff and you'll destroy all your hyungs," he tried to joke as he willed his blush to go away. 

Jungkook was strong, so what? It wasn’t anything he didn't know before so why was he getting all flustered now?

Jimin and Jungkook were watching Taehyung doing his acting underwater when Jimin received a text.

From: Namjoonie-hyung

Dorm meeting as soon as you get home. Bring Taehyung with you

To: Namjoonie-hyung 

What about jungkookie? He's still here too

From: Namjoonie-hyung 

He can't be here for it, try to return before him

Meeting's about him

Jimin glanced worriedly towards Jungkook. What was going on and how would he leave him behind?

The solution seemed to come out of nowhere when the producers asked for someone to give the ending ment for their behind scenes footage.

"Jungkookie will do it!" he offered quickly. "I will go check on Taehyung meanwhile."

He rushed to Taehyung as soon as he was out of the water, whispering quickly into his ear. "We have a dorm meeting without Jungkookie, we have to leave him here, come on."

Thankfully, Taehyung trusted him enough to not question anything and not dutifully, drying himself quickly and saying a quick goodbye to the cameras before rushing to the van. Jimin only hoped Jungkook wouldn't be upset about being left behind.

"We have a problem here."

Namjoon's opening statement made everyone sit straighter.

"I didn't do anything," Taehyung claimed quickly.

Jimin seconded him. "Yeah, me neither."

Namjoon sighed and raised his hands. "This is not an individual problem," he reassured. "It has to do with Jungkook." The way everyone went suddenly silent made Namjoon sure he had read things correctly.

"What about Jungkook?" Yoongi grumbled. "As far as I see everything is fine with him. More than fine, even," he added.

"Jungkook is fine," he agreed. "But you're setting him apart. We're setting him apart, and it might be fine for now but how long is it until it becomes a problem? So I wanted to ask you all what caused this."

"Why don't you tell us first, Namjoon-ah?" Jin replied. "You said we all are doing it so what's your excuse?"

Namjoon looked down. "It's personal."

"We live together," Yoongi argued. "Nothing between us is personal." Nobody wanted to speak, it seemed.

"I think I've started seeing Jungkookie in a different way," Hoseok announced, tired of people avoiding things. "And I'm pretty sure they are going through the same." He pointed at Jimin and Taehyung.

Taehyung frowned and talked back. "If you mean realizing Jungkook is not a kid anymore and suddenly seeing that he is actually very handsome then yeah," he admitted.

"So is everyone acting weird because we find Jungkook attractive?" Jin raised an eyebrow. " Everyone?"

"Basically, it seems so. Does anyone have a different reason?" Jimin asked.

Namjoon decided to speak. "I might have a crush on him. Does that count as different?"

They were quiet for a bit. "Do you plan on pursuing that?" Taehyung asked in a low voice, diverting his gaze to his hands.

Namjoon smiled with sympathy. "I don't think it's correct, considering… I now think you are going through the same." The five nods he got in response confirmed his words. 

"So what do we do? Nothing?" Hoseok questioned. "Whatever is decided, I will respect, by the way."

"Is there any other option? I think stepping back and let, or even choose , someone to do something wouldn't be fair… and it would hurt, you know it would," Namjoon said gently.

There was a gloomy aura in the room, everyone reflecting on what was being said.

"And what if we all do it?" Yoongi suggested quietly. "If we all 'make a move', as people say."

"Wouldn't that be weird?" Jimin asked worriedly.

"We're six guys in a band, all crushing on our maknae. It doesn't get weirder than that, I'm sure," Jin said.

"If we do that," Namjoon took charge of the talk again. "We got to be prepared for anything, and I mean anything . If he doesn't like anyone back, if he likes one of us or if… he likes more than one of us. Would you be ready to deal with that?"

"I'm not a jealous person," Hoseok said. "Besides, you're all my best friends. It wouldn't feel like a competition or anything. No bad feelings for any of you."

There was a general agreement to those words, and Namjoon nodded. "It's settled then. Just two things," he added. "Don't set Jungkook aside. I know it's easier to look from afar, but remember we're a team before anything, and we gotta stick together.

"Agreed." Taehyung nodded. "And the second thing?"

"Jungkook's comfort comes first," Namjoon started with a serious tone. "If we do this and at any point, Jungkook feels uncomfortable, overwhelmed, or even sad , we stop everything. Everyone."

The boys in the room couldn't agree more.

Jungkook was laying on his bed, the last couple of days had been a little hectic, not that he minded, he loved the excitement and anticipation that always came with a comeback and the beginning of a tour but it also meant they had a busy schedule. 

They finished the shooting for the Run MV and were now rehearsing for the start of the tour, this time they’d have a live band and he was even more thrilled because of it. They had to go over the vocals for the songs and the choreography for each one. In the midst of their preparations, Jungkook noticed a subtle change in their dynamics, especially when there weren’t cameras around, the other members were acting a little different around him and keeping a certain distance. 

At first, he discarded the idea because he thought it was absurd but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. He had a tendency to remain oblivious to implied topics and unspoken words, so the fact that he noticed something was going on probably meant it had been going from way back.

He made a list in his head of the moments that made it obvious to him; granted, maybe there might have been other moments before but he missed them. 

A couple of nights before, when they were back home from rehearsing, they had finished eating and were getting ready to go to bed, Yoongi was in the bathroom taking a shower and Jungkook felt too tired to wait for Yoongi to come out so he went inside to brush his teeth, an easy task, but as soon as he opened the door and closed it behind him as quietly as possible, he was hit by a flying towel thrown his way.

“Yah! You punk! I’m still here!”

Jungkook tried to look as sorry and innocent as he could “I’m really sorry Suga-hyung, I was just going to brush my teeth!”

When he finally dared to look at his hyung he was surprised to see him furiously blushing, he was only wearing a towel tied around his waist. When he caught Jungkook’s curious gaze he seemed embarrassed and angered.

“GET. OUT.” The firm command made him shiver and he wasn’t up to anger the eldest any more so he quietly opened the door and exited the room. Outside he felt guilty and somewhat embarrassed. It wasn’t the first time he saw Yoongi shirtless or that he walked on him still in the bathroom but this time felt different.

Looking back, Jungkook realized it had been wrong of him, and he properly apologized once the eldest seemed calmer, and Yoongi accepted the apology, admitting he had probably overreacted. He did force Jungkook to buy him kebabs, so as far as Jungkook was concerned, the matter was resolved, but Yoongi’s reaction still bugged him.

Then there was Namjoon, with him it wasn’t a specific moment. The last couple of days Jungkook would catch Namjoon staring at him softly when he thought Junkook was distracted and the times Jungkook tried to pry for a reason Namjoon feigned ignorance claiming Jungkook probably misinterpreted it. Which baffled him even more.

As for Jimin and Taehyung, one of the days they were on their way back home they were getting takeout to eat at home with everyone else. The weather was colder and Jungkook was glued to Taehyung to stay warm, and Taehyung let him. They only separated to order their food at the restaurant. As soon as they were inside the car again Jungkook returned to his position glued to Taehyung. The eldest was blushing and Jungkook assumed it was because of the cold weather but Jimin kept giving Taehyung weird looks in a knowing way and Taehyung kept ignoring him.

Jungkook observed the pair exchanging looks as if they were having a silent conversation, and its content remained unknown to him. When they got home they walked inside on their own, Jungkook volunteered to carry the bags himself, not that they were that heavy, Jimin offhandedly complimented him for his chivalry to which Jungkook was at lost for a reply so he just stared at him, Jimin seemed to immediately regret it and he quickly changed the topic. Once inside they had dinner together and no one mentioned again what happened earlier.

Jungkook had asked Hoseok to monitor him while doing the Run choreography. The first concert would be their first time showing it to ARMY so he wanted it to be perfect. By the time they were done Jungkook had already made a mental note to keep in mind the things that Hobi pointed out that needed the slightest improvement.

 A little breathless and sweaty Jungkook dropped on the floor, limbs stretched out. Hobi sat next to him and Jungkook shifted his position to lay his head on his lap. Hobi immediately stiffened and that startled Jungkook. He unconsciously shifted to his previous position but Hobi’s hands prevented him from doing so, and instead directed his head back to his lap, the eldest tenderly brushed his hair away from his face and apologized, Jungkook’s action had just taken him by surprise. Jungkook only nodded and let Hobi do as he pleased with his hair.

Jin asked Jungkook to join him to do a VLive transmission to review the released Run MV Teaser and of course, he did. They watched the video and Jin jokingly limited his praises to his own and Jungkook’s content saying they were jaw-dropping hot and he even called Jungkook a pretty boy, twice , when they finished the transmission Jungkook decided to tease Jin.

“So I’m a pretty boy hyung!” Jungkook said in a sweet tone to annoy the eldest. He just wanted to play around.

“You are” Jin replied matter-of-factly and his expression didn’t give away any joking intention, Jungkook expected a funny comeback and was shocked by the eldest seriousness.

“I am?” Jungkook asked in disbelief.

“You are! Now come on I’m starving let’s go home!” The eldest pulled his hand and guided him on their way out only letting him go when they entered the car that would take them home.

Jungkook was flustered with the whole situation with his hyungs. But he didn’t dare to clarify it with them individually so he made up his mind to talk about it with their trustworthy leader. He couldn’t find the right timing to do so, and he decided to wait after the concerts at the Handball Gymnasium. The day after their last concert Jungkook sent a message to Namjoon asking to meet, the eldest agreed and told him to meet at their practice room.

When Jungkook arrived, Namjoon was already in the practice room and he was sitting on the floor while using his phone. Jungkook joined him on the floor and sat next to him.

“Sorry I’m late hyung” Jungkook softly said apologetically.

“Don’t worry Jungkookie, you’ve worked hard these last couple of days”

“Thank you hyung! you too!”

Jungkook couldn’t help feel anxious, so he waited for Namjoon to take the initiative.

“So what was it that you wanted to talk about?”

Jungkook went straight to the point and voiced his thoughts, he went over the list he made that bugged him and when he finished speaking he felt a weight being lifted off his shoulders. But another one was added when Namjoon took too long to provide an answer. 

He made a couple of attempts to reply but stopped mid-sentence and would start again. Jungkook observed the eldest desperately trying to collect his own thoughts to give an answer that would reassure Jungkook. And that made Jungkook anxious, something was definitely going on but he just couldn’t pinpoint what. Jungkook observed Namjoon taking a deep breath.

“Jungkookie, whatever that is going on, it isn’t on you and it’s not your fault. You did nothing wrong and we’re definitely not messing with you or playing a prank,” Namjoon smiled warmly and that single gesture soothed Jungkook, “this is entirely on us, and we’re the ones that need to figure this out. We just… Just give us some time, yes? And I feel like I should apologize on behalf of everyone. So leave this to us Jungkookie.”

