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Was there a life after graduation? At all?
He lost count to how many times he heard empty reassurances that everything was going to be just good and right after finishing college or university. Ever since he was a kid all adults used to tell him that. By the time he became an adult himself he got tired of listening that this was all he had to do to put his life on the right path.
Funny, there was even a time in his life when he truly believed in that too.
Real life though easily put him back on earth.
Being freshly graduated was only a tad better than having no education after school. Getting a "serious" job was hard, in some instances perhaps harder than finding a part-time occupation.
Jimin felt like he has been cursed. Everyone wanted a young and pretty omega with outstanding education and experience that was worth decades. Maybe he was searching in all the wrong places. He was walking down the street and with all the amount of wolves he saw: busy running around outside, he couldn't help but find all this job search illogical.
So many people around had to work somewhere acceptable, right? All of these people, dressed in alright clothing, looking neat, buying things everywhere he looked... They all had to get by somehow. If they could do that, so could he, wasn't that so?
The time was ticking and Jimin understood it with painful clarity: soon he was going to struggle to make ends meet.
Common wisdom that he learnt through his years of living could only take him that far. There were markets that opened early and had acceptable prices, there were ways to preserve food, opportunities to go to places where he could forage something. Basically the omega found means to clothe and feed himself - just - and that was about it.
Yet he was walking on thin ice. Jimin knew that the first upcoming sickness or nasty heat would break his fragile system, make him lose time and his part-time shifts, and consequently his temporary occupation and the little money he was able to earn.
But Jimin wasn't going to sit idly and wait around for that to happen. He decided to do something about his situation instead of wallowing in self-pity.
The omegas of his age didn't have that many options, unfortunately. Also, not all of them were safe or acceptable for most wolves. Luckily for Jimin, he wasn't opposed to one of them. Actually, it was a rather appealing idea to him.
He decided that joining a match-making service in order to help him find a nice alpha mate would be the best course of action.
It took Jimin some time to find the right place. The only safe route was to ask a reliable friend for a recommendation. After a while the omega found a way to contact a senior acquaintance from uni who now worked in a match-making agency that hardly was a scam.
Actually, it was sort of elite and that made the omega hesitate. But his acquaintance claimed they had a fair bit of clients who were middle class. The good point was that if the applicant didn't put certain features, Jimin could get anyone he got matched with, no matter of his personal financial situation.
He knew that he still had no guarantees and anyone with any intentions could become applicants yet he decided to trust the agency's security team who checked all the applicants thoroughly.
"We could find you someone who could support you?" his acquaintance suggested carefully, "Someone who could provide you a comfortable life".
But the omega refused.
"No, thank you", he replied with a smile, "I'll attempt to find a future mate first".
After all, he could always easily to go the suggested option.
Jimin was hoping he could find someone around his own age, an alpha with a stable income, and hopefully with an appealing scent for his very picky omega. Wealth didn't matter for him that much because Jimin believed if they were fit for each other and they were prepared to work together, they could achieve a more than acceptable level of life.
Two heads were always better than one, his nana used to say. So Jimin, sitting in his empty, supplies ridden kitchen, was dreaming of organizing a household where two wolves would be comfortable and where feelings could bloom along with mutual respect and understanding.
He wasn't wearing pink glasses though. He knew finding someone fitting would be very hard. Especially considering his sensitive inner wolf who was guarding him especially well.
The first candidate didn't have to be awaited for long.
A week after submitting his application Jimin was sitting in a restaurant, trying to recall what topics people usually spoke about on the first date. He was only slightly nervous, having firmly decided beforehand that he wasn't going to think about it too much. Especially with it being the first one.
By the end of the date Jimin lost most of his confidence. He wasn't sure if it was him or the alpha was the problem, but he decidedly had nothing to say to that man. He ignited not a single spark of interest and his scent was not it. The omega felt he wasn't desperare enough to withstand another meeting with him. This was definitely a hero of someone else's story.
The second candidate was far better than the first one. Jimin noted right from the start that his scent was more than acceptable. To him it was a good sign. Unfortunately, all good signs ended there. This alpha was great until he opened his mouth about the way he pictured their future. Jimin wasn't at all ready to move that fast and that far.
Soon as the time was ticking by and there were no other acceptable candidates just yet, Jimin gave each of the alphas a couple of dates more but it was decidedly not a good choice in both cases. He went back to waiting, reminding himself of another common wisdom.
Third time's a charm.
"It's too much trouble".
