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Lately, Taehyung has been giving him kicked puppy looks and it's getting worse, like he wishes Jimin would do something about it except Jimin doesn't know what ‘it’ is, exactly. He’s pretty sure Taehyung doesn’t notice he’s even making that expression, considering how the MC had teased him earlier with “why so glum, V-ssi?”
It's not like anything’s changed between them. At least, he doesn’t think so. Taehyung still reacts whenever he teases him, and he tries to recall anything that could have been interpreted as hurtful. Unless, there’s something else bothering him like-
“... And I believe Jin-hyung has…”
Jimin snaps out of his thoughts and tunes back in to the interview. Jungkook is currently talking, and he keeps himself somewhat focused by staring at the back of their maknae’s head.
He definitely needs a haircut, he muses. As if on cue, the younger flicks his head to get his bangs away from his eyes, proving his point.
Frankly, Jimin could have spent the entire interview counting the hairs on the back of Jungkook’s head if not for Hoseok pinching his side signalling ‘pay attention or I’m going to kick your ass later.' So he does, and elbows Hoseok’s side in retaliation. He isn’t as compliant as some people take him to be.
The host turns to him with a smile gracing her lips. “And Jimin-ssi, who do you believe has changed the most since debut?”
He's lost count on how many times he's had to answer this question, and he pretends to think about his response. Normally he would answer Jungkook, but he supposes he could say Taehyung since the other just looks so out of it.
“I think our V has changed the most! He’s becoming more handsome lately.” The interviewer nods and moves on to the next question. Jimin puts the mic down and gives Taehyung a cheeky grin, but he only sees the other’s shoulders stiffen.
He lets his smile fade and goes back to staring at Jungkook’s head. Hoseok pinches him for the second time, this time meaning ‘Park Jimin are you okay I'm worried’ to which Jimin nudges his foot in reply. Everything's fine.
Van, performance, sleep backstage, interview, eat, van, sleep in the van, home. It’s like clockwork at this point, and Jimin could run through their entire schedule in his sleep. He stumbles into the dorm after Yoongi and tugs on his hyung’s sleeve.
“Can I take a shower first?” He pleads. Jimin knows he’s Yoongi’s favorite dongsaeng, and he knows that the other knows this meaning he can and will get away with this.
“Yeah, yeah.” Yoongi shoos him off with a hand.
Jimin grins and goes to his shared room to grab clothes to change into. He pushes the door open just in time to see Taehyung jump away from it and dive under the covers. Jimin gives him a curious look before grabbing a ratty old t-shirt to change into (he’s had it since he was a trainee; it’s for sentimental value in his defense).
After rummaging around the room for a few seconds, he walks over to the bed and hesitantly nudges the Taehyung-shaped lump under the covers.
“You okay?”
“Hm.” Taehyung pops his head over the covers to give him a disoriented look. His bangs are matted against his forehead from dried sweat, and Jimin makes a face of disgust.
“Are you gonna sleep like that?”
“Yeah.”
“In Hoseok-hyung’s bed?”
Taehyung freezes momentarily before going back to his default expression. “I- Yeah.”
Jimin doesn’t question him. He looks around awkwardly and debates on whether or not to ask what was up with the other boy, but decides not to since Taehyung really does look like he's about to fall asleep. So he lets the silence blanket them, broken only by his shuffling to the door.
Jimin shuts the bathroom door behind him and turns on the showerhead, mind muddled with questions.
So there might be something going on between them. Their conversations haven’t been particularly exciting as of late, but Jimin assumes it’s because they’re tired, that’s all. Not anything big.
Besides, if there’s something bothering Taehyung that much Jimin’s sure that the other boy would come talk to him. They’re friends first before coworkers; and friends always say what's on their minds, don't they? But the fact that Taehyung didn’t even try to come talk to him leaves a stab of hurt ebbing in his chest.
“You should talk to him.”
Jimin yelps and bangs his elbow against the wall. He pokes his head around the side of the shower curtain to glare at the source of the voice. He doesn't have his contacts on, but he knows the blurry shape that’s leaning against the counter is Jungkook.
Jimin huffs. “Excuse you, this is currently occupied.” A pause. “And what do you mean?”
Truthfully, Jimin knows exactly what he means but saying it out loud means he's admitting there's a problem - which means he has to fix it- and he doesn't know how to fix it because he doesn’t know what’s wrong.
Jungkook sighs. “Just talk to Taehyung-hyung, please.” With that, he pushes himself off the counter and leaves. Jimin stares at the door dumbly and wonders how the hell Jungkook got inside without him even noticing.
“Hey, can we talk?”
Taehyung nods stiffly as the stylist preps his eyelids for his eye-makeup. For the record, Jimin’s not the greatest with timing things, but their schedule literally gives them no time for Jimin to sort out this problem with Taehyung.
So, Jimin thinks it's a great idea to talk backstage at Music Bank where their group members are within earshot to listen in to their conversation. Totally a good move on his part.
He told Jungkook he would talk to Taehyung right here right now to which the maknae was less than impressed with. Jungkook simply patted his back and said cryptically good luck with that, hyung.
So here he is. Awkwardly fiddling with an eyeliner pencil as the stylist pretends not to listen in on their conversation.
Jimin glances at Taehyung’s reflection. “Is something bothering you?”
