Chapter Text
—------
Jimin is an absolute vision. Slate-blue hair and silver sequined cropped jacket flashing as he dances somewhere in the heart of the crowded dance floor. Even with his head lying on his crossed arms against the oddly damp bar, Yoongi can spot Jimin through the crowd. His eyesight is keen– he’s a crow hybrid. But, also, Jimin just sparkles to Yoongi, even when he’s far away.
“You really should stop staring, hyung.” Taehyung reminds him. The words make Yoongi wrap his hand more tightly around his glass of whisky and snake it under his arm, closer to his mouth.
“Mmm… not staring at anything. I’m just zoning out from one too many old fashioneds.” He sips from the tiny straw, like a child might. But when he notices Taehyung hadn’t replied to his comment, he looked up to meet his eyes. “What?”
Tae leans down to his level on the bar, “One - You should just ask him out. And Two - how can you drink those things??” His friend sneers at the end.
Yoongi raises his head off his arms, tipping his glass back to empty the last of the liquid into his mouth. He uses his tongue to roll the Amarena cherry forward and hold it between his front teeth. “But I like the cherry,” he shrugs, whistling the words as best he can around it, showing off the fruit. Then he slips the cherry back to the center of his mouth and chews for a moment, relishing the taste of the sweet syrup and alcohol together. “...and there’s no way you’d understand the other bit ‘cause you’re not a bird .” Yoongi traces his long fingers along the tiny puddles on the bar. “I can’t just ask him out… I’d have to court him. And guys his age- they’re not ready to settle quite yet.”
“You keep saying that, but I don’t think that’s what Jimin is like at all. I don’t think he wants or needs anything ‘traditional’ necessarily... or, in your case, maybe I should say ‘old fashioned’? But you should just talk to him instead of staring at him like a weirdo all night.” Yoongi sneers at Taehyung for the weirdo comment. “He always winds up falling asleep under your arm anyway, you two lounging on Namjoon’s couch after these things. I don’t think I need to be a bird hybrid to know that’s a sign he’s comfortable around you.”
“He’s comfortable, but it doesn’t really mean anything. We’re both corvid-types. It just means we’re more familiar with each other than with other bird hybrids.” Afterall, Jimin is a blue jay and Yoongi’s from a family of crows. There’s a lot of core similarities between the two subgroups. Of course they get along.
Yoongi’s thoughts are interrupted by a raucous noise to his right, as a mob of women land at the bar next to him. A bachelorette party. The girls push the bride-to-be up towards the front of the counter and several of them lean over to shout to the bartender. “Shots! Seven lemon drops please!!” The women already seem pretty smashed. Yoongi doubts that shots are the best idea for any of them, and he rolls his eyes at Tae to say as much.
Ordinarily, he’d have done his best to ignore the little group, but he sees the unsteady bride-to-be set down her silver crown on the bar he gets an obsessive little idea. How perfect would this little shiny piece be sitting in Jimin’s slate-blue hair? He’s so princely to begin with. Yoongi knows it’s just a costume piece – mirror chrome finish on plastic with almost candy-like jewels in purple, magenta and sapphire – but he feels some delight inside at the thought.
He nudges the woman next to him while the party waits for their shots. “Your friend– she’s getting married soon?”
She turns to him, smiling pretty, “Yeah. That’s Jennie– next Saturday’s the big day!”
“Nice.”
“God. I’m so drunk already… I can’t even stand in these heels anymore. I might fall over with one more shot.” She wobbles.
“I’ll do your shot for you if you want? I doubt those girls will notice. Just slide it this way, and mimic the shot with them. I’ve got ya.”
As if on queue, the shots land on the bar and the girls slide the glasses down in a line. ”Okay… shhhhhh.” She giggles, moving hers closer to Yoongi’s hand.
“JENNIE, JENNIE, 1, 2, 3!” The group chants, and as they all throw their heads back and cheer, Yoongi quickly takes the shot for the one girl. But that’s not all he takes… Still, he manages to slam the empty shot glass down in time that no one is the wiser.
“Thanks.” The girl next to him whispers, gratefully.
“No problem.” He clears his throat, the remnants of the drink taste too sweet in his mouth right now. He licks the sugar from his lips. “You should leave your shoes here, though. Just tuck them up against the foot of the bar. No one will take them… just go dance.” She nods to him, holding onto his shoulder to steady herself as she takes them off, one at a time. It seems like she’s dropped half a foot in height once she’s done, such a tiny thing– it’s probably a good deed that he took that shot for her.
“Good idea…” She laughs, giving his shoulder a squeeze before being pulled back to the dance floor by the bachelorette party.
“Wow.” Tae remarked as he watched the women leave. “They are all going to be hurting tomorrow.”
“I bet.”
A little while later, it’s Jimin with his hand on Yoongi’s shoulder as he returns from the dance floor with Jungkook, both of them glowing with the sheen of sweat on their faces.
“Hyung… you didn’t even dance tonight.” Jimin teases with a little whine to his voice, gripping Yoongi’s shoulder.
“I did just fine here. I like drinking with Tae. But… Jin and Namjoon gave up on us long ago and already headed back home. We should go too, it’s almost closing time anyway.”
Jimin pouts endearingly but it’s not going to change Yoongi’s mind. The blue jay hybrid hesitates for a moment before leaning forward.
“What’s this on your face?” Jimin brushes at the corner of Yoongi’s mouth with his thumb. Pulling it back to look up close, he asks. “Is that sugar??”
“Ah… I might have done a lemon drop shot.” When he says it, Jimin looks surprised, but before the younger can say anything more Yoongi adds, “I have something for you though…”
Jimin’s deep blue eyes perk up as he watches Yoongi produce the silver crown from out of nowhere, holding it up between his long fingers for Jimin to inspect. The younger can’t help but laugh, and he’s all eye-smiles as he bows his head for Yoongi to place the crown.
Jimin straightens up, striking a couple ridiculous poses with the crown on, and Yoongi can only think about how silly and beautiful he looks. He suspects Jimin could wear anything and make it look priceless. Jays are like that though… always so pretty.
“Come on, little birdie, let’s get you home.” Yoongi sighs.
Tae watches the exchange, his mouth open, looking back and forth between the two of them. “Really?” He wonders under his breath, shaking his head. Jungkook turns to him. “What?”
“Oh nothing, nevermind…,” muses Taehyung.
He and Jungkook walk behind the two bird hybrids all the way back to the apartment, Jimin practically skipping at times, hamming it up in his crown.
When Taehyung heads to bed, a freshly showered Jimin is already curling up next to Yoongi on Namjoon’s couch. “We’re just going to make sure both of us drink a big glass of water before heading to bed. Don’t want to be hungover tomorrow.” Or so they had claimed.
But Taehyung knows better. At some point, Jimin will curl up under Yoongi’s arm again and sleep like he’s the little spoon.
—------Rise at Dawn
Jimin always wakes up at dawn. Whether he goes out dancing, or spends all night studying, once the light comes through his window in the morning it always makes him open his eyes.
It’s mid-summer now, so daybreak hits around 6 am.
He slips out from under Yoongi’s arm with a tiny yawn, and raises his arms up in a tall stretch once he’s fully standing. His sleeping housemate doesn’t stir at all. Jimin likes seeing Yoongi’s face like this– no crease of concentration between his brows, jaw relaxed, lips parted. He looks soft and unworried. Jimin can’t help but smooth out a few tangled strands of Yoongi’s hair and then gently pull the blanket up to cover Yoongi’s exposed arm and shoulder.
