Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Hyung! Hyung, I need your help!”

The door to Jimin’s apartment bangs open and Jimin jumps, splashing instant ramen water all over himself. There are noodles in his lap, very hot water soaking into his pants and burning his skin, the same water that’s all over his left hand. Jimin curses and flails around for a second as he tries to understand where to put his instant ramen and what to do now to stop the burning.

Jungkook is there suddenly, taking the ramen out of Jimin’s hold so that Jimin can get up and get cleaned up. Or rather – changed.

“This is all your fault. If I have burns you will pay. I will make you pay.” Jimin wobbles away to the bathroom as quickly as he can.

The air and the moving about is helping in cooling down the water, so by the time Jimin gets in the bathroom and has taken his sweatpants off all he needs to do is wash off the ramen smell and check to see if he needs to put a little bit of ointment on the redder parts of his thighs.

Jungkook is cackling in the kitchen, maybe.

When Jimin gets out, wearing new pants and an annoyed glare, Jungkook is already there with a new ramen dish sorted out and put in a bowl, no soup around to be spilled. He squints at Jungkook in suspicion, but takes the food anyway. Food is food, after all.

“What are you trying to buy me for?” Jimin asks anyway.

Jungkook hops up to sit on the kitchen counters and swings his legs back and forth, his heels making quiet thunk thunk sounds whenever they hit the cabinet doors. “Well. You see, there is a thing happening.”

“Jungkook, no.”

“You mean Jungkook, yes, hyung.” Jungkook counters immediately. He makes his eyes bigger than they are, playing up the puppy dog impression that always gets the younger whatever he wants. “It’s nothing bad, I just need help with a thing and if it’s you then everyone will believe me.”

Jimin’s suspicion grows as he chews his ramen. “Believe you?”

“That we’re dating.”

At first Jimin just blinks, swallows. He pokes at food that Jungkook had made and thinks. On one hand this is not the worst thing that Jungkook has ever tried to pull Jimin into. On the other, this one thing is bound to end up in a huge mess for sure. Best friends they may be, but that doesn’t, and wouldn’t, make them a good couple.

Probably. Maybe. Who knows.

“And I already told everyone at work that I’m bringing my date. So that they don’t try and set me up with whoever they had in mind. And you know my co-workers.” Jungkook keeps laying it on, playing on Jimin’s heartstrings and sympathy.

Jimin sighs long and drawn-out. It’s working. “I know your co-workers, I really do. But I also don’t trust that story at all.”

“I did tell them I’m dating someone.” Jungkook doesn’t elaborate. “But it is also kind of a dare thing, and you have to fake date me. Because you love me and I’m cute.”

With another heavy sigh Jimin looks at Jungkook, his head leaning on his palm. A part of Jimin knows that this will not end well. Not for him, not with this track record, not with his crush that lives buried deep inside, with Jimin pretending that it doesn’t exist and everything is fine . But what else can he do but agree. Because it’s Jungkook asking, because they are best friends and because Jimin is weak.

“Yeah, sure, I’ll do it.” Jimin swallows, smiles wide and says, “Boyfriend.”

Jungkook cackles once again, his eyes scrunch up with the move. It’s cute. And Jimin is weak.

…

Jimin meets Seokjin for lunch on the next Monday, as they usually do.

They talk about the usual Monday stupidity that their company gets up to, the one manager from Seokjin’s side of the business that always comes up with the most amazing of new strategy ideas that, more often than not, end up as flaming failures. Jimin recounts his own anecdotes from the many emails he had gotten during the weekend.

Seokjin slurps the last of his soup and then sighs in content. “Now then, will you tell me about why you look emotionally constipated, or are we gonna ignore that?”

“Sometimes I really hate how perceptive you are.” Jimin huffs.

“It’s part of my charms and why everyone loves me. Apart from my handsomeness.” Seokjin dabs at his mouth with a napkin and sniffs, waiting. “Well?”

Jimin groans quietly. But he does want to talk to someone about the mess he has agreed to be a part of, and Seokjin is one of his best friends apart from Jungkook, a perfect neutral party when advice is needed, especially because the man doesn’t see the point in empty assurances. So, Jimin tells Seokjin about Jungkook and the fake dating, the mess that Jimin knows this will all turn into. At least, on his end.

Seokjin listens quietly, then nods only once. “Yep, you’ve fucked yourself.”

“Gee, thanks. I wasn’t aware.” Jimin looks down at the table and contemplates if he wants to forsake his dignity and just lay on top of it. “Why did I agree?”

“Because you have a soft spot for that kid the size of Russia, even without your crush.” Seokjin doesn’t mince words.

Jimin glares down at the table, knowing better than to do that at Seokjin himself.

“But maybe it’s not all that bad. I mean, you could use this chance to find your balls and confess. Or, like, hint to that. Pretty sure your boyfriend won’t get subtle emotional constipation like I can.” Seokjin sips his coffee, pinky finger raised and all.

For a moment Jimin allows himself the joy of imagining that happening and things going positively. The fake turning into real. The dates and hand-holding, and the scandal, kissing even. 

But then all of the bad ways that this could go run through his head and Jimin cringes at the scenarios that his imagination manages to come up with. 

Jungkook is too nice to drop Jimin just because of a confession, but it would not be the same.

There is a flick against Jimin’s forehead that makes him snap out of the daydream.

Seokjin’s face is very unimpressed. “This is not a drama, nor are you a shoujo manga protagonist, stop that.”

“You are so mean sometimes, hyung.” Jimin rubs at this forehead. He’s sure that there will be a red spot there for a while.

“It’s called cold hard truth loving.” Seokjin sniffs as he gathers his things to leave, “Look at how me and Tae got together! I did the adult thing and confessed, and it all turned out fantastic.”

Now it’s Jimin’s turn to look at Seokjin like he’s lost a few marbles somewhere along the way. “Hyung. You ran away from Taehyung for two weeks before he caught you and accidentally locked both of you in the supply room. I wouldn’t call that fantastic.”

“And yet I confessed, and we got together, and are now in gross gay love, so who’s the real winner here, Park Jimin? The answer – not you.” Seokjin pats Jimin on the head like one would do to a small child and then starts walking towards the exit.

…

“Why are you in my house again, Jungkook?” Jimin drops his work bag by the door, toes off his shoes and then slowly makes his way to the bedroom to change. “Did you eat? I thought you work until seven on Mondays?”

Jungkook just throws a peace sign from where he is laying all over the sofa in lieu of an answer.

When Jimin emerges once again, this time dressed in a comfy sweater and an old pair of shorts that at some point might have been Jungkook’s, the younger has finally sat up. Jungkook pats the freed-up space next to him eagerly. Jimin eyes his beaming fake boyfriend with a certain dose of Jungkook-specific suspicion.

“I don’t trust you and you haven’t answered me yet.” Jimin doesn’t move closer.

Jungkook increases the speed of his pats. “ Hyuuuung , come on. Sit. We need to do boyfriend training, so I swapped hours around.”

Jimin still doesn’t move. “The what now?”

“Boyfriend training! You know, holding hands and leaning against each other romantically, that kind of stuff. Nicknames.” Jungkook lists off one by one, like one might do for a grocery list.

“JK, babe, we don’t need to do that. That would make us look kind of fake.” Jimin still takes a seat next to Jungkook and puts his hand in the other man’s open palm. “There? Better?”

Jungkook nods. “Yes. Keep it up with the babes, that’s boyfriend-y.” 

And so, Jimin goes along with it for however long Jungkook wants to “train” for, though two hours in Jimin makes them take a break for food. There isn’t much in his fridge since he hasn’t done a proper grocery run in a hot minute, but there are enough things around to make fried rice. The tasks get sorted out quickly and without much words, as this is not the first time that Jimin and Jungkook cook together.

While one washes the rice the other cuts what needs to be cut. While Jimin starts on the frying part of the fried rice, Jungkook gets the plates and table ready. When Jimin offers some for Jungkook to taste since the younger is far better with spices, a piece of rice gets stuck on the corner of the man’s lips.

“Oh, wait, here.” Jimin picks off the rice and eats it without a second thought. “Does it need something?”

Jungkook licks the same spot on his lips and hums, “I don’t think so. Tastes good enough.”

“Hm, then it’s ready, I think.”

They eat while they talk about work and whatever else comes to mind. Anything but the fake dating plan, which Jimin isn’t against. For the sake of his own feelings and sanity he doesn’t want to do more training, not when said training includes practice on how to fake being in love. Something that Jimin doesn’t need to fake, but now he needs to fake that he is faking it. A whole mess and it’s been barely a couple of days.

“So, when’s your work thing anyway?” Jimin asks in the end.

Perhaps if Jimin knows when it’s happening he’ll have enough time to get ready. If he knows how long it will be easier to prepare for when everything goes back to normal.

