Work Text:
Jungkook never expected to walk into his gym on Tuesday and meet God Himself, but as he stands in the entrance to the locker room after stuffing his gym bag in the locker that’s (unofficially) his, he think maybe the Renaissance artists were right to make Jesus a little bit sexy.
“Hey, can you go to Hell for thinking sexy thoughts about Jesus?” Jungkook asks Yoongi, who’s passing by with fresh towels.
“Literally,” Yoongi says, eyes fixed on Jungkook like he has two heads, “What the fuck are you talking about, Jungkook?”
“I’m talking about how God is here,” Jungkook tells him, tilting his head towards the divine being on the leg press. “Unrelated, but can you open a church dedicated to someone’s thighs?”
“That’s creepy,” Yoongi tells him gently, “And that’s also not God. He’s just a new member.”
Just , Yoongi says, like Jungkook isn’t ready to worship at the guy’s feet just for being beautiful.
“Don’t make it weird, Jungkook-ah,” Yoongi warns him. “He’s just here to work out, and we can use the business.”
“Hyung, I’m not gonna make it weird,” Jungkook promises.
Which is why, thirty minutes later, he’s only on his second rep of bicep curls, eyes glued onto the mirror as he watches Actually Adonis Incarnate bench Jungkook’s body weight with no issue.
It’s actually more than his body weight, really. He knows this because Adonis started with his body weight and has been steadily adding to it as he finishes his reps.
Anyone else Jungkook would criticize – who goes from the leg press to the cable machine to the bench, doesn’t this guy know to be careful mixing workouts? – but he’s getting the show of his life, so he can’t be too mad.
Especially when Jesus Returned adds more weight to the bar, which makes Jungkook’s brows shoot up. That’s an…impressive amount for anyone, but especially someone that doesn’t have a spotter anywhere to be seen and has been at this since before Jungkook arrived.
Instinct takes over, and he gingerly sets down the weight he’d been using for his curls. Jungkook watches, focused less on the sweat dripping down God Himself’s muscles and more on how his arms quake a bit as he lifts.
Because he does lift— Jungkook is impressed, against his better judgement, because the guy’s strong . But Jungkook also can tell when someone’s in over their head, and Adonis’ wrist starts to buckle as he brings the weight back up and then Jungkook is moving.
He gets there right as the guy’s wrist gives out entirely, catching the bar before it can fall on the guy and injure him - or worse. It gives Adonis enough time to adjust his grip, and together they get it back in place.
“Wow,” the guy breathes, massaging his wrist as he sits up. “Thank you, so much, I almost—” He cuts himself off with a heavy breath, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Ah, it’s no problem!” Jungkook promises, brain refusing to process the fact that the hottest man on the planet is talking to him. “We’ve all done too much before, myself included! You should probably have a spotter next time you try to bench that much, though, just to be safe.”
“Yeah,” the guy sighs. “I think I just wanted to…prove I could, or something.” He shakes his head again, cheeks pink. From embarrassment or exertion, Jungkook isn’t sure, but he thinks it’s adorable. “I’m Kim Namjoon. It’s nice to meet you.”
Jungkook realizes belatedly that Christ In The Flesh – no, Namjoon – is extending a hand, and he rushes to shake it.
“Jeon Jungkook!” He manages to say. “It’s my pleasure.”
He wants to say more. He wants to propose marriage, or at least sex maybe, or even just being Namjoon’s errand boy for the sole gift of seeing his face every day. Thankfully, he doesn’t get the chance.
“Yah, Jungkook-ah!” Yoongi calls from the reception desk. “Can you help me carry these boxes upstairs?”
If he didn’t love his hyung very dearly, Jungkook may have just killed him. Instead, he shoots Yoongi a Look.
I am trying to seduce my future husband , he says with his eyes.
I will rescind your free membership and send Seokjin after the man , Yoongi’s face says back.
Jungkook stifles a whine but nods.
“You sound busy,” Namjoon says. He smiles a bit, the barest hint of dimple showing and fully ruining Jungkook for anyone else. “I’ll see you another time, Jungkook-ssi.”
Yoongi at least has the grace to allow Jungkook to watch Namjoon leave (he doesn’t even bother to shower first. Just struts around all sweaty and gorgeous looking like at least ten different fantasies that Jungkook has had) and doesn’t judge Jungkook for spending the next twenty minutes gushing about his new friend.
Jungkook absolutely does not look for NAmjoon the next few times he goes to the gym. Absolutely not. He always does a quick scope of the place so he can tell how busy it is. The crushing disappointment is from someone using his favorite treadmill, nothing else.
The look Yoongi gives him shows just how transparent he is.
Still, when he walks in the next week and Namjoon gives him a smile and a wave from the weights, Jungkook absolutely commits the sight to memory. His stomach does a pleasant little flip, as well, as he waves back and then heads to the locker room.
They don’t work out together , but they make eye contact several times, pass each other as they switch equipment, and Jungkook is painfully aware of Namjoon at all times.
Still, Jungkook of all people knows that sometimes a workout is the only time a person can get some peace, and he doesn’t want to intrude, so he keeps to himself. Namjoon does as well, sending Jungkook a small smile every time they get near each other or make eye contact in the mirror. It isn’t until Jungkook is leaving – freshly showered and feeling great – that he actually gets a chance to talk to Namjoon again.
His heart drops a bit when he comes out of the locker room and sees Yoongi and Namjoon laughing like old friends, but he shoves the ugly feeling away.
