Archive of Our Own ^beta

Jeongguk sighed, forcing his eyes away to look down at his hands. His heart hammered uncomfortably against his ribcage as if to tell him to get them to stop , or at least rip that other alpha’s throat out.

Why should anyone but him be able to touch Jimin?

Admittedly, Jeongguk himself isn’t able to touch Jimin, but that isn’t going to stop him from putting up a fight.

He’d finally reached his third year of college, and after meeting Jimin briefly at a party last semester. Via a classmate who’d told him one ‘Park Jimin’ was his type and they should get to talking—Jeongguk was nothing less than completely smitten. Even Jimin’s scent was so, so alluring. Looks aside, Jeongguk knew once he laid eyes on him. Their inner wolves were compatible, and once the imprint was set in motion, the two would be tied together by a metaphysical string until they mated officially. Once that happened, they would be bound together by something deeper, tangible. They would be mates for life— All of these thoughts immediately crossed Jeongguk’s mind, muddled by this white-hot desire to be closer to Jimin.

(Jeongguk thinks back to the distinct scent of strawberries and something almost milky, a soft kind of musk that made his eyes glow red). But he never did as the smaller omega was lost in the crowd too soon, and Jeongguk couldn’t find him anywhere.

He was disappointed. Though ultimately, he’d decided he could find someone else. He’d thought, with his popularity with the omega population, as well as betas, it’d be easy to find another person to fuck or even mate. (As much as he hates to admit it, he is very, very possessive, so mating is always a possibility. He couldn’t help the urges to protect and please, even with his sexcapades).

Jimin was different—still is, since Jeongguk hasn’t even looked at another omega since he’d pictured Jimin while having sex with some girl he’d been hooking up with, a week after the party. (“I think I need some time for myself,” he’d told her, offering what he thought was the best excuse. He wasn’t one to fuck and dump so quickly, but when he realized the weight his connection to Jimin carried, he knew he had to take it seriously).

And, now, as he attends his classes quietly, he thinks of Jimin, watches him around campus when he can. His alpha doesn’t let him relax, constantly feeding the anxiety that his mate needed him. This resulted in him staring creepily, as Jimin exited the performing arts building with whom, Jeongguk guessed, was a threat. Jimin looks as breathtaking as he always does, delectable thighs wrapped snugly in a pair of blue jeans and a baggy long-sleeved shirt making him look soft . The guy walking with him has his arm slung over Jimin’s shoulders. 

Jeongguk takes a deep breath,  trying to keep himself from losing control and potentially ruining his chances with his future mate . He wanted their meeting to be less of Jeongguk beating someone to a pulp, and more of Jeongguk making Jimin’s pretty face flush a bright pink.

He growls, quietly, clenching his jaw. The force he has to use to keep himself in check is tiring, makes him lightheaded, but he refuses to give in. Turning away, he resolves that he’ll make everything up to Jimin when they finally meet again.

When Jeongguk knows how the fuck he’s going to do that.

-

“Hyung, he was walking back from class, and he looked so precious. I want to hug and squish him for the rest of my life,” Jeongguk moans, face pressed into Namjoon’s throw pillow. “So no one can steal him from me.”

He knows Namjoon has probably heard these exact words before, many, many times. He doesn’t care, though. Continues to whine and complain because he doesn’t exactly have another outlet for his emotions. And Namjoon, the most docile alpha there ever was, had told him that he’d rather Jeongguk talk to him about his dumb misgivings than keep it all bottled in until it poisoned him from the inside. He’d said wolves worked better in packs, or something, Jeongguk can’t remember.

“Gguk-ah, I want you to think about this very carefully,” he starts, sounding as patronizing as ever, “and I don’t mean to upset you, but maybe you could protect Jimin better if you actually talked to him.”

Jeongguk groans.

“Just a suggestion, though. Take your time, Jeongguk.”

-

And, he means to. His plan was to ‘bump’ into him, just casually, at one of the campus coffee shops. Maybe, if Jimin caught his scent, he’d realize who he was and… Well, if Jeongguk is being honest with himself, he knows he wants Jimin to be his mate. The only issue is if Jimin wants the same thing or not. Why wouldn’t he?

As Jeongguk is waiting, pretending to sketch, he can’t will his fingers to make the correct pencil strokes. He’s there for too long, too unsettled by his nerves. His gut is rolling and twisting, but he chalks it up as a byproduct of forcing the distance between his intended and himself. Mates were meant to be close— Jeongguk’s alpha is almost constantly rumbling with howls and whines. He was waiting for over an hour, sidestepping the barista that tried to get his number, and his offers for free food and drinks. You wouldn’t ask if Jimin was with me , Jeongguk thought sourly.

He gathers his sketchbook and places it in his backpack and stands to leave. On the way out, he stares at his shoes too long, his pride getting the better of him. Someone slams into him, their smaller frame making it easy for them to almost fall flat on their back. Jeongguk reaches out, steadying them.

He smells the alarmingly strong scent of an omega, something musky, yet soft and sweet. Jeongguk already knows the person he’s holding.

“Are you...okay?” Jeongguk asks above the burn of excitement turning his ears red. He feels his alpha keening, so, so happy to be this close— and, fuck, Jimin is breathtaking. His fluffy, sandy hair is mussed from the wind, or maybe from the way he rammed straight into Jeongguk’s arms. God, and he smells absolutely delectable. From this close, Jeongguk can pick up the more subtle notes to his unique pheromones. Honeysuckle and vanilla. It’s refreshing that he doesn’t cover the natural musk with special scent blockers, like most other omegas or betas do.

“Yeah, thanks,” Jimin answers curtly, slipping away from Jeongguk’s embrace. He looks mildly flustered, but mostly confused or, even, uncomfortable. What?

Before he can get another word in, Jimin is gone, leaving him feeling cold. He turns to find Jimin at the counter, speaking with the barista as if nothing had happened. Frowning, Jeongguk nearly marches back over to ask Jimin why he just did that, or something, he doesn’t know.

His phone buzzes in his pocket.

tae-bae - 4:34p.m.

Judt wondering where u went

just*

Jeongguk frowns again. He’d made plans with Taehyung to meet this afternoon to help him with a paper on photography. He glances back up, continuing to track Jimin. The omega is carrying his drink to a table near the back, or that’s what he assumes when Jimin disappears behind the wall of the alcove. God.

-

“But.. you didn’t even say anything?”

Jeongguk drags both his hands down his face. His chest feels weighted with dissatisfaction and disappointment in both himself and Jimin. Why didn’t Jimin say anything else? Why did he react so coldly? If he had been as affected as Jeongguk… He doesn’t know. Maybe they’d be talking now, sharing sweet smiles over coffee. Maybe he’d be telling him about needing him—making the beautiful boy flush red with compliments and praise.

But here he is, on Taehyung’s living room floor, his inner wolf basically crying, and his stomach is full of bricks.

“No! Hyung, he didn’t let me. I was literally holding him and… Nothing,” Jeongguk sighs. Having to explain the event to Taehyung three whole times wasn’t really helping his state of mind. “He just walked away like it was no big deal.”

Taehyung looks thoughtful for a moment, brushing a hand through his hair. “Maybe he was having a bad day?”

“You’re no help at all. I should have gone to Joon-hyung,” Jeongguk groaned.

-

He’s doing it again, and he knows he should stop. Knows Jimin would never want him in the same way despite how perfect they’d be together. But… he can’t help it. (Or more like he doesn’t want to help it).

His alpha is dormant almost, completely depressed in a corner of his being. After a few weeks, this is his constant state instead of whining or crooning over the space between him and his omega mate. 

Jimin then enters the coffee shop, hair fluffier than usual and cheeks stained pink. He looks like he’s in a rush, or flustered about something, and Jeongguk wishes with every fiber of himself that he could know why. He looks between Jimin and the empty cup on his table. Without letting himself overthink, he practically jumps out of his chair to get to the counter just as Jimin begins to give his order.

“Um, can I have the vanilla latte—extra cream, please,” he says, voice a bit tight sounding. Jeongguk thinks he can hear how loud Jimin’s heart is beating.

Jimin steps to the side, and Jeongguk is next in line.

“Can I have another apple spice latte, please?”

He feels eyes on him— a gaze burning into the side of his face as he pulls out a few notes from his back pocket. After putting the change in the tip jar, he goes to stand near the pick up area, where Jimin is still standing. There’s a tense blanket of air above them, and Jeongguk wonders if he really has the guts to break the silence. He braves a glance at the smaller boy only to find the top of his head. Jimin was looking straight down at his shoes, hands grasping the bottom of his hoodie.

“H—”

“Jimin!” the barista called out, interrupting Jeongguk.

Jimin smiles, offering a ‘thanks’ before turning to the counter on the side with more sugar and toppings. He picks up the canister labeled cinnamon and sprinkles it into his foamy latte. Oh, my god, he likes cinnamon in his coffee too . Jeongguk watches, distracted, and misses when his own name is called.

“Sir, your coffee…” he hears, turning to grab his cup quickly.

He goes to do the same, put cinnamon in his coffee, getting to stand so close to his precious Jimin. Remaining as calm as possible, he reaches over Jimin’s cup, which he’s still stirring, and grabs the cinnamon canister.

“Cinnamon is the best thing you can add to your coffee,” Jeongguk offers softly, tone light and conversational. On the inside, his alpha is begging him to do something horrible like push his face into Jimin’s neck and suck on his scent glands. He ignores it, smiling just a little before grabbing a wooden stirrer.

Jimin looks up at him, and Jeongguk can feel his cheeks heating up rapidly.

“Yeah… You look familiar— Do I know you?”

His question falls onto Jeongguk like an ice water bath, and he feels his palms grow sweaty.

“Maybe? I went to a lot of parties last semester,” he replies, still trying his best to seem casual, “But I think I’ve seen you around before, too?”

Jimin seems to consider the idea, eyebrows subtly knitting together for a brief moment before the faintest shade of pink appears across his cheeks. “Oh, yeah! I ran into you that time… I’m sorry, by the way. I was so rude…”

Completely endeared, Jeongguk refains from immediately telling him it wasn’t an issue, to be casual and friendly. He has an opportunity to make Jimin open up to him— for Jimin to remember him after he’d walked away.

“Yeah, I thought so, too. Are you always that rude?” he asks, using a playful tone with a slight smile. He watches Jimin gasp, eyes darting down shyly.

God, Jeongguk is almost overwhelmed with how beautiful the omega is— he smelled like a freshly picked strawberry covered in sweet cream, cheeks stained a similar pink, small hands playing with the paper protector on his coffee cup. He looks so damn precious.

“No-o! I-I try not to be…” Jimin glances at his watch, sighing. “I-I have a class to get to, though. I’ll... see you around, Jeongguk-ah!”

Frowning, Jeongguk parrots a response just to keep from looking as disappointed as he was on the inside. He grabs his coffee, still reeling from the conversation he had with Jimin. Jimin!! His heart is beating extra fast, mind racing to keep up.

He remembers my name.

-

“I’m happy for you, Guk,” Namjoon says, acting like the parent that just wanted his 6-year old to stop repeating the same 3 sentences about how much he loves the Ninja Turtles.

Jeongguk doesn’t care, though. Jimin smelled sweeter than the coffee he was drinking, looked softer than a woolen blanket. His alpha was so proud for putting that pretty flush over the boy’s features, preening at the attention. He’s absolutely smitten…

He hasn’t even tried to think of something else, knows all too well that his mind would just go right back. He feels hopeful.

