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It was their first time watching the ‘ON’ Kinetic Manifesto Film.
Jimin sat between Namjoon and Jungkook on the couch, a knee pulled up to his chest as Yoongi queued up the video on the TV. Butterflies filled his stomach.
It was always hard to watch himself. The editors’ final take didn’t always reflect the best of his abilities, and no matter how he looked or how well he did, Jimin found a way to be hard on himself.
After this, he would probably snuggle up with Taehyung in bed for an hour or two and sneak a million or two kisses from him to cheer himself up. Taehyung always showered him in compliments after any performance. After anything. After everything.
“I miss you over there,” Taehyung pouted from the neighboring loveseat, and Jimin pouted back, making grabby hands.
“I miss you, too.”
“Gross,” Jungkook said. “Get a room.”
Jimin’s attention was momentarily divided. “Oh, I’m sorry, is someone jealous?”
Jungkook sputtered. “I’m not jealous,” he argued, but it was too late. Jimin already smelled blood in the water.
“Jeon Jungkook,” he said, all too serious. “We’ve talked about this before. Just because I’m dating Taehyung doesn’t mean I love you any less-”
“Oh my god, stop,” Jungkook said, covering his ears. “I didn’t tell you about that so you’d make fun of me.”
“I’m not making fun of you. I’m reassuring you,” Jimin said. “Come here, I’ll hold you.”
“I don’t need to be held.”
“Shhh, I’m holding you,” Jimin said, pulling Jungkook into a headlock and digging his knuckles into his scalp. Jungkook immediately flipped him over, sending them both toppling to the floor, and Jimin fought to get a leg around him as he struggled to get back on top. Jungkook’s head thunked against Namjoon’s foot.
“Oi, that’s enough,” Namjoon said.
“That is enough,” Yoongi agreed as Namjoon dragged Jungkook off of Jimin by the back of his collar. “I think we got this set up.”
“How many idiots does it take to play an .mp4?” Hoseok teased, standing up and dusting his hands off. He’d been rooting around the back of the entertainment center for a spare HDMI cord. The video wasn’t posted yet, but Yoongi had a bootleg USB they were supposed to use to approve the MV in advance.
“I expect absolute silence when my part comes up,” Seokjin said, stepping into the room with a bowl of instant noodles piping hot in his hands. He stole Jimin’s spot on the sofa. “Please give me and my beauty the respect we both deserve.”
“I’ll give you my full attention,” Namjoon promised.
“Seokjin-hyung always has your full attention,” Jungkook countered, and Jimin faked pile-driving him with his elbow. (The little brat deserved it.)
“Jimin,” Taehyung said, catching the hem of his t-shirt and pulling him in. “Sit with me.”
Jimin’s heart fluttered.
“Okay.”
He couldn’t say no to those eyes. The soft kisses Taehyung pressed to the crook of his jaw were another compelling feature.
“Are we ready?” Yoongi asked, blinking down at his computer screen.
“We’re ready,” Taehyung agreed, arms looped around Jimin’s waist. Jimin slung one leg over Taehyung’s, half in his lap. He loved his soft cuddly boyfriend.
“Okay, I’m hitting play,” Yoongi said.
The video started. Despite Taehyung’s arms around him, he still bit his thumbnail worriedly as he waited for his part.
“Oh, Jiminie… looks good,” Hoseok said as Jimin appeared.
“You look cool, hyung,” Jungkook agreed.
Namjoon snorted. “It’s like Taehyung just pops out of nowhere.”
Jimin is about to laugh and agree, except-
Taehyung bared his teeth.
What the fuck?
What the fuck.
Jimin had been there that day. He’d seen Taehyung get dressed (had shared a chaste kiss in the dressing room before he got his makeup done). He’d been there for each and every take. More than that, he’d been practicing the choreography with Taehyung for weeks now, had seen him stare himself down in the mirror. He knew how Taehyung could look when he was performing. He knew.
But that didn’t mean it couldn’t still leave him breathless.
The look Taehyung gave the camera at 0:45 felt like a kick to the ribs when Jimin was already prone on the ground. An ultimate K.O. shot. He looked… he looked incredible.
Jimin couldn’t help it. “Why don’t you look at me that way?” he blurted out.
Taehyung blinked away from the music video to stare at Jimin. “What?”
“You should bite me more,” Jimin decided.
“Oh, um… what?”
“Oi,” Seokjin said, cutting in. “My part is coming up. Remember? Full attention on me.”
But Jimin couldn’t focus on Seokjin. He couldn’t peel his eyes off Taehyung. Whether on TV or in person, Taehyung’s dark eyes and golden skin were all he could think about. A single glance at the camera, and Jimin was a puddle on the floor. “You look so good,” Jimin told Taehyung.
Taehyung blushed. “Thanks,” he said, seemingly uncertain. He had to know.
“So good. That’s the way you should look at me.”
“Oh my god, please stop,” Namjoon said.
“That’s my son you’re talking about,” Hoseok said, always alarmed when Jimin talked about Taehyung inappropriately in his presence.
“Pause the video,” Yoongi said. “We’re missing everything.”
Jimin bit his lip. He and Taehyung spent so much time hiding, but when they were safe at home or the office, Jimin often found he couldn’t stop himself from telling Taehyung every indecent thought that crossed his mind. The hyungs overhearing was never intentional, but rather a necessary evil.
“You good?” Taehyung asked as heat rushed to Jimin’s cheeks.
Jimin nodded. “Yeah. Just… You’re a great performer,” he said, locking eyes with Taehyung, “You just…” Jimin swallowed, throat dry. “You just looked really good.”
Taehyung pulled Jimin further into his lap, arms wrapped around his middle. “You’re too good to me,” he decided. He buried his nose in Jimin’s neck and kissed his shoulder.
Jimin gulped and turned away, if only for the fact that he wanted to see the rest of the video. “You can play it,” he told Hoseok who had hit the pause button for Yoongi.
“Are you sure?” Hoseok asked. “Because if I press play just for you two to start dry-humping, then-”
“We wouldn’t do that,” Taehyung promised. Meanwhile, Jimin dropped his hand subtly to paw at his inner thigh.