Namjoon finished speaking and Jungkook was slightly relieved, he might not know what on earth was going on, but now his hyung reassured him that everything would be okay, and that was enough for him, for the time being.

They stayed there for a while longer talking about their last three concerts; reflecting on their performance and daydreaming about the future ahead of them. Namjoon had to leave first, he still had other things to do, so he walked Jungkook outside to the car that would take him back to their dorm, Jungkook only had one plan for the day, sleeping.

As soon as Namjoon saw Jungkook climb inside the car, he took his phone out and texted everyone else, they needed yet another meeting, whatever that they were doing about the way they felt for Jungkook wasn’t working for the maknae and they needed a change in their action plan, not that they had one, they probably needed one . 

The doe-eyed expression Jungkook had while voicing his worries made his heart flutter, and Namjoon suddenly lost all ability to form coherent sentences. He had barely managed to prevent himself from confessing his feelings and everyone else’s. 

December started and it brought more changes that Jungkook wasn’t expecting to see. These changes were maybe as strange as the ones he had observed before his talk with Namjoon, but these seemed almost too good to be true.

Jungkook really liked December: it meant Christmas, it meant two birthdays to celebrate, New Years, and it meant year-end shows. This year, it also meant touring and attending fansigns to promote their album. He couldn’t complain at all.

If there was one thing he could whine about, it was about being tired of listening to the same two songs over and over during their scheduled rehearsals. There were only so many times he could listen and sing “dashi run, run run,” before growing a little tired of it.

“From the top!” their choreographer announced. Jungkook saw Yoongi sitting down and went to lay down on his lap, as their initial pose was that way.

He was completely ready for Yoongi to complain or throw him off, as he didn’t like having people over him unless strictly necessary - a reason why he was usually the one sitting on people, and not the other way around - but he was stunned when, instead of reacting his usual way, Yoongi smiled while looking away and rested a hand on his sweaty hair.

Jungkook righted himself immediately, looking at his hyung with wide eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked Yoongi.

The older frowned in confusion and nodded. “Sure, why? Is there something on my face?”

Jungkook shook his head. “No, it’s just… you never do that, you know?”

“Do what?”

Jungkook felt like he had been the only one to notice something off, and maybe he was turning things awkward for putting so much attention on it, so he decided to drop the topic. “Nevermind, I’m just tired.”

At that, Yoongi laughed. “That’s what you get for making songs so catchy, Jungkook-ah.”

“But you wrote it, hyung!”

“You helped in the process,” he replied.

“I barely helped!” Jungkook protested, laying back down, preparing for the music to start.

Yoongi shrugged and patted his forehead twice. “You appear on the credits, you’re as guilty as I am.”

Jungkook huffed as he felt an additional heat on his face, pressing down on Yoongi’s leg with the weight of his head to annoy him, getting no response. “Whatever you say, hyung,” he mumbled in defeat.

Jungkook liked annoying his oldest hyung, it was no secret between them. It was also well known that said hyung liked to respond in kind, blurring the usual line of respect that a maknae should have for their eldest bandmate. 

They were on their way to yet another music show, and it was Jin’s birthday too. They had already sung a rushed “happy birthday” to him earlier that day, promising to organize a proper celebration as soon as they had some actual free time. Jungkook had told himself that his own present would be to not annoy Jin for the day, but he just couldn’t help it.

“Jin-hyung,” he peeked his head to get close to Jin’s, who was sitting in the middle row of the van. “I want some of that.”

His hyung turned on instinct, snorting, and looking back to the front when he noticed their faces were too close to each other. “Do you mean this?” he raised the bag of chips he held on his lap.

“Yep,” he said. “Come on,” he taunted, ready to launch his body over the seat to steal the bag.

“Here you go,” Jin said with a smile, offering the bag of chips, leaving a dumbfounded Jungkook to hold it, setting back on his seat with a pout. What was going on?

“I’m going to eat them all,” he warned the older, still expecting a reaction to his brattiness.

Instead, Jin turned on his seat to point at him with a finger gun. “Ah, our Jungkookie is growing, that’s okay! Eat away,” he said with a wink.

“Really?” he asked incredulously. “You’re not annoyed or anything?”

Jin looked at him fondly. “Why would I be?” he turned back around, leaving Jungkook feeling like he was suddenly living in an alternate universe.

Jungkook noticed more things off about his bandmates. During the following days, their schedule was packed with music shows, concerts, and fansigns. It was during these days that he kept seeing his hyungs acting weird around him. 

Right in the middle of the second week of December when Jungkook was hit full force by all his hyungs acting weird all at once . They were waiting to be called to the stage, high on the emotions of finally being able to get recognized for their hard work after so many years of training and comebacks that went unnoticed. They knew it was possible they would win that day as well, but they weren't taking it for granted. 

That didn't mean they weren't preparing for it, just in case.

"Should we do the 'Coming of Age’ dance?” Jimin suggested playfully.

Jungkook and Hoseok were on board, but the rest of his hyungs laughed uncomfortably. “Hah, only you three know the dance,” Jin tried to laugh it off. 

“We can do the first bit! I’m sure we can all learn that in no time!” Hoseok proposed.

Jungkook jumped up at the opportunity. “Let’s do it! Come on, hyungs, it will be fun!”

The boys looked at each other for a moment before agreeing. “But you gotta do it first!” Taehyung said. “Since you’re so on board with it.”

Jungkook blushed but didn’t back down. “You’re on! Watch and learn.” He took a step forward and did a slow drop to the floor, receiving scandalized but teasing hollers from the guys watching him. He continued dancing for a while more, getting into the moves he had learned after watching the choreography over and over.

He was so into it that he didn’t notice when everyone stopped laughing and decided to just stand there staring at him. He stood straight and cleared his throat. “Hyungs? Everything good?”

Hoseok seemed to snap out of it first, clapping twice before speaking loudly. “All good! I think we can do that! Maybe just the beginning? We won’t look as handsome as Jungkookie doing it, right?”

Jungkook was about to argue back when there was a chorus of “yes” answering him. “Good one,” he laughed. “Now I know you’re just bluffing.”

“Whatever you want to believe, Jungkookie,” Jimin said with a smirk, moving to stand next to him and putting a hand on his shoulder.  “Now come on, let’s teach them how it’s done.”

Jungkook cornered Taehyung as soon as they left the main stage of their most recent fansign, making use of the few minutes alone to talk with him. “What’s up with you?”

Taehyung looked at him innocently. “What are you talking about?”

Jungkook rolled his eyes. “The fansigns… you’ve been all out with me lately, you know?”

“Does it make you uncomfortable?” he asked, frowning in concern.

“No! Not at all, it’s fine,” Jungkook rushed to clarify. It was true. While not used to sharing all things about them in front of their fans, Jungkook was having a good time with the sudden activities, like sharing their handshake and Taehyung suddenly grabbing him awkwardly to dance together. “You know, I was just… wondering, I guess.”

Taehyung threw an arm over his shoulder with a laugh, starting to lead them towards the rest of the guys and crew. “So we’re fine?”

Jungkook grabbed onto the older’s arm to tug it closer to him in a playful manner. “Yes, we’re good… if you’re sure nothing’s up.”

This time, Taehyung’s laugh was a little strained. “Nothing’s up, don’t you worry, Jungkookie. Come on, let’s go.”

The eve of the new year arrived faster than Jungkook had expected, with their biggest performance yet: a rendition of ‘Perfect Man’ that everyone had loved, along with their own promotions. Rehearsals for that one had brought more things to Jungkook’s notice, like how lenient his hyungs behaved nowadays, how more easily they let compliments and teasing drop when it was about him, and how lately they seemed to insist on him sitting in the middle seat, in the middle row of the van every single time, well surrounded by his hyungs.

At the moment, there were about to welcome the new year in a live broadcast. Jungkook felt a little sad when he remembered Namjoon was not present with them. He had already been worried when their leader had injured his hand earlier that month, and him falling ill and unable to perform on their last shows of the year was a saddening thought.

Namjoon had reassured Jungkook, telling him not to worry about him and to give his best for him, as he’d be covering his rap during the live performance. Jungkook had agreed eagerly, truly excited but nervous about it. Namjoon could have asked Yoongi or Hoseok to tackle his part, but he had chosen Jungkook instead. 

Performing had been exciting, and thankfully Jungkook considered he had done a pretty decent job of it. His bandmates had praised him a lot as soon as they were free, which had been amazing. 

Now they were standing near the front of the stage, close to the MCs about to start the countdown. Jungkook was being pushed to give a speech for the MCs when it was time, and he wasn’t excited about it, but he would focus on that later. The countdown had started and everyone had started chanting the numbers at unison.

“...Four…”

“...Three…”

“...Two…”

“...One…”

“Happy new year!” Jungkook yelled out with a big grin, barely catching the mess of movement and noise around him before being pulled into a group hug by his hyungs, exchanging good wishes between themselves, jumping around in a circle without letting each other go. 

“Thank you for everything, hyungs, I love you,” Jungkook said in a burst of emotion. The cheers around them were toning down so they pulled apart and turned around to congratulate other people.

Jungkook got a feeling things were constantly changing, more recently than usually, but living through moments like these he knew that whatever changes came their way, staying together everything would be fine.

The start of the new year came with a busy schedule, they were to attend and perform at two awards shows, the KBS Song Festival while also promoting their single Run and a trip to Vietnam for the Gala Vietnam Top Hits. They were making the most of their time to practice for each performance. 

At the moment it was only Jimin, Hoseok, and him in the practice room, the rest had already gone home, the three of them would do a different opening for the Song Festival. Their choreographer was calmly demonstrating their individual parts as they observed, they were still getting used to the choreography so their moves weren’t accurate yet but they were getting there.

After a couple of run-throughs, their practice session came to an end and it was only the three of them left in the practice room. They were sitting on the floor sweaty and tired so they were in no rush to leave.

“Jungkookie, you should wipe the sweat in your face before it gets to your eyes”, Hoseok-hyung got closer to him as he spoke, Jungkook’s towel was in a chair a little too far from him so he was willing to stand the sweat.

“My towel’s over there and I’m over here hyung, you should wipe it away for me” Jungkook meekly replied.

Jimin faintly laughed at his answer as he observed the pair, Hoseok was already next to Jungkook so he used his own towel to wipe away the sweat from Jungkook’s face. The youngest let him do as he pleased.

“There,” Hoseok proudly announced as he observed Jungkook’s face.

“Thank you hyung.” Under Hoseok’s gaze, Jungkook felt a little self-conscious.

“You spoil Jungkookie a little too much, hyung,” Jimin jokingly called out Hoseok’s actions.