This is dangerous, he knows. There’s the chance that Jimin has long since rejected the bond… and ultimately, Jeongguk as a mate. The thought has him crashing quickly.

-

By the time a week passed by, all of his hopes were completely dashed. He hadn’t seen Jimin on campus, in the coffee shops— nowhere. His wolf was distraught, feeding him anxiety and worries that Jimin wasn’t ok. And, god, all Jeongguk can do is sit and wait. He just wants to hold him, comfort him, and protect him from whatever is causing him pain.

Aside from these feelings being completely foreign to him, there’s the worry of Jimin not even returning any of these feelings in the first place. Jeongguk has never felt this deeply for anyone before, for obvious reasons. But now that he has, it’s like he’s a different person. He rarely sleeps, favoring to study instead of calling up an old hookup when he was up late and bored. He doesn’t know what else to do with himself because the thought of spending time with another omega makes him feel sick. A serendipitous side effect is better grades on tests, but still.

“Have you been sleeping?”

Namjoon shares a look with Taehyung. The pair seems unnaturally concerned, scents sharpening just slightly. Jeongguk sighs.

“Yeah, just… Not as well.”

“Look, he’s probably sick, Gguk. The flu has been going around. Worrying like this can’t be good for you,” Taehyung explains, toying with his uneaten lunch.

Jeongguk looks at his own instant noodles, feeling a bit nauseous. He makes himself take a bite, stomach jumping almost in anticipation. Along with sleeping, he’s been eating like shit.

“Hyung,” he starts, “He’s my mate… I won’t feel better until I see him.”

“But still!” Taehyung cries, already defeated.

Jeongguk makes it a point to stare at his food as he forces himself to eat all of it, the processed spicy flavor doing little to distract his thoughts. He just wishes he had a way to simply contact Jimin— he could send him a text, asking how he’s doing, where he’s been for the last week and a half.

Despite how broken-down he feels, he makes it a personal goal to ask for Jimin’s number the next time he gets to talk to him. (Even if he has no idea how he’s going to pull it off just yet).

-

Three more days pass before Jeongguk catches sight of the beautiful boy. It’s midmorning, a chilliness settled in the late September air.

Jimin is in a large sweater, hair unstyled and fluffy from being air dried. He looks… sad . Jeongguk knows the downtrodden expression all too well, and can almost smell the sour turn of Jimin’s scent. His cheeks are a hot pink, staining the high points of his face and Jeongguk sees the tips of his tiny fingers tinged a similar color. It’s all he can do to not run over and engulf him in an enormous hug, kiss those flushed cheeks. His heart raced in his chest.

He’d been in heat.

Trying his best not to think about it more than he has to, but the image of Jimin’s face contorted into a mixture of need, pain, and pleasure still flashes across his mind. God, he thinks bitterly.

Without leaving himself much more thought, he starts walking on the path, leading him directly in front of Jimin. It’s now or never.

“Uh, hi,” he starts, keeping his tone as light as possible. He hopes the familiarity eases Jimin’s skittish energy. “How have you been?”

Jimin looks up from his shoes, meeting Jeongguk’s eyes shortly before diverting them to something behind his head. 

“O-oh! Hi, Jeongguk. I haven’t been…feeling all that well,” he explains, hands tightly grasping the sleeves of his sweatshirt. He’s still flushed pink, ears suddenly turning a dark red as well.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Where are you headed? I’ve got some time until my next class.”

Jimin shuffles on his feet slightly, taking the opportunity to begin walking.

“Wanted to get coffee, actually. U-um, would you… I-I mean if you want—”

“I’d love to.”

Jimin purses his lips to hide a shy smile, scent almost visibly curling into something softer, sweeter. And, oh , is it lovely. Strawberries and vanilla cream and honey. Jeongguk tries his best to remain calm, to keep his head out of the clouds, but his instincts are making it very difficult. To his alpha, the bond between them is getting stronger as the seconds keep ticking. His wolf is puffing his chest out with pride having his omega, happy, by his side.

“You must have caught something pretty awful to be out for so long,” he says conversationally, casting a playful glance in Jimin’s direction. He hopes he isn’t being too obvious that he’s discovered it was heat that caused his absence.

“Y-yeah, I think it might have been the flu or something. I was in bed for at least 72 hours straight.”

“That’s kind of impressive.”

“I’m not trying to gloat or anything, but you probably couldn’t last as long.”

Jeongguk bursts into laughter, “Oh, yeah?”

“Definitely. I have amazing stamina,” Jimin replies, bluffing in a haughty tone.

Ignoring the absolute pounding of his heart on his chest at the thought of testing Jimin’s stamina with round after round of orgasms— Jeongguk fires back. “I’d come out of that sickness even stronger.”

“As if that’s even possible.”

“What’s that?” Jeongguk knows he’s probably pushing a bit too much, but he can’t help it. It feels like he’s caught him. He feels the enormous eruption of a smile on his face.

Jimin sputters a bit, pursing his plush lips. “O-oh, y’know… You’re just, already p-pretty fit, so.”

Jeongguk keeps himself from whistling. He’s swelling from pride at the compliment. But forcing himself to fucking behave , dammit, he looks back to the sidewalk. The last thing he wanted to do was push him away.

“Yeah, that’s an obvious fact.”

“A-anyway,” Jimin says, “What’s your major?”

Jeongguk can’t believe himself, actually being fond of Jimin making small talk. He can’t help it. He holds the door open for Jimin, not missing how the omega smiles gently.

“Art history, but I’m thinking about changing it to photography. You?”

Jimin smiles, eyes coming up from a spot on Jeongguk’s chest to meet his eyes.

“Dance and performing arts.”

After ordering, Jeongguk subtly hurries to pay before Jimin has the chance.

“What? Oh… Th-thanks?”

Jeongguk grabs their drinks, adding extra cinnamon. (“You remembered?” Jimin asks. And Jeongguk giggles, “Of course I did!”)

Jimin takes his coffee, looking down at the cup thoughtfully. He’d spent so much time away from him, being so close to his mate is putting his senses into overdrive. It’s like his emotions are stronger than normal, too. He comes to this realization when he feels a pull towards sadness and regret.

“What have you heard…about me?”

Jeongguk, amidst all his own confusion, takes a bit too long to reply. His chest tightens uncomfortably. Is this the bond pulling on him?

“Wh— Um, I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean,” he hears himself saying, mind still drifting back to his last thought.

Jimin, flushed delicately, repeating himself. Something about his manner was quieter, almost shy. Jeongguk didn’t know what to do with himself. What had he heard?

“Nothing, honestly. Is there something I should know?” He asks, trying to gather his thoughts better. Jeongguk himself began to blush, thinking of the other half of that statement. ‘before I can begin to court you?’ His mind is running rampant. 

He wants Jimin to feel secure, that Jeongguk isn’t absolutely losing his mind overthinking a simple question. He needs this to go well so he can eventually tell Jimin that their bond goes far beyond the simple pull of attraction from their subgenders.

“N-no, I’m just…. curious to know if you had heard about what happened two semesters ago. I-I’ve heard a few things a-about you, too.” 

“You have? A-And, no, I, uh…. I haven’t heard anything about it.”

Jimin, wringing his hands together, bites at his lip. Jeongguk can feel just as much as see how nervous he is. He wants to reach over the table to offer comfort of any kind. He wishes so badly to just know what Jimin has heard about him. He can only think back to the several omegas he’d messed around with, and his heart sinks. Is this what he thinks of me? 

“I just… Um, I’m not usually so shy—I’m sorry, but I have to go. I-I’m sorry, Jeongguk,” he says, getting up from his seat. He dropped eye contact quickly and left the cafe.

Jeongguk, beside himself with the amount of emotions washing over him like a cold, cold shower. What just happened? His heart is racing faster than he thinks it should and wonders if that’s Jimin’s pull on their bond. He looks down at the spot Jimin was just sitting. He’d left his cup of coffee in his haste. He couldn’t even bring himself to say anything before Jimin left. 

Dejected, he takes a sip of his cold coffee before leaving the cafe altogether. He had no idea what he was going to do about what happened. 

-

“That doesn’t sound so bad, Gguk.” Namjoon is drinking his coffee while attempting to look like he’s listening to Jeongguk relay what happened yesterday. His stomach is a bundle of unsettled nerves, wolf distressing heavily. He keeps feeling like he’s done something wrong, but he has no way of knowing. It’s already 3p.m. and he hadn’t seen Jimin in his usual places.

“But it was, hyung, I’m serious. I haven’t seen him since, and the other side of the bond is… Sad. I’m just worried.”

Namjoon looks up from his book to cast Jeongguk a pitiful glance. “I’m not making excuses for him ditching you, but it sounds like he got scared.”

“Of me?”

“Jeongguk, do you forget who you are?”

He scoffs, affronted, “What do you mean?”

“I think I would try to be more straightforward with what you want from him, is all I’m saying. Look, we can talk more later tonight. We’re going out for a drink.”

-

Jeongguk stares at his reflection, sighing. His apartment building is deathly quiet, most likely devoid of its inhabitants on this Friday night. He was all dressed up even if the only person he wanted to look good for wasn’t going to be there. His heart wrenched in his chest. He was in his tight-jeans-and-button-up-shirt combo, as it tended to be a favorite for most people. He thought of Jimin, and if he’d like what he’s wearing, or if he didn’t.

Without dwelling too much, he tousled his messy waves one more time before throwing on his favorite leather jacket. 

-

The bar was relatively busy, but Jeongguk knew he wasn’t going to see the one person he was almost dying to be with. 

He caught Namjoon easily, asking how long he’d been waiting.

“Not long! The rest are coming too,” Namjoon says under the general thrum. Jeongguk knows he’s talking about Taehyung and maybe Hoseok, a beta who Namjoon has known for years, but also knows there’s a chance they can bring friends of their own.

Jeongguk orders a beer, downing it quickly. It isn’t the kind he typically orders, but it would have to do for the time being. He could do shots with Hoseok later, anyways.

After only a few minutes, he felt arms wrap around him from behind, nearly squeezing him to death.

“Guk! Do we have any tea on the ‘J’ Situation?” Taehyung screamed into his ear, clearly already under the influence of something— Jeongguk didn’t want to know what—and reached around him to have a sip of his second beer. Jeongguk flips around in his seat, yanking the beta’s arms from his body.

“Hyunggggg. And—”

He’s interrupted by a small-framed omega and Jimin. His Jimin , his brain supplies before he can form another thought. Hoseok joins the group behind the omegas, throwing his arms around Namjoon in a brief hug. He can’t help the smile breaking out onto his face. He chugs down the rest of his beer to give himself something to do so he won’t look at Jimin like he wants to eat him.

“Hey Namjoonie! Tae already pre-gamed, of course,” Hoseok giggles, then he gestures to Jimin and the other omega, “This is Jimin and Yoongi-hyung! Hyung is in the music department, and Jimin does dance and performance.”

Jeongguk watches as Namjoon’s eyes rake over Yoongi in a way he’s never seen him do before. Hoseok laughs at his reaction, and Yoongi’s painfully neutral face cracks slightly with a small smile, looking like a pleased kitten. Their eye contact is maintained while the group moves on to another topic, Taehyung and Hoseok loudly catching up after not seeing each other for some time. Jeongguk, still seated on his barstool, turns his attention to his mate.

Jimin is standing nearly two feet away, looking about as breathtaking as ever. His sandy hair is styled carefully into a clean side parting. His lips are stained a cherry red, black eyeliner smoked around his eyes. Beautiful.