Hoseok glared. “Case and point.”
“What?” Jimin asked. “This is normal.”
Taehyung grabbed his hand to stop his groping and laced their fingers together. “We won’t do anything, promise,” Taehyung told Hoseok, and Jimin huffed. Taehyung was shy, which… Jimin could understand.
Mostly, Taehyung was just innocent. And sweet. And silly. He showered Jimin in baby kisses and played with his hair while he fell asleep. He fed Jimin off his own chopsticks, he brought home cute stuffed animals and left them as a surprise on Jimin’s bed. He knew to add an extra sugar to Jimin’s tea, and he always let him take the window seat on flights. He was adorable.
But while Jimin loved the soft, caring side of Taehyung, something about that music video…
That face…
Jimin needed Taehyung on top of him. Now.
“Keep him in line, Taehyung,” Yoongi said like a warning, and Taehyung brought their conjoined hands to his lips to give the back of Jimin’s palm a kiss. He thumbed at the spot as he lowered their hands back down to his lap.
It was such a loving action.
“It’s fine,” Taehyung said, assuaging everyone else’s worries but Jimin’s. He kissed his hand again. “Please just play it.”
“Back it up a little bit,” Namjoon said.
“Play it from the start,” Jungkook chimed in.
“I’ll just restart it,” Hoseok agreed, and Jimin bit his lip. At least he’d get to watch 0:45 again.
Jimin’s knee bobbed as he stared at his phone screen.
He was waiting for his turn in the recording booth. Whatever Jungkook was working on was taking longer than anticipated, and Jimin had a few minutes to kill.
A few minutes to watch another Taehyung fan cam.
He was addicted.
He’d always known Taehyung was sexy, but watching the ON music video made something in his brain either shatter apart or finally click. Taehyung made this one particular expression - like he was growling - and it went right to Jimin’s gut.
In the heat of a performance, Jimin was so busy on his own steps, on the audience, on the blocking, on his vocals… He was acutely aware of Taehyung at all times, but he wasn’t looking at him to look.
Now, in the hall outside of Recording Booth 3, he had time to ogle. He had a 2016 21st Century Girls fancam pulled up, and there was no way Jimin should be attracted to this. Taehyung was only 20 at the time of taping, and everything from that time period filled Jimin with a sense of regret and embarrassment.
But fuck, was Taehyung hot.
Every expression he made, just- damn it. The backwards hat, the confidence? The quirked eyebrow? How was Jimin supposed to function with this out in the ether?
And more importantly, where was this cocky, smug Taehyung in the bedroom?
Having dated Taehyung for nearly three years, sex with Taehyung was a well oiled machine. Jimin was notoriously insatiable, and he’d been known to pull Taehyung away at any and all hours. They’d screwed around in supply closets, hotel rooms, company cars, uncovered on the living room sofa where anyone could walk in and see. They’d practiced. And it wasn’t boring - it could never be boring - but it was… gentle. Soft.
Taehyung had soft brown eyes and an easy smile. And he was good. Anything Jimin told him to do, he obeyed. And he was so sensitive, it was easy to get him riled up. One little touch from Jimin, and he was putty in his hands.
But wouldn’t it be great if he were solid?
Wouldn’t it be great if Taehyung was in control? Those big hands? Well, they could force Jimin into all kinds of positions. Those long legs? Jimin ached to be caged in by them, for Taehyung to be on top, for those dark eyes to bore down on him.
0:45.
Jimin had to bite his lip and look away from the screen to keep himself together. He was just clicking off the video for his own peace of mind when Jungkook stepped out of the recording booth. “Hey,” he greeted. “You good?”
Jimin was admittedly in a bit of a daze. ‘Good’ isn’t exactly the word he would use as he pulled himself out of his thoughts and tried to focus on his friend. “Um…”
“Um…?” Jungkook asked.
“Um, yes,” Jimin said.
Jungkook gave him a look like he’d grown a second head. “Okay. Your turn I guess. Everyone’s being real nitpicky so be prepared to run 90 takes of everything, even if you nail it on the first try.”
“Some of us aren’t perfect, Jungkook. I need 90 takes even on a good day,” Jimin snarked, coming into himself a little more. He had to go be a professional, after all.
Jungkook lifted his knuckles for a fist bump. “Good luck in there, dude.”
“Thanks,” Jimin said, cramming his phone in his pocket. He had to stop looking up fancams and drooling every second he had the opportunity, but something told him he’d be keeping the habit for a long time.
Jimin waited up in bed for Taehyung to join him.
Technically, they weren’t living together. Or - technically, all seven members shared a dorm. But also technically they all had their own apartments. Because it was best if people assumed things hadn’t changed, that they were still living as one, and to some extent they were because during busy season, they mostly stumbled to the closest available bed to sleep. Over half of Jimin’s closet was still at the dorm, and Yeontan still had piddle pads laid out in the front hall. But also, he was an adult with money who deserved his own apartment - one where his adorable boyfriend could always be found waiting inside.
However, even if they wanted to share, Taehyung still had his own place. If anyone found out the members were living separately, then it would look weird if everyone’s apartment was accounted for but Taehyung’s. So technically Taehyung had his own apartment. And technically Jimin did, too. But also no they didn’t, and they still lived steps away from the company building with everyone else, and wow, was it hard to find literally anything Jimin was ever looking for because he had to search through three different apartments, none of which were truly home.
Fortunately, Taehyung still somehow knew where to show up every night.
“Hey, it’s me,” Taehyung said toeing into the bedroom. He had fuzzy socks on and an oversized sweatshirt. “Knock knock, can I come in?” he asked, knocking very politely on the comforter before burrowing under the covers, blankets pulled up to his nose.
Jimin giggled at the sight of Taehyung’s big eyes staring out at him over the duvet. “Of course you can. Come here.”
Taehyung tilted his head up knowingly and Jimin pressed a kiss to his nose.
It was definitely cute, but Jimin hadn’t forgotten why he was waiting up in the first place. He dropped his finger to trace Taehyung’s collar bone, licking his lip. He couldn’t help but notice Taehyung mirroring the action, seemingly sensing the immediate shift in mood. “So…” Jimin said, playing with the neck of his sweatshirt. “I missed you today.”
