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Despite some inconveniences, Jimin didn’t hate his secondary gender. He was happy with who he was. Being an omega meant you could be as needy and touchy-feely as you want, because that was expected of you. It meant that you were naturally sensitive, and Jimin could always tell how his friends were feeling so he was good at comforting and celebrating with them. His particular combination of male omega even made for the best dancer, in his opinion. He had the larger muscles of a male, and he could feel the emotions in songs better than his other peers. Being a male omega was rare, but it was said they were fiercer than their female counterparts. Jimin liked that about himself. So no, he wouldn't trade being an omega, even if it was a choice.
That didn't mean, however, that he didn't feel some jealousy sometimes. And right now, at the office of his dentist, waiting for his cavity to be filled, was one of those times. He wished for the courage of an alpha or the steadiness of a beta. Jimin hated dentists. When he was a child, he actually bit off the finger of a technician who was trying to help keep his mouth open, and she had to be rushed to the hospital. Jimin had better self control now, but he also had avoided the dentist since he started university two years ago. Last month, his tooth had started aching, and he had to change that habit.
For emotional support, his two best friends were waiting with him. Taehyung, on his left, was clutching his hand and crooning something sweet in his ear. Tae was an oddball, but he had been loyally by Jimin’s side since they met on the first day of their freshman year. Jimin couldn’t ask for a better friend. On his other side was Jungkook, the baby alpha they met recently and took a liking to. Jungkook was a little jumpy and clearly didn’t want to be here, but Tae had insisted Jimin needed both his best friends here, and Jimin offered to buy them ice cream afterwards. He really didn’t want to be here alone.
At that moment, a technician opened the door and let out a calm-looking beta female, then called another name. Still not Jimin. He let out a tiny whine at the back of his throat, causing Jungkook to scan the room instinctively. Jimin could practically see his nonexistent hackles rise. “Jimin, could you stop? You’re making me nervous now,” he said, his own voice dangerously close to a whine.
“He can’t help it, Kookie,” Tae defended him, leaning over Jimin’s body. “He’s got a terrible, lifelong phobia, and he needs our protection!” Jimin pouted and decided neither of these jerks deserved a response.
“Okay, okay, I get it,” Jungkook answered, voice somber as if he really believed he was offering some sort of protection, rather than just company. He really hadn’t mastered control of his alpha instincts yet. “It’s just that he smells like fear, Tae-hyung. I can smell it, and I want to fight someone for him.”
Jimin actually giggled at that. At least it made him feel a bit better. Besides, as ridiculous and unnecessary as Jungkook fighting was, the notion was sweet. And Jimin wasn’t above needless flattery.
“Thanks, Kook-ah, but I think I’ll be fine without physical violence,” Jimin murmured to the boy. He was only seventeen, because he was a genius golden boy who graduated high school a year early. Jimin and Taehyung were both students of the regular variety.
Before Jungkook could reply, the technician came out again, and this time she called, “Park Jimin?” Jimin shot up in a rush of adrenaline and then he glanced down at his companions.
“Um, can I come in with my friends?” he asked, his voice shooting higher than normal.
The technician frowned and gave both boys a suspicious look. Jimin bit his lip for a terrifying moment, and then the technician gave in with a sigh. “Okay, then. Let’s get this over with quickly.”
~~~
As they meandered out of the ice cream shop after his appointment, Jimin clung to Jungkook’s hand and linked his ice cream arm with Tae’s. Taehyung had a bounce in his step, despite Jimin’s low energy. "See, Jiminie? It wasn't so bad!" He swung their linked elbows and tried to get Jimin to meet his eyes.
"Yes, it was! It was scary and it hurt, and I never want to do it again!" He whined back. It really did suck, and he might not go back for a regular check-up, but he also knew he was exaggerating.
"Jimin-hyung," Jungkook piped up with a sweet smile. "It’s a really nice day, do you want to go walk by the park?"
Jimin's pout melted away with Jungkook’s attempt to distract him. "Mmm," he hummed and steered their direction to the park just off university grounds. It was a Saturday, so none of them had classes to get to. They probably would hang out by the park for a while, and then go back to Jimin and Tae’s dorm.