Yoongi spots him and waves him over, so he does, and if he moves a little bit faster, who’s gonna judge him?
“I hear you saved Namjoon-ah from certain death,” Yoongi teases, a knowing glint in his eye. Jungkook turns red, heat burning in his cheeks and across the back of his neck, and he gives a self-deprecating smile.
“Nah, he would’ve been fine,” Jungkook says, even though they all know he wouldn’t have. “I’m just glad that I could help.”
“You and me both,” Namjoon says with a laugh that matches Jungkook’s smile. “I’ve only just started to use gyms again, it would be a shame if I couldn’t keep coming to this one.”
Jungkook must hallucinate momentarily because he almost thinks Namjoon’s eyes flicker to him.
“It really was nothing, Namjoon-ssi,” Jungkook insists. “Anyone would have done the same!”
“Still, thank you,” Namjoon says softly. Their eyes meet and Jungkook stops breathing for a full minute before Namjoon ducks his head down and continues, “And you don’t have to be so formal with me, either. You saved my life, I think that makes us friends. You can call me hyung.”
“Yeah, okay, sure,” Jungkook stammers; a small part of his brain wonders how Namjoon knows Jungkook is younger than him. People usually assume he’s older than he is, unless…
Jungkook’s gonna crawl into a hole. He’s clearly been acting childish, so Namjoon assumed he’s younger than he really is. How utterly mortifying.
Oh no, what if he saw the kid’s shampoo Jungkook uses? Or the Mickey Mouse fruit cups that Yoongi keeps in the cooler for him? Or the banana milk?
“—ext time?”
Jungkook focuses back on the present, eyes wide as he blinks rapidly. “Sorry, what?” He mutters, glancing between Yoongi and Namjoon.
“I asked if maybe you wanted to spot me on the bench next time?” Namjoon repeats. “My only friend that really works out just does yoga, so they aren’t much help, and it would be nice to not risk death every time I want to bench something heavier.”
“Yeah!” Jungkook says instantly, almost vibrating at how excited he is. “I totally can do that! Do you want, um, just the next time we’re both here at the same time, or....?”
“Hm, my schedule’s a bit sporadic,” Namjoon says slowly, thinking. “If you want, I can give you my number and then we can figure something out the next time I’m free?”
“Ohmygod,” Jungkook squeaks. It’s like every fantasy come true, and he struggles to keep any semblance of chill as he fumbles his phone out of his pocket and hands it over. “Yeah, sure, that sounds like...solid plan! Just, uh, text me when you’re, um, free, and we can figure it out then. So you can...do things...with me.”
He actually hears Yoongi facepalm and he honestly is surprised the universe let him keep talking. Still, when he takes his phone back it’s got Namjoon’s number in it and an adorable contact picture that he actually gets to watch Namjoon take.
“Alright then,” Namjoon says. He grins, wide and beautiful, and Jungkook sees Actual Heaven in Namjoon’s dimples, they’re so deep and wonderful. “I gotta go, but text me when you get the chance and we can figure something out. I’ll talk to you both later!”
Namjoon leaves to a chorus of goodbyes, Jungkook belatedly tacking a ‘hyung’ to his, just because he can , because they’re friends .
“I told you not to get weird,” Yoongi complains.
“I’m gonna have his babies,” Jungkook decides.
Except it’s very difficult to have someone's babies when they don’t text you.
Jungkook isn’t some pining princess, okay? He doesn’t wait anxiously by his phone, hoping every notification is namjoon finally messaging him.
(He doesn’t have to, because Namjoon’s notification and ringtone sounds are unique, the only custom ones that Jungkook has ever set.)
He even almost texts first, except he isn’t sure what to say without being weird, and then it’s been a week, so it’s weird for Jungkook to text first when he hadn’t already, and Namjoon said his schedule was hectic so Jungkook doesn’t want to be a bother.
But now it’s two weeks later, he hasn’t seen or heard from Namjoon, and life sucks.
“You’re being dramatic,” Yoongi scolds when Jungkook expresses all of this one rainy afternoon.
“Oh, let him,” comes the voice of Jungkook’s new favorite hyung. Hoseok’s in his usual yoga shorts and tank top, one foot up on the reception desk as he stretches, and is entirely oblivious to the looks he gets.
“Thank you, Hobi hyung,” Jungkook sniffles. “It’s just so tragic.”
“Why don’t you just text him?” Hoseok suggests, as if Jungkook hasn’t just spent twenty minutes outlining why he can’t. Hoseok withers at the pout Jungkook sends him. “Alright, never mind. IT just seemed like the simplest solution to me.”
“What if he hates me?” Jungkook whines. Yoongi rolls his eyes while Hoseok coos, patting Jungkook’s fluffy blue hair.
“Impossible,” Hoseok tuts. “You’re wonderful and you saved his life. He’d have to be an idiot to hate you after that.”
“We don’t know that he isn’t,” Yoongi mutters, and Jungkook truly has never felt so supported.
“You just have to remember that you don’t really know him yet,” Hoseok reminds him. “So you can’t really fall in love with him.”
“I never said I had!” Jungkook protests. Yoongi stops folding towels and levels him with a stare that could kill unicorns.
“So you’re just helping him work out?” Yoongi asks and Jungkook shifts uncomfortably, because he knows where this is going. “You’re just gonna help him not kill himself on the equipment?”
“Maybe also build muscle if he wants,” Jungkook mutters.
