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The place is tight, dark, and definitely not meant to fit two grown men bodies— yet here they are, their bodies flushed together, impossible to move and even a little hard to breathe. Jungkook can’t stop moving, trying desperately to find a comfortable position that won’t hurt his ribs, or his shin, but that seems like an impossible mission.
Jimin rolls his eyes when the younger man once again tries to move, his bigger body trapping Jimin’s figure against the wall. As soon as Jungkook moves his feet, he loses his balance and Jimin needs to reach for his waist to hold him in place.
“This sucks!” Jungkook whines for what seems like the hundredth time. “I can’t even breathe properly. Is it almost time?”
“Will you be quiet?” Jimin whispers, enunciating each word harshly to get his annoyance across. “Yes, it’s almost time but they’ll know we’re here if you don’t shut your damn mouth.”
Jungkook sighs. He keeps quiet for a few seconds but Jimin just knows it won’t last long. And it really doesn’t.
“I still can’t believe I let you convince me to do this, hyung. And you’re being mean to me.”
Jimin doesn’t need to see Jungkook to know he’s pouting, so he’s actually thankful for the lack of light because Jungkook’s pout is definitely one of his weaknesses. Not that Jungkook knew.
He searches for Jungkook’s hand and pulls him closer, getting out of his place and clumsily changing their positions, because he knows this is a little more comfortable, considering there's a space on the wall that allows him to lean in and practically sit back.
“Better?” He asks when they finally settle.
Jungkook answers with a groan and he bites back a laugh because it’s clear the younger is not happy at all to be there. He realizes the changing in position was a bad idea when Jungkook moves his legs and Jimin finds himself in between them, Jungkook face between his chest and neck and every time he takes a deep breath, it tickles Jimin’s skin, the nape of his neck where he’s sensitive, and he feels the heat creeping up his face. Thankfully, Jungkook can’t see any of that.
Four days ago, it was, when Taehyung had told Jimin some crazy but entertaining stories about Ikea, one of the biggest furniture and home stores in the country, where Taehyung had been working for about six months. It was just supposed to be one of those moments where they laugh together and make fun of crazy people who seem to have no common sense when they’re in public, but then Taehyung started talking about how one time a month the whole security system needs to go into maintenance and they turn off all the cameras in the store for safety reasons.
“You’re not kidding me?” Jimin mumbles with his mouth full of tteokbokki, red sauce dripping from the corner of his lips. Taehyung shakes his head. “So like if anyone is trapped inside there’s no way to know?”
Taehyung raises one of his eyebrows, easily reading his best friend’s expression. There’s a plan taking shape in Jimin’s mind and he just knows it, but whatever it is, he wants no part in it. He needs his job to pay for his art supplies.
“I’m not purposefully spending a night trapped inside that store,” he declares before Jimin can even open his mouth. Taehyung watches his best friend frown and cross his arms, Jimin hates being denied something he thinks is a great idea– and this was a great idea, one of the best he’d had in a while.
“You’re no fun,” Jimin hisses. “I’m gonna ask Jungkookie– and I bet he’ll say yes without any questions asked.”
He’d spoken too confidently— Jungkook didn’t say yes without hesitation. There was a lot of hesitation. So much so that Jimin had to bargain and promise to buy Jungkook three meals at his favourite restaurant, and agree to play Overwatch with him whenever he wants to. The catch was that Jungkook didn’t have any idea how much Jimin actually liked to spend those little moments with him, just the two of them together, having fun and making each other laugh.
They’ve been best friends for seven years, two of which Jimin has spent being madly in love with the younger, but too afraid to confess and risk losing his favourite person in the world. Truth is, they do flirt sometimes, but Jimin can never tell if Jungkook is being real, if the things he said were out of friendship or just… playful banter between two best friends. He’s tried to confess with a little help from his friends, Soju and Makgeolli, but not even the alcohol granted him enough courage to do it– the first time alcohol really let him down.
Right now, with their bodies flushed together, and Jungkook’s warmth embracing him, Jimin can’t think of a single reason why they’re not kissing. God, he wants to kiss Jungkook.
“I think they’re leaving,” Jungkook whispers, arms wrapping around Jimin’s middle a little tighter to get his attention.
They both freeze in place, holding their breaths without realizing it. Jimin and Jungkook have been inside a tiny closet full of cleaning supplies for about half an hour. There’s a tiny window that allows them to breathe but it doesn’t make the place any less cramped or smelly. It was Taehyung’s idea to put them there since Jimin seemed so eager to spend the night at Ikea, and he couldn’t risk losing his job.
The room where the closet is, is where the manager goes to grab everything before closing the store. He’s only allowed to close up once security gives him an okay, assuring there’s no one left inside the store. Taehyung sneaked both friends in with uniforms and fake name tags. To be fair it wasn’t difficult to do it, there’s a closet full of uniforms and blank name tags that he borrowed - not stole - and gave to Jimin and Jungkook.
