Archive of Our Own

So far, 2015 was proving to be the very best year of Jimin's life. And that decision might've been made solely based on the things that had happened in November.

Call him silly. Say he is biased. Even better, tell him that he was behaving like a lovestruck teenager. Everything would be true, all of it. Jimin was being silly. He was totally biased. And he was undeniably acting like a lovestruck teenager. But he didn't care at all. None of it mattered. Except for one thing: on November he began dating the boy of his dreams.

Yup. Jimin had a boyfriend. Jungkook and him had managed to work out their issues and confess to each other. The older boy had been in love with Jungkook for the longest time (almost three years, or maybe more, Jimin wasn't sure) and had suffered in silence. But it turned out his love was not unrequited! The maknae was just shy (very, very shy), and his sexuality freaked him out for a while there.

But all was right now! They'd talked and exposed everything, put all the feelings on the table, and now were happily together!

Jungkook had become aware of how much he'd hurt Jimin all through 2013 and 2014 and now was doing everything and anything to compensate. The orange-haired boy had tried explaining that it was alright, that he forgave Jungkook. But that was not the issue here. The issue was that the brunet hadn't forgiven himself. So, Jimin let the maknae dote on him and pamper him (and enjoyed it very much!) because that was Jungkook's way of healing himself and working up to forgetting what had happened.

Today was a free day, and Jimin allowed himself to sleep in. He would normally be up early, practicing their new choreography, doing vocal exercises with Jin-hyung and TaeTae, working out to lose weight and maintain his muscular appearance. But not that day. Since Jungkook and Jimin started dating a little over a month ago, the older one had become a bit more lenient on himself. The young boy helped Jimin battle his insecurities and the nasty voices in his head, and didn't even know it. He didn't have to do or say anything special, he just had to look at Jimin with those twinkly and tender eyes and the storm within Jimin would slowly quiet down.

So, the older boy got out of bed at almost noon, deciding that he would have a relaxing day. But upon walking into the living room, an overwhelming wall of sound and screams and explosions assaulted him. Taehyung and Jungkook were throwing jabs at each other, eyes glued to the television screen in front of them. Their fingers moved so fast on the game controllers, that they almost blurred, as if this was an anime or something. Jin was laughing loudly at something Namjoon had said, oil popping as he moved a frying pan on the stove. Hoseok was dancing in a space he'd cleared up on the side, music coming out of his phone. And Yoongi had his noise cancelling headphones on, laptop on his legs, probably working.

Well, it was obvious Jimin was not getting any peace in this apartment.

Grabbing a quick shower and getting ready to go out, Jimin walked back out into the living room half an hour later, taking one last look at himself in the mirror. A beanie covered his hair and ears, sunglasses over his eyes, black face mask, black long-sleeved thermal shirt, red warm sweater, thermal under wear, black skinny jeans, black boots for the snow, and a long black coat to finish up things. He didn't think people on the street would recognize him when almost all of him was covered up. Hmm. He should probably grab a scarf too. He didn't want to get a sore throat and mess up their schedule, so he went to receiver to get a grey fluffy scarf and put it on.

"Hyung, you're going out?" A tiny voice asked from behind Jimin.

He turned around and saw Jungkook watching him with huge doe eyes, conflicted doe eyes. The maknae looked at Jimin, then looked at the game he'd paused, and back at Jimin.

"Yeah Kookie," Jimin said with a gentle smile. He knew the debate going on in the boy's mind. "I'm going for a walk."

"Do you want me to..."

"No." Jimin now smiled tenderly at his boyfriend, eyes becoming little crescent moons, the living room becoming blurry. "It's okay Kook-ah. Stay here. Rest. Play. I'll just go for a walk and be back later."

"Are you sure?" Jungkook asked quietly, doe eyes peering into Jimin, taking in his every detail, his every reaction.

"Yes, Jungkookie, I'm sure."

Taehyung gave the two of them a look, his sign for, 'You two are getting too obviously in love in front of everyone.' Jimin cleared his throat, sent Jungkook one last soft and loving crescent-moon-eyes smile, and turned around.

"Guys! I'm going out for a walk! I'll be back later."

Hoseok emitted a sound that meant he had heard Jimin. Yoongi didn't even react, probably not hearing the announcement.

"But the food is almost ready!" Jin-hyung exclaimed a bit indignant.

"It's okay hyung, I'll grab something to eat on the street. But save my plate for when I get home, okay? Just don't make or order anything for me, I'll have that for dinner."

