Archive of Our Own

When Park Jimin thinks about all the big decisions in his life that led him to this point he realises not once had he overthought them, if anything a bit more thinking might have changed the entire trajectory of his life. He hadn’t decided so much as known, with his whole being, that he had to get out of Busan before it killed him. He had known that Jeongguk needed to get out too. He supposes if he had thought more on the decision to attend that Seoul dance class, he’d have changed his mind, he’d have never let himself dance again, and he’d have never been found by Hoseok. The minute he’d found the Bangtan pack, it hadn’t been a decision, it had been a desperate act of survival to ask to join. He hadn’t even chosen to fall for Yoongi, it had just happened, crept up on him like falling asleep. Yoongi had been the one to choose for him if he really thinks about it, about all the fighting and the begging and the crying, the thought he’d return such feelings had seemed so improbable at the time.

So when Jimin thinks about how his life has played out since he was seventeen years old until now, he doesn’t think at all, he feels, he knows, he sees. He lives, and that’s why the decisions were so easy to bear. So as he watches the once all familiar landscape begin to speed by out the train window he feels anxiety pierce his gut like a knife.

He’d spent all these years becoming someone unrecognisable to the person who got on that bus to Seoul six years ago, and sometimes, just sometimes, he thought of his parents, of the voice through the phone begging him to come home. Of a home that wasn’t home at all. But he had never once had the courage to think about it for more than a moment.

The speaker overhead announces the next station is Busan and he feels the hairs on his arms raise in fear. Without a word, he feels Yoongi’s hand lace with his, fingers squeezing in silent support. He wants to pout, to pull his hand away and refuse to be comforted, if only to punish his mate for doing this to him. For buying these stupid train tickets.

He feels his ankle pulled between two feet in something akin to a hug under the table and he looks up to see Taehyung’s sympathetic eyes. He feels his body un-tense slightly at the offering of comfort, lets his eyes fall wearily on where Jeongguk is asleep still, face buried into Taehyung’s neck, the omega’s hand is stroking the hair at the back of his head, trying to coax him to open his eyes as a few people around them already begin gathering their belongings readying themselves for the approaching station. Jimin wishes he could’ve slept, instead of counting down every station stop with increasing dread, but he knows the reason the alpha’s even sleeping now is because he’d been awake all night with the same anxiety.

Yoongi lets their fingers drop and Jimin fights the need to chase after it, watching as the beta stands and begins pulling their bags down from the overhead rack one by one. Jeongguk’s blinking awake now, eyes lidded with lingering sleep. They all scrabble for their relevant luggage, as the platform comes into view and Jimin feels like his heart is sat in his throat.

When he’d received the train tickets as a Seollal gift from his mate he’d so desperately wanted to be mistaking things, to be misreading it, why couldn’t it have been a trip to Jeju instead. He’d felt a pit open in his stomach that day and as the date of the trip grew closer it had only widened, until he was sure it would swallow him whole. He was grateful when his mate had changed the date, pushed it back another month, but when he found out it was because Jeongguk and Taehyung would be joining them he’d thought the pit was surely a black hole.

His legs are trembling as he stands up, he’s not sure how much of that is just from the act of sitting stock still in fear for two and a half hours straight or if it’s because of the anxiety threatening to rattle his bones apart. He almost crumples to the floor as he steps off the train, but Taehyung is behind him, his hands coming to hold the beta upright when he sees him almost fall.

He doesn’t say anything about it, just gives him a look of silent understanding. He doesn’t say anything, only turns to his mate and puts his hand in the hair at his nape in quiet comfort. Jeongguk is still yawning, probably not even present enough for the gravity of where they are to sink in yet, Jimin can’t help but feel jealous. 

“God, that train smelled like three week old japchae.” Yoongi grumbles, setting their small suitcase down in-front of them, as Jeongguk stretches beside him, while Taehyung wrinkles his nose at the image of mouldy noodles.

People bustle about around them, tourists look around lost, and Jimin wishes he could find this place exciting, he’s not even sure the last time he’d been to Busan Station, wants to say it was for a dance competition when he was in school but he’d done so well to blur all of those memories to nothingness.

Yoongi’s hand is in his again, but he refuses to look at him, finds an exit sign and fixes his gaze on it, he doesn’t know how he wills his legs to move, how he lets himself be guided out of the station and towards a waiting Taxi that they all pile in. He has Taehyung pressed into his side, the omega immediately scenting his neck in an attempt at comfort, in the cramped space of the backseat. His other hand is in Jeongguk’s letting the alpha twist the ring that’s practically welded to his ring finger in an attempt to distract himself.

Jimin cannot help it, his arm reaches across to still the alpha’s bouncing leg. Their eyes meet and he knows the alpha feels that same unsettling feeling in his gut, the fear and regret, the worry that this is too much too soon. Taehyung himself seems to get it, can see the way he’s chewing on his lip like he thinks this is too much too fast, he remembers a time when the omega was still getting used to being around them, when he’d tried acting better than he felt. He’d been sure he was okay around Jin’s pups but when one had jumped on him, he’d had a panic attack so violent he’d passed out on the floor.

Before anyone can voice the idea that they should turn around, change their mind and get straight on the next train to Seoul, Jimin sits up and turns his attention back to the window. To the streets he knows too well behind him, it’s only been six years and yet nothing had changed, the same bus stops and shop fronts, the same coloured houses lining the hills. He thinks about how someone who loved their life would be, probably sharing stories about all the sights, reminiscing on the fun they had, and honestly, Jimin wishes he remembered more of his actual childhood, so he could at least have something happy to cling to. Instead he sees the road that leads to Jeongguk’s high school and the bus stop he used to get off at to meet him and he shudders.

Taehyung stiffens beside him but doesn’t say anything and he’s grateful. He takes the omega’s hand in his and tries not to scoff at the sight they must be, him and Jeongguk either side of Taehyung practically pulling him apart in order to use him like an emotional support plushie. It’s times like this he’s glad Tae is better, that he’s back to being content in his omega instincts, enjoys being scented and cuddled and given physical affection so he can get away with this. He’s also glad that Jeongguk isn’t so wild like he once was, that he doesn’t get possessive of his mate or feel threatened by others giving him affection. His heart physically hurts when that thought comes to him, to the point he thinks it misses a beat and he tries not to show that he’s winded by it.

Pretty soon they arrive at the air bnb that they rented for the next few days, it’s not far from the beach and he can hear the seagulls in the distance, the July sun beating down on them as they grab their bags and begin heading inside. It’s a nice place, probably a lot more expensive than Yoongi let on, especially with it’s location and he wants to cuss his mate out. He could’ve spent this money on a Jeju vacation, or taken him to Paris, or New York, anywhere else for a fancy holiday but no he had to insist on bringing him here instead. Honestly at this point the DMZ is starting to feel like a more exciting holiday spot.

As if sensing his displeasure Yoongi is in his face, hands cupping his cheeks, eyes searching his as if he can read everything he’s thinking on them. Jimin worries that he could.

“You’re mad at me.” He says, statement of fact, he doesn’t even seem bothered about, as though he expected it. Jimin can only push his hands off, making a move to sit on the large couch. Taehyung and Jeongguk have disappeared, probably claimed the bigger bedroom for themselves by now, but he doesn’t have the energy to care, instead he busies himself with inspecting the couch material for lint.