They hold their breath for what feels like hours until everything goes quiet and dark outside. Inside Jimin’s pocket, his phone vibrates with a new message and he quickly grabs it before the screen brightens up and he sees Taehyung’s message.
They’re gone.
It took Jimin quite a few attempts to convince Taehyung to wait in his car and tell them when it’s safe for them to get out of the closet.
Jungkook doesn’t even wait for Jimin’s confirmation before he bursts through the door and dramatically lies down on the wooden bench in the middle of the room breathing heavily as if he just ran a marathon. Jimin rolls his eyes and tip toes to the door, putting his ear against it just in case someone decided to come back and Taehyung missed it.
“Okay, let’s go,” he calls and Jungkook raises his head.
“Can we just lie down in one of their display beds and nap?”
Jimin looks back at him and narrows his eyes. He can’t be serious, right? Well, Jungkook’s face says otherwise.
“Nap?” He repeats unnecessarily. “Why would you want to nap right now?”
They walk through the long corridor that will take them right to the middle of the department store. Jimin can hear Jungkook dragging his feet behind him and sighing dramatically.
“I’m kind of tired, hyung,” he whines. “That tiny closet was a nightmare. Also, have you seen their display beds?”
Jimin grabs the younger by the hand but doesn’t offer an answer. He should’ve known it wouldn’t be so easy though, because as soon as Jungkook notices they’re going to the opposite side of the display beds, he pulls Jimin and easily throws the smaller one over his shoulder and walks to the display beds.
The action brings all kinds of thoughts to Jimin’s head, mostly about how Jungkook using his strength and manhandling him so easily turns him on and makes him wonder in what other situations the younger can grab him like that. He shuts down the thoughts almost as soon as they come since this is not the time nor the place for it.
“Jungkook-ah,” he whines.
Jungkook throws him on one of the display beds, a very comfortable one with sheets that smell like flowers but he doesn’t have time to think about that because a second later Jungkook’s body is on top of his, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Oops,” he jokes, chuckling as he rolls to Jimin’s side. “You can’t tell me you don’t want to nap right here, hyung.”
Jungkook turns to his side and stares at Jimin with his chocolate round eyes sparkling at him. He has a cute smile on his lips now and Jimin knows it's the one he uses to get what he wants, he’s fallen for it many times.
Hell , he falls for it every single time. Right now is no exception.
Jimin groans. “What if we compromise?”
It’s a good offer, and that’s why Jungkook nods.
“We nap for one hour and then go explore the store,” he pokes Jimin’s side making the older squirm.
“No, that’s too long!” He complains. “We only have four hours to be here. Thirty minutes and that’s it.”
Jungkook gets a little closer and Jimin notices the pout forming in his lips. How does Jungkook know every soft spot Jimin has for him? Has he been that obvious throughout the years?
“Forty-five?” He begs. “Please, hyung. I’m really tired.”
Jimin rolls his eyes. “Fine!,” he relents, loving how he smiles once he’s gotten his way.
Jungkook seems satisfied because he gets comfortable on the mattress, and pulls Jimin with him wrapping himself around the older, face hiding in the back of his neck, since he’s assumed the role of the big spoon. Jimin lets himself be hugged, his mind racing with a million thoughts, unable to hide the contentment of having Jungkook so close, and once again, glad that Jungkook couldn’t see his face.
Doesn’t take long for him to notice Jungkook’s breathing is even and his arms and legs have relaxed. The younger can fall asleep so fast and Jimin is always impressed by that. Him on the other hand, it’s been over five minutes and he can’t even seem to close his eyes, his body is tingling, both because of Jungkook’s proximity, and excitement to go around the store and see everything.
He lets out a long sigh and starts to stir, trying to get away from Jungkook’s embrace. Maybe he’ll let the younger sleep a little while he visits some parts of the store by himself. Jungkook wouldn’t be offended, right? He didn’t want to do it in the first place, so Jimin can look for the most exciting places and then show them to Jungkook.
He manages to not wake up Jungkook as he gets out of bed, giving him one last look before he goes– Jungkook looks angelic, sleeping. Only the emergency lights are on but it’s enough to see most things, especially the path he’s taking.
Right next to the display beds are the showrooms. This has always been Jimin’s favourite part. He used to dream of having a room like those in his house, with all the cool decorations and colors that matched each other so well. He visits one by one, starting with the master bedrooms and their ridiculously big beds and soft carpets. There’s a comfortable armchair that he sits in and immediately knows if he had one in his house, he’d never sleep in his bed. The black wardrobe complements the decoration really well. That would definitely be his chosen bedroom.