Jin watched Jimin's happy smile carefully. He knew it was all a lie. Jimin wasn't going to grab anything to eat on the street. And he was probably going to give his plate of food to Jungkook. But there was nothing he could do or say. He'd read about this and the people around Jimin wouldn't help the situation at all if they pointed out the elephant in the room. So he nodded and went back to cooking. He hoped his most worrying dongsaeng would come around and talk to them and accept his problem soon, before something bad happened.

"Do you have your phone with you?" Namjoon-hyung asked calmly.

"Yes, hyung." Not rolling his eyes was so very difficult but Jimin somehow managed to hold the urge back. "No, I won't take a security guard or one of the managers with me. Yes, I'm sure. I'm just going for a walk, hyung. I'm not going clubbing or anything like that."

Namjoon-hyung opened his mouth and Jimin interrupted.

"Yes, I will call for help if something happens or if I feel uncomfortable, threatened, or in danger."

The leader smiled, his dimples showing.

"That's good to know, but I was actually gonna tell you to have fun and enjoy your walk. There were lots of snowmen and snow 'art' in the park nearby when I passed by yesterday."

Both Jin and Jimin chuckled. Namjoon was such a worrier that everyone knew all the things he was bound to say and tried to soothe and appease him beforehand. But sometimes, the leader put in the effort to be less... Leader-y and more barely-twenty, dorky, and awkward young adult.

"Thanks hyung." Jimin gave his hyung a genuine smile because he always liked it when Joonie-hyung allowed himself to be more human and flawed. Jimin had a lot in common with that guy, and the two of them could talk for hours and enjoy nature and be awed by the simple things. The intimidating ever-perfect leader guy? Not so much. "I'll take some pictures and show you when I get back."

"Show me them too!" Jungkook yelled from the living room.

"Sure!"

Clack.

Only when the door was closed behind him and he'd walked a few meters away did Jimin let his giggles pour out. His Kookie was the cutest, most endearing, and most hilariously jealous boy ever. The older boy could not believe that Jungkook actually got insecure about the time Jimin spent with Namjoon-hyung. It was so dumb. Jimin would only ever have eyes for the maknae, and Namjoon was VERY straight, but that didn't stop Jungkook from making up weird things in his little head.

Giggling and smiling and practically prancing, Jimin went over to the elevator and waited for it.

"Hyung!"

The boy turned around and saw something coming at him. Jimin had barely enough time to open his arms and brace himself when Jungkook collided with his chest.

"I'm sorry you have to go out alone, hyung. I'm sorry I'm such a boring homebody. I'm sorry I would rather stay in and play games than take a walk in the park with you. I swear I can get dressed and ready and come with you if you want Jiminie-hyung. I don't mind. I-I-I can make the-the-the effort."

Huge sparkly, pleading, and slightly sad eyes stared up at him. Jimin felt like he could die laughing. Jungkook was taller than him, yet here he was looking up at Jimin. How did he manage to make himself seem so small? At the same time, Jimin's heart melted into a little puddle because Kookie was the sweetest thing to ever walk the earth, he was sure.

Jimin hugged Jungkook, not worried at all about being seen. Two boys hugging in their country was nothing noteworthy at all. And while sometimes Jimin became very angry and frustrated at their customs, the same-sex skinship was one thing he felt very grateful for.

"It's okay Kook-ah." His voice was so soft and kind. "I can go out alone and you can stay in. It won't make me sad to be alone or anything, I swear. Or does it make you sad that I'm not staying in with you?"

"No!" The boy exclaimed, taken aback. "You don't have to stay in for me! I know you like to go out."

"See?" Jimin's eyes disappeared a bit as he smiled at the love of his life. "It's the same thing for me. You don't have to go out for me. I know you like staying in."

"Ah." Jungkook's face was so funny at that moment as he finally understood what Jimin was trying to say. He was making a little pout unconsciously and the orange-haired boy wanted to kiss him very badly. "I see. I get it now. Okay then hyung. I'll let you go now. Have fun. Be sure to- be sure- to-to show me the-the pictures you take, okay? And tell me all about what you did, okay? And..."

Jungkook's lips were unable to keep on spouting cute and insecure nonsense because Jimin's covered them. It was not a heated kiss. On the contrary, it was very chaste and expressed all of Jimin's love for his Kookie. As quickly as the kiss had started it ended. Jimin had looked around before he'd done anything, but he didn't want to run any risks (well, any more risks).

The maknae just stared at his favorite hyung, slightly dazed. On the other hand, said hyung smiled and adoringly pushed back Jungkook's dark brown hair.

"I'll be sure to include you when I show the photos to Namjoon-hyung later, and then at night, climb into my bed and I'll whisper to you about all I did and saw."