Jimin hadn't met too many crows when he was growing up – bird hybrids were relatively rare anyways – but when he’d caught sight of the dark tattoo-like feather markings down the backs of Yoongi’s arms the day he came looking to room with Hobi, he took the crow’s presence as a sign this was a good and safe place for him to live. Crows were clever birds, and loyal to their family groups.
The house was just a little bit off-campus from Busan National University. It was technically two units - a larger-footprint first floor area with kitchen, pantry, living room, and two large bedrooms (shared by students Jimin/Hobi and Taehyung/Jungkook respectively), and then a slightly smaller upstairs unit with a kitchenette and den, plus three ‘single’ bedrooms. The older roommates lived up there – Jin, Namjoon and Yoongi – all of whom had graduated within the last year or two and were working their first ‘real’ jobs.
Jin’s uncle owned the place. He didn’t give them much of a deal on rent but, divided seven ways, it was still fairly affordable. And the man never gave them any grief about what they did with the place. The seven of them kept the internal front and back stairway doors open, sharing the common areas between floors. Everyone used the one primary kitchen downstairs, and Yoongi (always the engineer) had rigged up a washer and dryer in the kitchenette on the top floor. All-in-all, it was a pretty nice set up, and that’s probably why even the guys who had graduated stayed.
The seven of them got along reasonably well. They only had occasional squabbles– mostly over food, or when the older guys would give the younger ones grief about noise on weeknights because they needed to be up for work the next day.
But today was Sunday, and no one really needed to be up anytime soon. Jimin quietly picked up his and Yoongi’s cups and bowls from last night and brought them into the kitchen, dumping the empty peanut shells in the trash and setting the cups in the sink.
Jimin liked being able to have the bathroom all to himself when he woke up this early. He splashed some cold water on his face and laughed quietly when he grabbed for his towel and his fingers hit the plastic crown from last night, hanging on the same hook.
Once his face was dry he, of course, placed the crown on his head and posed regally in front of the mirror for a few silly moments.
His hyung always did these little things for him. He felt lucky– having another bird around, especially a fellow corvid– Yoongi just ‘got it’ without Jimin ever having to explain. A lot of people only seemed to see Yoongi’s serious side - stern face, mathematical brain, strong work ethic - but he showed another side to his housemates, and he was the most open with Jimin. I need to keep my eyes open for something I can surprise hyung with, Jimin thought to himself.
—------Namjoon’s Lament
The apartment had a small back porch off the kitchen, where Jimin competed for space with a barbeque grill in order to do his morning yoga. Sometimes it was just nice to be out in the fresh summer air. And this is where Namjoon spotted Jimin when he came downstairs to grab something for breakfast– it was just a glass of orange juice and a cold, leftover hamburger- “ A real breakfast of champions,” Namjoon chastised himself.
Namjoon went to toss the empty hamburger container in the trash, and his bare toes crunched on something on the floor…
Peanut shells.
Again!
If Namjoon could tell you one thing about living with birds, it would be: Don’t expect to be able to keep peanuts around them.
Seriously.
Or sunflower seeds.
Also, he’d tell you that having two birds in a house was ‘worse’ than having just one… They only seemed to spur each other on in assorted mischief.
Even when faced with the irrefutable evidence of being surrounded by bowls of empty peanut shells, the two bird-hybrids would insist that Jungkook must have eaten the peanuts, or they would otherwise cleverly argue that Yoongi did most of Namjoon’s cooking and Jimin did most of Namjoon’s dishes, so they were essentially entitled to the snacks.
…mind you, Namjoon had graduated last year and generally thought he was doing well in his job as a paralegal. But, thus far, he had been unable to make a compelling argument to the bird-hybrids as to why they should keep their hands off his (or anyone else’s) nuts.
Some things were apparently just public property ? This seemed to include the common areas; where the two seemed to curl up together quite often. Mostly for watching TV or after nights out at the bar or club. To be fair, Hoseok was also guilty of being ‘cuddly’ sometimes, but it wasn’t quite in the same way that Jimin and Yoongi hung out together; carding their fingers absently through the other one’s hair as they laid their head in the other’s lap. Or, the late nights where Yoongi curled himself around Jimin, almost protectively, on the couch and the two slept peacefully. Never in Jimin or Yoongi’s own beds, mind you, but just out on Namjoon’s couch.
“Are those two together??” Namjoon had hesitantly asked Jin one day. The oldest was the only other hybrid-type in the house, and he figured he might know.
Jin just shrugged and rolled his eyes, “Damned if I know? Seems like it’s maybe just bird shit? I mean… I hang out with other fox-hybrids, and sometimes there’s some scenting that goes on. It is a little intimate, but it’s mostly friendly. But I really don’t know much about bird-hybrids?” He grabbed a bottle of sports drink from the fridge before turning back to Namjoon. “But, you have to admit that Yoongi seems less frowny these days. So it doesn’t seem to be a bad thing… Are you asking because it’s your couch they’re always lying on?”
“Yes.”
“Joon, I don’t think there’s anything more serious going on on your couch than just getting sunflower seed shells everywhere.”
So, Namjoon had kind of stopped asking about the birds after a while. Well, except about the missing peanuts.
Presently, Jimin had emerged from the back porch with his rolled up yoga mat under his arm, quietly singing a tune under his breath. He was always singing a little something and he had a sweet voice– Namjoon didn’t mind hearing it.
“Oh, hi hyung.” Jimin said when he noticed him there.
“Morning… I was just about to take a walk to Idle Thyme for coffee. Want to join?” Namjoon asked, and Jimin beamed.
“Sure, just let me throw on some track pants.” The younger was currently only in stretchy shorts and tank. He disappeared and came back quickly. “Let’s go.”
The streets and sidewalks were still quiet at this hour of the morning. It always felt a little surreal in the city to not hear the usual buzz of cars, buses, and pedestrians, and especially in an area with so many college students and young professionals.
Namjoon held the door of Idle Thyme open for the younger. Inside there was soft music playing in the background– the cafe was warm and homey; the style was kitschy and all the decor and dishes seemed thrifted. During the week the place attracted a mix of students, families and professionals alike, but at this hour on a Sunday it seemed to be full of older ahjussi types (reading a mix of old school newspapers and new school tablets). Jimin might have smirked thinking about how Namjoon would blend right in with the ahjussi crowd if Jimin hadn’t accompanied him this morning.
“Wanna sit for a bit?” Namjoon inquired with Jimin when the barista asked if they wanted their drinks for here or to go. Jimin nodded enthusiastically as he didn’t always get time with Namjoon due the man’s busy schedule.
“Oh! This is so cute!” Jimin remarked as he grabbed his double espresso from the pickup counter. The mismatched Tiffany-blue espresso cup and rose-print saucer rattled musically alongside a tiny golden spoon as they walked to a table. Namjoon couldn’t help smiling at Jimin’s delight.
“So, how are your plans for fall semester coming? Have you found a spot to do your student teaching hours at?” Namjoon asked as he scooted his chair closer to the table.