That was his first thought when he found out who else got interested in his application. The consultant claimed it was someone wealthy and Jimin was convinced it was going to be trouble because of the obvious differences between them.
But giving up before trying wasn't about this omega.
After squeezing out the maximum available information out of his acquaintance Jimin realized there was no other way of putting it off anymore and the man wasn't going to tell him anything else apart from what he knew and the data that the alpha provided.
Frankly, the omega really didn't want to go to that meeting and agreed to a date mostly because it was at least some activity in his continuous search. The letter the alpha left for him was neat and handwritten and was a cute surprise. Jimin didn't think someone would communicate eith him in this old-fashioned way. Now it was partially courtesy that pushed him to go and meet Min Yoongi, a successful entrepreneur, a single alpha in search of a mate.
Just when Jimin was coming close to the restaursnt he got cold feet. Surely he felt it was rude to say no now and he wasnt going to go back. Also he got very curious in this person from what he read. He found a lot of things about that alpha appealing except for one. It was actually a shame that the money and the influence of that person made Jimin too cautious of him.
He knew that a lot of people in his shoes would be running towards such opportunity but he was afraid that the bigger the money the bigger the trouble. He had no idea how to speak to a stranger, never mind and wealthy stranger. And before that blessed moment of meeting Jimin didn't realise how incomplete his initial information was.
He recognized the man with a cute smile and in a neat branded sweater that was sitting at the same table as him and was encouraging the younger to order more. Before that the omega didn't have the chance to properly put the face and the name together, he had no idea why.
"Or maybe you're nervous?" the man assumed and hell yes, nervous was exactly what Jimin felt.
"Perhaps a little bit", the omega admitted, taking the menu nonetheless, "But now I just have to take this appetizer soon as you recommended it to me so eagerly".
He was not prepared to find himself face to face with this alpha, one of the most powerful people in the country in his field. He had no idea someone like Yoongi would be interested in courting him, a simple wolf with no outstanding family history or assets or whatever else people like Yoongi were searching in future mates.
Actually, the thought of courting was only an assumption for now. It was more of fleeting thought, a very brief first impression that appeared in the omega's mind when the alpha didn't start eating until Jimin took his first bite. That was a part of common etiquette that was now only practiced in courting for some reason.
And then he forcedly put himself back on Earth again.
Yoongi obviously had no idea about the omega's inner battles. He carried a light conversation, slowly easing Jimin into it, involving him in the discussion and the omega discovered that he felt comfortable around the other man that he only met face to face today.
The alpha turned out to be a wonderful listener and he gave Jimin little time to be distracted by his thoughts. And he really did have something to think about.
He had no idea about the circumstances in that man's life and he certainly didn't attempt to analyze or assume. Only his very second thought was that going through these matchmaking services could be a way for people like Yoongi to find a reliable partner, perhaps a dedicated lover who could temporary replace someone like a spouse or a mate. Perhaps this could well be the reason why this person was meeting candidates through the service and frankly nobody was to blame.
They were all adults and they weren't doing anything illegal so the omega thought it would be a good idea to just let it go and have some fun. Yes, his situation was dire but he didn't have to find a mate tomorrow, not even close to that. So if this person wanted to have a light kind of relationship then Jimin was prepared for it. He was tired of being tough and work all the time, denying himslef such simple joys as accepting the appention of a handsome man.
He wouldn't be having such thoughts about temporary relationship if he was more confident, he knew it. He could only wish to be a different way. Alas, he felt like this man couldn't choose his application in order to court him for real.
This was exactly where his thoughts were by the middle of this date.
Yet by the end of it the omega was rather confused. The alpha who seemed so business like and so serious suddenly got passionate. It was like lighting bloomed above the shadowed land. Suddenly he became really active and they carried on discissing practically everything that they could come up with. The omega didn't remember when was the last time he spoke so much and debated so eagerly.
By the time the dinner was over Jimin found himself carrying plenty of new information, enjoying the company and trying to get a bit closer to Yoongi in order to smell more of the other man's scent.
This was one of those problems that he had ever since he presented. He was way to sensitive and his inner wolf was way too picky about the scents, not only about the people who he was in any kind of relationship with but also who he contacted with on a regular basis such as friends, acquaintances and colleagues.
All in all that men made a good impression on Jimin and despite the recalled rumors and reputation, and frankly, the scare that some people felt in the face of someone who had that much power, Jimin relaised he would not be opposed to meeting again.
And that desire, first small like sparks and then blooming into a burning fire, felt like it was mutual.
