Work Text:
Hoseok:
Damn, Jeongguk’s hitting it hard tonight
Did you guys fight or something?
He’s sulking and won’t talk to us
Just dancing by himself in a corner
Jimin:
Yes we had a little argument this morning
He forgot I couldn’t come tonight
Keep an eye on him for me?
Hoseok:
Of course
Jimin sighs and sets his phone aside, logically he knows Jeongguk is fine, knows he’s out with Yoongi and Hobi and that they would never let him get into trouble.
But he’s still worried, especially because of the argument they had before Jimin left for work, specifically about tonight— a night Jeongguk had known Jimin had to stay late, but had decided to pout and guilt Jimin about anyway.
Usually Jimin loves the willful, bratty side of Jeongguk— he likes that his boyfriend is a little spoiled, thinks his pretty pout is cute, loves indulging him and giving him what he wants. But he’s been under a lot of pressure at work, facing a lot of deadlines, and instead of letting Jeongguk slam a door in his face when Jimin gently reminded him that he wouldn’t be able to go out, he’d followed him right into the bedroom and things had escalated from there.
Jeongguk had said some things he probably shouldn’t have and Jimin had retaliated by doing the same. It was nothing irrevocable, nothing worth breaking up over, but it left Jimin tense and angry and Jeongguk quiet and sullen for the rest of the morning until they’d both left silently for work.He’d cooled down a couple hours into his day, and once the clock reached Jeongguk’s lunch hour, he’d tried giving his boyfriend a call, hoping to smooth things out so they could both have a better afternoon.
Except that Jeongguk hadn’t picked up, nor had he replied to any of Jimin’s texts.
At all.
All day.
And now it was night time and he still hadn’t heard a thing.
A couple more hours pass, it’s getting late and all Jimin wants is to hear his baby’s voice, to tell him he’s sorry and that he loves him. He sighs again and lets his eyes slip shut, mindlessly cuffing the sleeves on his shirt up to the elbows as he leans back in his chair. All earlier annoyance is now completely gone, if anything he’s exasperated but fond, glad he’s important enough to Jeongguk for the other man to get upset that he’s not around.
Though Jeongguk is lucky Jimin thinks his brattier tendencies are as cute as they are, other boyfriends might not have had the same level of patience, but Jeongguk makes it worth it with his typically sweet demeanor. He’s funny and smart and lovely, a little prince in a world full of peasants, and Jimin feels lucky to be the one who gets to shower him with all the love and praise and affection he needs to stay happy.
Which is a lot.
He shakes his head and goes to save the project he’s on, resigning himself to not hearing from Jeongguk until the next day, when his phone buzzes with a new notification.
He glances at the screen, disappointed when it’s not Jeongguk, but then he actually reads it.
Yoongi:
Please come collect your boyfriend
He is laying on the floor with a glass of champagne
Crying that you don’t love him anymore
Because he’s a brat
Jimin bites back what feels like his thirtieth sigh in the past hour and unlocks his phone
Jimin:
I actually love him endlessly
Partially because he is a brat
How much has he had to drink?
Yoongi:
More than usual
He had a couple cocktails to start but then
He grabbed my whisky without asking and downed it
Had the audacity to complain to me about the taste
Then stole most of Hoba's cocktail next
He’s been chasing that with a lot of champagne ever since
Jimin finishes saving his work, shuffling paper into files and making sure he has everything before he replies.
Jimin:
Please try to get him off the floor
I’m heading out right now
Yoongi:
Yeah
No
Do you know how heavy he is?
He’s staying on the floor until you get here
Like I love him and we'll make sure no one steps on him but
No
Jimin locks his phone with a shake of his head and grabs his suit jacket, slinging it over one shoulder as he shuts down his computer, picks up his briefcase, and heads for the door.
Time to rescue his sweet prince.
🪩🥂🪩
Jeongguk is drunk drunk.
He wasn’t sure at first if he was but now that he’s lying on the floor watching all the pretty purple, pink, and white lights go by, he’s ninety-nine percent certain he is.
Too bad he’s not drunk enough to forget that his boyfriend isn’t here because he hates him and doesn’t love him and never loved him and will never, ever, ever talk to him again because Jeongguk is a spoiled brat who doesn’t even deserve love, and especially not from someone as stunning and perfect as Park Jimin.
