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Jin stared at the pair after they emerged from Jimin’s heat. They were wrapped around one another looking guiltily at the group, Jimin pulled backwards into Namjoon’s chest.
The bright red and angry mating mark shining against his pale skin like a beacon in the night.
“One thing. I asked you for one thing.” Jin cries.
Taehyung however clapped and rushed over, throwing his arms around the pair.
Joon flinched a little bit from having another omega so close to him so quickly, but soon relaxed into his touch.
“We’re sorry.” Joon cringed. “It was, we just couldn’t stop it; the thought of another comeback not… we couldn’t do it.”
“Exactly! Comeback, we have things to do Joon.” He throws his hands up in the air and made a groaning sound.
“I think it’s great.” Hobi muttered from the side.
“How can you say it’s great? We have so much to do.” Jin cried.
“Because they are my best friends and I am happy for them?” He walked over to hug them both, Joon flinched against Jimin’s back again but eventually leant into it too.
They looked over catching Jungkook’s eye, he looked at them awed as he nodded his head. Two of his favourite hyungs, together, officially, forever. He couldn’t believe it.
“I’m so happy for you guys.” He moved before the two other alpha’s in the room shouted. Joon’s head snapping upwards and making a low noise.
“What?!”
“Alpha’s need to keep a safe distance from a freshly mated omega. Joon is in full blown alpha mode. It’ll take about a week to settle. It’ll calm to just a fog in the next day or so, but he will still be aggressive if he thinks you want to touch Jimin, especially without his permission. He can’t help it, don’t take it personally kid.” Yoongi explained.
“Ah well, that’s… going to make this comeback…” He bites his lip, trailing off.
“No; it gets worse.” Jin says, his voice filled with worry and slightly laced with sarcasm. “Jimin has to be around, and with, Joon 24 hours a day for the next week or he will be in agony. Oh! And just for kicks, he’s also going to be exhausted at all times, that’ll be great fun with our schedules.”
Jimin looked at the ground guiltily, as Joon squeezed him tighter.
“Well that… isn’t going to be difficult at all.” Kookie mumbled from the side of him.
“Sorry?” Joon squeaks.
“No you’re not.” Yoongi laughs at him, raising an eyebrow. He’s been dealing with Namjoon’s pining over this for well over multiple years now. Maybe even half a decade.
“No, we’re really not.” Joon responds and leans his head against the top of Jimin’s smiling. Jimin can’t help the equally large grin that falls over his face.
“Comeback Joon. Comeback. The one thing I begged you to remember.” He threw his hands to his head, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
“Well, this is certainly going to be interesting.” Yoongi watched Jin crash out to the side of him, and shook his head.
Jimin and Namjoon wake up the first day of comeback schedules and groan as they moved towards one another, their legs tangling together.
“We’re mated” Jimin whispers.
“First comeback mated.” He smiles giddily as he pushes himself further into Namjoon’s personal space.
Namjoon somehow managed to pull him closer and kisses him slowly, making Jimin’s toes curl.
“You’re my mate.” Joon whispers against his lips.
Jimin can’t help but grin as he nods.
“We’re going to be together forever.”
Jimin nods again, smile unwavering.
“You’re going to have our babies.”
Jimin nods once more.
“The whole world is going to know we’re each others soon.”
Jimin makes a sound of excitement and nods his head once again.
“We’re mates.” He repeats. “And I love you so much.” He opens his eyes with tears in them.
“I love you too.” Jimin whispers. Leaning in to kiss the tears away.
“Are you going to be okay today?” Joon asks, one hand coming up to stroke at his ever growing hair. He wasn’t sure if he was going to keep growing it, but Joon seemed to like it, so for now it stayed.
Jimin groans. “I’m going to be honest with you, I’m not sure.” He sighs. “But all the positives outweighs this week of negatives so I don’t care.”
“That’s how I feel.”
“I’m worried about being without you.”
“I’ll be sat right next to you.”
“But you know Jin’s rules. I can’t even touch you, or more importantly, you can’t touch me.” Jimin pouts.
“If I get the chance to and it’s hidden, I will. I promise.” Jimin nods.
“It was worth it though.” Jimin muses his hand against Namjoon’s chest where his heart lies.
“Their going to wonder who your mate is.”
Jimin sighs, nodding. “For once I don’t want to be the centre of attention. I want you to touch me and not have anyone notice.”
“I’ll be the last one they think of.” Namjoon smiles.
“I wouldn’t be so sure, I check Twitter and instagram. I keep up with us.”
Namjoon blushes and looks away.
Jimin’s hands go up to his cheek and pulls him back so he faces him. “Do you want them to figure it out?” Jimin giggles, kissing him.
“Sometimes.”
Jimin smiles. “Namjoon, my big, strong, alpha.”
“Don’t placate that alpha haze like that, I know you’re stronger than me.”
Jimin giggles, “how about I placate it this way?” And he attaches their lips together, and they kiss.
Namjoon rolls him so he’s pinned under him after a while. “Do you think we have time?”
Jimin’s legs came up and wrapped around him. “I don’t care even if we don’t.”
Jimin pulls him down on top of him so their lips meet.
Eventually the pair showered off and ran towards the meeting spot at the front door. The others gathered and waiting for them.
“No.” Jin sighed. Pointing back to where they just came from. “Jimin, I know he’s being all possessive and alpha but you can at least help me here.”
“What’s wrong?” Joon said coming up behind Jimin and wrapping an arm around his shoulder.
“Look at his top.” Jimin slowly moved his eyes down. As the others snorted.
“You literally wore that in your last live.” He pointed at Joon. “Jimin change.”