Jimin spoke very little, rarely looking up from a spot on the floor. Jeongguk has a hard time looking away from him. There’s an unkempt force of anxiety coming from his side of the bond. His alpha wants to rush to his side, offering comfort and support, but he holds himself back.

He watches silently as Jimin whispers something Yoongi before walking away from the group. His eyes tracked him as he walked, heart thudding against his chest more uncomfortably every step Jimin took.

“Jeongguk! Yoongi-hyung asked you something!”

Jeongguk looked back to Namjoon, who was nudging his arm.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“What’s your problem? Why are you looking at him like that?” Yoongi is looking up at him with something just short of disgust on his soft features. He looks a bit confused, as he moves to take the seat between Namjoon and Jeongguk. He watches dumbly as Namjoon buys Yoongi a drink, heart stuttering gratuitously at the simple gesture, wishing he could treat his own omega to a small pleasure.

It’s that moment when Jeongguk notices everyone else had left to get more drinks or began dancing.

“What…. I-I wasn’t,” Jeongguk begins, licking his lips, “I wasn’t trying to stare.”

Yoongi scoffs. He doesn’t know why he wasn’t expecting the omega to have a snarky personality— he’d looked like the kind of person that can only sleep when he’s being cuddled. He wants to snort at the thought of Yoongi getting together with someone like Namjoon, who is very gentle and careful with the way he minces words. It’s funny how their palpable chemistry is felt despite how opposite they are.

“So you’re Jeon Jeongguk? The omega-killer that can get anyone he wants?” Yoongi asks after taking a sip of his bourbon. Namjoon is listening as well, frowning at the mention of Jeongguk’s history.

“Ah, Yoongi-hyung, you’re sharp with words,” Namjoon comments, laughing, “Gguk-ah was a mess in his first few years, but he’s really gotten back on track, thanks to meeting a certain Park Jimin.”

Jeongguk blushes faintly, shaking his head and stuffing his hands into his pockets. “H-Hyung! Ugh, yeah, I’m not proud of my reputation, so I’m trying to make up for it now. And, for the record, I’ve never heard anyone call me that before.”

“So, you’re coming after Minnie next?” Yoongi says lazily, lisp making an appearance. His eyes are sharp on Jeongguk, his thick, maple bourbon scent twisting in the air—he’s being protective of Jimin. His heart stutters in his chest as he considers his reply for a moment. Is that what it looks like? Oh God —

“No! At least…. Not like that. He’s different. Important,” he says decidedly.

He wants to explain that Jimin is his mate, that he’s enamored with the omega and would go to the ends of the Earth to make him happy— but thinks twice about it. What if Jimin got upset that he’d told his friend about it before he told him? What if Yoongi doesn’t believe him and shields Jimin from him even more? Fuck, why is this so hard … Jeongguk leaves the mate detail out, Namjoon using his own scent to reassure him. He doesn’t want any more pressure adding to his situation, and potentially making it harder on Jimin, who has his own emotions and motivations. He wants Jimin to warm up to him naturally before he even tries approaching the subject of telling him that they’re mates because he’d been expecting Jimin to fall in love with him as soon as they laid eyes on each other—as most fiction depicts meeting your destined mate—and how much he’d been hurt because that’s not what happened. He can’t take the risk of Jimin giving him the cold shoulder again. He doubts he could handle another rejection in this lifetime.

Not looking convinced, Yoongi takes a swig from his own drink. “Different.”

Jeongguk doesn’t make another reply, but Yoongi is laughing to himself.

“Is that something he knows?” Yoongi asks, “Have you thought maybe he thinks you’ll take advantage of him like you’ve done to other omegas, as the rumors say.”

Again, too taken by his thoughts, Jeongguk stays silent. No . But he hadn’t thought of how his inability to confess that to Jimin would have had the adverse effect and make him seem as if he’s not as committed to him! Jeongguk’s alpha whines, and he wants to whine, too. He wishes he could just walk up to Jimin and cuddle into a tight hug, kiss his neck, his cheeks, his cute nose.

Namjoon and Yoongi fall into their own conversation, tones hushed and intimate. They’re turned into each other, Namjoon’s knees bracketing Yoongi’s smaller ones.

Jeongguk takes his new drink to a corner of the bar to sit with himself.

After spending another half hour by himself, Jeongguk resolves that he won’t be seeing Jimin before the night expires. He had 2 drinks, but his heart was still heavy. Jimin must think Jeongguk wanted him to be a casual hook-up. Yoongi’s words echo around in his tipsy brain like a song that’s stuck in his head.

He wants to be mad at something, anything, but he knows this is all his fault. He was a mess, sleeping around for the first two years of college. Now, well into his third year, he’s found the one person he doesn’t want to drop after casual sex. And, somehow, he’s managed to ruin even that for himself.

God, he wishes Jimin would give him a chance, but he also knows Jimin has the chance to be happier with someone else, soulmate bond be damned. Someone that doesn’t have his kind of history. What was he thinking—trying to pursue Jimin seriously after fucking half the school? He’s an idiot . An absolutely horrible idiot.

He slides off his bar stool, shooting Namjoon a text that he was heading back to his apartment. Weaving through people, he begins to wonder if Jimin can feel the bond between them. He’s certain he just put a heavy weight on his end. Jimin has to feel that, surely. He almost feels like crying because if he experiences the same bond, he doesn’t care enough to act on it.

He hates himself for losing his confidence so easily, but how is he supposed to help that? His wolf keeps whining, howling at him to run and get Jimin closer to him, but he can’t bring himself to even try. Why bother looking for someone that doesn’t want to be found by him?

“Oh, sorry,” he offers, bumping into a pair of people dancing. He casts a glance at the smaller male, gasping when his eyes land on the object of his last thought.

“O-oh,” Jimin says, “It’s okay. Where— Are you leaving?”

Jeongguk nods, clenching his jaw. How could such a beautiful person cause so many feelings—good and bad—to completely take over him?

“Yeah, hyung,” he says, swallowing, “I’ll see you around.”

“W-wait, is it— Can I walk with you? I need some air…”

Jeongguk acquiesced, not giving it much thought. His mind is doing somersaults, heart racing. Once they get into the cold air, Jimin sighs loudly, breath forming small clouds in the air.

“Are you okay?”

Jimin looks up in unadulterated surprise, lips forming the tiniest space for a gasp to escape. He can’t help but stare. The absolute softest person in the world was gaping at him with his eyes shining brighter than the stars. It pains him greatly to know those eyes hold nothing but indifference. He wishes he knew how to change Jimin’s assumptions of him.

“Yes. Yeah, I’m fine. Just… I don’t usually do well in crowds…” Jimin says, quieter than before, like he was telling Jeongguk a secret. His cheeks color faintly.

Jeongguk, slowly processing the enormously vulnerable moment in which he found himself, stays quiet.

“Jimin—” As he begins to form a string of intellectual thoughts, Jimin’s phone rings loudly; a call from Yoongi, most likely.

He listens as Jimin smiles through his answers to Yoongi, telling him he was waiting outside and was, in fact, ready to go back to their shared abode. Jeongguk wants to say something, anything, to get Jimin to stay. It feels like horrible deja vu. It’s the coffee shop all over again, and Jeongguk can’t stand it. He feels like crying or tearing his hair out, screaming at himself for letting his one and only get away again.

Jimin says very little after the phone call ends, almost sheepish about the affair.

“I don’t like them either…  Crowds,” Jeongguk supplies, trying in earnest not to sound as desperate as he feels. “I—“

Yoongi breaks into their conversation, throwing his arms around Jimin’s shoulders in a back hug. They look so close. The pang hit his chest in a slow wave, leaving him with a dull ache.

“What are you doing?” Yoongi asks, eyes bouncing from Jimin to Jeongguk.

Confused, Jeongguk looks to Jimin and finds his eyes are already on him. Yoongi repeats his question, and Jeongguk realizes the question was pointed to himself.

“I was leaving?”

“Can you give us a ride? Ours ditched us,” Yoongi says, most likely gesturing to Hoseok who was making out with someone else against the wall the last time Jeongguk checked.

Jeongguk straightens his jaw, eyebrows pinching slightly in a concerned expression. Why would anyone leave Jimin behind like that? When he looks like anything and everything an alpha could ever want? His hair is mussed and he has the slightest sheen of sweat across his forehead. His jeans are full of holes, leaving little to imagine what his delicious thighs look like without any clothes on at all. Jeongguk is pulled out of checking the omega out when he smells the anxiety coming from Jimin, and a tightness forms in his chest.

“Yeah, let’s go,” he says, grabbing Jimin’s wrist lightly to pull him towards his car. Yoongi is not far behind.

His heart rate soars at the contact. The tips of his fingers are on fire, burning on Jimin’s soft, soft skin. The walk to his car is short, but he can already tell the difference in Jimin’s scent which went from sour strawberries to sweet cream. He allows himself a small smile, rubs his thumb into the inside of his wrist, above the veins, just enough to give off his own scent. He drops Jimin’s wrist to fish his keys out of his pocket and unlock the car. Thankfully, Jimin decides to sit in the front seat, which makes him want to keep smiling. Once in the car, he hands Jimin his phone to put his address into maps.

“Th-thank you, Jeongguk-ah,” he says quietly, shyly smiling.

Jeongguk sees the faintest blush on his cheeks. His wolf is congratulating him on the inside.

“Don’t get any ideas,” Yoongi grumbles behind them.

“What ideas, Yoongi-ssi? I’m driving safely!” he replies, laughing.

He glances over at Jimin, who is staring at his tattoos with unabashed interest. He looks back to the road, trying his best not to stretch his arm over to grab Jimin’s thigh through one of the holes in his jeans.

“Did they hurt?” Jimin asks, eyes still trained on his arm.

“No, hyung. I’m a strong alpha. I handle pain very well,” he replies, bragging, “I really liked the look of them, so I found a good artist whose work I really admired. He really knew how to bring my vision together.”

“That’s really cool. I sometimes think I’d want one someday.”

“You should! Hyung would look really pretty,” he says, hoping Jimin blushes. He feels a plume of flustered surprise on Jimin’s side of the bond. “What would you get? Flowers?”

Jimin laughs at that, falling forward in his seat. “Just because I’m an omega you think I’d want something soft and pretty?”

“Well that’s what you are, so I think it would suit you.”

Jeongguk takes another glance at Jimin, now that they’re stopped at a red light. Jimin is smiling, looking down at his legs, fingers pulling at one of the frayed strings. “I don’t actually know what I would get. Something meaningful, I think.”

He looks back up to meet Jeongguk’s eyes.

“That’s a great idea, hyung,” he replies softly.

He has to fight the urge to cup Jimin’s face and pull him into a gentle, gentle kiss. He wants to feel the warmth of his lips, hear the breathless gasps as he teases his mouth more open to kiss deeper. God, does it ache. He turns his head back to the road and realizes the light was already green.

The rest of the drive is quiet, which makes Jeongguk think Yoongi must have fallen asleep in the back seat. He wishes the other omega wasn’t there—that he could have this time to make his intentions more clear to Jimin, to ask his permission to court him. He wants to take Jimin’s hand, play with all the rings on his fingers. There’s a sense of giddiness he feels and he can’t tell if it’s from him or from Jimin’s side of the bond. It’s a sign of encouragement that maybe he has a chance to win his affection. Maybe he won’t be rejected.

“Jeongguk-ah, could you help me get Yoongi-hyung inside, please? I’m sorry to bother you, but he’s already asleep and I’d have to wake him up to move him…”

Jeongguk nods, smiling softly, “Anything for you.”