Yoongi sighs, crouching down in front of him. When Jimin still won’t look at him he tilts his head, leaning forward until he’s unavoidable. Jimin pouts.

“I knew coming here wouldn’t be easy, but I also thought it was what you needed.” The older says, resigning to the silent treatment. Wouldn’t be the first time he’d upset his mate, but he would never have asked him to come here if he didn’t think it was worth something.

Jimin’s brow furrows at that, “What could I need that’s here? Everything I want is in Seoul.”

It’s true, has been true from the minute he’d got on that bus, six years away without looking back had taught him what home and family was, everything that mattered to him was there. As of this moment the only thing in Busan he cares for is the people in this very air bnb.

Yoongi studies him for a second, letting out little old man noises as he stands up again and complains about his joints like he’s retirement age. Jimin resists the urge to roll his eyes fondly. Then the older beta is coming to sit beside him, encasing his delicate hands with his larger ones.

“You need closure.” Yoongi says, not in a way that’s pitiful or patronising, but one of deep longing and understanding, one that speaks of knowing someone’s inner thoughts as intimately as his own. Jimin swallows against the want to burst into tears right then and Yoongi must feel it through the bond, because the smell of cherry blossoms surrounds them in a soothing blanket.

He wants to deny it, to say its not something he needs, that he’d never once looked back on that day, but he’d cried himself to sleep the night he bonded to the Bangtan pack, when he could no longer feel his parents attachment. He’d replayed in his mind the phone call so many times on the worst days of his life. He knows its the reason he’d even bothered to get his ass on the train this morning.

“It hurts.” Is all he can muster, hand rubbing his chest and Yoongi can only nod in understanding, pulling him into his arms and holding him tightly.

“You’re being so brave Jiminie.” He promises, hand rubbing circles at the nape of the younger’s neck.

-

As it’s their first night in Busan and they’re all a little tired from travelling they decide to just order food from the nearest restaurant. Jeongguk hasn’t sat still since arriving and Jimin feels queasy just watching him. Taehyung also looks concerned, pushing himself against the alpha as much as he can without just sitting directly in his lap.

When the food is finally in front of him, Jimin feels his stomach ache, he fights against it, spoons rice into his mouth, aware of Yoongi’s eyes on him as he does. He feels sick with anxiety, and it makes food entirely unappealing but he can’t let this place be the first time in years that he’s failed to eat a meal, he can’t relapse here and now, he’s worked too fucking hard for that.

Yoongi’s hand is warm as it rubs his lower back. Jimin tenses at first before relaxing into his mate.

“Chim, you okay?” Taehyung asks, eyes full of concern and Jimin nods, trying his best to swallow the galbi he just forced into his mouth.

“It’s this place isn’t it?” Jeongguk says with knowing eyes, his own cheeks are stuffed with meat, but his brows are furrowed, and not in the cute ‘this tastes good as fuck’ way he usually does. His leg is still bouncing under the table.

“We shouldn’t’ve come.” Taehyung says quietly, poking his kimchi around his rice bowl.

“I wasn’t going to let you do this without me.” Jeongguk says, looking at Jimin still and the beta shakes his head. Seeing Jeongguk here, in Busan, on the same streets that almost killed him only makes him feel worse. They may be family to him, but that’s exactly why he vowed never to let Jeongguk come back here, to never return himself.

“I don’t like who I was the last time we were here. It feels wrong to be back.” He admits, finally swallowing his mouthful. The last time eating felt this hard, Jeongguk was throwing Namjoon into walls and Seokjin was crying himself to sleep in Hoseok’s bed and Yoongi was giving him cold stares and holding him hostage in the kitchen until the bowl was clean.

“That’s why it’s good to be here, to show this place it doesn’t have the same hold on you it did before.” Yoongi says, flicking his hair out of his eyes and fixing his glasses.

Taehyung’s hand on Jeogguk’s neck tells him the alpha has just been suppressed from growling and it’s unfortunately funny enough to give Jimin his first reason to smile since getting on the train this morning.

Yoongi is pouting, asking ‘Why?” Jeongguk is getting so rowdy with him for saying the truth and it only makes everyone else smile too. As the tension breaks and the conversation softens into more laughter and teasing Jimin finds his food goes down just as easily with it.

-

They spend the morning doing the tourist-y parts of Busan, like the cable cars and the beach and for a minute Jimin forgets this is the same beach he played on as a kid, forgets this is Busan and let’s himself go, laughing as Yoongi falls face first into the sand trying to header the ball back to Taehyung. In some ways he suspects these sports activities are designed to tire Jeongguk out like he’s some kind of puppy who can be walked enough to sleep through the rest of the day.

Yoongi gives up on the activity quickly however, sitting himself on a fold out chair under an umbrella to hide from the sun. He’s so pale compared to the other three, all three immediately turning golden at even the sight of the sun, but he still lathers himself up the heavens in spf 50.

Jimin lets his mate rub it all over his neck and ears, face scrunched as he feels the sand already sticking to his suncream covered hands.

Behind them he can see Jeongguk and Taehyung have ditched the ball entirely, already at the shoreline splashing around.

“They’re cute.” Yoongi grunts and Jimin hums in agreement, sees the way Taehyung is trying to dunk Jeongguk between the waves, squealing as the alpha pulls a huge piece of seaweed out and tries to throw it at him.

Unable to resist Jimin finds himself scrabbling for his phone to take pictures of them, silhouetted against the afternoon sun. Catches a great video of Jeongguk holding Taehyung against the waves before picking him up and swinging him over his shoulder to walk back.

“I’m glad Jeonggukkie has Taetae.” He says, watching as they approach.

Yoongi smirks in agreement. “They’re pretty perfect for each other aren’t they?” He says fondly and Jimin smiles, thumb reaching out to blend in a streak of suncream on his mate’s cheek.

“Not as perfect as us though, right?” He smiles and Yoongi can only scoff.

“Well of course not.” He says, and Jimin feels the rush of affection pushing through the mate bond with the admission.

Taehyung is dropped rather unceremoniously onto the towel beside Jimin in that moment, and before he can even protest Jeongguk is shaking his wet hair over both the omega and the beta beside him making them both squeal.

“Yah! Come here you little brat!” Jimin says, getting up at lightning speed and chasing after him, relishing in the cackles of laughter the alpha lets out.

-

By the time they’re back from the beach and showered and dressed for dinner, Jimin feels a complete 180 from the day before. Probably because all they’ve done today is tourist-y stuff, the things locals don’t do, so in some ways he is seeing Busan in a different light. Not to mention the number of places that have changed hands, the new buildings and the new activities that have cropped up in the last six years make even the familiar places around this side of town feel new and strange.

It’s only just seven, the sun still having not set as the four of them walk through the streets in search of a good restaurant. They’re about to turn down a street, when Taehyung stops, making them turn to see him. He’s looking down the opposite street, at a billboard on the corner.

“It’s Bogummie.” He says, eyes wide with longing and Jimin walks beside him to see it too. He’s right, Bogum is on it, the poster looks to be old, there’s some post-it notes all around it, notes of remembrance and love. They must’ve left it up as a place for fans to mourn.