“Actually yes. There’s a little Montessori school in Haeundae. I went for an interview last week.” He passed the table’s miniature milk-bottle to Namjoon for his mug of house blend, “I think it will be a good fit. It’s about 50 minutes by train, but I can adjust my classes to be Monday, Wednesday, Friday– so I could be there on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I think it’s doable? But also… they offered me some summer work, if I wanted it?” It seemed hard for Jimin to hide his smile as he described the school.
Namjoon stirred his coffee and set the spoon down next to his pink-striped mug for emphasis. “Oh, that sounds really good Jimin. Definitely a good match for your early childhood education program.”
“Yeah… you should have seen the kids too,” even Jimin’s eyes were smiley, “The ones I’d be working with are like 4-6ish, in the preschool program. They are adorable.”
“I can definitely see you doing that.”
“Thanks Hyung.”
“You know– Yoongi-hyung’s engineering firm is out that way. He could probably drive you on those days.”
Jimin waves him off. “I wouldn’t want to bother him. I’d have to be in early because parents need to get their kids dropped off before work hours…”
Namjoon levels Jimin a gaze, “Jimin, I don’t think anything you do would ever bother hyung. He’s got endless patience where you’re involved… and besides, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the company on that drive.”
Jimin fiddles with his espresso spoon nervously, “You say that like he gives everyone else a hard time?”
“He kind of does.”
“It’s not like that… he’s just in his own head a lot. He just calculates all the options before he says anything. He cares a lot about all of us.” Jimin rests his hands in his lap.
“Oh, I know. We all feel that. I’m just saying he has a soft spot when it comes to you.”
“Oh?” Jimin smiles amused. He’s thinking about how the other roommates sometimes ask him to be the one to talk to Yoongi when they all want to go out dancing one night, or take a trip to the beach, or anything else like that. “I guess that’s nice to hear. I think he’s one of my favorite people.” He sips shyly from his cup.
“Mmm… I’ve known hyung for many years, and I think it’s safe to say you’re one of his favorites too. I’ve never seen him ‘snuggle’ with anyone else, for sure. It takes a lot for him to get close to people.”
For whatever reason, the comment makes Jimin blush, “It’s just a bird thing. It’s easy for the two of us. But I’ve seen Hoseok and Tae cuddle him too…”
“Yeah, but it’s when they grab him, or tackle him, on the couch. He’s always like ‘Hajima! Hajima!’” Namjoon does a perfect impression of Yoongi’s whine of protest. Jimin can’t help but laugh.
“Ah, Yoongi-hyung…” Jimin says with mock exasperation and leaning forward on the table, “What will we do with him?”
Namjoon sips at his coffee, “Just keep doing what you’re doing– I think you bring out a really nice side of him. Even if it costs me some peanuts…” He winks. Jimin feels a little awkward about the comment, but he doesn’t really know why.
They spend some time talking about how things are going at Namjoon’s job and plans for next weekend, but once they finish they bring their dishes to-be-washed bucket by the trash and Jimin insists they grab coffee to bring back for Yoongi and Jin. Tae and Jungkook won’t be up any time soon, and Hobi will have already gone to the gym by the time they get back, but the older hyungs will be awake and appreciate the gesture.
Outside their house, Jimin rummages in his pocket for the apartment keys. He’s got Yoongi’s coffee in one hand, and he manages to drop the keys on the steps with a loud clattering noise. But when Namjoon looks down, he not only sees the keys but also the little gold espresso spoon from Idle Thyme .
“Jimin, the spoon?” Namjoon sighs, “Really?”
“What?” The younger shrugs nonchalantly as he re-pockets the spoon and proceeds to unlock the door. “It was too cute,” he gives Namjoon big eyes, “And they already have so many different random spoons, they won’t even notice. This one was calling me.”
Namjoon should have known better than to try asking. Birds!
“It’s not funny, Jimin. I go there a lot— you’re going to embarrass me.”
“I won’t. I left a good tip. They’ll never know. Corvids are known for being quite sneaky and crafty…”
“Oh, trust me I know!” Namjoon mutters, “But Jimin, sometimes you only think you’re being sneaky but you’re really not.”
Jimin glares back in a humorous way at his roommate’s words of caution, “Oh yeah? Say what you will, but YOU didn’t catch me– and YOU were sitting right across from me the whole time.”
“But I still caught you after the fact.” Namjoon figures he’s not going to get anywhere with the conversation, “Ahhh, whatever– Should I take these cups up to Jin and Yoongi?” He nods in the direction of the stairs to the upper level, offering his free hand to take Yoongi’s cup. They can both hear someone in the shower up there and, from the sounds of the low, rumbly singing, it’s probably Yoongi.
“Nah, I’ll keep Yoongi’s. Let me warm it up for him when he gets out.”
“Suit yourself.” Namjoon says before starting to climb the stairs. Jimin hears him reach the top and exchange an upbeat hello with Jin, followed by Jin thanking him for the coffee.
Jimin heads to the big kitchen on the main floor.
He sets his paper cup on the counter and pulls the little golden spoon from out of his right pocket. It’s quite pretty, the handle has an ornate shape with scrollwork along the edges– like a gilded picture frame. It reminds him of the spoons in a tea set his mother’s aunt had— the two ladies sometimes sitting on the back porch drinking together while Jimin and his brother played in the yard.
Now– as much as Namjoon might think that he ‘caught’ Jimin, it wasn’t entirely true– because in Jimin’s left pocket he’s also got Namjoon’s coffee spoon. It’s funny how Namjoon didn’t see Jimin grab that one from right under his nose! Jimin grins to himself. It’s just a standard size, but for whatever reason the scrollwork is similar to the gold spoon, except this one is a silver finish.
He gives the two spoons a quick wash and dry, then pads his way to the room he shares with Hoseok. In his closet he has a few empty gift bags, used tissue paper, etc from gifts he’s received previously. He just repurposes as needed - there was no sense throwing them out.
He pulls a piece of dark blue ribbon from one bag and ties the two spoons together in a bundle with a neat bow. Then he returns to the kitchen, grabs two pieces of Jungkook’s bread and throws it in the toaster - he tells himself he’ll replace it next time he goes to the store and buys bread. While they toast, he reheats Yoongi’s coffee in the microwave and pours it into two mugs. And when the toaster finally pops, he tops the slices with some of Hobi’s peanut butter.
Everything goes on a rectangular plate alongside some sugar packets and napkins. Yoongi is still in the shower, so Jimin flashes Jin the ‘shhh’ sign as he brings it up to Yoongi’s room and leaves on his bed, but not before taking a bite out of one of the pieces of toast to test it out. Quality control.
Back downstairs he doom scrolls on Namjoon’s couch for a bit, until he gets a text from Yoongi: ‘I think we have mice’ accompanied by a picture of the bitten toast.
[to: Yoongi-hyung]
Oh no! Looks a little big for a mouse
I think you can eat around it though
[from: Yoongi-hyung]
I’m not eating it
Come get this toast
[to: Yoongi-hyung]
But I don’t want you to starve!
“Jimin-ssi!!” Yoongi hollers downstairs in a mock-exasperated voice, “Come eat this toast!”
Jimin runs up the stairs laughing before kneeling next to Yoongi’s bed and reaching over top with his arms to take the toast off his plate.
“But I made it for you.” He pouts, looking up at Yoongi.
Yoongi narrows his eyes at him and teases back, “Did you though??” He crosses his arms across his chest, “Because there seems to be two cups of coffee here alongside these two pieces of toast.”