Taehyung’s eyebrows pinched together. “I was playing Overwatch.”
“Yes, but you were all the way in the living room. And isn’t it better when you’re right here?”
Taehyung’s face lit up, and he quickly snuggled into Jimin, wrapping his arms around his middle. For a second, Jimin hoped that Taehyung was about to slam him on the mattress, but no - Taehyung was just glomping on for a hug. “It is better. I missed you, too.”
“Taehyung.” Jimin’s breath hitched as Taehyung gave him a squeeze. “Let’s get close,” he said. The implication was heavy on the tip of his tongue.
Taehyung pulled away ever so slightly. His expression was wide and searching, until he realized what Jimin was suggesting. “Ah,” he said, understanding dawning on his face. “Okay.” He ducked in and pressed a kiss to Jimin’s lips.
He was so warm - Taehyung ran hot, and his hands were massive. It was an exaggeration, but Jimin felt like they could wrap all the way around his waist and touch on either side. Jimin knotted his fingers in Taehyung’s t-shirt, desperate, and then - all of a sudden - Taehyung was pulling away.
“Okay,” Taehyung said, rolling away from Jimin. “I’m sleepy.” He stretched to turn out the light.
“Wait,” Jimin said, but Taehyung was already getting settled under the blankets.
“Can I be little spoon?” Taehyung asked.
Thrown, Jimin complained - “But you’re always little spoon.”
“Because I get lonely.”
Jimin huffed and slid up behind Taehyung. He wasn’t exaggerating; Taehyung was always little spoon. They fell asleep like this every night. Despite being so much taller and so much broader, Taehyung somehow managed to feel intismally small in his arms.
Normally, Jimin thunked his head against the top knot of Taehyung’s spine and fell asleep instantly, a leg thrown over Taehyung’s hip. But right now, he didn’t feel like sleeping.
He kissed Taehyung’s shoulder. Taehyung hummed happily. Trying to rile him up, Jimin gave him a bite.
“Ouch! Jimin!”
“I can’t help it,” Jimin complained. “You’re very kissable.”
“You bit me!”
“Edible - that’s what I meant. You’re very edible.”
Jimin didn’t need to see Taehyung’s face to know his nose was twitching. “And you’re insatiable.”
“Just quick handies?”
“Jimin,” Taehyung complained.
Jimin pinched his butt. “What?”
“It’s late.”
“Weren’t you just saying you missed me?” Jimin wheedled, and Taehyung huffed out a sigh.
“Fine. Come here.”
Jimin smiled triumphantly as Taehyung turned around to face him. His boyfriend was a great kisser, and Jimin couldn’t help but feel victorious. Maybe he should be V for victory.
He pulled Taehyung on top of him further. Taehyung hovered above him, a strong arm keeping him upright, and Jimin traced his bicep with his fingertips as they kissed.
And then all too soon, Taehyung flopped down on the mattress with a yawn. He buried his face in Jimin’s shoulder. “Okay. I’m sleepy.”
“Boo,” Jimin complained.
Taehyung’s arms snaked around his waist. “I’ll wake you up with a blow job,” he promised, already falling asleep, and Jimin frowned.
“But that’s too nice,” Jimin complained, not sure how to convey what he wanted. He wanted Taehyung to take him. To slam him against the mattress and force his legs apart.
Taehyung did not get the message. “Of course I’m nice to Minnie. I love you,” he promised, pressing one last kiss to the corner of Jimin’s jaw. “Little spoon time?”
Jimin sighed in resignation. “Fine. Little spoon time.”
While Taehyung fell asleep, Jimin laid awake in the darkness, determined. He was going to make Taehyung growl, he just had to figure out how to coax it out of him.
Body rolls weren’t just for ARMY. Jimin was also fully appreciative.
“You could wipe the drool off your face,” Yoongi suggested.
Jimin’s jaw snapped closed and he wiped at his chin. “What?”
“You were staring,” Yoongi said, unimpressed.
Taehyung and Jungkook were the only two members with any energy left in them, standing at the front of the dance studio and running through the Black Swan choreography for their upcoming performance one last time.
They were very talented. Especially Taehyung. Jimin couldn’t keep his eyes off him.
Yoongi took a swig from his water bottle, leaning with his back against the wall. “You’re still staring.”
“Um…”
“Are you hearing a word I’m saying? Jimin, seriously-“ Yoongi complained, snapping in front of Jimin’s face to get his attention.
Jimin batter his hand away. “Leave me alone, I am watching the show,” Jimin complained, and Yoongi threw his hands up in defeat. Jimin paid him no mind as he packed up his things and moved to the other side of the room to sit with Namjoon and Seokjin.
Eventually, Jungkook’s phone buzzed and he jogged away from the mirrors. Jimin took the opportunity to steal his place.
“Hey,” Jimin said, catching Taehyung by the waist. He slipped his cold hands up Taehyung’s shirt, pleased by the way his boyfriend shuddered beneath him. “You know what I’m thinking?”
Taehyung was panting a little from a long practice with new steps - the added mental effort made it much more challenging. “Dunno,” he said, leaning back into Jimin’s chest, “but I could tell you were thinking something.”
“I was thinking you fuck me against these mirrors.”
Taehyung sputtered. “What?” he asked, face flushing a brilliant red. It was endearing to see Taehyung so flustered still after the depravity Jimin had put him through during their long-established relationship, but he’d been hoping for a little more enthusiasm.
“You should fuck me,” Jimin said. “Right here, against the glass. Make me watch.”
“Jimin,” Taehyung squeaked. He suddenly broke away from Jimin’s hold. “I could never.”
Jimin pouted. “Why?”
“Seokjin is watching, for starters.”
“Okay, then we’ll wait ‘til he leaves.” Jimin was very solutions-oriented, especially when it came to his strapping and strapped boyfriend.
“I can’t,” Taehyung said, pale with pink cheeks.
“Why?”
“Because!”
“Because why?”
“I dunno,” Taehyung said, squirming. He scratched the back of his arm, sheepish and shy. “I dunno… it feels mean.”