“But I like this-“
“Change.” He pointed and his eyes flared.
“Now I have all the alpha’s together.” Jin looks at Namjoon, Yoongi, Jungkook one after the other. “The rule stands, no touching Jimin. I mean it.” Namjoon felt Jimin come up behind him, and he wrapped his arms around him. Jin only rolled his eyes. “Once we get out of here Joon. I need you to promise me. we can’t risk anyone slipping up there’s going to be enough speculation as it is.” He brought his hands up to rub his eyes.
“They won’t think it’s me, it’s fine.” Namjoon shrugged. Jimin made a sound of protest.
“Jimin’s fans are wild, and he is craving your touch.” He points at Jimin. “One lingering hand hold, one touch of the thigh, they’ll get suspicious. And we can’t risk you glaring at one of us in a jealousy fit.”
“He’s right Joon.” Yoongi pipes up, as Jungkook nods, eyes wide.
“I don’t care if you touch Jimin.” He said but his body language spoke a much different story, pulling Jimin closer to him and leaning his head into his neck.
“Not normally, no. But this isn’t normal, and the press are going to be doing everything in their power to figure out which alpha it is. So avoid it at all cost and give Jimin space.” All the alphas apart from Joon nodded, Joon giving a pained look instead.
“You two” he looked at Hobi and Taehyung. “You’re our omega protection squad, keep these two separate while we’re there, and run interference if there’s a camera around. And give Jimin as much physical touch as possible to soothe him, omega touch should at least take the edge off, according to everything I’ve read. I hope at least.” He bit his lip but looked around, they both nodded. Namjoon only grumbled, pulling Jimin tighter.
“Joon if you start getting jealous of omega’s I’m really gonna be fucked here.”
“No it’s fine.” He sighs “I thought I was leader.” He mumbles to Jimin who giggles and kisses his cheek in response.
“I’m honorary leader until your head gets screwed back on and you’re not in alpha mode. Why?! Right before comeback, why?” He flings his head back and groans.
“Hyung, I begged him. He had little choice in the matter: I couldn’t bare to be at another solo event, or fashion show, or photoshoot and not have everyone in the room know I have an alpha. I’m so tired.”
“No, that’s not true. I had a choice.” Joon corrected him firmly. “But it was not going to be no, we have held out long enough.”
Jin just groans in response.
They all step foot out of the door and into the elevator, Namjoon using these last moments of freedom to scent Jimin and try to leave a lasting impression of his arms around Jimin.
“Okay, I mean it, no alphas.” They step out and Joon drops his arms.
The camera faces them as soon as they get into the lobby, the staff eyes going wide as soon as they clock Jimin. The cameras get lowered.
“Bangs gonna kill you.” One of the staff laugh.
“What are they gonna do, fire us?” Jin puts on his sunglasses and walks past them.
“Can we at least film something before we get in the car?”
Taehyung runs up the side of Jimin, gesturing the staff to come over, wrapping his arms around the smaller male, and speaking to ARMY as he goes. Hobi running to the other side of Jimin and joining in Tae’s chatter, Jimin too tired to really partake.
“He’s so exhausted.” Jungkook mutters from behind them.
“It’ll pass.” Yoongi replies. “His soul is taking on a whole other person, and an alpha at that. Give him the week and he’ll be fine.”
“I know, I just like more energetic Jimin.”
“You’ll like mated Jimin even more.” Yoongi promised, and claps him on the shoulder.
“Joon, don’t get in your head about this, we’re just worried about Jimin.” Yoongi looks over.
“I wasn’t actually, it’s nice that other alphas care about my mate.” He smiled. “Don’t get me wrong; I want to punch you both for looking at him right now, but the old Joon is still in there somewhere.” He laughed.
“Less than a week now, that’s nothing right?” Jungkook grinned, “we got this.”
They walked out to the cars and the cameras were put away, and got into their designated groups for their cars. Joon’s hand itching to take Jimin’s in his.
“Are you okay?” He asks quietly.
“Yeah, that was exhausting, I never realised how much energy those two have.” He laughed.
Namjoons helped Jimin into their car carefully, he was far too weak to pull himself up at the moment.
He had not long sat down next to him and sorted both their bags out when his phone rang and a flashing ‘Jin’ stared up at him. Joon groaned.
“He’s gonna tell you off.” Jimin giggled before turning his head to look out the window smiling.
“Hyung?”
“No alpha is allowed to touch Jimin. Did I not make that clear?”
“Jimin is my mate, and he is exhausted. I am not about to allow him to get even more tired just from getting in and out of a car.”
“No alphas. I mean it.”
“My mate, hyung.” Jin sighed and Namjoon could hear some beeping on the phone.
The call beeped again and suddenly Tae’s voice could be heard. “Hyung?”
“When we get to the other end, run down and help Jimin out of the car.”
“Will do.” He replied and they all simultaneously hanged up.
“You’re to wait for Tae before getting out, okay?” Jimin leaned into the fingers that were currently stroking his cheek.
“Okay.” He said quietly, closing his eyes, leaning into the touch.
Taehyung hung up and looked at Jungkook. “You better let me out first, I need to help Jimin out to the car. Jin does not sound happy, Joon must have touched Jimin.” He snickered.
“This mating stuff sounds terrible for the omega.” Jungkook sighed.
“Is it? I mean sure Jimin’s in the trenches now, but it’s kind of like having the flu, and once he’s better, he’ll have a mate, that’s pretty special.”
“Would you..?” His sentence trailed off.
“One day.” Tae nodded, “not anytime soon” he added much to Jungkook’s palpable relief.
“One day.” Jungkook repeated and smiled at him.