Jungkook sucks some sauce off his thumb and smacks his lips. “In two weeks, ish. It’s going to be a Christmas getaway thing up in some camping spot or whatever.”

“I think I need to apply for some time off then. Might work out great, since now I won’t have extras transferring to next year, less paperwork to deal with.” Jimin thinks out loud, already planning out how to use the last of his vacation days with Jungkook’s thing being added into his schedule.

“Weren’t you going to take those out, like, a month ago?” Jungkook asks.

Jimin sticks out his tongue at the other man. “Shut up, I forgot.”

“Hyung. Do I need to send you a reminder message tomorrow?” Jungkook waves his chopsticks around a little as he speaks, the food already gone from his plate, “I had to do it last year for Christmas as well.”

“I’m not that forgetful, you brat.” Jimin picks up a tissue and throws it Jungkook’s way.

Jungkook, of course, blocks with ease and throws the tissue right back. “I’ll send you a reminder, then.”

After dinner Jungkook decides to stay the night. There are enough of his spare clothes laying around in Jimin’s closet that it’s not a problem. This would not be the first, nor the last time, that this happens. While Jimin makes the sofa up for Jungkook to sleep on, he wonders absentmindedly if he will do a good enough job of playing his part, if Jungkook’s co-workers will believe them.

Fresh out of a shower and with breath smelling of mint Jungkook hugs Jimin from behind and nuzzles into his hair. “Goodnight, hyung.” 

“Night, Jungkookie.” Jimin pats Jungkook’s hip and then wiggles out of the backhug with ease.

…

Next day Jimin gets a message reminder about the vacation days from Jungkook. He files for them immediately.

…

The park is cold, snowy and there are little kids throwing snowballs at anyone that passes by their little snow stronghold. Jimin has been hit like five times already while Jungkook is in the middle of an outright snowball fight with the kids. Despite feeling slightly annoyed for being dragged out here for unknown reasons Jimin still takes a couple of pictures of said war and posts them online.

When Jungkook returns to Jimin’s side he’s flushed and sweaty, no longer wearing his hat or scarf.

“You will catch hypothermia and die, Jungkook.” Jimin chides, tutting as he tries to pull Jungkook’s scarf from out of the man’s jacket pocket. “Hey!”

Jungkook dances out of Jimin’s reach and runs off again.

After catching Jungkook and forcing at least the scarf on him Jimin finds himself walking along the park, hand in hand with his best friend. Jungkook talks about the latest gossip about his younger sister, his free arm waving around wildly as he recounts the story. Jimin leans onto the other man’s shoulder as he laughs.

They both fall on their asses when they step on an icy patch on the walkway, Jimin slipping first and bringing Jungkook down with him.

“My butt hurts, hyung.” Jungkook doesn’t bother getting up yet, just stays laying on the cold ground.

Jimin rolls onto his side to try and sit up carefully. “Serves you right for something. And mine hurts too, ugh.”

After getting as far as crouching on all fours Jimin glances at Jungkook. The younger man is splayed out like a starfish, with snow in his hair and a goofy grin on his face. He looks young and handsome, like a prince from a movie, despite the puffy winter jacket. Jimin crawls over and falls atop Jungkook with an oof . Jungkook barely flinches and just wraps an arm around Jimin’s waist.

“The ground is very cold, Jimin-ssi. Someone scolded me for getting hypothermia not even an hour ago, I wonder who that was huh, Jimin-ssi?” Jungkook doesn’t do anything to either get Jimin off, or get off the ground in general.

“A smart and caring person I’d say. You should really listen to them, Jungkook-ssi.” Jimin plays along.

And then Jungkook pushes a loose ball of snow in Jimin’s face.

The snow fight that ensues is less coordinated effort to get back at Jungkook and more of Jimin just pelting whatever he can reach at the other man. They roll around the ground more than anything, the snow getting everywhere – under their jackets and pants, inside their shoes getting their socks wet. It’s not a long fight either, as Jimin tires easily and Jungkook gives up when he sees Jimin flopping down onto a rather large snow pile and just stays lying there.

Jungkook ends up taking a selca with Jimin’s defeated form in the background, himself making a victory peace sign.

“I hate you.” Jimin whines when Jungkook pulls him up and towards a nearby café.

Jungkook nudges Jimin’s side with cold fingers that wiggle under all the layers the man has on only to press against warm skin. “No, you don’t.”

Jimin’s shrieks are loud and he kicks out with one leg to make Jungkook stop. Later, as compensation, Jungkook buys him a large mug of hot cocoa at the café, one that has marshmallows floating atop of it. Logically, Jimin knows this is just their usual hanging out as friends, but a part of him thinks of this as a date. A fake date as fake boyfriends, maybe, but a date.

“Aaaah, this was fun!” Jungkook stretches once they are back outside.

Jimin burrows deeper into his own puffy winter jacket and giggles, “I just hope we don’t get sick after this. Getting sick leave is a pain.”

“Don’t worry, hyung, idiots don’t catch colds.” Jungkook says and immediately skips away.

“Yeah, you’re ri--. Wait! Jeon Jungkook!” Jimin bolts right after the other man the second Jungkook’s words truly register.

Later, back at home and wrapped in the fluffiest blanket that he owns, Jimin checks his social media. There, on Jungkook’s Instagram is a picture compilation of them both from today’s outing, coupled with a funny caption. Jimin likes it, just like he does to all of Junkook’s posts, but then goes down and reads some of the comments. Many are calling them a cute couple, also as usual, but this time it just hits differently for some reason.

…

Of course, Jimin gets sick.

At work Seokjin walks past Jimin’s little desk and stops in his tracks to level a judging stare at him. All Jimin can do is shrug helplessly. There is one of the work-provided mugs on his desk, full of steaming Theraflu and making everything around Jimin smell like artificial lemon.

Jimin coughs behind his face mask.

“So, pray tell me, stupid friend of mine, why are you at work? While sick. When we have a  magical thing called sick leave to use in cases like yours?” Seokjin doesn’t come closer.

“I can’t . I need to help with the workload before I go on my vacation. Besides, it’s not that bad, just a little bit of a cold. Probably.” Jimin sniffs. He then pulls his face mask lower to take a sip of his cold drink. It’s sour and his face pulls into a grimace, “Ugh, this thing is nasty.”

Seokjin just sighs. “If you contaminate the whole damn office I’m revoking our friendship, Park Jimin.”

Despite his sore throat and stuffy nose, Jimin still giggles. “Sure, you can try, hyung!”

“Mark my words!” Seokjin waves his hand as he rounds a corner and disappears.

Work is, as expected, horrible. While the cold medicine does manage to hold the worst at bay, Jimin still feels exhausted and sleepy throughout the day. He avoids as many people as he can, more for their sake than his own, and is forced to triple-check every document that he works on just to be sure that there are no silly mistakes in them before sending them off to their rightful recipients.

In the evening Jimin falls onto his sofa with a pleased groan. The apartment is quiet and dark, since Jimin was too lazy to turn on any lights. With a sigh he takes out his phone and checks any messages that he had gotten while commuting home, then the emails and afterwards lazily scrolls through twitter and Instagram .

A few minutes after whining on twitter about how shit he feels and how the cold should be outlawed and destroyed, Jimin’s phone rings. With a whine he squints at the bright screen and tries to read the caller’s ID.

It’s Jungkook.

“Heeey, JK. Ohh, that rhymed.” Jimin rasps the second the call connects.

On the other side of the call Jungkook makes a soft woah sound. “Hyung, you sound like a very old chain-smoker.”

“I will find you and I will sneeze on you.” Jimin grumbles in return, “What did you want from me?”

“I saw on twitter that you’re sick and just wanted to check in on you. Can’t believe that between the two of us you were the one that caught something after the park outing.” Jungkooks’ laughing a little as he speaks. There is also a lot of rustling in the background.

 Jimin blows a raspberry at the phone, close enough for the call to pick up the sound obnoxiously loudly. “All your fault, this is all your fault, Jungkook! Come to the park with me, it’s gonna be fun, we’re gonna try and be boyfriend-y in public. Well, look at me now! Miserable and dying.”

“You’re not dying, you have a cold, hyung. Are you home already?” Jungkook grunts as he moves around.

“Yeah, I’m dying on my couch. In the dark, alone, suffering.” Jimin rolls on his back and yawns, “How’s your project going?”

Jungkook hums and the clicking of computer keys may be faint, but it’s there in the background. “Pretty good. Boss seems happy. Oh, and the ladies at work seem to believe that we’re dating, and one even apologized to me for trying to set me up on dates. It was pretty nice, but I still wonder if we’ll manage to fool them once we get to the party.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.” Jimin tries to pretend that it’s the sickness that makes him sound not entirely genuine. And not his own stupid feelings.