Licking their ice creams, they wandered towards the park. Jungkook and Taehyung got into a contest to see who could eat theirs in the most obscene way and Jimin tried to ignore them for a while, but when he finished his own, he got fed up and snatched Tae's out of his hand. Then he ran, because Taehyung immediately gave chase. He managed to drop the remains of both his and Tae's cones into the trash, but he got tackled to the grass for his efforts. Giggling, he rolled to escape while Tae determinedly tried to tickle him.
And then, Jungkook finally made them pause. "Hey, guys? You have an audience." Jimin looked up at Jungkook and then followed his pointing finger to the basketball court nearby. There were four people there, one holding a ball, but all of them were just standing and staring. Jimin's cheeks began to turn red.
Taehyung looked up too and gave a little wave. "It's okay everyone, we're friends!" he shouted cheerfully. Jimin pulled himself out from under Tae's body, and then stood up, trying to quickly brush the excess grass off his clothes.
When he dared to glance up, he realized he knew one of the people there: Hoseok-sunbae, from his dance club. They recognized each other at the same time. "Jiminie!" the older boy squealed. With a half-wince, half-smile, Jimin waved back weakly. Hoseok ran forward for a hug and Jimin stood his ground as a man-sized ball of sunshine jumped into his arms. Hoseok was too loud and energetic for his own good, but Jimin really did like him.
"Hi, sunbae," Jimin greeted with a laugh. "Um, Tae, Jungkook. This is my sunbae, Hoseok, from dance." Jungkook had straightened by then, and he offered a small bow. Hoseok waved it off.
"Jiminie, come on! Don't be so formal just because we're not at the club. We're friends, you can call me Hobi!" Jimin smiled shyly. "You all can. Any friend of Jiminie is a friend of mine!"
"I've heard about you, Hobi!" Tae announced proudly. "You're the one that Jimin is always going on about, who is soooo amazing at dancing. He really looks up to you!" Tae beamed and Hoseok smiled right back and Jimin shot a glare at his best friend. He didn't even notice though, and he went on, now addressing Hoseok's friends who had approached. "And I know you , too. You're in my philosophy class! Kim Namjoon, right?"
The alpha in question raised his brows, surprised. "Uh, yeah. I think I've seen you…" He didn't seem to remember Taehyung's name, leaving him with an embarrassed blush. Jimin smiled fondly to himself; Taehyung probably knew the name of every student in every one of his classes, along with the name of their family pet and favorite color. He was just like that. Not everyone could be expected to be so nosy.
After that, introductions were made all around. Hobi's other two friends were a tall, gorgeous male beta who said to call him Jin, and then another alpha. He was smaller, but more fierce-looking than Taehyung's philosophy friend. His name was Yoongi, and when Jimin caught his scent, he… well, swooned wasn't quite the right word, but it was close. They always say that the better someone's scent smells to you, the more compatible you are. Jimin loved Taehyung's sweet cherry smell, and that's how he knew they would be great friends, he had always joked. But this scent was something on another level. All Jimin could do was block it out completely so he could function like a normal person and not go insane.
"You guys should join us," Hobi was saying enthusiastically when Jimin zoned back in. "Yoongi's the best player out of us, but we stuck him with Namjoon, so he's losing. Their team could use some help." He giggled as Namjoon pouted at him, but didn't protest. Odd, for an alpha to just take teasing like that, even if it was from a nonthreatening beta like Hoseok.
Jin, the one who held the basketball, dribbled a few times and looked them over lazily. "They're babies, Hoseok-ah. We'll beat them even if they all join Joonie's team."
Jungkook drew himself to his full height, suddenly prickly with offense. "You're on!" he growled, and Jimin had to giggle at his attempt to puff out his chest and look intimidating. Jin laughed too and started to jog backwards.
Tae raised his hand and shouted out, “I wanna be on Joonie’s team too!” and he grinned back at the surprised look Namjoon gave him. Jimin wondered how soon Hoseok was going to regret inviting Jimin’s boisterous friends to join them.
He started to back away, shaking his head at their antics, but then Hobi turned to him. “Jimin-ah, you join our team, then. For all Jin’s confidence, we’re not actually that good.” Jimin froze in his tracks. He was the smallest one here. Three of them were alphas, genetically imbued with more strength, speed, and aggression. Jimin would never back down from a challenge given by an alpha in dance, but this was different. He hadn’t played basketball since he was a little kid. The others in the group were betas, and Jimin was smaller than all of them. It just didn’t seem safe, especially with that distracting scent in the air.