Taehyung rushed out of the car, but tried to make it look as casual as possible. Thankfully Joon must have got his subconscious message as theirs was the last car door to open, and Taehyung stood back to let Joon out.
“He okay?” He mumbled with his back to the press.
Joon turned his head and covered his mouth “nervous.”
They both hear a cough to the side of them and Joon sighs, rushing over to stand with Jin, who looked at him pointedly.
“Jiminie.” Tae called and acted casual as he helped him out. He hugged around his waist and they both turned towards the rows and rows of cameras.
Yoongi walked straight past them and into the building, unwilling to spend any of his time standing for pictures with the media. He barely agreed to the press conference, but conceded when Joon reminded him they’d just twist their music in ways to make them look bad, might as well give their fans the real story so they can fight back misinformation.
There was a loud murmur as Jimin lifted his head and they all started shouting different things.
Taehyung expected Jimin to crumble given how tired he looked but instead he smiled, even smirked a little. The flashes from the cameras were enough to almost blind them and Taehyung begged himself to not blink. It was in that moment, Jimin giggled lightly, bowed, and walked past them all, ignoring everyone and everything in his wake.
“That’s my boy.” Tae said under his breath.
Sometime later they all walked out in their usual line up to stand in front of their most recent album cover and pose for some pictures. Yoongi extremely reluctant but calmed as Taehyung tried his best to make him laugh as they did.
Jimin was bereft, he could usually at least put a hand on Joon’s shoulder during photoshoots. His throat made a small whining sound before he could help it, and Namjoon’s eyes snapped to his. Hobi heard it so he came closer to Jimin and dragged him back against him, smiling as if nothing happened.
They eventually took their seats which covered their legs and Jimin almost deflated as Joon put his hand on his knee and stroked it. He could see the smile he held from his direct defiance of Jin’s order. Far too soon both of Joon’s hands were back on the table and Jimin felt adrift again and he sighed. Hobi grabbed his hand where it laid on the table and it helped ground him slightly, but he needed his mate.
One of the stage hands called the press conference to a start and Yoongi automatically picked up the microphone, they all looked at him in shock and confusion. He had told them earlier he was going to say as little as possible.
“No questions regarding our personal lives.” He stared out at the crowd.
Jin tutted. He knew one of the alpha’s would crack and say something, he should have guessed it would be Yoongi given his relationship with the press and his absolute dedication for protecting Joon.
“I’m sorry, but someone needs to address it!” One of the press shouts out from their seat.
“And sadly for you, we will not be addressing it.” Was Yoongi’s only retort.
Jin moved his hand and made a swishing motion. Muttering under his breath. “No alpha’s.” He glared at Yoongi.
Yoongi placed the microphone down “I didn’t touch him.” He mumbled to Jin and slouched back into his seat.
“I think we can get started on talking about the album now.” Came Namjoon’s voice. And he looked back at yoongi slouched in his seat in a silent message of thanks. Yoongi nodded and trained his eyes above the heads of the crowd. Chewing his tongue in an effort to show just how bored he was.
About an hour later the questions were still ongoing much to Namjoon’s disappointment. He just wanted to be back in their apartment, Jimin curled up in his lap.
Jungkook was answering a question about some of his solo work, and he was able to check on the team one by one. Jin was on high alert, swishing his eyes from alpha to alpha, even though Joon was the only one sat next to Jimin. Yoongi and Taehyung were both intently listening to Jungkook, a proud smile on both their faces. He turned his head the other way, Jimin was struggling, and he so desperately wanted to help him. Hobi gave him a defeated look and held up their clasped hands slightly.
Namjoon nodded slightly as to not attract attention.
He knew Hobi was trying his best; but no one other than himself could soothe Jimin right now and they just couldn’t risk any touch.
He heard the next question somewhere in the background of his mind and his eyes snapped back to the press, all the alpha’s were sat up, rigid.
“Jimin, you said you worked intensely on track number 9, that song is very much centred around love and finding a life partner, is that something you’d like to comment on?”
Yoongi growled and was about to grab the microphone.
Namjoon snapped his eyes to Jimin as he grabbed his, but Jimin was first, grabbing his mic and pulling it to his lips.
“I am an omega, I am in love, I have mated. I write songs that relate to my life. That’s all I’m going to say on the subject.” He dropped his hand to the table, putting his mic down.
“It looks fresh.” One of the other press pundits said.
“When, and with who, Jimin mated is none of your business.” Taehyung’s deep voice came from the other end of the table.
“This does not relate to the album in any way.” Joon reminded them.
“We’re entitled to ask Jimin about his personal life if he writes about it.”
“You are not entitled to any part of Jimin’s personal life.” Came Hobi’s response. “I wrote track 13, I’d say that song could be taken as being about making love, where’s my question?” He glared out.
Jungkook grabbed the microphone next, “In fact, why haven’t the alphas had a single question about their personal life and just Jimin? I have a whole solo song referencing making love and it’s not even mentioned.” He shook his head in disbelief.
Jin lightly groaned and grabbed his microphone trying to bring some order before he’s stopped in his tracks. “Jimin’s personal life is no one’s business but his own.” Namjoon stood up and called the press conference to a close.
Jin almost cried in defeat, but he reasoned with himself that that would be a leaders call to make, and followed them off the stage.
As soon as they were in the car Jimin collapsed against Namjoon.
“That was awful, you did so well.”
“Thank you for ending it.”
Namjoon nodded and kissed his hair. Jimin slipped into sleep as they drove back home.
He woke up some undetermined time later, his body being carried by Namjoon into the elevator.