“Mean?” Jimin sputtered.
“Well… a little!” Taehyung tried. “I love you, I don’t wanna, like, hold you or pin you down like that. I’d much rather just give you kisses.”
Jimin quite nearly started to drool at the words pin you down. Yes, please, that was exactly what he wanted. “Okay, well I love you, and I’ve handcuffed you to a doorknob before.”
“That’s different.”
“How is that different?”
“You have a very domineering presence. You’re like a tiger.” Taehyung seemed very satisfied by this fact. “I’m happier being… I dunno, a bunny or something.”
“A bunny?” Jimin repeated, incredulous.
Taehyung frowned. “Maybe a sheep,” he conceded.
Jimin held his face in his hands. He had wanted Taehyung to take him up against the mirrors, but the moment had definitely passed. He tried to think. “Okay… so you’re saying… you don’t want to put me in handcuffs because you’re happier being a bunny rabbit,” Jimin clarified.
Namjoon threw them a strange look as he walked by.
“Yes,” Taehyung agreed.
“Because you love me too much.”
“Yes, I love you very much,” Taehyung said, completely unaware of how difficult he was making things for Jimin. Taehyung was very vocal about his thoughts and feelings, but usually, it felt like he was talking in code. Jimin had to break the cypher to understand.
“So if you loved me less, you could do it?”
Taehyung’s relief quickly morphed to concern. “Uh… I mean…” He seemed to be deeply considering Jimin’s proposition. “I guess. Can’t imagine loving you any less, though.”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Jimin decided. “I’ll find a way.”
Jimin was a schemer. Yoongi called him a tease, Namjoon called him manipulative, and Seokjin called him evil incarnate. Jimin didn’t wait for things to happen, he made them happen.
And he was going to make Taehyung change his mind about wanting him happy. No, Jimin was going to make Taehyung want to see him mad.
And he had a plan.
Namjoon set lunch down on the counter in the breakroom. “Okay, Jungkook… Seokjin-hyung… Yoongi-hyung…” he said, checking in on each takeout container and passing everyone their orders. “Taehyung…”
Jimin stole the container and immediately dug his chopsticks in, taking a bite. Taehyung, who’d stepped forward to get his meal, look bewildered. “Oh,” Jimin said, catching his gaze. “Did you want this?” He deliberately slurped up noodles in Taehyung’s face.
Taehyung frowned. “Um… You can have it. What did you order?”
“Spicy stir-fried pork.”
“Oh,” Taehyung said. “I’d rather eat japchae…” Taehyung didn’t like spicy food, and japchae was his favorite.
“But Taehyungie, I want japchae,” Jimin argued.
Because when Jimin wanted to be annoying, he was annoying.
And usually, Taehyung was as sensitive as a bad rash. It didn’t take much to turn him pink and angry, and Jimin was fully expecting to see him snap now that his meal had been stolen.
But there was one fatal flaw in his plan.
While Taehyung might be easy to upset, he was also incredibly patient with Jimin. “Oh, okay,” Taehyung said, taking Jimin’s dwaejigogi-bokkeum for himself and sitting at the table next to Hoseok. Jimin pouted. That wasn’t how Taehyung was supposed to react.
“But TaeTae… didn’t you want this?” he asked, waving the japchae under his nose.
Taehyung frowned. “Well, yeah, but you wanted it.”
“Yeah, but you wanted it,” Jimin argued.
“I did want it, but then you said you wanted it,” Taehyung said, his eyebrows pinched.
Hoseok watched them go back and forth like a ping pong match. “What is going on with you weirdos?” he asked.
“I dunno,” Taehyung said honestly.
Jimin gave up. “Never mind,” he said, sliding Taehyung’s noodles back towards him and taking his stir-fried pork back. He’d been hoping to see that crinkle in Taehyung’s nose, the pull in his lip: a sneer, a growl. But if there was one thing Jimin was rapidly learning, it was that Taehyung was too nice to him.
Jimin would have to try harder.
Jimin scratched at Yeontan’s ears as he watched Taehyung play League. “You missed,” Jimin pointed out. “Missed again. Missed.”
“I know,” Taehyung said, a little testy.
“You’re not very good at this.”
“I’m better than you,” Taehyung argued.
“Hm,” Jimin said, his tone condescending. He played video games far less often than Taehyung, but he didn’t care if Taehyung was right or wrong. He just wanted to make Taehyung mad at him. He watched Taehyung play for a little while longer and commented the second he saw Taehyung make a mistake. “Missed.”
Taehyung quit the game, abandoning his team. “What’s wrong?” Taehyung asked, and Jimin was struck when Taehyung’s full attention landed on him. He squirmed, and Yeontan left his lap, moving to plop down at Taehyung’s feet instead.
“Um… nothing.”
“Am I not paying enough attention to you?”
“What?” Jimin asked.
“Am I not paying enough attention to you?” Taehyung asked again. “You’ve seemed…” he trailed off, clearly looking for a kind way to say obnoxious, needy, and terrible. “A little lonely lately,” Taehyung finished.
“Oh,” Jimin said, suddenly feeling guilty.
“You don’t have to try and poke my buttons to get me to pay attention to you,” Taehyung assured. “You can just tell me when you want kisses.”
“Well… I do want kisses,” Jimin said honestly.
“Okay,” Taehyung said, setting his headset aside and patting his lap. “Then come up here, then.”
Jimin didn’t need to be told twice. He climbed into Taehyung’s lap, looping his arms around the back of his neck. Chills ran up his spine as Taehyung’s hands held him in place. Taehyung dipped in to kiss Jimin, his nose bumping Jimin’s cheek and thumbs digging into his hip bones.
“See?” Taehyung said, pulling away after a second. He brushed an eyelash from Jimin’s cheek. “I’ll pay attention to you.”
“I know you will,” Jimin said, heart warm.
“Then c’mere,” Taehyung said, gently guiding him close with a hand threaded through his hair. Jimin smiled down at him before closing his eyes for a kiss. Making Taehyung angry could wait. This was nice, too.
But Jimin couldn’t wait that long.
