Work Text:
"I think- I think I'm in love-”
"Okay, Jungkook, that's great and all, but if you haven't noticed we are currently under attack!" A fellow crew member, who the young quartermaster failed to recognize as a hysterical Seokjin, cried out. The pretty navigator was never really cut out for the surprises that came with living life as a full time criminal; nowadays they called them pirates, freebooters, and what have you. Such an unconventional career path came with its own set of unconventional consequences, also commonly referred to as raids.
Now, usually they weren't victim to such attacks, merchant ships being far more susceptible to incursions and an all-around easier target. If Jungkook hadn't been so busy eyeing a certain short, dark haired, male, he would've inquired why this other crew had suddenly jumped aboard their vessel when there was a handful of unsuspecting cargo ships already at port. But this new little discovery of his was all he could think about, even as the small figure quickly advanced on his captain—sword in hand.
What in the world is he–
Jungkook’s eyes widened as the boy took a swipe at a man nearly twice his size. Captain Kim Namjoon just barely missed a blade to the throat, somehow managing to lean back at just the right moment, but a moment was all he had before the petite pirate took another jab at him, one just as lethal as the last. Namjoon quickly gathered his bearings, surprise fading away into determination. Steel clanked against steel, neither taking a misstep, blades only grazing cloth for the longest time. Their puppy-eyed little visitor didn’t even reach Namjoon’s chin but he moved fast, using his speed to counter the captain’s size.
Small as he was, Namjoon’s opponent was a force to be reckoned with. He executed quick and purposeful thrusts of his sword, not once letting his guard down, that is, until he caught sight of one of his men—their youngest, Taehyung—held still with a boarding axe to his neck. It was for a split second that he paused, allowing Namjoon to lunge forward and disrupt his footing as well as his hold on the cutlass. Before he could resume a steady position the captain already had him cornered and pressed up against the mainmast of the ship with no way to escape. The smaller gazed at the ground where his sword lay just a few feet away, not near enough for him to toe at, and growled lowly, letting his arms fall to his side.
“What are you here for?” Namjoon hissed into his ear, loud enough so that everyone stopped to look at them.
"We came here to tell you to find new game,” The intruder replied gruffly, nimble fingers absently picking at the torn sleeve of his damp blouse. “Bangtan Kingdom is one of the wealthiest, as I am sure you know, but we don’t care to share.”
That much was true; everyone was well aware of the treasures Bangtan Kingdom had in their possession. They had plenty to go around and it was no secret to anyone that successfully pulling one over the royal family meant that you were basically set for life. Of course this also meant that it was no easy feat, and more often than not, fellow pirates were one’s biggest obstacle.
“I don’t think you are in any position to order us away. These ports are fair game and we have you and your blonde one a few centimeters short of kissing our blades, in case you couldn't read the situation.”
Jungkook watched the boy’s lips tighten in frustration at Namjoon’s words while taking the time to study his features. Wide, dark brown eyes, strong eyebrows, cute button nose. His gaze automatically traveled lower. Thick, shell pink lips, small ears, strong arms and muscular thighs. John Doe-eyed was nothing short of perfect (if anything he was short of height), and that Jungkook could determine from first glance.
And maybe, maybe it wasn’t the right time for him to stare dumbly, in complete awe, of the stranger who had just flung himself at his good friend and captain with a sharp object made for slicing a man in two, but he couldn’t help it. Not when this tiny human being was the nicest thing Jeon Jungkook had ever laid his eyes on—even when his mouth curled up into an ugly snarl as he demanded his lanky, blonde companion be set free.
Next thing he knew, Namjoon was calling for him to drag, what could quite possibly be the love of his life, to the hold. Jungkook tried to swallow down an apology as he tightly gripped the tiny pirate by the elbow after securing a rope around his wrists.
By now he had come to know two things: that the attractive stranger’s name was Park Jimin, and that Park Jimin hated Jeon Jungkook.
Jimin was also much more attractive up close, if that were even possible, this Jungkook took note of while leading him to his chambers. Surprisingly, he didn’t struggle or complain, not one bit, while being forcibly tugged all throughout the ship to his less than satisfactory (read: unsanitary, disgusting, who is in charge of maintenance around here?) sleeping quarters. He seemed like a man of very few words, only responding with yes or no answers and the occasional glower. It was cute, Jungkook thought while trying to ignore the warmth radiating from Jimin’s back, how the area between his eyebrows would wrinkle up in annoyance whenever his taller companion spoke. Which was, coincidentally, every five seconds.
“Who’s your captain anyways?” He finally asked, albeit hesitantly. Of course Jungkook had the upperhand, their current roles plain as day: a warden and his captive. Though, the way his heart fluttered told him that he might not want to be so aggressive with the little menace in his grasp.
