Archive of Our Own

Looking up from the words blending together on the page under his fingertips, Jimin let his gaze wander around the small café. There were quite some people occupying the soft couches and chairs scattered around the small space, many of the wooden tables filled with laptops, textbooks and steaming coffee cups.

Jimin always seemed to end up back here during finals week, when his stress level was high and his anxiety-level even higher. He’d never been good at working in the university library. No matter how badly he wanted to be that student who worked from morning till night surrounded by bookshelves and high ceilings, he couldn’t. Every time he tried, as soon as he’d sat down and opened his books, all he could think about was staying quiet so he wouldn’t bother anyone else trying to work.

And so he went here a lot. The perfect café he’d found in his third year, the one always filled with a soft pleasant buzz of people talking, the grind of the coffee machine behind the counter, and a sweet scent in the air. He breathed that scent in deeply now, trying to calm himself down, as his gaze trailed over to the boy across from him.

“Taehyung-ah.”

No response. Jimin’s eyes traced his best friends face, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration, eyes squinting down at the screen of his laptop while his fingers tapped the table next to the coffee cup that he’d drained long ago.

“Tae.”

A slight quirk of Taehyung’s eyebrow was all Jimin got for his efforts.

“Taetae!” Jimin raised his voice slightly.

“Yes! Sorry, Chim, what is it?”

“What are you even doing that it took you that long to be distracted from it?” Jimin asked, knowing his best friend too well to not be suspicious.

“Gukkie’s Instagram.”

Jimin sighed and rolled his eyes. “Seriously, Tae?”

“What! He posted today and then I got onto his page and I noticed this other picture from a while back where he looks adorable, and also this assignment is killing me, I can’t be blamed for my short attention span, especially when it’s this boring compared to-“

“Why don’t just ask him out already?”

“Yeah, sure, Chim. Look, the fact that you and your boyfriend are practically an old married couple does not mean you can mock me like this.”

“Tae,” Jimin exclaimed, “that’s so rude! We are not an old married couple, we go out all the time and hyung only just turned 24!”

Taehyung snorted, “yeah, okay.”

Jimin pouted, making Taehyung laugh out loud and several people around the café turn in their direction at his booming voice.

“Anyway, I was going to ask whether you’re going tonight? To celebrate Jin-hyung’s return?”

“Of course. I’ll take any opportunity to get drunk during finals period.”

“Tae!”

“Just kidding, Chim, relax,” Taehyung said, unconvincing to Jimin who had an idea of where the night would end. With him dragging a heavy Taehyung home and forcing five glasses of water down his throat.

~

Night had fallen more quickly than Jimin and Taehyung had expected and they were late, as they always were. Taehyung stumbled through the door of Jimin’s room as he was checking his appearance in the mirror.

“I can’t find my red jacket anywhere, Jimin, did you steal it again- damn, you look good, anyone special you want to impress tonight?”

Jimin rolled his eyes. “I just... want to look nice.”

Taehyung smiled knowingly, pulling his jacket from Jimin’s closet, getting his keys and putting on his shoes in one smooth motion before dragging Jimin out the door.

As soon as they arrived at the bar, Jimin spotted their friends in a booth at the back. They were all laughing, Hoseok throwing himself onto Jeongguk’s shoulder and Namjoon slapping Jin’s back as he’d started to choke.

“Hyung!” Jimin dashed over to the group and threw his arms around Jin from behind, hugging him tight before throwing himself onto Yoongi, nuzzling his hair. “I missed you.” Yoongi turned his head, smiling fondly at the boy clinging to him. “I missed you too, Jiminie.”

“Well, this is just unbelievable. What about me? I come back home after three months and my favourite dongsaeng barely spares me a glance before telling his boyfriend that he missed him. How long had you not seen him, huh, a day?”

Jeongguk and Taehyung collectively gasped. “Favourite?”

“I’m sorry, Jin-hyung! Of course I missed you terribly, especially your cooking,” Jimin said cheekily as he turned to his oldest hyung with a big smile, eyes forming crescents. “Welcome home! I baked you cupcakes!”

“And he pulls through. I can’t stay mad at you for long, Minnie, you’re too adorable,” Jin laughed, pinching the younger’s cheek.

“I got the next round of drinks, a sorry for the fact that we were late, even though it was obviously Jimin’s fault,” Taehyung said, earning a glare from Jimin.

“You’re such a liar, Tae, you were just as late as I was,” he stated, curling his hands around his glass, condensation coating his fingertips.

Jeongguk cut in, “excuse me can we return to the fact that you just called Jimin your favourite? I am so offended, you told me I was your favourite on the phone last week-“

Jimin took the opportunity to turn to his boyfriend and found him already looking back at him.

“How are you, hyung, how did the meeting go this morning?”

“It was fine. They liked my additions and they want me for their next single,” Yoongi said, smiling.

“That’s great! I’m proud of you.”

“How’s studying going?”

Jimin’s face fell immediately, the voice in the back of his mind returning to remind him how much work was waiting for him at home.

“It’s all right,” he sighed.

Yoongi put his hand on Jimin’s shoulder and squeezed, his thumb rubbing over Jimin’s collarbone gently.

“You’ll get through it. You can come over tomorrow if you want? I’ll take care of you.”

“Really? Of course I want that, thank you, hyung.” Jimin smiled sweetly and placed a kiss on Yoongi’s cheek before quickly pulling back and turning to his eldest hyung.

“So, how was the internship, Jin-hyung?”

~

“Come on, Yoongi-hyung, you would be such a cute cat!”

Yoongi glared at a slightly drunk Taehyung, making everyone at the table coo at him.

“Such a cute angry kitty,” Jin said, laughing.

Jimin put out his hand in front of Yoongi’s chin expectantly, beckoning with his fingers when Yoongi didn’t respond.

“Come on, hyung, please?” Jimin pouted at him, widening his eyes and pushing out his bottom lip.

Yoongi sighed deeply before moving and putting his chin on Jimin’s hand. Jimin giggled and scratched his skin lightly before pulling back.

“That was so adorable, I think I’m going to throw up,” Jeongguk deadpanned, immediately dodging Jimin’s slap.

Yoongi’s hand found Jimin’s arm under the table and his thumb started to trace soft circles over his wrist. Jimin glanced at him, but Yoongi’s attention was on Taehyung, who was holding a long monologue about the existence of extra-terrestrial life.

“You know, there could be aliens living among us, and we would never be able to tell.”