“Jeon Jungkook!” Yoongi exclaims. “You told me you wanted to work out here so you wouldn’t be harassed by your clients! You specifically said you would help move things for free membership so long as you could just work out in peace!”
“He’s not a client!”
“So you’re doing your job for free?” Hoseok asks, one brow cocked. “I thought you specifically said you don’t want any customers here hiring you as a trainer.”
“And I don’t!” Jungkook rushes to say. “But he’s not a client, and he isn’t hiring me. We’re just gym buddies so he doesn’t kill himself. If he happens to pick up a few pointers while doing so, then so be it.”
“Damn,” Hoseok says thoughtfully. “This guy really must be hot.”
“What guy?”
Jungkook could laugh at how hard Hoseok jumps at the unfamiliar voice, but he’s too busy trying not to cry, because it’s been two weeks since he last saw Namjoon and the guy still looks like a Greek god. When their eyes meet, Jungkook gives a small smile that Namjoon returns.
“A waiter from my lunch today,” Yoongi says, saving all of them from collective embarrassment. “I went to that new cafe a few blocks over and the guy that served me was drop dead gorgeous.”
Namjoon’s eyes light up. “That’s my friend Jimin’s cafe! They’re supposed to meet me here later so we can go get dinner, maybe they can give you the guy’s name!”
“Maybe, yeah,” Yoogi says like he hadn’t in all likelihood been lying through his teeth. Silence fills the air, awkwardness quickly following, until Hoseok clears his throat.
“Well,” he says, finally lowering his leg from the counter. “I have a class soon, so I’m gonna go set up! It was nice to kind of meet you.”
“I’ll go help,” Yoongi says quickly, waving to Namjoon as they both disappear into one of the large mirrored studios on either side of the reception area.
Jungkook fiddles with a pen, tapping his foot awkwardly as Namjoon looks a bit lost, looking around at all the flyers hanging up.
“How was your workout?” Namjoon eventually asks, gesturing to Jungkook’s gym clothes.
“Hasn’t happened yet,” he admits. “I got distracted talking to Hobi hyung and Yoongi hyung.”
“Ah.”
Silence reigns once more and it prickles at Jungkook’s skin. Why should he feel awkward? He’s the one that ghosted, right? By the love of his life, no less.
“I better—”
“You never texted me,” Namjoon interrupts, and Jungkook blinks because, no, that’s his line.
“What?”
“You never texted me,” Namjoon repeats, hands gripping his gym bag like a lifeline. “I thought we were gonna work out together, and then, nothing.”
“ You never texted me !” Jungkook says incredulously. “You said your schedule was hectic, so I was waiting for you to text me when you were free!”
“Jungkook,” Namjoon says slowly, a smile playing across his lips, “You never gave me your number.”
Jungkook blinks. “Yeah, I did, because…” Because he never would have been so stupid.
Except he definitely would have been that dumb, and now that he thinks back, he’s pretty sure Namjoon said, out loud, for Jungkook to text him. He’s an idiot.
“I’m an idiot,” he moans, running a hand over his face.
“No!” Namjoon assures him.
“I am. I was waiting for you to text me this entire time when I– oh my god, I’m so dumb, I’m so sorry.”
“You’re not dumb,” Namjoon says firmly. “We all have our moments.”
“I’m so sorry, hyung, I would have texted you ages ago, I just–” He stops, face heated with embarrassment and shakes his head. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Namjoon assures him again, and Jungkook wants so badly to believe him. “But, if you’re free now...would you wanna spot me?”
“Sure!” Jungkook agrees instantly. He’s been waiting weeks for this chance, he isn’t about to pass it up now. “Where first?”
Jungkook quickly learns that Namjoon - while gorgeous and amazing and perfect - is not... great at working out. His form isn’t bad , just...not great, and it looks like the people that use internet tutorials and then come to him for personal training thinking they know everything already.
Except Namjoon doesn’t act like he’s a god among men. He listens when Jungkook adjusts him, and asks questions when Jungkook suggests adjustments to help build the sections Namjoon wants to work on. He doesn’t even complain when Jungkook warns him against too much weight at once, just nods and smiles and thanks him for the info. Jungkook has to stop several times and remind himself that Namjoon isn’t actually the best client he’s ever had, he’s just a friend.
“You know a lot about this,” Namjoon notes as they’re doing cooldown stretches and Jungkook is doing his best not to look at Namjoon’s ass.
“I should,” Jungkook jokes, “It’s how I pay rent.”
Namjoon turns to him, brow furrowed, and Jungkook smashes down the urge to kiss it.
“I’m a personal trainer,” Jungkook explains. “Not here, at a different gym, but I come here because my clients there like to….well, let’s just they’re enthusiastic, and they tend to forget that we have scheduled sessions.”
“Oh,” Namjoon stills for a moment, brow still furrowed. “I don’t have any money.”
Jungkook blinks, trying to process why that matters. “Okay…? Hyung, do you need a loan, or something, because I’m not rich, but I’m pretty comfortable, so–”
“No, I mean,” Namjoon huffs, pulling his arm taut across his chest. “I don’t have any money to pay you with.”
“Why would you pay me?”
“Because I’m….you’re doing your job, but I didn’t– I wasn’t thinking about it, and I don’t want to take advantage–”
“Hyung,” Jungkook says softly, laughing a little under his breath. “I don’t expect you to pay me. You’re my friend, we’re just gym buddies.”
“Oh,” Namjoon says, and if Jungkook was delusional he’d think Namjoon sounded a bit disappointed.