“Jin, he’s dead asleep, we’re at home, I’m not letting an omega carry him, and I’m sure as hell not letting any of you guys carry him, so don’t even try it.” He hears the chest rumble behind him.
Jimin crashes back out against Namjoon’s chest.
He wakes sometime later, and stretches.
“Hi sleepyhead.” Joon smiles down at him and kisses his forehead.
“How long was I out?”
“Three hours.” He hears Tae’s voice from the side of him. “At one point you even started snoring, I’ve never heard you snore:” he giggled.
“Well that’s embarrassing.”
Taehyung shrugged. “One day when I go through it just don’t laugh at me and I’ll never mention it again.” Jimin giggled and nodded.
“How are you feeling?” Namjoon looked at him in the eyes.
“Tired still, but better than I did yesterday, so I think it’s getting there.”
“Google said you should be fine by the end of the week, but it also said your next heat might be more intense, first one after the mating and everything.” Jungkook piped up to the side of Tae.
“Baby, you’ve been googling mating?” Taehyung said softly.
“Namjoonie hung don’t kill me.” Namjoon’s head snapped to him. “I just got worried about Jiminie hung.”
Joon growled slightly and Jimin pulled him close.
“He doesn’t mean it.” Jimin smiled.
“I know, I was googling it for both of you. I care about you both too much”
With that Joon softened and smiled at Jungkook. “Thanks kookie.”
“Plus I wanna know what the hell I have to do when I do it to Tae, you know, eventually.”
“Do not give me two matings to deal with in one comeback Jeon Jungkook.” Came Jin’s voice from their kitchen as he prepped dinner with Yoongi.
“No worries on that front.” Came Tae’s voice, kicking his feet up onto the coffee table.
“I’ll help with the clean up.” Jimin said.
“Nope, your job is to rest, recoup, because we gotta do this all again tomorrow for the Americans.” Yoongi pointed at him.
“Then all again the next day for the Japanese market.” Hobi added, groaning slightly.
“Their both right, your job when you’re not working is to sleep and rest this week, okay?” Whispered Joon, stroking his hair.
“Tae and Hobi, you’re clean up crew. Joon, keep Jimin happy.” Yoongi pointed at them in turn.
“On second thought, I might rethink that whole mating thing.” Taehyung mumbled.
“I heard that.” Jin said pointing his ladle at him. “No more mating. Now Jungkook weren’t you supposed to be helping me?!” Jin pointed at the long forgotten vegetables on the side.
Jungkook jumped to attention and rushed over.
Eventually they sat with full bellies, Jimin once again curled back into Joon’s lap, the only place where he felt content since this whole thing happened.
“How bad is the press?” Hobi mumbled as he flicked through the TV.
“Do we want to know?” Yoongi mumbled. “Honestly, they’re gonna make up whatever shit they want to one way or the other.”
“Just check it.” Jin replied to the initial question. “It’s only gonna bug you.”
Hobi flicked through until he reached some glossy gossip station.
Jimin was plastered on the screen and they all did various groans, or eye rolls.
“I don’t look too bad.” Jimin spoke out into the quiet. “Tired, but I look pretty confident.”
“You did amazing.” Joon whispered into his ear.
“Jimin I honestly thought you were going to break when you got out of that car, but you switched, and it was wonderful to witness.” Tae rubbed his thigh from where he lounged next to him on Joon’s lap.
“Honestly, being so obviously mated is pretty damn freeing.” He smiled. “I have to hide with who, but I don’t have to pretend I’m single. That’s quite nice.”
Joon’s arms pull him tighter.
“I just can’t wait until our scents merge. I feel like I smell too much like me.”
“End of the week.” Came Kook’s response. “It should start changing tomorrow.”
“Joon’s-” “Hyungs-” “-already has.” Came Tae and Hobi’s response.
“You can smell it already?” Jimin replied, he couldn’t smell anything but Joon and him separately.
“Since yesterday.” They both replied.
“Yeah, alpha’s change quicker for outsider omega’s, it’s to warn them off. Your sense of Joon’s scent should kick in soon; but slower as your body is changing so much. As for your scent, omegas don’t change as quickly because they are meant to be around their mate the whole time, only being left to be provided for, when other omegas can protect you with their trusted alphas. Case in point.” He motioned to all of them.
“Kook really did his research.” Yoongi’s eyebrows raised.
“I’m more than just a pretty face, hyung.”
Hobi unmuted the TV as it went to a panel segment.
“Welcome back. The biggest news of the day is obviously BTS’ latest comeback. However that has now been over shadowed by the stunning news that the omega Park Jimin is now mated. Thoughts?”
“Well, we have to start with the obvious, this is clearly a fresh bite. It is angry, swollen, and he clearly looks tired during the press conference.”
“Insane timing to do this just before a comeback.”
They all groaned, and Jin shrugged. “I asked for one thing from you two during this heat. One thing.”
“Stop it hyung, we know we messed up, but truthfully, we really don’t care and we can’t undo it. So you can keep talking but it’s pointless at this point.” Namjoon smiles softy, as if to a caged lion. Jin makes a groaning sound before rolling his eyes.
“I think it’s cute, they couldn’t help themselves.” Hobi smiled. Jin once again rolled his eyes.
“I don’t think these things are always planned out, sometimes they are heat of the moment.”
“I suppose the more pressing question is who?”
“Well we can start with the immediate suspects-“
“Is this a true crime report what the hell are they talking about?!” Yoongi cried.
“-the alpha’s of the group. There are other alpha’s jimins close to-“ Joon growled and pulled Jimin tighter. “-but if we are to look within the group, we have Suga, Jungkook, Jin and RM. Jimin needs to be with his alpha now, so we need to look at them as the main options.”