“Hmmm… Is that your way of inviting me to share your breakfast??” Jimin smirks, and Yoongi grabs the plate out from in front of Jimin, turning away with it.
“Nah, nevermind. I can probably drink both cups.”
“Hmmff.” Jimin huffs.
“Birdie, what’s this?” Yoongi turns around with the two spoons held between his thumb and fingers, brow furrowed like he’s trying to figure something out.
“Just some spoons. Don’t they go together nice?” Jimin grins, “Gimme the little one and you can use the big… I brought sugar for the coffee.”
After the sugar is stirred in and they’re both sipping from their mugs, Yoongi can’t stop the way his eyes keep wandering back to Jimin as they talk about plans for today and beyond. It’s easy. He can help smiling whenever the blue jay laughs musically.
Meanwhile, just outside the room, Namjoon and Jin have been exchanging glances as they unwillingly listen to the conversation. They shared some eye rolls and some shrugs, and at one point Jin even pricks up his fox ears to hear about the spoons.
“He stole the spoons from the coffee shop,” Namjoon whispers, and Jin just shakes his head.
“I have no idea, Joon…”
—------Haeundae Day
“One more set, Kook! Come on!” Jimin goads his housemate on, shifting from hands and knees for push-ups to his back for curls.
“It’s beach-day, Jimin-ah,” Jungkook whines, “I can go for one more set, but it’s going to be a long day out there in the sun, then the party at Hoshi’s tonight. I think we should take it easy.” The younger guy wipes his sweaty brow on his t-shirt, “Come on, we should start getting ready.”
Jimin pouts, but acquiesces after telling Jungkook, “Fine, but then that means I won this round.”
“Won? I didn’t even know this was a competition?” And Jimin raises an eyebrow- it was always a competition for Jungkook. Any suggestion otherwise typically meant Kook was already losing. The brat.
A few hours later the seven of them were all out at Haeundae Beach, with the maknaes sprinting ahead to find a good spot on the sand and the older guys bringing up the rear with the cooler bags and beach pop-up tent.
“It’s hot.” Yoongi complains back by Jin’s car. He’s got his black bucket hat on as well as a long-sleeved swim shirt to protect him from the sun.
Jin eagerly chastises him, “You’re not even out by the water yet. Just give it a minute and there will be a breeze off the ocean.” He’s got his fishing gear slung over his shoulder, and it’s clear there’s no way Yoongi’s grumbling is going to get in the way of Jin enjoying his day. “Hmmm,” Yoongi growls.
Speaking of enjoying the day, Jimin and Jungkook were already up ahead, jumping up and down in the distance waving the others over toward the prime beach spot they found. They all helped laying out a large sand-blanket and some towels, but as soon as they got far enough down in the bags to find the football, Taehyung ran off yelling for Jungkook to go long to catch a pass… and Jimin was not far behind them.
“Ah! Fuck!” Namjoon yelps from the side as the pop-up tent smacks him in the face as he releases one of the springy bits. Hobi and Jin have a good laugh at his expense, but Yoongi just smirks and helps hold down the other corner of the tent so his roommate doesn’t get smacked again. It doesn’t take an engineering degree to get this tent up, but Yoongi tries his best to protect Namjoon from himself.
“Anyone want a beer?” Hoseok offers as he unzips one of the cooler bags. Jin holds up a hand, “Not until after I have my sandwich and at least one bottle of something hydrating– I need to make sure I don’t fall off the breakwater while I’m fishing.” He sets down his gear, and the four of them make the reasonably responsible decision to do the same, gathering their sandwiches and snacks from the bags. The same can’t be said of the younger roommates, who continue to run along the shoreline catching the football and getting splashed where the surf kicks up. It’s uncertain if they’ve even put their sunscreen on.
Yoongi shuffles himself back into the shade of the tent, his relatively pale legs sticking out onto the blanket with his feet in his black slides. Namjoon joins him, pulling a few books out of his bag to place in the corner of the tent.
“Those aren’t law books are they?” Yoongi teases after taking a bite of his sandwich.
“Nah… it’s all manga today. I need a break.”
“Good for you!” Hobi nods, “You work too hard, Joon.”
“You know you’re all welcome to come fishing with me,” Jin offers. He always offers… and it’s only Yoongi who bites. “I’ll come out in a bit, hyung. Once you find a good spot on the rocks, shoot me a text. For now, I’m just going to relax.”
“You mean ‘nap’?”
“Yeah, maybe a little nap. We’ll see.”
But it’s actually Namjoon that ends up falling asleep inside the little tent while Hobi lays out in the sunshine. The maknaes eventually come back to the blanket to eat their lunch. All three of them are quite sweaty from running around on the beach, and they promptly gulp down a bottle of sports drink each while they talk animatedly and devour their sandwiches.
“Hyungs, are you going to come swimming with us after lunch? We’ve got to cool off from football.”
Yoongi just grumbles and moves himself further back into the tent, “I’m waiting for Jin to text me about fishing.” Namjoon just snores, but Hobi sits up and lowers his sunglasses, “I’ll go - I’m dying on the sand here.”
Embarrassingly enough, Taehyung catches Yoongi staring at Jimin’s abs and back when the maknaes slip out of their shirts for the swim, discarding them on the blanket below. Yoongi tries to pull the brim of his bucket hat down to escape Tae’s knowing glance.
He can’t help it, Yoongi has always been mesmerized by Jimin’s feather-marks. They are a deep blue and mimic the patterns of blue jay wing feathers. Hybrids don’t actually have any real feathers anymore, it's just the pigmentation patterns that remain on their skin - like large tattoos - down the backs of their arms and across their shoulder blades, radiating out a bit like wings. The dark and light stripes of the blue jay feather-marks are stunning. Jimin is so stunning.
It makes Yoongi blush.
“Sure you don’t want to cool off with us, Yoongi-hyung?” Tae prods, gesturing with his chin at Jimin and Jungkook, who are chatting away with each other in the background.
“Nah. I better stay here for now.” He tries to look away.
“Hyung, you should just come with us!” Tae insists, but he can soon see that Yoongi isn’t budging.
“Suit yourself,” the younger says as he walks off, grabbing Hobi by the elbow and pulling everyone down to the water.
Yoongi tries to get his thoughts back to napping, but he really can’t help watching the little group in the distance. They are all really carefree… and competitive. In no time, they are up on each other’s shoulders chicken-fighting in the waist-deep water. It’s easy to lose count of how many times each one of them topples into the waves, laughing and coming up spitting out the salt water. And later they move down the beach a bit to challenge a group of college-aged guys playing volleyball. Yoongi doesn’t miss how the roommates playfully banter with the other students before the game starts, and Jimin, in particular, manages to take the mirror-shades from one of competitors - pointing in the direction of the sun and squinting like he’ll be unable to play on that side of the net without them. The whole group ends up back in the ocean again to cool off afterwards… but Jimin has still retained the sunglasses.
At some point the heat must have gotten to Yoongi enough that he nodded off, because the next thing he knows he’s waking up to something cold pressing against his thigh and fat water droplets hitting his cheek and neck.
Jimin is leaning over him from the side, slipping the mirror-shades onto his face.
“Oh, did I wake you?” Jimin gives Yoongi a shy smile, “Sorry. I came back for sunblock and you had your arm over your eyes… I figured the shades might help? Thought I could do it without waking you though.”