“And I don’t see a reason why I shouldn’t and it’s not like our Jungkookie complains, so I’ll continue doing so, besides, you do too!” Hoseok replied boldly.

“I can’t help it! Just look at his adorable face! He’s too handsome not to spoil him! I’m not saying you shouldn’t do it though!” Jimin sheepishly admitted.

Jungkook observed the pair talk about him as if he weren’t there, had they called him handsome? Was he being spoiled? How come they were aware of each other’s intentions?

“You do realize I’m still here with you guys, right?” Jungkook asked, confused.

Jimin and Hoseok looked at him with a puzzled expression and Jungkook wondered if he had said something silly.

“What are you talking about Jungkookie? We know you’re here!” Jimin airily answered Jungkook’s question.

“Oh.” Jungkook couldn’t come up with anything else to say.

When the three of them were back home, Jin was already getting the dinner ready and Yoongi was helping him. Hoseok and Jimin had gone to wash up, so Jungkook stayed in the kitchen waiting for his turn to wash up. He asked Jin what they’d be having for dinner and was mildly surprised to learn that most of the menu was made up of his favorite dishes.

“Hyung, how come lately we keep having my favorite dishes?” 

Jin stopped what he was doing and looked at him. “Is there a reason why we shouldn’t?” Jin waited for a reply and Jungkook just shook his head, Jin continued what he was doing and Jungkook just stared at his back, was there a reason why?

Yoongi finished his task, washing vegetables, and handed them to Jin so he could start chopping them, he turned to face Jungkook. “When was the last time we had lamb skewers?”

Jungkook thought about it, and it had been probably two weeks since the two of them had gone out to eat on their own. “About two weeks ago? I think?” 

The eldest hummed in agreement. “We should go one of these days, my treat!” 

The mention of free food made him look forward to it. “Yes! Tomorrow or the day after, hyung!”. Yoongi nodded and continued helping Jin to prepare the food. Jungkook stayed with them in silence playing on his phone till Hoseok joined them and Jungkook left to wash up.

After dinner, Jungkook stayed in their living room sprawled on the sofa checking out clothing stores online, he’d been meaning to broaden his clothing inventory but as he went through the items at clothing stores he felt a little overwhelmed, what he even supposed to get? 

He was about to call it quits when Taehyung sat down next to him. “What are you doing Jungkookie?” Jungkook showed him his phone screen. “You want to get new clothes? More jeans and shirts?” 

Taehyung’s teasing bugged him, so he kicked his thigh. Taehyung laughed and placed Jungkook’s feet on his lap, he mindlessly began to massage them and Jungkook relaxed. Jungkook was about to speak when Namjoon joined them, his pink hair was still damp and he had a towel hung around his neck.

"What are you guys up to? We should be heading to bed soon, got an early schedule tomorrow."

Jungkook looked at the time on his phone and figured there was no rush in getting new clothes. Namjoon’s presence didn’t stop Taehyung’s massage so Jungkook was getting sleepy, he curled up and was more than willing to sleep on the sofa, he felt too lazy to go to his bed.

"Don’t go to sleep just yet Jungkookie, let’s get you to bed.” 

Namjoon gently helped him up and led him to his bed, Taehyung followed behind and Jungkook managed to notice that while Namjoon tucked him in bed, Taehyung placed his phone on the bedside table and turned off the lights. The pair left the room as he closed his eyes to sleep.

The next morning Jungkook woke up earlier than everybody else but stayed in bed, he sat down and addressed a topic in his mind that he had been putting off.

For the last couple of months, his hyungs had been acting differently with him. At first, he assumed he had done something to annoy them, something big enough to cause a change in their dynamics, but Namjoon reassured him that wasn’t the case and he confirmed it on his own afterward. 

Instead of things going back to how they were, Jungkook felt like everyone was being extra kind, spoiling him more than usual and complimenting him, and it occurred to him that maybe, just maybe, they had a thing for him, not just one of his hyungs but everyone. He discarded the idea because, why would they like him? but he could only remain oblivious to their feelings for so long, to his own feelings. 

So there he was, wide awake early in the morning sorting out the mess in his head. The maybe was now a most likely , they most likely liked him, but was he supposed to accept someone and reject the rest? No, that didn’t feel right. He adored his hyungs, all their quirkiness and talented beings were too precious to him, but as far as he could tell, it seemed as if they were aware of everyone’s intentions and were presenting a united front in pursuing him. At least he hoped they did.

There was only one matter that remained unclear, what should he do from that moment forward?

It all came to a head nearing the middle of February. They had a week off any activities right before more award shows, more performances, and also Hoseok's birthday. While Jungkook was preparing for the latter, trying to come up with a good present for his hyung, it seemed like the rest of the guys were preparing for something completely different.

During the past days, he had seen everyone going out and returning at random times, all claiming to 'run some errands' but no one ever spoke up about what those errands were, leaving Jungkook more than a little confused. However, their special treatment towards him was still going on, with Jungkook feeling more and more used to it, despite still wanting to know what was up with his hyungs.

They were getting bolder, too, some more than others, but Jungkook felt aware of it at every moment. Jimin and Taehyung had taken to hug him whenever it was possible; Hoseok currently demanded all cuddling rights whenever they were watching something together in their living room; Yoongi and Namjoon took turns stealing him away on their free time to treat him to something or to just talk, and Jin hadn't gotten mad at him even once, going all out with the spoiling and massaging his sore muscles at every chance he could.

It was getting to be a little too much, especially considering that Jungkook hadn't even confirmed if his suspicions were correct, so finally, he decided to face the one person he knew would know what was going on with all of them.

Jungkook knocked on Namjoon's studio door. "Rapmonie-hyung, can I come in? It's me," he called out, waiting for his hyung's answer to finally enter. When he saw him engrossed on the computer screen before him, he quickly backtracked. "Uh, I can come back when you're not busy."

Namjoon spun on his chair to face him after minimizing the program he'd been working on. "Not at all! Come in, Jungkook, what's up?"

He sat down on the small couch there, waiting until Namjoon sat down with him. "Well," he looked down to his lap. "I don't know how to say this without sounding like a creep or like I'm now making up stories."

That made Namjoon frown. "You know you can tell me anything," he reminded him. "If I can't help, the least I can do is listen to you, and whatever it is I promise I'll believe you."

"Okay," Jungkook took a big breath before starting. "So, I've noticed the hyungs - that's you too, by the way, sorry - have been acting weird a little off." When Namjoon didn't say anything, he continued. "For a while now, it's all been very peaceful and that's nice, right? But I know it's not normal, you know? We used to have our up and downs and talk, and fight, but there's been close to no fighting at all!"

Namjoon frowned. "So, you want us to fight?"

"No!" Jungkook replied quickly. "That wasn't the point, no. I just want to know what's going on, alright? I've been so spoiled and you're all being so good to me, more than usual." He looked away from Namjoon before saying his final line. "Based on what I know, I could almost say you had a crush on me or something," he laughed awkwardly.

"And what if you're right?" Namjoon inquired further.

Jungkook's eyes widened and he whipped his head around to look at his hyung in disbelief. "Am I right?!" he exclaimed. "Really, you... all of you?"

Namjoon nodded slowly, almost expressionless as he waited for his full reaction to the revelation. "We do."

He let out a huge sigh and let himself flop onto the couch backrest. "Oh my God, I can't believe it. How even does that work? Why do you all know?" he asked in a whiney voice. "Isn't it weird? What is going on?"

His hyung seemed to think of his answer for a moment before replying. "I mean, you've noticed we're kind of obvious, right? It's just that we all noticed how we felt, so we talked about it."

"What did you talk about?"

"You," was Namjoon's answer. "Liking you, and what to do about it. We didn't want that to bring up problems if we didn't handle it soon. Besides, we didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable. We knew that was the most important thing."

Jungkook couldn’t help going red in the face. “B-But what was the point?!” he stammered. “You’re… doing whatever you’re doing, and now what am I supposed to do?”

At that, Namjoon only shrugged. “That’s up to you. What do people do usually when they have someone liking them?”

“Hyung, I don’t know!” he answered in a whisper-yell. “Usually I’m the one with the crushes, I don’t know what people on the other side do!”

Namjoon smiled at him and ran a hand through Jungkook’s hair, messing it up a little. “Well, you’ve been in our place, what would you expect the other person to do?”

“To give me an answer, for sure,” Jungkook mumbled. “You never did, by the way.”

“What?” Namjoon looked at him with wide eyes.

Jungkook rolled his eyes. “You know I liked you first! You and the other hyungs wouldn’t let me forget it with how much you joked about it.”

“I thought it was all just teasing! Did you really actually like me?”

“Yeah, I still do,” he replied with a shrug. “And you… Namjoonie-hyung, do you like me too?”

“Yeah, I do.”

They remained in silence for a moment, taking in the information.

“I need to talk to all of you,” Jungkook spoke quietly. “Together, you know?”

“I do.”

“This is like… really big, right? We can’t treat it lightly.”

Namjoon nodded. “You’re right. That’s very responsible of you. We can call a group meeting when everyone is at home.”

“Yes, please,” Jungkook nodded back. “But… hyung.”

“Yes, Jungkookie?”

“I just confirmed my first crush ever likes me back,” he cleared his throat, trying to stop the dopey smile from appearing on his face. “I’m feeling a lot right now, you know?”

“Come here.” Namjoon sat sideways to pull Jungkook into his arms. Jungkook hugged him tightly, feeling his heart go racing at the closeness. Sure, they often hugged but this hug felt more important than the rest. He felt Namjoon resting his head against his temple, hearing a shaky breath before he spoke. “Jungkookie, can I kiss you?”

Jungkook didn’t reply, but he pulled back from the hug to join their foreheads, gripping his hyung’s shoulders a little too tight. “I’ve never kissed someone,” he whispered with a bit of shame. “It’d probably be bad. Are you sure you want to do it?”

Namjoon laughed softly, his warm breath against Jungkook’s lips. “I’m in if you are.”

Jungkook tried to nod and closed the space between their lips, finally kissing Namjoon. He left his lips there, unsure of what to do, and Namjoon was quick to take the lead. He tilted his head a little and kissed deeper, parting his lips to kiss Jungkook’s bottom lip, pulling away with a soft smack.

"Good?" he asked him with a smile. 

"Very good," Jungkook gasped out. "Let me do it now."

He let go of Namjoon's arms to put his hands on his cheeks, his thumbs caressing the dimples on the other's face before leaning forwards and kissing him again, trying to imitate what his hyung had done. 

Namjoon was quick to hug his waist, pulling him closer and making Jungkook let out a gasp before moving his arms to hug his neck. Jungkook liked this more, it felt more intimate, like he could keep kissing Namjoon for hours.

And that’s what they did.