Taehyung walks towards it in a trance, soft smile on his face. Jimin remembers a time the sight of something like this would’ve ended with Taehyung sobbing his poor little heart out, oh how far they’d come since then.

His smile is bright instead when he turns, and Jeongguk relaxes at the sight.

“Take my pic!” Taehyung says instead, handing his phone over to Jeongguk who diligently takes his photo, he knows all the right angles of course.

“Do you think it’s a sign?” Taehyung smiles when he takes the phone back, lets Jeongguk wrap his arms around his waist, chin resting on his shoulder as he flicks through the pics. “I think it means we’re exactly where we are supposed to be.” He adds when no one replies.

Jimin’s heart skips. Maybe the omega was right, maybe this was the universe telling them something, he looks up at the ad, it’s weathered around the edges a little, looks like someone even begun taking it down but left only Bogum behind. He snorts when Yoongi says that he thinks it was a fried chicken advert, that he thinks what’s left of his visible hand looks like it could be holding a chicken wing. Taehyung chuckles.

“It was for soju.” He explains, because of course he remembers. Everyone bursts out laughing at the chicken wing comment now they know its not even close. They all stare at the ad for a bit longer, heads tilting different angles to try and see how wing-like a soju glass could be.

They decide to head down the street from Bogum’s poster instead of their original direction and they get to a dukbap place that makes Jeongguk stop in his tracks.

“Oh, I’ve been here before.” He says, ticking his head in an attempt to remember.

“You have?” Yoongi asks, eyes squinting at the menu board outside.

“For my brother’s birthday.” He says, his sentence seems to trail off a little as the realisation hits. Jimin reaches for his nape to scent out of habit, but Taehyung’s hand is already there so he settles for just putting a hand on the alpha’s shoulder in support instead.

He can’t help but look back over his shoulder at the way they’d just come, to where the billboard of Bogum is no longer visible on the street corner. He knows logically that they were bound to cross by something that held a memory at some point, they grew up in Busan the chances of such a thing were hardly slim, and yet it doesn’t feel like coincidence, to see Bogum and then be led here to a memory of Jeongguk’s brother. He feels the breeze on his back like it’s the hand of fate itself.

“Shall we eat here then?” He offers and Jeongguk chews his lip in thought, before nodding. If he sees the tremble in Jeongguk’s hand as he reaches for the door he keeps that to himself.

-

Jimin wants to say that he slept well that night, that all the soft laughter and the delicious food had made him so full he passed out the minute his head hit the sheets but that would be a lie. Instead he tosses and turns, unable to settle. Now that he’s able to be alone with his thoughts, Yoongi sleeping softly beside him, hand splayed across Jimin’s stomach, the younger beta can’t do anything but think about what the next day will bring.

He hasn’t called ahead, he didn’t even check if they would be home, just assumed they would be as it was a Sunday. Hoped maybe by not announcing his visit he will show up and they won’t be there anymore, and he won’t even have to see them at all. Something twists in his gut.

He should’ve called, he should’ve called years ago. He should’ve answered the phone, he should’ve just told them what was going on. But if he had, would he be different now? Would Yoongi be in the bed beside him, would Jeongguk have gotten better, he certainly cannot imagine the alpha would’ve met Taehyung if they’d not come to Seoul, if he’d not been in the pack. And if Tae hadn’t met them, he shudders at the thought.

He cannot regret the decisions he's made, the point his life is at right now is where he knows it’s supposed to be, and yet he always wonders why he couldn’t just speak into the phone. It’s a cycle, one that makes his stomach churn like a washing machine. Regretting, then not, then regretting again.

He huffs out a breath, tries to get comfortable again.

“Stop thinking so loud.” Comes Yoongi’s sleepy grumble, it startles him for a second before he huffs again.

“If I could I would.” He says, rolling so they’re face to face. He can’t see in the dark of the room but he suspects Yoongi’s eyes are not open. Wonders after a second of silence that his mate may have actually been sleep talking, until he feels the bed shift and Yoongi’s hand wraps around him tighter, pulling him in closer.

“Whatever happens tomorrow, will happen. There’s nothing you can do, stop worrying.” He says again but his voice is so soft. In moments like this, when it’s just the two of them, Yoongi is so so gentle, uses a tone of voice that conveys only care and affection with every syllable, it makes Jimin’s heart swell.

They lie in silence once again, Yoongi’s hand stroking softly over Jimin’s arm the only indication that the older is still awake.

“What if they can’t forgive me?” It’s whispered, barely a breath really, too scary to be said any louder. In some ways Jimin hopes Yoongi didn’t hear it at all, because he feels ashamed to admit it. After everything he’s done, running out on them, throwing away dance school that they worked hard to pay for, refusing to speak to them while asking to remove their pack bond. For blaming them when he was younger for not caring enough to notice him struggling.

“Then they don’t. But you won’t know unless you ask.”

Jimin feels the tears welling immediately, fists at Yoongi’s shirt to pull them infinitely closer and bury his head into his mate’s shoulder. There’s lips pressing into his forehead, soft fingers scratching at his nape.

It’s moments like this, when he’s being held like he’s the most precious thing in the world, as Yoongi soothes him with his soft voice and cradles him close, promises it will all be okay that he remembers how easy falling in love had been. How important Yoongi is to him, how fiercely he believes in their love.

“Don’t cry angel.” Yoongi says and Jimin only squeezes his arms around him tighter, lets the warmth of his body soothe his aching bones, the smell of his scent, feel of their hearts beating in sync carries him out to sea, and he lets himself get swept in the waves, until sleep finally washes over him.

-

The next morning Jimin wakes to an empty bed, he’s used to Yoongi leaving him to lie in, but after the emotional toll of the night before it starts the day with him already on edge. He pads out into the kitchen in search of his mate but only finds Taehyung poking around in the fridge.

“Oh Minnie, you’re up!” He grins, and Jimin can’t help but smile back. Taehyung’s happiness is infectious, especially because of how genuine it is, how rare it once used to be.

“What are you doing?” He asks and Taehyung shuts the fridge, shuffling awkwardly over to him, wrapping a hand around his middle and hugging him fondly.

“Waiting for Kookie to come and cook breakfast.” He says, with that expression that tells the beta that Jeongguk himself doesn’t know that’s what he’s doing yet. Jimin can only shake his head fondly and ruffle his hair.

At that moment Jeongguk appears, eyes blinking tiredly and is immediately accosted by his mate. Taehyung is pawing at him and trying to push him towards the fridge, pulling every aegyo trick in the book to appease the alpha and make him cook for him.

He thinks back to a time when Jeongguk would’ve never let someone drape themselves over him like that, when just trying to hug him usually ended with Jimin’s ass bruised by the floor or Namjoons shoulders putting a hole in the wall. His chest aches, for the idea that Jeongguk almost wasn’t this person, the images flash, him in that alleyway, the look in his eyes as he refused to stop swinging his fists.

“I’m so glad you found each other.” He doesn’t mean to say it aloud, was content just to watch the two of them fondly bickering as Taehyung tried to be cute and Jeongguk tried to act like he hadn’t noticed. They both pause, turning to him and Taehyung’s hands move to hug Jeongguk’s waist tighter from behind, squishing his cheek into his shoulder in a way that says the omega is overflowing with affection. Jeongguk’s ears are pink, and he sniffs, not making eye contact.