“Come on, Tae, that’s just not true. Scientifically speaking extra-terrestrial life could very well exist, but there’s no way that that life could be here already, much less while being undetected,” Namjoon said with a pained face.

“Why? Aren’t there a lot of mysteries on the planet that we can’t explain? I mean, to start with, we have only explored about 5 percent of our own oceans-“

Jimin tuned out of the conversation as Taehyung started a passionate monologue about the Bermuda Triangle. He focussed on the fingers still rubbing circles on his wrist. He was still slightly dazed at the fact that he could do things like this with Yoongi now. Back when he was still pining over his hyung, every little touch had seemed exhilarating and electric, and he had felt on edge all of the time. By now, they’d settled into a comfortable relationship and Jimin couldn’t be happier. He got to touch Yoongi all the time now, and be closer to him than anyone else, know all the little things about his life. Jimin had thought sharing everything about himself with someone would be scary, but it wasn’t. He felt the most at ease he ever had when he was with Yoongi.

Jimin was still smiling at the side of Yoongi’s face when he heard Taehyung address Jeongguk.

“I feel like you would be the alien out of all of us, Guk,” Taehyung said, smiling.

Namjoon had obviously given up trying to convince Taehyung and he was pouting while staring down at his drink, tracing the rim of his glass. He didn’t notice the fond smile Jin sent his way.

“Why?”

“Because, you are literally good at everything, and also, you’re so beautiful-“

“Okay, Tae, I think we should go home,” Jimin cut in quickly, standing up and pulling Taehyung with him.

“You guys will be there next Friday, right? To celebrate the end of the babies’ finals?”

Jimin nodded enthusiastically before waving and dragging Taehyung with him, yelling “but I’m not a baby!” over his shoulder.

~

A groan sounded from beneath the mountain of pillows and blankets covering the surface of Jimin’s couch.

“Why did I say that? Ah, my head,” Taehyung whined. “Oh my god this is horrifying. I can’t look him in the eyes again.”

“It’s not that bad, you just-“

“I called him beautiful, Jimin, beautiful! Not even handsome or anything else even remotely normal. I will never live this down.”

“I told you not to drink so much, but you didn’t listen to me. When are you going to realize that I hold all the answers and you should always obey everything I say?”

Taehyung snorted and his head emerged from the blankets so he could scoff at Jimin. “Yeah, okay, mister ‘Yoongi-hyung would never like me’, sure I’ll listen to you.”

“Don’t bring up my dark days, Tae! I’m going to Yoongi-hyung’s, there’s breakfast in the fridge and painkillers on the counter. Will you be all right?”

“Yes, mom.”

“Rude,” Jimin mumbled as he pulled on his jacket and opened the door.

“Thank you Chim, I love you, kiss Yoongi for me!”

“I will not!”

~

Jimin yawned for what felt like the fifth time in a minute as he watched the sunlight stream through the window and fall over the back of the couch. Tiny specks of dust were swirling in the air of the warmth-filled room, before settling down on the leaves of the houseplants and the smooth surface of the table.

Sometimes Jimin wished he hadn’t applied for university and had taken the job at his local dance studio instead. This was one of those times. His concentration had been dwindling lately and he felt like he had to push himself much harder than before. He ran his hands over his face, sighing softly before dragging his eyes back to his screen and attempting to read the same paragraph again.

He’d read five more pages and noted down the most important points, when one hand set down a steaming mug of coffee next to him and another ruffled his hair. Jimin smiled broadly, sight narrowing a bit, and when he felt soft lips press a kiss to his cheek, he leaned into the touch.

“Thank you so much, hyungie,” he said, taking Yoongi’s hand as he was walking away, and pressing a kiss to his fingers. He then brought the cup to his lips and blew softly before taking a sip. He let the warmth fill his throat, and the energy started to trickle back into him, making him determined to start working again.

Several hours and a borderline mental breakdown later, Yoongi approached Jimin carefully, wrapping his fingers around his wrist and pulling him away from his laptop, towards the food spread out on the coffee table.

“What would I do without you, hyung?” Jimin said, smiling widely, mouth stuffed with tteokbokki and slowly turning numb.

Jimin was sitting on the ground, as close to the food as possible, while Yoongi was seated on the couch next to him, smiling down at his boyfriend with full cheeks. As soon as he was sated, Jimin leaned back and rested his head against Yoongi’s knee, closing his eyes in content.

“I would probably die without you, to be honest.”

“Yah! Don’t talk like that,” Yoongi scolded.

“Sorry, hyung, I’m in an existential crisis mood,” Jimin said.

“My poor baby,” Yoongi said, words dripping with sarcasm.

Jimin stuck out his tongue before pushing his face into the side of Yoongi’s knee and sighing.

“Can I stay here tonight, hyung? I’m having trouble sleeping lately.”

“Of course, sunshine.”

Jimin climbed onto the couch and straight into Yoongi’s lap, wrapping his arms around Yoongi’s shoulders and softly stroking the hair at the nape of his neck.

“Thank you, hyung.”

Jimin leaned in, gently pressing his lips to Yoongi’s, giving him several soft kisses in succession. When he tried to pull back, Yoongi tangled his fingers into Jimin’s hair and pulled him back against him, tilting his head and taking Jimin’s bottom lip between his own, flicking it with his tongue. Their kisses slowly turned open-mouthed, and soon they were breathing heavily into each other’s mouths. Yoongi took the opportunity to slip his tongue inside and drag it against the roof of Jimin’s mouth. Jimin’s stomach swooped at the action, making him eagerly push himself even closer to Yoongi.

Jimin was gripping Yoongi’s shoulders tightly, losing himself in his scent and the way he felt under his fingers, when he felt the urge to sneeze. He quickly pulled back from his boyfriend’s mouth and muffled his sneeze into his shoulder.

“Sorry, baby,” he said sheepishly, before they both burst out into laughter.

“It was getting too heated,
anyway, we don’t have time for that tonight,” Yoongi said, still chuckling.

“We don’t? Why?”

“You have to sleep, Jiminie,” Yoongi said, running a hand through Jimin’s hair.

“Ugh, fine. You’re such an old man,” Jimin joked, planting a kiss to Yoongi’s jaw before catching his slapping hand in his own and pulling him to his bedroom.

Jimin stumbled to bed after pulling one of Yoongi’s shirts over his head, already half asleep as he nuzzled Yoongi’s chest and planted a kiss there before settling down next to him and taking his hand. Yoongi watched Jimin slowly slip into sleep, eyes fluttering and cheek squished against his pillow, with fondness brimming in his eyes.