Taehyung suddenly opens his eyes causing the stylist to almost have a heart attack. She tsks and Taehyung immediately closes them again.
“No. Did Jungkook put you up to this?”
Jimin blanches. “What? No! Of course not.”
“Well, I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”
He stops playing with the eyeliner pencil and looks at Taehyung’s reflection. The other boy’s tone definitely didn't sound like he’s “fine” and Jimin knows that Taehyung hides his emotions well. The stylist puts finishing touches on Taehyung’s eye makeup, and he finally opens his eyes.
Jimin catches his gaze in the reflection and grins, trying to ease a smile out of him. Taehyung smiles back at him tentatively, but he can still see those damn puppy eyes.
This might be worse than he thought.
“Can you just tell me what's bothering him?”
“He didn't say anything specific but it does have to do with you.”
“Yeah, I got that, but what exactly.”
“I don’t know, you should just talk to him to find out.”
“Jungkook, you little-”
It sucks when you can't talk to your best friend.
Neither him nor Taehyung had made a conscious decision to stop talking with one another; there was just something awkward underlying all of their conversations. And it's not like they completely stopped because they still have to interact on camera, but otherwise they barely say more than two words to each other.
The whole group dynamic seems to be off-kilter now because whenever they’re backstage, Taehyung attaches himself to Jungkook, and Jimin lingers beside the hyungline. And it really, really sucks.
So when Seokjin corners him in the living room after their activities for the day, Jimin already knows what's coming.
“Everything’s fine.” Jimin insists. Seokjin furrows his eyebrows in confusion.
“What? I was going to ask if you could run down to the store and get some ingredients for me.”
Jimin backtracks. “Oh, of course, uh- I'll go down right now.” He had wanted some sort of excuse to leave the dorm so he goes for it, and grabs his jacket to rush downstairs before the older could question him.
“I didn't even tell you what I needed yet!”
The door slams shut and Jimin quickly walks towards the elevator. He presses the button to go down and waits for the elevator to pull up, all the while thinking of the ways he could avoid the other members for the rest of the night.
Curse everyone in their group and their perceptiveness, he thinks. Even though he’s always attentive to the other members feelings, it’s strange for everyone to see right through him for a change.
There’s a ding and the doors open, and lo and behold Taehyung stands there looking just as surprised as Jimin is when they see each other. There’s a bag of groceries in his grip and Jimin swears Seokjin had this all planned.
“Wait, what-”
He doesn't finish his sentence as Taehyung drags him inside the compartment and presses the close button. For a few tense seconds, Jimin stares at Taehyung in disbelief while Taehyung glares holes at the floor.
“So.” He begins.
Taehyung looks up hesitantly and shifts his weight from one foot to the other. “So. I know you're wondering what I was upset over.”
Jimin frowns. “I knew something was wrong.”
“Well, I wanted to know if you were mad at me.”
Jimin blinks. “I’m not mad at you?” And then there’s a spark of anger. “I should be the one asking you that, you haven't been open about your feelings you punk-”
“Is it because of the kiss?” Taehyung suddenly blurts out. Jimin blinks again. Once. Twice. Before it dawns on him as to what Taehyung is referencing to and he scrunches his face up in disbelief.
“On V App? Tae, that was weeks ago, I wasn't that embarrassed. I was only overdramatic for the camera.” As he says this, guilt washes over him. Now that he thinks back at it he made it seem like he was kissing Namjoon’s dirty laundry instead.
Taehyung’s expression softens. “Did you want to kiss Yoongi-hyung instead, because if you did I completely understand-”
“Tae,” Jimin interrupts this time. His cheeks are getting warm and he knows he probably looks like a tomato at this point. “No, I didn't want to kiss Yoongi-hyung. I was- I was actually glad that it was you.” Taehyung stops biting his nails to look at Jimin in surprise.
“Really?”
Jimin ducks his head down trying to fight down the redness that's creeping up his neck. “Yeah.”
There’s a grin inching its way up onto Taehyung’s face now. “So you actually wanted to kiss me then?” Jimin snaps his head up.
“I never said that!”
“But you hinted it~” Taehyung says, sing-songy. Jimin groans and puts his head in his hands. Taehyung drops the groceries to wrap his arms around Jimin to pull him against his chest.
“So, Jimin, does that mean you like me then?”
“No, I don't, after the emotional distress you put me through.” He says flatly, pulling his hands away from his face. Taehyung knocks their foreheads together.
“I’m sorry,” He says, looking at Jimin with sincere eyes. “I didn’t mean it.”
Jimin’s lips curl up into a grin. “But I still like you. A lot, actually.”
“Enough for a kiss?”
Jimin replies by pressing his lips against Taehyung’s, much to the other’s surprise. Neither of them are experts at kissing, but god does it feel amazing for Jimin to finally kiss Taehyung’s lips. He closes his eyes and parts his mouth open to tongue his way into the other’s mouth, receiving a sigh of approval. Taehyung bites his lower lip teasingly, and he feels the other grinning against his lips.
The elevator dings signaling they’ve arrived at the bottom floor, but they ignore it along with Yoongi’s “oh god. Jesus fuck, we should have stayed in the studio. Namjoon, get back outside.”
And the doors close. When they break apart, Jimin sees that Taehyung has a wide smile on his face and his eyes seem to have their usual shine again.
“Can we do that again?”
Jimin laughs. “Definitely.”