Hoseok sighs heavily from where he’s crouched beside him, “Gguk-ah, we’ve been over this, Jimin isn’t here because he told you he couldn’t be weeks in advance, he absolutely loves you and has loved you for a long time and will continue to love you despite the fact that you are indeed a spoiled brat because you do, in fact, deserve it.”
“What?” Jeongguk asks, confused as to how his friend became a mind reader.
“Can we please just go back to our table? Someone is bound to report you to security soon, and this floor is fucking gross.”
“It’s where I deserve to be!” Jeongguk replies before sitting up and taking another drink.
Hoseok gives him an unimpressed look before glancing down at his phone when the screen lights up, “Oh thank god,” he mutters, “cheer up, your knight in shining armor is on his way.”
“Oh my god, G-Dragon?” Jeongguk asks, eyes wide.
“Babe, no,” Hoseok sighs.
Jeongguk slumps back down onto the floor, unable to guess who would be coming to get him because his boyfriend hates him now so surely he’ll never see Jimin again. Which is honestly a fate worse than death, Jimin is so pretty, all blond and sharp angles and long legs and a fierce demeanor that has made Jeongguk cry in the best possible way on multiple occasions.
“I’m not sure I needed to know that,” Hoseok grumbles.
His voice is really nice too, all soft and sweet sometimes but also low and drawling. Jeongguk loves it when he lets his satoori come out the most. It’s toe-curlingly delicious, the way he drags out his vowels and the little smirk that curls his lips every time he speaks. Never mind that Jeongguk has the same accent, when it's Jimin talking all he wants is to drop down on his knees and do all kinds of things for, to, and with him.
“You have absolutely zero filter when you’re drunk and I hate that I know that now,” Hoseok waves a water bottle at him. “Can you at least drink this?”
He really doesn’t deserve Jimin, who works so hard and takes such good care of him and who goes out of his way to buy him flowers and scent diffusers and cute jackets for Bam. And honestly how dare he be so lovely, is it really Jeongguk’s fault that he wants Jimin’s attention on him twenty five hours a day, eight days a week? Maybe if he tried being a little less perfect, Jeongguk could manage to be a little less needy.
“Damn Seoul traffic,” Hoseok mutters, “he’s not going to be here for at least a half an hour.”
Jeongguk drains his champagne glass as tears fill his eyes, swirling with the electric neon glow and his own despair as he resigns himself to never being happy again.
“Please,” Hoseok says with a roll of his eyes, “you probably won’t even remember this come morning.”
🪩🥂🪩
“I’m just picking someone up,” Jimin says to the valets as he climbs out of his Porche, jacket still on his shoulder because he knows how Jeongguk likes to dress on nights out and his baby gets the shivers when he’s been drinking and is outside for even a second. He passes the valet a wad of cash to keep an eye on his car and then traipses inside, the click of his boots garnering glances as he strides past the line and flashes his ID at the door.
“Good evening,” the bouncer says, “enjoy your stay.”
Jimin flashes him a winning smile, “I won’t be here for long.”
Inside is chaotic, and his heart clenches a little at the thought of Jeongguk, sad and drunk and probably still on the floor somewhere amidst this mess of sweating bodies and spilled alcohol. He pushes a hand through his hair and wades into the throng, head high and shoulders back, intent on saving his prince.
“There you are!” Yoongi calls out over the heavy bass when he spots him through the crowd, “Hoseok’s been keeping an eye on him, he’s over here.”
He follows his friend to the back of the club, which at the very least is away from the dance floor and the stumbling drunks around the bar. And there he is laid out on the floor with a very tired Hoseok beside him, looking like an angel beneath the multi-colored lights. His eyes are closed and there are soft curls framing his face. His eye shadow is a little smudged, his mascara a mess from the unshed tears that cling to his lashes, and he is the prettiest little brat Jimin has ever seen in his life.
He crouches down beside him, brushes his bangs gently from his forehead, and smiles, a lovesick fool all over again as those starry-sky eyes flutter open.
“Am I dreaming?” Jeongguk asks.
“No, you’re drunk,” Yoongi grumbles behind him.
“Hey baby doll,” Jimin says with a fond smile, “can I take you home?”
Jeongguk stares up at him, eyes getting wide wide wide, lips parting and little pink tongue darting out to wet them as he seems to rally himself enough to reply.
“No,” he replies petulantly.