~

Jimin woke up slowly, gradually finding his way back to consciousness before yawning and rubbing a hand over his face. He frowned when his mind registered Yoongi’s hand was no longer in his. He slowly opened his eyes to darkness, before looking to his left and having to squint at the bright screen propped up next to him.

When his eyes adjusted to the light slightly, he could make out Yoongi, who was bent over his laptop, working, wearing glasses that were slowly slipping down his nose. He looked adorable with his messy hair and slight frown, alternately typing vigorously and pausing to read, eyes flicking back and forth hurriedly.

Jimin sat up slowly, knowing his boyfriend must be extremely focussed if he didn’t even notice Jimin moving next to him. He leaned over and kissed Yoongi’s shoulder lovingly, finally getting the older’s attention.

“Hyungie... why are you still working at... 2 am?” Jimin asked, squinting at the clock on the bottom of the screen.

“I have to, I had an idea and you know how I focus much better at night... I’m sorry for waking you, Jiminie, I should have moved from the bed,” Yoongi muttered.

“No, it’s all right, hyung.”

Jimin pressed his lips to the fabric of Yoongi’s shirt again, trailing soft kisses all over his shirt-covered shoulder, before resting his chin on it.

“Just.. come sleep now, okay? Please, hyungie, this isn’t healthy.”

“I’m fine, Jimin-ah, just a little longer,” Yoongi said, his tone impatient. A year ago, a few months ago even, Jimin would have been hurt by Yoongi’s demeanor and backed off, but he wasn’t impressed by Yoongi’s sternness anymore and now he just smiled in understanding.

“Yoongi-hyung. It’s time. Come on, let me take care of you now.”

He slowly took Yoongi’s hands away from the laptop, saved the files he was working on, and shut the computer off. He took the glasses from Yoongi’s face and pushed him down gently, covering him with half of the blanket that had drifted to Jimin’s side of the bed during the night. He left a kiss on his nose before settling back down himself. When he felt fingers tangling with his beneath the sheets, he smiled contentedly before allowing the darkness to pull him under again.

~

A few days later, Jimin left his second-to-last exam rubbing his eyes and looking forward to spending the rest of the day doing nothing even remotely productive. His backpack swinging on his back, he made his way through the streets of the city centre, feeling his step quicken and heartbeat speed up as he neared the small street and spotted the familiar sign.

Jimin practically skipped into the shop. He scanned the room, eyes flitting over unfamiliar faces and turned backs, and felt a grin spread across his face when he saw Yoongi seated in a corner booth. As soon as he’d spotted him, it was as if the public setting faded before his eyes and Jimin no longer worried about the judgment or the presence of anyone else except Yoongi. He hurried over and plopped down next to his boyfriend, smiling.

“Hi, hyungie!”

“Hey, Jiminie,” Yoongi said, before closing the book he’d been reading and turning to him. He pushed Jimin’s favourite drink towards him, making him squeal happily and take a sip, immediately burning his tongue because of the hot liquid. Jimin scrunched his brows, pouting at the sharp sting on the tip of his tongue. He could’ve sworn he saw Yoongi smirking but when he turned to him, Yoongi wasn’t even looking in his direction.

They spent about an hour chatting to each other about their day, their half-empty coffee cups long forgotten and pushed aside. Jimin felt pride swell in his chest when he coaxed a real, wide smile out of Yoongi with his anecdote of Taehyung running away from his tutor to avoid talking about his final project.

“He was actually sprinting through the halls, and I think he almost knocked someone over, like, four times,” he said, laughing.

As soon as they’d returned to Yoongi’s apartment, which was empty because Hoseok was still on campus practicing, Jimin took off his shoes and padded to the kitchen, running his fingers over the countertop before hopping up to sit on it. He watched Yoongi prepare dinner for a while, before starting to hum under his breath and leaning back against the cupboards.

He was content to stay there until a meal magically appeared in front of him, tired from a long day of studying and trying to hold on to concentration that was continuously unravelling like a thread. However, Yoongi asked him to get a frying pan in a soft voice and,
grumbling under his breath, knowing he could never deny Yoongi anything, he hopped down and opened the cupboard he’d been sitting against. He stretched onto the tips of his toes, reaching out as far as he could, fingers wiggling in the empty air, before sinking back down with a defeated sigh.

“I knew it. I really should have gotten a taller boyfriend.”

“You’re the same height as me,” Jimin protested, turning around to see Yoongi leaning against the counter, watching him with an amused smile.

“Yeah, and that’s why I should be with someone tall who can take care of me, but alas... I have to make do with a cute little gnome.”

“Excuse you! I am not a gnome-“

Yoongi started laughing, bending over slightly and making Jimin smile too.

“You’re insufferable,” Jimin said, shaking his head.

Jimin remembered how Yoongi and he used to clash often, especially when their friend group first formed and they didn’t know each other very well yet. They’d grown towards each other over the years, able to understand the other’s perspective, but they never stopped bickering. Jimin loved it.

He spent that night curled up on Yoongi’s sofa, playing on his phone with his legs thrown over Yoongi’s lap as he read a book. He loved these moments the most, the quiet comfort that they both found in existing near each other, even if they didn’t talk for long stretches of time. They didn’t need to.

It didn’t take long before they drifted nearer to each other. Jimin was engrossed in the post he was reading on his phone, when Yoongi put his book down and moved to lay down, half on top of Jimin, half on the sofa. Yoongi curled into Jimin and buried his face in his chest, sighing softly.

Jimin almost dropped his phone on his face in surprise, before tossing it onto the coffee table. He smiled down at the top of Yoongi’s head, reaching up to the tangled, messy locks and patting his head softly.

“Love you, too, hyungie.”

They spent a few minutes tangled on the sofa, breathing each other in, before Yoongi pushed himself up onto his elbows. He leaned over where Jimin was lying on his back and nosed along his jaw softly. Jimin tangled his fingers into the back of Yoongi’s sweatshirt, holding on, eyes falling shut.

Yoongi took his time, leaning in slowly to press a kiss to the corner of Jimin’s lips before pulling back again, making Jimin frown slightly and open his eyes. Yoongi was looking at him, so close to him that if it were anyone else, Jimin would feel insecure and uncertain. But it was Yoongi. Jimin breathed out, eyes on Yoongi, and let the attention envelop him.