“Someone could always be back stage.”
“I do not think it’s RM.”
“See, I told you hyung.”
“I wouldn’t rule him out, they do have a lot of intimate moments.”
“… And I told you.”
Jimin giggled as he looked at Tae who was leaning forward, completely enthralled.
“My guess would be Jungkook. We both know they are extremely close-“
“You could say that about all of them.”
“Yes, but wouldn’t it make sense for Jimin to be with the youngest of the group?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Jimin cries.
At that exact same moment Jungkook pipes up. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
They look at each other confused.
“Okay they lost me there.” Came Taehyung’s voice.
“They had you at all?” Jin looked at him baffled.
“Let’s not discount the eldest of the group.”
“Jimin does have an older side to him, it could very well be Jin. They have a lot of very cute stage moments.”
“So wait, it makes sense for me to obviously be with someone younger, and now it makes sense for me to obviously be with someone older?” Jimin looked around.
“Like you could land me.” Jin snorted.
“Hey!” Jimin heard Joon growl, and he quickly turned his head to kiss and placate him.
“Don’t hate the player Jimin.”
“We haven’t talked about the most obvious of the four, Suga.”
Why am I the most obvious?!”
“It’s clear they are very close.”
“Do I really not do skinship with Joon?” Jimin asked the room.
“You do. I don’t know how these lot haven’t noticed it.” Hobi replied.
“You literally scented him on stage once.” Yoongi shook his head.
“I have to repeat, don’t rule out RM. They are very close, and Jimin has said multiple times that he is one of his favourite people.”
“I wish they’d stop laughing each time I’m suggested.” Joon grumbles.
“It’s a good thing. It means you’re not particularly on anyone’s radar.” Jin reminds him, clutching at straws.
“Except for him.” Taehyung adds, pointing at the one panelist who is clearly piecing it all together.
“Well, going back to the press conference today I think we can lean towards saying it’s most likely Suga, as he was very vocal in not wanting to speak about Jimin’s private life.”
“This is why I said no alphas.”
“I did not touch Jimin, and I mostly didn’t even do it for Jimin. I was protecting Joon. I knew he wanted to say it, but wouldn’t.”
“Thank you hyung.”
“You’re welcome.” Yoongi threw himself back into his seat.
“But that also could be protection for the actual alpha that it does involve.”
“I think we’re going into conspiracy territory here.”
“Isn’t this whole segment? It might not even be one of the members.”
“Statistically it most likely is-”
“Statistics? We’re doing fake statistics now.” Yoongi snorted.
“Let them speak.” Taehyung huffed.
“You know you know who it is, right?” Came Jin’s response.
“Shh.” Tae swatted at him.
“Twitter thinks it’s you hyung.” Jungkook looked up from his phone at Yoongi as Hobi muted the TV.
“None of you are any fun. I wanted to hear the rest.” Tae swung back.
“Tae; it’s Joon.” Jimin giggled, only to be swatted away too.
“Actually no, it just refreshed, they think it’s me. Oh! They have a compilation of all the times we hugged during the love yourself tour.” He swings his head side to side happily. “We look so cute together.” He held up his phone.
Joon growled again and glared at Jungkook.
“Sorry.” He mumbled.
“It’s okay, you know he doesn’t care deep down. You were very cute that tour.” Jimin smiles at Jungkook before he buried himself in Namjoon’s neck to comfort him.
“Oh wait, I just searched Jin’s name. There are not as many posts but - aww, they have that time you hugged Jin with a gift bow in your hair. Oh you both look so cute.” Jin smiles fondly.
“Kookie you’re killing me here.” Joon cried.
“Sorry, I keep forgetting… it’s just, you normally don’t care at all.”
“And I don’t, I trust Jimin with my entire soul, but right now, it’s very hard.” His fingers dig into Jimin’s hips.
“Okay, lastly let me search you hyung.” He tapped away. “Ah, well, yeeeeeah.” He extended the syllables and played with his lip ring. “The problem is I know all these moments are real.” He laughed. “So I guess I’m not the best person to judge this, but yes, the Joon stans are being very vocal right now. More so than Jin hyung’s but less vocal than mine and Yoongi hyungs’s.”
“Aw, some are even saying you couldn’t possibly be with Jimin because you’re so obviously with Taehyung. Oh they have the cutest compilation of you two. Oh there’s that time when Tae was sorting your outfit at the billboards. And they even have that time Tae sang to you from the boat. You’re both so cute.” He makes a cooing sound.
Taehyung chirps happily; his head swinging from side to side, happy with that conclusion. Jimin can’t help but smile fondly.
Behind him Joon made a sound of distress and ducked his head into Jimin hair, breathing in deeply.
“Oh, wow, it applies to other omegas too? Huh, learn something new every day I guess. Won’t tell you about the Hobi tweets then.” Another cry from Namjoon, as Jungkook swings the phone towards Hobi and coos at of the two of them. “You were so cute together in Malta.” Jimin hears Jungkook mumble as they both lean in and look at the phone.
“Okay that’s enough, Joon’s on the verge of having a heart attack and Jimin needs to rest.” Jin called. “Joon, take him to bed. Sleep, no fooling around - I mean it.”
“I’m too tired even if I wanted to.” Jimin said as Joon stood up with him bridal style.
“Yeah, I don’t believe that for a second.” He called after him.
“Probably the best bet.” Yoongi nodded.
“Stop talking about our sex life.” Joon called.
“Nope.” Hobi laughed after them.
“Well, I guess we gotta get ready for round 2.”
“The Americans.” Jin groaned.