Jimin huffs out a breathless laugh. His cheeks look slightly pink. Cute . He pulls into a parking space close to their dorm building, purposely getting out of the car before Jimin could make a reply.

He goes around the car to retrieve Yoongi, who absolutely passed out and who lets Jeongguk pick him up bridal style with no resistance. Definitely a good story to tell his kids one day, his brain helpfully supplies. God, he’s so fucked.

He follows Jimin into their dorm and settles Yoongi into the bed he’s directed to put him into, trying to keep a gentle touch. Yoongi may not like him, but he might as well kiss his chances of being able to get close to Jimin goodbye if he acts on any ill feelings for the thin, pale omega.

It’s when they’re both standing in front of each other in the shared living room area that Jeongguk takes a minute to appreciate the scent of the dorm. It smells like Jimin but lived-in and home-y. It smells like getting into bed after a long day and feeling so comfortable that it’s impossible not to fall asleep after a few seconds. It smells like home. His wolf is so content, he almost feels like he’s purring.

“Am I going to see you around on campus?” he ventures to ask, eyes caressing the lines of Jimin’s cute nose. He hopes the softness he’s exuding from his expression doesn’t go unnoticed.

Jimin ducks his head, mumbling, “You might… I can get very shy, s-sometimes.”

Jeongguk hadn’t realized that he’d slowly moved closer to Jimin, whose chin was still tucked into his own chest. He wants to reach out and pull the omega into his arms and scent him until he’s shaking and begging for more. He wants to see what Jimin’s shyness is hiding. What that shyness looks like when he can’t hide behind his hands—and has no choice but to begin begging for relief.

“That’s fine, hyung. You don’t have to be shy with me,” he says softly, wetting his lips with his tongue, “Can I pick you up to take you to campus tomorrow? We can get coffee.”

Jimin lifts his head at the question, eyes jumping from Jeongguk’s wet lips to his eyes, which were curved around a gentle smile. He hopes so badly that Jimin won’t turn him down, won’t make his alpha absolutely howl in pain.

“I-I— Um, okay. My first class is at 9,” Jimin answers, pretty lips pursed slightly into a pout.

Jeongguk, clenching his fists at his sides to keep himself from reaching out to do something drastic like pull him into his arms and spin him around, tampers his excitement down.

“I’ll see you then, hyung.”

They exchange a few flustered goodbyes, and if Jeongguk starts jumping and fist-pumping the air on the way back to his car, no one has to know. He blasts his music as he drives back to his apartment, mood riding on a high. His alpha is so happy. He’s about to start courting his fated mate! He can’t help his excited giggling.

He texts Namjoon that he dropped Yoongi and Jimin off safely at their dorm and that he’d just made it back home himself. Namjoon replies with a “k” despite how annoying that letter is all by itself.

SexY Nam-joon

k.

HY U N G   i can’t stand u.

But!!!!! hyung ong

i’m absolutely dying. 1000% dead rn. he’s so cute. wow. hyungggggggg i’m taking him to school tomorrow. the stars fucking aligned tonight omg

SexY Nam-joon

Ahhhh you’re right Yoongi hyung is absolutely the most incredible person I have ever met in my life like wow.  

But you finally asked jimin out ????? that’s exciting. Any ideas for courting gifts ?

didn’t exactly ask him out bc i don’t want to scare him off so soon!!!!

 i asked him if i could take him to class !! and to get coffee with me (((((: and he said yes bc i made it sound rlly casual

and well,,,, yeah of course i have ideas

i have lots of ideas hyung

SexY Nam-joon

Like what?

you know……. like something cute like him…

flowers?? or is that too cliche???? ?

SexY Nam-joon

You don’t actually have any ideas do you

Gguk…..

hyung…..

SexY Nam-joon

I genuinely don’t think he’d really care about what it was because it’s coming from you. His omega will probably be too happy about his mate giving him a courting gift to think about it ??

I think that’s what I’ll do with Yoongi hyung bc he is Not a typical omega and i know unless I plan it super extremely well, i’m doomed to fail

DID YOU SEE HIS SMILE WOW SO CUTE !

that’s a good point but Hyung. i want to Woo him. like i want to make him cry

and jfc shut up about yoongi already u nerd

SexY Nam-joon

gguk….. That’s private—

And fuck off!!!! Mr. Every-Waking-Moment-Is-About-Jimin

NOT LIKE THAT !!!!!!!! at least !! not yet ? ….

and fuck u. i am going thru a crisis 

also yoongi is already in love with you

btw i feel like he had way too much to drink bc he passed out while i was driving him and jimin home ??

SexY Nam-joon

Right. Moving on, I think you should wait,,,to make him cry,,,,, and get to know him better? 

Then you can pick the perfect first courting gift that he’ll love no matter what

And AWW poor Yoongi hyung. He let me buy him too many drinks ): but he held them down so well i didn’t know what was too much !! did you take care of him ??? ah, now i’m worried….

I should have asked for his number !!!!!

i’ll ask jimin about hyung and see if he’s alright. i carried him to his bed bc jimin totally wanted to check my muscles out (; 

i’m sure he’s fine, tho so !!! don’t ! worry !

and hyung you’re so sappy wow. but ….. i guess i’ll wait to figure out the best courting gift

SexY Nam-joon

Stop pouting!!! you know it’s the best course of action if you want it to be perfect

and please let me know, thank u

)))): i just want him to be mine already hyung.

can u meet me before your 11am ? i’m skipping my photoshop class and we got some planning to do if we want to win our omegas

SexY Nam-joon

I know gguk

sounds good but try not to skip too much! I’ll meet you at the music and comm building?

sure thing hyung !!!

Jeongguk sets his alarm for an extra hour early after he showers the day off of him, ignoring the loss of Jimin’s scent lingering on his shirt from when he was at the omega dorm. He bristles when he dries himself off, only smelling of his own herbal scent. He wonders if Jimin is doing the same thing right now, hoping that the scent was stronger—that the source of the scent was right in front of him, waiting to meld their scents together again once they got cuddled up in bed.

He can feel a bubbly feeling pulling behind his shoulder blades, just underneath his skin. It’s his mate’s emotional pull making itself known to Jeongguk and his wolf. It tells him that there is hope. Jimin is shy, maybe hiding something he doesn’t want anyone to know about, which Jeongguk expects he will find out over time, but he’s at peace with it. He doesn’t care about Jimin’s past because it’s in the past. He’s happy to take anything the omega will give him about his past because it’s his to give—not Jeongguk’s to demand. His own past is messy and filled with bad decisions, so whatever grace Jimin bestows upon him is appreciated.

Trying not to bring himself down with the insecurities about his own past choices, he throws himself under the covers and wills his excitement to cool down enough to let him fall asleep.

-

He wakes up from a dream about giving Jimin a back-hug and the omega bursting into tears of joy. It’s absolutely over the top, and he refuses to think of how he woke up with a smile. He throws on a pair of black jeans and a baggy sweatshirt—remembering some omega telling him that he looked very cuddly wearing oversized clothes. He can’t remember her name, but that didn’t matter. Jimin would hopefully think the same thing and maybe Jeongguk could live out his dream of giving his omega a cute back-hug.

Pulling into the same parking spot he’d used the night before, he wills himself to calm down. His alpha is emitting heavy pheromones which is a dead giveaway to how nervous he feels on the inside. Jimin emerges from his dorm with puffy cheeks and a big sweater before Jeongguk’s fist lands on the door.

“Oh,” he says.

“Good morning to you, too,” Jimin huffs.

Fuck!

“You look… I was too shocked by your beauty, Jimin-ssi~” Jeongguk croons thickly as he regains his composure. He hopes the teasing lilt of his voice is enough to make the omega flustered but not uncomfortable.

“Ahh, th-thank you…”

Jimin’s hand is covering his blinding smile, cheeks blushing pink behind his round fingers. Adorable. His scent plumes out in a cloud of perfume around them as he pulls his door shut behind him.

“How is Yoongi-ssi?” Jeongguk asks, trying not to focus on how Jimin’s hands disappear into the sleeves of his sweatshirt. The omega looks so cute, he can barely keep himself from snaking an arm around his waist to pull him flush against him as they walk. Jimin’s soft blonde hair is in messy waves, a testament to how he’d styled it the night before.

“He’s still in bed. Alcohol hits him hard, usually. He must have had too much last night.”

“And you? You said you dislike crowds, but you went anyway. I struggle with that, too, but when I’m with friends, I find it easier to have a good time,” he explains, trying his best to sound casual. He wants to open up to the omega, to his mate. It’s a natural-feeling sensation that he can’t help being desperate to satisfy. He wants the intimacy, the closeness of their relationship to go beyond acquaintances and friends as soon as possible.

Jimin blushes faintly, smiling to himself.

“Yoongi said I could meet someone that night, maybe someone nice? He and Hoseok-hyung want me to be happy, so they encourage me to get out more so I can meet someone special,” he answers in a soft, shy tone as if embarrassed at his admission. “I can’t help but feel like I don’t need to do that, b-but they always seem so happy to have me go out with them, so I say yes every now and then.”

Jeongguk suppresses the urge to growl with jealousy, his alpha unhappy to hear that Jimin even considered putting his attention on someone else. But he holds himself back. He hopes his scent doesn’t betray too much of the slight souring of his mood—that Jimin understands the reason he feels like he doesn’t need to be looking for someone else is right beside him.

“I understand. I have…. definitely made mistakes getting close to all the wrong people going to parties in my first years here,” he says, carefully watching Jimin’s expression.

Jimin nods, somewhat solemnly. He’s schooled his face into cold and neutral. “I’d been that way in high school. It has definitely made an impact on how I approach… u-uhm, alphas— But I-I don’t want to talk too much about serious stuff; I’m sorry!”

Jeongguk gives him a soft smile, hoping his fondness is clear to see.

“That’s okay, hyung. I appreciate talking to you about anything, whatever the topic. If you need someone to listen, I’ll be there for you.”

Jimin flushes, laughing breathlessly. He reaches over to paw at Jeongguk’s bicep good-naturedly.

“You’re so thoughtful, Jeongguk-ah,” he replies quietly, “Thank you.”

So cute.

He smiles to himself before they get into his car to make the drive to campus. Jimin talks about how he’s not looking forward to his classes today, with which definitely Jeongguk relates. They chat about their studies, conversation flowing easily enough that no topic goes unfollowed with a new one. Their proximity and friendliness makes Jeongguk’s chest feel like flowers are blooming around his lungs, making him feel heavy and light at the same time. His alpha, however, isn’t completely satisfied, begging for some skinship with his omega. He wants to bury his nose into Jimin’s neck and scent him so no one questions who he’d spent his morning with.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, he spares a glance at Jimin, who had gone quiet after they’d finished complaining about their upcoming due dates for routines and coursework. The omega is looking at him, at his right arm, which is comfortably covered in his baggy sweater.

“Do you like covering your tattoos when you’re not out trying to impress omegas?” Jimin asks quietly.

His tone sounds like he’s far away, putting himself at a greater distance from Jeongguk. He wants to reach over and pull him back, anything to shift back to the moments before this one.

“What? No, I don’t— I don’t like hiding them, but I’m not trying to impress other omegas,” he answers— more like just one omega— but Jimin’s sudden question stabs straight through him, flowers in his chest quickly losing their petals.

“Hyung, is that what you think I enjoy doing?” he can’t help but ask, now that he’s pulled into a parking space.