Blushing to the very root of his hair and the collar of his shirt, Jungkook looked away and nodded shyly.

"Okay, hyung. Thanks. I'll..." Thumb pointing over to the hall where he'd came from, the boy began to step away.

"Tell them I forgot my wallet and you brought it to me."

"Alright. Will do. See you later, hyung."

And then, Jungkook looked quickly around, before planting a very clumsy but endlessly endearing kiss on Jimin's lips. After that, he ran off, leaving his boyfriend with a lovestruck look on his face.

Jimin was so in love. So happy. He wasn't alright by any stretch of the term, but Jungkook made things easier to deal with. He made the stress disappear for a while.

Namjoon-hyung as in fact right, and the park near their apartment was full to the brim with pretty snow sculptures and cute snowmen that made Jimin's heart beat happily and his soul feel a lot lighter. The weather was bitterly cold and would get worse. After all, the first snow had just hit them about a week or so ago. But the orange-haired boy didn't mind, he really loved the white blanket that had covered the park a lot.

Something moved in the periphery of Jimin's eye and he turned, spotting a gorgeous calico cat leisurely walking towards him, as if it wasn't freezing cold.

"Hey!" The boy dropped to his hunches and stuck out a hand towards the animal. Jimin really adored cats and dogs but he had never been able to have one.

The cat nuzzled into Jimin's hand, then went on to press the colorful fur against his legs and feet. That's when he noticed that it was male.

"Wow," Jimin said to himself quietly. He'd heard that male calico cats were extremely rare. And here he was, caressing one!

Still rubbing his ears, Jimin slowly took out his phone, trying to get the angle right and snap a cute picture that would also show the gender of the cat. Kook would have a good laugh at Jimin taking such indecent photos of the poor unsuspecting animal. But right when the boy was going to press the shutter, the cat quickly walked away.

"Wait, no! Come back!"

Jimin followed the black-white-and-orange ball of fur through the snow, trying to get that picture. Maybe he should try recording a video instead. Quickly switching to video on his phone, Jimin pressed the red button and began filming.

"Come here kitty! Don't run away."

He didn't entirely know how long he spent chasing the cat through the bushes, at first having fun, and then genuinely worried about the animal, because the trees and bushes were getting colder and thicker suddenly, and Jimin didn't want it to get lost out here when it was minus-something degrees Celsius.

Finally, he heard people's voices nearby and became relieved. They'd crossed through a foresty part of the park and come out the other end. That was good. Very good.

Stepping onto the cobbled floor, Jimin looked around for the cat.

"Kitty? Where did you go? Come here, hyung wants to give you some more pets and love!"

Man, Jimin had gotten quite worked up chasing the animal, feeling very hot and starting to sweat beneath his clothes. He turned and suddenly saw a very familiar mat of dark hair. The body, the black clothes, the way of walking. He would recognize the love of his life anywhere.

"Jungkook-ah!" Jimin ran over to his boyfriend. "Jungkook-ah, what are you doing here? You silly boy. Didn't hyung tell you it was alright to stay at..."

But the words dried up in Jimin's throat suddenly. Because standing in front of him was Jungkook, yes, but not his Jungkook. Not his Kookie. This Jungkook had black hair and looked younger, the baby fat back on his face, his nose awkwardly big, his eyes less happy and a lot more guarded. And that was not the end of it. Standing beside this young Jungkook, was an equally young Jimin. That was the thing that spooked him the most. Because he saw once again, that dead look in his eyes, the pain hidden beneath, the feelings and thoughts that haunted him.

The phone that had been pointing to the front in hopes of catching the cat, slipped from his hands and crashed onto the floor.

The two boys in front of him were equally frozen.

And there they stood. Two Jimins and one Jungkook.

What was going on here?

"Ji-Ji-Jimin?" The younger him stuttered out.

The older Jimin nodded slowly.

"How is this happening?" Jungkook asked quietly but obviously freaking out.

Laughter rang out beside them and snapped the older Jimin out of his trance. He quickly put his sunglasses back on and pulled both the beanie and the face mask to cover more of his face even if he was roasting.

"Let's go to the dorm. Being out here is dangerous. If the reporters get wind of this, it'll be a mess. Come on."

Without bothering to wait for acknowledgement, Older Jimin began to walk, and like two lost lambs, the two boys followed him.

Needless to say, the moment two Jimins walked into their dorm, the usually boisterous atmosphere went deadly quiet, but also, somehow, the panic was extremely loud.