Yoongi tilted his head, finally kissing Jimin and pressing into him slowly, softly. Jimin leaned up to meet him, lips moving against Yoongi’s at a faster pace. They pulled at each other, craving to be close, pressing themselves against the other as far as possible. Gradually, they opened their mouths and they were soon sinking into each other’s presence, moving against each other with increasing speed.

Jimin was just thinking he was ready to sink into soft pillows and spend a warm night under Yoongi’s sheets, being loved and worshipped wholeheartedly, when he heard the front door slam open and he startled so hard he fell backwards onto the ground. He looked up at Yoongi, eyes wide and hair ruffled, a pillow covering his lap inconspicuously. Jimin pouted deeply as he watched Hoseok storm into the living room, throw himself down next to Yoongi and start ranting immediately, without even blinking at the dishevelled state of the boys in front of him. Jimin groaned, throwing himself back down, barely catching two words of what Hoseok had to say.

Bangtan Boys
Hoseok:
Did I just see Kim Taehyung sprint through the hallways of the art building in a blur that rivals the Flash or am I hallucinating??

Taehyung:
You saw nothing.

~

Jimin made his way through campus smiling broadly, appreciating all the regular views with a new enthusiasm. He waved to some of his classmates who were sitting on the grass, and he watched the blossoms twirl on their way down to the ground. The dappled sunlight fell over the path underneath his feet and when he breathed in, the sweet smell of spring filled his nose.

He made his way directly to the studios, walking the familiar hallways with a skip in his step. He pushed against the door at the end of the hall to open it, immediately enveloped by the loud music playing on the speakers. He settled down against the wall to watch his hyung move, the energy in the small room palpable, filling him to the brim. As soon as the music cut off, he clapped excitedly.

“That was amazing, Hobi-hyung!”

“Chimmy! Are you free?”

“Yes!” Jimin yelled, getting an enthusiastic screech in return. Hoseok leapt over to him and threw his arms around him, always full of energy. He pulled back and pushed Jimin gently until he was standing in front of the mirror.

“You want to do the routine from last year’s showcase?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Jimin grinned as his hyung started the music, letting the notes wash over him and his body move into the practiced motions.

He always felt the most free when he was dancing, it was the only time his usually overthinking mind was silent as he could lose himself in the movements flowing into each other smoothly. It was what he did whenever he felt like a failure, whenever he felt like he was on top of the world, and anything in between. The excitement that had flowed through him at the thought of dancing when he was a kid had stayed with him through all these years, and he hoped he would never lose it.

Jimin and Hoseok danced the hours away until they were both panting and sweaty, leaving to shower only when Jimin’s screen wouldn’t stop lighting up with texts from Jeongguk asking them to ‘come over to Jin-hyung’s before he feeds me to death’.

~

Jimin knocked rapidly, the door flying open not even a second after Jimin’s knuckles left its surface. Namjoon said “thank god, other people,” before leading them inside.

Jimin giggled. “What’s going on, hyung?”

“They’ve been playing this game for the last hour and I think my eardrums might be permanently damaged,” Namjoon said, his smile betraying how he actually felt.

“And you think our arrival will change that?” Jimin asked incredulously, immediately proven right when Hoseok yelled at Jin and Jeongguk in greeting.

“Fair point. I’m going to call Yoongi-hyung,” Namjoon mumbled before retreating to the kitchen.

Jimin giggled, following Hoseok into the living room where Jin and Jeongguk were shoving each other and playing Mario Kart at the same time.

“Hobi! Jiminie! Did you know I am the ultimate champion of Mario Kart and have never been defeated in my life? You want to take me on?” Jin said, laughing as he crossed the finish line first. He barely had time to celebrate his victory before Hoseok draped himself over his back in greeting.

“I literally beat you two minutes ago,” Jeongguk said, pouting.

“I believe you, Gukkie,” Jimin said, giggling and ruffling the younger’s hair. He earned a wide smile from his dongsaeng, complete with sparkling eyes.

Jimin yawned deeply as Jin took his hand in greeting, opening his eyes to two hyungs looking at him with concern.

“Don’t even start, I’m just a little tired from this week,” he said while smiling.

“Don’t worry, I’ll feed you well tonight, poor little baby,” Jin said.

“Not a baby!”

“Here, sit in the sunlight. You need some vitamin D,” Hoseok said, pushing Jimin to sit on the window sill where sunbeams were streaming into the room. He closed his eyes briefly, enjoying the warmth, before turning back to his hyung.

“You are all way too protective of me, and although I appreciate it, I already get enough of this from Yoongi-hyung,” Jimin said, laughing.

“I believe that. He is so gone over you, I’ve never even seen him like this, and we’ve been best friends basically since he crawled into this life from hell.”

Jin and Jeongguk had gone back to their game, simultaneously shouting that the other was cheating.

“Anyway, does this even work?” Jimin asked, changing the subject before he’d blush himself to death, “can you get vitamin D from the sun through a window?”

“Well, I think so-“

“No,” Namjoon said drily as he walked by.

Hoseok screeched and threw a pillow at him, making Jimin laugh, bending forward from the force of his laugh. Hoseok automatically put out a hand to steady him while still arguing with Namjoon, who pulled up Google to prove his point.

“Well, whatever, it’s still good for you to sit in the sun, it makes you happy!”

“Maybe that’s why we’re always so happy around you, Hobi,” Namjoon said, smiling warmly and immediately calming the other, as was his specialty.

Jimin threw himself onto his hyung, hugging him tight and sighing with content. “Yes, I can feel the happiness enter my veins,” he laughed, before Hoseok pushed him off.

“Where are Tae-hyung and Yoongi-hyung?” Jeongguk asked, somehow simultaneously stuffing his face with crisps and still playing the game.

“Hyung said he was on his way, haven’t heard from Taehyung-ah. Jimin?”

Jimin went over to the couch and plopped down next to Jin, before answering Namjoon. “He said he’d hand in his project and then come over, so he’ll probably be here somewhere between five minutes and five hours from now.”

Jin’s laugh cut off when a knock sounded on the door. Jin looked at Namjoon expectantly who sighed and got up to open the door, muttering something like “it’s your apartment.”

Jin leaned over and whispered to Jimin “it would be ours if he just asked to move in together already,” making Jimin giggle.

Hoseok dashed over to the door as soon as he saw Yoongi, immediately starting to chatter away to him.

“Hi, Hob-ah,” Yoongi rasped, unable to hide the fond smile spreading on his face.

