Chapter Text
Jungkook grew up knowing that experiencing love or even finding love was never an option for him. He grew up knowing that he was the sole heir to the Jeon Corporations, he had responsibilities he needed to tend to. Even as an alpha heir, he had standards to adhere to. He was made aware of them at a very early age by his parents. The Jeon Corporations was established by Jungkook’s great great grandfather and passed down through generations. He was only eleven when his father sat him down in his study, explaining to him the legacy of the Jeons.
Jungkook knew the probability of finding love was minimal. His own parents were the biggest proof of how marriages in their society only revolved around business. He never knew the warmth of family, his parents too busy with keeping the business thriving and maintaining their social status. On some days, he even wondered whether the reason why he didn't have a sibling was because his parents had him only to ensure an heir, not to have a family. So Jeon Jungkook knew he had duties to perform, a legacy to keep. Which is why, at 28, when he was informed of a possible matrimonial alliance with the son of Park Group of Hotels, love was the last thing on his mind.
“How old is he?” Jungkook asks casually over dinner.
“22. He is in his final year of college. A dance major.” Jungkook’s mother makes a judgmental snort. “Anyway.. He is the only son of the Parks and we are more interested in their blooming business. They want us, we want them. It would be a match made in heaven.” Jungkook’s mother sips from her fine bone china tea cup. “Meet him, maybe”
And so he does. It’s brief. Only 5 or so minutes. They meet at a gathering organized by some businessman for some charity event. He didn't want to be there but he had to. He was the face of his company, and also he had to meet this Park heir. He had expected many things, thought of a thousand scenarios with how it would all pan out. He had heard about this heir, from his secretary too. Park Jimin, 22, Omega, pursuing a degree in contemporary arts, only child. Considering that unlike his own self, this Jimin was pursuing arts, he had expected Park Jimin to either be snobbish, bratty, too arrogant or superficial. And yet when he actually does meet him, he’s left speechless. His wolf is left speechless. Quite literally. He barely speaks, unable to bear with the shock of having met with a pink haired bubbly boy who was humble, and intelligent. He was stumped.
******
“Are you sure? I mean he looked like Jasper from that scene in Twilight when he met Bella and later attacked him..” Taehyung, Jimin’s best friend asks while they’re out shopping the next day.
Jimin nearly chokes on the hot coffee he is having.
“What.. How do you come up with these comparisons?”
“I mean.. Think about it..”
“Okay.. Well I see what you mean.. He didn’t talk much-”
“He didn’t talk, period”
“Fine.. He didn't talk.. But he had kind eyes, wasn’t a pervert and he helped me when I collided with that waiter” And my wolf liked his wolf.
“That’s not enough! He isn’t some student you’re gonna be teaching dance to, Jimin.. You sure you want to marry that man?”
“Tae..I think we’ve both grown up knowing our roles in our families.. I would say we’re both lucky to have parents who didn't mind their children following their dreams-”
“I think mine’s okay only becauseI have an older alpha brother who actually likes business-”
“Stop interrupting me!” Jimin shoves Tae. “ As I was saying.. We are still lucky to have parents who are not as rigid as some of the others.. And I mean, it’s not like arranged marriages are doomed from the very get go..”
“But we can’t generalize it, Jimin.. Your parents are an exception and my parents just loved one another, their being from the same social status was an added bonus”
“I.. I know.. But look at this.. My parents actually need this merger, although they won’t outright force me.. And the next best option might be even worse than Jasper”
“Jungkook” Tae corrects him.
“Yeah.. I mean.. Jungkook”
“I guess you’re right”.
*****
2 months later, the city of Seoul witnesses one of the most extravagant wedding ceremonies. Both the men were dressed immaculately. Jimin had always envisioned such a wedding. The cake, the decorations, the flowers- it all surpassed his expectations. And yet, Jimin couldn't quite explain why he didn’t feel the way he had hoped he would. Maybe it was because his husband didn’t cry when he walked down the aisle, or maybe because Jungkook mechanically recited the vows, without any feeling. But he knew it, right? Theirs was an arranged marriage. He couldn’t expect familiarity from someone he’d only met twice in one year. But then he also didn’t expect the said husband to summarily disregard him once the ceremony is done and dusted. They don't share any dances, they barely talk. Jungkook converses with his colleagues and other businessmen gathered, with Jimin by his side but without a care. And when they finally arrived at the apartment they’d be sharing, Jimin is quite appalled at how Jungkook doesn’t even pay him any heed.
Thankfully he is shown towards the bedroom, not Jungkook’s room, by a housekeeping staff. He finally changes into something comfortable and begins to look for his husband, finally finding him in his study. He wanted them to start on a good note. To be friends, and then something more in the future. But all his words die in his mouth when Jungkook just stares at him, face stoic and conveys his own thoughts.