“Me too.” Jeongguk says, it’s low, probably hoping no one else heard it, but the starry gaze in Taehyung’s eyes says he heard it well and Jimin can only roll his eyes, turning away to give them some privacy.

His mind falls back to Yoongi, he wants a cuddle too. Where was he?

“Hyung went to fetch the rental car.” Comes Jeongguk’s voice from over his shoulder.

Jimin shrugs, picking at the hem of his shirt.

“I wasn’t..” He tries to say but the knowing look he’s getting from not just Jeongguk but also Taehyung has him sighing in defeat.

As it happens Yoongi arrives not ten minutes later, rental car keys in hand. By that time Taehyung has managed to let go of Jeongguk long enough for the alpha to kook them all some breakfast and they all sit at the kitchen table to fuel up for the day ahead.

He’s better at hiding it today, but Jimin can still tell Jeongguk’s leg is jigging under the table. His own nerves feel shot, every piece of food requires deep breaths in order to quell the immediate sick feeling.

When they’ve washed up, and gotten dressed they head out to the car. Watching Yoongi key into the navigation his parents address makes him want to say that he knows the way, but he also knows he doesn’t trust himself one bit to give accurate directions. Not even due to time away, but because he knows if he had the chance to drive the opposite direction he would.

He fiddles with the sleeve of his sweater, it’s one of the designer ones Taehyung gave him after a photoshoot. It’s probably the most expensive item of clothing he owns (although it was free) and he does care about looking presentable, whether he wants to admit it or not. He’d even put a little make up on, the cologne Jin got him for his last birthday too. He felt the way his hand shakes as he tries to smooth down his hair. He got it dyed a honey blonde to match Tae’s, professionally this time, got it done last week so his roots wouldn’t be so visible.

The minute the car starts moving Jimin feels his scent spike with panic and he’s surprised when Yoongi’s hand comes off the gear stick to rub soothingly at his neck.

In the rearview he can see Jeongguk looking equally as anxious, not surprised when Taehyung squishes himself into the middle seat instead of the side one, to make sure he’s pressed tightly into the alpha’s side.

Jimin wants to laugh at the state they’re in, thinks it’s funny how he and Jeongguk are both from Busan and both their mates were from Daegu. Thought about how alike they could be sometimes. In many ways Jeongguk was his first family, not just a dongsaeng but a real baby brother, he’d had a hand in raising Jeongguk even, but Jeongguk had also raised him, been the reason he finally took control back of his life and he would forever be thankful for that.

Yoongi’s hand leaves his neck, to use the gear stick again, but he keeps it resting on Jimin’s thigh every chance he gets and the younger beta is thankful for that. He turns to look at his mate, better than looking out the window, seeing streets that feel too familiar. Instead he takes in the shape of Yoongi’s nose, the lines of his side profile, lets himself think softly on the feel of Yoongi’s hand on his thigh.

Yoongi smirks, “You’re staring.”

“Just taking in what’s rightfully mine.” Jimin says back, smiling too.  He can’t help but smile, feel the warm fuzziness of the mate bond thrumming between them, letting it envelope him in the security of knowing exactly where his home is. Right in front of him.

Yoongi laughs, it’s soft, the hand on Jimin’s thigh strokes circles with his thumb and Jimin feels butterflies.

Unfortunately it’s all too soon that he starts to recognise the roads they’re on, starts to know exactly how far away they are from his parents house, from the street he grew up on. Yoongi must feel him tense because his hand returns to his neck once again. He feels his heart rate pick up, feels it start to pound louder and louder until the blood in his ears feels like it’s a deafening roar.

“Chim, you’re okay.” Taehyung says, leaning between the seats, the smell of strawberries surrounds him in an attempt to calm him. He reaches for his hand, begins massaging it. “You’re being so brave.” He assures, and Jimin sees Jeongguk nod in agreement over his shoulder.

He wants to believe he is, but he knows he’s not being brave at all, in fact he’s terrified. Yoongi’s hand squeezes his neck, and his brow furrows in annoyance at having to pull it away to change gears.

They’re only a few minutes away, he knows because he sees the bus stop he took to school every day pass them by and he finds himself taking deep breaths in through his nose to try and avoid puking from anxiety.

They turn onto his street and he feels his vision go black at the edges and it takes everything in him to concentrate on getting air in his lungs. Tries to ignore everything else, the car coming to a stop or the hands over him, the mix of scents all trying to calm him at once. He takes his hand out of Taehyung’s, holds it up in an attempt to ask for space and they give it to him.

With his head between his knees he finally gets a handle on it, sitting up slowly and squeezing his eyes shut to regain control. When he opens them, the other three are all blinking at him in deep concern.

“I’m okay.” He says, shakily. Tries to smile and wave them off, but he knows they don’t buy it, they never will.

“We can wait.” Yoongi says casually, in a way that tells him, he won’t go anywhere until Jimin’s ready and he feels relief wash over him. He finally looks out the window then, to see his childhood home is right there, a mere five steps to the doorstep.

“This is it.” Jeongguk says, chewing on his lip, and pointing to the house. He thinks Taehyung must’ve asked which one in the row it was but he couldn’t hear it. He feels like if he opens his mouth he will be sick so he swallows roughly.

It’s no longer just the thought of facing his parents that’s stirring him up, it’s the memories flooding back, it’s the emotional toll of remembering who he was when he last stood outside this door.

He ran away from this place six years ago and refused to look back, and now here he was right in front of it again. With a full stomach, and a mate, and a pack that was like family to go home to in Seoul.

He knows, if he doesn’t get out of the car and walk over there, he never will. That if he doesn’t move now, he will sit here for another hour until they all give up and agree to go back to their air bnb. So without a word he unclips his belt, yanks open the door and forces himself to march over to the door and knock.

He only comes to reality when Yoongi is jogging to his side, hand squeezing his. Only then does he realise he’s actually knocked on the door, that there’s no going back because he can hear it unlocking.

He thinks he might just faint, his whole body is trembling with the quiet frankly medically alarming thundering of his heart.

He doesn’t know what he expects, what he thought would happen, hadn’t even considered how six years would change the way he saw his mother in his head, until he sees her opening the door, sees her face flickering with a hundred emotions at once as they settle directly on him.

Her face falls, and her eyes fill with tears immediately as she gasps. “Jimin?” She asks and all he can do is nod, eyes welling too. She steps out then, yanking him into a hug, hand patting his back softly and the dam breaks.

Jimin sobs into his mothers arms, relief and fear and love all overcome him at once. Of course this was his mother, of course she would be glad to see him, want to hold him so tightly. She pulls back, hands cupping his face and taking in every inch of his appearance like she’s studying a precious artefact.

“Oh my baby boy.” She says, thumbs brushing away his tears. “Is it really you?”

“Yes, eomma.” He says, sniffling as more tears stain his cheeks.

She pulls back then, eyes flitting between her son and the other man stood beside him. Yoongi cards a hand through his long black hair, trying to straighten himself up.

“Eomma, this is my mate, Min Yoongi.” He finally sniffles out, bringing the sleeve of his jumper to his nose, but he feels giddy at the awed smile that overcomes her face.