Tired after a day of work and being sick at work, Jimin yawns.

Jungkook quickly catches onto the sound and protests loudly, “Wait, hyung! Don’t sleep yet!”

“What? Whyyy? I’m tired, Jungkookie.”

“Just like ten minutes, hyung, come on.” Jungkook speaks louder than before on purpose before giggling to himself, “Promise me, hyung. Ten more minutes!”

Jimin huffs, though does feel a little less sleepy, “ Fine , sure. Ten more minutes.”

The call ends and Jimin gets up to turn on the lights. He finds little things to do around the apartment to pass the time, including changing into his pajamas and making another Theraflu drink in hopes that this one helps him sleep better than he did the night before. Around ten minutes later someone rings Jimin’s doorbell and he is very confused.

On the other side of the door is a deliveryman with warm dinner for Jimin. He asks about the payment, but that’s already been taken care of, so Jimin is only left with the duty of finishing the samgyetang serving before going to bed.

Jimin sends a quick thank you <3 message to Jungkook while he slurps the warm broth.

He gets a np <3 back.

…

After a week spent in a stressed daze at work, doing half of what he usually manages, Jimin finally has the weekend to just sleep. Sleep and marinate in his own yucky sick feelings and the slowly oncoming dread about the fake-dating showcase that is Jungkook’s work party.

Jimin no longer worries about being found out in their lie. Now it’s the worry about the after. About his own feelings that might (or rather, will) grow and then stay. Heart confused with the sudden stop of everything couple-y, despite the prior knowledge of it all ending that way. Will Jimin be able to keep his own damned feelings under wraps like he used to before when he will have gotten a look and feel of boyfriend Jungkook? Of how it is to date the man he likes? Perhaps even loves, if he were brave enough to admit it even after all this time.

There is a knock on the door.

Suspicious and not in the mood for guests, Jimin creeps up to the door silently and peers through the peephole. Jungkook stands on the other side, bundled up and holding bags of something. He’s peering right at the peephole, one eyebrow raised in a way that lets Jimin know that Jungkook knows what’s happening right now and is judging him hard.

Jimin cracks the door open just enough to show one annoyed eye and nothing else. “I’m in self-quarantine, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to make sure you don’t die, and also for boyfriend training, but just the easy level.” Jungkook wiggles his knee between the doorframe and the door to get it to open more.

Jimin huffs and huffs, but lets his best friend in anyway. “I’m sick.”

“Yeah, so I brought sick people food. Something that I bet you don’t have in your apartment.” Jungkook jumps from foot to foot as he tries to take off his shoes without letting go of the bag. He’s successful.

“I’m sick of you and your disrespect.” Jimin grumbles.

Jungkook’s cackle is loud and bright. “You’re just whiny because you’re sick, hyung. You like to be babied, admit it.”

“Never, you brat.”

..

With Jungkook’s attention taken over by whatever he’s cooking Jimin is free to look at the man’s bare forearms in peace. The muscles shift with whatever Jungkook is doing and Jimin tries not to blink too much.

“Ok, top five couple names, hyung. Go.” Jungkook drops some chopped vegetables in a pot and then snaps his fingers at Jimin.

It takes a little bit before Jimin comprehends the order and he frowns. “What?”

“We need to have nicknames like a couple! And also make it natural, like, like we’ve been using them for a while. You know, like couples do.” Jungkook sniffs at a box of kimchi that has been in Jimin’s fridge for an unknown period of time and decides not to add it to whatever he is making. “Gotta avoid performance issues.”

Jimin ponders this and then says the first thing that comes to mind, “Sounds like you’re talking about dick problems.”

“Hyung!” Jungkook chokes.

The stew is bubbling on the stove and Jimin sits facing Jungkook. They call out whatever nicknames that they can think of while looking at each other and trying not to cringe or break into nervous giggles. For some it works and for others it’s a disaster.

When Jimin says sweet cheeks with a completely straight face Jungkook splutters and has to turn away from him to laugh his little heart out. It goes almost identically for Jimin when Jungkook leans in and whispers snookums in what he seems to think is a sexy whisper.

Jimin hits his head on the table and then sits with a frozen vegetable mix pack wrapped in a towel held to his forehead. Thanks to that little accident they decide to stick with just their own names, or the occasional babe , or honey , if it something really warrants the use of nicknames.

“Some couples don’t use them at all. Look at my hyung.” Jimin huffs as he manages to bite into an especially hot piece of potato and meat. “Ow, my tongue, fuck.”

“No offence, hyung, but I heard what Namjoon-hyung tried to call his wife once and I’m surprised she didn’t put something in his tea. The look she gave me made me fear her, in like, an admiration kind of way.” Jungkook slurps the broth with flourish.

“Noona is one of a kind indeed.” Jimin agrees.

The rest of the day is spent trying out the two acceptable nicknames here and there as they watch a movie. Before leaving Jungkook nags Jimin into agreeing to finish the whole stew before it goes bad and to take the proper medication if needed. Jimin kicks him out gently, and with promises of letting Jungkook know how the cold goes.

As he watches Jungkook jog to the closest metro station from his living room window, Jimin’s heart beats quicker at the memory of Jungkook laughing and calling him babe . Jimin knows he’s fucked because that memory will stay with him forever.

...

When Jungkook picks Jimin up for the trip to the company party he takes one look at Jimin and shakes his head. Jimin kicks snow at the younger before getting into the car with a huff.

The drive itself is quiet in a comfortable way and Jimin falls asleep very soon into it.

…

The camping spot is pretty, like something straight out of a western Christmas card. Little houses covered in snow, a large pine tree decorated with lights and ornaments that glitter in the bright, midday sun. There are fairy lights strung in the cabin windows – not yet turned on, but ready to illuminate the windows once night falls.

It’s a beautiful spot that Jungkook’s company has rented out.

“I can’t believe you’re still sick, hyung,” Jungkook tuts as he heaves both of their luggage up to carry it to the reception.

Jimin sniffs loudly. “This happens every stupid winter at some point. I can’t believe I need to suffer through your company thing with a cold.” He wobbles behind Jungkook as quickly as he can.

The checking in goes easily. Jimin meets some of Jungkook’s colleagues that are hanging around the reception just to see who else has shown up. The two women and the one guy Jimin recognizes as Hoseok, asks him the usual questions about who he is, why he is here, where he works. It’s only when Jimin nods towards Jungkook and says he’s here with the boyfriend that one of the women widens her eyes and seems much more interested in him suddenly.

“Oh! You’re the mystery boyfriend! Or, well, the boyfriend we didn’t really realize was a boyfriend.” The woman giggles, hand hiding her mouth, “I felt a little silly trying to set up our Jungkook here with some of the single ladies in the office, when looking back it was very obvious that he was taken all this time. It was always Jimin this and Jimin that.”

The other woman, the one with shorter hair, slaps the first one’s shoulder playfully. “Erica, I told you, like, ages ago he’s dating. It was very obvious from the Instagram posts. Honestly.” She then turns to Jimin and smiles, “Sorry about that, this one doesn’t use social media much.”

“You’re a lying liar that lies constantly, Doyun, I never trust you.” Erica sniffs in fake indignation before turning away to try and hide her amused little grin.

Hoseok rolls his eyes a little. “Ignore them, Jimin-ssi, they are both a different kind of nosey.”

Doyun kicks Hoseok’s ankle with surprising power and precision, “Don’t you even start, Hoseok-ah, you’re no better than us. All the gossip you stick your nose into!”

Jungkook chooses this time to step next to Jimin, cabin keys in hand and hair a mess. He takes in the bickering trio and somehow manages to make his groan into a cough. The younger does say his hellos and how are you-s before reaching out to fistbump Hoseok.

“Did you already get your cabins?” Jungkook asks the trio.

Doyun nods towards Erica with her head, “Yeah, I’m sharing with this one. My boyfriend refused to come with me this time around, something about stomach pains and food poisoning. But if you ask me, I just think he didn’t want to deal with our head manager again.”

“The interior is so pretty! We got our little plastic tree in there and everything.” Erica chimes in, her fingers already flying across her phone’s screen as she looks for the photos to show off. “My camera is kinda crap, but here, look.”

Jimin leans in and coos. “That’s a cute little tree, aww.”

“Right? The cutest. I might steal it when we leave.” Erica lowers her voice to a whisper on the last part. She has a look in her eye that makes Jimin think that she’s not joking around.

Doyun rolls her eyes. “Don’t worry, I won’t let her do that.”

“You sure you can stop her?” Hoseok asks, one eyebrow raised. Then he turns to Jungkook and continues, “Yoongi kicked me out to get some sleep. Said I exist too loudly for his hungover state to take it. I put his alarm to ring in,” the man checks his phone, “half an hour from now on, kinda. I might not survive this trip.”