“I will not sugarcoat this, Jiminssi. You and I both grew up in the same society. We know how these things work. Ours is a marriage for show. So don’t feel compelled to think about me. You’re free to carry on with your life, as I would with mine.. As long as we don’t meddle with each other’s routines, we’d be okay. Of course we both have to fulfill our roles as a mated couple, but that’s not an immediate need. So you can carry on.” Jungkook gets back to reading.
There’s no question. It’s a statement. And all Jimin can do is stand and slowly head back to the room he had been allotted.
Maybe he’d been wrong in his assumptions. But Jimin wanted to try. He had hope still. His omega is not ready to admit defeat. And even if it didn’t work out, at least he’d have tried. Jimin wipes away the few tears that had escaped his eyes, and puts on a smiling face before video calling his parents, to tell them how happy he was.
****
The next morning when Jungkook headed down to the hall, he was met with the smell of freshly prepared pancakes. It had been a while since he’d experienced something like this. Jungkook mostly associates all his happy memories with his grandmother. She had been a kind woman, always fussing over her little grandson. When he enters the dining area, unlike the usual days when he finds his daily bowl of milk and cereal, he finds pancakes and sliced fruits laid out for him, with Jimin standing behind the table, a smile on his face. His alpha seems to perk up at the cute smile, and the beautiful vanilla scent emanating from his husband, but he knows better than to entertain his alpha.
“What is all this?” He simply states.
“I made breakfast! I made some pancakes, and there were fruits, so I chopped them and then-”
“Why?”
“I.. I usually make them..”
“We have staff here.. You shouldn’t be doing these chores..”
“I.. I know there’s staff but just because they’re there doesn’t mean we can't make it on our own..” Jimin defends.
Jungkook can now sense the vanilla scent souring. There’s also a pout on his husband’s face, he ignores it. Cute
“Fine then.. Carry on”
Jungkook takes his seat at the table and gestures to the kitchen staff to bring him his cereal.
Jimin notices. “But I made them for you too.. I..”
“It’s unhealthy..”
“But.. You..”
“Thank you for the gesture, but like I said.. I would rather you not try to go out of your way for me” Jungkook says, going through his phone.
He doesn’t receive any response. Breakfast is awkward. He just doesn't understand why Jimin keeps trying to make things complicated. He had been clear last night, hadn't he? Then why was Jimin still trying to make something out of this marriage? Why was his heart beating at a faster rate? Why was he on the brink of smiling noticing Jimin relish on a piece of pancake? Why was his alpha so aware of the omega?
****
“Stop whining”, Tae mumbles while they’re on a phone call.
“He didn’t even take a bite”
“Don’t make me say I told you so.. Why did you even make him breakfast?”
“I wanted to experience domestic bliss.. Like.. I am gonna keep trying, Tae.. My omega could actually feel him being unsure.. Like his alpha wasn’t happy seeing me sad”
“Stop conjuring stuff up”
“I’m not.. I can’t give up.. Not this easily..”
“I’m not asking you to.. But just.. Take care..”
“I will.”
*****
“What’s with the long face?”
Jungkook gets broken out of the trance he was in. Namjoon’s presence is usually something he treasures. Not only was the older someone he looked up to, but also a good friend.
“I.. It’s nothing.. It’s.. He made me breakfast today”
“He? As in?”
“Jiminssi”
“Your husband made you breakfast.. And you’re here frowning.. Hm.. I wonder why?”
“Joon hyung.. It’s just.. Why was he even in the kitchen? Shouldn't he just order people around.. That’s what bratty heirs do, right?”
“Who told you he was bratty? I have met Jiminssi many times.. That’s the last thing one could say about him”
“Anyway.. So.. I told him.. Last night about marriage being one of convenience.. That he can carry on with his life..”
“You said all that?”
Jungkook nods.
“I mean I wanted both of us to be on the same page but he isn’t listening at all..”
“Have you ever given it a thought that he might not have the same idea about this marriage as you.. That he might want a happily married life..”
“That’s a myth.. But even if it did, he didn’t protest yesterday.. And I cannot change my ways.. So it’s gonna be okay. He’ll learn”
His alpha howls inside but he drowns them out.
“It’ll be okay” Jungkook consoles himself.
****
Things don’t change much, to Jungkook’s dismay. He is greeted by the smell of freshly made breakfast every single day, and if he is being honest to himself, it is getting harder to say no to Jimin. Jimin keeps offering him every morning, although he declines. Another development in their marriage took place when Jimin decided to move into his room. His parents were quite appalled when they’d learnt that the couple had been living in separate rooms. To be honest, even his wolf was appalled and angry.
“Do as you please with your stuff in this room, but please respect my space” he had simply said.