“Honey come quickly!” She shouts into the house and Jimin’s heart skips at the thought of his father being here too. With that same familiar grumbling, his father is walking into the doorway, stopping short at the sight of him.

“Hi Appa.” He says, suddenly self conscious, but his father only storms right past his mother to pull him into a bone crushing hug.

“Jimin-ah is that really you?” He asks, laughing heartily as he pats his sons back.

Jimin can’t help the way the relief threatens to crush him, has to look up to try and stop the stream of tears that are threatening to come out. If he sobs again now, he fears he won’t stop.

He nods, unable to speak against the overwhelming emotions as his father finally pulls back.

“Come inside.” He says excitedly and Jimin follows them, only checking Yoongi is behind him, linking their hands together.

The older turns to look over his shoulder, sees the other two smiling happily while standing by the car, just relieved that Jimin’s parents had been accepting. They move to get into the car then, taking up the front seats and Taehyung waves before shutting the passenger door.

“Are they okay?” Jimin asks, following Yoongi’s gaze and he nods smiling warmly.

“They’re happy for you.” He says, thumb rubbing across the back of Jimin’s hands. He can’t help the giddy laugh that escapes him as he walks into his childhood home.

His heart aches a little, it looks exactly the same, the same photos on the walls, the same furniture except for a much more impressive TV. He can’t help but look around, take it in. Thinks about how familiar the smell of his parents scents once was, they’re not as strong now, without a bond, but they are the beginnings of what he remembers.

“We never thought…” His mother says, trailing off, taking in the sight of him, twenty-four year old Park Jimin, standing in the home he’d left at just barely eighteen.

“I-I’m sorry.” Is all he can say, but he’s not sure that even begins to cover it.

They all stand there for a second just looking at each other, he can see the way his mother is looking at his blonde hair, probably wondering why he dyed it. His father’s eyes move between him and Yoongi in intrigue.

Finally his father says for them sit and everyone moves to take a seat around the living room. The couch even feels the same, he feels his stomach flip.

“Eomma, Appa, this is my mate Yoongi.” He says again, makes a point of lacing his fingers with Yoongi’s.

The older stands then, bowing 90 degrees. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He says formally and Jimin feels the wind knocked out of him, tugging him to sit back down as soon as he stands up.

“It’s lovely to meet you.” His mother says fondly and Jimin wonders what she thinks of him, wonders if she can just tell from the the way Jimin looks at Yoongi how brilliant and perfect he is.

“I should get out something to celebrate, do we have any makgeolli?” His father says suddenly and Jimin is quick to say they don’t need to drink, they’re fine.

An awkward silence seems to fall over them then, and he wishes he hadn’t declined.

“How have you been?” He finally asks, thinks about the phone call he refused to answer.

There’s a sadness that overcomes both of their features and it breaks Jimin’s heart.

“It was very hard for us, when you disappeared like that.” His father says, an emptiness to his voice that speaks of a profound loss, and Jimin feels his heart in his throat.

“When we got that phone call from that Alpha in Seoul, we didn’t know what to think.” His mother adds, her eyes are a little glazed over, but she looks exactly the same as the day he left, except for her eyes, which seem to have aged considerably and he feels immensely guilty.

“I’m sorry.” He says again, worries its the only thing he can will himself to say but at the gentle comfort of Yoongi’s hand on his back he wills himself to say more. To make them understand even if they cannot forgive. “I- I had to leave, I was..” He struggles for the words. “Did you really not know?” Is all he can ask, because in the six years he’s been gone the one thought that kept him sane was that they’d been absent, that they’d failed to notice him falling apart. In some ways he hopes that they really were just clueless and another wants them to have known the whole time, so he can keep blaming them.

They look at him with concerned eyes and he knows they didn’t. He shakes his head.

“I was starving myself to death.” He says, it’s blunt, Yoongi’s warm hand strokes his spine in encouragement and he’s once again so grateful for his mates existence, for him teaching him what love and patience are and how they’re meant to be.

His parents blink at him like they don’t know how to believe it and he feels his gut twist.

“I was killing myself and you didn’t even notice. That’s why I had to leave, and Jeonggukkie, he was just as sick living here near his old pack. I just- it was live or die, that’s why I ran away, that’s why we ran away.” He swallows thickly, licks his lips.

His mother gets up then, moves to sit beside him, pulls him into her arms and pats his back soothingly and Jimin, he can’t help it, he finally lets go, he sobs loudly and holds onto her for dear life.

-

Jeongguk sniffs as he puts the car in gear and pulls away from Jimin’s parents house.

“You okay?” Comes Taehyung’s soft voice and he nods, chewing on his lip.

“Hyung, to get to where they are, we have to go past where it happened.” He says suddenly, checking his mirrors as he turns out of the street.

“Is there not another road we can take?” Taehyung asks, sitting up straight, but the alpha shakes his head. “Are you going to be okay?”

Jeongguk smiles then, despite himself. “I’ll always be okay, I have you with me.”

Taehyung has the sense to blush at that, before playfully hitting the alpha’s arm.

“You know, I always feel bravest when you are with me.” Taehyung admits, looking out the window and taking in the landscape, everything about Busan felt different, nothing like the Daegu of his childhood or the Seoul he called home.

Jeongguk’s hand squeezes at his neck, making him shiver and turn to look at him.

“You’re the bravest person I know.” Jeongguk says, fond smile on his face even as he focuses on driving.

“Maybe, but you’re the strongest person I know.” He replies, interrupting before Jeongguk can protest. “I don’t just mean physically, I mean emotionally, you went through so much and look at you, still agreeing to come back here after everything.” He says and Jeongguk looks almost relieved of emotional weight at the words and Taehyung metaphorically pats himself on the back.

“Well if it wasn’t for Yoongi hyung being a sentimental piece of crap neither of us would be here right now.” He says, turning on his signal for a right turn.

Taehyung scoffs.

“It’s cute. His love for Jimin is cute.” He says and Jeongguk fondly rolls his eyes, earning him another scoff.

Taehyung keeps the conversation light as they drive but he knows the minute they get to the road because Jeongguk’s knuckles are white on the steering wheel and he goes very quiet.

“Jeonggukkie.” He says softly, he can’t help but look around, the road is like any other he supposes, but he can see how the sides dip down, how easy it would be to flip a car over it and he swallows thickly.

“Jeongukkie.” He tries again. “You’re okay.” He says, wills the alpha to say something, wants to know he’s okay. The trauma must be massive right now, and he doesn’t want him to succumb to it.

“We’re safe, everything’s going to be okay.” He repeats, because Jeongguk is clearly doing everything in his power to get this car safely down this road, with all the fear tensing his body.

“You’re doing so well, you’re such a good alpha.” Taehyung tries again, he’s hoping anything will work, just something to get a reaction out of him, anything to make sure he’s actually remembering to breathe.

They get further along the road and Jeongguk begins to un-tense, and Taehyung cannot stop himself from looking back, from watching that specific stretch of road disappear, knowing now its the road that took everything from his mate all those years ago.

Jeongguk’s breathing is ragged as he finally puts distance between them and the spot and Taehyung doesn’t hesitate to put a hand in his hair, rubbing soothingly, now it feels safe to touch him.

“You did it.” Taehyung says proudly and Jeongguk shakes his head.