Jungkook watched as everyone slowly sat around the small table. The setting was weird on itself, with him at the head of the table and three hyungs on either side. Usually, Jin and Namjoon took these places, as a subtle way of respect to their roles. The signal was clear: he called the shots for the meeting.

“Uhm, hi, hyungs.” All heads snapped his way. "Thanks for showing up."

"We kind of live here, Jungkookie," Jimin teased him gently.

"Right but, you know, I'm sure you had other things to do." He patted the table lightly to calm his nerves.

Hoseok spoke this time. "Don't worry about it, Namjoon texted us earlier, you're not interrupting anything."

"So you know what this is all about?" They all nodded. "Just so I'm sure we're on the same page… all of you have been acting weird because… you got a crush on me?"

"You can put it that way."

"Sounds about right."

"Yeah."

Jungkook blinked slowly. "Oh, um, okay. So, Namjoonie-hyung told me you were going to let me… decide," he winced at the word, "but I wanted to talk with you first."

"Why?" Taehyung asked. "I mean… if you're going to accept someone or reject us all, you could do it in private, you know? No need to call for a group meeting."

"Just listen to me, hyung," he whined. "First of all thank you for… your feelings? I don't know if it's okay to say it but I really appreciate it. You made me feel special," he said with a smile, blushing when he heard several "You are" in response.

"The thing is…" he took in a deep breath. "I like you. Like, a stupid big crush on you all. I think you're amazing in every way, but I never really thought about acting on it because of how weird it is to like so many people?"

"Hey," Yoongi talked to him. "It's as weird as having so many people liking you at the same time, which in this case is not at all, Jungkook-ah. We are human, we feel and we don't have much of a say on it."

"What if I say I feel like I'd like to date all of you?" Jungkook confessed, feeling anxiety and shame gaining ground inside his head. "That I'm going to feel awful because this can't work, and I feel selfish because a normal person should be able to choose and I can't."

"No one in here says that you can't do what you want, and you're not being selfish at all, you hear?" Jin spoke up. "When we decided to talk about this and to… start acting on our feelings," he averted his eyes. "We knew this was a possibility, even if the least probable, and we're okay with it. And even if you didn't like us, or you only liked one or some… we wouldn't force you to choose and no negative feelings."

The rest agreed with his statement, and Namjoon took over the conversation. "We don't know a lot about how to do this… the poly relationship thing. And in terms of experience we're as lost as you are, but we can work it out together like we do the rest of things."

Jungkook looked at them each in turn. "Are you sure of what you're saying? I don't know a lot but, won't you get jealous or resent me or think bad things about me?"

After receiving a negative from the rest, Jimin, sitting the closest to his right, reached over to hug Jungkook by the shoulder. "We've had time to think this over, Jungkookie," he explained. "Remember before anything else we are like family. If anything, this just means we got something else in common, and we're going into it with open eyes. If there is anything to learn we'll do it together, won't we?"

Jungkook returned the hug, hiding his face in the older's neck. "We will," he whispered. "Thank you, hyung." Pulling back, he looked at everyone. "So, want to date me?" he asked lamely.

They all laughed and Jimin turned his face to plant a big kiss on Jungkook lips, making him laugh as well. "You're silly, of course we do!"

Jungkook wiped the smirk off his face by kissing Jimin back, making sure to make a loud smack noise as they separated.

"Ah, Jimin, I wanted to kiss him too!" Taehyung whined from his place next to Jimin.

"I mean, I'm still here so…"

"Can we…?"

"S-Sure."

That was how Jungkook went from hyung to hyung, somehow solidifying their now dating status. Taehyung left kisses on his eyelids and nose before kissing him sweetly. Hoseok pulled him down onto his lap before kissing him as he had only seen done in romance movies, leaving him breathless.

Jin pecked at his lips repeatedly, his badly-contained laughter showing that even while dating Jungkook wouldn't be safe from their usual antics, fortunately. Yoongi took hold of his hands and kissed one of them before hugging him by the waist, telling him the kiss would come later, making Jungkook smile brightly and nod in agreement.

"Why is Namjoon so calm?"

Everyone turned to look at their leader after Hoseok spoke. He was smiling at all their interactions. "I'm patient, I can wait," he shrugged.

"You're bluffing," Jin replied, looking at him with narrowed eyes, taking a quick look at Jungkook before smiling knowingly. "You two already kissed, didn't you?"

"No!"

"Yes!"

Yoongi laughed next to Jungkook and squeezed his waist. "Why would you even try to lie, Namjoon-ah? You know our Jungkookie doesn't lie."

"Namjoon-hyung is such a champion. Way to go Jungkookie!"

"Was he your first kiss? Man, that's so cool."

"Leave them alone, you know Jungkook had the biggest crush on Namjoon from the moment he saw them. I think it must've been cute."

Jungkook perked up. "I told you it was obvious!" he yelled at Namjoon. "Only you couldn't see it, of course," he rolled his eyes.

Everyone laughed again and Jungkook went to sit back on Hoseok's lap to bask in the atmosphere around him. He had kind of confessed and now there were six people he liked and cared about deeply willing to date him. Everything was good.

Jungkook was toying with the small paper bags in his hoodie’s front pocket. It was Valentine’s Day, and although it’d be their first Valentine’s Day together with their feelings out in the open, they had agreed to take it easy, meaning: no pressure on anyone. They did the usual, completed their schedule for the day, and were having dinner together, take-out from their favorite restaurant.

Everyone arrived together and were taking turns to wash up, Yoongi and Taehyung were setting up the table to eat, and Jungkook was anxiously pacing while waiting for his turn to shower. 

He had gotten seven bead bracelets; they were white marbled beads with a single piece in a different color. His bracelet had six different color beads that matched the others. He had got them online, and they were personalized.

After they were all washed up and with pajamas on, they sat down to eat. During the day, they had already exchanged whispered "Happy Valentine's Day" and stolen kisses in between their activities for the day. So for dinner, the mood was relaxed; they talked about their day and joked around. When they finished eating, everyone helped clean up, and before they went their ways Jungkook took a deep breath.

"Hyungs!" They stopped in their tracks and looked at him with wondering eyes, "I, I got you something. For all of us, actually."

Jungkook approached them and gave each of them a tiny white paper bag and he kept his own.

They all looked at it and back at him.

"What is this Jungkookie?" Jimin was the one to voice their thoughts.

"Just open it, hyung"

Jungkook watched his hyungs as they emptied the bag on their palms.

"It's so pretty Jungkookie!" Hoseok immediately put the bracelet on.

"Wait! We all have different colors! Jungkook-ah"  Taehyung's eyes went from his own bracelet to everyone else's.

Jungkook lifted his arm and showed them his bracelet.

"Mine matches yours!" He grinned proudly.

Things didn't go as smoothly as Jungkook would have expected after Valentine's Day. The logistics of coordinating going out with his six hyungs were a little too difficult for him to manage on his own. Once he was supposed to meet Namjoon but arrived a lot later than they had agreed, he was with Jin on the opposite side of the city, and it took him longer to arrive than he thought. Although Namjoon accepted his apology and was understanding about it, Jungkook still felt bad.

His phone started ringing as he was getting dressed, he was meeting with Jimin to take a stroll together.

"Jungkook-ah, as late as you always are, this is a new record for you! Are you almost here?"

Jungkook remembered he had made plans with Taehyung to buy a present for Hoseok, but he mixed up the days.

"Taehyungie… I'm so sorry."

"You forgot." There was a hint of hurt in his hyung's voice.

"I'm really sorry hyung, I'll be there as soon as possible-"

"Jungkook-ah by the time you get here the stores will be closed."

"Hyung… I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you-"

"Don't worry, I'm sure the next time you won't stand me up."

His hyung hung on him and Jungkook felt guilty. He had done it again.

Jungkook was laying down on the floor in the practice room, their morning practice for the performance of the upcoming awards had ended and he just flopped down on the floor when he watched everyone leave, even the staff let him be. He hoped contemplating the ceiling could bring an answer to his problem but so far he hadn’t come up with a way to stop sucking so much at dating, at coordinating the times he was meant to meet with everyone to be precise. Then a preoccupied face popped up above him.

"Jungkookie, are you okay?" Jin sat down next to him, and he sat down as well.

"Hyung! This isn't working out-"

"Huh!?" There was a shocked expression in Jin's face.

"No no no, don't get me wrong hyung! I mean, I'm having a hard time organizing my time with yours. I keep mixing up the days I'm meeting someone or I end up arriving way too late and I feel terrible about it, and I know I make you feel bad too. And it's getting to me, I just-"

"You punk, you had me worried there for a second," Jin bumped his shoulder with Jungkook’s, "you don't have to deal with everything on your own. We're in this as well"

Jungkook immediately latched himself onto Jin and held him tightly, he nuzzled his head in the crook of Jin's neck. He felt oddly relaxed with his hyung's scent mixed with sweat.

They came up with a way to organize their time and went shopping for the supplies needed. They texted everyone else, they were having a meeting as soon as they arrived home.

With everyone sitting in the living room Jin got up and pasted in the wall a calendar with colored sticky notes and colored markers.

Jungkook got up as well. "These last couple of days I've been messing up a lot when I’m meeting someone, and I unsuccessfully tried to find a way to not mess up, but with Jin-hyung we finally came up with a way to organize our time. There's nothing I love more than spending time with you guys, but the more I try to be with everyone as much as I can, the more I get carried away and end up mixing things up. So this is the solution..."

Jungkook explained the method Jin and he came up with, Jungkook would write down in the calendar the times he was meeting someone, but if he didn’t the other part should write it down, they'd all be aware of the when and where Jungkook would be and could make sure not to get it overlapped. They all agreed happily, and the meeting was over.

Jungkook felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders with everyone's help. And he came to realize it was probably about time he spoiled his hyungs, he wanted to do more than just receiving from his hyungs.

He decided to pay a visit to Yoongi's studio. He was starting to spend more and more time there and Jungkook doubted his hyung took the time to eat. He could get too absorbed at the moment to remember taking care of himself. He lightly knocked on the studio's door and waited for a response, he had a bag with enough food for the two of them.

Although it took him a while to open the door, Yoongi appeared in front of him. "What are you doing here Jungkookie?" His hyung's raspy voice made Jungkook's heart skip a bit.

"I figured you probably hadn't eaten yet, so I brought food with me. We can eat in one of the empty meeting rooms." Jungkoook waited for Yoongi's reply.

"You're right, lead the way Jungkookie." Yoongi closed the door behind and followed Jungkook. They idly ate together and Jungkook felt a weird sense of pride. When they were done eating Yoongi asked Jungkook to go back to the studio with him. When they were inside, Yoongi locked the door and approached Jungkook, he leaned up and kissed him. 