After visiting all the master bedrooms and trying every single bed and armchair he could find, kids’ bedrooms are next, and that’s probably his favourite part. Jimin remembers the first time he went to an Ikea store with his parents, he was around 6 and had cried to them about wanting a bedroom with solar system decoration. It was the coolest room he’d ever seen in his life. The walls were dark blue with planets drawn on them and the ceiling was full of stars. All he got that day were some star shaped stickers that glowered in the dark, but they were good enough, he loved lying down in bed to stare at them.
The first room he sees is one with five framed pictures that together form Iron Man’s torso and face. He stares at it for what feels like minutes and only one thought crosses his mind. Jimin immediately turns around and goes back to the display beds. He needs to get Jungkook, exploring the store without him is not as much fun as he thought.
He traces back to the display beds, and is surprised to see the bed they were lying on is now empty.
“Jungkookie?” he calls, looking around.
He walks closer to the bed and puts his hand over the side Jungkook was— it’s still warm, so he hasn’t been gone for too long. He organizes the pillows like the ones from the other beds and pulls the covers to cover up the fact that two people slept there. Before he can go looking for his best friend, he feels a hand on his ankle and screams, jumping back and falling on his butt.
Jungkook’s laughter is even louder than his alarmed shout. He sees Jeongguk get out from under the bed, and offers him a hand to get up, still giggling. Jimin can feel his own face on fire, Jungkook always manages to prank him so easily.
“Sorry, hyung,” he apologizes as he helps Jimin get up from the floor. “I was coming to find you but then I heard you, and couldn’t resist it. You’re a scaredy cat.”
Jimin rolls his eyes. “Well, at least someone’s having fun.”
Jungkook grabs him by the shirt before he can walk away, pulling Jimin and making him stand right in front of his taller figure. “What’s wrong, Min?”
The nickname is not used very often, but Jimin melts every single time he hears Jungkook calling him that. There’s this softness to his voice right now, and when Jimin looks up at him, he finds sparkly round eyes staring back, knitted eyebrows revealing his worry.
Jimin shakes his head. “Nothing, it’s just not fun exploring without you.”
Watching the brightest smile appear on Jungkook’s face makes him mirror the action.
“Cute,” the younger pokes his cheek and then grabs his hand. “Let’s go explore together then. What’s cool around here?”
***
Exploring the showrooms is definitely more fun together. They point out things they know each other like, they rate how comfortable each bed and armchair is, play hide and seek at one point because they start getting bored of just looking at the furniture and finally, when they find the carts, they decide to race across the long corridor and see which cart is faster - Jimin wins.
Turning the corner, breathless from laughing and running too much, Jungkook and Jimin see the kitchen section. Amongst fridges, cupboards, stoves and microwaves, they go around opening every pot and pretending they’re full of delicious food.
“What would you like to eat for dinner, honey?” At one point Jimin finds a funny apron that says I cook as good as I look and puts it on, pretending to cook something on the stove.
Jungkook laughs. “I’d love some japchae, baby.”
Jimin nods and smiles as he pretends to be looking for ingredientes around the kitchen. Jungkook sits on the counter top and watches him.
“I cook as good as I look?” He finally reads what’s on the apron. “Damn, your food must be good as fuck.”
Jimin can feel the heat creeping up his neck and his cheeks immediately get warm but he does his best to act naturally.
He bows and smiles. “Well thank you, Jungkookie.”
They keep on playing pretend until Jungkook gets up from the counter and complains about being hungry. All this joking around about food made the younger’s stomach complain. They ate before they drove to the store but it’s definitely been way too long.
When Jimin reaches behind him to undo the knot of the apron, Jungkook surprises him, back hugging him and restraining his hands that now touch the younger’s stomach over his hoodie.
“You look very cute with this apron, hyung,” he rests his cheek on the side of Jimin’s head and hugs him tighter. “And you smell good too.”
Jimin reaches out and scratches Jungkook’s scalp. Hopefully the younger can’t see that he has the biggest smile on his face. He lets himself melt into the hug because although Jungkook is always so gentle and hugs him all the time, now he seems needier and Jimin loves that.
“I thought you were hungry,” Jimin finally says when a few minutes go by and they don’t move.
Jungkook sighs, his hot breath too close to Jimin’s ear and making the chills go down his spine. “I am.”
The younger one uses one hand to undo the knot and remove the apron from Jimin and then leaving it on the counter before going back to the back hug, now walking to get out of the kitchen.
“I see we’re staying like this,” Jimin says playfully.
“We are,” Jungkook nods. “I like it like this. Now let’s go look for some food.”
When walking while back hugging gets a little messy, Jimin piggybacks Jungkook around the store until they find the snack paradise. An area full of chips, sweets and drinks that they don’t hesitate to choose their favourites. They make sure to remember the prices so they can leave money on one of the check out counters before they go.