“Everyone prepare your English.” Yoongi cried as he made his way to his room.
Jin eyed them all as they stood by the door the next morning. Namjoon had spent the morning thoroughly scenting Jimin and the younger was finally starting to smell himself everytime Joon moved and it made his toes curl each time. If they spent extra long in the shower together they don’t mention it.
“Okay, are we all clear again today?”
“No alphas.” The three offending males repeat.
“Taehyung, Hobi?”
“Touch. Deflect. Run intervention.” Hobi nodded as Taehyung listed them on his fingers.
“Okay, lastly how are you two feeling today?”
“More human, less alpha.” Joon replied. “But I’m yet to be away from Jimin, so that could all change.”
“It’s a start at least.” Yoongi sounded hopeful.
“Jimin?”
“Less tired, a lot more needy though, so I think today’s going to be really tough.” He winced.
“Whatever we do make sure he’s sat between Taehyung and I. We can block him from Joon.” Jimin whines and buries himself in Joon’s arms.
“We could just tell everyone?” He says muffled against his chest.
“No. I had a huge argument with Bang about that on the phone last night.” Jin rubbed his eyes. “You’ll want to now, and then in a weeks time you’ll wonder why you did. It’s not worth the scrutiny until you’re a little while away from this.”
“Bang called you?” Joon looked at him.
“I called him.” Joon made a sound of protest. “I did not want him calling you in your headspace.” He shrugged. “It’s fine, he was mad, then he wondered how much it’ll increase the album sales, then he said he was going to talk to PR asap about the best way to spin everything when you do eventually want to come out. He said he’ll email us the different ways we could go within a week. So everyone stick to the no alphas, omega intervention until we get through the next few days. Bang’s on board with the speculation too. Said it’s good for everyone’s bank accounts.”
“I don’t like my mate being used as a bottom line.” Namjoon spoke the words angrily and balled one of his fists.
“Me neither, but what can you do when big companies are involved.” Joon growled.
“It’s okay Joonie, honestly. We can talk but maybe we could announce before the tour? Then we don’t have to hide when we want to go out together.” Jimin looked up at him hopeful.
Namjoon sighed and nodded, following everyone else as Jin walked out the door. He stopped when a hand reached out and pulled. He turned to look at Jimin.
“I don’t care how you do it, but sneak me a touch. Please. I feel like I’m burning all over when you aren’t.”
“Even if it could be visible?” Jimin nods. “And if they pick that up in the press?” Joon asked him quietly.
“I truly don’t care.”
Joon thinks for a moment before giving him a small nod, kissing him and leading him out of the door.
“I mean it. No alphas.” Jin repeats as they all crowd into the elevator, staring at Joon as if he had just heard their private conversation. Joon only nods in return.
They step out of the elevator and are met with cameras again. Jimin walked past with no intention to repeat yesterday, Hobi rushing alongside him holding his hand. Kookie, Joon and Jin take the reins this time, talking about their feelings on the album.
Taehyung wound his arm around Jimin’s shoulders “how do you actually feel?”
“I want to scream when Joon isn’t touching me. I’m so happy, but I’m also ready for this to be over. We should have waited.” He sighs.
“Don’t say that.” Came Yoongi’s voice from beside Hobi. “You don’t mean it and definitely don’t say it to Joon.”
“You know I don’t mean it; this is all I’ve ever wanted since I first kissed him all those years ago.” He sighed.
he waited for the cameras to be put away by the car and Joon’s hand to help him in the car so he could finally breathe normally again.
“Wait for Hobi at the other end.”
“I can get into and out of a car by myself.” Jimin mumbled.
“You need support, let us support you.” Joon pulled him against him and leaned his head against his. “We love you.”
“But you love me the most.” Namjoon smiled nodding. “Although I think Taehyung would probably still disagree, even after all this.” He laughed.
“If Tae could platonically mate you, he’d have done it years ago.” Joon laughed.
Jimin leaned up and kissed him. “I love you.”
“I know, I love you too.” He smiled.
Hobi rushed out of the car as seamlessly as possible. Bowing to the press as he waited by the car as casual as he could make it seem. Jimin got out first this time, and Hobi made a big deal of it like he hadn’t seen him in years and walked him over to the rest. Joon following behind them.
Yoongi was already waiting for them in the building, but the rest did their obligatory nods and waves to the press before moving.
Once again there were loud cries of Jimin’s name, and shouted questions as to who he had mated with.
They pointedly ignored them and walked into the building.
Jimin was sat between Hobi and Taehyung, Namjoon sat sandwiched between Yoongi and Jungkook in the row above as he read out questions in English and translated them for them all.
Jimin felt bad he still hadn’t tried too hard with his English skills, but reasoned Joon liked being the boyfriend who spoke English for the both of them when they went anywhere. At least, that’s what he tells himself.
Jimin was on fire, he rolled his neck and tried his best to put on a fake smile for the cameras, as he nodded along to Hobi’s answer.
Joon asked another question he only caught the end of and leant forward to touch Taehyung on the back. Jimin almost whined. It wasn’t fair that he could touch everyone but him. At that moment he felt the smallest brush against his back on Namjoon’s retreat to his seat and his entire body felt like it was doused in cold water, he closed his eyes in relief, before turning to Tae.
Jungkook made the smallest sound of laughter and knew he’d caught it, but they all tried to keep their poker faces on.
It was the third interview of the day where Jimin’s back went up. Some interviewer sat opposite him and smiled at them all.
“So I hear congratulations are obviously in order for Jimin.” Jimin can feel all four alpha’s move in their chairs, their bodies radiating waves of ‘be careful.’