“I mean, if you wanna give me money, hyung, I’m all for it, but that’s because I’m adorable, not because I’m your personal trainer.”
Namjoon laughs a little, and the flush in his face spreads across his chest and to the tips of his ears, and oh fuck, maybe Hobi hyung was right when he said it was adorable on Seokjin hyung because Jungkook is ready to fight wars for this shit.
Namjoon’s name rings across the building and they both turn. Namjoon’s face lights up as his eyes land on someone that could easily give Namjoon a run for his money in the looks department, and then the person is walking over.
Between the cloud-soft sweater, pleated pink skirt, star-speckled tights, and high-tops, Jungkook isn’t sure what’s going on except that this new person and Namjoon looks very comfortable around each other, because Fluffy Pink Threat drapes an arm around Namjoon’s shoulder without a care in the world that Namjoon’s covered in sweat.
“Jimin-ah, you didn’t have to come inside,” Namjoon says, and Jungkook remembers him talking about his friend Jimin.
“I wanted to see what it was like here,” Jimin says, eyes scoping around the room before landing on Jungkook. “See what the draw was.”
“Play nice,” Namjoon warns. “Jungkook-ah, this is my best friend, Park Jimin. They’re the one I mentioned to Yoongi hyung earlier.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Jungkook says, ducking down in a half-bow. Jimin inclines their head slightly, not looking away from Jungkook as they chew on the straw of some iced coffee drink. “I like your hair.”
“Thanks,” Jimin replies, a smile growing. He looks approving, as if Jungkook digging the blonde with cotton candy stripes was surprising when Jungkook’s hair is literally blue. “Hyung, we’ve gotta go, or we’ll be late to Tae’s art exhibit, and you know how he hates that.”
“Ah, I forgot that was today,” Namjoon mutters. “Alright, well, I gotta go, but I’ll text you, Jungkook-ah?”
“Yeah, definitely!” Jungkook says quickly. Namjoon waves as he and Jimin leave, the Pink Threat giving Jungkook an all-too-knowing look as they go.
“Who was that?” Yoongi asks when Jungkook drifts up to the front, deflated and morose.
“The competition, I think,” Jungkook pouts. “They’re Namjoon hyung’s best friend, and they’re gorgeous.”
“Yeah, they are,” Yoongi mutters. He looks only slightly ashamed when Jungkook shoots him a mean look. “What? You expect me to disagree? You know me, I’m weak for people that could murder me while wearing white sweaters and not get any blood on their clothes.”
“You have problems,” Hoseok says from behind the desk, eyeing Yoongi carefully as if he isn’t married to Kim Seokjin of all people. “ Problems , hyung.”
True to his word, Jungkook texts Namjoon that night. And the next one. And the one after that.
They actually text a lot, once they get started, really. Jungkook will send Namjoon funny stories from his day, and inspiration like ‘this guy almost clocked himself in the head while doing curls, so at least ur not alone in ur pain, hyung’ and the ever-famous ‘client ran to the bathroom while doin squats, whats the bet that he comes out in different pants’ that Namjoon unfortunately lost.
Namjoon texts back, too, just as much; he sends pictures of the animals he works with – because he works with animals, as a veterinarian, every day, like he isn’t perfect enough already – and of the food he gets at Jimin’s cafe, and of the artwork that he sees that his friend Taehyung is working on. And himself.
So many pictures of himself. Jungkook genuinely struggles to control himself with it, because every other picture is Namjoon, or Namjoon with a dog, or Namjoon with some paintings, or Namjoon and his coffee, or Namjoon and a scorpion(???). Just. Namjoon. Everywhere. All the time.
And frankly, it’s become detrimental to Jungkook’s health. He has to leave his phone in the locker room when he’s with clients, because he can no longer resist its siren call of Namjoon Selfies.
It’s also bad but not because they just...keep working out together. And talking. And it’s like hanging out with a friend, except Jungkook has never liked working out with other people, because it’s his time to think and be alone and relax, except somehow it’s better with Namjoon there.
They talk about so much – they talk about how Namjoon just recently moved back to Seoul from the States, where he worked for a couple years as the premier veterinarian for several zoos before he finally got too homesick and came back. They talk about how their parents, and how they’re both lucky to have such chill ones, even if their moms do pressure them a bit about grandchildren. They even talk about their friends, and a couple months later, Jungkook knows Jimin and Taehyung nearly as well as he knows his own friends, who have in turn just absorbed Namjoon into their friend group.
Which is how he ended up where he is now - at the park on a Sunday afternoon, tossing a basketball around and cursing his own existence. Not only because he isn’t on Yoongi’s team – because Yoongi’s always been good at basketball, and there’s an unofficial rule that the two of them can’t be on the same team because it’s unfair to Hoseok and Seokjin for whatever reason – but because Namjoon is. And he looks so good, and Seokjin knows that Jungkook is in love with him and still wanted revenge for Jungkook taking the last piece of kimbap the night before so Jungkook is trying to guard Namjoon but the other man smells so good and looks so good and is so perfect and he’s trying so hard and is surprisingly good at it until anyone gets near him.
Which is still adorable, but Jungkook would really love it if Namjoon stopped falling over every time Jungkook tries to steal the ball from him.
It doesn’t help that Jimin is playing referee and is shockingly into it – they’d said when they all first met up that they weren’t in the mood to get sweaty that day, but that they would play ref so that the next time they all got together to play ball, everyone would know Jimin had spared them the humiliation of getting schooled so badly. Still, they keep fouling Jungkook for no real reason, so Yoongi’s team is up by several points and Hoseok is getting more and more frustrated, and Jungkook is embarrassing himself in front of his future husband and his future husband’s friends.