They sit on one of the lounge chairs, the task proving a little more difficult since it’s definitely not made for two grown men to sit together but Jungkook said it would be easier to share the snacks if they sit like this. Finding a somewhat comfortable position - one of Jungkook’s arms draped around Jimin’s shoulder - they eat quietly, only the sound of chewing filling the air.
“I really wanted your japchae,” Jungkook sighs, mouth full of choco cookie pepero, one of his favourite snacks.
“I’ll make you some when we go home, baby.”
Jimin looks at Jungkook and sees he has a cute smile on his face as his cheeks have a soft tone of pink to them. He truly is the cutest most precious guy Jimin has ever met– yeah, he’s truly whipped for Jungkook.
When they finish eating, they put together enough money to pay for the snacks and leave it on the checkout counter. There were a few extra wons since Jungkook said he felt really guilty eating their food.
They walk around the different parts of the store, trying on everything that can be put on their bodies and taking pictures that maybe are a little dark because of the lack of light but they don’t care.
“Oh look, fancy robes,” Jimin points out.
He grabs one and puts it on and notices that it says His on the back. He quickly grabs another one and gives it to Jungkook.
“His and his,” the younger smiles.
Jimin nods and repeats with a smile: “His and his.”
They notice the showroom of nice, fancy living rooms and sit down on one the couches, a black velvety one that is so comfortable they immediately snuggle together and look at the big TV decorating the room.
“Any chance this TV turns on?” Jungkook suggests.
Jimin shakes his head. “Don’t think so and I’m really not willing to get out of this couch and find out,” he yawns and Jungkook narrows his eyes at him.
“Oh so now you’re sleepy!” He accuses with a soft voice and Jimin laughs. “There’s no way I’ll let you sleep now.”
Jimin shoves him playfully and rests his head on the younger’s shoulder. “And what will you do to keep me awake, Jungkook-ah?”
He probably shouldn’t have teased his best friend because he immediately feels Jungkook’s fingers on his waist and squirms, trying to hold the hands that are trying to tickle-attack him.
“Noo,” he whines but Jungkook pays him no mind.
“Let’s see if you can sleep like this,” Jungkook laughs and once again manhandles him, laying him down on the couch and letting his hands tickle Jimin’s side.
Laughter fills the air growing louder by the second and echoing through the empty store. The best friends don’t seem to care about all the noise they’re making, letting their voices also become louder as Jimin begs Jungkook to stop and the younger just teases him.
It takes Jimin a few minutes to finally get away from Jungkook and start running from him. The tickle war becomes an escape game where Jimin desperately tries to not let Jungkook get him because he knows the younger won’t have any mercy on him.
At one point Jungkook gets so close, Jimin gets distracted and trips on his own feet, falling on the floor with a loud thud and scratching his exposed elbow.
“Jimin-ah, are you okay?” Jungkook immediately kneels down next to him after hearing his yelp.
“Fuck, it hurts,” Jimin cries, holding his elbow after sitting down. “It’s bleeding.”
“I’m gonna see if they have any first aid kit. Wait here,” Jungkook orders with a firm voice.
Jimin waits alone, noticing that there’s a growing pain on his knee that had crashed into the floor when he fell. He pulls his sweatpants up and points the camera’s flashlight at it noticing that there’s a red spot. He winces when he tries to touch it, the pain still too strong.
Jungkook comes back almost 10 minutes later, apologizing for taking so long.
“I had to search in four different places in the restricted staff area to find this and then steal a bottle of water from one of the fridges,” he complains, putting the small case on the floor and opening it.
Jimin helps by pointing the flashlight so Jungkook can see what’s inside the kit. He cleans the small scratch with water and since there isn’t a lot of blood and it stops easily, he grabs gauze and ointment.
Watching Jungkook seem so focused on treating his wound makes Jimin smile as he watches the younger work using soft touches and sweet voice to ask at least five times if he was hurting Jimin.
“I think it’s all good, hyung,” the younger looks at the bandage he made. “Does it still hurt?”
His gentle voice makes Jimin’s heart flutter.
He sighs. “No, baby. You took good care of me. Thank you.”
Jimin smiles and for the first time he notices how close Jungkook is. The younger one was so focused on helping him that neither of them realized they were huddled together, sitting on the floor in the middle of one of the store’s corridor. He turns off the flashlight and let’s the emergency lights of the place be the only thing illuminating them.
“I’ll always take care of you, hyung,” Jungkook whispers.
The feeling of Jungkook’s hand drifting down his arm makes Jimin close his eyes. He knows Jungkook is watching him, he can feel his eyes on him while Jungkook’s hand leaves behind a trail of fire in its wake.
As soon as Jimin feels Jungkook’s forehead touching his own, he opens his eyes to find Jungkook so close, bright eyes watching him attentively as their fingers intertwine naturally, like they were meant to be together, the perfect fit.