All three men around him deflate, they should have realized it wouldn’t be easy.
“Okay,” Jimin says slowly, carefully, because he’s never had to deal with a Jeongguk that is this drunk before and he’s not sure how he will handle things. “Any particular reason why?”
Jeongguk glares at him in silence for several seconds, lower lip fully pushed out now, then he takes a big, deep lungful of air and says, “I have a boyfriend and even though I don’t deserve him because he is absolutely wonderful I am still loyal and in love and I’m not about to go home with you not matter how handsome and nice you are.”
“Oh my fuck,” Yoongi mutters.
“I need another drink,” Hoseok says before walking away.
But Jimin is endlessly endeared and absolutely enamored. He slips his fingers into Jeongguk’s hair and messages his scalp gently, “Baby that’s so sweet, but don’t you think I look a little familiar?”
“I do not understand how you are putting up with this,” Yoongi says from behind him.
“I think he’s cute,” Jimin replies without looking away from his boyfriend.
“Thank god someone does.”
“I mean…” Jeongguk narrows his eyes, his vision must be swimming at this point, if the way he’s slurring is anything to go by. “I think I’d remember someone as hot as you.”
“I’m both flattered and heartbroken right now, Gguk-ah,” Jimin says with a laugh, fondness exploding inside of him like fireworks. “What if I told you I was actually your boyfriend?”
🪩🥂🪩
Jeongguk frowns, bewildered by this incredibly handsome stranger in his business suit crouching over him. He is so pretty, all sharp and shiny and even here on the floor he can catch hints of an expensive cologne that Jeongguk recognizes as his favorite.
But surely this isn’t his boyfriend, him , Jeon Jeongguk, brat extraordinaire. His boyfriend is probably at home right now, enjoying the peace and quiet, relieved to not have to put up with Jeongguk and his sulking, and contemplating breaking up with him over a glass of wine.
He doesn’t notice Jimin looking up at Yoongi with a raised eyebrow, “Do you think he knows he’s talking out loud?”
“God I hope not, otherwise this is even more embarrassing.”
“Baby,” the very nice and handsome stranger who is not his boyfriend says, “I promise you I am not thinking about breaking up with you.”
Well yes, you aren’t my boyfriend, Jeongguk thinks.
“I am though,” the man says, his smile unwavering even if Jeongguk’s vision is swimming. “We met two years ago at Namjoon’s engagement party, you were Jin-hyung’s best man and I was Joon-hyung’s. You pretended to trip just so you could fall into my arms and then you slipped your number into my pocket along with a little gold star you’d stolen from the table arrangements. It’s still sitting in our living room and you insist on hiding it every time they stop by even though they wouldn’t care that we have it.”
For someone who isn’t his boyfriend this guy sure knows a lot about him.
“He’s still not convinced you’re Jimin?” Hoseok asks as he reappears with his new drink.
Yoongi shakes his head.
But Jimin continues, undeterred.
“For our first date I was so nervous, you know how beautiful you are, Gguk-ah? I had no idea what to do and then the restaurant mixed up our reservations and it started to rain and I thought for sure I’d messed up and you’d never talk to me again. But instead you dragged me into an arcade in our nice clothes and you made me play every single game with you, and whenever I won you gave me a kiss on the face and by the end of the night I was covered in your lip stick marks because I think you were losing on purpose just so you could kiss me more.”
“I feel sick,” Yoongi says.
Maybe this guy is like a stalker, which would be weird but also understandable because he and Jimin do make a really amazing couple.
“I’m not a stalker, baby,” Jimin replies.
Sounds like something a stalker would say, Jeongguk thinks.
“Maybe I can get a bouncer to come help us get him off the floor?” Yoongi suggests.
The handsome stranger sighs and rests a delicate hand on Jeongguk’s cheek, “Gguk-ah, look at hyung.”
Jeongguk looks begrudgingly as the man leans down and his face slowly comes more and more into focus before him.
Jeongguk gasps.
“Da-yum,” he whispers, “you’re even more handsome than I realized.”
The man laughs and ducks his head and his laugh is the prettiest laugh he’s ever heard in his life. Delicate and sweet and reminding him of… something.
Or maybe someone…
“Jeon Jeongguk, sweetheart, light of my life, my star boy, my pretty prince, please get up off the floor and let me take you home.”
“Don’t wanna.”
“Even if we take a bath when we get back?”