“Fucking hell,” Jimin complained, watching Taehyung on V-Live. Someone had a made a lewd comment in the chat, and Taehyung’s pointed look at the camera and arched eyebrow made Jimin’s toes curl and his hands ball into fists.
The goal was not forgotten.
Jimin wanted Taehyung to bite him.
When Taehyung got off live, he wandered into the bathroom to get ready for bed. Jimin followed him, but not because he needed to brush his teeth. He had bigger fish to fry. “You done for the night?” he asked, despite having watched Taehyung’s full V-Live, slowly getting more and more worked up. He’d heard him say he was going to take a shower and go to sleep.
Jimin of course had other plans.
“I’m done,” Taehyung promised.
“Good, Jimin said, and then knocked Taehyung’s toothbrush into the sink. “My bad,” he apologized when Taehyung looked at him funny.
Taehyung frowned. “Um… no problem?” he said in vague confusion, fishing out his toothbrush and giving it a rinse.
A little more purposeful - like a cat batting a coffee mug off the counter - Jimin pushed Taehyung’s toothpaste into the sink. “Whoops.”
“Jimin,” Taehyung said, eyebrows pinched together. “Do you think you could stop doing that?”
“Doing what?” Jimin asked, knocking Taehyung’s shaving cream to the floor. “Oh, that? Did you want me to stop doing that?”
Taehyung huffed, bending down to retrieve the shaving cream. “Yes, that,” he said, clearly getting frustrated. Good. Jimin wanted him frustrated: frustrated, and hot, and bothered, and on top of him.
“Hm. Make me.”
“Make you?”
“Make me.”
Taehyung’s frown deepened. He picked his things up off the floor and sat them further back on the counter. “There,” he said, things a little further out of reach. He pointed at Jimin sternly. “No.”
“No?” Jimin asked, quirking an eyebrow. “That’s all you got?”
“Don’t do it, Minnie,” Taehyung said. His voice was firm, but he wasn’t reaching out. He wasn’t touching. He wasn’t pinning Jimin’s hands above his head and kissing him where Jimin could watch in the mirror.
“But what if I feel like being naughty?” Jimin asked suggestively as Taehyung started the shower, water heating up near instantly.
“Then push your own things on the floor.”
“Boo,” Jimin complained, but he quieted for a minute as he watched Taehyung get undressed. This was always the best part of his day, and he didn’t want to miss out as Taehyung’s broad shoulders and long legs got revealed.
He only started moving again when Taehyung disappeared behind the shower’s frosted glass.
Jimin quickly stripped his own clothes and followed him.
“TaeTae, whatchya doin’?” he asked, sneaking his hands around his boyfriend’s waist. Taehyung’s stomach quivered beneath his touch. He leaned back a little bit into Jimin.
“Just getting ready for bed,” he said. “It’s been a long day.”
“It has been,” Jimin agreed. Taehyung had stayed at the studio far later than Jimin had, and Jimin had used the time to watch a dozen or so “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” and “Not Today” fan cams. He’d been getting inspired. Jimin had a long list of things he expected from Taehyung tonight, he just had to get them both on the same page.
“Want me to shampoo your hair?” Taehyung offered, far too sweet for his own good.
Jimin wasn’t so nice.
“I want much more than that,” he said, spinning Taehyung around and pushing him against the wall of the shower. Taehyung seemed surprised but not unhappy by the kiss Jimin snatched him up in. In fact, he seemed very happy, hands sliding down Jimin’s back to cup his ass. “Grab me,” Jimin gasped between kisses. Taehyung’s thumb glided across his skin. It wasn’t enough. “Grab me.”
Taehyung’s touch was gentle, even as he squeezed.
Jimin knocked their teeth together, and Taehyung inhaled sharply, pulling away. “Ow,” Taehyung complained. “What was that?”
“I’m serious,” Jimin complained. “I want you to grab me. Push me. Do it. Push me up against the wall.”
“Uh…” Taehyung said, looking a little lost. His hands left Jimin’s skin as he pulled them back to himself, uncomfortable. “I dunno…”
“Just do it.”
“But-”
“Aren’t you annoyed with me?” Jimin asked. He pushed Taehyung’s shampoo off the shelf. “Bet you don’t like that. Or this.” He shoved Taehyung’s body wash as well. “I’m bothering you, huh? I’m making you mad? So do something about it.”
“I’m not mad at you,” Taehyung said, eyes wide, and Jimin himself was getting frustrated.
“Yeah? How about now?” he slammed the water to freezing cold.
Taehyung jumped with a squeal, tripping out of the shower. “What the fuck,” Taehyung said, and Jimin got excited for a moment. Taehyung sounded mad. However, his tone changed a moment later, and suddenly, there was a waver in his voice. “Why would you do that?” Taehyung asked, dripping wet with wide teary eyes, and Jimin knew instantly -
He’d messed up.
“Oh, no, Taehyung… I was just trying to-”
“Why are you doing this to me?” Taehyung asked. “I’m just trying to love you and be a good boyfriend, and… and you’re being so mean lately,” he said, reaching for a towel and huddling underneath it.
Jimin shut the water off, trying to follow him. “I don’t want to be mean,” he said, worried. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to be mean. I just wanted to start something.”
“Start something?” Taehyung asked as Jimin stepped close to towel dry his hair, ignoring his own needs for the time being. Taehyung looked near tears.
“I thought… I dunno. People have angry sex, don’t they?”
Taehyung looked completely bewildered, his bottom lip wobbling. “N-not me,” he said, and tears slipped over his lashes.
He was crying. Jimin had made Taehyung cry.
He felt like the worst person in the world as he pulled Taehyung in for a hug. He hated to see his boyfriend this small. “You’re right… you’re right, I’m sorry, I dunno what I was thinking… You don’t… respond well to stuff like this,” Jimin worried. Taehyung was sensitive. Not angry sensitive, just… sweetly sensitive. Worried. Easily hurt. Jimin should have known he couldn’t rile Taehyung up like this. All he had managed to do was hurt his feelings.
“I thought we were kissing,” Taehyung blubbered, upset.
“Aw, Tae…” Jimin worried. “We were kissing, I’m so sorry.”