Jungkook’s sudden coughing sounds more like barely hidden laughter.

“Yeah, yeah, laugh about it.” Hoseok plays along with an exaggerated pout, his eyes going wide and sad.

Doyun sighs and looks towards Jimin as she speaks, “They do this every time. I feel sorry for Yoongi-ssi sometimes.”

“I don’t. I like the drama.” Erica chimes in.

“At least you’re never bored?” Jimin phrases it like a question. A sneeze interrupts whatever he wanted to say next, though and he groans, patting his pockets for his tissue pack. “Ugh, I’m so sorry. Kook, do you have tissues?”

Jungkook reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out some immediately. As Jimin is busy being disgusting and trying to blow his nose as politely as he can, the younger says their goodbyes to the other three and pulls Jimin to where their baggage has been left by the reception desk. Jimin waves to the trio on his way out, other hand still holding a tissue up to his nose.

“There should be a mini kitchen in the cabin, so we can make you tea. And then maybe the cold meds that you take.” Jungkook walks ahead. He’s squinting at the cabin numbers as they pass them by, muttering the numbers to himself.

Jimin sniffs one more time before he pockets the nasty tissue, “Oh, that would be nice. I bought peppermint with me.”

“And not yuzu?”

“Ran out and haven’t gotten around to buying more yet.” Jimin runs up to Jungkook and peers at the key in the younger man’s hand. He looks around then makes a soft aha sound. “There, there! That one’s ours.”

Inside of the cabin really is as cute as the outside, perhaps even more so. Earthy tones and soft blankets, a kitchenette to the side. They also have a tiny, fake Christmas tree put in the corner, underneath the mounted TV. But what catches Jimin’s attention the most is the bed.

The singular bed that they have.

Just one.

Jungkook is also staring at it with a strange look on his face. When he turns to Jimin he licks his lips before he says, “Well. We are here as a couple after all.”

Jimin feels a little faint and it has nothing to do with his cold. There are many thoughts in his head, though one in particular is of Jungkook’s muscular body pressed against his, both of them cuddling the night away. Jimin tells that thought to get the hell out before he somehow manages to make everything awkward thanks to it. He’s here as Jungkook’s friend pretending to be Jungkook’s boyfriend and nothing else.

“I hope I don’t pass you my cold.” Jimin ends up commenting.

In response to that Jungkook just rolls his eyes and dumps their bags on the ground, “I doubt that’s gonna happen, hyung.”

…

Jimin and Jungkook arrive at the first dinner hall as some of the last people there. There are less people from Jungkook’s company present than Jimin thought there would be, but since it is Christmas season most of his coworkers were surely either on vacations or had their own plans set prior to the company party.

With a hum Jimin sips the warm peppermint tea from his flask.

It’s a buffet style setting, so the two of them get whatever they feel like and then look around for open spots to sit. Luckily, there are two on the table that houses Hoseok and a man who must be Yoongi, the hungover boyfriend. They talk a little, Yoongi shooting off jokes and giggling about the way Hoseok keeps his plate full of food.

Throughout the evening Jungkook refills Jimin’s tea for him. Jimin thanks the younger man every time with either a gentle pat on the head or a quiet thank you , something that makes Hoseok coo at them both and ask Yoongi why they aren’t that cute anymore.

Jungkook then turns smug and pulls Jimin close to him, arm wrapped around his back, just to gloat about how cute the two of them are.

By the end of the meal Jimin keeps Jungkook quiet by feeding the man grapes one by one.

“Will we be seeing you tomorrow for the workshops?” Hoseok asks as they all bundle up for the outside cold.

Jimin glances from Jungkook to Hoseok in confusion, “Workshops? Jungkook didn’t tell me about any workshops?”

“I didn’t think you’d be interested.” Jungkook shoots back, nose and mouth already hidden under two layers of scarf.

“I will cough on you. I love Christmas workshops and you know it! It’s usually gingerbreads or candles, or decoration making. Jeon Jungkook !” Jimin grabs the sleeve of Jungkook’s coat and shakes it with vigor. He’d even go as far as to stomp his foot if Jungkook’s coworkers weren’t still around and if they were in their own little cabin, not a very public space.

The way Jungkook’s eyebrows have scrunched together makes it obvious the man knows very well that Jimin is holding back. “Hyung, oh my god, it’s just a workshop. Plus, you’re sick.”

“I bet it’s ‘cause you don’t want to go, is that right? Well, I can go without you.” Jimin huffs and turns back to Hoseok, determined to find out everything about these workshops, “Tell me everything, Hoseok-ssi. Now. Please.”

Hoseok is barely holding back laughter it seems like. His face is a little red, though it could also be flushed from the few glasses of wine that he had with the dinner, but the mirth in the man’s eyes tells a different story. Behind him, Yoongi isn’t even trying to be subtle, or hide his amusement about the whole situation. Jungkook, for his part, is still frowning.

With the information obtained Jimin finally allows himself to be pulled off into the dark night. Jungkook sniffs occasionally due to the cold. Once back in their cabin Jimin gladly gets out of his winter clothes and goes straight to the little kitchenette to make more tea. In the background are the little noises of Jungkook moving about, putting their clothes in the proper places, the TV is then turned on, then the bathroom door opens and closes quietly.

With his tea done Jimin curls up in one of the two big, soft armchairs and yawns. He should take a shower, probably, but with how lazy he’s feeling that probably won’t happen. Besides, Jimin took one yesterday, so he’s not that gross or smelly just yet.

Jimin blinks back into consciousness to Jungkook’s face hovering near him. He groans, shivers a little and then looks around in confusion.

“You fell asleep, hyung.” Jungkook murmurs, voice low and soothing. He smells like lemon body wash. “You’re lucky you finished your tea before doing that, or your whole lap would smell like peppermint.” He doesn’t step away, but does put the empty mug on the floor.

“What.” Jimin rasps, sniffs. “Oh. I need to brush my teeth.”

Jungkook pulls Jimin up with little effort and pushes him towards the bathroom. “Yeah, you do. Garlic, fish and peppermint don't really mix well, if you ask me.” He slaps Jimin’s ass lightly.

“I didn’t even eat any fish, fuck you.” Jimin mumbles as he wobbles into the bathroom.

Teeth brushed, face washed and bladder empty, Jimin steps out of the bathroom ready to change into his pajamas. Jungkook is already in bed and playing games on his phone. Somehow it doesn’t register before Jimin’s halfway under the blankets that he will need to sleep next to Jungkook for the whole night. And they might cuddle at some point.

Not that it would be the first time. But, all of those times were before Jimin’s revelation about his own feelings.

And now it’s after. In the same bed for some three or four nights.

“Hyung, are you trying not to fart?” Jungkook drops his phone on the nightstand on his side of the bed and looks at Jimin with one raised eyebrow.

Jimin moves instantly, despite the sleepiness. He grabs his pillow and hits Jungkook with it. The tussle that results because of that is short lived and leaves him slightly breathless, while Jungkook just laughs and pushes him away with one arm. Jimin falls atop the mattress and glares, unwilling to admit to anything, or reveal the real reason he froze.

“Go to sleep.”

“I was, but then you ruined it.”

While Jimin doesn’t see it, he knows that Jungkook just rolled his eyes. So he kicks the other man. In return Jungkook pokes him in the ribs, then puts Jimin’s own pillow on his face with a fwump . The lights turn off the second Jimin gets his pillow where it should be, the blanket pulled up to his armpits.

“Night, Jungkookie.”

“Goodnight, Hyung.”

Jimin curls up on one side, facing away from Jungkook. But it’s impossible to ignore the man next to him, Jungkook’s body heat, his quiet snores. It’s easy to fall asleep despite all that, mostly thanks to the cold that still lingers. It’s warm under the blanket. Warmer still when an arm snakes around his waist right before Jimin falls asleep.

…

With a sniff and a yawn Jimin slowly comes to when the phone alarm starts ringing obnoxiously from Jungkook’s side of the bed. He grunts, grumbles quietly. Slowly he peeks one eye open and immediately frowns at the cleavage he is facing. Granted, it’s a covered cleavage, but a shirt doesn’t change what it seems to be.

Something around Jimin’s waist tightens and he is pulled a little bit closer to Jungkook, so close that his nose touches the dip between the other man’s chest a little bit. Just teeny, tiny bit.

Jimin is not ashamed to admit to himself that he will probably have many a wet dream over this situation later on, when he won’t feel quite as awkward as he does right now.

The alarm continues to ring, getting louder by the second.

Jungkook doesn’t care.