It’s Jungkook who closes his eyes first, Jimin taking the opportunity to look at his handsome face, amazed by every little detail. They’ve been this close before but this time it feels different and they both know it.
Jimin sighs as he closes his eyes but before anything can happen a loud noise makes them jump apart and look around for a few seconds.
“I think it was the generator,” Jungkook mumbles, still alert and watching their surroundings.
“Yeah,” Jimin agrees.
They stay still for a minute longer knowing perfectly well what was about to happen moments before. Their hands are still together and Jungkook probably doesn’t notice his thumb caressing Jimin’s skin and sending shivers through his body.
It’s Jungkook who suggests they get up from the floor, helping Jimin by holding both of his hands and pulling him up. He stops though, as soon as he sees Jimin limping.
“Did you hurt your leg too?” There's worry in his voice and his expression which Jimin is quick to placate it with a wave of his hand.
“Nah, just hit my knee hard when I fell but it’s okay,” he shrugs.
Jimin should have known Jungkook wasn’t going to just let this go and that’s how he ends up on his back, Jungkook piggybacking him to the display beds again using the argument that now they need to chill.
“I thought you weren’t going to let me sleep, Jungkookie,” Jimin teases, resting his head on Jungkook’s neck.
“There are other things we can do in a bed that doesn’t involve sleeping,” he blurts out and although Jimin can’t see his face, he can definitely see his neck and how pink the skin gets there.
He laughs as he sits down on the same bed they were before. Jungkook still has a beautiful blush on his cheeks and doesn’t look at Jimin before lying in bed. Jimin does the same, getting comfortable next to him, the pain in his knee still bothering him but he does his best to ignore it.
A few minutes go by as they just stare at the ceiling of the store, it’s really quiet right now and they probably don’t have more than one hour before someone comes to open the store and all the cameras start working again. Taehyung said he’d be there to help them get out and take them home.
When Jungkook lets out a long sigh, Jimin turns around, lying on his side and facing the younger. They’re still wearing the His and His black robes, it keeps them warm since the winter outside is not merciful.
“What’s on your mind, Jungkookie?”
Jimin reaches out and touches his best friend’s chin lightly. It’s enough to make the younger one look at him and smile, his eyes becoming smaller but not losing their sparkle. This one is definitely Jimin’s favourite smile.
“I had fun today, hyung,” Jungkook changes positions and lies down just like Jimin so now they face each other.
The younger doesn’t seem to mind when Jimin keeps touching his face, only with his index finger, tracing his features delicately and making him close his eyes. Jimin just watches him, memorizing his little details once again, from the mole under his bottom lip to his eye wrinkles when he smiles.
Jimin takes his time breathing in the watermelon scent that comes from Jungkook’s hair. The younger one still uses the same shampoo he did when he was a kid, because he says the smell of adult shampoos aren’t as good. Throughout the years Jimin found himself comforted by that very scent, knowing Jungkook was always around was enough for him.
“Yeah?”
Jungkook opens his eyes and nods.
He reaches his hand and takes Jimin’s smaller one in his. “When I was a kid my parents used to go to Ikea all the time. I’ve always loved walking through the store and imagine the showrooms were my actual house.”
Jimin can’t help the grin forming in his face as he imagines little Jungkookie with his cute bunny smile walking around a huge Ikea, bright eyes watching everything as he lets his imagination run wild.
He squeezes his best friend’s hand. “The one in Gijang-gun?” It’s the Ikea store his parents would always go to saying it was the best one to find what they needed.
Jungkook’s eyes grow surprised. “Is it the same one you used to go to?”
Jimin giggles and nods. Jungkook immediately starts asking if he remembers all sorts of corners in the store or the cafe on the top floor that served gyeran bbang, soboro buns and bungeo-ppang, his favourite baked goods.
They share stories about the Sundays - both of their parents’ favourite day to visit Ikea - they spent running around the store, creating scenarios in their childish minds about the rooms and decorations. Jimin talks about the solar system bedroom, which makes Jungkook laugh but then says he’d be happy to draw planets on Jimin’s apartment wall, now plain white and boring.
When the younger tells the story of how one day when he was around 6, his parents took him to the kids and baby furniture and products area, and he had just grabbed a book and entered a fold-up tunnel. Of course it turned out his parents didn’t see him and had started to panic thinking he was lost, his mother was crying and there were strangers and security guards looking for him when he came out of the little tunnel and told his dad he wanted to buy the book.
Jimin is laughing so hard he has to wipe the tears from his eyes. “You were such a little rascal, Jungkook-ah!”
The younger shakes his head but he has the biggest grin on his face, eyes small and bunny teeth on full display. “I was not! I was just enjoying my book,” he defends.