“You’re looking at him,” Jimin replied, unfazed by the question. Nothing changed about his demeanour except for the way his eyebrows rose up in suspicion.
“What?” Jungkook blinked in confusion before stuttering out in a disbelieving tone, “But you’re so small! And you got caught...”
“This was an off day for me,” Jimin muttered with a subtle pout, throwing a glare at Jungkook when he laughed loudly. "And excuse me for not growing up to be a giant like some people."
Jungkook agreed that, yes, he was quite tall compared to most people, but Jimin was practically pocket sized. He resembled a small animal, with tiny features and pretty eyes curved like a puppy’s. He was squirmy like one too, nose scrunching up to express his distaste for anything and everything his captor did, almost petulantly. Jungkook could practically picture his ears twitching in annoyance. A small smile unconsciously graced his face at the thought.
“What are you smiling about? Did the atrocious scent permeating this damned ship finally get to your head or something?”
Yep, this Park Jimin was sunshine in its living form.
Jungkook just shrugged at his words, but smirked in response not a second later. “You know, for someone with such a cute face your personality leaves much to be desired,” Ignoring the adorable frown that adorned Jimin’s face, he continued, “Not that I mind a cute kid such as yourself pouting like that.”
“You keep callin’ me “kid” as though you’re somehow older than me. I'm pretty sure you're barely an adult yourself, kiddo.”
“Mm, surely not. Someone so small couldn’t possibly be older than me.”
Jungkook wore a thoughtful look on his face with obvious amusement behind his expression. He fiddled with the thought of Jimin having some sort of height complex and stifled a chuckle, the guy seemed pretty adverse to talking about his own lack of stature if the growing look of contempt on his face was anything to go by.
Jimin’s expression lifted into one of confusion for the briefest moment, quickly transforming into puffed out cheeks of frustration. He grumbled to himself as Jungkook watched, amused with the situation and still quite amazed at how endearing the tiny pirate could be. If Jungkook was being completely honest with himself, he was quite taken with the little thing, but he wasn’t sure if it was in his best interest to socialize with this Park Jimin. Jungkook had learned rather quickly that you shouldn’t, couldn’t, trust anyone at sea, much less a handsome stranger who just tried to dismantle your captain.
He chewed his bottom lip in thought, completely oblivious to the curious eyes peering up at him. It wasn’t until he felt a tug at the restraints from his captive that Jungkook was brought back to the situation at hand. The shorter had an odd look on his face as he studied Jungkook’s features, causing the latter to squirm under his scrutiny despite the power he ultimately held over Jimin. Unexpectedly, the weight of his petite prisoner fell on his shoulders, literally, as the black haired pirate pressed himself to Jungkook’s side, falling limp. If Jungkook hadn’t known any better, if he hadn’t learned that humans were usually not prone to catching on fire, he would have thought his entire being was up in flames with the way that his face flushed, all the way down to his chest.
With bated breath, Jungkook slowly reached his hand down to clasp Jimin’s wrist once more, his longer fingers curling all the way around and brushing the inside lines of a smaller pair of hands. A lump formed at the base of his throat when the pads of his fingers accidentally brushed across the calluses on Jimin’s itty bitty fingers, most likely formed from years of wielding a sword. The smell of salty seawater invaded his senses along with the distinctive whiff of rum and surprisingly.. fresh baked bread? Intrigued by the strange mix of scents, Jungkook curiously dipped his head into the collar of Jimin’s still wet poet blouse and sniffed. He drew back with eyebrows slanted comically.
“You smell odd, like the strangest mixture,” Jungkook said aloud, dumbly.
“Boys an’ I borrowed a basket of liquor and bread from Bangtan’s local parlor before boarding,” Jimin replied, voice muffled by the softness of Jungkook’s shoulder.
Jungkook shivered slightly at the feel of Jimin’s lips moving against the fabric of his shirt. He wasn’t shocked by the smaller man’s response in the least, it was just the way things were when you lived nowhere and everywhere all at once. After all, a pirate never knew when he’d see his next fresh meal again.
“The scent… It clings to your skin quite well,” Jungkook mused, lips quirked up into a weird sort of half smile.
“You also seem to cling to my skin quite well.”
Jimin was referring to the warm hand that kept dragging down the cotton material currently sticking to his back, fingertips skimming along the collar of his top and dipping in slightly to touch flesh. Very clingy. Especially in the way that Jungkook’s grip on him tightened unconsciously with every movement made by the other. Jimin could feel Jungkook rustle at his words and had to stifle a giggle at the embarrassed reaction. What a cute kid, he thought to himself, it was a pity that they met under such circumstances.
Jungkook cleared his throat.
“We should get a move on—the cells are further this way.”