Jungkook was a little startled by the eldest actions but he held on to him. Yoongi broke the kiss to lead them to his chair, he sat down and motioned for Jungkook to sit on his lap. Jungkook wasn’t entirely certain the chair could hold them both but he still sat on Yooongi's legs. He placed his hands on his shoulders and leaned in to kiss Yoongi. His hyung took the lead and kissed Jungkook as he pleased. Jungkook's hands went from Yoongi's shoulders to his hair, and he kept them there for as long as they kissed. 

Jungkook was out of breath when Yoongi switched his attention from his lips to his neck, he trailed along his jaw and left faint kisses on his moles. Jungkook made a weird noise when Yoongi's hands wandered down to his waist. 

The noise seemed to have startled Yoongi, and he stopped kissing his neck. "You okay?" 

Yoongi's breathless voice sent a shiver down Jungkook's back and he limited his answer to a nod. He couldn't trust his voice to come out normal. 

"We should probably stop here." Yoongi's voice seemed strained and Jungkook nodded again. Jungkook could have gotten up sooner had he been certain his legs wouldn’t give out. When he finally got up he noticed Yoongi's hair was a mess and his cheeks were flushed. "I'll see you at home hyung." Jungkook made his way to the door.

"I'll see you there Jungkookie."

Jungkook closed the door behind him and ran to the restroom.

It was past midnight and it was officially Hoseok's birthday, they had just gotten home from the awards and everyone was too fired up to go straight to bed. Jungkook, Jimin and Taehyung stayed in Taehyung's room playing video games, they were at it until Jungkook got sleepy, he said he was only resting his eyes when he got a little too comfortable in Hoseok's bed, he promised himself to go to his room as soon as the bed's rightful owner arrived. 

He didn’t.

He opened his eyes and wasn’t surprised at all to see Hoseok sleeping comfortably next to him, Jungkook's head was resting on Hoseok's arm. He looked around and it was only the two of them in the bedroom. He sat down and hoped his movement didn’t wake Hoseok up. He rubbed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair to get it away from his face. Hoseok moved and Jungkook noticed he had just woken up.

"Morning, sunshine."

"Good morning Jungkookie." Hoseok stretched his limbs and yawned. He rubbed his eyes and sat up as well.

"Happy birthday hyung!" Jungkook rested his head on Hoseok's shoulder.

"Hmm, thank you, Jungkookie."

They looked at each other and Jungkook giggled. Hoseok started tickling his sides and Jungkook shrieked laughing. He tried to get Hoseok as well but he was already on top of him and was holding his hands above him with one hand while tickling him with the other. Hoseok suddenly stopped tickling him and stared at Jungkook’s hands. Jungkook sensed his hyung was probably about to freak out considering the positions they were in.

“Hyung, look at me.” Jungkook tried to get Hoseok’s attention.

Hoseok shifted his gaze from Jungkook’s hands to his face. “I, I only wanted to- I wasn’t trying to-” There was a hint of panic in Hoseok’s voice and he released Jungkook’s hands.

“I know hyung.” Jungkook reached up and lightly kissed Hoseok’s lips.

Hoseok blushed and smiled, he laid down again. They stayed in Hoseok’s bed until Jin sent Taehyung to let them know the breakfast was ready.

A more relaxed schedule allowed Jungkook to spend more time with his hyungs, and he used his time wisely. Jungkook was playing video games with Taehyung in his bedroom, 

“The one to win more rounds gets to ask the other to do whatever he wants for the rest of the day, you in?” Taehyung challenged Jungkook and he never refused a challenge, “I’m in!”

After a couple of minutes of silence, Taehyung spoke up, “How are you doing Jungkookie?”

“Huh? With the game? Better than you apparently.” Jungkook wasn’t sure what Taehyung was trying to get at.

“Haha, very funny! but no, I mean, with us liking you and you reciprocating our feelings.”

Jungkook couldn’t focus both on the game and the conversation so he paused the game and looked at Taehyung.

“Honestly? It’s great, I mean, it’s like I finally got that something I wasn’t aware was missing but now that it’s part of my life it just feels right. I was a little lost at first but now I feel ecstatic.”

Taehyung listened attentively and Jungkook was reminded of the fact that Tae’s always had his back.

“I’m glad Jungkookie. You know I’m crazy in love with you.” Taehyung’s transparency about his feelings melted his heart.

“I love you too, Taehyungie-hyung” Jungkook closed the distance between them and hugged him tightly.

“It’s terrifying how feelings can be a little overwhelming, I panicked when you didn’t show up that time we were supposed to meet, Jungkookie. But now I know what happened, and us hugging right here and now just makes me feel so elated.” Taehyung spoke close to Jungkook’s ear and he squeezed Taehyung tighter.

“You don’t need to hold anything back, hyung, I’m serious about my feelings, all you have to do is lean on me, hyung. I can handle it.”

Taehyung broke the hug, grabbed Jungkook’s face with his hands, and gently pulled him closer. Jungkook noticed tears welling up in Taehyung’s eyes and he lightly wiped them away. Taehyung chuckled at the gesture and he pressed their lips together.

Jungkook decided to offer his help to Jin with cooking dinner; his hyung had been cooking for them more often than other days with their emptier schedule. Jungkook joined Jin in the kitchen as he was busy washing vegetables,

“Can I help you with anything, hyung?”

Jin probably didn’t notice his presence until he spoke and that startled him, “Jungkook-ah you nearly gave a heart attack! You want to help me with cooking?”

“I’m sorry hyung,” Jungkook tried to look as apologetic as possible, “I do want to help, just tell me what to do and I’ll do it, hyung.”

Jin seemed pleasantly surprised, “Really? Well, I'm going to take your word on that, can you finish rinsing this?” Jin showed him the vegetables he was holding, “But you probably should put an apron first and wash your hands!”

Jungkook carefully did the tasks that Jin assigned him, and when they nearly finished preparing the dinner, Jin asked him to taste the food to see if it was missing anything but Jungkook found no flaw in the dishes they made and let his hyung know.

“I’ve probably told you this before hyung, but I love your cooking,” Jungkook hummed happily.

“It does no harm to tell me again, and I’m happy you like my cooking!” Jin proudly accepted the compliment.

“Thank you for doing it hyung, we probably would have died of starvation or food poisoning if it wasn’t for your cooking.”

“What’s with the compliments Jungkookie, are you trying to get something from me?” Jin jokingly poked at Jungkook’s intentions.

“No! I’m serious, hyung! I am truly, madly and deeply in love with your food!”

“Just with my cooking? Nothing for the cook?” Jin teased Jungkook and he blushed.

“The cook probably should encourage me to say more about them.” Jungkook wasn’t giving in so easily.

Jin leaned closer to him and kissed his cheek, “More?” he whispered in Jungkook’s ears and that made Jungkook blush down to his neck.

Jimin and Jungkook were alone in the dorm, everyone else had left after breakfast to run errands or work in their studios. They decided to do a movie marathon so they claimed the sofa as theirs, they built some sort of blanket fort in front of the TV and they laid down in it. Jungkook cuddled Jimin and they started watching the movies. Jimin eventually shifted their positions and he sat down, placing Jungkook’s head in his lap.

"We should do this more often Jiminie-hyung." Jungkook looked up to look at Jimin.

"Hmm I agree with you, it feels nice." Jimin started running his hands through his hair.

"And our fort looks pretty dope." Jungkook was proud of the fort they created with pillows, blankets, chairs and sofa.

Jimin chuckled and nodded. "Dope indeed."

Jungkook tagged along with Namjoon one afternoon when he was about to leave to ride his bicycle. Namjoon allowed him to tag along when he noticed how eager Jungkook was about joining him. 

They gradually left the dorm behind them as Namjoon led the way. The colors in the sky indicated the sun was going down and the street lights lit up the city streets. Jungkook noticed the calmed expression in Namjoon’s face and he understood the reason he occasionally went outside on his own. 

Instead of attempting to start a conversation Jungkook enjoyed the moment and matched his pace to Namjoon’s.

“Jungkook is acting weird, have you noticed?”

“Huh?” Yoongi looked away from the computer screen to look at him.

Namjoon played with the pen on his hand as he elaborated. “He’s been really sketchy lately, don’t you think? He disappears as soon as we have some free time, and when he’s around he acts as if everything was normal.”

“He’s probably planning something for us.”

“What?”

Yoongi took off his headphones and turned to face him fully. “Did you see his planner? He has us booked for our whole free week. You’re the first one, actually.”

Namjoon startled at that. “What? I didn’t ask him out anywhere.”

The older smirked. “Neither did I, see? And I bet Jungkook made those plans himself, I think he’s been preparing a surprise or something.”

“What do you think it is?” It was then that Namjoon received a text from Jungkook. 

meet me back home? I got something for you

“He just texted me,” he said a little giddy. “I better go now.”

Yoongi returned to the computer, not before calling out, “Whatever it is, no spoilers, you hear?”

“I promise nothing!”

Namjoon met Jungkook at the door of their shared room. “Hey.”

Jungkook smiled at him. “Hi. So… what I got for you is inside and… I was thinking we could watch something on my phone since it’s easier than going to the movies, but we could go there if you want, or-”

“Jungkook,” Namjoon interrupted him. “It’s okay, your idea sounds good, and we’re more comfortable like this, right? Come on, let’s go inside.”

He was expecting to find their room maybe clean and ready to lay on one of the beds, but he was surprised when he found a makeshift fort made of blankets, draping over the bottom bunk bed, hiding it from view.

“You made a fort,” he said fondly. “I love it.”

Jungkook blushed. “Isn’t it too much?”

Namjoon grabbed Jungkook’s hand and led him to the entrance of the fort. “It’s perfect. I really like it.”

Soon they got settled, cuddling together, supported by their pillows, watching one of Namjoon’s favorite movies, per Jungkook’s request. Since the screen was small, they were huddled even closer, their heads leaning on each other.

“This is nice,” Namjoon sighed during a lull in the movie. “What’s the occasion?”

“I just missed this,” Jungkook shrugged. “I wanted to do something nice too, you know?”

Namjoon turned to kiss Jungkook’s temple. “I know what you mean, thank you.”

“Also, it’s been three months, you know?”

Namjoon teased him. “You’re celebrating our three months of dating or something?”

“Or something,” he mumbled. “Just wanted to ask…”

“What is it?” Namjoon locked Jungkook’s phone, pausing the movie to pay attention to him. “It’s nothing bad, is it?”

“No! I’m just nervous, hyung,” Jungkook laughed awkwardly. “I think I wanted to make something nice for you, but now it feels like a big thing but I promise I had everything planned!”

“Jungkook. Come here.”

Jungkook obeyed and got closer, and Namjoon laid a hand on the side of his face to kiss him softly. “It’s just me, okay? You don’t have to be nervous, take it at your own pace, I got all the time for you.”