When their laughter dies, they’re still left with soft smiles on their faces, the sweet memories of their childhood lingering in their minds. With all the giggles they shared, unconsciously their bodies got closer and closer and now they share only one pillow and Jimin’s leg is thrown over Jungkook’s.
At one point Jungkook, still holding Jimin’s hand, intertwined their fingers and tucked their hands close to his collarbones. They share their warmth, the intimacy of the moment not being anything new to their friendship after all ever since they met as teenagers they’ve been attached to the hip.
The younger’s face suddenly grows more serious. “Do you think we ever ran into each other in Busan, hyung?”
Jimin can’t say he’s never thought about it, searching in his mind for any memories of a bunny toothed smile from his childhood, but if they ever did run into each other, they were probably too distracted to pay any attention.
Jimin sighs. “I mean, it’s not impossible, but it’s not like Busan is a small town. Maybe we just… passed by each other” Their shared hometown was the first thing that connected them so in a way Jimin is happy they met in Seoul.
With his extroverted personality Jimin has always wondered if he and Jungkook met when they were younger, they’d end up being such close friends. Through the years they definitely learned how to balance their different personalities, especially with Jungkook being the introvert that he is. Could they find the perfect harmony they did as older teenagers and young adults when they were children?
Jungkook has an amusing expression on his face causing Jimin to raise one eyebrow at him.
“Are you also wondering what would have happened if we met when we were younger?”
Jimin gives his hand a little squeeze and nods in agreement. “Yeah, but you know what? I think we met at the perfect time,” he says firmly. “Maybe as kids we wouldn’t have turned out to be such good friends.”
Jungkook seems to think about it for a moment. He doesn’t say anything for a long minute and Jimin just waits patiently.
Finally, he smiles and shrugs. “Yeah, maybe. But I’m glad we met when we did too. You’ve always made me feel comfortable, hyung.” Jimin doesn’t know of Jungkook realizes he’s pushing their hands against his chest as if he’s afraid of letting go. “Looking at you reminds me of home.”
The statement catches Jimin by surprise and he’s sure his heart is about to break through his chest because of how fast it’s beating. With his free hand he brushes Jungkook’s hair falling over his eyes and then lets his thumb caress the younger’s cheek and chin. He doesn’t want this moment to ever end, this is now his favourite place, his most cherished memory.
Jungkook sighs when Jimin touches the mole right under his lower lip. He moves his head a little to get his best friend’s eyes to find his again and Jimin feels his face growing warm from being caught staring at Jungkook’s lips.
With Jimin’s full attention again Jungkook seems satisfied. “You’re my home away from home, hyung.”
It’s hard to look anywhere else after this. And it’s not like Jimin wants to, Jungkook has his attention, his eyes are the only things Jimin wants to focus on. From how close they are it’s easy to see his reflection on the dark irises that shine at him. They’re beautiful. He is beautiful.
Jungkook is breathtaking and right now Jimin wants him to take his breath away. He wants Jungkook to take all of him, he’d put his own heart on Jungkook’s hands if he could but then he remembers he already did that and he doesn’t mind. It’s his anyway.
This time it’s the younger one who touches Jimin’s face, his index finger draws shapes on the chubby cheeks and once again Jimin finds his skin on fire in every single place Jungkook touches.
The younger seems distracted until his hand suddenly stops moving. “Do you think friends can kiss without ruining the friendship, Jiminie-hyung?”
The question catches Jimin by surprise but he tries his best to hide it, to keep up the conversation as if his heart wasn’t caught in his throat and his mind wasn’t running wild with thoughts. “Well it depends.” He blinks at Jungkook who seems to be waiting for him to complete his answer. “Whether there’s only friendship between them or more feelings hiding under it.”
The younger one doesn’t answer right away, his free hand is now playing with the cords of Jimin’s hoodie and for a moment too long it seems like that’s where the conversation is going to stop but then he looks at Jimin again. “What if there are feelings?”
Jimin licks his lips because suddenly it seems like his mouth is too dry and the air is too warm around them.
“Well, then I think it’s okay,” he says. He’s pretty sure his hands are sweating which is awful timing since Jungkook is still holding one of them and he really doesn’t want him to let it go. Because of the silence between them, for some reason he speaks again, as if Jungkook might not have understood his answer. “To kiss, I mean.”
Jungkook probably guesses how he feels because he nods to ensure Jimin knows he did understand and he did get the answer he wanted. But then he grows quiet again and Jimin feels the disappointment hit him like a tidal wave. He wants to just kiss him but Jungkook was the one who started the conversation and now Jimin needs him to finish it. This can’t be the end of it, right? No one asks a question like that without second intentions.
Fuck it.
“Are you going to?” He asks, and doesn’t hide the slightest tone of annoyance in his voice.
Jungkook raises both eyebrows but his eyes do not have the confusion he’s trying to fake. “Am I going to what?”
