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“Cut!”
Jungkook sucked in a breath and tried not to collapse. Breath coming heavy as he balanced himself.
This video would be incredible. He'd been jittery even before they'd flown across the world, so thrilled to be doing something so grand and out of the ordinary. But this wasn’t exactly the fun part.
It was his second day of running for hours with a bracelet of thorns tied around both wrists. Wind whipping fast as he tried not to trip, all too aware that he wouldn’t be able to catch himself if he fell. And he’d sort of hoped that California would be a little warmer than this.
He inhaled deep as the director waved him over to their tent, finally, heart rate calming down as the ache in his shoulders settled in.
Jimin hugged him as soon as he was close enough, avoiding his thorns and ignoring the fact that Jungkook couldn't hug him back.
“You’re warm.”
“And you’re freezing,” Jimin snorted as he squeezed him tight. “I can’t believe you have to go in the water.”
Jungkook gave him a Look and Jimin laughed even harder.
It would be amazing when they were finished, he kept telling himself. The largest scale video they’d ever done, like a movie. But that thought was only barely getting him through it.
“We got it!” the director called, giving two big thumbs ups from the monitor.
“I’m done running?”
“You’re done running!”
It was bittersweet, really, considering what came next. Someone wrapped him in a blanket as Jimin tugged him to the food cart, both thanking the server as he tugged the thorns from his wrists.
“I’ll build you a fire when we get back,” Jimin murmured through a mouthful of sausage.
“In the hotel?”
“I’ll find a way.”
Jungkook snorted and shoved his arm. So grateful he'd come to see him. He'd tried talking him out of it at least three times, but he'd still shown up anyway. An extra day of standing in the cold when he could’ve been anywhere else.
They weren't even finished eating when the team came to fix his hair and makeup, and things moved in a blur after that. Jimin squeezed his arms as the director apologized, and suddenly he was taking his first steps into the lake.
Freezing. So cold he wasn’t even sure it was safe to keep going, but he did anyway. Forced himself to move forward until the director told him to stop, blood rushed to his ears.
He wanted to be done already. So badly. Icy water inside of his shoes, reaching up to his thighs, the cold air suddenly warm in comparison.
“You got this!” Jimin called from the monitor, and Jungkook took in a breath.
Surrounded by plants and pretty trees. Reflective water under the fog from the machines. It was beautiful, really. Fucking freezing, but still beautiful.
He could push through it.
He followed their instructions as well as he could. Leaned down to the water with his sea shell, pretended it wasn’t freezing. Forced the pain in his expression to meld in with the scene.
It took more takes than he would've liked, but after everything they were finally done.
He rushed out as soon as he could, the staff surrounding him with hot water and blankets and a strong arm to keep him steady. The cold air was even worse than before, entire body shivering and starting to ache.
He collapsed in a chair and tugged off his boots, more water than he’d even expected pouring out as Jimin swore under his breath. He was sure he'd have blisters if he’d stayed in even a little longer, glad that they'd finished so quick.
It was terrible, but it was done. And he was proud of himself. So excited to see how it would all turn out, so hopeful that their fans would enjoy it.
He rushed into the trailer to tug off his soaking clothes, replaced them with dry shoes and soft pants before he and Jimin lumbered into the backseat of their van. Their hotel was close by, at least, and Jimin followed him to his room like it was obvious. Headed straight into the bathroom and came back with a blow dryer.
Jungkook snorted from the foot of his bed. “What’s that for?”
“Your feet.”
“They’re dry.”
Jimin ignored him to find an outlet and kneeled at his feet to click it on.
The hot air was lovely, suddenly, settling deep into his legs. The warmest he’d felt since showering that morning, really.
“Thank you,” he murmured and hoped he could hear him. For keeping him warm. For being there for him. For caring so much.
“The footage looked amazing,” Jimin said after a while, switching it off and massaging his calves. “The lake was the best part.”
“It sucked,” Jungkook huffed. “But that's good to know.”
“It looked like it more than sucked,” Jimin laughed, hands smoothing over his skin. “Are you okay?”
Jungkook paused at that. “I’m fine. It was just cold.”
“They should’ve given you boots or something,” Jimin grumbled, squeezing at his muscle as Jungkook ran a hand through his hair. “Something waterproof.”
“That would’ve helped.”
Jimin stood up eventually and Jungkook caught him before he could leave, wrapping his arms around his waist and his head against his stomach. Hands threading through his hair and letting the calm settle into him. So tired and sore, but so content. Thankful they could even do something like this. Grateful for their warm hotel room. For Jimin taking care of him like always. Holding him close and making sure he was alright.
He nuzzled into Jimin's stomach and rubbed a hand down his back.
Jimin was always there for him. Always doing anything it took to make him happy. Laughing about nothing, cuddling him whenever he needed it. Holding him even when he didn’t. Bringing food for no reason, getting drunk together, playing games all night, supporting him on his freezing cold shoots. Blow drying his feet.
A familiar feeling spread in his chest. Something he felt often. That feeling he got whenever Jimin made him feel loved. Wanted.
