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Jimin will stop practicing soon, that’s what he keeps telling the others, he just wants to practice his solo one more time. “Go ahead, I’ll get dinner on my way home.”
They believe him, and they go home, and Jimin starts the music over again.
He did plan on going home soon, he must’ve lost track of time because soon he’s panting and sweating and it’s near five in the morning.
“Hyung?”
His head jerks to the practice room entrance, stumbling as his vision blacks from the quick movement. He groans, and soon he’s being practically held up by Jungkook.
“You said you were coming home soon,” Jungkook sighs, worry creases his forehead, “Have you not slept?”
“I lost track of time,” Jimin slurs. Jungkook practically picks him up at this point.
“You’re overworked, Jimin hyung, can you see me?” He sets Jimin on the ground, crouching in front of him. Jimin squints harshly and Jungkook takes that as a no.
“I have to practice my solo,” Jimin replies instead, trying to stand again. Jungkook pushes him down.
“I haven’t seen you like this in years,” Jungkook muses sadly, “You know you’re good, Jiminie, anything you do, ARMY will love.”
Jimin looks up at him, his eyes cloudy, “I don’t want to drag the performance down for you guys.”
Jungkook feels a twinge of sadness in his heart, he reaches forward and brushes Jimin’s hair away from his sweaty forehead, “You need water,” he smiles softly, opening his own bag and pulling his water bottle out. Jimin takes it and chugs it gratefully, “You know you could never drag us down, your movement is like… like Starry Night.”
“The painting?” Jimin jests, but his eyes are intrigued and desperate, so Jungkook continues seriously.
“Yes,” he nods, urging, “Your colors flow and swirl together so lovingly. Did you know Van Gogh didn’t wash his brushes? He just let the colors thread together, that's how your movement feels. It’s beautiful. You’re… beautiful.”
Jimin blushes, pink dusting his cheeks, “Jungkook-ah…”
“You should get home, I’ll call you a car,” Jungkook turns away, rummaging for his phone.
“ Jungkook-ah .”
“Just forget I said anything, we both need sleep,” Jungkook is still avoiding Jimin’s eyes.
“I think you’re the most beautiful,” Jimin concedes gently, his voice so small that Jungkook would have missed it if they weren’t so close together. It’s an admission of vulnerability.
“Jiminie,” Jungkook whines, embarrassed, but Jimin continues anyway.
“You know, I like to pretend that I wish you would use honorifics for me, but I don’t, not really. It makes me happy, knowing that you trust me enough to know that I won’t truly be upset, and that you feel we’re close enough to drop them occasionally.”
They’re just staring at one another now. Finally, Jungkook speaks again, “Yoongi hyung has pillows and a comfortable couch in his studio, that’s closer. You should nap for a bit before going home.”
Jimin nods, letting himself be pulled to his feet and brought to Yoongi’s studio, still wobbly on his feet, but less so. Jungkook puts in their elders passcode and lets them in, Yoongi isn’t there tonight. He helps set up Jimin and goes to leave when his wrist is caught, “Why are you leaving?”
Jungkook allows himself to be pulled this time, the couch doesn’t quite accommodate both of them, but soon Jungkook’s lying beside his hyung and Jimin is nestled into the maknae’s side, “Why are you up so early anyway?” Jimin whispers tiredly.
“I couldn’t sleep, I was worried when I never heard you come home,” his voice is soft as he strokes Jimin’s hair, “Sleep, we both need it, and who knows how long we have before Yoongi hyung comes to work.”
Jimin hums softly, his breathing slowly evening out. When Jungkook’s sure that his elder is sleeping he lets sleep wash over him as well, the two sleeping soundly until close to noon.