Jimin turned in his seat, wincing at a dull pain in his neck, and rested his chin on the back of the couch. He silently watched his boyfriend talk to his best friends, tracing every curve of his face with his eyes.

As soon as he turned to the couch, Yoongi’s gaze fell on Jimin. Jimin watched Yoongi’s eyes grow warm as he came up to Jimin and he smiled widely at Yoongi, reaching out as soon as he was close enough to take his hand.

“Hey, baby, how was your exam?”

“I think it went well, but what’s most important is that it’s over! Did work go well today? Did you eat?”

Yoongi’s smile grew to show off his gums as he ran a loving hand through Jimin’s hair and nodded down at him.

“Yoongi-yah, did you know I am the best at Mario Kart? Do you want to try to challenge me?”

Yoongi laughed and made his way to sit on the couch, grabbing the controller from Jin’s outstretched hand. “Of course.”

~

Taehyung entered the room like a storm, shedding his jacket and shoes, yelling a greeting and swirling over towards the couch within seconds.

“Taetae!”

Jimin ran up to Taehyung enthusiastically and jumped into his arms, grinning broadly. Taehyung responded with just as much fervour, holding Jimin tight and yelling, “Chim!”.

“Wow, the difference between this whole thing,” Jin said, gesturing vaguely to Jimin and Taehyung still embracing, “and the way Jimin-ah greeted Yoongi-yah is really notable.”

“Well, I do have only one platonic soulmate, after all,” Jimin said cheekily before detaching himself from Taehyung and returning to his spot on the couch next to Namjoon.

Taehyung snickered, looking proud and sticking out his tongue at an indifferent Yoongi, before immediately launching into a story about his professor.

It seemed Taehyung had decided to let go of his embarrassment regarding Jeongguk, as he treated him the same way he always did, smiling adoringly as he watched Jeongguk bicker with Jin.

“So I had to go all the way to our apartment to get my materials just because he wanted to see them, which is why I’m late and also why I brought the car, Chim.”

“You brought the car? Tae, our spot’s going to be gone when we get back,” Jimin whined.

“Yes, well, I couldn’t deny you guys my presence for too long, could I? I know how awkward it is when I’m not there,” Taehyung said, smiling widely.

“You’re lucky you’re cute, Taehyung-ah,” Yoongi said, shaking his head at the younger’s antics.

“I know, I thank God for that every day.”

“Well, at least now that we have the car, we can leave as late as we want to.” Jimin smiled and Taehyung nodded happily, throwing his arm around Jimin’s shoulders.

“Speaking of the time, I should start cooking dinner,” Jin said, getting up and making his way towards the kitchen.

“I’ll help you, hyung,” Namjoon offered.

“Oh no, you will not. If you value your life and mine you won’t even enter this kitchen, much less get near a knife,” Jin said.

“I can help,” Yoongi said, patting Namjoon’s head on the way past where he’d sunk back down defeatedly.

“Hyung, how is your research going?” Jimin asked, watching Namjoon’s eyes light up as he started to talk about his project in marine biology, gesturing wildly with his hands.

~

Everyone eagerly dug into the meal Jin and Yoongi had made as soon as they could, chopsticks lifted to lips before the last person had fully sat down at the table.

“I missed your homecooked meals so much, hyung,” Jeongguk said, eyes closed in bliss and a small frown adorning his face.

“Me too,” Jimin sighed.

“I’ve cooked for you at least once a week the past few months,” Yoongi said, leveling him with an unimpressed stare.

“Yes, well, I specifically said I missed Jin-hyung’s cooking, didn’t I?” Jimin asked, raising a brow and making Yoongi narrow his eyes at him playfully from across the table.

“I also missed your cooking, Jin-hyung, and so did my wallet,” Hoseok whined, “I’ve been treating the brats to so much food that I’m basically broke now.”

“Hey! I offered to pay so many times, but you never let me,” Jimin grumbled.

“That is because I love my dongsaengs and treat them as every good hyung should, but you’re still sucking me dry,” Hoseok said.

“I will feed you all again from now on, don’t worry children,” Jin said, laughing.

“I guess your happy place is in the kitchen, isn’t it, hyung?”

“Definitely.”

That got Jimin thinking. He’d often wondered about his own happy place, and he always came back to the same answer. His happy place was wherever he was surrounded by his best friends, just like now, flushed from laughing, warmth and too much food enjoyed together.

He thought back to the trip they’d all taken together last summer. It was an exciting time in his life when their friend group had been solidified fully, he’d been on the verge of entering his last year of university, and he’d just gotten together with Yoongi.

They’d rented a house by the beach in Busan for a week. When he looked back now, the days blended together in his memory. A large block of time filled with sunshine and small moments, images of his friends lounging around in the cool room at the back of the house, a soft breeze flowing through the open windows, and many days spent covered in salt and sand.

He remembered the feeling clearly, however. The feeling of contentment to be surrounded by these people that he loved and valued so much, the excitement of those limited days they had to spend together, separate from the rest of the world. He didn’t think he’d ever feel happier than he did when the seven of them were together.

He remembered one specific afternoon, after a day spent playing around in the waves with Jeongguk, Taehyung, and Hoseok. He’d run from the beach to their house, hair dripping salty water and smile refusing to leave his face. He could already hear Jin pottering around in the small kitchen, humming to himself quietly.

Jimin hopped up onto the porch, his warmed-up skin glad for a moment out of the sun. He spotted Yoongi on the bench next to the door, looking out toward the sea and enjoying the summer from the safety of the shade. Yoongi turned his head toward Jimin, squinting to protect his eyes from the harsh light.

Jimin felt the excitement thrumming under his skin as he bounded over to Yoongi. He glanced towards the sea and caught a glimpse of the others building something that looked like a sand bunker, before throwing himself down, side pressed against Yoongi’s, and smiling at his boyfriend in joy.

“Hey, hyung!”

“Hi there, Jiminie, had a good time?”

Jimin nodded enthusiastically, drops of water sliding down his neck at the movement.

Yoongi smiled at him softly, a look of adoration on his face. He reached out slowly, as if to give Jimin the time to back away. He didn’t.

Yoongi’s hand had found his skin and traced the lines of his shoulder, down towards his stomach. Jimin’s pulse jumped under Yoongi’s fingertips. When Yoongi laid his palm flat against the skin over Jimin’s ribs, Jimin let out a shaky breath, slightly dizzy at the proximity.