“Sorry.” Is all he can say and Taehyung understands, shakes his head.

“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He replies, thinks about how many times they’ve apologised to one another, how many bad episodes or panic attacks they’ve talked each other down from. How many times Taehyung’s begged for forgiveness when his nightmares end with him scratching Jeongguk accidentally in his panic.

It’s not long after that they’re finally pulling into the cemetery. When the car engine is finally off Jeongguk takes his head into his hands and finally allows himself to process the drive over. Taehyung can only sit patiently and let him. He rubs a hand on the alpha’s thigh is silent comfort, unsure what else to do.

“Tae.” Jeongguk says, and his voice is so soft and low that the omega feels his stomach flip, he looks up to see the alpha already looking at him. His eyes are searching, as though he’s rumbling through a hundred different thoughts but in the end with a soft tilt of his lips he’s settling on, “I love you.”

Taehyung feels his cheeks warm with fondness, shuffling forward to press a gentle kiss to the alpha’s mouth.

“I love you so much.” He says back, knows the alpha can feel how much he means it through the mate bond, hopes it fills him up with strength.

Jeongguk smiles then, letting out a cute thrum in his throat, bunny teeth on display before he’s forcing himself to get out of the car. Taehyung follows him.

“Do you want me to back off or stay close?” Taehyung asks walking to his side and Jeongguk can’t help but smile, the fact that Taehyung still remembers the exact words he said when they first visited Bogum’s grave makes his heart stutter.

He latches their fingers together. “Don’t leave my side.” He says tugging him closer and Taehyung grins.

They head inside the columbarium, and it takes a moment of walking around before they find the right room, and a bit more scanning until he finds it but he stops dead in his tracks at the sight of the photo. It’s overwhelming, to see his mother’s face, as she has her arms wrapped around his baby brother, the two of them grinning widely at the camera. His fingers come up as though to touch but he stops himself.

Taehyung tucks himself into his side some more, hand squeezing his reassuringly.

“She’s beautiful.” Taehyung says, “And your brother is so cute.” He adds and Jeongguk smiles, feels his chest ache with longing and grief.

“Eomma, Jeongsoo-ya, are you doing well?” He asks, voice raw but oh so quiet.

He stares at the picture and wills himself not to acknowledge the urns behind it, he can pretend, just for today that he’s really talking to them, that for once they’re really with him.

“It’s been a long time, I want to apologise for not coming sooner, but I hope you can understand.” He says and Taehyung nods, free hand stroking his arm in comfort. “I brought my mate Taehyungie.” He adds, and the omega smiles. “Isn’t he so pretty eomma, didn’t I get so lucky?”

Taehyung fights the pain in his chest, the residual feelings of Jeongguk’s own heartbreak, wills the tears in his eyes to dissipate.

“I hope that I made you proud.” He says mouth twisting against the emotion threatening to burst out and Taehyung presses a kiss into his shoulder in silent encouragement.

“You did.” The omega says, didn’t want to interrupt, wasn’t planning to say anything but he wants his mate to know, wants him to feel that she would be so proud of him.

Jeongguk shakes his head, finger coming up to wipe his eyes.

“Hi Jeonggukkie’s Eomma,” He says, turning to the photo, “I want to thank you, for bringing him into this world so that I can love him. If you see my friend Bogum wherever you are, hopefully he can tell you how much Jeonggukkie has done for me, but I believe you know how great he is. He may not believe it but he’s the best alpha anyone could wish for as a mate,” Suddenly Taehyung finds himself swallowing back tears but he keeps going. “I-I don’t think I’d be alive right now without him.” He admits and Jeongguk’s forehead presses into his own, nuzzling closer.

They hold each other, the only sound their breathing for a moment, as Jeongguk looks at the photo of his mother and brother, and he lets the longing and the heartache surround him for a moment longer before he lets them go with a shaky breath.

He thinks of all the things he wants to say to his brother, of all the what ifs, he’d probably be at university by now, thinks about the Jeongsoo who would probably live with him and he would probably laugh and smile and be happy. He squeezes his eyes against the tears, let’s Taehyung wrap himself around him, hugging him tight, thankful to his mate for always being there by his side.

When he’s finally done paying his respects, he bows, and walks hand in hand with Taehyung out of the building and back to the car. When they get back in, they both just sit in silence for a second, letting the emotional weight wash over them, processing everything.

“You’re still pretty when you cry.” Taehyung says in faux annoyance and Jeongguk cannot help the chuckle that comes out, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Says you.”

“Oh, please I’m an ugly sobbing mess when I cry and we both know it.” Taehyung snorts.

Jeongguk turns to him then, thinks about the unfortunate number of times he’s seen Taehyung cry, and looks at his mate now, with his honey blonde hair all tousled and eyes a little pink from crying.

“I’ve never once seen you look ugly.” He says with sincerity and there’s something in Taehyung’s expression that conveys he feels the truth behind it too. “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.”

Taehyung’s mouth parts, his heart skips so aggressively it almost knocks the wind out of him.

“Jeongguk I-” The omega scrabbles for words that mean enough, I love you won’t cut it, it’s more than that, it’s the feeling of the earth literally moving beneath your feet until you’re next to one another, it’s fates hand tying your souls together, it’s the whole universe fading away until there’s only the two of you left in existence.

He doesn’t get to say anything because the alpha is reaching into the back seat for his backpack and pulling out a tissue. Holding the back of Taehyung’s head and putting the tissue to his face, like he’s a toddler still learning how to blow his nose. He does blow his nose, can’t help but comply when he sees the red rimmed doe eyes looking at him so expectantly.

Flabbergasted he reaches up to take the tissue from Jeongguk, finishes wiping his nose and bundles the tissue in his hand. He laughs then, in stunned disbelief.

“You were going to tell me you loved me with snot everywhere and then I wouldn’t be able to kiss you. Carry on.” The alpha said, a real genuine grin splitting his face for the first time in days.

Taehyung crosses his arms, pouting. “No, I don’t want to anymore.” He teases, and Jeongguk whines.

“Why? Hyung?” He says and Taehyung turns away from him.

“No you babied me, like an actual pup who doesn’t know how to blow their nose. You ruined it.” He says, quirking an eyebrow when he feels Jeongguk pull at his arm.

“I thought you liked when I called you Pup.” Jeongguk says, leaning over and speaking lowly. Taehyung immediately whips around to see him scandalised, only for his gasp to be swallowed by Jeongguk’s lips on his own.

It’s soft, full of affection and gratitude and just the joy of being togetherness but it makes Taehyung’s stomach flip all the same and he finds himself chasing Jeongguk’s lips when he pulls away.

The alpha laughs, a fond chuckle really but Taehyung still finds himself glaring at the teasing, face softening when Jeongguk’s nose crinkles at finding the omega just too cute to handle.

“Thank you for coming with me. I’ve been too scared to face them for so long.” He admits and Taehyung shakes his head, he’d do everything on earth with Jeongguk, he only had to ask and he says as much.

“I love you.” He says, and Taehyung smiles warmly.

“Me more.”

Jeongguk shakes his head again with a smile before reaching across Taehyung to pull the seatbelt over him, kissing the omega’s forehead quickly before turning to do his own and starting the car. As they head back to Jimin’s parents place, he laces his fingers with Taehyung’s, only removing them to change gears.