Jungkook is going to murder Seokjin, just you wait.
“Yah, you all need to drink something!” Said victim yells from the side of the court when they’re on a small break. Jungkook jogs over - because he’s right, the dick - and starts boxing, despite the several bottles of water Seokjin has in his hands.
“Yah, Jungkook-ah, you’re making me tired just looking at you,” Hoseok calls, panting slightly from the heat. They’re all sweaty and gross, and only Namjoon and Seokjin still have their shirts on.
Well, and Jimin, but Jimin looks pleasantly comfortable in their shorts and striped shirt, so really, they don’t count.
“Seokjin hyung deserves this!” Jungkook calls back as feints a right that Seokjin sadly falls for. The water is forgotten, just a weight in Seokjin’s hand as he boxes back. “He knows what he did!”
“You take this to your new friend and stop complaining,” Seokjin says, adding in a kick for good measure when Jungkook snags the water bottles and darts away. “Ungrateful brat,” he mutters when he thinks Jungkook isn’t listening.
Which, to be fair, Jungkook stops doing the second he lays eyes on Namjoon, because Namjoon is gloriously fucking naked.
Well, not completely – they’re at a park, even if it is the seldom-used one they all prefer, so of course, Namjoon isn’t naked naked.
But he’s shirtless, and Jungkook has never seen it before, because Namjoon prefers to shower at home, and he’s never gone shirtless at the gym - which is his prerogative, Jungkook also prefers to wear his shirt when he’s working out - but Jungkook is woefully unprepared for looking over and seeing full on naked torso.
In the five seconds it lasts, Jungkook commits it to memory; Namjoon is muscular, so much more muscular than he seems usually, with pecs for days and actual abs and Jungkook has never wanted to lick someone’s muscles before now, but here he is. Namjoon has tattoos, too; Jungkook isn’t judging, because his entire arm is covered in the things, but he hadn’t expected it. It’s simple line art animals, a menagerie that trails up his sides and across his torso, centered around a fox head right on his solar plexus that perfectly accents his pecs and covers two little scars so well Jungkook almost doesn’t notice them.
That’s about the time Jungkook’s face hits the concrete, of course, because his entire body just stops working. Warmth gushes out of his nose, and he curses quietly, because he knows it’s gonna look worse than it is, and all of his hyungs are gonna overreact.
Which is absolutely what happens, because Yoongi is there immediately, as is Seokjin, with cool washcloths and ice between the two of them. Hoseok is there as well, giving Jungkook space but wincing when he gets a look at it.
“It’s worse than it looks, I promise,” Jungkook says, but it comes out only slightly intelligible and like he has a really bad cold. His heart sinks, too, because Namjoon saw the entire thing, and looks at a bit of a loss as to how to help, while Taehyung and Jimin share some kind of meaningful look between them.
Jungkook would kick himself if he could; he didn’t embarrass himself enough already, now he looks like some dumbass who can’t even walk properly.
"You really need to get this looked at, Jungkook-ah," Seokjin says, wincing as he presses ice to the cloth Yoongi has against Jungkook's nose. "By an actual doctor, not some shady guy you met online that claims to have once had a medical degree."
"Hey, he was cool until he went to jail," Jungkook argues, though it doesn't seem to help his case by the expression that runs over Taehyung's face. "Well I can't just take the bus like this, can I?"
"You could," Yoongi says, grimacing, "But you'd get those weird looks again."
"Yoongi rode with you, and we walked," Hoseok says, cursing under his breath.
"I can just not go, it'll be fine. I know how to take care of a busted nose."
"Absolutely not," Hoseok says firmly. "You'll just go home, ice it a bit, and then play video games all night. What if it's fractured? Or broken ? You need a doctor."
"We drove," Taehyung offers. "We can take him to the emergency room."
"This is ridiculous," Jungkook protests, feeling small. He knows he's the youngest, but he's never felt young before, not around his friends. Even when he's sick and they baby him, he's never felt childish, but sitting on the basketball court with Yoongi switching rags and Seokjin getting more ice while everyone scolds him makes him feel five years old again.
"It's still actively bleeding," Yoongi says gently, making eye contact with Jungkook. He looks soft and concerned, but not judgemental, which Jungkook appreciates. "You need to see a doctor in case something got really hurt, Kook-ah. Concrete is hard, you could have seriously hurt yourself."
Jungkook deflates, the fight going out of him all at once. "Yeah, okay," he mutters.
"My car can only hold four," Jimin says, pulling their keys out. "But we could probably try to fit five?"
"It's fine," Seokjin says. "We'll get a cab or try the bus and meet you all there so we can get Jungkookie home, we just need someone to stay until we get there."
"I can do that," Namjoon says quickly. "My apartment's right by the hospital anyway, so I can just walk home after."
Hoseok helps Jungkook stand, and Yoongi thankfully lets him keep the rag pressed to his nose on his own. Still, he insists on keeping one hand on Jungkook's back as they make their way to Jimin's car.
"Be careful," Seokjin tells him firmly.
"Try not to bleed everywhere if you can," Jimin pleads as he gets in, Taehyung in the passenger seat beside them.
"I've got him," Namjoon assures the elders with a small dimpled grin. "I'll text you all updates until you get there."
