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The streets in Itaewon are calm on a Sunday morning, a lack of activity allowing the spring breeze to filter between the buildings and pleasantly cool whoever is making their way along it.
Jimin's hand is pleasantly warm, Valentine thinks, as they're led to a small shop midway down the lane. It's an open shop front, blue with a sweet black-and-white striped awning over each doorway which politely spells its name.
"Bastille. This is it," Jimin says, greeting the workers with a wave as he pulls them both into the store.
The interior is petite, the natural light offsetting the dark colour scheme, charcoal decor and warm honey browns, courtesy of the many jars of
"Cereal?" Valentine's voice is a mild mixture of deadpan, surprise and amusement. "Is this a cereal bar?"
"Yeah," Jimin's smile indicates he's pleased with himself.
"So we're at a cereal bar..."
"Yep."
"... to get ice cream?" The barely-there note of skepticism makes Jimin's half-moon eyes widen and he pulls their hands apart, affronted.
"Are you judging? You love cereal," he says with a pout, and Valentine laughs.
"Exactly. So why are we here for ice cream and not, I don't know, cereal?" They're humouring Jimin, and his smile returns as he realises their confusion.
"Just let me order. You'll see," he says cryptically, eyes waning back into crescents. He turns, greeting the noona behind the counter, asking if she's well before making his orders for the both of them. When he's done paying, he takes Valentine's hand again and they take a seat on one of the wooden benches just outside the doors.
"They've combined cereal and ice cream," Jimin explains as they wait. "As in, you can have Cinnamon Toast Crunch ice cream with actual cereal as toppings."
"No way," Valentine is slightly awed. "They took cereal and made it better?"
Jimin laughs and hums, both melodic sounds, affirming their question. "Told you not to judge."
"Oh my god, I wasn't judging," Valentine protests, "I just didn't put two and two together. I'm a little slow when I get dragged out for ice cream early on a Sunday."
"You're the one that wanted ice cream. I'm trying to be nice and get you some, ungrateful cherub." Jimin says with a playful eye roll, squeezing their hand a little in endearment.
"You've known me how long and you still think it's okay to use Valentine's Day nicknames?"
"You want to make a complaint when I've brought you to a place that combines cereal and ice cream?" He retorts.
"You're right. Have I told you I love you?" Valentine bats their eyelashes coyly, the mock-aegyo making Jimin wince and giggle.
"Not enough," he admits with an exasperated sigh. "Can I hear it again?" He cups his ear with his hand, leaning in expectantly.
"Hear what again? That puns about the 14th of February are literally outdated and lame?" Valentine teases, pushing him away jokingly.
"Hey! Don't be scupid," Jimin fires back, wiggling his eyebrows. "Get it? Scupid? As in 'stupid' and 'cupid'. And, oh! 'Scoop' fits in there too." He giggles, applauding himself.
"I would literally leave you right now if we weren't still waiting for this ice cream," Valentine deadpans, and Jimin laughs harder. One of the staff members calls his name and order, and he goes to pick them up, returning with a cone in each hand. The ice creams appear to be steaming.
"Is that smoke, or...?"
"Oh, it's really cool! It's liquid nitrogen ice cream. Try some," Jimin says, handing them a cone. He waits, gently smiling as he gauges their reaction. Valentine lifts the cone hesitantly, preferring to die from liquid nitrogen freezing their insides than disappoint the sunbeam sat next to them.
The ice cream is good, beautiful, worth starting a war for, 10/10 would leave Jimin for a soft-serve dessert-
"It's good, right?" the aforementioned boy asks around a mouthful of his ice cream. Some of the dessert is caught on his upper lip, and he looks smug until Valentine mentions it. He wipes it away, embarrassed before joining their hands together again, tugging on the other's excitedly with curious eyes. "So?" He prompts. "Any comments, compliments?"
Valentine leans forward, making Jimin mirror the action eagerly, beaming.
"Yeah, just one," They say sweetly. "Your hands are sticky."