The subtle hint of amusement in his voice makes Jimin want to roll his eyes. God, Jungkook can be such a brat. “To kiss me!”
This time the younger doesn’t hide his delight and a smile touches the corner of his lips. Of course he’s going to look this pleased with himself and of course it only makes him look even more attractive.
“Oh, should I?”
Jimin shoves his chest lightly with their hands that are still intertwined and Jungkook laughs. “Just shut up and kiss me, you brat!”
For a second it looks like Jungkook is going to tease him more, but he’s quick to pull Jimin by the waist until every part of their bodies is touching and they invade each other’s spaces, breaths mixing as Jungkook playfully touches Jimin’s nose with his own.
Jungkook’s hand moves from his waist to his neck and then his face. Jimin is pretty sure he has stopped breathing, he can feel Jungkook all over him, taking up all of the air and then some. When the younger’s lips touch his cheek leaving featherly kisses all over it, he closes his eyes. Jungkook pulls away but he’s still close so he doesn’t open his eyes.
“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” he hears Jungkook say before he crashes their lips and then he’s everywhere.
Jimin parts his mouth to let Jungkook’s tongue meet his own and all his senses are filled with watermelon and the taste of apple cider Jungkook drank earlier. Since their hands are still together, Jimin uses his free one to pull Jungkook closer and make the younger one almost lie on top of him. His fingers get lost on the dark, soft hair and he scratches his scalp the way he knows Jungkook likes.
A little whine escapes his mouth when Jungkook touches the back of his thigh and lifts one of his legs to fit in between them. He feels the younger’s hand slide slowly until they stop on the waistband of Jimin’s sweatpants and only his thumb touches the warm skin under the hoodie. It’s like wildfire spreading all through his body and Jimin just wants to let it burn.
Jungkook nibs on his lower lip before pulling it between his teeth and then kissing him softly a few times. He pulls away just enough to stare at Jimin with the sweetest smile playing on his lips.
“I was already going to kiss you, you know?” He whispers.
Jimin might be too distracted by his reddened lips, letting his thumb touch them, saliva still coating them but he doesn’t mind. “Took you long enough.”
Jungkook raises one eyebrow and a glint of bewilderment sparkles in his eye. “And you say I’m the brat?” Jimin laughs and pulls him by the collar of the robe to peck his lips again. “So I guess I should have asked about a kiss ruining a friendship a long time ago?”
Jimin sighs and once again catches himself staring at Jungkook’s lips. They’re beautiful and now that he knows what they taste like, it’s hard to want to do anything else but kiss them. “How long have you been wanting to ask?”
Jungkook smiles. “How long have you been wanting to kiss me?”
“Yah! You truly are a brat!” Jimin shoves him a little harder this time and Jungkook falls on the bed again but he’s laughing, clearly having too much fun teasing his hyung.
Jimin slaps his chest but Jungkook is quick to catch his hand again and pull him, this time making the smaller one lie on top of him. Mentally Jimin thanks him because all he craves right now is this proximity and in this position he gets to stare at Jungkook’s gorgeous face the way he wants to.
The younger one pulls him into another kiss and he just melts into it. Jungkook’s hands start to explore, one immediately going to Jimin’s thigh and the other slowly lifting the hoodie to meet the warm skin of his lower back. Jimin likes the sensation of Jungkook’s hands on him a little too much, and his response is a roll of his hips that prompts a moan to escape from the younger’s lips.
Jimin smiles as he leaves a kiss on the corner of Jungkook’s mouth. “I see you liked that, Jungkook-ah.” He doesn’t wait for a response before he does it again.
“No, fuck,” Jungkook whisper yells. “Please don’t make me hard in an Ikea bed, hyung.”
Once again their laughter echoes through the store. First it’s only Jimin who just can’t help, too amused by Jungkook’s plea but then the younger one joins him. When their laughter ceases Jungkook pulls Jimin closer again and kisses his cheek.
“I’ve been wanting to ask that question for a long time, hyung,” he goes back to the conversation they were having before. His voice is as soft as his eyes as they stare into Jimin’s. “Probably over a year.”
Jimin smiles and caresses his cheek and then his chin. Jungkook closes his eyes for a second, enjoying the affection. “Yeah?”
He doesn’t need confirmation but the younger nods anyway. Before he can say anything the sound of a new message on his phone interrupts and they realize it’s probably Taehyung and they completely lost track of time.
I’m outside. They’ll open in 5 minutes.
“Shit, we have to go,” Jimin pulls Jungkook by the hand and quickly fixes the covers and pillows on the bed before they start running to the staff area again. “Wait, the robes!”
They take them off at the exact place they got them and finally go back to the back of the store. This time they wait close to the door where the manager will enter any minute now to open the store but Taehyung will distract him as they escape.