“Can I have normal kisses now?”
“You can have all the normal kisses you want,” Jimin assured, ducking in to kiss Taehyung. He tasted like tears, the poor thing, and his nose bumped cutely against Jimin’s. He pulled away after a moment. “Can we try another shower? But this time, I’ll wash your hair, huh?”
“Make up sex,” Taehyung requested. “Not angry sex.”
“Not angry sex,” Jimin agreed. He should have known with someone as patient as Taehyung he wouldn’t be able to frustrate him. Not like that. Not like how he wanted.
Jimin was starting to wonder if there was a way to get what he wanted at all.
“Look at him,” Jimin complained to Jungkook. Sometimes it was nice to get out of the building for a little, even if it was just to pick up chicken, and they were on the way to grab lunch. Suddenly, Jimin had realized Taehyung wasn’t beside them.
Apparently, he had found a pet shop.
He was about 30 paces back, stopped to peer into the store window and make faces at the puppies.
It was very cute, and Jimin was furious.
“Uh… he does like puppies,” Jungkook agreed, hands shoved in his pockets. It was freezing, and Jungkook was jogging in place to keep warm. Jimin shoved his hands in his armpits, hunched and shivering as he waited for Taehyung to catch up.
It didn’t look like he’d be leaving the storefront any time soon.
“He’s so endearing,” Jimin said, his tone insulting, and Jungkook looked at him worriedly.
“...Is this another one of your weird… things?” Jungkook asked, knowing full well that Jimin and Taehyung were usually in the midst of some strange fight or another. He was always careful when inquiring about their relationship, especially seeing as he was so close with both of them. He usually got upset to hear Jimin complain about Taehyung or vice versa. They were both his closest friends.
“It’s not another weird thing,” Jimin assured him, and Jungkook looked relieved.
“Oh. Thank goodness.”
“It’s a weird sex thing,” Jimin clarified, and Jungkook paled.
“That’s even worse.”
“It’s just I’m always the dominant one,” Jimin said, launching straight into a rant. “I’m not always on top, but I’m always in charge. And it’s about time Taehyung took some initiative! Every time we have sex, it’s just… slow hands and gentle kisses, and I want our teeth to clack together. I want him to throw me against the wall. I want… I want him to be in charge, and take control, and own it. It’s his turn to be on the handle-side of a whip, you know?”
“I do not know,” Jungkook said. He looked a little woozy. “And I don’t want to know.”
“But don’t you see how it’s a problem?” Jimin asked. “I want to be the sub for a change.”
It was a sincere question, and Jungkook seemed lost as to how to answer. “Uh…” It took him a minute to warm up, shifting his weight from foot to foot and coughing in his hand momentarily. “Ah.” He scratched his head. “Jimin… Taehyung’s not going to boss you around. Not when you’re the one who always calls the shots.”
“That’s what I’m realizing,” Jimin said, frustrated. “I tried to bait him into it, but… when I try to annoy him, he just gets upset with me.”
Jungkook wavered. “I mean… I don’t think you should try to annoy him. No one wants to hook up when they’re annoyed. I think… I mean… Maybe you need to empower him. Let him make decisions for a change.”
Realization washed over Jimin like a bucket of ice water. “Empower him,” he repeated, fully on board with the idea. “That- that’s a great plan.”
“Okay,” Jungkook said, hiding his nose in the zipper of his jacket. “Can we stop talking about it now? I’m going to throw up.”
“Empower him,” Jimin repeated a second time as Taehyung finally broke away from the pet shop window, jogging to catch up to them. He was still thinking about it as Taehyung reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together.
“Sorry,” Taehyung said. “I got distracted.”
“Don’t leave us alone again,” Jungkook begged, dragging Taehyung along side of him.
Jimin was quiet. Empower him.
He’d have to find some ways for Taehyung to start making decisions.
Taehyung was about two inches away from the mirror, studying his eyebrows carefully. He tweezed a few errant hairs away. “You know,” Taehyung said, straightening out and giving himself a once over. “I don’t even know where we’re going.”
Jimin patted his face with toner. It was date night, and they almost always got ready side-by-side. “Actually,” he said, “I was sort of hoping you would choose.”
“Me?” Taehyung asked.
“Well, don’t sound too surprised,” Jimin said. He was notoriously picky - about restaurants, about activities, you name it. Taehyung usually let him take the lead when they went out together. Normally, Jimin was grateful for that fact, but tonight he was trying to let Taehyung feel in control. “I dunno… I always pick. You’re in charge tonight.”
Taehyung sat back on his heels, thinking. “Oh, um… well, where do you want to go?”
Jimin winced. That wasn’t what he wanted to hear. “It doesn’t matter what I want. I want to do what you want,” he tried.
“But… Is there some place you were thinking?” Taehyung tried.
“I wasn’t thinking of anything,” Jimin promised.
“So I have to choose?”
Taehyung seemed very thrown by this fact.
“You have to chose,” Jimin said.
“...Okay. Let me think about it,” Taehyung decided, adding just the smallest bit of concealer under his eyes and the tiniest smudge of brown eyeliner to his lash line. Normally, Taehyung went out bare-faced, but… well, it was date night. He always put in a little extra effort for Jimin. “Maybe… the zoo?”
“The zoo,” Jimin repeated. It closed in 2 hours, and it was 39 degrees.
“... Is that okay?” Taehyung asked, and Jimin backtracked.
“Of course,” he said quickly. “Wherever you want to go.”
“Okay,” Taehyung said, brightening. “Okay, let me go get my mittens, and I’m ready.” He hurried off and Jimin finished getting ready with a quick spritz of hair spray. He had a feeling the wind would blow it all around by the end of the evening, especially if they were going to be outside at the zoo. In February.
When he left the bathroom to meet up with Taehyung, the younger passed him a hat and gloves.
“I haven’t seen tigers in so long,” Taehyung said, giddy with excitement.
“Neither have I,” Jimin agreed, putting his mask on so he wouldn’t easily be recognized. Taehyung did the same, hat low over his ears.
“Who should drive?” Taehyung asked, and Jimin knew the answer to this one.
“You,” he said. “I want to see you behind the wheel for a change. It’s sexy.”