With some effort Jimin manages to sort of sit up and lean over Jungkook’s sleeping bulk. It takes some stretching and wiggling forward, but Jimin manages to somehow get the phone and turn off the annoying screech of the alarm. He sighs, goes limp while still stretched over Jungkook. It’s an uncomfortable pose to be in, with the other man’s side digging into Jimin’s stomach and pushing onto his bladder, but Jimin is still a little too sleepy to move just yet.

Just as Jimin is starting to get sleepy enough to pass out again something touches his butt. He blinks awake, frowns in the general direction of the entrance door and windows, then grunts when whatever has touched his butt squeezes.

Jungkook makes a sleepy, questioning noise.

“That’s my ass.” Jimin rasps, voice sleep rough and strained due to the weird pose he is still in.

With another sleepy noise Jungkook’s hand lets go and the man rolls onto his back, moving Jimin along with him. Jimin exhales in relief when he flops properly on the bed and half on Jungkook, stomach against stomach. The younger yawns, scratches at his bedhead and looks down with a sleepy, furrowed look on his face.

There is not a gram of awareness or understanding in the gaze yet.

Jimin pats the closest thing he can reach, which is Jungkook’s boob, in sort of a consolation attempt. “I woke up ‘cause of the alarm. You can sleep a bit longer.”

With a grunt Jungkook nods, closes his eyes and falls back asleep instantly.

Jimin however, cannot do just that because he has suddenly become aware of a problem he needs to take care of. Which he takes care of by getting in the shower and ignoring it completely until it goes away. Mornings plus having Jungkook close, some might even say in intimate proximity, are not a good combination and Jimin is just relieved that Jungkook is the way he is and mornings are not his things. It’s embarrassing enough as it is already.

By the time Jimin gets out of the bathroom Jungkook has also gotten out of bed and has made two cups of tea for them – something fruity for himself and a peppermint one for Jimin and his lingering cold.

“Thank you, JK.”

Jungkook nods as he yawns, then smacks his lips once, twice. “I didn’t know your ass was that soft, hyung. Nice.”

“Oh my god. It’s like seven in the morning, Jungkook.” Jimin groans in his tea, fully aware that his face must be very red right now. And not because of the hot shower.

“Ten, actually, but nice reference.” Jungkook notes.

..

When Jungkook gets in the bathroom for his own morning needs Jimin puts his cup of tea down and flops on the bed face down for a moment. He ponders if he can scream for just a second, quietly. Just a little bit, so that he can get back to pretending all of this is not affecting him so much. It’s one thing to sleep next to your best friend and crush and it’s a whole other thing to have said best friend and crush grope your butt and then compliment it.

Jimin swallows, turns on his back and breathes in deep, then exhales. “You can survive this, Park Jimin. You can.” His words sound unsure even to himself.

…

After a quick breakfast Jimin pulls Jungkook towards the large conference room turned workshop space for the day, or even the whole duration of the work party. While the room itself isn’t all too decorated, the tables that have been set up for the different activities are full of shiny and sparkly things.

Jimin grabs Jungkook’s hand tightly, breathes in and says, “I’m gonna do everything here and you will too.”

“But there is snowboarding, hyung.” Jungkook whines as he reluctantly follows along. “And skiing. Why can’t we go do that? Or I can go do that and you can stay here and, uh, decorate stuff.”

Before Jimin can explain to Jungkook that no, actually, they both need to be here and do the cute Christmas workshops and tomorrow he can go do sports, someone else interferes.

“For those that have a need for feeling the extreme, there is a competition for best gingerbread, ornament and wreath. You can make as many as you want but only one of your creations can be submitted for the competition.” The man is tall, with messy hair and is very, very handsome. “But your boyfriend wouldn’t be the first one to think this is too girly for him.” The man winks at Jimin and then flounces off to help a different couple with some of the wreath materials.

Jimin is a little bit in awe.

“Did he just call me a coward?” Jungkook questions.

“Yep, he indeed did, Jungkook!” Doyun skips past them and then turns around with a slight wobble, “I heard from HR that the prizes are pretty good this year. But that’s all they were willing to tell me.”

Erica is not far behind. The woman is sporting some impressive bedhead and looks to be still half-asleep. “You mean they caught you eavesdropping. Can I eat the gingerbreads if I fuck it up?” She yawns.

Jimin doesn’t bother paying attention to Jungkook for now and instead addresses Erica, “Did you not sleep well, Erica-ssi?”

“Sharing a bed with that one was a mistake.” Erica replies back instead of giving a straight answer and makes her way towards the gingerbread workshop part of the conference room.

Doyun, not an ounce of shame on her face, throws out a peace sign, “I move around and kick. My boyfriend is used to the abuse by now, but not Erica. Good luck, Jimin-ssi! May the most horrid Christmas thing win!” She follows Erica then, calling out greetings to the colleagues that she passes.

“I can’t believe that guy called me a coward. Let’s go, Jimin-hyung, I’ll show him.” Now it’s Jungkook that grabs Jimin’s hand and steers them towards the ornament making part of the room.

Jimin goes willingly, pleased with the way things have worked out.

There are many easily usable and moldable materials provided. Next to them are various colors, shiny wrapping papers, stickers, glitter and so much more. Jimin walks down the length of the whole table to check out the selection before settling down next to Jungkook, who has already pulled various things towards him and is carefully sketching out designs on a blank piece of paper.

“Oh, that one’s cute.” Jimin comments after he has spent some time watching Jungkook’s doodles show up one after another, “The pom-pom hat one.”

Jungkook doesn’t even bother looking up, “I’m gonna make the cutest thing and win . I’ll show him a coward.”

“You don’t even know the guy’s name.” Jimin comments offhandedly.

While Jimin starts with trying to make shapes with, what he thinks, is some sort of a mushy clay thing, there are more people slowly filling the room. An older couple settles in the seats next to Jimin, the husband looking more interested in the activity than the wife. Instead of making something the wife takes about a million pictures of the husband, though at one point Jimin offers to take a picture of the both of them together.

By the time Jimin has made five different Christmas tree ornaments, there is a pile of them all in various stages of sparkly, in front of Jungkook. Despite not being too happy about the whole thing at the start, the younger man does seem very into the process. Currently, Jungkook has his tongue poking out in concentration as he is creating a ball from metal wires and differently colored sparkly threads.

Jimin takes a picture of Jungkook, or perhaps more than just one.

“I’m going to go and check out the other tables, okay, Jungkookie?”

Jungkook nods, pauses, looks up from his creation. “I’ll finish this one and join you in a bit. Save some of the gingerbreads for me if Erica-ssi hasn’t eaten all of them yet.”

Jimin pats the younger man on the shoulder. “Will do!”

Thankfully, there are still plenty of gingerbreads left. Doyun is squinting at the rather amazing creation she has made by sticking together various smaller gingerbreads with the help of icing and determination. Erica has a little pile of broken gingerbreads by her side and a couple of sort of decorated gingerbreads before her. The woman seems to have long since given up on the decorating and is now deeply immersed in her friend’s quest.

“That looks… wow.” Jimin pulls a bunny-shaped gingerbread his way.

Erica nods. “It’s fascinating.”

Doyun sniffs, lips pulled into a grin as she manages to make a Christmas tree gingerbread stick at the top of her creation upside down. “I’m fucking amazing and this is the best thing ever.” The gingerbread falls off then and she stares at it blankly, “You suck.”

Erica snorts.

Soon Jimin is immersed in giving his bunny the cutest look, which is followed by trying to make a round gingerbread look like a snow globe. Jungkook joins as promised, hands full with his ornaments. The younger man looks around the table, stares quietly at Doyun’s thing for a moment and makes a small hm sound.

“They’re doing the wreath making over there, if you don’t want to do this.” Jimin looks up from his messy looking snow globe.

Jungkook’s hand is warm and gentle as he pets Jimin’s hair. “Yeah, I think I will go do that. And show that dude that I’m great at this stuff.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Jimin waves Jungkook away.

They eat lunch late, too busy with workshops, though Jimin can tell that Jungkook enjoyed himself more than he is willing to admit.

In the end, Jimin puts one of his lopsided ornaments up for the competition, as well as his snow globe gingerbread, while Jungkook very proudly enters his shiny Christmas tree ball ornament and a very beautiful wreath. Jimin first takes pictures of everything despite Jungkook’s flushed cheeks and embarrassment.

“You can do sports tomorrow; I’ll cheer you on from the sidelines or something.” Jimin swings their clasped hands back and forth as they head for lunch.

Jungkook hums, cheeks stuffed full with one of the gingerbreads that didn’t come out as Jimin wanted it to. He swallows before speaking, “Yeah, we don’t want you getting sick again, hyung.”

“Shut it, you brat.”

…

Falling asleep is harder than yesterday for Jimin.

