Chapter Text
Jungkook had selflessly cut his own time short to make sure that you could celebrate, so the least you could do was make sure to dance with him. Since it hadn’t been long since your meeting you decided to head for his family’s table and hope that he had not gone far. Unfortunately by the time you got there he was nowhere to be found. You were left twisting your hands as you looked around and hoped for a clue on where to search next.
An elderly gentleman tapped you on the shoulder. “Is something wrong, child?” he asked, his voice soft and kind.
Though you did not know the man, you recognized him as one of the elders who gave a toast, and his tie was a rich royal purple. “I’m looking for Jeon Jungkook, but I’m not sure where he headed,” you explained, hoping that he was indeed a member of that same clan.
He smiled brightly, the expression familiar. You had seen it not long ago during your last marriage meeting. “My grandson went dancing with his friend. The pink haired one, what was his name…”
“Do you mean Jimin?” you asked, surprised when he confirmed it. You’d had no idea that there was a connection between your childhood friend and your unusual young suitor, though as close as their villages were, it made sense. “I’ll go look for them on the dance floor, then. Thank you sir!”
“You’re welcome, young lady. It was nice to meet you.” He waved as you turned and headed away, destined for the crowd of dancers where you hoped to find your suitors among the throng.
It sounded like a difficult task, but once you were among the crowd there was an obvious commotion that begged you to follow. You squeezed past a few people, but anyone who actually bothered to look at you hurriedly moved out of the way. It was a little unnerving to be so well-recognized, so you did your best to focus on the task at hand, weaving between party guests until you reached the edge of the circle that had been left clear for whatever spectacle had everyone’s attention. It turned out to be exactly what you were looking for.
Jimin was immediately obvious with his bright pink hair, and it took you only a moment longer to notice Taehyung was with him too. Given their third friend’s purple shirt and dark hair, you knew logically that it had to be Jungkook, but while they were dancing he almost looked like a different person. There was no trace of the shyness that had dominated your first impression of him, only an intense concentration as he kept up with your friends. The trio really was a sight to behold and it was no wonder they had attracted a crowd.
The moment the song ended there was a sudden press inwards and you heard other young women- and a few men, too- begging for a dance. Most of the people further back in the crowd had been willing to move, but apparently the ones who had made up the innermost circle weren’t giving way even for you. Thankfully you had already been spotted, and just as you were about to step away and go find a different dance partner, you felt a familiar hand take yours. Taehyung pulled you gently forward as Jimin and Jungkook urged everyone to take a few steps back, and soon you were surrounded on all sides by a protective wall made up of suitors. “Sorry, friends, tonight we’re here on courtship business, not just to have a good time,” Jimin announced. This was enough to send most of the hopefuls away, looking for more available partners, though you noticed a few of them lingering nearby.
“I don’t mind you dancing with other people, you know,” you told them once you noticed that all three suitors seemed to be focused on you now. “There’s only one of me, you should have a good time.”
“Maybe later,” Tae shrugged. He never had let go of your hand. “We’ve been fine waiting for you so far.”
“If I made you wait in line we’d never get to dance together,” Jimin added with a grin, draping an arm around your shoulders casually. “As you might have noticed, I’m very popular. But you get a VIP pass. Let’s all go together.”
Jungkook had been quick to put his broad shoulders between you and the encroaching crowd, but he had not said a word since. His intensity was gone and that wide-eyed innocent stare was back, taking in the way the other two so readily and eagerly clung to you. That was how it had been for as long as you could remember: summertime meant Taehyung on one side and Jimin on the other, assuming that all of you were getting along at the time anyway. Even your best friend Namjoon had sometimes complained about feeling left out of the dynamic, though, and you were sure that Jungkook wasn’t feeling very welcomed at the moment. “You’re coming to dance with us too, right?” you asked pointedly. He still seemed at a loss for words, but he gave you that toothy grin again as he nodded.
“Me first right?” Jimin wheedled you immediately. “I never did get to take you dancing when we were young.”
“Then she should probably start out with someone familiar,” Taehyung countered, for the two of you had gone to the city many times once you were old enough.
“Um, actually,” you cut in, lifting your hands to push them both gently away, “I came looking for Jungkook first.” Your friends looked a little sullen about this revelation, so you hurried to explain. “He made sure to keep our meeting short specifically so I’d have time for celebrating, so I thought it was only fair to make sure he got a dance right away.”
“You didn’t have to,” Jungkook tried to protest, as if he had finally figured out how to speak to you.
There was no way you’d take no for an answer, though. “Don’t let these two bully you. Not only will they argue over everything, they’re going to see me a lot over the next few days or more. But you’ll be heading home quickly, right?” He nodded, so you boldly reached out and took him by the hand. “Then you’d better use the time you have wisely!”
“Kookie’s going to faint if you aren’t careful with him,” Jimin laughed, and though the night was dark it did look suspiciously like the spellsinger was blushing. “He’s terrible with girls.”
“I am not!” Jungkook whined, and Jimin’s teasing seemed to be the trigger he needed to find his confidence. He pulled you closer, and as the two of you felt out the beat together you saw him regain that same focus as before.
It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that he was a good dancer, you supposed; he must live and breathe music. You had a hard time keeping up. When you finally stumbled a bit his intensity fell away as he caught you, hand resting on your waist. “You okay?” he asked, and though you nodded and laughed it off, he was more careful from then on.
Of course Taehyung and Jimin got their turns, too, and you went on to find more of your suitors after that. You had no idea how much time went by as you were passed from one dance partner to the next, but you had a great time doing it. Laughter had you breathless as you took a quick count of who you had danced with so far and grabbed Jungkook for another turn. “You look tired,” he observed. “Do you need to take a break?”
“Will you come with me?” He looked a little surprised at the invitation. When he glanced around he noticed that all of your friends had moved on after you had made your choice of dance partner. It was just the two of you. He nodded and let you loop your arm through his so that you wouldn’t be separated as you made your way off the dance floor.
“Are you having a good time?” you asked Jungkook as you popped open a much needed bottle of water.
“It’s your party, shouldn’t I be asking you that?” he replied, taking a drink of his own. He didn’t seem winded like you were, but there was a light sheen of sweat on his brow, a testament to how much energy he put into his fun.
“I am. It’s a little bit of pressure to be the center of attention, but dancing with all of you has been fun. I wanted to ask you, though,” you persisted, “because you seemed a little nervous yourself, and I wasn’t sure why.”
“Oh. I kind of was. And am. I’m not always the best at meeting new people.” He fiddled with the cap of his water bottle, staring at it to avoid your eyes. “And it’s not just girls, no matter what Jimin says. I’d be nervous even if you weren’t a really pretty young lady. But you seem really nice, and your friends are really welcoming, and I like dancing a lot. So I’m having a lot of fun.” He smiled brightly, an expression full of pure and genuine feelings. Jungkook might be nervous about you, but you felt just the opposite- he made you curious to get to know him and experience more of his warm sincerity. Thank goodness that was exactly what you were meant to do.