“You’re so warm,” Yoongi said softly, his low voice making Jimin look up and into his eyes.

He’d never forget how warm he’d really felt at that moment, in the middle of their time spent with their friends, enjoying the attention and gentle touch of his new boyfriend, melting slightly at the intense look in his dark eyes. He’d felt his happiness growing, filling him up, until the only way to let it out was to burst into a wide, sunny grin, one that bunched up his cheeks and made his eyes shine.

“My sun-soaked boy.”

Soon after, the rest of their loud friends had stumbled onto the porch and crowded them with stories of gulls and seashells, Jin’s voice carrying from inside to invite them to sit down for dinner.

As Jimin returned to the present and tuned in to the conversation happening around him, he felt grateful for the privilege of being friends with these people. Before long he was bending over with laughter, almost toppling out of his chair, as Taehyung showed everyone the video of Jin trying to dive for the umpteenth time.

~

At the end of the night, as they were all gathered on and around the small couch in Jin’s living room, talking lowly about everything and nothing, Jimin found himself nodding off to the low murmur of voices around him. He was seated on the ground, in between Yoongi’s legs as he sat on the couch. Jimin’s head slowly fell against Yoongi’s knee and he felt fingers tangle in his hair. Namjoon’s voice wrapped around him as he drifted in and out of sleep, making him feel warm and safe. It was almost like his hyung was singing him a lullaby.

Soon after, they all seemed to agree it was time to leave and everyone got up, movements slow because of the late hour and the comfort draped over them like a blanket. Jimin started fully awake when a hand fell on his shoulder and he looked up into Hoseok’s face, smiling back at him. After getting up, Jimin stretched his arms above his head and yawned, rubbing his eyes and stumbling to the door to get his coat.

Taehyung was taking a long time to get ready to leave and Jimin drifted back to Yoongi, leaning against him and resting his head on his shoulder. Yoongi wrapped his arms around him, and Jimin heard his voice murmur in his ear, “are you tired, Jagiya?”

“Mmmyes,” Jimin answered, burying his face into Yoongi’s shoulder. Yoongi’s hand found its way back to Jimin’s hair, fingers stroking softly. At that point, Jimin was leaning all of his weight on Yoongi and he was ready to fall asleep again. That was when Taehyung finally showed up, ready to leave.

“Take care of him for me, will you?”

“Of course, hyung, always,” Taehyung said, smiling broadly.

Yoongi transferred Jimin to Taehyung’s arms, dropping a kiss on his forehead and squeezing his hand, before saying his goodbyes and leaving.

Taehyung rubbed circles into Jimin’s back as they bid their goodbyes, Jimin with droopy eyes, before they left into the cold night, with one last glimpse of a dimpled Namjoon curling an arm around Jin’s waist.

Jeongguk and Hoseok left as well, leaving Jimin puzzled at the amount of energy they still seemed to have as they chased each other down the street, yelling goodbye to Jimin and Taehyung over their shoulders. Jimin chuckled, letting Taehyung take his hand and lead him over to the car.

“It’s alright, Tae, I can walk by myself,” he said, still chuckling.

“No, see, you don’t have to, Jiminie, because I’m here, your amazing best friend and soulmate,” Taehyung said, eyes sparkling.

Jimin settled down into the passenger’s seat, immediately connecting his phone to turn on some music, as Taehyung climbed in on the other side.

“See, aren’t you glad I brought the car now? Now we don’t have to walk home or take the bus.”

Jimin sighed in defeat, “you’re right.”

As soon as they’d left, Taehyung started venting about Jeongguk and how he never knew what was going on inside his head. Jimin found this slightly ironic, because most people would say the same about Taehyung. However, he found understanding Taehyung as easy as breathing, so he really had no right to argue.

“I don’t know, Tae, maybe you should just talk to him?”

“But what if he doesn’t feel the same, what do I do then?”

Just as Taehyung had finished his sentence and turned back to the road, a dark figure darted onto the street right in front of their car. Within an instant, Taehyung was swerving, trying to avoid hitting the cat that was already safely in the bushes by then. Jimin barely had time to breathe before headlights filled his vision. He felt panic filling his veins and he squeezed his eyes shut, body tense and bracing for impact. It all happened within seconds, and to Jimin, the strangest thing was that time kept going, nothing stood still, everything was moving, until the car finally crashed into something, pain spreading through Jimin’s limbs shortly after. Even though he tried desperately to hold on to consciousness, the pain was overwhelming and he felt himself slipping away.

~

Jimin awoke with a start, adrenaline once again filling him up as he realised the situation he was in. Panicked and breathing harshly, he turned to look towards Taehyung. His best friend was unconscious, blood trickling down his temple and spreading over his stomach when Jimin looked down. He couldn’t stop the raw sob that ripped out of him, fear and misery grabbing him in equal measure.

“Taehyung,” he tried to call, his voice raw and too quiet.

“Tae!” This time, he called louder, but Taehyung didn’t move a muscle. He was extremely pale and a thin layer of sweat covered his skin. Jimin had never seen his best friend like this. Even a few months earlier, when he had a heavy fever and couldn’t get out of bed for several days, he hadn’t looked this bad. Jimin felt terror grip his heart, panicked tears blurring his vision.

“Taetae,” he sobbed, head filled with images of Taehyung grinning at him, Taehyung taking care of him when he felt down, making stupid jokes that made Jimin fall over in laughter, Taehyung worrying about a project that he started way too late, and Taehyung fretting about crushes as he had not long before, when everything was still normal and Jimin hadn’t been about to lose the most precious thing in his life.

Just as he’d reached out to Taehyung, fingertips brushing his cheek, a voice broke through the haze of his thoughts, his pain, and his fear.

“Hi there, don’t worry, it’s alright, we’ll get you out of there in a jiffy. What’s your name?”

Jimin turned his head to find a man in a uniform, smiling at him, and even though he could feel the worry coming off the man in waves, a worry that matched his own, he sobbed in relief, because at least there was someone to help.

“Please help my friend, he won’t wake up and I don’t know how long it’s been, but he looks bad and-“ the tears were still streaming down Jimin’s face and he was breathing heavily, reaching out to clutch the man’s hand, “please.”

“My colleague over there will help him, don’t you worry, we just have to be very careful, but we’re here now, and we’ll help you.”

“Please just take care of Taehyungie first, please... he needs it more.”