"It is Jimin," Older Jimin said into the wall of tension as he tore off his inappropriate-for-the-current-weather clothes . "I mean, I am Jimin. Park Jimin. Born in Busan. Older brother of Jihyun. Member of BTS. It's me."

"But..." Namjoon was the first that tried to speak, however his voice trailed off, as if he didn't know what to say after that. He knew he should protest, but didn't know how.

"But you're not from this time," Yoongi said as he quizzically stared Older Jimin down.

"I'm not. From where I... Uh... When I... Look, it was December of 2015 when I... Left... My... Timeline?" Explaining this situation was so freaking frustrating! But then a thought occurred to him. "How did you know? That-that-that I'm from... The future?"

"Your clothes are a big hint. No one would dress like that at this time of year. Your orange hair is yet another humongous hint. Plus, you, as a whole, look different from our Jimin-ah." Yoongi shrugged indifferently, but his eyes were still sharp, watching the intruder cautiously. "I still don't believe it though."

"You don't?" Hoseok-hyung exclaimed in shock. "How can you not? Do you have another explanation for... For... This whole thing?" Hobi gestured wildly around at the two Jimins and the rest and their small cramped dorm.

"I have no better explanation, but that doesn't mean I'll believe the first thing that seems logical. Even less if said thing isn't logical to begin with."

"Excuse me, time travelling seems like an extremely logical explanation for this!" Jin-hyung said indignantly. "Unless Jimin has a whole identical twin he forgot to mention!"

"I don't," both Jimins answered at the same time.

They looked at each other and Older Jimin cleared his throat.

"We don't. Neither of us. There's only Jihyunie."

"How did you get here?" Namjoon asked, finally finding his words.

"I..." Older Jimin began. "I was taking a walk in the park. And then I saw this male calico cat, and I wanted to take a picture of it, but it ran away, so I followed it. We went through thick foliage and bushes and trees and then the next thing I know, I come out the other side and see Jungkookie, and run into myself."

"A male calico cat?" Namjoon asked, his eyebrows almost hitting his hairline. "Wah... They're very rare."

"I know!" Older Jimin gushed. "You told me that! That was why I wanted to take its picture! I wanted to..."

"Can you provide proof that you're from the future?"

Freezing, Older Jimin's mind began to race. Proof? What type of thing would prove the timeline he came from? Telling them about their future awards? The future concepts? Their future songs? But wouldn't that be... Bad? It would spoil the surprise of winning. And the concepts and songs thing would be like plagiarism, but they would be stealing from themselves. What could he...

"Pictures!" He exclaimed suddenly, unfreezing. "I can show you pictures of yourselves!"

"Nothing album or era-concept related," the leader quickly said.

Yoongi side-eyed him, and Namjoon shrugged sheepishly.

"Just in case he is from the future. Seeing and knowing that stuff won't be good for our timeline."

"I wasn't planning on showing you guys those pictures either way." Jimin was quickly typing and swiping on his phone and then, he turned it around for everyone to see. It was a photo of Namjoon-hyung.

"He looks a tiny bit different, but pretty much the same, just with a different hairstyle." Yoongi skeptically examined the image on the screen.

Older Jimin swiped to the side, another photograph appearing. But Yoongi brushed that off too. That's when the picture of Jungkook appeared. Of Older Jimin's Jungkook. His Kookie. His heart ached within Jimin's chest at the thought of his boyfriend. Was time passing by over there? Was he trying to reach Jimin's phone? Was he looking for Jimin? The worry he must be feeling. The loneliness...

"Whoa." Yoongi exclaimed grabbing the phone from Jimin's hands. Everyone else piled up around him, including Younger Jungkook and Jimin. "Now this is different."

"You grew up and changed so much in just one year!" Taehyung said impressed.

"Oooh Jungkook-ah, you have become so handsome in the future." Hoseok teasingly smiled and elbowed a blushing and very shy Jungkook.

Yoongi kept on swiping through the photos on Jimin's phone, and the owner's hands began to sweat nervously. Did he have anything that could not be seen in that folder? He prayed to Buddah that there wasn't. Even their hyungs in the future didn't know about them, he didn't want everyone to know when they weren't even together yet.

The guys oohed and aahed as they saw more and more of their future selves, not just photos but videos as well. Little by little, they all declared themselves convinced and began losing interest. Jimin was incredibly grateful for that. Only Namjoon and Yoongi-hyung, the two most suspicious, remained going through his phone.

"Ah, so that's how the app icons look in the future." Namjoon got closer to the screen, eyes squinting.

"You can open them too, to see what they look like," Older Jimin offered.

"Already tried that kid, they won't open and give an error message." Yoongi looked up at Jimin expressionlessly.