He pulled away to look up at his face. Jimin chuckled down and pushed the hair from his eyes. “What?”
“Nothing.”
He stood up to face him. Jungkook was a few inches taller, just enough to make him feel like he could protect him, too. Even though Jimin was older. Like he could take care of him in his own ways.
“You’re looking at me weird,” Jimin murmured.
Jungkook didn’t know why his thoughts were overwhelming him, suddenly. Maybe the cold had chilled him so much his brain broke, or something. Mind swimming with how long they'd been friends, how much they'd been through, how many nights he’d spent thinking about him. How many years of butterflies every time they touched. Jimin staring back at him now like he was losing his mind.
“Hyung-” he started. So close. “Do you want to sleep here tonight?”
“Sure.”
“Just- I want you here.”
“Okay.”
“Can you cuddle me?”
“Of course.”
“Can I kiss you?”
Out of his mouth before he’d even realized it. Not even thinking. Too many feelings at once, too much overflowing, not able to keep everything in.
“What?” Jimin’s voice was barely a whisper. Eyes wide and mouth open.
“Not-” Jungkook realized all at once, so stupid, mind racing to reel himself back in. “Not like that, hyung. Only if you want to. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t-”
“Jungkook,” Jimin pressed a hand to his cheek, eyes wide and glittering. “Really?”
“Yeah.”
Heart loud in his ears.
Jimin stared at him like he was made of gold, voice quiet as he inched the smallest bit closer. “Me too.”
Fuck.
Not a sound but their breathing as Jimin slid a hand down his neck. Eyes searching like he could see every part of him.
Wanting him so much and all at once.
“Please,” Jungkook rasped, and Jimin was kissing him.
Soft lips, so soft, hands warm on his jaw as he pulled him closer. Jungkook scrambling to find his waist, his cheeks, hands woven through soft hair. Smoothing down his temples and over his jaw just to feel it moving. Hugging him even tighter as Jimin pushed against him, lips soft, giving and giving. Jungkook kissing him like he was overwhelmed, like he needed it, like he’d been made to love him like this.
When they pulled away Jungkook opened his eyes to Jimin already looking at him. Grinning so wide. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Jungkook huffed. Hands tucked against his cheeks, pulling away just to rub down his chest. “Fuck.”
“Yeah,” Jimin laughed, standing on tiptoe to kiss the apple of his cheek. “Fuck.”
“Do you want this?” Jungkook asked, feeling stupid but needing to ask. To make sure this wasn’t a dream, that he’d still have him there in the end.
“Yeah,” Jimin said like it was obvious, grinning kisses against his jaw. “For years, Jungkook-ah. For a long time.”
“Fuck.”
“Come here,” Jimin laughed, tugging him into bed. Crawling up until they were laying on the pillows, Jimin pulling his waist before kissing him again.
Time moved in slow motion. So easy but so fucking much. Pulling closer and kissing harder because he could. Trying to show him just how much he always wanted, how much he mattered, how he wouldn’t have become the same without him. All of their years together, all of his wanting, all of the happiness flooding him now. Hands over his arms and his neck and his chest, down to his back and over his sides. Wanting him more, more, more.
Jungkook sighed as Jimin’s mouth parted, tongues sliding together, hand cupping his cheek. Tasting like happiness, so intimate, so overwhelmed. Perfect and beautiful and his fucking best friend.
“You should take a shower,” Jimin said eventually.
Jungkook snorted. “I smell bad?”
“A little.”
He pushed a hand under Jimin’s shirt to rub over his waist. “Sorry.”
“Like a sweaty lake.”
Jungkook snorted and tugged a hand through his own tangled hair. Hoped distantly that he wasn’t staining the sheets.
Jimin reached up to smooth a hand over his tattoos. Traced a thumb over the heart on his hand. “I’m so happy.”
Goosebumps blooming over his skin. Time moving slow.
“Me too.”
So safe with him. So happy. So sure this was where he was meant to be.
“I love you, hyung.”
The words were so easy for him. He'd said them so many times before, it was just more truthful, now.
Jimin beamed like it hit him hard, laughing as he threaded their fingers together. “Love you too, bun.”
Jungkook ached as he leaned in to kiss him again, lips pressed together, smiling sunshine against his skin. Warmth and happiness. So much hope, so many moments like this. So many new ways he could love him, now.
“I mean it, you should shower,” Jimin grumbled as he pressed their foreheads together. “I’m afraid you’ll get a disease or something.”
Jungkook laughed as he pressed kisses to his cheek. “Maybe I’ll get superpowers.”
“Maybe you’ll get a fungus,” Jimin scoffed, and Jungkook snorted as they sat up.
He tugged him into another hug, strong arms holding him for just a moment. Breathing in.
“Love you,” Jungkook repeated. Like he needed to.
“Love you, too, Gguk-ah.”
Jungkook stood up eventually and dug through his suitcase for an outfit that wasn’t covered in lake germs.
Part of him, a small part of him, wished they could just shower together. But he knew it was too much too soon.
Butterflies bloomed in his chest regardless, though, realizing that they’d make it there one day.