“Thank you, hyung,” he whispered, throwing an arm and a leg to hug Namjoon. “You’re amazing. Do you want to be my boyfriend?”

Namjoon smiled and hugged him back. “This was the occasion?”

“If you say yes then… yeah, that’s it.”

He sighed but moved to look straight into Jungkook’s eyes as he replied. “I’d love to be your boyfriend, Jungkook.” There was a kiss, and then, “I’m so happy.”

Jungkook laughed, carefree this time. “I’m really happy too.”

"Can I know why we are going out so early?" Jin whined as he let Jungkook lead him outside. "You know days off are usually stay-in days, right?"

"I think you'll like it," Jungkook replied, ignoring the rest of Jin's teasing complaints. 

They were at a park near their dorm. Jungkook hadn't bothered asking the company to move them around. When Jin had asked, Jungkook had simply said he wanted to enjoy the walk there.

"We pass by so often but we have not visited here, right?"

Jin hummed. "You're right. It's a nice place."

Jungkook nodded. "Perfect place to take a picture, don't you think?"

"Did you bring me here at the crack of dawn to take a picture?" He looked at Jungkook in disbelief. "Couldn't it wait for a more decent hour?"

"No. The lighting is perfect now. And you love seeing your face in pictures, don't even try to pretend you don't," the younger challenged him.

Jin felt his ears burning but didn't rise to the bait. "Taking selcas is different, brat! You always get my weird angles!"

Jungkook snorted. "You're too pretty to have weird angles, hyung. I promise this one will be good, now pose."

"Thank you," he muttered at the compliment before looking around, trying to find the perfect background for Jungkook's picture. "Here is fine?" he asked once he was settled, the soft light of the rising sun hitting the side of his face, soft enough to avoid making him squint his eyes.

"Perfect," Jungkook breathed out, pointing his phone camera at him, starting to take pictures. "Make some expressions for me, hyung."

Jin rolled his eyes but complied, taking turns at making attractive faces and downright silly ones. "Any more requests?" he asked teasingly.

"Can you expose your face for the last one? No one's around, I just checked."

He looked around, just to make sure, and then donned his hat and mask, showing his blonde hair and his face. "Like this?"

Jungkook nodded, starting to take pictures. "Hyung."

"Hmm?"

"Do you want to be my boyfriend?" Jin gaped at him as Jungkook laughed. "I captured that perfectly! I'll never delete this picture."

"Jungkook-ah, are you serious?" He started to move towards Jungkook but was stopped.

"I don't know what I'll do if you get close, hyung," he warned. "You better stay there and answer. Yes, I'm serious, no, I won't repeat what I said."

Jin smiled at Jungkook, hoping the camera got that one before walking to his potential boyfriend, trapping him in a hug. "Yes, you total child. Let's be boyfriends."

Jungkook hugged his waist and squeezed him. "My boyfriend is so petty, right?"

"Pose."

"What?" Jungkook looked at him in confusion when Jin pulled back and took his phone from his hand, turning the selfie mode on.

"There's no way we're not capturing this," he stated, sticking his head close to Jungkook, smiling when he noticed Jungkook was already beaming. "Say 'boyfriend'".

Jungkook laughed as the picture was taken. "You're so silly."

"But why can't I dye my hair?"

Yoongi passed two of their takeout bags to him before hopping into the company van besides Jungkook on the back seats. "You told PD-nim you didn't want to dye it."

"But you all look so good now and I'm here all boring-looking!"

"Hoseok-ah also has brown hair, is he boring-looking too or…?"

Jungkook pouted. "It's different."

Yoongi hummed and ran a hand through Jungkook's soft hair. "I think this natural look suits you better. It's really pretty."

The younger looked down with a smile. "Thank you, but," he interjected, "maybe I'd look better with another color. I'd be hot."

"You say that as if you weren't already."

Jungkook widened his eyes. "What?"

He snorted but smiled at him. "I thought you'd be aware by now, Jungkook-ah. By the way, when are you gonna tell me?"

If anything, Jungkook seemed more nervous now. "Tell you what?"

"You know, the downside of displaying your planner in our living room is that you can't surprise anyone. I don't know what you're doing, but today is my day so what is it?"

Jungkook sighed. "Well, this is part of it," he pointed at the takeout bags. "I know you're not a fan of surprises so I didn't want to make a big deal of things."

Yoongi looked at him fondly. "Thank you for considering that," he said. "But really, what is it? We're finally making it official or what?"

"That was the plan, yeah."

He stared at Jungkook in surprise. "Wait, I actually guessed it right?"

"Yeah… it's good that you guessed it, though," he laughed. "If I had tried to ask you I would have messed it up."

"Doesn't it get easier the more you ask?" Yoongi asked with curiosity. "Assuming that's what you were planning to do this week…"

Jungkook shook his head immediately. "It's different… you're all different and special and believe me, I don't find it any easier," he jerked his head to the side. "Good thing I only have to ask you one time, right?"

"Good thing I'm saying yes right now," he replied. "To the thing you didn't get to ask. Yes, okay?"

"Okay."

Yoongi went back to staring straight ahead with a poorly hidden smile on his face. He let his hand laying on his leg, feeling his smile grow when Jungkook took it immediately, intertwining their fingers. "If you didn't have any plans for the rest of the night, we're having a sleepover of two in my room."

"Sounds great, hyung," Jungkook said, trying but failing to act as fresh as Yoongi did.

As soon as they reached the door of the dorm, Yoongi passed all the bags to Jungkook and threw an arm around his tiny waist. They got inside and he quickly took two of the containers, greeting Namjoon, whose room door was open.

"Namjoon-ah, tell hyung he can sleep in Jungkook's bed tonight," he announced, ignoring the younger protesting behind him.

"Hyung, we can't kick him out!"

Namjoon just wiggled his eyebrows and smiled. "I'll tell him, hyung. And Jungkook, don't worry, I'm sure Jin-hyung won't mind."

"Thank you," Jungkook said bashfully, following Yoongi when he started leading the way to his bedroom, closing the door behind himself.

Hoseok was amused when Jungkook arrived to their date with a badly hidden hickey in the side of his neck.

"Looks like someone had fun last night," he teased.

"Hyung, not you too," Jungkook groaned. 

He raised his hands in defense. "It was right there! I couldn't help it!"

Jungkook let out a grunt as he let himself slide to sit next to Hoseok in the modest booth they had managed to get. The restaurant was tiny, edging on "shady" which was perfect for going out and being less likely to be recognized. And the food was good, so no one was complaining.

"Cozy," Hoseok noted with a laugh, moving to get even closer to Jungkook, their legs touching.

"Do you like it?" Jungkook asked him. "I know we usually don't leave the dorm or the practice studio so I feel this is a good change."

"Yeah, I really needed this, thank you, Jungkookie."

They placed their orders when their waiter came to their table, and once he was gone, Jungkook grabbed his hand under the table. "Is everything okay?"

Hoseok smiled at Jungkook, and then he let his face relax. "I'm doing okay, just taking a break of the always smiling Hope, you know? Sometimes I feel tired, that's it."

Jungkook moved to grab his hand with both of his then. "I think I get it. We don't tell you enough sometimes, but you do an amazing job all the time, hyung. We really appreciate it. I really appreciate it."

"Thank you, Jungkookie, that's nice to hear," he smiled softly at Jungkook.

Their food arrived soon enough, and they started eating, enjoying the moment, and even feeding each other when the fancy struck. Hoseok noticed Jungkook took it upon himself to brighten the talk, doing the most of the talk and pulling out his rare share of good jokes.

"So, Hobi-hyung, I had something to ask you," Jungkook announced as soon as they finished eating. "Our dessert depends on it."

"Ask ahead, I'm all ears," Hoseok replied, turning his body slightly to be able to look at Jungkook. 

"You know I like you a lot," he started. "I'm so happy with you and this time has let me get to know more of you… in different ways than before," he blushed. 

Hoseok smiled at him. "I feel the same about you, you know? I know it hasn't been a lot of time, and we've been really busy, but still, we make the most of it."

“Yeah, we do. I really like spending time with you, you’re pretty great, and I really really like you. And what I wanted to ask was… would you like to be my boyfriend?”

Hoseok smiled so widely he let out a laugh, covering his mouth with his free hand. “Yes! I mean, I’d like that very much, yes.”

“Great!” Jungkook grinned.

“Yeah!” Hoseok looked around them and then raised one of his legs to put it over Jungkook’s. “I’d be kissing you now if we were back in the dorms, you know?”

“Hyung,” the younger blushed. “Do you want to skip dessert and go home?”

Hoseok shook his head and squeezed Jungkook’s hands. “You promised me dessert, you’re not getting out of that,” he joked. “Our kiss can wait until later.”

“You’re on.”

“Jiminie-hyung.”

Jimin smiled at Jungkook’s tone, a little whiny, and calling for attention. He kept looking down at his phone. “Hmm?”

He felt Jungkook’s hands gripping his shoulders. “Hyung, I’m talking to you!”

Since he was laying on his stomach on his bed, he tried to shake off the hands playfully. “I’m listening!”

The hands left his shoulders and went to his waist, Jimin’s body being turned suddenly by Jungkook. He went to tug at the collar of Jungkook’s shirt, pulling it with force to make the younger fall on top of him, being careful to avoid painful accidents.

“What was that for?!” Jungkook yelled with a laugh, supporting his weight on his elbows to look at Jimin properly.

“Who told you I could be manhandled like that?” he protested, his face red at having the younger so close.

“It’s not my fault you’re so tiny,” Jungkook retorted, reaching to squeeze his cheeks. “So cute.”

Jimin’s face felt hotter. “I’m older,” he reminded him, hooking a leg around Jungkook’s to turn them around, ending near the edge of the bed. “ You’re the cute one.”

Jungkook left his hands resting on Jimin’s waist. “We’ll be cute together, then, what about that?”

“I can agree with that,” Jimin smiled down at him and leaned to start kissing him. Kissing Jungkook was one of his favorite activities nowadays, along with everything related to the younger, and how willing he was to cling to Jimin, just as much as Jimin liked to do the same.

“Hmm,” Jimin suddenly pulled away and let his weight fall onto Jungkook, splaying his limbs around.

Jungkook laughed in surprise. “What happened to you?”

“I’m bored,” Jimin whispered. “I’m sleeping, be quiet.”

There was a snort, but Jungkook didn’t pull him off, playing along. “No! You have to wake up, hyung!” Jimin giggled but still didn’t reply. He felt Jungkook moving his body to let him laying face down on the mattress. “You know, I was looking for you to ask you a question. The boyfriend question, but since you’re asleep, I better go-”

“I’m awake!” Jimin whipped his head around quickly, grabbing onto Jungkook to stop him from leaving. "You should have told me why you were here!"