"But-but I was just using them!" Just like that Jimin started panicking. That had been a very important part of his argument.

"That version of the apps doesn't exist yet, Jimin-ah. So, they won't open." Joonie-hyung's voice was very soothing, probably noticing Jimin's reaction. "If you are from the future it makes sense that they don't work. It's okay. I've seen enough. I'm convinced of your story."

"You sure have a lot of pictures of Jungkook-ah." Yoongi interrupted, without looking up from the device in his hands.

Quietly, Jimin began panicking all over again. Please, he begged. Please Buddah all mighty. Please let him not see anything suspicious. Please protect us. Protect Younger Kookie. He's not ready yet for any of this.

"Okay, I'm a believer now." And having said that, Yoongi passed Jimin's phone back to him.

Hoseok burst out laughing.

"What pulled you onto our side?"

"Well, because of the endless amount of pictures of Jungkook-ah, I was able to see the change he went through, but backwards, from the future till almost present day.

"So, what now?"

"Now, we eat dinner and go to sleep," Jin-hyung declared firmly.

"No, hyung, I have to..." Jimin began to protest passionately.

"You have to rest, and you're going to stay in this house." Jin glared at the newcomer. "Have you seen the time? There is no way you're going out."

Older Jimin's head whipped to the side and he saw how dark it was outside. Then he looked at the kitchen wall and saw it was almost one in the morning. What in the world? When had it gotten this late?

"Whatever it is you're going to do, you can do it tomorrow," Taehyung said gently when he saw the devastation on his soulmate's face. "It's okay Jiminie. We'll get you back to your time."

Someone hugged Jimin from the side, and when he looked, it was himself. Younger Jimin. The younger one looked into the eyes of the older one.

"You looked like you needed a hug," his younger version whispered, just for the two of them. "I mean... I would want a hug if I were you, and I am you, so I just..."

Jimin hugged the boy tighter to himself. He was right. Jimin really needed a hug at the moment. Both future Jimin and past Jimin.

"It's okay. If I were you, and I am, I would be desperate to get back to whatever has you glowing and smiling so much in those pictures."

The breath he'd been exhaling hiccupped in Older Jimin's throat.

"I'm you. I'm you in September of 2014. I know how I feel. I know what's going on. So..." Younger Jimin swallowed thickly. "I get it."

"We'll talk later." It was a promise. They would talk. Both of them would make sure of that.

"We will."

Oddly enough, the following couple of hours went by very normally. It was almost as if Jimin was back in the present. The only give away was how young the other members looked, the cramped tiny dorm, and the second him. They ate, Jin, Hoseok, and Taehyung, the usual jokers, trying to trip Jimin up and get some information out of him. Namjoon and Yoongi laughed at the things being asked and at Jimin's hilarious non-answers. Younger Jimin joined in the fun, but his smile didn't reach his eyes and his laugh didn't chime happily like Older Jimin's. Jungkook just quietly watched them all.

Like that, the cooking and the eating went by very fast. Soon, everyone was walking into room with the three bunk beds and the single individual bed.

That's was when Jimin realized he didn't have a bed to sleep in.

"I've been thinking," Taehyung started. "About where Big Jiminie and Little Jiminie will sleep."

"They're both little," Jungkook said, snorting with a mischievous smile. The little shit. "There is no big here. Even the Jimin-hyung that's from the future is smaller than me. You should call them tiny younger Jimin and still tiny older Jimin."

There was a painful pang in his chest at the mention of his height from Jungkook. Again. For the bazillionth time. Even though he knows Jimin is exquisitely sensitive about his height.

Older Jimin looked at Younger Jimin and saw the boy smile through the pain and a single fake chuckle forced out of his throat.

"As I was saying," Taehyung emphasized. "I think that Older Jimin can take Younger Jimin's bed, and Younger Jimin can sleep in Jungkookie's bed. That way..."

"No." There was no mirth in the maknae's voice. None of the earlier lightness. It was all firm rejection. "No, I'm not sharing with Jimin."

"Hyung," Older Jimin hissed without noticing. Because his heart was aching again, and he was reminded of all the bad things from the past and there were no cameras around and he had no reason to hide his anger at the maknae.

It didn't matter if he was from this timeline or not. It didn't even matter that future Jungkook and Jimin often spoke without honorifics in the dead of night or when they were alone. That was born of tenderness and shyness and love. This was born of Jungkook disrespecting Jimin. And he couldn't allow that.

However, none of it mattered. What mattered was that he knew the pain Younger Jimin was feeling. Because he felt the same. But the orange-haired boy knew why Jungkook did all this, and had his confessions to make things better. Younger Jimin had nothing.