“It must be hard, without your alpha. Unless he is in the room with us right now, but even then.” She motioned to her neck. “I’ve done it, I know how much pain you must be in.”
Namjoon stared at them, Jimin only slightly understood the question as it was spoken in English, but from the way Joon feels through their budding connection, it cant be going anywhere good.
“So I guess what we’re asking is, is he in the room with us? He has to be right? You wouldn’t be able to sit here if he was hidden away somewhere in this hotel.” She looked at the four alphas. “My guess is Jungkook, or maybe Suga? Come on, give us something..”
Namjoon stood up, and looked at the staff surrounding them. “we’re not doing this.” He said in Korean.
“You have to tell people.” The presenter cried back in English staring at Jimin.
Joon pulled all the omegas to their feet from behind. Jimin all but cried in relief at his touch given the situation and the anger throbbing through their bond.
“You three, leave. We’ll get you when this is sorted.”
The three instantly rush off into a side room that one of the staff opens for them. Jimin can hear Joon starting in English, and then quickly switching to Korean as he speaks to their staff. Yoongi is also grumbling now, trying to find out who allowed this line of questioning to happen.
There’s a knock on the door about 20 minutes later and all the alphas walk in. Jimin had been curled up against Tae, breathing harsh and loud. His relief was palpable as soon as Joon stepped through the door and he instantly rushed into his open arms, relief from the pain flooding him.
“That company is banned from any future interviews and she is banned specifically from any future big hit events. Don’t worry. It’s all sorted.”
Jin sighed.
“You do know this is going to be everywhere?”
“And we were meant to do what exactly? Have Jimin questioned about an extremely personal subject in a language he can only half understand? No.”
“Namjoon. You are his leader not just his mate.” Jin sighs.
“I am both. I always have been both it’s just official now.” He squeezes Jimin to him. “This is not just about Jimin. In fact it has nothing to do with Jimin.I would have done it for either of them two too.” He points to Taehyung and Hobi. “Hell, i would have done it for any of the alphas.” He bends his head to kiss Jimin’s hair. Point made.
Jin run his hands through his hair. “Comeback, you had to pick freaking comeback.” He muttered. Then tutted instantly, finding a mirror to fix his hair for their next interview.
“It’s true though, what she said:” Jungkook mused. “It has to be one of us. Jimin couldn’t function if it wasn’t. He’d be in agony, he already is and you’re in the same room as him.”
“Jimin was not doing well when that door shut.” Taehyung sighed.
“It could be one of the staff.” Hobi suggested hopefully.
“It could be, but no one would go down that path - not interesting enough.” Jin murmured.
“Okay. That’s enough now. This no alpha rule has gotten ridiculous.” Yoongi concluded. “Joon just sit next to Jimin like you usually do, touch him as much as you want, but allow us to touch him and him to touch us too. That way we can all be in the firing line.”
Joon frowns.
“Well he’s not growling anymore, so that’s an improvement.” Hobi smiled optimistically.
“Just…” Joon sighs. “Just for the interviews?” The three nodded. “And it’ll end when we leave here?” They all nodded again. Joon sighed and pulled Jimin closer. “Then... okay.” His face squished up in pain. “I’m sorry, I promise you I really don’t mind usually. I just can’t…” he pulled a face.
“We get it Joon.” The three say in unison.
“They’re gonna notice if Jimin is suddenly sat next to Joon and not another alpha.” Taehyung reminds them after Jimin gets Joon to calm down.
“Switch out the alphas every interview. Confuse them. Joon can move around but always be sat behind or next to Jimin. You two can stay away from Jimin. Let’s confuse them.”
Joon squeezes Jimin. “Are you sure you’re okay with all that?”
“As long as you keep touching me I’m going to be okay, but are you?”
“Not in the slightest, but I can handle it.” He smiles faintly.
Jimin leans up to kiss him before they leave.
They all step back into the room, bowing to the staff and arranging themselves. Hobi and Tae up to the back and side, and Jimin surrounded by the alphas.
Jimin squeezed Joon’s hand and dropped it as soon as the door opened with the next interviewer.
Thankfully the rest of the interviews only offer small congratulations to Jimin, before they launch into their questions and Joon helps with translation. Jimin with a different alpha next to him each time. He finds excuses to touch all of them so when Joon sits next to him he can hold him even longer than normal and have it be less noticeable.
Jimin flops into their car and moves across to line himself with Joon.
“Thank you for defending me earlier.”
“Jimin, I’m your mate, that’s my job.”
“But there’s many who wouldn’t, and you did. Thank you.”
Joon smiles and kisses him before pulling him into his side.
“Jin’s so angry with me.” Joon laughed.
“Jin is not my mate, and has no real reason to worry about things like you do. He can barely understand English too, so he probably didn’t even fully know what was going on. I think you need to explain it to him. I could feel how angry you were through the-“ he motioned between them “-the bond.”
Jimin laid his head against Joon’s chest and closed his eyes. “Sleep. You’ll feel better.” Jimin nods and slides into slumber.
Jimin opened his eyes blearily once more and noticed he was once again in the elevator.
“Don’t Jin.”
“I wasn’t going to say anything. Jimin needs this sleep; and he needs you.”
Jimin flopped his head back down into Joon’s chest and goes back to sleep.
He wakes some time later to Jin and Joon talking quietly.
He keeps his eyes closed and snuggles back into Joon; who only tightens his arms in response.
Jin sighed.
“It’s just been a lot, I’m not used to this whole leading thing, I’ve only been doing it for 2 days and I’m exhausted, how do you do it?!”
