Chapter Text
Jimin wasn’t exactly always late. His bandmates were just earlier than him. So he usually arrives, well, the last. He supposed that riding in the same car as Jungkook must have its merits since they were rarely late. The youngest tended to bug him hours before the meeting time and no amount of pouting and pleading worked on the brat. He had to practically drag himself from bed that morning under the threat of getting splashed by a bucket of water.
For the hundredth time, he wished he could ride with Taehyung again. He always gave in for five more minutes (or more) of morning cuddles.
Pouting, he glanced around the room for his best friend, taking stock of the members in the process. Jungkook and their oldest, Seokjin, was by the corner engaged in another one of those weird games he could never understand. He was pretty sure the oldest was losing if his loudness and the younger’s smirk were any indication. Their leader, Namjoon sat to his far left, scrolling through social media. The group’s convinced the guy has a secret twitter account if the amount of information he feeds them regarding their fans was any indication. Yoongi, is in the massage chair with mouth open, eyes closed and headphones on. Their dance leader, Hoseok, and Taehyung still happened to be absent.
Jimin’s sulking intensified. In between promoting their latest single and preparing for their album, there was little time to see any of the members except during interviews and rehearsals. It was, however, exceptionally hard to see Taehyung since he took on the extra responsibility of being the album’s visual director while also working on his mixtape.
Loud laughter rang out in the meeting room as their dance leader, also sunshine incarnate, Hoseok comes in the room with Taehyung in tow. Both were giggly and looking so happy that Jimin can’t help but smile at them, it was physically impossible not to. He was about to reach out to his friends when Namjoon suddenly spoke up, “How did the practice go?”
Jimin didn’t know that there was a practice. His face scrunched up a little in confusion as Hoseok answered, “Taehyungie was just, whoah, Taehyungie was really, wow!” He spoke in phrases when he was excited but the mirth in his eyes and Taehyung’s shy but proud little smile was all it took for the group to know that the younger did well with whatever it was they’re practicing and Jimin didn’t care if he didn’t know. He was just happy that his friend looked happy.
“He was good at it?” Seokjin came closer, towing Jungkook with him.
“We got the choreography done yesterday already!” Hoseok exclaimed. “Errr, well, earlier this morning?”
Jungkook perked up at that and started playfully jabbing Taehyung, always one of the first to compliment the guy. “Knew Tae-hyung was going to do good at it. It’s his specialty.”
Shyly, the other one accepted the mini jabs without question, face glowing. “Hoseokie-hyung helped me out a lot and I just told him a few minor things,” he replied in typical Taehyung fashion, downplaying what he did. It was both endearing and frustrating for the whole group.
“Ehhhhh!” Teased Yoongi who was apparently awake and observing the exchange with a fond smile. “C’mon now. You can be proud. You did a good job Taehyung-ah.”
Blushing, he replied. “Thank you hyung.” He was addressing the rest of the group as they continued to mess around him. Hoseok too excited to wait for later to tell them about the choreography, Jungkook and Seokjin endulging him while Yoongi and Namjoon smiled fondly from where they sat. His eyes suddenly swiveled to search for Jimin’s who was already staring at him. Extricating himself from the mess, Taehyung sat in the chair to his right. “You’re here!” His cheeks were still red from the teasing but his eyes held warmth that Jimin liked to consider reserved for him only.
“Jungkookie bullied me again to be early,” he pouted as the other laughed. “I need you to be my ride buddy again.”
“I doubt they’ll grant that,” Taehyung was still laughing quietly as he replied. “Remember when we almost forgot about the shooting?”
Jimin laughed. He definitely remembered that. It was one of their photoshoots with a famous magazine and it was still about two years into their career that even a little mis-step cannot be tolerated. Both of them were extremely late because they fell back asleep cuddling. Their charming asses bailed them out of the situation unscathed but the company did not take kindly to such action thus the current car arrangements have been drafted and Taehyung was not allowed to wake Jimin during schedules.
A cute yawn came from Taehyung and he turned to his friend, “You looked like you didn’t get to sleep. How long did you practice with Hobi-hyung?”
“Uhmm, I’m not sure but I think around past 3 or 4am?” he replied.
“Did you even get any sleep? How did you even manage to be awake at this hour?” It was 10am right now and Jimin was getting a little worried. Between the two of them, it was usually him who tends to overwork himself to exhaustion, Taehyung knowing his limits better. The change was disconcerting, if the dancer was being honest to himself.
“I stayed in the dorm with Hobi-hyung so he can wake me up. I got about 3 or 4 hours of sleep, I think?” Taehyung smiled. “I’m fine Jiminie. Don’t worry too much.”
He reached out to straighten the frown on Jimin’s forehead as the older continued to pout. “What were you guys practicing on anyways that you had to stay too late? Is it for your solo?”
“It was the dance break for the title. Remember how we struggled with that the last time we practiced and I was messing around during the break with funny dance moves?” Jimin nodded, vaguely recalling rolling in the floor laughing as the younger boy sashayed his hips to the tune of the song. “Yoongi-hyung, apparently, liked the moves and he convinced Hobi-hyung and Sungdeuk-hyung to incorporate the moves a little bit into the song to make the steps a little lighter and a little more congruent with the theme. So life goes on and it’s okay to let loose considering the circumstances.”
“That’s really cool!” He exclaimed. “So we’re modifying it a little bit?”
“Yeah. Still tight synchronization and powerful moves. Just a little silly?” Taehyung was explaining to him, face scrunched and hands moving. “I can’t really explain how it goes. We’ll show you guys the next practice.”
He nodded, unsurprised with how Hoseok wanted to keep the discipline in place while Taehyung added a little fun. Their group dynamics had always been interesting not only for outsiders but even among themselves. “Did you find it hard? You look kind exhausted.”
Taehyung pouted at this. “It really was. I can’t imagine how you always do it, Jimin-ah. Hobi-hyung is scary.”
Fondly, he reached over and took his friend’s hand. “Awww, you baby. You should’ve called me. I can tame Hobi-hyung a little bit.”
The younger just rolled his eyes. “You cannot tame Hobi-hyung. But I did call you yesterday. I asked you if you wanna stay a little bit for some practice but you told me you had dinner with friends. Then I called you when I heard the news but you weren’t answering. Then I just texted you to tell me when you were free.” The pout was stronger now. “You never replied.”
When fans tell you that Jimin’s pouts were powerful, that’s because they have not yet been subjected to the full power of Kim Taehyung. Or maybe he was just a weak man. “Awwwe. I’m sorry Taehyungieeeee,” he stood up and sat in his friend’s lap, arms going automatically around him. He didn’t understand why but there was always something that was so comforting and secure in the grasp. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t checking my phone. I think I kinda got a little too drunk.” He was smiling sheepishly, head resting on Tae’s shoulder. “I’ll make it up to you okay?”
Taehyung was never able to deny him anything in life. He felt him nod against his head and clutched him tighter.
The producers arrived then and the members took their seats. Jimin, however, did not feel the need to change seats and Taehyung didn’t complain, simply turning his body so it faced front and proceeded to put his head in Jimin’s shoulder. Other than a teasing eyebrow raise from Yoongi and Hoseok and Jungkook’s gleaming eyes, no one commented in the seating arrangements, already used to the eccentricity of the pair.
The meeting commenced and Jimin wouldn’t admit it but his world seemed just a little brighter then.