"It's Jimin-hyung, brat."

Silence fell on the room, everyone taken a back. Jimin had a temper, they all knew that.
But he didn't normally get angry at Jungkook.

"I don't want to share with you either," Younger Jimin, added, acting extremely cold and indifferent. His face was a mask without expression, a very clear sign that he was angry. "Jimin-hyung and I can share. We don't mind."

"We don't," Older Jimin agreed.

That way, when the silence of the night brought out the worst of Jimin's demons, he would finally have someone to hold him, someone that knew and understood perfectly.

And like that, the sleeping situation was solved.

Jungkook didn't speak a single word after that, getting ready for bed and just climbing in. Older Jimin knew that the black-haired boy was probably berating himself very harshly right now for making not just one Jimin, but two Jimins angry. The orange-haired boy was slightly worried about this timeline's Kook-ah. However, he couldn't be everywhere at the same time. Jungkook would work out his issues on his own. And so would 2014 Jimin. But Older Jimin still wanted to make things slightly easier for himself, in any way he could.

Lights went out, the sounds of Seoul echoed through the room, time went by and slowly but surely snores joined the orchestra. When he deemed that enough time had passed, Older Jimin tightened his arms around his younger and tormented version. The young Jimin turned around, watery eyes meeting the other pair, identical to his own, right down to the unshed tears. The two got up and went out into the living room, made some coffee because Jimin loved it, and sat on the couch, next to each other.

"It gets better, huh?" Younger Jimin asked in a bittersweet voice, taking a sip from the mug in his hands.

"It does. Really. Don't... Don't think that I- that we overcome all the bad stuff in a year. We don't. There's still plenty of... Of..."

"Insecurities," came the quiet suggestion.

"Yes. There's plenty of insecurities, but things get... Better. Easier to manage. Easier to deal with. I know everyone you've talked to and everything you've read have said this. And it gets tiring, and it's hard to believe. But I'm not just anyone. I'm you. And I know, okay? I know."

"I believe you... Jiminie. I believe you," Younger Jimin whispered, a single tiny tear rolling down his face a bit until the boy wiped it. "I can see how much happier you are. I can see the way you smile in the pictures.

"But... Just the other day we were in an interview, talking about the concept of Danger and unrequited love and Hobi- and Hobi-hyung said something..." The brunet's voice cracked and Older Jimin knew. He knew that moment. He remembered it clearly. "And it hurt... So much. And I..."

Younger Jimin's voice broke again and Older Jimin put down his cup on the coffee table to hold the brunet.

"I-I-I don't- I don't know if- don't know if- I can wait a whole- a whole year Jiminie."

Voice breaking and cracking, fighting the hiccups and sobs, Younger Jimin fought to speak. Older Jimin just hugged the boy into his chest. The other accepted the invitation, burrowing his face into the warm and caring torso and crying quietly. Not being able to hold back in the face of the pain he'd only just overcome, the future Jimin cried as well. One comforting the other like no one could, like no one knew how.

When the flood subsided and both got their emotions back in control, Young Jimin uttered another question.

"We're still in love with Jungkookie?"

"We are," Older Jimin said with certainty. "But things get better." He felt like he should repeat it. Older Jimin wanted his younger version to hold onto that until later this year when Jungkook started being a lot nicer to them.

"Jiminie," the other said exhausted, coffee all but forgotten. "I don't know that I can keep on following him around and trying to be nice, only for him to bite me with his mean words."

"Then don't." There was no doubt here either. Jimin would not put up with this crap, not even if it came from his most beloved maknae. Jimin still had his pride and dignity, no matter if he was in love.

"Don't?"

"Yes. Don't follow him around. Don't let him treat you badly. Get angry. Be cold. Be indifferent. Just like you would for anyone else. Even if it's our Kookie, we shouldn't let this continue. It has gone on for long enough."

"It has," the younger one concluded just as firm. "And even if he comes back to apologize, I will be guarded and cautious. I trusted him with my heart once and look what he did. He's gonna have to work for the little pieces I have manage to put together by the time he gets his head out of his ass."

Older Jimin chuckled, making the younger one immediately laugh as well. They both knew that they talked big, but the moment Jungkook showed consistent tenderness and love towards them they would melt into a puddle.

No further words were said. The two Jimins just got up, leaving the mugs of coffee in the living room, and went back to Jimin's bed and hugged each other again. They didn't talk about how much thinner this future Jimin was. They didn't talk about how Yoongi-hyung had noticed that as well as Older Jimin's happiness, which was what he'd meant by his comment that the orange-haired boy didn't look like their Jimin. They didn't talk about any of the big and obvious issues. There was no need for that. Both of them knew how uncomfortable talking about that made Jimin, and they both knew everything there was to know about that either way. They shared the same soul and brain and body after all.