“You might have been able to–” Yoongi says, looking up at Jimin through the sunglasses and reaching one hand towards Jimin’s slate-blue hair, “But you’re dripping on me.”
Jimin gasps then shifts back, laughing, so he’s not over Yoongi anymore. “Sorry, hyung.” He repositions his towel so it’s around his shoulders better, hoping to catch more drips this time.
“It’s okay. It feels kind of cooling.”
“You should come swim, hyung.”
“I dunno–” Yoongi sits up. He notices Namjoon is gone– but he can spot him in the distance on the rocky jetty with Jin.
“Anyway, I came back to get more sunscreen. Maybe you can help with that? Tae did it earlier, but as long as you’re here…” The younger turns his back to Yoongi and starts rummaging around in his bag with his back to Yoongi. He watches Jimin dab it on his face, chest and arms. Yoongi helplessly watches as Jimin rubs the sunblock in, stretching out one arm and then the other, his blue feather-marks shift along with the various muscles in his back and shoulders.
Sigh.
“Can you?” Jimin passes the sunscreen back to Yoongi.
Shit.
Honestly, he never gets to see Jimin’s full set of feather-marks up this close. Sure, the younger does sometimes walk from the shower to his room with just his shorts or a towel on, but it’s a fairly quick thing. Sometimes he wears a tank top, but on a day-to-day basis all Yoongi sees are the wingtips on the backs of Jimin’s arms down to the back of his elbows - when the younger wears a t-shirt. He honestly just stares at them at times, like while the younger is washing the dishes or when Jimin sleeps with him and the younger folds his arms up against his chest.
But, he tries not to think about how beautiful Jimin’s markings are as he applies the sunblock from one shoulder to the other and then down. Why is this blue jay so perfect? He has to bite his tongue so he doesn’t wind up saying something stupid.
“Thanks, hyung.”
“It’s okay, birdie.” Yoongi pats him on the shoulders and Jimin looks back at him. He starts to take the sunglasses off to give back to Jimin, but the younger stops him.
“The sunglasses look nice on you. You should keep them.” Yoongi chuckles at Jimin’s pointed compliment. “Are you sure you won’t come swimming?”
He pauses for a second, thinking. “Okay, I’ll go. The sun is getting lower now– I might not die.”
Yoongi scoots out from under the safety of the pop-up tent, taking his slides off and then dabbing some fresh sunblock on his face with his long fingers. Jimin’s reaches over to tug at the hem of Yoongi’s long-sleeved swim shirt, “Are you going to wear this, old man?” He teases.
“Yeah, so I don’t burn. I’m the only smart one here…”
Jimin pouts, “I’ve never seen you burn.”
“Exactly!”
“Aw…” Jimin increases his pouty face.
“What??”
“It’s just… I never get to see your full feathers-marks. Only the tips on your arms,” Jimin says with an inquisitive voice, “Are they really bad or something?”
“What?! No, of course not. They’re just the regular crow-type markings– black and all.” Yoongi thinks the tips of his ears are probably blushing, “I never really thought about it, though– I’m not shy about them. I just don’t walk around with my shirt off much. Nothing sinister, I swear.”
“Oh, okay. I always wondered.”
“You wondered about my feathers?” Now he’s sure the tips of his ears are pink. “I– I can show you, if you want. I don’t think I even realized you hadn’t seen them.” He slips his swim shirt off over his head quickly, turning his back to Jimin. “See, just typical crow-type.” He shrugs.
Jimin notes the lines of Yoongi’s marks are very dark black. There’s a lot of detail in the barbs - contrasting light and dark with Yoongi’s skin. The pattern is quite substantial. “I don’t think I’ve seen crow-markings up close before… maybe just in books? They are really handsome, Yoongi. There’s this curved detail at the ends - I’ve noticed it from the backs of your arms before - when you see the whole thing together, it makes it look like they’re in flight?” Jimin rubs his fingers absently over the curve of one and Yoongi suppresses a shiver.
“Thanks, um… I get that curved bit from my mother’s side of the family. I– I’m glad you like them.” He starts slipping his arms back into this swim shirt to put it back on.
“Wait, can’t you come swimming like this? I’ll do your sunblock for you.”
Yoongi drops his shirt back down on the blanket with a laugh. “Sure, birdie. Whatever you say.”
And he lets Jimin take him swimming in the ocean, wings out.
Hobi shares a double-take with Jungkook over a shirtless Min Yoongi swimming for the first time in god-knows-how-long. Followed by a second double-take with Taehyung over the sunglasses Yoongi is now wearing.
“Nice shades, hyung.”
“Thanks, a little bird gave them to me.”
—------That Night
Yoongi’s not gonna lie- he was already a little buzzed even before their group got to Hoshi’s for the party that night. He didn’t usually drink sweet things, but the beach was hot and the peach soju was ice cold, so he may have lost track of how many bottles came out before the sun had set. He definitely wasn’t the only one drinking though.
Hoshi’s place wasn't far from Haeundae Beach– their friend had relocated to this area after college, having graduated from the same engineering program as Yoongi. When the roommates were initially invited to the party it just became a good excuse for them all to get away to the beach for the day, before party time. Hoshi had made it clear they were all free to stay over if they wanted. He knew it was a bit of a ride back to Busan National University that late at night, and wanted to make sure they could all drink without worrying.
So, this morning they’d all packed beach stuff, party clothes, as well as some sleeping bags to stay if needed, and right now a slightly drunk Jimin was pissed that he’d forgotten his bag of toiletries. While the rest of them worked to shower off at Hoshi’s before the party, Jimin was in a mood.
“Don’t worry Jimin, you can borrow my shampoo and stuff.” Jungkook offered.
“It’s not just that though. I had my makeup in there and my accessories.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine, Jimin.” Jungkook tried to say soothingly, “You don’t really need any of that to look great.”
But Jimin still pouted.
Yoongi wandered around the place after he'd finished his shower. Hoshi was still busy with some of the setup - making things bright and flashy. There was a 70’s theme for the party tonight, which meant a myriad of disco balls hanging from the ceiling, plastic jeweled beaded curtains on each doorway, and lava lamps providing some extra ambiance. The guy really was going all out.
But Yoongi and his roommates weren’t the only ones there getting ready, and he ended up walking past an area where three or four young women were finishing up doing hair and makeup. “Evening,” he said to them and they smiled and giggled a bit, asking how he knew Hoshi. While he was leaning back against one of the tables chatting with them, his eyes flashed a pot of sparkly silver eyeshadow and some glittery pink lip balm, and something squeezed in his heart that said he needed to grab these for Jimin. He took his time, but eventually shuffled these into his pocket and excused himself, slipping back into the room where Jimin and the others were getting ready.
The younger still seemed to be a little down.
“Hey, hyung,” Jimin looked up at him.
“I think I can help with that frown…” Yoongi reached into his pocket, pulling out the silver eyeshadow and the lip gloss. Jimin’s eyes lit up, accompanied by a smile.
“Hahaha! Nice– let’s do this! Now all I’m missing is the jewelry…” He grabbed the items from Yoongi’s hands and turned to the mirror to apply the cosmetics. He watched Jimin for a minute, admiring the way he swept the silver glitter across his lids, but he eventually turned away to go find Jin and ask for his car keys. Yoongi shrugged, mumbling to the older, “I forgot something out there.”