 Jimin’s eyes are glued to his hands as he replies, “I-I’m sorry for the personal question… I just haven’t seen you look so… cozy before? —That’s weird, um, I’m sorry.”

Jeongguk gives him a small smile, pulling at his lip ring slightly before poking Jimin’s arm to get him to look at him.

“Are you jealous? I wore this because I was thinking of you this morning! You naturally look cute and cozy, so I wanted to match that energy.”

Jimin huffs out a flustered laugh, eyes breaking from where he’d met Jeongguk’s gaze. His side of the bond feels like a bunch of butterflies fluttering about around his ribcage.

“J-Jeonggukie, sh-shut up! So insufferable… why did I say yes to this?” he grumbles cutely as they both step out of the car.

Jeongguk’s heart swells proudly at making his omega so flustered.

“Because I’m irresistible!”

Jimin jokingly acts like he’s running away, claiming he’s being tortured, but the brightness in his eyes is impossible to ignore.

-

At the coffee shop, Jeongguk orders both of their drinks, adding cinnamon to them with a goofy smile he couldn’t hold back. Jimin had gone to sit at a table, claiming it for both of them.

“Just how you like it, hyung,” Jeongguk says as he takes the seat across from Jimin.

It reminds him of the last time they shared a table at this cafe, but he quickly shoves the sad memory away in favor of appreciating how different this one is. Jimin looks adorable, smells happy and relaxed, and the air between them isn’t weighed down with uncertainties. He feels like he’s on a date and that makes him almost giddy to have the opportunity to spend romantic time with his mate.

“Thanks, Jeongguk-ah,” Jimin mumbles as he sips his coffee.

“Of course, hyung. Get used to me treating you out,” he teases, “Being spoiled looks good on you.”

Jimin makes a faux-affronted face, unsuccessfully hiding how flustered the comment made him. His cheeks flush a beautiful pink.

“Ah— Th-Thank you…”

They stare at each other for a beat longer than what most would say is friendly, Jeongguk hoping Jimin is feeling how happy he is through their bond. There is a fluttering sensation he knows is coming from Jimin’s side and it’s uncannily close to hope. God, he’s hoping that these are signs that his affections could be reciprocated. He hopes Jimin can feel their connection, hopes that he’s guessing correctly at Jimin’s answer to being courted.

Swimming in his newfound confidence, Jeongguk leans forward to test the deeper waters. Test Jimin’s reaction for confirmation.

“So, hyung, I have a serious question,” he starts, playing with his lip ring. He stops short because a big commotion breaks out at a nearby table.

An omega stands to attention, eyes tearful as she stares at an alpha who just entered the cafe. She runs up to him and nearly jumps on him. They just found their mates. Jeongguk watches in fascination, smiling at their excitement.

But for some reason, a pit opens up around his chest, a sinking feeling pulling his eyes back to Jimin. The omega’s eyes are trained on the pair of new mates, who have taken seats at the girl’s table to talk in hushed voices, huddled close together. Jeongguk suddenly feels like he needs to comfort the omega, somehow remedy the sour notes of his strawberry scent.

“Hyung?” he asks softly.

Jimin turns back to him, eyes downcast. “S-Sorry. I, um, I’ve never seen someone meeting their mate. I-It makes me kind of upset because I— I don’t have one.”

Jeongguk feels his heart fall into the pit of his stomach, a black hole swallowing everything inside him, opening bigger and bigger, getting heavier—

“What?” he gasps, unable to school himself into a calmer tone. His mate—Jimin—just said he doesn’t have one? When Jeongguk is sitting right in front of him. It feels like a rejection, like Jimin thinks so little of him that he doesn’t even say he has a mate he doesn’t want, he doesn’t have one at all. His alpha howls, undoubtedly feeling the denial of their omega. Fuck.

Jimin doesn’t meet his eyes, playing with the rings on the fingers that lay on his lap. His scent has darkened and shrunken enough that he almost can’t smell him at all, like Jimin wants to make himself invisible. He wants to reach out to grab Jimin before he can get any farther away because it’s as if there’s a growing chasm between them, opening up an endless amount of space between them.

“M-my omega has been dormant for a long time…I still have my h-heat cycles, but they feel very mild, a-and I just stay at home for a few days feeling tired. I-I always guessed it was because of some things I’d gone through as a pup… Sorry for getting personal about this, Jeongguk-ah,” he explains with a forlorn expression, “I-I’m gonna head to class. Thank you for bringing me and getting coffee. I’ll make sure to, um, treat you next time.”

“Hyung…” Jeongguk can’t help but speak petulantly. His emotions are a swirling, swollen mess, but he wants so badly to comfort Jimin, wants to show him that he’s his mate, and that they can be as happy as the new pair of mates sitting a few tables away. He wants to cup Jimin’s cheeks and kiss the unshed tears away, holding his clearly shaking fingers.

“I-I’ll text you, Jeonggukie,” he promises softly, likely sensing Jeongguk’s desire to comfort him, “Don’t worry! I’ll see you soon.”

As soon as Jimin is out the door, Jeongguk decides school is canceled for him and immediately opens a group text between himself, Namjoon, Taehyung and Hoseok with ragged breaths. He can feel the panic settling in his chest, crawling up his back and over his shoulders like a cold shower. He rushes out of the cafe and into a nearby alleyway. Fuck, fuck, FUCK.

S.O.S guys please i need you. i need pack.

-

Back at his apartment, Jeongguk waits impatiently for his hyungs to come bring him down from his panic attack. He’d calmed his breathing down enough to drive himself back, but as soon as he walked into the empty space, a new onslaught of emotions crashed over him. He wasn’t coming home to the scent of his mate or even a member of his pack— he was alone. His alpha cries, vulnerability highlighted by the sense of rejection from his mate. Alphas aren’t typically depicted as vulnerable or even remotely emotional, but it’s simply not true. Even when he was sleeping around, he’d made sure the omega he fucked was taken care of and satisfied. He couldn’t stand not pleasing his partners as an alpha, who doesn’t make the top of the hierarchy because of their physical prowess, but who is the one to ensure the safety, happiness and pleasure of their counterparts. 

His alpha, like many others, aches to protect and guard the people in his life. As soon as the alpha heard Jimin’s outright denial of his existence— it felt clear there was no one he could protect and serve, no one wanted him. His lonely apartment was a very painful, painful reminder of his failure as an alpha.

His wolf is dormant again, soft cries of anguish nothing but a whisper Jeongguk barely hears over his own sobbing. He’s sitting in his living room in a pool of disappointment, wondering why this had to happen to him. He gave everything he could to make up for his past mistakes, to make it up to Jimin, who he thought was simply discouraged due to his reputation. He had been so ready to do everything to ensure Jimin’s comfort—to court the omega so well, he’d remember this time fondly for years to come.

The door swings open and he can’t even turn to make sure it’s his hyungs. Soon, he’s engulfed in a group hug, each of them rubbing their scents onto him as if their lives depended on it. Jeongguk choked down another sob, warmth rushing over him. Relief. His pack is finally here to reassure him.

“Gguk, please tell me Jimin didn’t do this to you…” Namjoon murmurs, nose trailing up and down the nape of Jeongguk’s neck.

Jeongguk clenches his hands together, burning at the accusatory tone the alpha had about his mate . But he reminds himself that his mate…rejected him.

“H-He… He said he doesn’t have a-a mate. He’d lost touch with his omega years ago s-so he— God, he doesn’t feel anything,” he sobs out, chest heaving as he tries to get some air in his lungs. “All this time— he doesn’t…. He can’t feel me, can’t feel my pain.”

Someone shushes him, rubbing a hand down his back, and Taehyung speaks up, sounding choked up himself, “Gguk-ah, breathe. Pack is here. We will make you feel better, but you have to try to breathe.”

Eventually, his sobs calm into ragged, slow breaths, and his chest is so tight and sore, it feels like his lungs have shriveled and shrunk into half their size, every breath a painful drag. His alpha, still dormant, leaves a heavy ache in the middle of his chest. It’s as if the bone was cracked under the pressure, seconds away from being pulverized by each beat of his heart.

“Gguk, we need to talk about this,” Hoseok says from his perch on the couch.

Namjoon is leaning against the kitchen island, and Taehyung is still on the floor next to Jeongguk. He looks at Hoseok carefully, trying to focus on his scent to keep himself distracted from the mess of emotions within him. His warm, cinnamon scent is amplified by the need to comfort a member of their small pack. Namjoon’s tangerine scent, though slightly sour, cut through the calming air between Hoseok’s cherry and Taehyung’s woodsy scent.

“This doesn’t sit right with me, Jeongguk-ah. I know he’s your mate, but I find it hard to believe he doesn’t feel anything ,”  Namjoon says, shaking his head in disbelief. His eyebrows are furrowed together, jaw set tight.

Jeongguk’s heart lurches. “He can’t have felt anything from the very beginning, hyung… As soon as I laid eyes on him, I smelled him… I knew. H-He never seemed even r-remotely interested. I pushed and pushed and this is what I get in return. It’s all my fault.”

Taehyung pinches his forearm, eyes boring into his. Jeongguk gasps out an “ow” despite himself, rubs at the spot to make the stinging go away.

“Stop being an idiot! None of this is your fault. Clearly, this could have been prevented with some better communication. You should have told him you’re his—”

“His mate? And force him to make a choice he doesn’t want to make? You know I couldn’t have started with that— Ow! Hyung, please,” Jeongguk thinks he may cry again, out of frustration, “I understand I should have been more open with him, b-but the outcome probably would have been the same as it is now, only if I’d come clean before, he wouldn’t want to keep being…a friend.”

“What do you mean?” Hoseok asks.

“Before he left, he promised to text me, that he’d see me soon… It felt like a cop-out so I’d let him leave without more questions,” he says, sinking his face into his hands. His eyes and cheeks are already puffy from crying, and he knows he’s going to wake up looking even worse tomorrow with a headache to match.

“Gguk…” Taehyung murmurs, leaning in for a hug, “I know he said he doesn’t feel a mate bond, but what if he likes you without it?”

Jeongguk shoves down the sudden bloom of hope coming from the cavernous wound in his chest, taking a deep breath to keep it down. “That’s what I had hoped— I hoped that he was starting to… But it doesn’t matter because he’ll never feel what I feel.”

“Who says?” Namjoon pipes up again. He plops onto the couch next to Hoseok, significantly less heated than he was a few moments ago. “How do you know he’ll never feel the bond? Whatever trauma he experienced could be treated with medication or therapy, meditation, even. I wouldn’t count on his disconnection from his omega to be a permanent thing.”

Namjoon lets out a big sigh, continuing when Jeongguk makes no reply, “What I think needs to happen now is you need to have some space—spend some time with the pack, if you want—and go back to him to talk this shit out.”

Jeongguk nods petulantly, feeling a slight pout forming on his lips, “Okay, hyung. I’ll take some time. Can one of you stay with me tonight?”

Taehyung tackles him onto the floor, cackling about how many movies they’re going to watch, all the ramen he’ll make for them to eat (“But you suck at making ramen!” “The Audacity — Suck my dick, Gguk!”).

And as the sleepover with Taehyung wore on, he tried not to show that his mind wandered back to Jimin, to his mate, and how if Jimin was going to text him, where would he get his number? He’d never given it to him—a true testament to how slow he was willing to go to make sure Jimin was secure and comfortable with the advancement of their relationship—so he must have been bluffing. His heart felt heavy in his chest at the thought.

Maybe: Park Jimin - 8:30p.m.