Eventually, two pairs of identical soft snores came from Jimin's bed.

The next day was their free day (for the past BTS). So, everyone decided to head to the park future Jimin had appeared in to look for the calico cat. They played rock-paper-scissors to decide the way they would divide up, and as luck would have it, Older Jimin and Younger Jungkook ended up in a team.

Jimin from the future took the time to say goodbye to all the members, just in case he ran into the cat. He didn't want leave without hugging them all first, specially his younger and so very sad version.

After that, off Older Jimin and Jungkook went. The silence between them palpable. Jimin had his eyes wide open, watching for the troublesome black-white-and-orange ball of fur.

"I'm sorry, hyung," Jungkook said quietly, very obviously feeling bad about what had happened last night.

"Hmm." That was it. Jimin gave the boy nothing else. His heart was beating wildly in his chest, just as it would if this were his Kookie. But he couldn't show it. He had to be cold with Jungkook. That was the only way to get the point across. The only way to snap the silly shy boy into motion.

The orange-haired boy knew exactly what was going to happen in the future. He knew that Jungkook was being a brat because Jimin, and everything the other boy from Busan entitled, made the maknae panic. He knew everything Jungkook had felt and thought and gone through. He could've told Younger Jimin to have patience with the young boy, to hold on a bit longer.

But that would've helped no one.

Because Jimin also knew that the thing that made Jungkook act and stop his stupidity, was Jimin slowly but surely distancing himself.

So, that's what had to happen. If it didn't, then the two of them would just take longer to get together. And that would just be plain hell on earth for the Jimin of this timeline.

Hence, there was no mercy or softness in his eyes and attitude. It was all burning cold ice.

"Hyung," Jungkook said louder. "Hyung, I said I'm sorry."

"I know. I heard."

Was that the cat? Oh. No. It was just a bag.

"Aren't you gonna answer?" The maknae pressed.

"I did answer."

Where could the cat be? Did Jimin have to go to the area where he came out of the bushes? Well, he could try. In the end, there was nothing to lose here.

"It was just a joke..."

"You know I don't like those jokes." Jimin interrupted and turned to shoot Jungkook his indifferent look. "I've told you this. We've told you this. But you don't care."

"Everyone does it." The younger boy was getting defensive and Jimin knew it was because Jungkook did indeed know that he was doing something Jimin specifically told him not to. But it was just because he wanted to treat his secret crush like everyone else so that no one would suspect anything. "I don't know what your problem..."

"No, Jungkook." Jimin did nothing to soften the blow of using Jungkook's name, because he was older and  he could say the boy's name without honorifics. And because the boy needed to snap out of his fear. "The one with a problem here is you. And whatever it is. Whatever you're thinking, or feeling, or doing inside that head of yours, you need to fix it and get control over it, and stop taking it out on me. Because at this rate, if this keeps up, you're going to lose me."

"But you... But I... The pictures on your phone..."

"Don't believe me." Shrugging indifferently and juggling his winter clothes, Jimin turned back around to look at the cobbled path. "See for yourself what happens in the future."

Still no signs of the darned animal that caused this mess. Where was it?

"I mean, you know me the best Jungkook. We have spent countless hours talking and I have told you so much about myself. So, you tell me. Do you think I would put up with it if someone treated me like you do? Do I let any of the other members treat me like you do? And when they try, what do I do? How do I react?"

There was only silence between them, the laughs and voices of the people around them making things seem lighter. But Jimin was watching Jungkook's face, and the older boy knew there was nothing light here.

"Exactly."

Jimin looked around, distractedly ending his speech.

"So, work your shit out Jungkook, before it's too late to... Fix... Too late for... For... Us to..."

But there was no saving whatever Jimin was about to say. His eyes zeroed in on the calico cat that had just walked out of the bushes in front of him. Quickly grabbing his phone and beginning to record, Jimin held his phone in front of him.

"That's it, that's the cat. I'm going now. Remember what is said Jungkook."

Jimin turned quickly showing the maknae a tired smile that only froze Jungkook's heart even more, and made it ache unbearably. And then he ran off.

"Hyung! Jimin-hyung!"

But Jimin didn't stop.

He followed the cat once more, just like yesterday. And fought against the branches and leaves, just like yesterday. And arrived at a cobbled walking path in a park, just like yesterday.