"You wouldn't listen to me!"

"I was joking!" Jimin pulled on Jungkook's arm, making him rest on the pillows, straddling his legs to leave him in place. "Ask me."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. "Ask you what?"

Jimin slapped his chest. "What you were going to ask! It's not romantic if you don't ask! Please?"

"Jimin-ssi, do you want to be my boyfriend?"

"Jungkook-ssi, yes, I do."

The younger sat up to hug Jimin tightly, swaying them from side to side. "You're so cheesy, hyung.”

“You love it.” Jimin felt confident enough to say it, and Jungkook’s response didn’t disappoint.

“Yes, I really do.”

“Jungkookie.” Taehyung stepped into the tiny living room space, smiling at Jungkook’s attire, a white shirt hidden under a black jacket, washed-out blue jeans, and a pair of already too familiar Timberland boots. “Ready to go?”

The boy smiled at him, opening the door for him to pass. “Ready. After you, hyung.”

“What a gentleman,” he remarked, accepting the offer and stepping out of the dorm.

When Jungkook asked him out on a date so close to returning to their schedule, Taehyung didn’t hesitate to accept, even if their manager scolded them when he heard the two of them would be going out instead of resting or preparing to go back to the routine.

Fortunately, neither of them were passionate about rules, anyways. So late night date it was. 

“Are you fine with just taking a walk? We can stop somewhere and grab some food if we get hungry,” Jungkook suggested.

Taehyung nodded. “I’m in for the company, walking sounds like a great idea.”

Jungkook huffed and bumped against him lightly. “You’re a total romantic.”

“So are you,” he replied softly, admiring the street lights shining against the visible part of Jungkook’s face. “A night walk under the light of the moon and nightlife? Name something more romantic.” He noticed how Jungkook averted his gaze and gave him a reassuring bump back. “There’s nothing wrong with being romantic. You know it, right?”

The younger nodded. “I know, it just… sets a high bar, you know? I like romantic things too and, I don’t know, it feels like we have to outdo ourselves every time, or something. I just want things to be the best they can be.”

He smiled at Jungkook’s response and walked a little closer to him to hook their arms together. “With schedules as packed as ours, I think every moment like this is special, no need to outdo yourself or anything.”

“Is this okay?” Jungkook looked down to their arms. “We’re not getting in trouble for this?”

“We’re covered from head to toe,” he pointed out. “And our own camera’s have recorded us closer than this, I think we’re okay, don’t worry about it.”

They continued walking for a while, roaming around the less transited areas of the city, talking and losing track of time as the streets slowly emptied. Before long, they were making their way back in complete solitude.

It was on the way back that Jungkook brought another topic up. “So… we’ll go back to the usual in a couple of days. How do you feel about it?”

Taehyung sighed and looked up to the sky. “I’m excited, I like recording and being on stage but… I will miss the free time. It’d be great if we could have days on and off more often, you know?”

“Like in school?”

“Exactly like in school, Jungkookie.”

Jungkook looked around for a moment and then took Taehyung’s hand, hiding their hands inside his hoodie pocket. Taehyung was startled but squeezed his hand and didn’t pull away.

“How would we have been like in school?” Jungkook asked him. “Maybe we could have been friends?”

“I don’t think so,” he laughed. “I think you’d be the popular nice guy and I’d be just a shy nerd with a huge crush on you.”

“Well, maybe the nice guy would have a huge crush on you too,” Jungkook slowed their pace until they stopped in a quiet street, allowing him to look at Taehyung. “Maybe this nice guy and the shy nerd could have been boyfriends, what do you think?”

Taehyung smiled widely at him, starting to read into what Jungkook’s intention was. “I think…” he paused for the dramatics. “...that those versions of us would be as good boyfriends as you and I would. We already know 'Taekook' has a nice tune to it, right?” He laughed at the memory and continued. “So, what do you say? Should we make it official?”

Jungkook nodded. “I was planning on asking you , actually. But yes, we should do that.”

“You’ll never out-romance me, Jungkookie, boyfriend or not. But that’s okay, you got us out here, so half of this was all you.”

They smiled at each other and tightened their joined hands for a moment. “Come on, boyfriend, let’s go home,” Jungkook said, the pair of them starting to walk together back to the dorms.

The boys were on their day off and they had agreed to stay in, but Jungkook had gone out to run his odd errands. The boys watched Jungkook leave the dorm promising he'd be back in no time and now they were in the living room; Jimin and Taehyung were watching one of the animes they been wanting to watch for the longest, Namjoon was scribbling in his notebook with his earphones on, Hoseok was watching videos on his phone, Jin was doing some sort of inventory of their groceries and Yoongi was helping him.

"Hyungs, I've been thinking about something and I want to share it with you," Taehyung paused the episode as he was mentally preparing to say what he needed to express.

"Taehyungie, what's up?" Namjoon closed his notebook and took off his earphones, and everyone else stopped what they were doing as well.

"Uh, well it's kinda embarrassing but… we've been going out with Jungkookie for a while and… sure thing we've kissed and stuff but, hmmm-"

"Tae, what are you trying to say?" Jimin was curious to know what his best friend had in mind.

"Jimin-ah I was about to say it!", Taehyung took a deep breath, "hasanyonethoughtaboutdoingitwithJungkookie?" Taehyung was too nervous and ended up saying it too quickly. He hoped the members understood his words.

"Sex!?" Jimin was surprised, but not really, "You've been thinking about sex?"

"As if you weren't Jimin-ah! We're healthy young boys!" Taehyung didn't regret bringing up the subject, but there were mixed reactions in his hyungs’ faces.

"I can't tell you I haven't, but it's not only about me, but I also guess I was waiting for someone else to bring out the topic?" Although Namjoon was blushing and looked like he didn't want to talk about it, he still did.

"Same here, I've been waiting for Jungkookie to say anything." Jin seemed to be serious about it, he probably had thought about it before.

"Kissing for me is what I'm figuring out, I'm taking it slow, I guess?" Hoseok felt embarrassed to admit they were taking it slow, but when it came to Jungkook he wanted to take the time of the world as he felt no need to rush.

"We're mostly on the same page, I guess? I just wanted to make sure this doesn't turn into a mess when the time comes. We're okay regardless of who Jungkookie decides to do it first, right?" Taehyung wanted to prevent any potential issues between them. But he realized Yoongi was a little too quiet when he should be voicing his opinion.

"Yoongi-hyung? What about you?" Namjoon noticed the same.

Five pairs of eyes turned to look at him and he felt a little anxious.

"Uh, about that," Yoongi stole glances at everyone and hoped they didn't react badly to what he was about to say, "Jungkookie and I, well we kinda already-"

"You already did it!?" When they spoke in unison it reflected how close they were, this time it made Yoongi flinch. He had told Jungkookie should the topic arise he'd deal with it as best as he could.

"It's not like we made plans to do it, it just felt right at the moment and-"

"Don't go there Yoongi-hyung, there's only so much that we need to know!" Jimin was shocked.

"So that's that, now we all know." Taehyung felt a mix of emotions: discouraged, happy, and weirded out.

"I told Jungkookie there'd be other firsts he'd get to experience with all of us, he felt a little conflicted about it. And that goes for all of us. There are many firsts we can share."

Yoongi didn't need to elaborate on how it went with Jungkook, he limited himself to reassure everyone that they had been careful about how and where. And everyone else felt that was all they needed to know. 

As surprising as it was, they were making it work going out with Jungkook while being BTS.

Jungkook felt like he was truly living the most beautiful moment in his life. Everything felt right in his life both with the band and his relationships. But it also made him wonder who should know he was the happiest. The boys already knew they were part of the reason. Should his family know? The managers? ARMY? Bang PD? His friends? That was a topic for the seven of them to discuss. For the time being, he was telling his mom, sort of. He had messaged her asking to have a video call. And he was doing it in his and Rapmon’s bedroom while he was elsewhere.

"Jungkook-ah it's so good to see you!" on his laptop's screen was his mom's face. She looked radiant and happy to see him.

"Mom! How's everyone?" Jungkook basked in the feeling that came with seeing his mom, even if it was through a screen.

"We're doing just fine here, how are you? Are you eating properly? Sleeping?"

"I am eating and sleeping properly. I'm doing great, actually!"

"I can see that Jungkook-ah, you look the happiest. If I didn't know better I'd say you're seeing someone!" Although Jungkook's mom was joking, that took him by surprise.

"I kinda am." Jungkook felt a little shy to admit it to his mom.

“You are!?” Jungkook’s mom was genuinely surprised.

“I am!, but I don’t think I can tell you more just yet-”

“Stop right there Jungkookie.”

“Huh?” Jungkook’s mom’s commanding tone reminded him of old times.

“I’m surprised because I thought dating while being an idol was a big no-no. But I can tell you’re handling that the best way you can, just promise me you won’t get in trouble.”

“I won’t, mom.” Jungkook made the promise both to his mom and himself.

Jungkook’s mom hummed satisfied with his answer, “About the who, you don’t need to rush to tell me Jungkook-ah. I’m sure you will tell me when you’re ready. But I just want to ask you something: make sure you’re loved truly and unconditionally, and loved them back with the same intention. Half-hearted intentions will only hurt you and them.” Jungkook’s mom’s words were sincere and Jungkook noticed she wasn’t being specific when referring to Jungkook’s partner.

“I can assure it’s like you said, I love them and they love me.” Jungkook kept it ambiguous as well.

“Then all I can do is wish you happiness, that is all.”

Jungkook felt grateful to have his mother’s support. The rest of their conversation was about their family’s news and Jungkook’s stories about more trivial matters.

Jungkook’s birthday this year brought new things compared to all his previous ones. To start, his hyungs got him fruit cake, and luckily they had managed to hold a little celebration in their dorm, instead of a rushed song in the middle of their tight schedule. Jimin had recorded some of it to post to Twitter, but as soon as the recording had finished, he had been wrapped in hugs and kisses. 

They had asked him what his birthday wish was, and fortunately, Jungkook had managed not to tell them, or else it would never come true. I wish that we can stay together for a long, long time.

He had done his rounds of ‘goodnight’ to his boyfriends, leaving Namjoon for last since they shared the same room, when his mother called him.

“Hey, mom, how are you? Are you preparing things for Chuseok?”

His mother laughed on the other end of the line. “You know it. Your brother already cleared his schedule, so we’re all set for now.” There was a pause. “Are you sure you can’t come visit?”

Jungkook sighed. “I’m sorry, mom. We’re using the Chuseok break to keep practicing, you know how it is. I would love to be there, though.”

“I understand,” she replied. “You better make some time to meet with your special someone, Jungkook-ah.”

He blushed. “Don’t worry, mom. I’m sure we will meet during the break.”