But out at the car, he just rifled through Jin’s fishing gear. He knew that in his tackle box the older would have some shiny bits and pieces. And he was able to easily locate an unopened package of silver oval fishing lures; the 10 millimeter size. He brings them back inside to where Jimin is, with his now silver eyes and pink lips. “Give me your earrings, birdie.” He sits down next to him and holds his hand out.
Even if Jimin is a little surprised at the request, he complies and takes off his silver hoops, placing them questioningly in Yoongi’s palm. The older sets his supplies out across the makeup counter and begins to work diligently, linking the rings of the silver lures together to form a little cascade using Jin’s pliers. Once he has two strands made, he slides the opening ring of the topmost lure onto Jimin’s hoops.
“There,” he smiles, handing them back the dangling earrings to an awestruck Jimin. The younger turns to the mirror and puts them in, craning his head left and right to take a good look at the finished product. The new lengths jingle a little, making a tiny twinkling sound.
“Pretty,” Jimin grins, “Thank you. I didn’t know you could do this… but I should have guessed that you could.” He turns back to Yoongi, who promptly looks down, suddenly feeling shy.
“Wait, hyung, is this what you’re wearing tonight??” Jimin grabs at his sleeve. It’s not his swim-shirt, but it’s still black and long-sleeved. “You’re going to be way too hot in this… and it’s not exactly ‘disco’ either?”
“I’ll be fine.” Yoongi waves him off.
“I’m hot and I’m just in a t-shirt!” mused Jimin, “Let me give you something else to wear? I have an extra tank top in here somewhere.”
“What are you, crazy?” Yoongi grumbled, “What I’m wearing is fine.”
“Come on, hyung. It’s just a basic black one… that’s your color, anyway?” Jimin teased as he started to go through his bag. Admittedly, it was hot in the apartment and no one else had even arrived yet. Well, it was either that or maybe the soju from earlier making him warm…
“You just want to see my feathers again,” Yoongi managed to tease back, setting his face in a comical sneer as he literally poked at Jimin’s ribs.
Jimin seemed to choke for a second before recovering with, “Well, they are kind of too pretty to keep under wraps… but mostly I’m just worried about you getting heatstroke from today and tonight”
“Okay, okay– fine. Give me the shirt.” When Yoongi quickly swaps his long sleeve shirt for the black tank right then and there, it surprises Tae and Jungkook, who are getting changed nearby. ‘What is going on today?’ Jungkook whispers. ‘I have no fucking clue.’ Hoseok makes that bombastic side-eye face that only Hoseok can make.
“Much better,” Jimin is smiling again.
“I feel a little exposed,” Yoongi crosses his arms, placing his hands protectively over his chest while he makes a pouty face.
“You won’t in a bit. You’ll thank me when it gets too hot in here,” Jimin leans back, tilting his head to the side and giving Yoongi a look up and down, “You know what… I didn’t know you had this cute little twink side to you?”
“Because I don’t,” Yoongi sneers.
“You do,” Jimin laughs and lunges for Yoongi, pulling him closer by the forearm, “Wait– I’ll prove it. Freeze right there.” The younger turns and grabs the makeup from earlier. “Close your eyes.”
“Jimin…”
“Close them.” Jimin insists, and Yoongi goes willingly, leaning forward so Jimin can tip his chin up with one hand, “Hold still.”
Yoongi’s face is peaceful, eyes closed, and Jimin pauses for a moment as it reminds him of the same relaxed look Yoongi has when sleeping. The younger can’t help but feel endeared. He sweeps a generous line of glitter over Yoongi’s eyelids and out past the outer corners, he dabs a tiny amount on Yoongi’s brow bones and a little bit in the corner of each eye. Yoongi’s eyelids twitch with every touch, and Jimin wants to giggle because of how inexperienced the man must be with applying any eye makeup, but he holds it in.
Jimin slyly moves to uncap the lip gloss and quickly run it over the middle of Yoongi’s bottom lip.
“Hey…” Yoongi starts to protest. “Shush,” Jimin says, then starts patting his lip with his middle finger to spread the color outward. Yoongi’s eyes flutter open at the touch and he blinks them several times, as if he’s trying to get Jimin into focus. The silver around his eyes looks magnetic - Yoongi’s eyes are all Jimin can see for a moment. But after he catches his breath, he continues to methodically cover Yoongi’s lip again, ending with touching the excess bit of pink to his cheeks.
“You know what Jimin… you’re the only one who can get away with this,” Yoongi sighs, eyes still locked with Jimin’s. The younger nods knowingly, but he lets go of his jaw and gestures toward the mirror.
“I know… but just take a look. What do you think?”
“Oh my god, I am a twink tonight,” Yoongi stands and pivots left and right in the mirror, peering at the tank top and his exposed feather-marks, alongside the make up. As much as the makeup feels a little ridiculous, he also feels proud of the confidently pretty man he sees in the mirror. He hasn’t met that guy before, but maybe he can find a way to be him for just one night…
Hobi is drawn over like a moth to a flame, giggling, “Look at you hyung!”
Jimin swats him on the arm, “Don’t make fun, Hoseok. Just wait till you see how many boys and girls hit on this fine bird tonight at the party.”
“Oh, you think he can compete with you, Jimin?”
“I’m sure he could give me a good run for my money.”
And many hours later, that’s certainly true.
It’s after midnight and people are getting messy. Jimin’s watching things from over at the drink table near the kitchen and Jungkook is by his side. They are both observing the fifth or sixth person of the night trying to flirt with this pretty Yoongi. The thing is, Yoongi is a little too shy to fully lean into his ‘look’, and he seems unsure how to capitalize on the attention he’s getting. Still, something about the fact that Yoongi has maybe had too much to drink, and the way he’s getting a bit too close to the latest guy is making Jimin grumpy.
“What’s with that look on your face, Jimin?” Jungkook asks, taunting him a bit.
“I’m not making any face,” he replies, taking a sip from his cup, “And if I’m making a face, it’s probably because this drink tastes funny.”
“Yeah? And it doesn’t have anything to do with the way that tall guy is draping his arm around Yoongi-hyung right now?”
Jimin throws Jungkook a look of death, “I’m just looking out for him. He’s probably had too much to drink and…”
“AND… you like him.”
“Jungkook! That’s not–” Jimin tries to protest, but his friend just stares right through him with his big eyes. “We all love Yoongi hyung… right?” Jimin stutters, “There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for any of us. You know that’s true.”
“Mmm. For sure,” Jungkook takes a big drink, “That’s one of hyung’s many great qualities… but I’m sure you’re aware of many others,” Jungkook trails off.
“Crows have lots of good qualities…” Jimin mutters lowly.
“Are you suggesting that this is perhaps only a bird thing?” Jungkook mocks.
“Yes?”
“Okay, Jimin. But maybe you two should talk about it sometime?” Those last words coming from Jungkook don’t stick though, because the man flirting with Yoongi begins to stroke his fingers down the back of Yoongi’s exposed arm and Jimin has had enough.
He marches across the room, shouldering his way through the crowd and walks straight up to the two of them, reaching in between to grab Yoongi’s opposite arm and turn him away from the man. Then the blue jay leans into the other man’s space and says, “Excuse me, I just need to borrow him for a minute.” He yanks Yoongi away by the arm, off through the crowd until he finally pulls him into the bathroom and closes the door behind them.