And then they're off, Jungkook keeping pressure on his still-bleeding nose despite the fact that he's getting a little dizzy. He does his best to keep blood from getting on Jimin's seats – doesn't even put his shirt on, just drapes it over his lap so any spare drops land on it and not the soft fabric underneath.
When they get to the hospital, the nurses have him fill out the standard paperwork and send him to take a seat while he waits. Namjoon and his friends wait with him, because despite Jimin's aloof attitude, he still seems concerned about the fact that Jungkook is still fucking bleeding and is the first to offer to get some water so they can get him a little cleaned up.
Namjoon's quiet when Jimin and Taehyung disappear, his leg bouncing up and down rapidly.
"I'm sorry," Jungkook mutters. "I kind of ruined our game, huh?"
"You didn't," Namjoon assures him with a soft smile. His freshly-pink hair is pushed back, slick with sweat, and Jungkook can see the bits on his neck where Taehyung got skin instead of hair because it had been 3am and they'd been drinking and Namjoon had looked so self-conscious coming into the gym the next day. "Just...next time, maybe, be a bit more careful? No one wants you to get hurt, y'know."
"I do like to consider myself the captain of the 'Jungkook Not Being Hurt' team," Jungkook jokes. Namjoon laughs a little, but his heart isn't in it.
If it weren't for his currently still fucking bleeding what the fuck nose, Jungkook would reach over. He'd make sure Namjoon's smile reaches his eyes and he'd make sure that there'd be no sadness, just joy and light and happiness.
But Jungkook is bleeding like he just got fucking stabbed, Namjoon is just his friend, and he doesn't have that right. So he keeps his hands where they are and kicks himself inside for ruining what had been a good time with his friends.
"—he'd be good with his mouth," Taehyung is saying when he and Jimin return, small cups of water and loads of paper towels in hand. Jungkook accepts the paper towels gratefully, switching the now soaked rag out for them before he can drip even more blood onto himself.
"And I don't disagree, I'm just saying that he seems the type to think he's better than he is," Jimin replies as they take Jungkook's shirt and dip it in some of the water. He almost starts to complain, but they hand it back just as quickly, gesturing to the bloody mess that is Jungkook's torso.
So he gives them a grateful smile and sets to work, wiping with one hand while he keeps pressure with the other. "Who are you two talking about?"
"Yoongi hyung," Taehyung answers. "He mentioned he did rap a long time ago, so Jiminie found his music and we were talking about it."
"Oh, I love his old stuff," Jungkook says with a grin. "It's good, right?"
"Yeah, I liked the part about his tongue technology," Taehyung says, wagging his eyebrows. "Curious if he lives up to the hype."
"He does," Jungkoom says without thinking, currently focused on the way the room spins a bit around him.
When it's been silent for a bit too long, Jungkook looks up. All three are staring at him, eyes wide, and he doesn't think it's because of the blood.
"What?" He asks, blinking.
"How do you know he lives up to the hype?" Taehyung asks, incredulous.
"Uh…" Jungkook looks between them, expressions ranging from shock and awe to utter confusion and slight outrage. "Because I've had sex with him…?"
"You can't say that like a question, Jungkook-ah," Jimin tells him. "You had sex with Yoongi hyung?"
"Yeah, like...one time, years ago. Why is that a big deal?"
"We just...didn't realize." Taehyung picks a non-existent piece of lint from his shorts. "What, was it like a...kind of experimental phase, or something?"
"....no?" Jungkook offers. His head is spinning and he's never been more confused in his life.
"So it was just the once?" Jimin pries, and Jungkook nods. "What, were you, like, drunk?"
"I mean...we were a little bit tipsy, sure, but not drunk. And he was great, don't get me wrong, but we decided right after that it wasn't really...right for us? So if you wanna go for it, you totally can." Jungkook looks between Taehyung and Jimin, brow furrowed. "Both of you, even, because I'm pretty sure he likes you both? But he's always quiet about that because we tease him so much."
"Hold on," Namjoon finally says, holding up one hand and turning to Jungkook. "So are you gay?"
"I'm...sure? I don't really have exact definitions for it, so I just stick with queer usually."
"But you're into men?" Jimin clarifies.
"Yes?" Jungkook offers. The other three look shocked, and it just serves to confuse Jungkook more. "Wait, did you…not know?"
"How were we supposed to?" Jimin demands. "You never said!"
"I have blue hair!"
"That means nothing these days!" Taehyung insists.
"My only friends are three gay men!" Jungkook yells. "Like I'm not gonna be a little gay?"
"You could be the token straight!" Jimin spits back. "Plenty of progressive straight guys hang out with gay men, you're not special."
"I'm not straight!" Jungkook reminds them. "Hold on, we have all hung out together multiple times. I have commented on attractive men before while we hung out."
"You saying you want someone to drown you is not saying you're attracted to them, Jungkook," Taehyung sighs. "Jesus Christ, this explains everything."
"How is everything?" comes Yoongi's voice. When he turns, Jungkook sees him, Hoseok, and Seokjin wandering in.
"Hyung," Jungkook whines. "They thought I was straight."
"Oh, Jesus," Seokjin mutters, already massaging his temples. "He meant your nose, Jungkook."
"They haven't done anything yet," Jimin tells them. "Just filled out paperwork."
"Ridiculous," Seokjin says as he looks around and then at Hoseok. "I told you we should have told them to take him to mine, but no, you insisted that any hospital could handle this. Hold on, let me talk to someone." He heads to the nurse's station, and Jungkook already feels bad for the nurse on duty.