Hi Jeonggukie (:

i’m sorry about leaving early, but i wouldn’t have been good company after that whole thing… 

are you free this weekend ?

Jeongguk almost drops his phone, not unlike the way his entire stomach dropped into his ass. “What the fuck?”

With shaking hands, he types up the first thing that comes to mind.

i understand

He thinks about how Namjoon told him to give himself space. Today was Monday; is a few days enough time to recover from his alpha being rejected by his mate? Probably not , he sourly quips to himself. But then he thinks about how Jimin must feel about all this. If anything, he may see Jeongguk as an acquaintance, or a school friend, and at this point Jeongguk would take that over being nothing to Jimin— fuck . He tries to search for an emotion on Jimin’s side of their bond but finds nothing but his own anguish. He wishes Jimin could feel how hurt he is.

i’m busy this weekend, hyung i’m sorry

Maybe: Park Jimin

Ohh…. okay!! That’s cool, it’s fine.

Jeongguk feels a pang between his shoulder blades—from Jimin! His heart starts racing wildly in his chest.

how did u get my number tho ?

are u stalking me??? very creepy

Maybe: Park Jimin

Ahhhh no….. um Yoongi hyung got it for me (:

FROM NAMJOONHYUNG ??????!!

Maybe: Park Jimin

well…. Yes. hyung and namjoon hyung are kind of um… seeing each other ??

AND YOU DIDNT THINK TO TELL ME TODAY??  OMG NAMJOON THAT SON OF A BITCH DIDNT SAY A WORD

He sends his last text too quickly, before he remembers why Namjoon hadn’t told him about it. How distraught he’d been after his coffee with Jimin. He wishes he could unsend it like on Instagram. Fuck!

Maybe: Park Jimin

right,,,,, ah sorry jeonggukie i just found out tonight actually….

Idk if it’s serious ? but they seemed to really like each other at the bar the other night ?? Namjoon hyung seems very nice so i’m happy for hyung

me too. hyung and yoongi hyung seem to be totally opposite and will probably balance each other out very well. hyung is very docile and yoongi hyung is……. well,,, yoongi hyung lol

Jimin sends a few laughing emojis and Jeongguk can’t help the fondness that swirls around in his stomach, like little butterflies. He hates it. Hates that Jimin can do something like rejecting their destined mate bond, send him a text like nothing happened, and Jeongguk is still absolutely whipped for him. He feels like his dry, tired eyes might shed a few more tears.

“Gguk?” Taehyung says, startling Jeongguk. He’d completely forgotten their sleepover.

“Oh, sorry,” Jeongguk says, looking back down to his phone.

Maybe: Park Jimin

you’re right ggukie

I hope we can all hang out again soon! i’d enjoy their company better in a different setting ):

Jeongguk groans softly, “Why is everything he does so endearing?”

Taehyung shifts, looking at their texts with a grimace.

“Gguk-ah, you’ve really got it bad. Remember what hyung said? Take some space.”

“I am! He asked if we could hang out this weekend and I already said no,” he grumbles, locking his phone and throwing it into the pile of snack trash that had accumulated on his coffee table.

“And Namjoon hyung gave Yoongi hyung my number, who then gave it to Jimin. So I don’t know whose side Namjoon hyung is on anymore!”

Taehyung huffs out a laugh, “Well that’s… wow, I guess Namjoon hyung does have some kind of game. That hoe better tell us everything when all this gets sorted out. Are you okay, Gguk?”

Jeongguk considers the stormy feeling brewing in his chest, how he can tell it’ll pass eventually, but when? And how is he going to fare as he gets closer to Jimin.

-

Namjoon 🍊 - 7:43p.m.

I hope they can sort their shit out, hyung

Same jfc it’s such a headache… I can’t believe Jimin doesn’t know already.

Namjoon 🍊

I know, I had to say something to you as soon as I laid eyes on you!!!! I have no idea how he’s managed to keep it to himself even if Jimin is a special case

yes I definitely would have spoken up immediately too like even if we weren’t destined I would have climbed you like a damn tree regardless

Namjoon 🍊

that’s….. wow you’re so shameless hyung….

you like it~

Yoongi smiles at his phone, heart fluttering on both sides of their bond. He can’t believe he’d met his destined mate barely two days ago and he’s already so smitten. It scares him, but at the same time, he feels so comfortable with his strong pull towards the soft alpha.

He wishes he could tell Jimin about it, excited for the news and wants to share it but— Jimin’s so touchy with the subject because of his disconnection from his inner wolf. They’d talked about it many times, about how badly Jimin needs to put himself through treatments to repair the damage done by past partners and his parents. But Jimin keeps putting it off, throwing himself into school and ignoring most of his needs except for food (most of the time, Yoongi has to remind him about that) and personal hygiene.

And now he’s met his mate and he doesn’t even know it! Yoongi had been sure Jeongguk was making a conquest out of Jimin, but as he discovered from Namjoon when he watched Jimin and Jeongguk walk out together, they are much, much more. “Different. Important,” Jeongguk had said. Yoongi’s heart broke when he came to understand. Jeongguk is simply doing everything to make sure Jimin is comfortable and secure with him before he goes any further— and the alpha hadn’t known about Jimin’s inner wolf issues until today. Namjoon broke it to Yoongi after he’d left Jeongguk’s apartment, coming to Yoongi’s dorm while Jimin was still at practice. The alpha’s scent was weighed down with anxiety and sadness. He hadn’t hesitated to run up to Namjoon and engulf him with his calming pheromones.

“You smell so good, honey,” Namjoon had murmured into a small kiss against the crown of Yoongi’s head.

Yoongi’s maple bourbon scent curled around them like a cloying fog. He blushed at the pet name, groaning at himself for already being so whipped.

“What’s wrong? You smell awful!”

Namjoon had chuckled softly before explaining everything Jeongguk told him earlier that day.

“Oh my god. This is such a mess! Do you want to know what happened to Jimin after their coffee date?!”

Namjoon grimaced, a cute dimple folding into his cheek. “I guess so?”

“Jimin also came back crying. He’d seen two people find their mates at the cafe. He said he felt so guilty about leaving Jeongguk suddenly—he skipped class today, which he never does—and he told me he was upset because Jeongguk must have a mate somewhere waiting for him!”

“Wait— Does Jimin…?” Namjoon asked, eyes blown wide.

Yoongi nodded solemnly, “He really likes Jeongguk, but he’s so scared and his omega… And you have to remember Jeongguk’s reputation a few years ago,” he starts, “But Jimin also had trouble his freshman year. A group of alphas in his dance program spread rumors about his disconnection from his omega, basically saying he was broken and no alpha would ever want him. It was the lowest point he’s ever been, and I worked very hard to help him out…”

Namjoon had looked conflicted, but he eventually nodded in agreement.

“I told Jeongguk he needs to come clean to Jimin. It might be scary for both of them, but they aren’t going to get anywhere avoiding each of their feelings like that,” he’d said, reaching a hand up to hold Yoongi’s cheek.

“Please, hyung, can you tell Jimin the same? No pressure at all— I just want them both to be happy because they deserve it, right?”

Yoongi had nodded eagerly, surprisingly, ready to please his alpha. Warmth spread over his entire body, his omega thrumming in his chest. “Of course. Um… Can I see you tomorrow? We could grab food?”

Namjoon smiled brightly with his cute dimples and Yoongi let a big grin break out on his face as well. He already knew he was fucked, but if he’s already this gone for the tall, soft alpha—who is every physical bit of the subgender, but whose personality is that of a beta or even an omega— who is absolutely everything Yoongi could ever want in a mate. He’d known he never cared about subgenders, he liked who he liked, but alphas were typically put off by the strength of his own personality and mannerisms as an omega. Yoongi could be very sweet and loving, extremely considerate, but only to those closest to him. Everyone else could fuck off, according to him. Meeting Namjoon blew all of that out of the water because Yoongi would do anything for him and he’d only met him less than 72 hours ago.

“Okay, hyung. I’ll see you then. Text me?”

“Absolutely.”

Namjoon hugged him tightly before leaving, and Yoongi had begun to miss him seconds afterwards. He was absolutely fucked.

Now, he is still waiting for Jimin to finish practicing, and growing more worried as the evening wore on. It was almost 7, several hours after Jimin left. (“I’ll be back soon, hyungie… I missed class today, but that doesn’t mean I need to let myself slip out of practicing. It’s a demanding routine,” Jimin had said before he left, and after he’d almost begged Yoongi to scent him just to calm him down enough to actually leave the nest he’d made out of his distressed state earlier. “Please come back in time for dinner this time, Jimin-ah.”)

Namjoon 🍊

i really like that about you

you’re so different !!! It’s like a breath of fresh air. Always wondered what my mate would be like and I was never able to picture what most would say is a typical omega y’know?

yes and i hate most alphas but you’re like,,,, nothing like them AND ITS THE BEST 10/10 (:

Namjoon 🍊

(:

I know I should wait but I can’t wait to tell my pack about us!!!! My alpha is screaming to show you off.

BTW I wanted to ask you this in person but I’m too excited and at this rate I will never get to sleep but what is your take on courting rituals ? I know you’re a bit ,,,, alternative ? So would you prefer something like ??? alternative???

Yoongi’s heart swells with affection for the alpha. Of course he would be this thoughtful about Yoongi’s position on antiquated social constructs based on a misunderstood hierarchy. He hated seeing omegas and alphas make horrible, cheesy debacles out of courting, but much to his chagrin, his heart begins racing at the thought of Namjoon bringing him flowers or sweet gifts, giving him scented pieces of clothing as a form of claim over him.

ahhhh yes. well honestly….. i know this makes me sound disgustingly fond of you, already, but i’d enjoy anything you’d want to do for me because,,,,, you’re

you’re you….

He hits send and holds down his need to cover his blushing face out of embarrassment. He shouldn’t have sent that. Fuck!!!

Namjoon 🍊

that’s the cutest most sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me

OKAY!!

I decided what I’m going to do. Don’t worry, I won’t go over the top because I really enjoy subtlety, but I promise I won’t disappoint you, hyung. (:

Yoongi thinks he might cry.

(,: omg yes. i trust you.

anyway get to sleep !!!! i’ll let you know how it goes with jiminie tomorrow

Namjoon 🍊

Goodnight hyung <3

Yoongi shuts his phone off and waits for Jimin to come home.

When the time comes, he can sense that Jimin is exhausted, mentally and physically, and he has to hold back the scolding sitting on the back of his tongue. He strides over to his roommate to share a brief hug, brushing Jimin’s temple with the tip of his nose.

“You were practicing for hours, Jimin-ah…” he chides, trying to get Jimin to meet his eyes.

“I know, hyungie. I had a lot on my mind and I needed to get practice anyway.”

“Do you want to talk about it? I’ll make you a protein bowl?”

Jimin smiles tiredly, nodding his head. “Yeah. To both. I need to know what you think I should do.”

They get to what the university would call a “kitchen area” despite the four feet of counter space, three usable cabinets and a sink that only uses cold water. They bought an induction burner just to make ramen, but without that, they’d have…more counter space for junk food. Yoongi also got Jimin a small blender for his protein shakes or smoothie bowls, which he takes out to throw in the last of the spinach from their mini-fridge, a handful of almonds, protein powder, nutritional yeast, and a cup of frozen fruit. He’s made Jimin these bowls for years, quietly showing Jimin some of the love Jimin bestows upon him in gratuitous cuddles or scenting right when he needs it.