He was curious where this was going to lead him.
"Is this too much?" Yoongi asked and Jimin couldn't reply right away, dazed and charmed by the way the alpha behaved.
Every time he looked at him the omega felt he got under a spell. A good kind of spell.
"No, it's fine. I don't mind", Jimin blushed almost painfully.
It was nothing new for him. He was courted once before, gifts and all, following all the customs, like in one of them old books. But back then it didn't make his heart beat any faster. It didn't make him feel anything much. Now it was different. Right now it felt special, moreso because this was not courting per se. These were just hints of it, simply certain etiquette, manners, gestures, polite words and charming, a bit too long to be appropriate looks. Nothing official has either been said or negotiated yet.
But why was it making his inner wolf purr in content? Why did it make his heart skip that stupid beat and fill it with this sweet expectation?
The things that Jimin allowed to slip his attention during the first meeting became so much more obvious during the second one.
Yoongi was a gentleman, he didnt allow himself anything widely inappropriate except some looking. Jimin couldn't blame him for it. He himself couldn't tear his eyes off the alpha, his fine figure, his kind eyes and his soft cutest smiles.
The elder's avid attention was almost perfectly dosed and yet Jimin couldn't help but notice how he sometimes stopped himself from wrapping his arm around the omega, how Yoongi wanted to start plating his food first, how he held back from touching the omega intentionally, only allowing it "by accident". This was the pretty much usual behavior for couples but they were not one. Jimin thought with a smile that it was this alpha's possessive nature that was coming out this way when the younger was around. It kind of made the omega want to sit straighter, puff his chest and perhaps reciprocate.
Jimin noticed another difference between his previous suitors and this alpha. This time the omega actually didn't mind the other behave this way, all these gestures made Jimin relaxed instead of alert and wanting to run away, and the atmosphere was so lovely. It was playful yet calm. Thrilling but soft. He loved that a lot. He thought that it was the closest to what he pictured his relationship to be like, it was what he imagined when he tried to portray him and Yoongi hypothetically a year or five later. It looked good in his head, of course.
After the second date the third came rather fast. And then there was another one. And another.
Jimin was waiting for the proposal still, he was hesitant to admit what has been becoming obvious the more times they met. It seemed that Yoongi didn't need a temporary lover, he didn't need a handy replacement of a mate. He felt genuinely interested in Jimin, in his life, he was doing all this painfully slow approach as if Jimin's inner wolf was a wild one and Yoongi was a gifted whisperer.
At some point the alpha let it slip in one of their long conversations in the twilight of the private area of Yoongi's favourite establishment. Jimin didn't know what to do with himself then, he shyly moved closer, right into Yoongi's welcoming embrace and it took the younger forever to get rid of the crimson blush on his cheeks. It felt surreal.
Now that Yoongi's intentions were more clear Jimin felt more at ease around him. The things they discussed gradually became more detailed, more personal and sometimes intimate. They were slowly getting to know one another. The omega found a patient and attentive listener in the elder and every date they had he felt like he didn't have enough of being around Yoongi.
At some point they talked about their age difference. It wasn't that big but Yoongi shared that it bothered him because Jimin wanted someone his age initially.
"For the first few times we met I hoped you don't find it too big of a disadvantage", he confessed and the omega shifted even closer to the other's body.
They were in one of Yoongi's favourite places again and luckily the comfort of its booths allowed such closeness.
"I actually find it a turn on rather than the opposite, hyung", Jimin calmly said with a smile, although he felt like jumping from excitement on the inside.
That raised the temperature of the conversation close to steamy and gave them the opportunity to dip into other things they preferred.
"So this is the kind of thing you're into", the young man murmured and there was something in his tone that made the elder pay closer attention.
"Yeah, I enjoy it a fair bit but I'm not crazy about it. And obviously I do follow the etiquette".
"Glad to hear that, hyung", Jimin smiled and there was obvious relief in his voice.
His first thought was: how typical. Most alphas he met had similar preferences and Jimin was into dom and sub dynamics also. Unfortunately not a lot of them knew what to actually do and a lot of them had the disgusting habit of transferinv these dynamics onto life outside bedroom. And that was what the omega had a great problem with. A couple of careful questions and several elaborate answers from the elder's side later cleared the air and Jimin just knew they were going to be compatible.
This was the first time the younger wasn't delighted with Yoongi's slow approach. His latest heat was the most intense out of all in the last few years and now he wouldn't be able to sleep well after all this discussion of ropes and the ways Yoongi liked to use some of his favourite devices... Jimin knew too well what the alpha was talking about and the vivid imagery in his head almost made him growl.