"You all really thought he was straight?" Hoseok asks as he and Yoongi take seats. "He has blue hair."
"And the tattoos," Yoongi adds. "What straight man gets 'rather die than be cool' tattooed on their arm?"
Jimin throws their hands up, clearly done, and stands. "This is bullying," they say dramatically, though they make sure to pop their hip out in Yoongi's direction as they do. "We are not tolerating this. We try to be progressive and think the best of cishets, and look where it gets us."
"It really just makes so much more sense now," Taehyung mutters. "I can't believe I didn't see it."
"You were too busy thinking about someone's ton—"
"And we're leaving!" Taehyung pushes Jimin toward the door before they can finish their sentence, pulling Namjoon along as he does. "We'll talk to you all later! Keep us updated on Jungkookie!"
Jungkook watches them go, but Namjoon doesn’t turn around. He looks lost in thought, and not in a good way, and Jungkook would make everything better, if he could. But then the doctor’s calling his name, and they’re all crammed into an exam room, and his nose gets set because it actually was definitely fractured, and he gets some clotting medicine and some extra strength ibuprofen and then he’s not thinking about anything but how it hurts to breathe.
Except Namjoon doesn’t text him.
He doesn’t text, he doesn’t call, he doesn’t do anything . He’s not even active in their KKT group chat that they used to set up the basketball game, he just reads everything and replies to nothing.
Even when he’s busy, he usually still texts, at least.
And then Jimin stops texting too. And Taehyung after that. And then it’s back to Jungkook, and Yoongi, and Hoseok, and Seokjin, and Yoongi is miserable because he isn’t getting flirted with, and Jungkook is miserable because he isn’t getting to talk to his friends or his future husband, and Seokjin and Hobi are miserable by extension.
Jungkook just doesn’t understand. He knows Namjoon isn’t homophobic – there’s no way Jimin would be friends with a homophobe, and he’s pretty sure Namjoon’s at least a little gay, based on all the flags that decorate his water bottle – but he was fine before he knew Jungkook wasn’t straight.
Unless he picked up on Jungkook’s feelings after realizing that Jungkook’s not straight and is weirded out by them, Jungkook decides one day when he has too much time on his hands as he does his cardio workout.
That’s the only real explanation, Jungkook decides. He was totally fine when everything was platonic, but then Jungkook had to go and be Not Straight and fall in love with him and now it’s weird, because Namjoon doesn’t like him back.
He gets further into his workout, depression hitting him like a truck to the chest, and it isn’t until he gets to his cooldowns that the anger hits.
Because who the fuck decided it was Jungkook’s fault? It’s not his fault that he caught feelings. He was respectful, and didn't push, and didn't even tell Namjoon about it, so why is he the bad guy here? Why should he feel shitty when he did nothing wrong except get some feelings for the hottest, sweetest, smartest man on the planet?
He stops stretching and goes to the locker room just long enough to grab his bag. Yoongi gives him a weird look as the door slams shut behind him, but Jungkook pays no mind, because he is on a mission, dammit.
He doesn't run the entire way, too aware that he just finished a whole cardio workout, but he does lightly jog, treating it like its own cooldown on the way. He's never been here before, preferring to make his own stuff, but Jimin's bakery is easy to spot.
Serendipity sits comfortably nestled between two random other businesses that Jungkook's never paid much attention to, with a soft pink sign shaped like a cloud proclaiming the name in a cozy sans serif font and various artwork painted onto the windows. A large flag hands behind the counter, rainbow with the black and brown stripes at the top, and Jungkook can see a few people give him rude looks as he shoves his way into the cafe but he doesn't give a fuck about them.
He sees smaller flags, too, littered around the shop; he recognizes some of them – bi, pan, lesbian, trans, nonbinary, ace, mlm, and more he can't remember the names of but know they don't get enough attention. Jimin's easy to spot, too; they're sitting at the far end of the counter, facing the door, with what looks to be the standard uniform apron on, and a button that says 'They/Them' on the front of it, just above one that says 'owner.'
The people look comfortable and happy, and Jungkook wishes he'd known this place was here before now, because it seems like a really great place to hang out and the smell coming from the kitchen is divine, but he has Priorities.
So he marches right up to where Jimin is sitting, the cotton candy streaks faded by now, and the pink-haired god sitting beside him, and Jungkook curses his own good luck that Namjoon's even there.
"Can we help you?" Jimin asks coldly.
"Yeah," Jungkook says, but all of his anger evaporates as soon as he looks at Namjoon.
Because Namjoon looks upset. He looks uncomfortable and hurt and like he's about to run, and he looks like that because of Jungkook.
"Look," Jungkook starts, all of his anger gone and replaced with a bone-deep defeat that makes him feel heavy, "I'm sorry. I thought...well, I really thought you knew that I was queer, and I'm not sorry for that, but I'm sorry that I wasn't more careful around you. My feelings aren't anything you need to concern yourself with, and I don't expect you to, but I never wanted to make you uncomfortable because of them, either."
"What?" Namjoon chokes.
"Am I a little in love with you?" Jungkook continues. "Yeah, of course. You've got dimples that could stop traffic, killer thighs, and the biggest heart I've ever seen in anyone. You start talking about your work, or the aquarium you used to visit in the States all the time, and your entire face lights up with so much joy and passion that it's a wonder everyone else isn't in love with you, too. Also, you could crush a watermelon with your bicep, and that's really hot."
"What?"