“Thanks, hyungie,” Jimin says, taking the bowl from Yoongi.

“So, let’s get this over with. You want to know what I think? Well, I can tell by the panic in your eyes that you would love to know,” Yoongi teases, not missing Jimin’s groan of disapproval, “You need to tell Jeongguk how you feel. I know! I know— But, Minnie-ah, what if he likes you? He’s not ugly, in fact, I thought he looked really—”

“I get it, hyung. Just forget Namjoon-hyung! Go after Jeonggukie…” he pouts

“Yah, Jimin, that’s not funny. Being jealous is only cute if the other person is there to see it. Anyway, I can tell you really like him. You look like you’re about to cry every time you see him and your scent goes all over the place.”

Jimin blushes, “Shut up, hyung, you almost dropped to your knees the second you met Namjoon-hyung!”

“I would have,” Yoongi replies without thinking, and Jimin flies into a fit, groaning about how embarrassing and shameless Yoongi is. “I was talking to him today, actually,” he says, softer.

“You were? Are you…”

Yoongi hides his face in his hands, feeling his hot cheeks against his palms. “We’re kind of…seeing where it can go?”

“That’s so great, hyung! I’m happy for you!”

“Yes, thank you. I’m excited,” he says, grinning widely to himself. He wishes Jimin knew the extent of their connection, but he figures they will tell everyone when the time is right.

“Jimin-ah, you need to talk to Jeongguk. Namjoonie said he thinks there could be something there for both of you…” he says carefully.

Jimin’s face sobers, taking the last bite of his bowl with a pout. His scent had calmed down, almost disappearing beneath Yoongi’s excited burnt-vanilla scent. He shoves his face into his sweater paws, whining.

“But, hyung, I’m so scared. Today I just realized that I’m crushing on someone who already belongs to someone else. Even if… Even if I can’t feel my wolf, I can’t betray his mate like that. It hurts to think about how I could be holding him back from his destined person. I want him to be h-happy, even if it’s not with me.”

Yoongi’s heart clenched as he tried not to cry. Jimin looked so heartbroken, so beaten down. It kills him to know that he has no reason to feel that way. He doesn’t know that Jeongguk is already pursuing his destined mate, and that if he would just—

“Jimin-ah, I love you, okay? Know that,” Yoongi murmurs, throwing his arms around the younger, “Please, just text him. I’ll get you his number. You have to tell him how you’re feeling before it’s too late.”

“Okay, hyung.”

-

Jeongguk wakes from his deep, deep slumber with a start. He feels as if he’d been slammed into the floor until his head busted open. The dull ache blooming bigger and spreading from his forehead to the back of his neck, down his shoulders. He must have passed out on the couch, cuddled into Taehyung’s neck.

Groaning, he pulls his swollen face up and forces his tight muscles to work for him. He slips off the couch and throws himself into his bed. It’s still early in the morning, enough that the sun isn’t all the way up, yet. He makes sure his phone is plugged in, sets his alarm to make it to his first class on time.

He looks back through the texts he’d sent to Jimin the night before. He’d changed Jimin’s contact name to “Lovely Jimin” because he is weak and he couldn’t deny himself the small pleasure.

that sounds great. i hope so too

get some sleep, hyung (:

Jimin liked his last message without typing a reply. He’d almost cried about it, squeezing his dry, dry eyes for every last drop, but Taehyung snatched his phone and threw it in his room before he could do anything else. He’d resigned to his fate, trying not to think about it too much after that. They put on some movie before they both must have passed out.

He falls back to sleep thinking of Jimin’s tiny hands splayed out over his thighs, wishing and wishing his dreams were reality.

-

When he wakes up next, Taehyung is gone. He’d left a note reading, “make sure to eat breakfast !!! i’ll be on ur ass if u don’t (: Love, Taehyungie.”

Jeongguk smiles a bit, folding the note on his desk. His head hurts less now, but the throbbing is still there when he moves too quickly. He throws on a pair of gray sweatpants and a black hoodie before dumping an unreasonable amount of cereal into a bowl. His chest feels tight, like every single muscle is constricting against his ribcage. He knows it’s because of all the crying he’d done yesterday, all the heaving to catch a breath. Looking back, he may have been a little dramatic about it, but that doesn’t mean that he couldn’t be upset about the ordeal. His alpha rose to attention today, begging to see his mate after being in such a state. He’s relieved to know he can still feel his wolf—not like Jimin. A sense of guilt washes over him with a big crash. He wants to go to Jimin right now, run to tell him he’s sorry, for not being honest with him, for taking his omega’s personal trauma and assuming it was a rejection of his alpha. He knows there’s still a chance the omega doesn’t feel anything for him, given that the bond is one-sided, but instead of dread or sadness or longing, he feels hope.

He shoves his cereal into his mouth, texting Jimin if he was at school today. He has to tell him. He needs to know if the gut feeling he’s getting isn’t wrong—isn’t based on what’s left of his inflated ego being reflected back to him. Namjoon will understand. He has to.

Heart racing, Jeongguk bounds out the door to get to drive to school.

-

“Hyungs, I need help,” Jeongguk says, pleading, “I can tell there is something going on here and it’s not “seeing each other” but I am willing to look past it. For now.”

Jeongguk didn’t get a reply from Jimin before or even after his second class, so feeling his earlier exuberance quickly dissipate, he barged into Namjoon’s music studio only to find him on the couch with Yoongi on his lap. Slowly, he closes the door and throws his backpack in its usual corner.

Namjoon has the decency to look embarrassed, whereas Yoongi is showing his annoyance in plain sight.

“Why come running in like that? Doesn’t your hyung and pack leader deserve some privacy?” Yoongi scolds.

Namjoon covers his face with his hands, letting out a deep breath, “Gguk-ah… You were the one that, um, interrupted, so would you care to tell us why?”

The air of the small studio is thick with Namjoon and Yoongi’s scents mixed together—Jeongguk bristles at the pairing of bourbon and citrus, wondering why casual partners would be doing something so intimate. In a public place, no less.

“Yes. Well, I actually wanted to know a few things. First of all: what the fuck? You tell me to take some space from Jimin and then you get hooked up with his roommate? Secondly, I came here to tell you I talked to Jimin last night, before I decided I didn’t want to take any time to figure my shit out—and I think— I think I’m ready to tell him. I just,” Jeongguk takes a deep breath, willing the stinging behind his eyes to go away, but his voice breaks as he continues, “He hasn’t texted me back. I wanted to know if you think he’d lose his shit if I went to his dorm or…something.”

Namjoon’s face drains of all color as he shares a glance with Yoongi, who had taken a seat on the small sofa behind the alpha’s desk. “Gguk-ah, I wanted to wait for you to get things settled with Jimin before—”

“Before we would tell you that Namjoonie and I are destined mates,” Yoongi finishes, smiling softly at his mate.

Jeongguk’s stomach dropped.

“What?” he says before catching himself, “That’s— Wow, um, congratulations! I told Jimin you two seemed like you’d be good together.”

He chuckles to himself, trying to keep a smile on his face. His scent may have gone slightly south because Namjoon crosses the room to envelope him in a hug.

“Thanks, Gguk-ah. It’s okay. You’ll be with your mate soon, too. Right, hyung?” he asks Yoongi.

Yoongi pipes up from behind Namjoon, “Yes! He’s at home, moping about some dumb text message instead of going out to find your dumb ass. Go get him, Jeongguk-ah.”

-

Jeongguk knocks on the door and waits for his omega to open it. He’s breathing heavily after running up the stairs from his car. He smooths his hair down with a grimace. He definitely should have washed it after last night, but he was in no state for self care. Unfortunately, today, as motivated as he woke up, he missed his chance to look good for his mate. He hopes Jimin won’t notice.

He also wishes he’d have stopped to get flowers—or something!—but he needed to get to Jimin right away. Namjoon and Yoongi wished him good luck, which he appreciated. He hopes after Jimin knows how he feels, he can spend time with him the same way. The thought of Jimin settled in on his lap, sharing their scents for hours just because they could, spreading warmth throughout his body. 

“Hyung? Are you okay? It’s Jeongguk,” he calls out when he’s left waiting for a few more minutes.

He hears some shuffling on the other side of the door, and a flustered, “Come in!” after another moment.

Jeongguk slowly opens the door, doing everything in his power not to throw it open and run to hug Jimin. The entire dorm is bathed in a stale strawberry milk scent, indicating anxiety and stress coming from Jimin. He guesses Jimin must have been having a bad mental day, which he understands. This must have been why Jimin never texted him back.

“Hyung? Is… Is everything okay? Yoongi-hyung said you weren’t at school today and I was worried,” he explains gently, approaching Jimin’s pile of blankets in the middle of their living area. His nest .

Jimin’s blond hair is pulled out of his face with a headband and he’s wearing an oversized black hoodie and matching sweatpants. His eyes are puffy and swollen. He looks beautiful despite how obviously upset he must be, if his scent tells Jeongguk anything.

“U-um— Jeonggukie? What are you… I-I wasn’t feeling well…” Jimin mumbles, eyes following the lines of Jeongguk’s body briefly before he looks down at his hands. “You were worried?”

“Of course, hyung. I may seem… aloof at times, but you are… special to me,” he says, cheeks heating up.

He sits across from Jimin, making sure not to touch his nest. It’s an intimate place where unmated alphas should never go unless the omega invites them. He thinks Jimin’s omega may not put up a big fuss about it, but he wants to be respectful of Jimin’s boundaries. Jimin’s eyes are still on him, unwavering. His alpha whines, wanting to be closer, but he shushes him.

Jimin seems to consider his words, looking very conflicted. “I-I have to tell you something— It’s… I’m sorry, Jeonggukie, I tried my best not to let this happen b-but, I like you. I, um, I know it’s not fair to whoever your destined mate will be— I don’t even know why I’m telling you this because I feel so guilty,” he explains without lifting his eyes from his lap.

Jeongguk’s eyes go wide.

“What do you mean? J-Jimin— I have, I’ve wanted to tell you this the whole time, but I wanted to go slowly and make sure I did this right because… I-I didn’t want to scare you away,” he starts with a shaky breath, “I’ve met my mate, but he’s… Well he doesn’t know he’s my mate.”

Jimin looks up at that, red eyes giving way to a few crocodile tears. He looks so sad— Fuck!

“Jeonggukie, I’m so sorry—“ he sobs.

“He doesn’t know,” he cuts in, trying his best not to start crying, too because he has to get through this, “And it’s because he’s been disconnected from his inner omega… He can’t feel his side of our bond.”

“Jimin, can I come into your nest? Please,” he asks, voice as soft as he could manage.

His heart is running rampant in his chest, banging onto his ribs like a manic drum melody. He waits, nearly in tears, for his omega to let him into the pile of blankets and pillows. God, he needs to be there with him, kissing his tears away, feeling his warm skin under his palms.

“Jeonggukie— Please, don’t p-play with my feelings I can’t— I can’t…”

“Hyung, it’s you. I’ve known since the second we met at that stupid party months ago. I-I tried to get closer to you, but you…you never noticed me. If it weren’t for Hoseok-hyung bringing you and Yoongi-hyung to the bar, I wouldn’t have had a chance,” he says softly, eyebrows pulling together, “After that, I wanted to give you time so that m-maybe you could like me even if you wouldn’t feel as strongly as me. I’d thought you felt our bond a-and chose to ignore it… Now, I understand, and I wanted to tell you I will wait for you until you’re comfortable—“

“Can you…. Come in, Ggukie, please?” Jimin croaks, using grabby-hands to emphasize his words.