“Ah, that’s okay,” he said, waving his hands with a smile. “I’m just gonna sit this one out.”
Hobi cocked his head. He was used to seeing Jimin in dance, and therefore not very timid. Jimin licked his lips, but then Taehyung blessedly spoke up. “Aw, Jiminie is sore. He just got a cavity filled.” Well, that was hardly going to affect playing basketball, but... “Plus, he’s delicate, let’s give him a raincheck.”
Jimin narrowed his eyes. “Shut up, Tae. I’m not delicate.”
Taehyung put his hands on his hips. “Prove it.”
Tae was clearly baiting him. He knew Jimin wasn’t delicate, but he also knew that Jimin wouldn’t like to be called delicate in front of strangers. He was just trying to manipulate Jimin into playing with them, and Jimin knew it. Still, he couldn’t let an insult like that go. “Count me in, Hobi,” he said calmly. He turned to his sunbae, who looked a little uncomfortable, like he thought he might have stepped wrong and gotten himself into something he shouldn’t have. Jungkook started snickering, and Jimin shook his head with a smile. “Let’s go!”
~~~
A couple of hours later, the seven of them were sprawled on the grass, sweaty and out of breath. No one had actually won, at least not that anyone could actually agree on. Jungkook and Jin started an instant rivalry, which seemed to be mostly friendly despite the arguments and competition. Taehyung happily tried to cheat whenever he thought he could get away with it, but he also flirted with Namjoon relentlessly. The alpha, it turned out, was extremely awkward and clumsy, which only got worse whenever Tae’s attention was on him. Hoseok and Yoongi seemed to be the only ones to take the game seriously, so Jimin tried his best for their sake, but the game still had devolved into nonsense by the end.
“Well, I’m thirsty. Anyone else wanna go get drinks?” Hoseok announced loudly as he sat up and stretched.
“Me!” Taehyung shouted as he popped up too. He seemed to get along well with Hobi, but then again, he got along well with everyone.
Namjoon rubbed his head. “Well, I’ve got an English paper to finish writing, so I should go home and work on that.” Taehyung shot him a disappointed look, but he thankfully didn’t push any harder.
“I think I’m going to head home too, I’m tired out,” Jimin announced. “Kookie, you wanna come with me?”
Jungkook groaned loudly. “No… I’m going to my dorm to sleep.”
Then Yoongi spoke up, quickly, as if in response to that exchange. “I’ll walk you home, Jimin. Are you in the dorms?” Jimin flushed bright red. It wasn’t like he needed an alpha escort. He had just asked Jungkook because he was tired, and the younger male often hung out at their dorm anyway. No one else seemed to think anything was amiss, though.
And it’s not like he disliked Yoongi, either. They just hadn’t spoken much during the game. Jimin swallowed his nerves and tried to pretend like the other’s scent didn’t affect him at all. “Yeah, but it’s a little ways off campus,” he said after a pause.
“That’s fine,” Yoongi answered with a shrug. Jimin gave him a brief smile as everyone started to get up. Then, he searched for Taehyung’s eyes to express his panic. Tae was pointedly ignoring him, and Jungkook was too tired to even notice Jimin’s internal turmoil. So Jimin just chirped a quick goodbye and then laced his fingers together as Yoongi walked over to him.
They start walking together and after a silent scramble for something to say, Jimin eventually blurted, “Thanks for offering to walk me home.” He wanted to say something about how he really didn’t need someone to come with him, but he didn’t know how to say it without sounding rude, so he just left it at that.
“No problem,” the other boy answered. His voice was low and soothing. Jimin tried not to breathe in his lovely scent. “I know you’re probably fine on your own, but I was hoping for a chance to talk to you a bit.”
Jimin’s cheeks warmed again as he eyed the other man. He was gratified to hear that Yoongi didn’t think he was a needy omega, and he was also secretly happy to hear that he wanted to spend time with Jimin. Alone. Besides the lovely scent that made him almost homesick, Yoongi was… very handsome.
"Yeah?” Jimin murmured. "Well, we've got that now. It will take a little while to walk all the way to my place. So what did you want to say?” he shot back, a challenge he didn't really mean in his voice. He couldn't help it, though. He enjoyed being playful, not demure. Every omega knew, if you wanted to get an alpha to like you, you should play up your docile side. With betas, it's different; they aren't driven by instincts as much. But an alpha wants a damsel in distress to save, or else someone to push around.