Jungkook breathes slow and deep behind him, chest to Jimin’s back and one arm wrapped around him loosely. They had started on opposite sides of the bed, Jimin turned away from Jungkook and yet. Yet here they are, wrapped up in each other, cocooned in this warmth that lulls Jimin into a deep, calm sleep.

…

The next morning Jimin wakes up first again, though this time not because of a phone alarm. He groans, rubs his face against the pillow a little as sleep slowly steps away. With more consciousness comes the awareness that he is under something heavy, which is probably Jungkook.

With a sniff Jimin wiggles a little trying to understand what is happening and why Jungkook basically is on top of him, then stops the moment his ass brushes against something firm . It takes a second for Jimin’s brain to catch up to what he feels, but when it happens Jimin feels wide away. He takes a deep breath and tries to decide what to do.

“Fuck.” Jimin whispers.

Thankfully, Jungkook is a heavy sleeper and Jimin manages to get out of the bed without much problem. As if sensing that Jimin is gone, Jungkook curls up around the part of the blanket that Jimin was using and sighs in his sleep. It’s an adorable sight.

Quietly, Jimin locks himself in the bathroom to take a moment he really needs for a little bit of panicking. Spooning with Jungkook is one thing but feeling the other’s morning hard-on is something completely different. Jimin did not sign up for this. He’s not emotionally ready for something like this.

“Get it together, Park. It’s just dudes parts being dudes parts, body doing normal body functions. It’s totally normal and happens to all of us.” Jimin doesn’t want to be too loud as he speaks to his mirror reflection, afraid to be caught.

He splashes some water on his face, flushes the toilet to make it seem like that’s what made him get up in the first place.

Not that any of it matters, since Jungkook is still asleep.

Jimin makes himself tea and gets dressed. Just as the electric teapot shuts off Jungkook also wakes up.

“Morning, Jungkookie.”

The younger man answers with a grunt, still not awake enough for anything more than that. After a few moments of bleary blinking and yawning Jungkook finally stretches out and cracks his neck before getting out of the bed. Jimin tries not to stare too much and pretends that whatever is happening on this twitter timeline is very interesting, so incredibly interesting.

When Jungkook steps back out of the bathroom he looks more awake and excited than yesterday morning. He’s also not wearing a shirt and Jimin swallows his tea.

“Snowboarding today. You promised, hyung!”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. After breakfast we can go up the mountain. I’ll just be watching, though.” Jimin reminds him.

Jungkook hums as he looks for a specific shirt. “Don’t forget to bring your thermos, so that you can have your tea while up there, hyung. It’s probably gonna be cold and windy. Maybe we should also pack some snacks.” The last part he mumbles more to himself than Jimin it seems.

“I’m going to find the heating pads I packed.” Jimin yawns.

“Hoseok-hyung said he and his boyfriend will also be there, so maybe you won’t be alone the whole time.” Jungkook pulls a sweater on and then squints at Jimin, “You’re very awake.”

Jimin squints right back. “I had to pee, like half an hour before you woke up, so I figured there was no point in getting to sleep. Why?”

“Nothing.” Jungkook drops it, then sneezes.

…

The mountain really is windy and cold on the top. While Jungkook is getting his snowboarding gear sorted Jimin wobbles around the snow, trying to take pretty pictures while he still has warm fingers. There were other people around, though Jimin couldn’t tell if they were people from Jungkook’s company or just here to have fun for the day.

“Oh, Jimin-ssi! Didn’t see you at breakfast!” Hoseok’s yell is loud and clear despite the chatter of all the people around.

Jimin turns around quickly and waves at the couple making their way towards him. He meets them halfway and bows in a quick greeting. Yoongi just waves him off, bundled up so much that only his eyes are visible.

“Morning. We got to the end of the breakfast buffet, so maybe that’s why. Ah, and Jungkook’s in the office there, getting a board and whatever else he needs.” Jimin puts his gloves back on as he speaks, “Will you also be doing sports?”

Hoseok is laughing, face scrunched up in amusement, “Yep, just me today though. Yoongi-hyung might join later if he feels up for it. He’s really good on the skis.”

“I’m not doing shit today, my ass hurts.” Yoongi grumbles back.

Jimin is thankful that the cold has turned his cheeks pink, otherwise the blush he knows he has would be very bright and obvious. He tries to giggle along awkwardly for a moment, though he is thankful that the couple is too busy bickering over whose fault it really is that they went too hard at it this morning.

Thankfully, Jungkook saves the moment by deciding to show up.

He’s all geared up. Snowboard in one hand and the chunky boots on his feet. Jimin reaches out to steady the other if there is a need to, but all Jungkook does is hand the snowboard over for Jimin to hold on to.

“You’re also going down the mountain? Should I wait for you, hyung?”

Hoseok cups his own cheeks in thought, swinging back and forth on the balls of his feet as he thinks. “Nope, you can go before me, I think. I’ll catch up with you once I’m done. Jimin-ssi, I’ll be leaving Yoongi-hyung in your care then!”

“Cool! Jiminie-hyung, will you take pictures of me again?” Jungkook turns to Jimin. The helmet glasses making him look like a giant bug.

Jimin gives the snowboard back and nods, “Yeah, of course. As much as I can, at least.”

“You have the heating pads, right?”

Jimin nods again, even pulls them out of the pockets of his jacket to show off, “Yep, see? Now go and do your sports stuff. And try not to break anything.”

With Hoseok gone to the office for gear and Jungkook making his way down the slope, Jimin and Yoongi are left alone. The older man sniffs from time to time from the cold, though he doesn’t seem to be freezing. Jimin takes as many photos as it’s possible to do with Jungkook getting smaller and smaller, mingling in-between all the other people on his way down.

“You two are pretty cute. How long have you been together?” Yoongi asks.

Jimin jumps from the sudden question, then hums as he pretends to think it over. Of all the stupid boyfriend training that Jungkook insisted, this wasn’t part of it. “Thank you! Ah, hmm. Well, we were best friends before we were boyfriends, so kind of hard to tell, but not for too long. A couple of months?”

“Ah, that trope.” Yoongi kicks at the snow, “Well, you two look very much in love either way. Hoseok couldn’t stop complaining about the kid keeping this as a secret from them at work.”

“We didn’t want to rush into anything, so that’s why…” Jimin trails off, uncertain how to respond to that.

Still, Yoongi’s comment makes him feel weird. A little exposed and confused. Can everyone tell that he is in love with Jungkook that easily? Is he that transparent and obvious in his feelings that everyone around him, even those that he has known for no more than two days can tell? While Jungkook can’t. Or, the younger man knows and just doesn’t want to say anything to hurt Jimin’s feelings.

But Yoongi said you two . And that makes Jimin wonder.

Is it all an act then, from Jungkook’s part? Good enough to fool everyone around them. But they haven’t really acted any different from how they usually are, so it shouldn’t be. Right?

Hoseok is back and pushes down Yoongi’s scarf to give the man a loud kiss on the lips. “Wish me luck, hyung! Bye Jimin-ssi, I’ll try to beat your man now!”

“He’s gonna fall on his face and fail.” Yoongi adjusts his scarf back to what it was before Hoseok messed it up sneezes. “Stupid winter.”

“Jungkook’s too good at everything he does and competitive to boot, so beating him will be hard. Oh, do you want a heating pad?” Jimin pulls one out of his jacket pocket and offers it to Yoongi.

The rest of the time they’re on the mountain Jimin spends talking with Yoongi, though every now and then his mind wanders back to that one comment about him and Jungkook looking very in love with each other. About the implications of that, about how they look to others, about how Jungkook looks to others when he is with Jimin. Whether it’s something genuine or just an act to sell the fake dating as real.

When Jungkook is done and walks up to Jimin with his jacket open, sweaty hair pushed messily under a hat and a big grin on his face Jimin just feels so much. He wants to confess and wants to know if Jungkook feels the same, because the boy that he grew up with and the man that he knows now would not lie to Jimin, not even for the sake of whatever is going on between him and his colleagues.

But for now Jimin is happy with what he has. Doesn’t want to make this stay messier than it should be. He just compliments Jungkook on being cool, accepts the hug that he is enveloped in and swallows down the worry and the confusion.

For now this is enough.

…

Dinner the same day is a pretty loud and exciting affair. It’s the evening of the main party, an evening that many will spend dancing, getting drunk and letting loose after some bigwig of the company finishes giving out prizes and awards, including ones for the best workshop creations.

Jimin feels good. His head is pleasantly empty, free of worries now that he is a couple of glasses in with the nice wine. On his right, Jungkook is flushed red and is trying to protect his well-earned trophy for Best Christmas Ornament from some of his teammates that Jimin doesn’t know all that well, apart from their names.

“Aren’t you a proud boyfriend, huh, Jimin-ssi?” Erica slides in the unoccupied chair next to Jimin. She’s slightly out of breath and her hair is a mess, a clear sign she had been one of the people dancing in the middle of the large room. “That ball thing was super pretty.”