Jeongguk doesn’t reply.
“And I wash your hair for you?”
He pushes his lower lip out even further.
“And then I take tomorrow off so we can cuddle and I can help you get over your hangover?”
Jeongguk opens one eye, having not realized they’d slipped shut, “You’ll take tomorrow off?”
“Oh my god, now he recognizes him!” Hoseok shakes his head and lets Yoongi take a long sip of his cocktail.
“Will you order pastries from that one bakery?” Jeongguk asks.
“I’ll put in the order tonight so it arrives first thing tomorrow,” Jimin promises.
“And you’ll help me do my facial routine?” Jeongguk says, just to make sure.
“If that’s what you want,” Jimin replies easily.
“Fine!” Jeongguk heaves a sigh and pushes himself up into a sitting position, “Take me away, handsome stranger, but—” He cuts himself off and points an unsteady hand at the other man, “No funny business, I am very loyal to my boyfriend.”
“I love that for him,” Jimin replies with a little smile.
“You should meet him,” Jeongguk replies as he carefully pushes his empty champagne glass aside and attempts to sit up. “He’s so handsome, I’d say as handsome as you but also more because I love him. And he’s smart, he’s so smart, the things he does? I could never.”
“Jeongguk you’re literally a musical genius,” Yoongi points out.
“I’m not done, hold on,” Jeongguk says as he stares at his feet and tries to remember how to get them under the upper half of his body. Also what he was about to say. But both prove a little tricky to recall right now. He scowls and contemplates giving up, but then the handsome stranger who is also very nice reaches down and offers to pull him to his feet, and his hands are little little and pretty pretty and he hopes that someone kisses them often because they look like they deserve it.
“Yes, you kiss my hands often, you're sort of obsessed with them,” Jimin tells him. “Now let me help you up.”
With a grunt he manages to get his much larger boyfriend onto his feet, and Jimin swiftly drapes his jacket over his shoulders before wrapping an arm around his waist, “Thank you both and also I’m sorry,” Jimin tells their friends, who look amused now that Jeongguk is no longer their problem.
“A hangover honestly might be good for him, teach him a lesson or something,” Yoongi says with a shrug, “best of luck with the rest of your night… and tomorrow.”
“We’ll be fine,” Jimin assures them, laughing when Jeongguk nuzzles into him slightly and mutters a few incoherent sentences about how nice he smells.
And with that they are off, navigating the crowds with a surprising amount of ease despite Jeongguk’s poor excuse for cooperation and stumbling gait, then it’s outside and with a bit of struggle, into the car, the quiet a welcome reprieve from the noise of the club.
🪩🥂🪩
“How are you feeling?” Jimin asks as he pulls the seat belt across Jeongguk and secures it into place. “Do you think you’re going to be sick?”
“I’m okay,” Jeongguk replies, and when Jimin looks up he sees fresh tears gathering in the corners of his boyfriend’s eyes.
“Hey, hey,” Jimin whispers as he dashes them away with his fingertips, “none of that, what’s wrong baby?”
“I like you so much,” Jeongguk replies, “you’re so nice and pretty and smart and you take such good care of me and I’m awful!”
“I think what we’re learning tonight is that you shouldn’t drink when you’re upset.” Jimin double checks Jeongguk’s seat belt and then reaches into the back to pull out a water bottle he’d taken from the office break room. He cracks it open and drinks a little off the top so it’s not too full before handing it to Jeongguk, “Little sips, please baby. I’ve got to start driving but you are very much not awful. In fact I think you’re the loveliest person I’ve ever met and I’m so lucky you put up with me when I get swamped at work.” He presses a quick kiss to his cheek and makes sure Jeongguk grip on the water bottle is secure before settling in himself and easing away from the curb.
“I don’t think I like being this drunk,” Jeongguk mumbles as Jimin navigates traffic, “everything’s spinning and I’m sad.”
Jimin chuckles and reaches over to rest a hand on Jeongguk's knee, “I’m sorry baby, keep drinking the water and hyung will make you some food when we’re home.”
“Samgyeopsal?”
“Yes, samgyeopsal.”
The apartment is silent once he finally manages to get Jeongguk inside, Bam greeting them at the door and shuffling around his humans in confusion when Jeongguk barely acknowledges him. He’s gotten quiet during the drive, and now as Jimin deposits him on the couch he looks half awake, listing to the side as Jimin crouches down and unlaces his boots.