When they pass that part of the road again it feels lighter, Jeongguk’s grip on Taehyung’s hand is tighter, but his knuckles are not white against the wheel this time, and he brings their joined hands up to kiss the back of his mate’s hand in thanks when they’ve passed it.

-

Jimin isn’t sure how long he talks to his parents, but filling them in on the past six years feels cathartic, and he’s so grateful for Yoongi’s constant support through it, he wants them to understand how important the path his life has taken since leaving was for him. To see how important Yoongi is in his life and he never would’ve had that if he hadn’t gone to Seoul and slept in a dance studio and bonded into the Bangtan pack.

“We moved in a few months ago, it took a while to get it decorated but you should- you should come visit us sometime.” He says finally, and his parents smile at him for the first time in a long long time and he feels a weight lift from his shoulders that he didn’t even know he was carrying.

He looks to Yoongi, who’s simply watching him, small smile of encouragement on his face and he thinks about how he’d be lost without him.

“I wanted to ask you for forgiveness.” He says suddenly spurred with confidence and his parents look at him with sad smiles in return. “When you called and begged me to come home and I refused to speak to you. It was selfish of me to do that. But-” He feels himself getting choked up and like clockwork Yoongi’s had is rubbing softly across his back. He tries to clear his throat. “But if I had talked to you that day, I- I might’ve changed my mind, and I-”

He can’t say it, it feels cruel, to tell his parents who begged him to stay that he couldn’t stay or he’d have probably never lived.

“I know you sacrificed a lot for me to go to the academy, and I threw it away, and I turned my back on you for a pack I only just met, but if I didn’t leave, if I hadn’t got myself out of this town I was so scared I was going to- to die here.” His body trembles with the force of the words, and he feels what little strength he still had gathered tight completely unravel when his mothers soft hands come to encase his own, her eyes are pained too, but she’s holding it together.

“Your mother took you leaving very hard.” His father says, “we both did.”

“But when you didn’t speak to us, I had to believe that whatever decision you’d made about yourself was the right one for you.” His mother adds and more tears blur his vision. “And I was right, look at who you’ve grown to be. You’re handsome and you’re happy and in love.” She gathers his hands into her chest. “And you’re healthy.” She says and Jimin can only nod frantically. Because he was, he was healthy, he was going to sleep with a full stomach every night, Yoongi’s hand pressed over it affectionately. He had friends, no a family even and he still danced every week as a hobby and his life was so full.

“I hope that you can forgive me.” Is all he can say, is all that’s left to want, in this version of his life that’s full of everything else he could possibly desire.

His mother shakes her head, “No, I hope you can forgive us, for not seeing how unhappy you were.” She says, releasing one of his hands so she can wipe the tears from his cheeks with the back of her hand. It brings forth the memories of her drying his tears as a child so violently that he can only sob again.

He nods, pulling his mother into a hug, burying his nose into her neck in search of that once all familiar scent, and he laughs, like bells, when his father comes over to wrap himself around his wife and child too.

When it’s finally time to leave, Jimin feels the toll of the day hit down on him like a ten tonne brick. His eyes are sore, and his bones ache, but he soaks up the feeling of hugging each of his parents one by one, with the promises of talking soon, and exchanged phone numbers in the air.

As they step out of the house, Jeongguk and Taehyung are waiting, leant against the car once again, like they had been when they went inside. They approach when they see the others, and Jimin watches his mother process Jeongguk’s face in real time with a smile.

“Jeongguk?!” She asks, and he nods, bowing politely in greeting.

“It’s been a long time.” He says and she can only gasp, hand coming to her mouth.

“Why you used to be shorter than Jimin, I almost didn’t recognise you! My, you’ve grown into such a handsome young man.” She says, patting his cheek fondly and he smiles shyly, ducking his head.

“This is my mate, Taehyung.” He says gesturing to the omega and she smiles so warmly.

“Pleasure to meet you.” He says, and he can tell from the way she’s looking at him that she recognises him.

“He’s a model, Eomma.” Jimin says, clearly noticing too.

She puts a hand to her mouth. “You weren’t the omega on the cover of Marie Clare a few months ago were you?”

Taehyung smiles shyly nodding, his ears are pink but Jeongguk’s own chest is puffed out in pride as he puts a hand around his waist.

“Oh my! Jeonggukkie you’ve done so well for yourself!” She says and he thanks her.

“It was so lovely to see you again.” He says, as Taehyung bows and agrees it was nice to meet her.

“Drive safe!” She says as good bye and the two of them head back to the car to give Jimin space to say goodbye.

Yoongi appears from inside the house, Jimin’s father behind and he blinks confused as he thought they were right behind him when he has stepped out, but he just shakes his head. Takes in his parents, smiling, healthy, happy for him.

“You take care now.” His mother says, tugging his sweater up so it covers more of his neck. It was well into the afternoon now, and the breeze was stronger now than when they’d arrived. Her eyes are watery again.

“I promise.” He says, and he doesn’t just mean taking care of himself, he means answering the phone, not being a stranger, he means he’s going to make an effort to have them back in his life, now that he knows he can.

He kisses his mother’s cheek and shakes his dads hand and he only turns away when he reaches the car and has to get inside. He waves from the window as Yoongi gets inside and starts it up.

It all rushes over him at once, the realisation and relief and just, happiness and he puts his arm over his eyes and cries out everything that’s left inside himself. All at once he feels Taehyung rub his shoulder, Jeongguk squeeze his arm and Yoongi’s hand on his thigh and he feels even more overwhelmed with the support.

When he thinks about how lucky he is to have this, how it all could’ve been so different. He cannot put into words how privileged he feels.

-

By the time they return to the air bnb, they’re all exhausted, immediately flopping down onto the couches in the living room. The sound of Jimin’s stomach growling for food makes them all sit up to look at him, quickly overtaken by giggles.

“Don’t worry, hyung will order you some delicious food.” Yoongi says, patting Jimin’s head from where he’s flopped into his lap, already scrolling through his phone for a delivery app.

“So,” Taehyung asks, chin resting on his hand as he lies across Jeongguk’s stomach. “How was it?” He asks, looking at Jimin with those wide puppy eyes.

“It was…” He thinks of the right words, thinks of how it felt to forgive and be forgiven, to hug them again, to remember how they smelt and see their warm smiles once again. “Wonderful.” Is all he can come up with.

Taehyung smiles fondly, and Jeongguk looks at him with a knowing smile.

They chat some more, between yawns and stomach rumbles and soft giggles while they wait for food to arrive.

When Jimin finally gets to sleep that night he barely has time for his head to hit the pillow before he’s out like a light. Yoongi watches him fondly, snuggles closer to his mate, hopes his dreams are filled with only warm hugs and fuzzy softness.

-

Their last full day in Busan feels lighter than their first. They spend most of it on the beach, before going out for seafood to finish off the perfect vacation day.

The sun has long set by the time the stumble back into their accommodation, cheeks pink with the light buzz of drinks they’d had to wash down their dinner.

Everything just feels soft around the edges, tinted pink and Jimin can’t help the reluctant thought that Yoongi was right, he did need this, that maybe he got so used to living at eighty percent happiness, he had no idea what one hundred percent could feel like until now.