“It’s okay, we can help you both.” Jimin breathed out in relief, turning back to Taehyung and seeing some other men in the same uniform working to get him out. The man squeezed Jimin’s fingers once in reassurance before letting go.

The next few minutes passed quickly, Jimin feeling like he wasn’t really present, worry and fear clouding his brain. They took Taehyung to another vehicle and he strained his neck to watch his friend’s figure on the stretcher until he couldn’t anymore. He knew they had to separate to get to the hospital, but the panic returned threefold as soon as Taehyung left his field of vision. The only thing keeping him grounded was the man’s voice murmuring on beside him, even if he couldn’t grasp the meaning of the words. Just as he was being stabilized and secured himself, he heard himself croak weakly, “Yoongi.” Only when he was in the back of the moving vehicle, unaware of how he got there, and he knew he couldn’t do anything for Taehyung anymore, did he let go, did he lean into the darkness spreading from the corners of his eyes and let himself fall into oblivion.

~

Yoongi couldn’t make himself look away from Jimin. His Jiminie looking so frail, so human, when he was usually so strong and fierce. The bruising spreading over his temple, the pale hue to his normally golden skin, the cast wrapped around his arm and the bandages covering his side, and most of all, the slight tremors behind his eyelids that seemed to crop up every few minutes.

Yoongi hadn’t left Jimin’s side since he’d entered the small hospital room, the air filled with a strange, unpleasant smell and silence that seemed to suffocate whoever stepped through the door. He tried not to think back to when he woke up early this morning, all blurred vision and furrowed brows as he’d started awake to his ringtone. He had answered with an annoyed tone, assuming it was one of his friends being infuriating as always, but within minutes, he’d been struggling to pull on whatever clothes were nearby and had stumbled out the door, panting and wide-eyed by the time he arrived at the hospital.

Jimin was always the one taking care of him. On those nights when Yoongi felt like the world was against him, Jimin’s presence was what helped him through. Even if he had snapped at Jimin countless times when stuck in that familiar darkness, Jimin always remained by his side.

To Yoongi, Jimin seemed to be woven from smiles and warmth. He had the ability to reach into Yoongi and lighten his burdens. And now, when Jimin was the one who was hurt, Yoongi had no idea how to help him. He felt useless, only able to sit and wait. An ache had settled in his chest as he watched Jimin breathe almost obsessively. He had finished the coffee Jeongguk had given him earlier, the now empty cup lay tossed on its side, the only sign of life in the well-lit room. The others had left, going to wherever Taehyung was, somewhere down the endless winding hallways. They had been switching between the two rooms the whole day, speaking in soothing tones and silently forcing Yoongi to eat and drink.

Even though the thought of Taehyung had only doubled the pressure in his chest, Yoongi had stayed behind. He could not leave his Jimin. He felt teardrops slowly drip down his cheeks as he watched him, his breath stuttering slightly. Soon, exhaustion was creeping up and Yoongi’s head felt increasingly heavy, until he found himself half conscious, cheek pressed to the sheets and looking at the clasped hands in front of him.

~

Jimin’s thoughts were muddled. He felt almost like he had drunk too much the night before, registering the sound of breathing and a strange, unnatural smell before anything else. He scrunched his nose in distaste, before prying his eyes open. He had never thought he would wake up disoriented in a hospital, it seemed like something reserved for drama characters, and yet here he was. He felt the urge to panic until his eyes landed on Yoongi. He was next to him, clutching his hand and sleeping deeply. His brows were scrunched and when he stirred slightly, the light showed dried tears on his cheeks. Jimin frowned, reaching out and brushing Yoongi’s cheek with his fingers, his mind still a little hazy.

Yoongi shot up immediately, his disheveled hair and the grooves on his face from the sheets making Jimin want to giggle, until Yoongi gasped in shock and teared up immediately. Before he could even register the movement, Yoongi was crowding Jimin, pressing him back against his pillow and nuzzling into him. He kissed all over Jimin’s face tenderly, muttering “Jimin, Jimin-ah, my Jiminie...” in between kisses pressed to his skin.

“Hyung...”

“I love you.” Yoongi said before leaning back into Jimin.

“I love you, hyungie,” Jimin sighed.

Jimin relaxed underneath him, relishing the touch and letting Yoongi press himself as close as possible, until he leaned back slightly. Yoongi searched Jimin’s face for a moment, before his eyes turned glassy and tears began to spill over. He tried to wipe them away and force them back with aggressive blinking, but soon a sob ripped out, making him shake slightly. Jimin frowned and reached out with one hand, somehow unable to move the other, pulling Yoongi against him. He let Yoongi cry into his shoulder for a while, stroking his back soothingly.

“It’s alright, hyung.”

“No, it’s not. You’re the one who is hurt, I’m supposed to be taking care of you,” Yoongi said, pulling back abruptly.

Jimin looked down, the glaringly white cast around his arm evidence of the truth of Yoongi’s words. He frowned momentarily, still wrapped up in Yoongi’s emotions and his presence, before he remembered.

Alarm spread through his system, Taehyung’s sickly face suddenly all that was on his mind. He shot upright, eyes wide, and grabbed Yoongi’s arm.

“Tae?”

“He’s okay for now. He has an abdominal wound that has been treated, a broken wrist, and a head wound that is probably the thing keeping him unconscious. He hasn’t woken up yet, but it’s only been about twenty-four hours.”

Jimin’s frown deepened, the desire to be by Taehyung’s side overwhelming. Yoongi seemed able to read his mind, as he said “you can’t go now, Jiminie, you need to rest awhile longer.” He looked at Jimin with soft eyes, stroking the back of his hand soothingly.

“I have to go get someone now, to tell them you’re awake.”

“No! Please, hyung... don’t leave.”

As soon as he saw Jimin looking at him with wide eyes and flushed cheeks, scared to be alone, Yoongi knew he would not be leaving the room. He settled back down, patting Jimin’s hand in reassurance, before hearing a voice behind him not one second later.

“I’ll go get someone!”

Yoongi and Jimin turned in time to be rushed by their concerned friends. Jin was running to get someone, Hoseok nearly jumped on Jimin and hugged him as tightly as he dared, Namjoon immediately came to Jimin’s side and smiled at him in relief, stroking his shoulder in silent support, and even though he would later deny it, Jimin could see a tear fall from Jeongguk’s eye before he hastily wiped it away and hugged his hyung.