“Sexy?” Taehyung asked.
Jimin nodded, reaching out to squeeze his bicep. “Your flexed forearm, the pinch in your brow… Seeing you control such powerful machinery? The life of everyone on the road is in your hands. It’s hot.”
“Oh,” Taehyung said, flushing. “Thank you.”
Jimin tossed him the keys. “Anything for my man.”
Taehyung seemed quietly pleased.
So far, Jimin felt the plan was going perfectly. At the very least, Taehyung seemed happy, which was better than all of his other attempts thus far where he’d either been awkward, embarrassed, or upset. As long as they ended the night with Taehyung smiling, that would be enough.
Taehyung was chit-chatty on the way to the zoo, always happy to spend some quiet time alone with Jimin. Date night was a standing staple. Even when they didn’t have much time due to busy schedules or touring, they at least made the effort to stay up into the wee hours of the morning to watch an episode or so of One Piece or My Hero.
Taehyung parked the car, and they both hurried to the turnstiles, hoping to be let in before they closed the the ticket booth. “I got it,” Taehyung said, pulling out his wallet.
“Yeah? Someone’s got money?” Jimin asked.
“Oh, I got money,” Taehyung bragged, even though their checks were near identical.
“Okay, Mr. Deep Pockets. I’ll accept the ticket,” Jimin said, not having to feign being impressed. He was always impressed with Taehyung. His boyfriend was one of the six most incredible people he’d ever met.
Taehyung paid and soon, they were walking around the zoo, sun already setting and a fresh layer of snow on the ground. Jimin kept his hands in his pockets, shivering.
“You wanna warm me up?” Jimin asked.
“Sure,” Taehyung answered, putting an arm around Jimin’s shoulders and rubbing his arm. Jimin huddled into him. Taehyung was so big, and tall, and protective. Jimin loved walking close.
Maybe he should try to empower Taehyung more often. This was nice.
They were able to see the tigers and seals, but it seemed like most of the animals had hidden inside to avoid the chill. “I dunno, do you want to stick around?” Taehyung asked eventually when they came to yet another empty enclosure.
“What do you want to do?” Jimin asked.
“I don’t know,” Taehyung said. “What do you want to do?”
“I don’t know either,” Jimin said. “You call the shots.”
Taehyung blinked, bewildered. “Again?”
“I like your opinions, too,” Jimin said, a little desperate. “I like when you’re in charge sometimes. You pick where we go.”
Taehyung frowned and pulled out the zoo map he’d gotten at the entrance, looking at it for the first time all night. He seemed a little at a loss, and Jimin didn’t blame him. It wasn’t often that Taehyung and Jungkook got to call the shots. During company time, they listened to their managers and producers. During Bangtan-time, they listened to their four oldest hyungs. And even when they were together just as the maknae line, Jimin made most of the decisions.
Still, Taehyung peered at the map under the streetlamp and pointed. “There’s a monkey house nearby… I think that means we’ll be able to see something since their enclosures all inside.”
“Lead the way,” Jimin said.
“Okay.” Taehyung sounded hesitant, but he did take Jimin by the hand. “Are you getting hungry?”
Jimin hummed. “I’m feeling whatever you’re feeling.”
Taehyung stopped in his tracks. “Okay, I know that’s not true,” he said. The sun was setting behind his head, and his breath puffed out in clouds in the cold evening air. “You have an opinion on almost everything.”
Jimin chose not to be offended by that. “Is it so hard to believe I don’t mind following your lead for a change?” he asked.
“Yes,” Taehyung deadpanned.
Jimin pouted. “Rude.”
“Is this… is this about the thing again?” Taehyung asked.
“What thing?” Jimin asked, playing incident.
“You said you like when I’m in charge,” Taehyung said. “And you’ve been weird lately, and this… this feels like the same brand of weird.”
“I promise, I’m not being weird.”
“Jimin, you don’t even let me pick what movie we watch before bed, let alone where we go on date night.”
“Well, can you blame me?” Jimin asked. “We’re at the zoo with twenty minutes until closing in the middle of winter.”
Taehyung pouted. “You said I could chose.”
Jimin huffed. “I did say that.”
“So then what is going on with you?” Taehyung asked. “Can’t you just tell me? It’s much easier when you use your words.”
Jimin didn’t want to come right out with it, but… Taehyung looked so cute and bewildered, he found himself blurting out his thoughts anyway. “I just want you to be in control for a change,” Jimin said. “I want… I want…”
“You want what?” Taehyung prompted.
“I want you to dom me, daddy,” Jimin said. He’d been aiming for a teasing tone, but the moment he said it, he realized how serious it was. He blinked in surprise at his own words before he slumped - groaning in embarrassment and hiding his face in his hands. “Oh my god.”
“Oh my god,” Taehyung repeated.
“I want it to hurt,” Jimin admitted.
“Um… oh my god,” Taehyung said again.
“Is that so crazy?” Jimin asked. “You like it rough sometimes. Don’t you think we could try it the other way around for a change?”
“... That’s a good point,” Taehyung said, nodding hesitantly. He was making that face that said he was thinking very deeply about something, like he was running through the logistics in his head. “I mean… I guess… I know… the semantics,” he said.
“Yeah?” Jimin asked, hopeful.
“Like… two plus two equals four,” Taehyung hypothesized with some hand gestures Jimin could somehow understand.
“Sure,” he agreed.
“So… so… I guess I could.”
“Okay!” Jimin said, overeager. “Tonight? Now?”
“Can we eat first?” Taehyung asked.
“We can eat first!” Jimin said. “Let’s get out of the cold. You can warm me up later.”
“I’ll do much more than that,” Taehyung promised, and Jimin was near giddy with excitement. It wasn’t the organic surge of emotion he’d been hoping for from Taehyung, but desperate as he was, he didn’t care how Taehyung decided to take control. He just wanted to be taken advantage of.
“Get down on the floor,” Taehyung said the second they walked through the door. “Hands and knees.”
Chills ran up Jimin’s spine. “Yes, sir.”