“You just ruined it.” Jimin grimaced exaggeratedly, “And I was starting to like you, too.”
“Hm, and now I take it you've changed your mind?” A challenging eyebrow rose up, allowing him to feign a confidence he did not actually possess in Park Jimin’s presence.
“Well,” He paused for effect, throwing a wicked smile Jungkook’s way before continuing, “I’d like you a whole lot better if you’d untie me, sweet cheeks.”
“Sorry, no can-do, sunshine. Cap’n’s orders. Looks like you're stuck with me.”
A smirk overtook Jungkook’s face at the mild annoyance that flashed over Jimin’s features. He ignored his traitorous, pounding heart in favor of pretending that their previous moment did not occur. Mortified couldn’t even begin to express how he was feeling at the mere thought of how he shamelessly dragged his palm across the warm expanse of Jimin’s skin. And worst of all: how Jimin himself encouraged it. Of course, this could all be some ploy to seduce Jungkook into setting him free, but the way Jimin reciprocated his soft touches, in great contrast to his harsh demeanor only moments before, told Jungkook that maybe his feelings, this attraction, weren’t so one-sided after all.
But what was there to do? Jimin had let his existence be known through an attempt of thievery of all things. Their crews were rivals now, as the situation begged of them, and it would stay that way no matter how over the moon Jungkook was for Jimin. So, to stomp down the dangerous emotions bubbling inside him, he yanked on the rope binding the smaller man’s arms and squared his own shoulders. There would be no room to make friends. Or anything beyond that, either.
“I.. really have to take you down to your confines now. I suggest you pick up your feet before the captain changes his mind on what to do with you.” Jungkook pursed his lips, looking away, distraught.
Jimin shrugged, expression seeming nonchalant, and tapped the heels of his boots against the wooden floors. His fingers toyed with the rope, then moved to graze the front material of Jungkook’s pants, his fingers pinched onto the cloth and jostled Jungkook forward.
“C’mon, my feet are working just fine.”
The next few moments were, for a lack of better words, awkward as hell. The ongoing silence was punctuated by not-so-subtle glances stolen by both men, namely Jungkook. However, it seemed that Jimin was well rehearsed in the arts of feigning complete composure, even when he lacked any semblance of control at that moment. He begrudgingly admitted, internally, that he would’ve been much more upset with himself if Jeon Jungkook weren’t so damn cute. In fact, Jimin would even argue that he was almost too cute for a ship that perpetually smelled of spoiled food and men in desperate need of a shower.
While he was too busy sulking over his loss Jimin had not taken the time to properly look at Jungkook, but in this uncomfortable silence he found himself tracing the soft lines of his face. Despite being an annoying three inches taller than Jimin, Jungkook had a youthful face made up of fluffy cheeks and wide brown eyes, his bottom lip naturally pouted further than his upper; you could say the boy was quite pretty.
The smaller felt his fingers twitch with a need to touch the boy only a few feet away. A warmth settled in his stomach at the thought of Jungkook’s boyish features bunching up to form a proper smile. Jimin grimaced at his unusual thoughts.
Normally pirates caught yellow fever, scurvy, hell, lead poisoning—but no, Jimin had to go and catch feelings. Matters of the heart were never simple and love was always known to be such a fickle thing. Love was truly the worst condition to find yourself in.
“What a cruel emotion...” Jimin mumbled absently.
“If you think too hard you’ll put a hole through the cell wall.”
At the sound of Jungkook’s soft voice the tiny pirate shook out of his musings. He straightened back to full height, as far as he could go, and found himself distastefully eyeing the rusty bars of his new room.
“Gee, you really know the way to a guy’s heart.” The shorter shot Jungkook a look of disdain.
“I try.” Jungkook shrugged in a decidedly way less cute manner.
Just as Jimin opened his mouth to respond, a loud clank resounded throughout the room followed by quiet cursing. Captain Namjoon was near the entry way clumsily balancing shackles in his hands. He sheepishly looked up at the two men before clearing his throat and rolling his shoulders back into his default macho stance.
“I came down to bring you chains for our prisoner only to find you two married, what gives?” Namjoon cocked one eyebrow and tapped the toe of his boot insistently on the floor as if to imitate a disappointed mother.
“I- Captain!”
“I’m going to set these down here, put them to good use.” Namjoon sighed. “Just... try not to let your little crush on teeny here get in the way of you doing your job.”
The usually cheeky second-in-command gulped as his captain sauntered away and turned to face an amused Jimin who was leaning against the grimy walls of his cell, head tipped back in the most attractive way. For all his brooding in the last hour, Jungkook was surprised to find that Jimin had an infuriatingly adorable smile to match the rest of his exterior. That is, until he opened his mouth.
“Just you wait Jeon Jungkook, when I get out of here, I’m coming for you.”