Jimin was glad to see his friends’ pained faces relax into smiles, and spent the rest of the day surrounded by them, all of them a little lighter, even though the absence of Taehyung bore down on them all. Everyone except Yoongi and Jimin took shifts in the two different rooms so no one would be alone.

Jimin had a broken arm, a broken rib, and a severe concussion. He was kept in the hospital for a few more days. His parents and brother arrived during one of them, and he revelled in the way they all hugged him as tightly as possible. His brother took his hand and didn’t let go for the rest of the day, the strong grip evidence of how scared the younger boy had been. His mother wrapped him in her smaller arms, something that still always made him feel like a young child being protected, and he cried into her shoulder softly.

When his mother had shed some tears of her own, she smiled at him softly. “I was so scared, my Jiminie... My baby. I love you.” Jimin grinned sunnily, before adding “that’s what Yoongi-hyung said.”

“Jimin-ah!”

Jimin’s giggles filled the room, wrapping around Yoongi’s heart and lightening the pressure that had been on it since the phone call had woken him up.

~

When Jimin had been dismissed from the hospital and gone home, Taehyung was still not awake. The worry had become constant, always there in the back of Jimin’s mind. He spent most nights crying into Yoongi’s shoulder, hands shaking where they curled into Yoongi’s sweater. His Yoongi was the one thing he had to hold onto when he felt like falling into heart-wrenching grief for someone who wasn’t even dead.

He visited Taehyung almost every day, using his own recovery as an excuse to forget about studying or living without his soulmate by his side. He hadn’t been back to his apartment, unable to be in a space so filled with everything Taehyung. All the moments they spent there together, talking over steaming mugs, dancing around the room, criticizing whatever drama played on the television, and cuddling on the couch while slipping in and out of sleep, they seemed so untouchable now, so out-of-reach.

The fact was that Jimin didn’t know how to keep going without Taehyung. Neither did his other friends, if the few gatherings they had had were anything to go by. Their eyes were no longer sparkling, their laughter sounded slightly wobbly and foreign to Jimin’s ears. Their group consisted of seven, and losing one would mean losing the magic.

~

It was a bright day, and sunbeams flowed over the edge of the window, gaining a slightly unnatural feel as they slithered further into the room. Jimin kicked his feet slightly, eyes fixed on his fingers as he stroked the knuckles of a much larger hand, caressing the back of it gently.

“I miss you. So much. It’s just so hard- It gets so hard to breathe, Tae-yah.”

Jimin sighed as he heard someone enter the room behind him. A cup was set down next to him, and Yoongi stroked down his arm, pressing a kiss to the back of his shoulder. Jimin leaned into the touch, before turning his head and pressing a kiss to Yoongi’s lips.

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

Jimin pressed his lips to Yoongi’s again, but then he heard a groan. He frowned and pulled back.

He started speaking in a hushed tone, “hyung, really? With Tae right there-“ before he registered the look of shock on Yoongi’s face as his eyes found a spot over Jimin’s shoulder. Jimin had seen that look before, two weeks ago when he’d woken up in this same hospital. He spun around immediately.

Taehyung’s eyelashes fluttered and he stirred before opening them slightly, squinting at Jimin’s face.

“Jiminie?”

Jimin got as close to Taehyung as he dared. He pressed a kiss to the side of Taehyung’s head, clutching his hand even tighter and breaking into the largest grin he’d had since the night that changed everything.

“Tae,” he breathed.

Taehyung smiled at Jimin, eyes flitting over his cast and the scar on his temple, before saying “I’m glad you’re okay.”

Jimin stroked his fingers through Taehyung’s hair before grabbing his phone and alerting their friends immediately. When he looked back at Taehyung, he had turned to Yoongi, who had rushed to his other side.

“I’m sorry, hyung. I promised you I’d take care of him.”

“No, Taehyungie...” Yoongi looked like he was on the verge of bursting into tears. “I am just unbelievably grateful that you’re here. You were more right about how much we need you than you’d ever know.”

~

The day Taehyung was released from the hospital was the day Jimin crossed the threshold of his apartment for the first time in almost a month. It was also the first even remotely normal night they’d all had in just as long. Though Jimin and Taehyung were still recovering, the weight of uncertainty had lifted and Jimin felt the warmth of being surrounded by all of his favourite people spread through his veins again.

Jin cooked for them again, assisted by Jeongguk. Taehyung spent the night being pampered by everyone, and he enjoyed it to the fullest. It wasn’t until he made a joke about Hoseok almost following him into the bathroom that the others fussed a little less and slowly started falling back into their normal dynamic.

As the night wore on, they started talking more quietly and moved to increasingly horizontal positions. When Jimin returned from the bathroom, Jeongguk was lying on his back on the floor, laughing at Jin, who was imitating a rude customer he’d had at work. It was impressive how he managed to do it without disturbing Namjoon, who was nodding off on his shoulder. Hoseok was talking to Taehyung softly, stroking his hair where he lay across his lap. Yoongi was seated on the couch next to them, smiling widely and reflecting how Jimin felt.

Jimin crawled into Yoongi’s arms, pressing his face into his neck and clinging to him as he closed his eyes in bliss. The sound of voices spread through the room, encasing him in comfort and joy, as Yoongi started tracing circles on his back.

~

Jimin woke up slowly, the murmur of voices from somewhere in the background coaxing him to consciousness. He looked around blearily at his living room, bathed in sunlight, looking like one big bed. Two mattresses had been laid down on the ground, the coffee table pushed aside to make room, and blankets and pillows covered every surface in sight.

At some time in the night, Jimin had been moved to one of the mattresses. He did not remember who did it, or how, but he felt warm at the thought. He’d shared the mattress with at least two others, evident because of all the muscles that were aching from sleeping in too small a space. He smiled in content when his eyes fell on Taehyung, bundled up next to him with only the top of his face and his tousled hair peeking out. The smell of freshly made coffee and some kind of food wafted over to them from the kitchen and Taehyung began to stir too.

For a moment, the sound of Jin scolding Jeongguk and the others laughing in the background, Jimin and Taehyung just looked at each other. The joy in their expressions only grew as they listened to their friends’ bickering, the sound coming closer as Hoseok and Namjoon carried plates filled with food and mugs with coffee into the room.

The seven of them curled up on the mattresses, sharing food and the quiet gentleness of the morning between them. They were all together again, and nothing could feel more right.

At one point during the sun-lit morning spent laying around, Jimin looked around at the others from where he was leaning against Yoongi’s chest and holding Taehyung’s hand.

“Let’s always walk together.”