“Jimin? What was that all about?” Yoongi rubs at the spot on his arm where Jimin had grabbed him. Truthfully, Yoongi is not even annoyed, he’s just a little drunk and confused by Jimin’s actions, “You needed to talk to me about something?”
“Yes!” Jimin paces around the bathroom, pulling drawers and cabinets out until he finds a washcloth. He wets it under the tap and pulls Yoongi close by the chin again. “This makeup is working too well… I’ve got to take it off.”
Yoongi laughs, but he closes his eyes and leans the weight of his face into Jimin’s outstretched hand, “Okay Jiminie.” And Jimin starts scrubbing at Yoongi’s eyelids and brows, “Am I too pretty? You jealous of my look?” The older smirks, “Because you were the one that did this–”
Jimin wipes and rinses each mark from Yoongi’s face, carefully erasing all traces of the makeup with one finger pointed under cloth. He’s feeling aggravated by what Jungkook said, and with himself– how he snapped when that man touched Yoongi’s arm.
It’s stupid, right?
It’s just stupid.
Jimin’s vision wavers with stupid tears in his eyes, such that he has to pause to blink them back.
There’s nothing to cry about. It’s just been a long day and he needs to stop drinking now.
He sometimes just cries when he’s drunk.
“Open your eyes and look up,” Jimin says with the cloth poised just under Yoongi’s left eye. The older does as requested; Jimin tips his head back a little more for better access, his small thumb resting on Yoongi’s chin. After he wipes the last traces of loose glitter from under each eye, he stops to let his eyes scan over Yoongi’s face, and that’s when the older drops his gaze from the ceiling to meet Jimin’s eyes.
“All done? …Jimin, are you crying? What’s wrong?” He cups Jimin’s face, getting nervous, brushing his thumbs near Jimin’s eyes as he peers into them. In this moment, Jimin is only aware of his own traitorous heartbeat, thumping a bit too loud in his chest and preventing him from getting any of his thoughts straight. He can’t seem to take his eyes off Yoongi’s starry-midnight ones.
“I’m not crying… just maybe some of that glitter in my eyes?” Jimin swallows. Why is Yoongi’s face so close right now? He feels like he can see too much from here. “I… uh, I just need to get the rest of this off…” He lifts the washcloth to Yoongi’s lips, and the older parts them so that Jimin can get to the bottom one more easily. But Yoongi doesn’t stop staring closely at Jimin’s face while the younger takes care of him, and something about that gaze is burning Jimin from the inside out.
“Okay… I think I got it all.” He barely manages to say it but once he does, he sees Yoongi’s smile hit the corners of his eyes. The older licks his lips once, testing them, as if he’d taste any lip balm if it was still on there.
“You’re sure? All better now?” Yoongi checks with him, and Jimin doesn’t know what compels him to do it, but he takes his thumb and traces it across Yoongi’s bottom lip one last time. Checking.
“Yeah. All gone.”
It takes him by surprise when Yoongi purses his lips and kisses Jimin’s thumb quickly where it still lingers close to his lips. “Thanks, birdie.” It feels like an electric current races all the way down to Jimin’s toes and back up again to his heart.
“Are you ready to go back to the party now?” Yoongi asks, taking Jimin’s hand and dropping it away from both of their faces. He shifts his body to help them stand up from where they’ve been leaning on the bathroom counter, taking his eyes off Jimin’s for a moment to fold the washcloth and place it near the sink. But this moment is enough to break the hold of whatever had made the younger freeze up, and the scene starts moving again inside Jimin’s head.
“Yeah… we can go back now.” He turns and opens the door, leading the way, back into the noise and the reflective patterns of the disco globes sparkling everywhere. It feels dizzying for so many reasons.
“Ah, sorry for pulling you away, Yoongi. I have to go find Jungkook now… I’ve been drinking too much and I think I need to step outside for a few minutes.”
“I can go with–”
“No, it’s okay. I just– I promised Jungkook I’d be right back. I won’t be long.”
“Okay. But be careful out there.” He squeezes Jimin’s arm with a protective look in his eye, but he lets him go. Jimin tries not to look back as he squeezes through the noisy crowd to get back to where he last saw Jungkook. A quick glance out of the corner of his eye tells him that Jin has approached Yoongi. The two begin talking and he feels relieved for some reason that it's not someone else.
Jimin kneels down to grab a bottle of water from one of the coolers, and while doing so Jungkook finds him, instead of vice versa. He feels the younger pat his shoulder. “You okay, Jimin?”
“Could we go for a walk?" He rises with the water bottle, wiping his hand on his pants, "I think I need some fresh air?”
When they step outside, some of the pressure that was crushing Jimin’s chest lightens. The two of them end up walking pretty far in one direction, finally stopping at a little convenience store where they both sit for a long time trying to sober up, have some ramen, and not talk about the thing they both probably most wanted to talk about.
Back at the party, Yoongi worried about Jimin. It had been a while since he’d left with Jungkook and it was now well past 2am; the party was winding down. He considered taking a walk to try to find the two, but he figured at least one of them would have messaged if they’d run into a problem.
Yoongi’s a little more sober now than he was when the blue jay had pulled him into the bathroom and taken off his makeup. Even with his sober brain, he can’t quite make sense of it. But Jimin’s touch on his face and every move he made had dredged up a whole bunch of feelings. He’d wished it wouldn’t stop, but then he felt guilty when he saw tears in Jimin’s eyes. He wondered what he’d messed up. Hadn’t he done what the younger had asked? He thought he got it right, but maybe he’d fucked something up? He started to hope that it was just Jimin being drunk and silly.
After Jimin had left him, Jin had come up to him asking questions and messing with his already troubled mind.
His questions started innocently enough, but they quickly took a turn.
It began with Jin asking Yoongi if he still had his car keys from earlier. In his buzzed state Yoongi couldn’t resist making some comment about neither of them being fit to drive right now.
“Oh, I’m not planning on going anywhere. I just wanted to make sure more of my fishing gear doesn’t walk off…”
Oops.
Yoongi chuckled, and Jin continued, “Like they very literally WALKED off. Can’t say that I’ve ever had that happen before… swim off, yes, walk off, no.”
“I’d say sorry Hyung, but I’m not really that sorry. You had plenty in your tackle box… and Jimin was looking more upset at that point than you look right now.”
“Fine Yoongi, but you could have just asked,” Yoongi just shrugged in response, prompting Jin to continue, “I’m not against making Jimin smile… but, you know, the guys and I have noticed that you’d pretty much do anything to make Park Jimin smile. Perhaps more than anyone else?”
Yoongi scuffed his shoe on the ground, realizing where this conversation might be going.
Jin continued, “Tae said something about bird hybrids and courting, but I’m not quite sure what that entails? Being a fox-hybrid, I don’t really want to pry, but I was curious if that might be what’s going on here with the two of you?” Jin had tried to frame the question lightly.
“And as I already told Tae– courting is a serious thing for birds. Jimin’s still in school, and I’m not looking to hit him with anything serious right now.” Jin looks at him knowingly, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “Hyung, he’s probably better off just dating around until he’s out of school and decides what he wants to do with life, and love. He’s beautiful and smart, and I think any human or bird would easily fall for him… I know you’re trying to tell me it’s obvious that I like him. Sure. But for now, we’re just really good friends.”
