Work Text:
“Baby?” Jeongguk’s sleep-raspy voice calls out in the silent, dark hallway as his footsteps shuffle towards the living room of his and Jimin’s apartment. He rubs his tired eyes with the heels of his hands and after seeing nothing undisturbed, he changes direction and heads to their work room. The desk light is visible under the cracked door and he pushes it open to find Jimin in front of the computer.
“Hyung?” Jimin jumps at his voice and slams the computer shut with a snap. Jeongguk’s eyebrows furrow with confusion as he moves closer to his boyfriend. Jimin doesn't turn to look at him. “Babe, what’re you doing up at three in the morning?” He notices the food wrappers on the desk, open and empty, with a fine dusting of crumbs nearby. A lightbulb goes off in Jeongguk’s head.
“Baby,” his voice is soft, cautious, “have you been binging again?” He watches as Jimin’s eyes shut and he sets his elbows on the desk before digging the heels of his hands into his eyes with a heavy breath.
“I hate it, I hate myself for doing it.” Jimin’s voice wavers and Jeongguk is next to him in two paces, squatting next to the chair and turning it towards his position so Jimin will face him. His boyfriend is in his pj’s but it seems he never went to bed. Jeongguk had left him here finishing work for a deadline around eleven. He’s amazed he hadn’t woken up at the lack of his boyfriend’s warmth in bed.
“Hey, don’t say that.” Jeongguk’s voice is stern, hands pulling Jimin’s away from his puffy eyes. “You’re perfect, okay? Don’t berate yourself, Jimin-ah.” He presses kisses to Jimin’s knuckles and squeezes the older boy’s hands. They’re cold in Jeongguk’s big, warm ones.
“I’m getting fat and this is why.” Jimin’s voice cracks and Jeongguk feels his heart clench at the turmoil his boyfriend’s mind is going through. “I don't know how to stop eating, and I feel embarrassed cause I feel like I have to hide it from you or you’ll think I’m gross.” He lets out a sob as he looks at the dozen of empty wrappers strewn around the laptop.
“Hyung, hey,” he squeezes Jimin’s hands once more. “You’re not gross and you’re not disgusting. You’re a beautiful person, even when you binge.”
Jimin chokes on a sob, coughs and Jeongguk frowns.
“I’m heavy, I feel bloated and big.” Jimin starts pulling his hands from Jeongguk’s but the younger grabs them back with force.
“No, hey, I’m not letting go.” Jeongguk’s voice is deep, strong. “You don’t see what I see. You don’t see the beautiful, healthy, strong boy I’m in love with. You’re working through a rough patch, like anyone else.” He separates a set of their hands to wipe the tears from Jimin’s flushed cheeks.
“And I’m here to help you through it.” He watches Jimin gaze at their connected hands. “There’s nothing you can do to get rid of me, Jimin-ah. I love you for you, no matter what that includes.” Jimin glances up and Jeongguk hates the sight of the boy’s red-rimmed eyes. “Mkay?”
Jimin sniffles, cringing at the harshness of the sound in the quiet room. “Love you too,” he whispers and more tears fall down his cheeks. Jeongguk exhales, lifting himself with his knees so he can reach. His arms wrap around Jimin’s back and pull him down from the chair until he’s sitting on Jeongguk's lap with his face buried in Jeongguk’s neck. They sit like this for an unknown amount of time, until Jimin’s cries have ceased, Jeongguk’s legs have gone numb under him, and he’s deemed the boy has had a suitable number of backrubs.
“C’mon baby, let’s get back to bed. You should sleep.” He whispers and Jimin moans a sleepy protest, content to stay where he is as Jeongguk attempts to stand up with Jimin still in his arms. The older clings to him, wrapping his legs around Jeongguk’s waist while the maknae gains feeling in his legs. He then shuffles back to the bedroom, laying his pretty Jiminie down and pulling the covers up around him. Pressing a kiss to his forehead, he grabs Jimin’s stuffie - a yellow dog he named Chimmy - and tucks it under Jimin’s right arm before leaving the room to go clean up.
After throwing away the empty wrappers and wiping the crumbs into the trash can, his curiosity gets the best of him and he lifts the lid of the laptop where the browser tab sits brightly in the dim lighting of the room. Eyes scanning the search bar, he feels his eyes grow damp.
How to stop binging and lose weight fast.
He closes the tab and blinks to dry his eyes, then shuts the computer down, flicks the light switch and leaves the room.
His Jiminie is already a healthy weight. Yet somehow he thought he needed to lose some? Climbing into their bed and shifting to get comfortable, he pulls Jimin close to his body and holds him, pressing a kiss to the sleeping boy’s hair. “It’ll be okay, hyung.” Jungkook whispers, closing his eyes and breathing in sync with his boyfriend until he falls asleep. He’ll do whatever he can to help Jimin through this. Till he sees what Jeongguk sees.