“Shoes,” Taehyung said, shaking an oxford in Jimin’s face, and Jimin had to bite back a smile as he undid the laces. Taehyung was already surprising him. “Get up. Coat.”
Jimin was happy to play along. He helped take off Taehyung’s coat and was quick to follow him into the bedroom. Taehyung had a pensive expression on his face, and Jimin wanted to bite his bottom lip, but he didn’t know what Taehyung had in store for him. He’d clearly been lost in thought at dinner, and Jimin hoped that meant good things ahead.
Taehyung forced him into lying on the mattress.
“Hands over your head,” Taehyung said, pulling off his tie.
“Oh my god,” Jimin said, biting his own bottom lip to hold back a smile as Taehyung bound his hands with a necktie and knotted him to the headboard.
“Good,” Taehyung said. “Now take off your pants.”
This made Jimin pause.
“Uh…”
Taehyung seemed confused, but when Jimin wiggled his bound fingers, he quickly realized. “Oh! Right,” Taehyung said, breaking character. “Um… one second.” He fumbled with the button on Jimin’s jeans, trying to tug them off.
Jimin was wearing skinny jeans, a pair he’d had to hop into, and Taehyung had to fight to pull them down.
“I can kind of shimmy?” Jimin offered.
“No, no, I think I got it.”
“Are you sure?” Jimin asked. “They’re a little tight in the thigh…”
“You have the most gorgeous legs in the world,” Taehyung complimented, kissing Jimin’s inner thighs as they were revealed with a bright expression on his face. This was more the Taehyung Jimin was used to during sex: fumbling but eager. Usually, this played into Jimin’s praise kink quite nicely, but they were on a mission.
“Um, Taehyung…”
“Oh, right!” Taehyung said, and schooled his expression into something saucier. “Let’s see,” he said, thumb ghosting over the sensitive skin of Jimin’s exposed inner thigh. He was bare waist down. “Normally, you’re quite loud. Let’s see if we can change that, hm?” He opened their drawer of toys.
Jimin was fully expecting Taehyung to take out the ball gag they had stored away, but after a few moments of rustling, it seemed like he was coming up short.
“You can’t find it?” Jimin worried.
“No, no, I’m going to find it,” Taehyung said, eyebrows pinched together.
Jimin shifted, awkwardly exposed. “Um… we can just… skip that part.”
“I swear it’s in here.”
“No, I know, but in the interest of time-”
“Here it is! Oh no, that’s just from the anal bead set…”
“Taehyung, I’m ready,” Jimin emphasized, and Taehyung pulled away.
“Right, right, right, okay, how’s this?” he said, straddling Jimin and sitting up on his knees. He unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it to the side. He pulled his undershirt up and over his head, leaving Jimin drooling at his exposed pectorals. “Yeah? Like that?” he asked, sitting on Jimin’s stomach. He drew shapes on Jimin’s chest with his index finger. “I’m going to sit on top of you,” he said. “And there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“I’m trapped,” Jimin agreed, squirming.
Taehyung held his shoulders down. “Damn right you are,” he said, crashing their lips together in a painful kiss. Jimin ate it up. Taehyung pulled away after a moment to leave a trail of kisses down Jimin’s neck. He bit his shoulder, hard enough to leave marks.
Jimin hissed in pain, and Taehyung pulled away immediately. “Oh my god,” he worried. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” he asked, fussing.
Jimin tried to wave him off with his arms pinned above his head. “No, no, I’m fine. A little pain is the point, you’re doing great.”
“Are you sure?” Taehyung asked. “I don’t want to hurt you again.”
“Just bite me,” Jimin said, and Taehyung did indeed bite him again, leaving Jimin to hiss.
“Ow,” he said.
Taehyung pulled back. “Jimin, I don’t know about this-”
“Just keep going,” Jimin demanded.
“Okay, well… I’m going to take off my pants,” Taehyung said. He tried to school his expression into something stern. “Don’t move, or you’ll be sorry,” he demanded, wagging a finger.
And that was it. That was the breaking point.
Something about the way Taehyung said it, the slight pout on his face, the arch of his eyebrow… the way he pointed at Jimin as he said it. It was just so out of character and so out of place, that Jimin and Taehyung took one look at each other before they both burst into laugher.
Taehyung flopped over on top of Jimin, burying his face in Jimin’s neck. Jimin, still tied up with the necktie, was in no position to stop him.
Jimin couldn’t stop giggling.
“Sorry, sorry,” he eventually said. “It’s just… It’s just so not like you. But it’s totally you at the same time.”
Taehyung was also still laughing. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “I’m not so good at this.”
“But why not?” Jimin asked, not upset this time, but rather just confused as to why things had gone so poorly. Taehyung taking control hadn’t amounted to what he’d built it up to in his mind. “I would have thought… I mean… The face you have during performances sometimes, it’s so intense.”
“That’s just a face, Minnie,” Taehyung explained. “On stage, I’m just… acting. In bed with you, I’m just me.”
Jimin hummed, endeared. “And I like you very much.”
“I don’t know how to do this domming thing,” Taehyung admitted.
“No,” Jimin agreed. “It’s too out of character for you. And… I don’t want you having to be something you’re not in our bedroom. You should just be TaeTae when we’re alone together, you know?” He didn’t want Taehyung faking anything to please him. They were a couple. Jimin wanted Taehyung to feel comfortable being his most authentic self (even if that meant building weird little art sculptures out of household items around their apartment for Jimin to find and speaking majoritively in metaphors). Jimin cleared his throat and wiggled his fingers. “Do you want to untie me?” he asked.
“I dunno,” Taehyung said. “I kind of like you there.”
“Oh, really?” Jimin asked, surprised.
Taehyung rolled off of him and shucked his pants down. “I think I will get on top of you again,” he decided. “That is, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind,” Jimin said, happily surprised.
“Good. Now don’t move,” Taehyung said. “I’m calling the shots.”
“You’re calling the shots,” Jimin agreed, happy as a clam. Maybe he wasn’t getting the ultimate dominatrix Jimin had seen Taehyung play on TV, but at least they were shaking things up a little.
Besides, getting tied up in one of Taehyung’s Gucci neckties had been a different fantasy of his for a long while now.