Pulling the hood up and tightening the cords so their faces are pretty much hidden, Jimin and Jungkook wait patiently. As soon as the door opens they hold their breaths because if anything goes wrong the manager will immediately see them.
“Mr. Lee!” Taehyung’s voice comes from outside and as soon as he enters, he pulls the manager farther away from the door.
“Taehyung-ssi, what are you doing here so early?”
Jungkook moves swiftly to hold the door before it closes and as soon as he does they both escape and run across the parking lot until they are far away enough that the cameras outside the store can’t get them. They’re most likely not working just like the ones inside but they’d rather not risk it.
Jimin starts laughing when they finally stop running and Jungkook holds his face with both hands, smiling brightly as he watches his hyung with amusement.
“I can’t believe we did it,” he finally manages to say when the laughter subsides.
They’re standing in the middle of a sidewalk, the sun is still rising and there’s no one on the streets because of how early it is.
Jungkook squeezes Jimin’s cheeks with his palms and kisses the pout that forms on his lips. “Hyung, we spent the night in an Ikea.”
Jimin grabs the sides of the younger’s hoodie to pull him closer. “And we made out in one of the display beds.”
“Hmm, that might have been my favourite part,” Jungkook whispers.
Jimin fakes a shocked expression. “It might have been? Yah, and I was going to suggest we go back to my apartment to continue but now-”
Jungkook doesn’t let him finish, crashing their lips again and kissing Jimin like it’s the only thing he ever wants to do. Because it is.
A honk interrupts them and they part to see Taehyung’s car right next to them. Both Seokjin and Taehyung looking at them like they’ve seen them kissing many times before.
“Is that what you two were doing the whole night? Ew, I’m never lying down in a display bed ever again,” Seokjin carries a disgusted expression as if he can’t think of anything grosser than his two friends kissing.
Jimin rolls his eyes as he enters the car. “We did no such thing, hyung. Your mind is too dirty.”
“So you didn’t make out in the display beds?” Taehyung questions, looking back at them.
Jimin giggles because Jungkook’s face is bright pink, a huge contrast to the smirk on his lips. “Well-”
“Eww!” Taehyung and Seokjin both yell like two kindergarten children.
Jimin tales the opportunity to tease his only hyung in the car. “Jin-hyung, what are you doing here so early anyway? Did Taehyungie here stop by your house, which by the way is at least 40 minutes from here, to get you so you two could come pick us up?”
Seokjin’s ear immediately turns red while Taehyung turns around and starts driving.
“And wow, hyung,” Jungkook gets closer to Seokjin and touches his neck. “You must be having a strong allergic reaction. Look at these bruises on your neck,” he points out what are clearly hickeys and Jimin laughs.
“Yah, stop that!” A very flustered Seokjin pleads.
Taehyung rescues his hyung by asking questions about Jimin and Jungkook’s adventures during the night but they both notice the way Seokjin grabs one of the younger’s hands that was holding the steering wheel and intertwines their fingers.
They get to Jimin’s apartment after thanking Taehyung and teasing Seokjin some more, which caused the older to almost throw them out of the car. As soon as Jimin closes the door he feels Jungkook’s arm back hugging him and his lips leaving kisses on the nape of his neck.
“Jungkook-ah,” he whines because the younger knows he’s really ticklish on his neck. He turns around and is met with the most beautiful smile. He pecks Jungkook’s lips and hugs him back. “Thanks for going along with my crazy idea, even though I had to bribe you.”
Jungkook throws his head back as his laughter fills the apartment. “I would have said yes even without the bribe, hyung.” The answer seems to catch Jimin by surprise so Jungkook kisses his forehead and smiles.
“Is that so?” He narrows his eyes at the younger. “So next time I don’t need to promise meals and Overwatch games?”
Jungkook kisses him once, twice and then shakes his head. “No, you don’t.”
“Even if next time I want to… I don’t know, go skinny dipping in Haeundae beach?”
Once again Jungkook laughs as he picks Jimin up who’s quick to wrap his legs around the younger’s hips.
“Anything that involves you naked gets a big yes from me, so yeah.”
Jimin giggles and fits their lips together, kissing him slowly and passionately, pouring all of his love into the kiss because right now he feels Jungkook filling every little corner of his heart. When he pulls away he holds Jungkook’s face and takes all of him in.
“I love you,” he whispers. “So much, Jungkookie. So much. But I’m also so tired.” he laughs.
Jungkook starts walking them to Jimin’s bedroom and he kisses his button nose when they enter the room. “I love you, hyung. We don’t have to do anything right now. We have time, right?”
With a quick nod, Jimin kisses him one last time. “We do, baby. So is it a yes to just cuddling and sleeping?”
Jungkook smiles and his whole face lights out, his eyes brighter than the sun that’s finally shining outside the window.
“I’ll always say yes to you, Min, remember? You’re my ride or die.”