“And you’re not courting him?”
Why did Jin say it like he had doubts?
“No. Of course not.”
“And what would courting be like…?”
“Normally, it’s like reciprocity of special gifts to start… once the first gift is accepted, the other has an opportunity to gift something next, usually the importance of the gifts increasing over time. And it can keep going at whatever pace until, these days, it ends with one or both accepting a ring. Something like that. I guess it’s a little like an engagement at that point– but see, I don’t think Jimin is looking for marriage or anything like that right now?”
“But you said it could take a while too? Can’t it just be like dating at the start?”
“Well, sure, but still, with bird families the idea of ‘courting’ gets tangled up in ideas of marriage and mating.” Yoongi scratched nervously at the back of his neck, blushing in the dimly lit room, “There’s also a bit of it that has to do with bird song, and forming bits of song calls that the other would respond to. But that’s harder to explain. And it doesn’t always happen.”
“Songs… that sounds pretty.” Jin smiles, but Yoongi just laughed.
“Jin, you know as well as I do that in this mixed-hybrid-human world, a lot of the old rituals don’t count for much anymore. It’s not like fox-hybrids strictly stick to other fox-hybrids for relationships either? I’m not sure if Jimin would even respond to anything traditional.”
“That’s true, but still I’ve got to ask– you really don’t think that you and Jimin are courting right now? Because, Yoongi - and I say this with a lot of love - you two have been exchanging a lot of little meaningful gifts and acts of service recently? Or am I just looking at it the wrong way?”
That statement made Yoongi stop for a moment. Admittedly the drinks he had earlier weren’t exactly making it easy for him to see his actions clearly, or, maybe he just didn’t want to do the calculations right now. Instead, he waved Jin off dismissively- and the guy at least knew how to take the hint. But now that it was a few hours later and Yoongi was slightly more sober - as well as worried about where Jimin was - it made him wonder. Has he been courting Jimin? If he has, it wasn’t anything intentional. Also, if it was true, it wasn’t like Jimin was courting him back. Right?
With no sign of Jimin (or Jungkook) returning though, perhaps the best thing to do was to sleep on it. So, like many others at the party, Yoongi started to settle down and find a spot to lay his sleeping bag. In the dimly lit room, Namjoon was already snoring away, Hobi sleeping close by him and Tae surfing on his phone, face illuminated by the slightly blue light. Sleep overtook Yoongi far quicker than he expected.
He had no idea how much time had passed when he was slowly awakened by the movement of Jimin trying to slip into his unzipped sleeping bag. It was very late though. Yoongi just held the cover out for him and let Jimin curl up with his back pressed into Yoongi’s chest. ‘Where have you been, birdie?’ he whispered into Jimin’s hair. But Jimin didn’t answer, he only pulled Yoongi’s arm across his breastbone with a sigh. Maybe he was just too tired to talk.
Yoongi fell back to sleep like this.
At least for a little bit.
He woke a second time when Jimin seemed to grow restless in his arms. The younger had wiggled away to lie on his back, staring up at the ceiling. The light was dim, but the disco balls still occasionally moved with the breeze, slowly shifting reflected dots of streetlight across the walls. Jimin seemed to be watching them.
‘What’s wrong Jimin?’
‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I couldn’t sleep.’
‘Are you okay?’
‘Probably. Just– I dunno…’
‘I was worried when you didn’t come back,’ Yoongi props himself up a little on the arm that’s been under his pillow, so he can talk more directly to Jimin.
The younger turns his head to look in Yoongi's direction, ‘Yeah? I tried putting my sleeping bag next to Jungkook’s earlier, but it wasn’t working. It’s better here though.’
‘Oh. Okay. Is it too hot or something? You feel warm.’
‘Do I?’ He can feel movement as Jimin pats at his own neck and face, checking.
‘Yeah. Maybe you just got too much sun today?’ Without really thinking about it, Yoongi moves the hand that’s been resting over the younger’s ribs; he barely touches Jimin’s cheek with the backs of his knuckles to check his temperature. ‘You are a little warm, birdie.’
Jimin inhales in response. But when Yoongi goes to move his hand away, Jimin catches it with his own, keeping it pressed to his cheek. He turns his face into it and the action opens Yoongi’s fingers so that his palm rests on Jimin’s cheek. The skin feels very hot now, and he can see in the dim light the way Jimin stares up at him.
Jimin might be the one lying under Yoongi’s gaze, but Yoongi is the one that feels helpless.
‘I’m sorry about earlier. For being jealous,’ the younger says quietly.
‘Jealous?’
‘Yes.’
‘It’s okay Jimin. It didn’t bother me.’
‘You were too pretty.’
Now that’s a word Yoongi doesn’t think he’s ever heard used to describe himself before. Maybe for Jimin, but not for him. ‘Well, here’s a little secret. I think you were way prettier.’ He can see the glint off Jimin’s teeth in the dark when he smiles.
‘Is this okay?’ the younger whispers, resting his fingers on Yoongi’s jaw.
‘Is what okay?’
‘Mmm,’ Jimin hums, as he tips his head up just slightly so his lips just barely touch Yoongi’s, ‘This?’
The movement of the word is enough to encourage Yoongi to press his lips forward slowly against Jimin’s. It’s a spark. Even if the move is tiny, he immediately feels so much right now.
This is the kind of kiss that goes in slow motion. Maybe it was only ten seconds, or maybe it was sixty, but it feels infinitely longer. One where you can remember the nuance of every motion, every plush millimeter of Jimin’s lips. It sings like a musical chord in his head. The movements are careful, as if they’ll wake the room if they were any faster or less gentle. Yoongi just closes his eyes, and leans into it, following Jimin’s lead. The younger alternates between mouthing at Yoongi’s bottom lip and then his top lip, before giving in and slotting their mouths together. Yoongi just drinks in every move.
If Jimin’s cheeks were hot before, Yoongi’s sure his own are instantly flushed right now. Jimin’s fingertips press more firmly along his jawline, pulling him just a little closer– Yoongi thinks he could totally fall right in. A tiny rational part of his brain wants to know where this is coming from, but it’s mostly overruled by the way it feels to have his lips traced by Jimin’s beautiful mouth. He realizes how fast his heart is racing, singing, and how the electricity seems to surges through his body.
It’s delight.
Yoongi tries to move the hand that had been cradling Jimin’s cheek. He slowly draws it down across Jimin’s jaw before caressing his shoulder and upper arm, and finally he tries to curl it under Jimin’s ribs, to hold him closer. But perhaps the move was a little too ticklish– because it makes Jimin pause what he’s doing. The younger tips his mouth away from Yoongi’s, perhaps taking stock of where they are and who’s around.
‘Oh.’
That’s all it takes. A second of overthinking to make them move their lips apart and get shy.
Jimin rubs his fingers gently through the hair at the back of Yoongi’s neck; where his hand has been resting on his nape. Then he lets go, dropping that hand back to his own chest.
‘Jimin, I–’
‘We…we should probably get back to sleep. Right, hyung?’ the younger whispers, a little out of breath.
Yoongi tries to calm his heart down.
‘Yeah… We probably should.’ It’s quiet for a few moments before Jimin speaks…
‘Will you still hold me?’
Yoongi makes space in the sleeping bag for Jimin to turn and curl up with him. Like always.
‘Of course, birdie… Where else would you go?’