Despite Jimin's effrontery, Yoongi just chuckled. "Okay, I'll get to the point,” he added with good humor. "You smell fucking delicious to me. Like something cinnamon, or like… pumpkin spice! You make me want to put on yoga pants and go to Starbucks.” He said this with a straight face, but Jimin was pretty sure it was mostly a joke.
He smiled shyly, but looked at the ground as they walked. Here was the problem: Yoongi was a male alpha. Dominant, usually more aggressive, territorial. Male alphas were the top of the food chain, so to speak. Because female alphas tended to be smaller than males, they often relied more on cunning than brute strength. They weren't usually as demanding, and they didn't always push to be in charge.
But male alphas… Jimin's father had been a male alpha. He had been the perfect stereotype of an abusive patriarch. Jimin and his mother and little brother had gotten out of there before he did too much damage, and Jimin was taught to be strong on his own, not to rely on anyone. Now, that didn't mean that all male alphas were like him, and Jimin knew that. But the stereotype existed for a reason.
And Jimin liked his independence, he liked being bold and strong. He hadn't ever dated an alpha on purpose. He could be cuddly and needy with his friends, but he didn't like the thought of being claimed. So, even though Yoongi smelled sugar-sweet, warm, and inviting - like Jimin wouldn't ever want to leave his side - and he seemed nice, and with his bleached hair, black clothes, and golden earrings he looked stylish and attractive - Jimin wasn't sure how he wanted to respond to this. Slowly, he looked up again.
Yoongi's confident expression was bleeding nervous from Jimin's lack of a response. "Well, anyway. You smell good to me, which seemed like a promising sign. So I just thought maybe I could get to know you a bit." His eyes darted away from Jimin's and he stuffed his hands in his pockets.
"Yeah, sure,” Jimin finally relented. He was feeling guilty for apparently wracking up Yoongi's anxiety and… well, talking wouldn't hurt anyone. He grinned slyly. "But the pumpkin spice joke was lame. Aren't you supposed to be an American teenage girl for that?"
Yoongi's face split into an answering grin, his lips parting to show gums, and Jimin learned that along with sexy, Yoongi could be incredibly cute. "Nah," he retorted. "I'll have you know, I love a pumpkin spice latte. Besides, yoga pants are comfy! The only reason I am wearing shorts is because we were playing basketball."
Jimin snorted at that. "Okay, whatever you say."
"So, Jimin… you're a dancer like Hobi, right?" Wary of the switch to personal territory, Jimin nodded. Then Yoongi frowned and crinkled his brow. "So don't you wear yoga pants sometimes too?"
Jimin giggled again. "Yes, I do," he admitted. Yoongi nodded seriously to himself and Jimin rolled his eyes. The older boy was growing on him quickly.
They shared a comfortable silence for a while, and then Yoongi spoke again. His voice was quieter now, and sincere. "So what else do you like to do, Jimin-ah?"
Jimin shrugged, feeling self conscious. “I don't know… I really do love dance. That's what I am majoring in, after all. But, this is only my second year, so I still have academic classes I am taking too. I'm just pretty busy with school, I guess." Yoongi was watching him, listening intently and nodding along. Jimin decided to take the reins of the conversation. "What do you like to do, Yoongi-ssi?"
Yoongi smiled slightly. "Hyung. You can call me hyung.” Jimin nodded but he felt himself blush. He barely knew Yoongi, but maybe the elder felt comfortable since they were both friends with Hoseok. Yoongi hummed. "I'm majoring in music production. This is my last year, and honestly… I spend most of my free time making music too. I admit, I'm pretty boring."
"No!" Jimin protested. "That's really cool, hyung! I love listening to music, but I don't think I'd ever be able to write my own songs."
"It's not so bad once you learn the basics," Yoongi told him mildly.
Jimin shook his head. "I doubt it. You must be pretty talented. Would you ever let me listen to something you made?"
Yoongi's smile looked fond this time. "We'll see. Would you ever go on a date with me? We could make it an even exchange."
Jimin blanched. "What?" he blurted, off-balance suddenly, and in response, Yoongi's face fell. "No, I mean… ah, I just…" Stumbling over his words, Jimin realized he should just be honest. Though part of him hesitated, the other part wanted to give Yoongi a chance. After all, the other boy had never done him any harm. And besides, he wanted to bring that smile back. "I don't know. It's just that I've never dated an alpha before,” he explained quietly. He doesn't quite meet Yoongi's eyes, but he sees the frown that appears in his peripheral vision.