Jimin grins back at the woman, “It was! My Jungkookie is always so good with artistic things. Hyung is so proud of him.”

“The doodles he makes during team meetings are cute as well.” Erica picks up someone’s untouched glass of wine, sniffs at it and then downs it in one go.

There is a hand around Jimin’s waist suddenly, a heavy body leaning against him. Jungkook sighs long and low, cheek pressed against the top of Jimin’s head.

Erica already has her phone out and is taking pictures, or even shooting a video, it’s hard to tell in the dark.

“This is the most pda I’ve seen you guys do, oh gosh. So cute!” Erica laughs, surprisingly stable for someone that must have drunk a lot. She peeks over her phone and sighs, “You’re even cuter than Doyun and her boyfriend, but don’t tell her I said that. Promise!”

Jimin doesn’t understand what is happening anymore, so he just laughs and nods along. The arm around his waist tightens as Jungkook shifts around, leaning forward to get closer to Erica and her phone’s camera. Something is about to go down, something Jimin might regret later, but with the atmosphere around them and the alcohol in his system, Jimin doesn’t care.

“We are,” Jungkook hiccups, “the fucking cutest.”

And then comes a kiss. Jimin doesn’t have the time to freeze, kiss back or do anything else. The kiss is quick and as quickly as he had leaned in, Jungkook pulls away. In the wake of it all Jimin is taken over by a strange, floaty feeling, a kind of stillness that takes over for just a moment before the shock registers. He swallows and doesn’t dare to let his own surprise linger, in case it would give them up.

So Jimin shakes himself off, covers his face with one hand and uses the other to lightly slap Jungkook on the shoulder, pretending to be fake-flustered and shy.

But there was a kiss.

And part of Jimin knew that it was just to keep the pretend relationship going. That Jungkook is drunk and probably didn’t even think about it. A part of Jimin knows that this doesn’t mean anything. But there is also the part that thought of this as a sign of some sorts, a foolish chance of turning this fake pretend mess into something real.

“My Jimin-hyung is the best.” Jungkook pulls Jimin to his side, their faces pressed together, “Just look at him, noona.”

Erica is also giggling along, her phone gone and another glass of something alcoholic having replaced it. “I’m surrounded by all these couples and Doyun, ugh. Ugh! So unfair! But don’t worry, Jungkook, I will soon find someone sooo cool to date that I will beat you and your Jimin-ssi. Watch me.”

“You’re so on, noona.” Jungkook reaches out and they shake on it.

Jimin plays along. He laughs when needed, teases and butts in with comments whenever it feels like the right moment to do so. But the worry and the confusion is still there, the ghost feeling of Jungkook’s lips on his own lingers. When Jimin licks his lips he imagines he can taste the cake that Jungkook had eaten and Jimin chose to skip.

Outside, the night grows darker and Jimin plays the pretend dating game as well as he can. But with Jungkook’s hand always on him it’s hard to forget that this all is just for a couple days and about to end tomorrow for good.

…

Jimin wakes up to a headache and something firm under his head.

The headache is horrible, not made better with how bright the midday sun is shining everywhere. Jimin takes a deep breath in, then breathes out and raises his head. Underneath him, Jungkook snores on, uncaring of the world around him.

At first everything is confusing, but as Jimin sits up properly and looks around, some of the memories from last night (early morning, more like) comes back. Though they pause for a moment as Jimin takes in his current state of being – dressed in what is obviously Jungkook’s shirt and sitting on the younger man. Jimin blinks down at the naked chest before him, his hands resting close to Jungkook’s pecs. Then gazing upwards to take in the sleeping face of the younger, the drool that’s slowly drying on the corner of Jungkook’s mouth.

Jimin wants to move but can’t make himself do so.

There was a kiss yesterday. A brief one. Probably just a joke and only done to prove the realness of their relationship, but a kiss, nonetheless.

And even though the feeling is long gone and the moment has passed, the memory stays. The softness of Jungkook’s lips, as quick as the kiss was, is not something that Jimin will be able to forget. He touches his lips, presses on his bottom one and just lets it linger, the touch, pretends it’s Jungkook and not his own fingers. It’s a silly thing to do, Jimin knows, but he wants to indulge in the fantasy while he still can.

With a sigh Jimin lowers his hand and looks around, unsure what to do now. He starts to move – scoots back a little on accident, then leans on one side to get off from Jungkook and, then, out of the bed. Only that doesn’t happen as a hand lands on Jimin’s thigh softly, fingers sleepily clutching onto it.

“Wha’s happenin’?” Jungkook’s voice is low and rough, eyes not even properly opened.

Jimin stills, drops back down to sit on Jungkook’s stomach. “I’m getting off from you.”

“Hmm? Why?” Jungkook yawns, pulls his hand away. The man takes a moment to rub his palms up and down his face in an effort to wake up more, then blinks blearily at the ceiling. “I feel like this has happened before.”

“Not quite like this.” Jimin laughs a little.

When their eyes meet Jungkook lets his hands rest on Jimin’s thighs, this time both. His right thumb is moving up and down slowly, unconsciously. “Someone spilled something on you yesterday, so I changed you into something of mine for the night. It looks good on you.” Jungkook says, absentmindedly.

“Thank you, Jungkookie.” Jimin smiles and he hopes it’s believable, as warm as he feels for the care shown to him.

But there is still the kiss. The turbulent mess of feelings that the kiss brought him then that are still sloshing around inside of him now.

“I’m not sorry that I kissed you, just that I didn’t ask first, hyung,” Jungkook suddenly says. Despite the sleepiness and abruptness his voice is sure, gaze heavy in a way that gives his words the heaviness of truth.

At first Jimin doesn’t know what to say. The confession makes him tense, eyes probably opened wide, and lips parted. It’s not what he had expected to hear, not now and not ever, if Jimin is truthful to himself. Jungkook would never joke about things like this. Jimin swallows, wets his lips because he just doesn’t know what to say, how to respond.

“Huh?”

And Jungkook’s fingers are warm when they slide down to Jimin’s knees, then up again, but stay away from where the bottom of Jungkook’s t-shirt has pooled up in Jimin’s lap. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you for a while. Can’t believe it happened while we’re fake dating.”

“Jungkook, what? I’m, what?” Jimin doesn’t know what is happening anymore. His fingers curl up against Jungkook’s stomach, his fists appearing smaller than they are. “You’re not messing with me, are you?”

“Never about this, hyung, come on.” Jungkook doesn’t look, or sound offended though. He chuckles, shy all of a sudden. “I just didn’t want you to think I was an asshole about doing that. Well, I was, but not like, on purpose. I don’t know. Ew, words.”

“Do you like me? Like, wanting to date me for real like me?” Jimin slaps Jungkook’s pec lightly, like he’d usually do when they are teasing each other, when they are playing around, but with the way the slap echoes Jimin realizes that it might now have been the smartest thing to do.

Jungkook doesn’t seem to mind. Instead, he scrunches up his face and makes them bounce.

“Jungkook! Oh my god!” Jimin covers his face and tries not to laugh too loudly, to not show his nervousness.

He feels Jungkook sit up. He can feel the younger man’s warmth, and can smell the cheap soap that had been left in the bathroom by the camping spot’s staff. Jimin peeks between his fingers to find Jungkook looking down at him with his nose scrunched up like bunnies do, sleepy eyes focused.

“I kinda hoped this fake dating thing would get you to like me, like, romantically, or something, and then we could real date after. Maybe.” Jungkook lets his finger’s tangle up with Jimin’s and pulls Jimin’s hand down, leans in close so that their foreheads touch. “I tried not to be obvious, but maybe I was too good at trying to not appear not crushing on you.”

And Jimin can’t help it – he starts giggling.

There is just this huge relief, a sense of joy for getting to hear and live something he did not think would ever happen, not with how Jimin was too scared to confess and possibly ruin a good thing. But now here is Jungkook, his brave and amazing Jungkook that turned a spontaneous thing, one that might have turned into a giant mistake, into something good and possibly amazing.

Jimin breathes in a deep breath and looks up at Jungkook, who looks equally as amused. “I guess we both faked the wrong thing too well, huh?”

“Well, we did make a cute fake couple. Everyone told us so.” Jungkook mumbles quietly.

“I see, I see. We are the best fake, maybe not fake couple. The best .” Jimin shakes his and Jungkook’s hands up and down, places them back on his own lap. “So, what are we now, then?”

Jungkook hums and pretends to think about it, leans back and away from Jimin to make a show of it. “Actual boyfriends that are pretending that they are just best friends, pretending to be boyfriends, so that Erica and Doyun noonas don’t try and set me up with girls?”