Jeongguk doesn’t mean to, but he startles both of them with how fast he practically tackles Jimin in a hug. He feels so relieved to have his omega in his arms, in his nest.

“I’m so sorry, Ggukie. I-I should have…That day at the cafe I should have told you the truth,” Jimin murmurs into the crook of the alpha’s neck, lips brushing his skin, “Seeing them meet their mates…I immediately felt guilty from keeping you from a moment like that with your mate—I didn’t know I’d done worse than that— I-I can’t feel our bond.”

Jeongguk rubs up and down Jimin’s back, trying to calm his omega’s sobs. “It’s okay, baby. We were both hurt, but now we can move on, right? Oh my god, I’ve wanted to hold you like this for so long. I will hold you until you feel 100% better, I don’t care how long it’ll take.”

Jimin’s cries subdued into small hiccups, and Jeongguk’s own tears began to dry up. He felt cool, cool relief flow over him as he pulled Jimin into his lap, hugging him close to his chest.

“I can’t tell you how sorry I am, Ggukie… Do you feel m-me? Through our bond?”

Jeongguk nods solemnly, “Every day. I could tell you felt… something for me but I wasn’t sure. I would have taken being your friend if that’s all you wanted.”

“Oh, my god, not at all. I was sure you were trying to come onto me in the beginning, b-but after I came back from my h-heat…” Jiming groans, hiding his face in his hands, blushing, “And I couldn’t stop thinking about you, I knew I had a crush.”

“Had?!”

Jimin giggles, “I think it’s a little more than that, now, Ggukie… You’re my destined mate, right?”

The alpha in him is purring in his chest, a gentle sound to show how pleased he is. He feels like part of his puzzle is now solved— the rest of it lying in their mating ritual after they start courting.

“Yes, hyung. Absolutely. And I’m so happy it’s you,” Jeongguk says, wearing a huge grin, “I can’t believe I get to be here with you, in your nest. It’s so good, baby. Did you make it while you were upset earlier?”

Jimin nods, looking up at the alpha with pink cheeks. They share a soft look, Jeongguk unable to hold a smile back. He’s so, so happy he finally has his omega and he hasn’t been rejected.

“Now, I have an important question,” he says, eyes trained on Jimin’s, “Will you accept my offer to court you?”

Jimin’s face breaks out into a huge smile, eyes crinkling into little half moons. He’s the prettiest omega Jeongguk has ever, ever seen. He feels so lucky.

“Yes. I do, Ggukie.”

-

Three weeks later, Jeongguk is bouncing off the walls with nerves. He threw on his long sleeve button-down shirt and black jeans combo with jittery hands, putting on a leather jacket on top. He had toyed with the idea of a bucket hat, too, but thought better about it. He and everyone are meeting up at Namjoon’s apartment, as it’s the biggest and nicest of the pack’s, where Yoongi will be making everyone dinner. (Namjoon was supposed to be “helping” but Jeongguk is sure he’ll be relegated to handing Yoongi things as Namjoon is painfully awkward in the ways of motor function).

Jimin has been the sweetest mate he could have ever hoped for, obviously. He knew this would be the case, and he’s proven right every day. The omega loves clinging to his side, holding hands or hugging. He’s been discouraged and unsure with things like scenting, as in past relationships, his partners abused using their scents to mark Jimin in inappropriate situations. He had a boyfriend who forced Jimin to wear his scent even around his family, not allowing him to be scented by his brother or mother. Jeongguk understood completely, and only yesterday did he have the privilege of scenting his omega. God, it was so good. He’d buried his nose against Jimin’s neck, hands curling around his own hoodie Jimin stole from him the day before. (“I-I think this means I’m ready… For you to scent me. Sorry for having to steal your clothes to realize that, Ggukie.” Jeongguk almost cried when he answered, “You are so adorable, wow. Of course you can take anything you want, baby. I love it. And you can ask me to scent you whenever you’d like, okay?”).

It’s been slightly bumpy, but Jeongguk wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jiminie Baby

i’m here (:

Jeongguk giggles to himself, running up to the door to open it for Jimin. When he swings the door open, Jimin’s hair is pushed away from his face, cleanly parted on the side. His eyes are smoked out with dark brown eyeshadow, lips tinted a kissable pink. He’s wearing a shirt eerily close to Jeongguk’s own, with his faithful very ripped light wash jeans.

“You look so hot,” Jeongguk blurts out before he can stop himself.

Jimin giggles breathlessly, “You do too! I-I really like this shirt on you…”

“Oh, it looks even better when it’s off me, Jimin-ssi.”

The omega groans softly, hiding his face in his hands. It’s amazing how flustered he gets when Jeongguk flirts mercilessly.

Jimin had started therapy to get himself connected to his inner wolf again, and after a few sessions, Jimin’s side of the bond has grown stronger. When Jeongguk teases him, he can feel a flutter of butterflies between his shoulder blades— the new home for everything Jimin is able to share with him across the bond. He’d mentioned last week that he was also starting to feel glimmers of Jeongguk within himself.

“Come on, sweetheart, we’ll be late if you don’t stop checking me out,” he adds, cackling evilly.

He closes his door behind him and gently guides Jimin forward with a hand on his lower back. He can tell the omega is pleased with the small contact despite how embarrassed he seems on the outside.

Once they’re in Jeongguk’s car, an echo from that one night over a month ago fills the air around them. Jeongguk can’t help his fond smile.

“That night was amazing,” he says dazedly.

Jimin scoffs.

“I made you carry Yoongi-hyungie to his bed—“

“I can’t wait to break that to him because he’d be so pissed. But you did that just to stall and spend more time with me, didn’t you?”

Jimin clamps his mouth shut and crosses his arms. “I may have… But if I remember, you said “anything for you” and you were definitely so whipped!”

“That’s true. I can’t help it, though. Our wolves are bound together,” he replies, the teasing lilt softening.

He pulls into the parking garage of Namjoon’s apartment building—yes, it’s that nice—and reaches over to cup Jimin’s cheek.

“Are you excited? This is our first time having a dinner like this, me and Namjoon-hyung never really… It’s different, but important, I guess. I want you to be comfortable with my pack because I want you to be a part of it— y-you know, one day.”

Jimin giggles softly, leaning over the console to press a soft kiss on the alpha’s nose.

“Y-yeah, I know, Ggukie. I want that, too. And I am way more comfortable with them now that I know them better. Joon-hyung is great and Taehyung is… Taehyung. He can read me like an open book, I think. Plus, Yoongi-hyung already fits in like he’s been there the whole time,” he replies with a big, big grin.

“You are so beautiful. I almost can’t believe I got this lucky.”

Jimin nods, smile growing softer.

“Can I kiss you?” he asks in a whisper.

Jeongguk nods, probably too quickly. This is a line he’d been doing his absolute best not to cross until Jimin was ready. The time is here and he is so, so ready.

He meets the omega half way, their lips touching gently. Jeongguk’s skin burns on contact, tingles running down his chin, then neck, to spread all over his body. He’s never felt so electrified by a kiss—much less such a chaste one. It’s sweet like warm honey milk, and after sharing a few more soft kisses, the car smells like milky green tea with sweet, sweet honey. The air feels like syrup around them.

“U-Um, wow… Can we? Do that again?”

The alpha nods dumbly, staring at Jimin’s pink, pink lips. Something akin to love starts swirling around in his chest, Jimin’s voice ringing between his ears. Before he can say anything else, he cups the back of his omega’s neck to pull him into another kiss, this one searing into their lips. It’s hungry, desperate. Wet .

“Jesus, baby… We need to s-stop,” he chides breathlessly.

Jimin whines softly, a small whimper escaping him at Jeongguk puts some more distance between them. “Ah, uh, yes. Let’s, um. Yeah.”

Jeongguk laughs and throws his seatbelt off before he can pull Jimin over the console and into his lap to kiss him until the omega can’t stop whining into his mouth, slick pooling in his underwear—that he’d have to sit in the entire dinner, Fuck . He tries to think of something else, anything, when he slips out of the car to open Jimin’s door. The omega is slightly flustered, looking up at him shyly.

“Hi,” Jimin says.

“Hi.”

“We should get inside, right?”

“Yeah, baby, let’s go.”

-

The dinner party, if one could call it that. It’s more of a chaotic gathering of boys screaming about everything and nothing at the same time.

“Namjoonie burnt his oatmeal this morning, sorry for the smell!” Yoongi announces from the kitchen, “I told him to use the microwave but his brain must have died on the walk to the kitchen, so he made it on the stove instead.”

Taehyung is going blue in the face laughing at something Hoseok said in response, and Namjoon’s head is hanging low shamefully.

“Sometimes I wonder how you can exist being so… brain = empty with everything except for, like, books,” Yoongi comments as he chops some carrots.

Taehyung and Hoseok engulf Jeongguk and Jimin in a group hug and all hell breaks loose.

“Oh my God! Why do you two smell like that?! What were you doing to be so late?!”

“Did y’all fuck?!”

“Nooooo! Joonie, get them to stop—”

“Guys, we didn’t—” Jeongguk tries to say, cheeks aflame, but Yoongi cuts them off with a screech.

“Jimin-ah, why the fuck didn’t you text me beforehand I thought you wanted some tips!”

And then hell breaks loose again. Jeongguk looks between Yoongi, who looks as if he’s been betrayed, and Jimin, who is laughing and covering his entire face with his hands. His ears are glowing red when he groans out a quiet “Hyunggg” that only Jeongguk hears.

“Tips?” He asks Jimin, and everyone collectively “Ooo”s.

Jimin uncovers his tomato-red face and looks up at Jeongguk.

“N-no, um I, ah… It’s not— Hyung blew it out of proportion…” he replies.

Everyone else moves onto a new topic, but all Jeongguk can think about is how Jimin must have gone to Yoongi for advice…about sex . Advice about sex with Jeongguk . It’s a gust of wind into the ego of both himself and his wolf, but he also feels a little taken aback. He’d been careful to wait until Jimin was comfortable enough to kiss, but he’d been thinking about sex enough that he’d asked his roommate for advice. He’s so turned on he has to run to the bathroom to splash cold water on his face. Looking into the mirror he watches his tattooed fingers run over his face. It makes him think about what those tattoos would look wrapped around Jimin’s bare cock, jerking him as he fucks into him just to see him squirm, begging for his knot.

Fuck !

After collecting himself, he strides back to the gathering, jumping into the conversation about pizza. He sends Jimin a short text and watches the omega pull his phone out with a smile.

if you wanted to know about it that bad, i would have been happy to show you baby. i can do more than kiss you to make you whine like that again, if you’d like

Jimin’s smile drops and he looks so flustered, Jeongguk’s cock twitches at the sight. God, he’s so gone. The omega bites his lip and he types something back.

Jiminie Baby

i would like…

And if Jeongguk inhales his food, his alpha roaring in his chest to claim his omega, and barely gets away an hour later, it’s his and Jimin’s business. He would do anything for his mate, including showing him all of the tender affection he could muster, holding him gently as he stuffs his knot into his omega and makes a claiming bite on the side of his soft, soft neck.

“I love you,” they say at the same time, sharing a small laugh as they wait for Jeongguk’s knot to stop swelling.

Jimin, almost drunk from their love making, presses a kiss to the little “J” on Jeongguk’s ring finger, mumbling, “I can feel it, Gguk. I can feel your side of our bond. My omega… so happy.”

“Finally,” Jeongguk replies, tears left unshed in his eyes. Finally .