“Maybe you could video call me and introduce this person to me too?” she asked with hope in her voice.

Jungkook paused, unsure of how to reply. There were so many things to consider, and he couldn’t decide on his own. He’d have to talk with everyone first. “Listen, mom, there’s… I don’t know if it’d be something you expect but…”

“Jungkook,” his mother cut him off. “I know you, and I know you know that we’ve been very vague about who this person is, and I’m sure you wouldn’t do that if they were… what people my age normally would expect of a boy.”

“Mom…”

“Listen to me,” she said sternly. “You can tell me if I’m out of place, but I’ll just put it out here so you know… if you introduce me to your partner, I will treat them equally, if it's not a girl it's fine, if it's not someone your age I might have a talk with them but only because I worry about you, you know?" she teased. "What's important is that you're my little boy and I love you, and I want you to be happy more than anything else. You know most mothers wouldn't let their kid leave their home to chase a career as risky as yours, but I saw it made you happy, and see where that has led you! I'll support you the same way with your choice of partner."

"Thank you, mom," Jungkook said, a hint of tears in his tone. "You weren't out of place, I knew you'd catch onto that."

His mother laughed. "Of course! The Jeon family is full of smart people!"

Jungkook laughed along, settling down a little. "About meeting them... could I get back to you on this? I think I'd like that but... this is a joint decision, you know? We need to talk and all."

"I know how it is, Jungkook-ah. I can wait, and if things get tense don't let this become something to fight about, okay? Your mom can wait for you to feel ready. No pressure."

"Thank you, mom." Jungkook saw Namjoon entering their room and smiled at him. "I gotta go to sleep now, but we'll stay in contact, okay? I love you, mom."

"I love you too, goodnight, baby."

"Hey," Namjoon smiled at him as he joined him in bed, getting into a comforting embrace, with the elder not too fond of excessive skin contact when sleeping. "How's your mom?"

"She is doing great, as always," Jungkook rolled his eyes. "Told me something good today, too."

"What was that?"

Jungkook moved to rest his head on Namjoon's chest and closed his eyes. "It can wait, I'll tell you all soon. Goodnight, hyung."

"Goodnight, Jungkookie."

"So," Jungkook started his meeting. "My mom wants to meet you."

Seeing the shock on his hyungs' faces made the whole week of thinking and overthinking worth it.

"Did you tell her about us?" Jimin asked him with surprise.

"Not exactly," he grimaced. "I told her a while ago that I was... not single anymore. And I think by now she is sure that I am not dating a girl, but that's about it, but I still think it'd be nice, I believe she'd take it well, and even if she didn't, she wouldn't tell anyone so it's safe."

"What did you tell her when she asked you to meet your... partner?"

"I said I'd tell her what we decided later... but before Chuseok. The whole reason she wanted to meet you was because of the date," he explained. "She also said she could wait if we didn't feel ready so... I want to know what you think, hyungs."

Jin sighed deeply. "That's something big you're asking," he said. "Thank you, and thanks to your mom too, I guess, for not giving us an ultimatum or something."

"Yeah," Taehyung agreed. "As accepting as she can be, I don't think she can just take in stride that her youngest son has six live-in boyfriends, all older than him. Even if she is okay with us being boys, I'm sure you can see it could bring some worries up, right?"

Jungkook nodded. "I know. I'm not a parent but still, I'm very protective of my family. I'd be full of questions and concerns too, I think that's natural in any situation."

"Maybe if you introduced one of us as the boyfriend only?" Hoseok raised his hands in surrender when everyone just stared at him. "Just saying," he defended himself. "Maybe she'd be more open to accepting one person, and you could slowly introduce the rest of us as boyfriends, letting her take her time accepting it."

Yoongi spoke to support Hoseok. "Your idea has some merit," he conceded. "But I think it wouldn't be fair for the rest of us if we decided in whatever way to let just one of us step in as the "official" boyfriend, you know?"

"Just like we didn't talk about the sex thing?" Taehyung retorted.

"Tae," Jungkook whispered, confused by the sudden mention of an unrelated topic. "What sex thing?"

"About how we all respected you and were waiting for you to mention anything about taking things further when you and Yoongi-hyung were already doing it, that's that I mean," he said. "How is this different? What happens if someone just steps up and does it?"

"Taehyung-ah, that's not fair," Namjoon warns him. "What Jungkook and Yoongi decided to do is their thing only. Everyone consented and everyone was safe, we have nothing else to say about it. I know, and trust me, I do, that some of us didn't really save our first time for him. Sometimes sex just happens, first time or not. It doesn't always have to be a planned thing or anything."

There was a tense silence around. "Are you really bothered by that, Tae?" Jungkook asked in a quiet voice.

Taehyung looked away and shrugged. "I try not to let it bother me," he confessed.

Jungkook moved to sit next to Taehyung and held his face to make him look at his eyes. "Listen, first times are important for me too, you know?" he smiled with affection. "It's only that I consider every experience with you a first. I'm very lucky about that, sometimes I even wonder what I did to deserve this; to experience things for the first time sixfold because you're all so different but you make me so happy."

"How do you make things sound so pretty?" Taehyung sniffled, not crying but really close to it. "I'm sorry, Jungkookie, I'm sorry, hyung."

"Don't sweat it, kid," Yoongi said with a wave of his hand.

Jungkook hugged Taehyung tightly, getting close to his ear to whisper, away from his other hyungs' ears. "We'll plan our first time soon," he promised. "Everything nice and romantic, as you deserve."

Taehyung laughed and kissed Jungkook's forehead. "You deserve it too," he replied. "We can talk about it later."

Namjoon smiled at them and went back to the issue at hand. "I'm glad that's settled. If anyone needs to talk more about it, we can do it later. But about the introductions... what do we do?"

"Let's hear what everybody thinks?" Yoongi suggests. "From oldest to youngest. Jin-hyung, go."

"Yah, don't drop the stick on me so fast!" he protested, gaining laughs before continuing. "I think we can do the thing together. I probably won't say much unless asked to because I'm scared your mom will be weirded out for our age difference... we did kind of raise you in a way, you know?"

"Don't make it weird," Yoongi groaned. "I agree with whatever Jungkook says, I don't mind, either way, doing it now or waiting for another occasion."

"I'm with Yoongi-hyung," Hoseok said. "But it'd be exciting to meet your mom before Chuseok, I have to admit that. It'd be nice to meet her whenever but, as you know, a boyfriend and not a bandmate."

Namjoon smiled at him. "Good answer, Hoseok-ah. I suggest we're careful about this, and I'm fine with both options, but if we decide to do it, I think we might as well discuss telling PD-nim soon too. Maybe he isn't family but it's as important for him to know."

"It'd be cool if he knew," Jimin mused. "We wouldn't have to be so sneaky even in our own home, at least. I guess we'll discuss that later, but I agree to meet Jungkookie's mom before Chuseok, too! I'll need to plan what to wear, though."

Taehyung laughed. "Dressed to impress, I see how it is, Jimin," he teased. "I'm into this too, let's do it!"

Jungkook could only roll his eyes. "What's up to vote if one way or another you're all saying yes?" he whined. "You could have started with that!"

"You know we don't work that way, Jungkookie," Hoseok reminded him.

"Yeah, communication is our shared kink and all, that's hot." Jin joked.

"I said don't make it weird! How many times do I have to say it?!"

"Is this connected?"

"I can't see you, mom," Jungkook laughed, looking into the black screen that should show his mother's face.

His mother cursed, which made him laugh in surprise. "I'm not made for this," she grumbled. There was the sound of jostling and shifting and finally her face could be seen, a little frown on her face while staring at the screen. "Can you see me now?"

"I can," he confirmed. "You did it, mom!"

She smiled at him and tilted her head at seeing him alone. "You're home? I thought you said I was going to meet a certain someone today," she said in a whiney voice. "I had to tell everyone I was going to the supermarket to get some time alone!"

Jungkook laughed and scratched his neck. The blue button-up he had decided to wear for formal wear made him a little uncomfortable. "You will, mom, I just needed to tell you something first."

"What is it?"

He took a deep breath. "I'm not dating a girl, you got that right," he said in a rush of air. "But what makes this different is more than that. Just know that I'm really, really happy, and whatever your first reaction is, I want you to keep that in mind. We can answer all the answers you can have but we need you to understand. Are you okay with that?"

His mother nodded seriously. "I am. I'll do my best to keep my mind open, Jungkook-ah."

"Okay," he breathed out shakily, staring at the six nervous people beyond the camera, giving a little nod of confirmation before they started moving to appear on the screen. "Mom, I want you to meet my boyfriends, I think you're already aware of who they are."

Seeing his mother recover so smoothly from the surprise of his use of plural and the appearance of six boys at his side, along with her growing smirk, made it all worth it.

Jungkook let himself lean backward into Jin's waiting arms with a laugh. "I can't believe we survived that!" he laughed. "Are you okay?"

Jimin was getting bottles of water for everyone in the kitchen and yelled, "I can't believe your mom asked those things! Does she think you live in a harem or something?"

"I told you that was gonna be weird," Taehyung said. "Once we cleared that out she was very nice, though. I'm sure we made the right choice of telling her."

Yoongi cracked his knuckles and sat down on the floor, preparing for their live transmission. "It was fine. We should consider her suggestion."

There was a chorus of "Yeah!" that made Jungkook laugh. "You want me sleeping alone so bad?" he teased. "You're mean."

Namjoon laughed into his hand. "You know I'll be the last one to complain, but it makes sense. I'm very lucky to be your roommate, and you know it."

Jimin finally arrived and got behind Namjoon. "He is right, some of us also want to cuddle you at night and we can't just kick Namjoon-hyung out to have some quality time with you."

Hoseok yelled from his room. "We can sort that out when we move to another place, now prepare the live!"

Jungkook made to sit straight, but Jin's hands on his chest stopped him. "Stay like this," he said. "It's nothing unusual, I'm sure ARMY can take it, you deserve some hugs. You were very brave."

He smiled at the older. "Thank you, hyung. I'll stay here, then."

When their live started, and everyone burst out laughing at Hoseok appearing out of nowhere with his flower piece, Jungkook felt calmer than he'd felt in a long time. He let the rest do most of the talking as he came to terms with his mother knowing about his six boyfriends.

She had dropped tons of questions on them, from how their relationship was to what exactly they were up to. His boyfriends had dealt with the questions way better than they even handled interview questions, managing to leave his mother at ease and in a good light about his relationships. She did say she would talk to Jungkook alone when he had a chance, but it seemed more promising than it seemed threatening, so he wouldn't worry about it for the time being.

Seeing his hyungs and boyfriends being themselves, feeling the comfortable aura surrounding them, everyone feeling close to him even if only one of them was touching him; it made it all worth it.