He wanted to get it all now, without waiting, without the courting that hasn't even properly begun. Yet he knew he had to be patient to get much more.
All this talk and this scent that Jimin already felt he couldn't be for too long without made him claim at least some of the pleasure Yoongi oh so elaborately described while whispering in his ear.
The omega reached for a kiss and it was quickly granted.
As time went by Jimin realised he loved the way Yoongi was possessive over him. Every time the alpha let himself demonstrate this side of him it felt as care, not as something toxic. Very often the omega ended up in the elder's arms or with his hand on his lower back as they walked. The alpha also liked giving him clothes even of Jimin didn't feel all that cold.
The omega enjoyed the attention he wasn't spoilt with much in his life.
Even Yoongi's wealth and influence didn't seem like a problem anymore. Granted, there was still stuff that knocked Jimin off his feet but mostly he didn't feel like the difference between them was going to be an obstacle in the future. Especially because a lot of things Jimin expected from Yoongi, how he was going to be or act turned out to be only silly stereotypes that stuck to the omega from media and such. Yoongi was different, not like the rest, not like anyone Jimin knew.
Besides, he wasn't a snob, he gladly took part in anything Jimin asked for or organised.
With time Jimin learnt that he equally loved exclusive clubs with members only entry and fast food chain diners where him and his boyfriend popped to grab a bite. Yoongi too felt like fish in water when they attended some chef's private party or when they went to a skating rink in the mall and had a snowball fight outside.
Jimin liked elegant classy salons where Yoongi started taking him lately where the omega helped him with picking furniture. And at the same time Jimin loved putting stuff together from charity shops, claiming one of his favourite styles as eclectic which, in turn, sparked Yoongi's interest.
It started as a mission to help the alpha decorate his new apartment. Jimin warned him several times that he was far from being an expert but Yoongi said he loved the way the omega saw things. The entrepreneur got tired of all these catalogue like looking rooms and was sick of having to follow certain guidelines while choosing types of wood or fabrics. To him, as he admitted, Jimin's style meant freedom and he wanted to have this feeling in his new home.
Jimin wasn't stupid but it did take him several weeks to realize what the alpha was doing while letting the omega pick the interior of the property. In the end it wasn't going to be another alpha's den, he was afraid. And Jimin seemed to be more aware of that fact after realizing that there was a good chance that he was going to be visiting this place in a regular basis.
After that the omega continued working on the mission with double the enthusiasm.
The consequences of doing all these things and preparations together were logical: the omega ended up staying over and they weren't just idly drinking tea and talking about poetry. Long days of waiting for another meeting and dates filled with new impressions got added to passionate nights that completely swept Jimin off his feet.
It wasn't a deciding factor but it was the last straw that kind of told the omega there was a winner. That it was okay to let it go and give himself away pretty much like Yoongi has been doing for a while now, showing so much dedication and patience. The thoughts about their relationship being contract-based or temporary have been wiped away by the alpha's feelings he never hesitated to show at least in some form and in the end Jimin gladly admitted himself conquered.
The first gift left Jimin speechless.
Somewhere deep inside he expected it, of course because their maddeningly slow approach was gradually leading to that. Yet it still surprised the omega, rendering him unable to move for a little bit. He could only gently hold the hand carved item in both his hands, scared to even breathe on it.
"Hyung, is this for real", he asked the question, not really directing it to anyone.
He kept looking at the elder, looking for signs of doubt or insincerity and finding none.
"It is. I'm serious and my intentions are serious too", Yoongi chuckled, delighted by the effect his modest yet heartfelt gift made, "Will you accept it, Park Jimin?"
Jimin couldn't believe it partially and partially he was so delighted. He restricted himself from building castles out of air, from hoping to get someone like Yoongi as his mate for real instead of for a few months. But now, knowing how Yoongi respected old traditions and how serious he was about them, the omega knew this was what he truly wanted. No clauses, no conditions, no exceptions.
So naturally Jimin quickly made his mind.
After all, it was what he secretly wanted but he was afraid to start hoping. To him it was something that had little chance to happen even if he saw that both of them loved their differences, how they played together and how they undoubtedly matched each other.
"I accept", the omega said, firmly knowing that this man in front of him was worlds more than his ticket to a comfortable life.
He was his invitation to a love-filled life, a life where he would never have to be on his own, for better or for worse.