Work Text:
November 6, 20XX i
It’s raining the first time they meet.
Jimin rises from his seat behind the register as a knock echoes through the café. A glance out the window tells him that it’s still pouring rain, and he scrambles to open the door. A boy is standing outside with a broken umbrella in his hand. He looks cold.
The boy waves shyly at him. His hands are pale; Jimin decides it must be from how cold the rain is. He ushers the boy inside and offers him a warm drink and something to eat. The boy, Jimin must get a name, props his umbrella against the counter and follows Jimin into a booth with an armful of towels.
Jimin learns that his name is Taehyung and that he lives twenty minutes away. Taehyung was visiting his friends and started walking home before he got caught in the rain. The drowning plants by the front door made this place seem inviting. Jimin laughs at this and thanks him; he says he’s somewhat of a gardener himself.
Taehyung laughs with him. It’s short and a little cold but again, it must be from the rain. Taehyung looks uncomfortable wrapped up in towels, but he’s not complaining, so maybe it’s okay.
The sun is still hidden behind the clouds as Jimin gets up to make the two drinks. Taehyung watches him as he flits around behind the counter. He ignores the way his gaze softens. Jimin looks up occasionally and shoots a smile in his direction; it melts Taehyung’s heart. Jimin returns with two hot chocolates and a chocolate croissant. He tells Taehyung that it’s the last one. Taehyung splits it, and they each take a half. It’s very sweet.
Jimin’s phone lights up with a call from Hoseokie. Taehyung urges him to answer it. The call takes him into the back, and Taehyung taps his fingers along his mug. He’s still cold.
The towels sitting around his shoulders are damp and not comforting at all, so he shrugs them off and folds them. They’re drenching the table until he swipes them onto his lap. He puts them back on the table. Jimin comes back with a smile and sweeps the towels onto the floor. He says he’ll clean everything later. He asks about his day.
Taehyung takes a sip from his drink and tells him that he went to visit his friends Namjoon, Seokjin, and Jungkook. Jimin’s mouth falls into the shape of an ‘o.’ He says he knows Jungkook too. They went to university together. They hang out every Friday.
Jimin’s phone rings again, and he rolls his eyes. Taehyung waves him away and tells him to say hi to Hoseokie this time. When he leaves, Taehyung lets his eyes wander around the room. They fall on a piece of broken glass by the espresso machine. His face contorts into that of concern.
He asks Jimin if he’s okay when he comes back, and Jimin looks at him confused. Taehyung points at the glass, and Jimin laughs off his confusion. He responds that he’s great, and it’s actually a miracle that he didn’t cut himself.
As the day goes on and night befalls them, the rain eases, and Taehyung gets ready to say his goodbyes. Jimin offers to walk him home, but Taehyung shakes his head. Jimin engulfs him in a hug before he leaves. Taehyung pats his hips and lets Jimin break the embrace.
Taehyung walks out with his broken umbrella, and Jimin realizes too late that he never got his number.
-
It’s Jungkook that helps them meet again. Jimin received several messages from one Kim Taehyung the night after the rain. Since then, the two have spoken every day, and Jimin thinks Taehyung is one of his favourite people.
Taehyung, who only seems to dress in black and is never without his broken umbrella. Jimin doesn’t get it considering they’re approaching summer, but oh well.
They make plans often, but Taehyung can never make them because it always seems to be raining now. Jimin decides to just have him spend the night, and they’ll go on a walk in the morning.
Taehyung arrives at his door with a small suitcase in hand. That night, they bake cookies, and Jimin shows Taehyung how to slow dance. It’s a mess, but Taehyung promises to practice. Jimin kisses him too, that night, out of impulse and some random shot of courage, and almost dies when Taehyung kisses him back. He feels his heart stop and only regains his senses after Taehyung pulls away. Jimin tells Taehyung that he’s a good kisser, and to that, Taehyung kisses him again. The rain gets louder outside and attempts to drown them out. Jimin thinks it’s a bit abnormal, but he’s too busy tasting Taehyung’s lips to care.
November 13, 20XX i
And so, it’s raining the last time they meet.
Taehyung waits for Jimin by the front door, running his fingers along his umbrella. It almost seems to sparkle at his touch, but that wouldn’t be true; it’s an umbrella. Jimin runs out of his room dressed properly for the weather. He looks around for his own umbrella and frowns when he can’t find it. Taehyung offers his, and Jimin shakes his head. He asks why he still has a broken umbrella. Taehyung tells him that it brings him comfort; it helps him.
His hand is still cold when Jimin takes it, but it seems less noticeable now. Perhaps he’s gotten used to it. Jimin pulls his hood over his head as they exit the house and start down the path towards the city. Jimin will note that he no longer feels cold; neither does Taehyung.
They walk together as the rain lightens. Taehyung shakes his umbrella before they cross the street. The light turns green, and they make their way down the crosswalk. Jimin’s vision goes dark for a second before he shakes his head. He didn’t sleep well the night before; that must be it.
The cafe that Jimin works at is sitting pretty when they arrive. Taehyung opens the door for him; he walks in with a thank you.
Jimin walks behind the counter to put his apron on, and Taehyung taps his umbrella against his thigh. He waves Jimin over with a smile on his face. Jimin doesn’t think he’ll ever get sick of Taehyung’s smile.
Taehyung’s arms spread, and Jimin steps into them. He feels safe in his arms. He doesn’t feel cold anymore, or maybe he feels cold all the time. He’s not too sure. Taehyung holds him tight, and Jimin sighs into his neck.
Jimin’s phone rings then. It goes unanswered as the two turn to face the red and blue lights flooding the room. Jimin’s eyes go wide as Taehyung dodges his gaze. His umbrella rips some more when Jimin touches the window. Taehyung shakes it once more, and this time Jimin’s phone rings again.
The boy runs over to it, but it goes dark before he can answer; he thinks this to be odd. Taehyung wraps his arms around him again, and this time Jimin feels how warm he is.
It starts to rain again but really this time they feel so warm.
November 13, 20XX ii
Jimin wakes up and curls further into his bed at the sound of knocking. A head of fluffy dark hair pops through the open door. Taehyung smiles at him and waves. He says breakfast is ready and that Seokjin isn’t going to save any for him.
When he doesn’t move, Taehyung takes it upon himself to smother the boy. Jimin wonders if he’s ever felt warm in his life. He’s always so cold. Taehyung falls asleep on top of him, and Jimin rolls his eyes.
He looks past his curtains; he assumes Taehyung opened them while he was still sleeping. It’s raining out. He wishes it would stop raining. He feels too cold when it rains. Taehyung feels warmer when it rains; he doesn’t understand it. Jimin makes a mental note to buy a new umbrella for Taehyung. His current one is old and broken. It has twenty-seven rips; he counted.
Taehyung jolts awake at something, probably Seokjin yelling down the hallway, and Jimin has to stop him from rolling off the bed. They smile at each other, and Taehyung kisses his cheek.
The rain outside sounds louder.