“You’re so nice to me,” he mumbles again, staring down at Jimin in a daze.
“Well, I love you,” Jimin says.
“You promise?”
Jimin looks up at his boyfriend with his messy bob and his crop top and his smeared makeup, they might not make the most conventional pair, but that doesn’t mean they don’t complete each other. Jeongguk blinks down at him, lower lips perpetually pushed out and kissable, and what else is Jimin supposed to do but adore him?
He picks up one of Jeongguk’s hands and presses a kiss to his palm, “Of course I do,” he says. “Do you still love me? Even though sometimes I work too much and I’m not nearly as fun as you are?”
“You are very fun!” Jeongguk protests immediately as he pushes himself upright only to tip over in the opposite direction. He huffs and scowls and rights himself again, “Who said you weren’t?”
Jimin tilts his head to the side, deciding against explaining that Jeongguk himself had made the accusation this morning. Instead he presses another kiss to Jeongguk’s hand and pushes himself to his feet, “Rest for a bit, try and drink some more water, I’ll be right back.”
“What? Where are you going?” Jeongguk demands, already struggling to stand, but Jimin pushes him back down gently.
“I’m just going to make you some food. Samgyeopsal, remember?”
“I really like samgyeopsal.”
“Yeah baby, I know.”
“Not as much as I like you.”
“Thank you, love.”
By the time they’re done eating Jeongguk has sobered up slightly, and it’s not too hard to navigate their nighttime routine. Jimin draws them a bath and even though he’s exhausted himself, he coaxes Jeongguk into it as promised, lies with him against his chest and washes his black curls, careful to keep the soap out of his eyes.
The entire time Jeongguk is nearly asleep against him, eyelashes fluttering and lips parted slightly, head lolling against Jimin’s shoulder as he grumbles and whines.
Once they’re done he bundles Jeongguk up in a robe and helps him clean the makeup from his face, patting the counter so that Jeongguk can sit on the edge and Jimin can stand between his legs.
“How are you feeling?” Jimin asks.
Jeongguk hums, “Still really drunk.”
“I can imagine.”
“I’m sorry I was so much trouble.”
“None of that,” Jimin reprimands softly as he gently wipes the last traces of eyeliner from Jeongguk’s eyes, “you know I like taking care of you.”
“Even when I’m a brat?”
“ Especially when you’re a brat,” Jimin surges forward to press a kiss to the tip of Jeongguk’s nose. “I know you get caught up in that pretty brain of yours, baby, but since when have you known me to put up with things I don’t like?”
“Never,” Jeongguk replies.
“Exactly,” Jimin follows the kiss up with a second one and grabs a bottle of toner. “Chin up, darling, we’re almost done.”
With careful hands Jimin helps Jeongguk finish his routine, then he coaxes a few pain killers into him, makes him brush his teeth, and guides him to bed where Jeongguk curls around him and clings like Jimin’s body alone is enough to get the world to cease its spinning.
“I love you,” Jimin reminds him as they lay there, the lights of Seoul bathing their bedroom in a soft glow, Jeongguk’s curls tickling his cheeks.
“Love you too,” Jeongguk mumbles petulantly.
“I’m glad you finally remembered I was your boyfriend.”
“I’m glad you still want to be my boyfriend.”
“Ah, Jeongguk-ah, of course I do, hyung is obsessed with you.” Jimin presses a kiss to the top of the other man’s head, “I’m sorry we fought this morning baby, but nothing you said or did was unforgivable…” Jimin trails off then adds, “I do wish you’d replied to me though, when I tried to call you.”
Jeongguk pushes closer, like he can somehow abandon his own body and take up residence in Jimin’s skin, “I should have, I was just so annoyed with myself for forgetting and arguing and then with you for the things you said and it just—”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Jimin reminds him, “we’ll talk more in the morning, yeah? Just get some sleep baby, you’re gonna need it.”
“I’m not going to feel good in the morning, am I?”
“No, but I’ll be here to take care of you.”
“I don’t know if I deserve it.”
“Good thing I know you do.”
Jeongguk falls asleep not too long after, breath evening out and body becoming heavy against Jimin’s side.
But Jimin stays awake a little longer, adoration sparkling brighter than the city outside for the star boy in his arms (and before he goes to sleep he makes sure to put in an order with their favorite bakery).