"But," Jungkook adds, ignoring the twin stares of disbelief Jimin and Namjoon are giving him. "That's my thing, not yours. I tried not to make it obvious that I have feelings for you so that we could still be friends and workout buds, but I get it. I'm not super subtle sometimes, and you don't feel the same, and that's okay! I just...wish you had said something instead of just ghosting me."
"Wait, I'm sorry, you—"
"I usually do my workouts on Tuesdays," Jungkook tells him firmly, "But I know that's your only half-day, so I can switch to Wednesdays, and you don't have to worry about me making you uncomfortable with my pining and everything. I really enjoyed your friendship, Namjoon hyung, and I hope whoever gets to date you treats you the way you deserve."
He turns to leave but is stopped, Namjoon's hand on his shoulder.
"Jungkook-ah," Namjoon says quickly, "What the fuck are you talking about? You like me?"
"Uh, it's a bit more than that, but yeah," Jungkook says. "I think I made that pretty clear, which again, sorry for that."
"No, I'm–" Namjoon stops, shaking his head. He runs a hand over his face, resignation warring with amusement as he turns slightly red. "Jungkook-ah, I didn't know you had feelings for me."
Jungkook blinks. "You...really? Because everyone else seemed to."
"This seems like a private conversation," Jimin interjects, pulling a keyring from their pocket, with an almost gleeful look in their eyes. "Why don't you two go to my office and talk there, hm?"
"Yeah, alright," Namjoon agrees, taking the key and leading Jungkook toward the kitchen door.
"Play nice, don't do anything I would do!" Jimin calls after them.
Jungkook's face turns red as he follows, giving a sheepish wave to the kitchen staff as he and Namjoon pass.
Jimin's office isn't large – enough space for a chair, a desk with a computer and printer, and a small loveseat pushed against the door that has boxes stacked on top of it.
Namjoon gestures to the chair so Jungkook takes it, setting his gym bag by the door as he does. He feels small again, with Namjoon leaning against the edge of the desk and looking so much bigger than him.
"Look, I think...I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding," Namjoon says softly. "I think I came to the wrong conclusions somewhere."
"I just...you really didn't know?" Jungkook asks, looking up at Namjoon. The pink has faded a bit, the dark brown roots showing through ever so slightly.
"I thought you hated me," Namjoon says. Jungkook's eyes go wide, and Namjoon shakes his head. "Not...maybe not me, specifically, but I...you know, I'm trans, so some guys aren't really into that even if they're gay."
"That's stupid," Jungkook mutters. "And bigoted, and dumb, and I'm not—"
"I know," Namjoon cuts off. "Now. I know now. So first, you were so friendly and relaxed, I thought you were straight. Which was a tragedy, of course, because you're gorgeous and wonderful and so sweet that it gives me cavities."
"But I'm not straight," Jungkoom says slowly.
"No, you're not," Namjoon agrees. "So then you were interested in men, but not in me. So, why not me? Not to be overly confident, but most people who are interested in men at least comment on me at some point."
"Well, who can blame them?" Jungkook mutters, looking Namjoon up and down. He always looks good, but he's clearly come from work, based on the slacks and button-down he's wearing.
"See, exactly! And you'd been staring at me a bit, and then you saw my chest, with the scars from my top surgery, and then you busted your nose, and all I could think was that...maybe you didn't know I'm trans and you're...y'know…"
"A bigot?" Jungkook finishes, brows raised. "You'd hung out with me for months and you really thought I'd be a bigot?"
"You never know these days!" Namjoon counters. "They hide in plain sight!"
"I just... me?"
"I know," Namjoon sighs. "And I was so upset, because you're so smart and creative and sweet and your cute bunny smile and that mole under your lip that I just want to kiss, and I just– I was so upset, and I didn't want to be reminded that the person that I was so head over heels for was such a bad person and I just—"
"Wait," Jungkook stops. "Wait wait wait. You're head over heels for me? "
"Yeah, of course," Namjoon says, like it's something everyone knows. "I thought it was pretty obvious, personally. I talked to Yoongi hyung about it, that day I gave you my number. I figured he'd tell you."
"He did not, that snake," Jungkook mutters.
"Anyway," he laughs, "I am absolutely gone on you. I just thought—"
"But you were wrong," Jungkook reminds him, a smile growing. "And I am just as gone on you. So our feelings are mutual."
Namjoon stills, entire body seeming to freeze. "So they are."
"So…" Jungkook draws out the word, a cocky grin stretching across his face. "Does that mean I can take you out on a date?"
Namjoon ducks his head, a pretty flush spreading across his face. "I guess, if you'd like."
"Does that mean that we are officially dating?" Jungkook asks. "Because I do tend to kiss the people I'm dating."
Namjoon smiles up at him, a new look in his eye, and a thrill runs through him.
"Just kiss?" Namjoon asks. "Because you look... very good right now and I would love to, uh, apologize for my misunderstanding. If you'd like."
"Only if you want to," Jungkook tells him. "And I'd appreciate it if you let me apologize as well."
Namjoon's on him in an instant.
When they come out of the office thirty minutes later, Jungkook wiping his chin on his shirt as Namjoon readjusts his belt, Jimin is waiting for them.
"I said don't do anything I would do!" Jimin scolds them, hand out for their keys. Namjoon returns them, sheepish smile and all.
"I would say sorry but, um," he looks at Jungkook pointedly. "I'm really, really not. But I'll see you later."
"We have a date," Jungkook adds, lacing his fingers with Namjoon's.