“That is so complicated. Let’s do it.” Jimin snorts, unable to even pretend to be serious anymore.

With a whoop Jungkook falls back on the bed, pulling Jimin down with him. They end up cuddling just like that, in the same pose that Jimin found them in when he woke up. The blanket pulled over them to create a warm cocoon. They talk for a while, just about whatever happened the previous evening during the party, little funny snippets of the rest of Jungkook’s colleagues. It’s nice and Jimin knows they need to get up again soon and get ready to leave, but he still feels himself falling back asleep, relaxed and happy atop of Jungkook.

…

When Jimin and Jungkook finally get their things packed back up again and have eaten a late breakfast it’s time to go back home. Most of the people that had come are just now waking up, even if the clock is already almost 1pm. There had been no sign of Erica or Doyun, nor Hoseok and Yoongi, during the breakfast, so Jimin figures they are all still asleep.

Jungkook goes to check out and Jimin stays by the car. He takes a couple of photos while the camping site is void of any people and bright enough for good pictures to, hopefully, come out. In one picture he manages to capture the exact moment that Yoongi wobbles out of his and Hoseok’s cabin.

Instead of calling out, Jimin waves. Yoongi waves back.

“How the hell are you so awake and normal this morning?” Yoongi yawns through his question when he gets close enough for Jimin to hear. The man shivers, burrowing deeper into his jacket and scarf, “I had so much to drink yesterday, fuck me.”

“I didn’t drink as much, and got coffee this morning.” Jimin laughs a little, going back to taking pictures.

Yoongi snorts. “Yeah, well, Hoseok wishes he hadn’t drank at all. I left him sleeping on the bathroom mat, groaning about early death and suffering.” The man stretches, shivers and then lets out a long sigh. “Okay, I need to bring my dying boyfriend some food and coffee, so I’ll be going. Is there anything left from the buffet?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah, there were still many things left. Honestly, I think pretty much most of the people are still sleeping, or don’t feel good enough to come out yet.” Jimin finally pockets his phone.

Even if Yoongi said that he needs to go and get food, they do end up chatting for a while longer, until Jungkook comes out again and jogs up to the car. The two then also exchange greetings and talk a little bit about the party, laughing about the state Hoseok is in together. When Yoongi gets a couple of new messages from his boyfriend, ones that keep getting progressively more demanding of food, coffee and any kind of headache reliever available the man finally says his goodbyes and goes to get what he needs for his boyfriend.

“It should warm up in here soon.” Jungkook sniffs as he turns on the car and fiddles with the heating.

Jimin burrows a little deeper into his own coat for the time being. “It’s fine, not that bad.”

“Hyung, we both know that you don’t need much to get sick. Like, again .” Jungkook teases, his lips curled into a little grin, “But I bet now it’s gonna be so much better than before, since you have a sexy boyfriend around to nurse you back to health, huh?”

Jimin hopes that his cheeks are still red from the cold and that his blush is not as noticeable as it feels like it is. “Shut up, I’m not that bad.” It’s still strange to think of Jungkook as his boyfriend. A real one, not just a fake play-pretend one like it had been for the past two days.

“ Sure .” Jungkook doesn’t even bother to hide just how much he doesn’t believe what Jimin is saying.

“I would hit you if you weren’t driving right now.” Jimin huffs.

…

“Do you want to stay the night?” Jimin asks, one hand on the door handle and the other still in his lap.

Jungkook leans on the steering wheel of the car and chuckles, “Just the night?”

“Shut up, oh my god.” Jimin gets out and then pauses, “I actually have groceries for once, I think.” He grins and ambles over to the trunk to get his overnight bag.

Jungkook’s laughter is bright and happy, his hand warm as he takes Jimin’s and leads the older man to his own damn apartment.

…

As if by routine at this point, Jimin wakes up first.

It’s not easy to get out of Jungkook’s hold, but the need to go to the bathroom is greater than the want to stay in a warm bed and cuddle with his boyfriend. When Jimin comes back from the bathroom the sight of Jungkook cuddling up with a pillow is too funny to pass on, so he snaps a picture before trying to find something to wear. The heating might be on, but it’s still a little bit too chilly to walk around almost naked.

While the coffee machine works quietly on the kitchen counter, Jimin checks his email and twitter , liking some of the tweets that Hoseok has posted the day before about how utterly dead he feels and how past Hoseok is a backstabbing hoe. A new follow notice from Yoongi pops up soon after. Jimin accepts it.

The morning starts slowly, though it can’t really be called morning anymore. The knowledge that he doesn’t have to go to work for the rest of the week still makes Jimin incredibly giddy, something that he feels the need to share with Seokjin just for the heck of it.

“I hate you.” Seokjin hisses through the phone call that had followed mere seconds after Jimin had sent the man a text, “How dare you rub your vacation time in my face? Who allowed you?”

“I dare because I am on a vacation and you’re still working.” Jimin giggles.

Seokjin huffs loudly, enough that the sound grates on Jimin’s ears. “You’re a little shit. What ever . How did your fake dating go? Did you have many breakdowns?”

“I was a great fake boyfriend, if you really need to know! Everyone called us adorable.” Jimin smiles a little just remembering the compliments, feeling warm and giddy that people thought him and Jungkook were great together ever before they actually were together. “And it’s not fake now. We double confessed? Kind of, I don’t know. But we’re dating for real now.”

There is some sort of a weird noise coming from Seokijn’s end of the call and Jimin pulls the phone away from his ear. Someone curses and it doesn’t sound like Seokjin, but then the older man is yelling something about paper towels and it being an accident.

“Park Jimin!”

“What did you do, hyung?” Jimin asks, although he doesn’t really want to know.

Seokjin ignores the question completely, “What do you mean you’re dating for real? How the hell? You two go away for three days and solve all the years of pining bullshit just like that? Have you no shame, Park Jimin?”

“No, I don’t.” Jimin sniffs, thinks, “Well, maybe just a little bit of shame.”

“I am tired of you. Happy, but also infinitely tired. Ugh.” Seokjin plays up the dramatics as he often does. However, the questions that follow are sincere and his wishes for Jimin to finally be happy are even more so.

They talk for a while, about what little Jimin may have missed at work, about when he will be back and when Seokjin’s own Christmas vacation is bound to start. It’s not an overly long conversation, seeing that the older man is still, theoretically, working, but because during this time of the year there is little to do, there isn’t a real rush to end the conversation.

When Jungkook shuffles in the living room, hair a mess and hands rubbing sleep out of his eyes, Jimin finally hangs up. The younger flops on top of Jimin, uncaring of the phone that is probably digging rather uncomfortably in his stomach. Jimin laughs, kicks out, but he’s not strong enough to move Jungkook’s dead weight off of him.

“Smell coffee.” Jungkook mumbles against Jimin’s neck.

Fond beyond belief, Jimin tries to soothe out Jungkook’s bed hair, “If you would let me up I could get you some.”

“Forget coffee.”

Jimin’s amused laughter is bright and loud. Jungkook kisses him then. They continue to kiss for a while, just kissing and nothing else. Jimin let’s his hands rest on Jungkook’s back, fingers curling into the younger man’s soft sleep shirt. In turn, Jungkook chuckles lowly, and lets his thumbs slide slowly up and down Jimin’s cheeks as he deepens the kisses.

“You’re so heavy, JK.” Jimin breathes when they pull apart, though he doesn’t try to push the younger one off.

Jungkook sticks out his tongue. “I’m heavy with all the awkward pining I was doing for you, hyung. Now you need to face the consequences.”

“Horrible, never say that again.”

“Horribly in love, yep.” Jungkook continues to giggle even as he rolls off from Jimin and stands up. “What do you want to eat for lunch, hyung? Since you have fresh groceries for once.”

Jimin throws a couch pillow at his boyfriend, “Shut up.” He stays like that, flopped on his stomach and thinks for a moment, then says the first thing that comes to mind, “Chicken parmesan.”

The look that Jungkook throws him says more than words ever could.

“What? You asked me what I wanted, babe.”

Jungkook shakes his head, “I’m very sure I can’t possibly make that with what you have. Have you ever even bought cheese on your own, hyung?”

“I have bought cheese, like, at least once, so there. I don’t know, whatever’s fine. I’ll always eat whatever you cook, Jungkookie.” Jimin fishes his phone out from in-between the couch cushions and drops it on the floor. He looks up at Jungkook and smiles, “But we can also just order chicken parmesan as takeout.”

“Nice try. You’re so sneaky, Jiminie-hyung.” Jungkook throws a look over his shoulder, cheeks bunched up from a possible grin, “I’ll be a good boyfriend and get you your takeout, then.”

Jimin folds his arms under his head, “The best boyfriend.”

Later, when they kiss again, it tastes like cheese and tomato sauce.