This time the sky was dark though. And the path was buried under snow. And Jimin's breath was visible in the freezing night air.

Fear coursed through Jimin's veins as he imagined that he'd been gone for two whole days and the panic Jungkook, his Jungkook, his boyfriend, was feeling if that was the case. The adrenaline allowed him to not feel any cold at all and run the whole way to their building without needing to stop. Waiting for the elevator was hell, his hands beginning to tremble. Then he ran, a lot more tired and breathing harder this time, to the door of their dorm, and inside.

The members in the living room turned to look at him, frowning a bit when they saw the state he was in. But no fear. No panic. Nothing.

Which meant that somehow, only a few hours had gone by. It was still the same day. Even though it has been a whole day in the other timeline. Jimin didn't care.

"Hi, guys," he said, trying to act normally. He hung up the winter stuff he never put on again. There had been no need to. He was drowning in heat and sweating like a pig. "Jung-Jungkookie?"

"In his room, said he'd take a nap." Yoongi shot him the same skeptical look as the younger one from the past had.

"Thanks, hyung." Looking quickly around, the orange-haired boy determined that Joonie-hyung was off to one side of the living room, and that Kookie was alone in the room.

Trying to walk at a normal pace was absolutely impossible, so Jimin didn't even try. Once inside the room, he locked the door and threw himself into the bed, hugging Jungkook tightly, body starting to tremble.

"Hyung," Jungkook whined groggily. "Jiminie-hyung, I'm sleepy. Come on. Don't do this. Let me sleep."

"Tell me you love me," Jimin whispered, voice unsteady.

"What?" The maknae said a lot more awake suddenly. "Hyung? Hyung, what's wrong? What happened?"

"Please." The desperation in his pleads was so obvious, his heart completely out in the open. "Kookie please. Tell me you love me. Tell me we're boyfriends. Please kiss me."

And the precious boy Jimin was in love with did just that. No questions asked. He reassured Jimin as much as the older asked for it. Always patient, always tender, always utterly honest.

It took a while, but eventually Jimin calmed down.

"Hyung," Jungkook said quietly. "Tell me what happened. I'm dying here."

"It's too crazy. You won't believe me."

How could he convince Jungkook of the crazy things that he'd just lived through? There was no way to show him. And only if the boy could see, see his and Jimin's younger version would he...

See.

See! Jungkook had to see! And he could! Because Jimin had videos!

The boy jerked slightly when Jimin frantically got his phone out, battery almost dead. But it would be enough to show him.

Then he flinched again when his boyfriend shoved the phone onto his face. Jungkook silently pressed play and watched.

His eyes disappeared and his nose wrinkled as he smiled like a bunny when he heard his hyung calling out a very elusive cat. He caught glimpses of it among all the movement and then lost it completely as Jimin battled against nature to follow it. His hyung was such a dork. Chasing a cat with such passion.

The view cleared and there was sky and a walking path again, but Jungkook frowned. Something was wrong. There was no snow on the ground. And the sky looked different too, like it was a lot later than when Jimin had started the video. But that couldn't be.

Jimin called for the cat, phone swinging around, and he saw it just the same as Jimin. His hair, his clothes, his body. It was Jungkook.

At this point, the boy's heart began to pound rapidly.

That was impossible. Jungkook didn't go to the park today.

Jimin ran over, calling for him. But when the Jungkook on the video turned, it was not him. Well, it was him. But it was a younger him. The maknae gasped softly. What was going on here?

His hyung's voice froze at the same time that Jungkook's heart did, inhaling loudly, eyes glued onto the Jimin on screen. A younger Jimin.

Looking up at his boyfriend, video forgotten, the maknae's wide eyes met Jimin's. The orange-haired boy, took the phone, swiped and tapped a couple of times and then gave it back to Jungkook. This time the camera swung and the brunet saw his younger black-haired version again. This time the Jungkook on the screen didn't look very well at all, he looked at lot more shaken, and with bags under his eyes from losing sleep. Jimin told him something about remembering what he'd said, and then the video became very blurry as the older boy started to run. Jungkook heard himself, with a voice a little more unstable and a different pitch, call for Jimin. The maknae watched as the orange-haired boy fought against trees and bushes again, this time coming out in a familiar snow covered park.

The love of Jungkook's life took the phone back at that moment, and the young boy could only look at Jimin in confused amazement. He'd seen and heard himself, but in the past. What was going on here?

"I told you it was crazy."

And the two settled on the bed, legs tangled, arms around each other, Jungkook quietly listening to Jimin's chaotic day, the other soothingly whispering about all the things he'd done.

Just like they had promised to do before Jimin left for his walk.