Jeongguk is lay on the couch, Taehyung squeezed down his side, head on his chest, both asleep and he rolls his eyes.

“How drunk were they?” He asks and Yoongi only huffs a laugh, but his hands come to stop Jimin from removing his jacket. He gives his mate a confused look.

“Let’s go on a walk.” He says. Jimin blinks at him.

“How drunk are you?” He asks, eyes squinting and Yoongi gives him that signature dry stare that says he’s sober as a rock, ironically.

“Come on, it’s our last night here, don’t you want to see the beach at night?” He asks and Jimin sighs, feels the longing to see the sea one more time, probably the Busan boy still in his blood.

“Should we wake them?” Is all he says, pointing at the two youngest still bundled up on the couch. But Yoongi shakes his head, grabbing him by the shoulders and turning him back towards the door.

Their fingers lace together as the walk down the street towards the sound of the waves crashing. The tide had come all the way in, so they’re content to stroll peacefully along the beachfront. Jimin stops, turning towards the waves, letting the breeze over take him, takes a deep breath in for that fresh sea air.

Yoongi comes up beside him, pressing their shoulder together warmly. Jimin shivers, it’s far colder down by the water than by their air bnb.

“I want to thank you, hyung.” He says after a content silence.

The older beta shakes his head, hand coming to the back of Jimin’s neck in an affectionate squeeze.

“No really, thank you. Not just for forcing me to come here, but for knowing I needed to. For hearing my heart crying out when even I didn’t want to listen.” He bites his lip, hand coming to rest on the railing infant of him. His eyes never waver from the dark sea stretching out before them, the bridge lighting up the backdrop of the deep blue sky.

Yoongi’s hand falls from his neck, “You don’t need to thank me Jiminie, you never need to thank me.” He says and Jimin smiles despite himself, finally looks down at his hands on the railings.

In the corner of his eye he sees Yoongi move but he doesn’t look up, already thinking of what the right thing to say was, the right way to explain how much Yoongi means to him. He’s taken from his thoughts by Yoongi’s soft call of his name and he finally turns to look at him. Feels his heart stutter and then beat a hundred miles a minute at the sight, of his mate down on one knee.

“Yoongi what are you-”

“Just let me speak,” Yoongi shakes his head fondly, tries to flick his long hair from his eyes as the breeze picks up. “I know I don’t often say it, but I hope you know how much I love you.”

Jimin feels his ears burn, already pink cheeks flushing deeper red. “I know.” He says eyes watering at the sight before him.

“But I mean it, Jimin-ah, don’t think I take being mates for granted because I’m bad with words.” He says again, brow scrunching in that way that makes him look so much like a kitten that Jimin’s whole chest threatens to burst open.

He shakes his head, but he can feel his hands trembling. “You’re not bad with words my love? You’re careful with them, I’ve always admired that about you. You only ever say exactly what you mean, no more no less.” He says and Yoongi’s mouth falls open in a way that conveys he’s also breathless.

“Can you stop being perfect so I can ask you to marry me please?” Yoongi says, it’s almost a whine but it makes Jimin laugh, emotion finally bubbling over as he sees the box in his hands, watches it open to reveal the most perfect ring. He nods frantically.

“Jimin,” He finally continues and now Jimin understands, this is a practiced speech, he’d practiced this. His heart sings. “I brought you here so I could give you closure, but I also wanted to come here selfishly for my own reasons.” Jimin’s brow furrows as he speaks. “To ask for your father’s permission, you know I’m traditional like that.”

Jimin feels his heart thud, he thinks back to when they’d said their goodbyes, he knew he’d been outside with them both, realises now they’d snuck off to talk while he was distracted.

“He gave it, obviously.’’ He gestures to the fact he’s holding a ring. He takes another breath and Jimin can tell that this is taking a lot of courage to speak right now and Jimin feels even more fondness overwhelm him, pushes it across the mate bond in hopes of soft comforting encouragement.

“But anyways, the point is, I didn’t want to ask you this without knowing you had everything you could ever want first, and now that I can see how happy yesterday made you, I know it was right. When I first saw you, you were wearing that stupid basketball shirt you were obsessed with,” Jimin laughs then, feels his eyes close into soft crescents, god he’d had such bad fashion sense back then, Yoongi grins too at the memory he can see. “And you were so frail, and I felt this feeling, that I’d never felt before, this instant thought that you were something special, something so precious that I needed to cherish. I was a total goner, the minute we held eyes and I smelt your scent and I just knew there was no purpose to my life but loving you and making music.”

Jimin can’t help but laugh at the last part, grateful for it to break him out of the desperate sobs he was about to fall into. “Well she always was the third in our relationship, more than Hobi Hyung.” He teases back, wiping his eyes and Yoongi laughs so genuinely it makes his heart soar.

“All that said, because being on my knee for this long is actually starting to hurt. Park Jimin. My mate, my purpose, would you please do me the honour of agreeing to marry me?”

The world around them feels as though time has stopped and Jimin feels the rush of affection crash over him like a tidal wave. He nods aggressively.

“Yes!” He says, hands reaching to pull his mate back up, to wrap his arms so fiercely around his shoulders and breath in his scent and soak up the way the bond between them thrums so beautifully. Yoongi’s hand is on the back of his neck and he pulls back, let’s their lips crash together, ring box still pressed between them. He’s smiling so wide when he pulls back and for a second their eyes shine blue as they meet.

They’re broken apart by a cheer, startling them and Jimin turns to see Taehyung and Jeogguk are approaching, the alpha has his photography camera in his hand, taking pictures, Taehyung’s own hand is holding his phone to record the whole thing.

Jimin feels giddy, they’d known the whole time, they’d helped plan this, they weren’t-

“You weren’t sleeping at all!” He scolds and everyone laughs at him fondly. Taehyung has so much energy as he pushes the camera around to record their faces, and Jimin bats him away fondly, turning back to his mate.

“This was your plan all along?” He asks and Yoongi shrugs like it’s no big deal. He smacks his shoulder playfully.

“Well, put it on!” Taehyung says, gesturing to where the ring’s gone forgotten between them in all the happy excitement.

Jimin sniffs again, turning to his mate who still has his free hand around his waist holding him close. He’s shaking too, but it had been hard to tell due to his own trembling. He immediately misses the warmth of Yoongi’s arm on his waist as he pulls it back to take the ring from the box, both of their fingers are shaking and it brings on more giddy laughter.

It fits perfectly, is even more perfect up close, and Jimin thinks he couldn’t ever feel happier in his whole life than he does in this moment. He looks at Yoongi, pulls him in by his jacket to press their lips together, ignoring the sound of Jeongguk’s camera taking more pictures.

He’s giddy and breathless as he rests his forehead against Yoongi’s.

“You better write a song about this.” He teases, smacking him playfully, smiling at the way the moonlight glints off the ring.

Yoongi can only scoff. “All my songs are about you anyways.” He says and Jimin’s heart skips.

When Park Jimin thinks about all the big decisions in his life that led him to this point, as he lets Taehyung move him into practiced poses as Jeongguk proudly snaps pics, as he feels Yoongi’s lips on his neck in shy gratitude, feels their hearts beating in tandem, he thinks agreeing to marry Min Yoongi is as easy as breathing.