"I don't think gender should matter, when it comes to a meaningful relationship. Primary and secondary genders are all about hormones, and people shouldn’t be bound by that. If I met an alpha that I liked, I would go after them instead. It's just happenstance that you're an omega, the same way it's happenstance that we are both male. If we ever did date, I would hope you would look at me as a person, not as an alpha."
Jimin swallowed nervously, and he stared at the concrete below his feet, ashamed. Everything Yoongi said made sense, and it was what he purportedly believed, too. He didn't like being put in a box and acting the way an omega is expected to, so why would Yoongi want to be typecast as an alpha? He wouldn't, of course.
"I'm sorry, hyung," he murmured to his feet, unsure if he even deserved to call Yoongi that anymore. "You're right. I was just… nervous. But I should know better than to judge someone by their gender. I don't like it when people tell me what I can't do because I'm an omega."
They walked a few more steps, and then Yoongi put a hand on Jimin’s arm, tugging him to a halt. Jimin looked up reluctantly. Yoongi's dark eyes looked very serious. "I'm not mad at you, Jimin-ah," he said gently. Jimin blinked. "I just meant to tell you what I believe."
"Okay," Jimin answered with a little nod. He took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair, a nervous habit of his. Yoongi's face was neutral, not revealing any of his feelings, and he took a minute just to stare at Jimin, who tried not to squirm.
"So," he began finally, and tilted his head slightly. "About that date?"
Jimin opened his mouth in surprise. "You still want to go on a date with me?"
Yoongi shrugged. "I told you, you smell amazing. I think we might get along really well." He quirked his lips in a half-smile, and it brought back that sexy look. Jimin was impressed by the other boy's versatility.
"Okay. I… I want to." Jimin gave a shy smile. "I like your scent, too," he added. "You smell like going home."
Yoongi chuckled. "Good. That's good, Jimin-ah." Then, very slowly, so Jimin had the chance to pull away if he wanted, he wrapped his fingers around Jimin's. His hand was much larger, and calloused but not too rough. "Now, where is it you live?" he asked, abruptly complaining. "We're so far from campus already!"
Jimin giggled and looked around, then started to lead the way again to his dorm. "We're right around the corner now. It's not that far!"
"Yeah, yeah," Yoongi said with an exaggerated sigh. "I'll have you know, hyung is very lazy. I'm only going through all this effort because I like you and I want you to like me back."
Jimin giggled again at the put-upon tone. "Don't worry, hyung. I think I like you too. Anyway, you're friends with Hobi-hyung, right? I suppose I can trust you."
Yoongi gave him a more solemn look in response. "I've known Hoseok since we were kids," he reassured. "And he is one of my best friends." He finished with a squeeze of his hand.
"Okay. Well, that's nice to hear. He has been kind as my sunbae, and now my best friend Tae is getting to know him, so… maybe we will all be friends soon." He flashed a bright smile and got one in return.
"Maybe. It seemed like both your friends had the energy to keep up with Hobi, at least. And the young one, what was his name? I know it didn't sound like it, but Jin-hyung really liked him. Plus, your Tae already knew Joonie."
Jimin swung their arms back and forth, feeling happy. This really could turn out well. "Jungkook is our baby alpha. And yeah, I think he enjoyed their arguing too." Soon, he eased to a stop in front of his building. "Well, this is me."
"All right," Yoongi said. Then, "When will I see you again?"
Jimin blushed, but he had an answer ready. "In a couple of days? I can text you as soon as my teeth stop hurting from the dentist."
"Oh, right. You went through a big ordeal today," Yoongi teased, eyes crinkling with another smile.
"Hey!" Jimin protested, taking back his hand to put on his hip. "It was horrible, okay? I deserve some time to rest."
Yoongi nodded, still smiling. "You do." He slipped his phone out of his back pocket and held it out to Jimin. "Go ahead and put your number in. I'll text you, so that you have mine."
Jimin took the phone and then saved his number under 'Pumpkin Spice Guy'. He handed it back and earned a surprised bark of laughter from Yoongi. "See you soon!" he called sweetly as he turned to go up the stairs.
"I hope so." Yoongi stood there and waved till he closed the door.