He should have known better though. The next day when he’d come back home from the office, he couldn't recognise his own room. His once grayish room decor was now filled with bits and pieces of colourful items. He did try to go out of his way and spend most of his nights in his study but even his body needed rest.
It's a week later when he gets a call from his secretary, who informs him of how Jimin’s usual driver couldn't make it to his studio, and how he now needed a ride. With a sigh, he’d agreed. Which is why he was now standing in front of the large dance studio Jimin practiced at.
He had never really visited the studio before. Considering that it was nearly 8pm, the studio was mostly vacant, which is why the booming sound from one of the rooms indicated Jimin’s presence. He went inside slowly, hoping his presence won’t be noticed. He didn't want to disturb his husband. But the sight that greeted him, made him weak in the knees. The studio was warm, charged and smelled of vanilla. Intense vanilla. And there in the centre was the Pink Haired boy, swinging his body to the beat, to the rhythm, lost in the music. He watched Jimin dance for a whole hour, watched his husband move, sway, bend this way and that. And he was getting hot. He felt himself getting aroused. He tried his best to blame it on his alpha. But he knew it wasn’t just his alpha.
When finally Jimin finished perfecting routine, he was stumped to find his husband at a corner, standing and staring at him. It was only then that he realized that he was drenched in sweat and he nearly chuckled thinking about how people would often say sweat was an aphrodisiac.
“What’s so funny?” Jimin’s trance is broken and he finds Jungkook now a bit closer.
“Um.. Nothing.. Wh..Why are you here?”
“Your driver couldn't make it.”
“So you’re my driver now?” Jimin jokes.
“Don’t test me” Jungkook tries to remain stoic but Jimin can detect a hint of teasing.
The drive is silent mostly. But Jimin wasn’t expecting it to be any different. It was a new and nice experience. Just sitting on the passenger seat, he could actually observe his husband closely. Notice how there was a mole underneath his lower lip, how his biceps flexed with his hands on the steering wheel, how his hair looked soft. He wondered how soft it would feel against his own fingers but his thoughts were interrupted as Jungkook spoke. Jimin broke out of the trance and noticed they were at a signal.
“How long have you been dancing?”
It takes a long minute for Jimin to actually realize that the question was directed to him.
“I.. I don't remember.. All my life.. It just happened.. I was watching a musical and I wanted to dance.. And my parents encouraged me..”
“You’re good at it”
“Are you complimenting me?”Jimin asks teasingly.
“Don’t get used to it. But yes. You are good at it. But have you ever thought of pursuing anything else?”
“I.. I am actually good at business studies.. And math.. I just never felt motivated by it. The stage calls to me.”
“Must be nice to have people encourage you to follow your passion..”
Jimin watches Jungkook’s jaw clench, staring at the road ahead.
“No.. I.. I think it’s different for everyone.. People’s expectations can never be lowered..” Jimin starts, now fidgeting with the loose threads on his shirt.
“How?”
“You.. see.. I never had my parents attend my showcases.. They are busy people.. Of course their support means the world to me.. But there’s an added weight on your shoulders when people dont expect stuff from you.. I.. It’s.. How can I explain this?”
“Take your time..” Jungkook supplies.
“Since my parents have been so supportive, I want to respect their trust and belief.. So I work extra hard.. To be a good son, a good person.. And there’s also people who are always too curious.. The public.. I have to be a great dancer because I am being provided the opportunities and the guidance that most dancers do not get to have.. So I have to be great at what I do.. I don’t want to let anyone down..” Jimin finishes, the last few words barely audible.
And Jungkook finds himself at a loss for speech again. It's the second time this has happened. He’s never thought about it this way. Jimin just gave him a new perspective on life.
“What about you? Don’t you have anything you’re passionate about?”
“I…”
“Business?”
“I mean I like working..”
“There’s something else? Anything which makes you happy?”
“I.. used to take pictures a lot when I was younger.. It’s just a hobby.. I'm not a pro or anything..”
“You don't have to be a pro.. You’re already a pro in handling the company.. Photography can be your happy place..”
Jungkook remains quiet.
“So?”
“What?”
“We’re getting to know one another.. I kind of liked the journey.. Let’s ride home together everyday..”
“No.”
“Why?”
“No.”
“Fine.. I don’t care”
But he did care. Jungkook could feel Jimin’s scent taking a slightly sour tone but he knew it was just the teasing. The omega has been nothing like he had assumed. It shocked him to the core. They were nearing their apartment when he did something he didn’t understand.
“When is your next showcase?”
“In a few weeks.. Why?”
“I’ll try and attend…”
“What!”
“We’re home”
Jungkook gets out of the car. And to Jimin’s surprise, the alpha holds the door open for him and the moment Jimin steps out, he leaves. Without a second glance towards his omega, leaving Jimin confused, but his omega elated.