“It’s not easy, but you have been doing a good job. This is just such a difficult situation, and I am sorry you’ve kind of been thrusted into this position due to our descion making. The one thing you asked me not to do, I know.” Joon preempts him. “We had no choice Jin. I’m sorry, we couldn’t hold out any longer.”
Jin sighs. “I get it, you’ve wanted this for so long, I just, hate doing all this. I’m good as an elder hyung. Great even.” Jimin can feel Joon nodding. “Leading though. That’s tough. I don't want to put it on Yoongi, but I'm close.” He laughs lightly.
“Look, seriously, if I’m touching Jimin I can function, so just let me touch him and I can manage everything I used to. Like Kook said it’s only a couple more days. It’s just... you may need to put me in place if I prioritise him where it’s detrimental to the team, and that means from now on, not just this week. I’m going to ask Yoongi hyung to do the same thing, and Hobi, as I want to make sure I get an omega prospective.” Jin hums in agreement.
“What she said.” He sighs. “I didn’t fully understand what was going on so I apologise, but I get it now. You had every right to stop the interview. Looking back on it now Jimin was really distressed. We can’t have that.”
“Jimin could feel me, through the bond thing, he said he could feel my anger.”
“That’s gotta be weird.”
“It is weird. I don’t know how to feel about it in a way. What if I get down about something and he feels it?” He squeezes Jimin again. “I knew it would happen, but I didn’t think it would be this intense.”
“Can you feel him?”
“If I think about it, yes, but it’s only becoming more and more prominent each hour. I really had to search for it this morning, now it sits on the edges of my mind and I don’t have to think too much. If this is now, what’s tomorrow?” Jimin can feel a kiss placed onto his hair.
“Personally I think Jimin’s more than capable of handling any emotion you may feel, otherwise he wouldn’t have that mark on his neck. Jimin is very courageous and fierce when he wants to be, he’s just, not in the best place right now.” Jin tuts. “I’d give him some affection right now, but…” He laughs.
Jimin feels the slight growl coming from Joon rather than hearing it.
Joon sighs and shakes his head, “I just love him so much and I hate how this is happening, but equally I wouldn’t change it for the world. There’s so much relief that he’s finally mine and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.” Jin laughs lightly.
“Just next time not during a comeback, yeah? I don’t need any more grey hairs.” Jin laughs.
“What grey hairs?” Joon questions and Jimin can imagine the smile from where he pretends to sleep. “Now wake him up. I’ll go get dinner ready and tell everyone they can come back out.” Jimin hears him walk away.
“How long have you been awake?” Joon whispers to him as he kisses his hair.
“Long enough to know you took my advice and spoke to him.”
“I always take your advice.” Jimin hummed in acknowledgement and kissed him.
“If you get sad, I can handle it Joon, I’ve handled it without the bond and I’ll handle it with the bond. In fact it might make it easier as I can understand the complexities of it.” Joon nodded, and rested his head upon his.
Joon moves him to the side before pulling him to his feet. “How are you feeling?” Wrapping his arms around him.
“Actually miles better. But take me away from you, and…” Joon hums in agreement; feeling similar.
Joon leads them to the bar stools in the kitchen as they wait for Jungkook to plate up.
Some undetermined time later Jimin is back in his recovery position, curled up in Joon’s lap, surrounded by his arms.
“Put the news on.” Taehyung cries.
“No, don’t.” Yoongi bemoans.
“I wanna see what they are saying. Who it is!”
“Taehyung, once again, you know.” Jin motions to the pair.
“Shh.” He swished him away with his hands.
Hobi switched the TV to the celebrity news station, Yoongi groans loudly in his response. They are already half way into their discussion when they join the channel.
“Its very clearly RM”
“I like that guy.” Joon says. Jimin giggles lightly, shaking his head.
“You are not looking at it logically, Suga was second to stand after RM, defending the omegas, and RM is leader, so he is supposed to stand first. It is clearly Suga.”
“If you missed it viewers we received leaked footage of BTS ending an interview after Jimin was asked very personal questions. Which we want to clarify, questions this news channel would never ask under any circumstances.”
Yoongi snorted “you’ll publish a leaked video of it though.” He rolled his eyes. “Fucking assholes.”
“Just because RM was first to stand, it does not mean that he did it purely in a leader capacity, if someone did that to my mate, I would do exactly what RM did. And he was always in Jimin’s vicinity throughout the rest of the interviews. Also, if you notice, he did actually touch Jimin whilst the omegas flanked him.”
Kookie snorted; “I knew someone would catch that on twitter.”
“You did what?”
“Leave him alone, I begged him to. When you go through this, you can talk.” Jimin pointed at Jin. Knowing he had no argument Jin flopped back into his seat.
“And eagle eyed viewers have spotted that it’s only omegas getting Jimin out of the car, but RM is always in the car.”
“Oh well that’s a reach.” Taehyung muttered.
“That’s the reach?” Yoongi laughs at him, only to be swatted away.
“Yes! We’ve had the same car buddies for years, it would be more of a red flag if we changed them.”
“I’m telling you all, it’s Jungkook. Jimin spent far too long with his hand on JKs shoulder when he answered the question about solo work.”
“Yeah because my other hand was on Joon’s thigh and I knew I could distract them with Kookie.”
“Hey! That was fake affection? I was enjoying that.”
“Kookie. I’m still not out of the alpha haze yet.” Joon reminded him, eyes flaring, receiving a quiet ‘sorry’ in response.
“And if you look Jimin’s other hand is on RM during that.”
“See, I really do like that guy.” Namjoon nods.
“He’s literally outting you.” Yoongi sighs.
“Yeah but not intentionally. He’s just got it all right and the others are off in cuckoo land trying to make their ships work. The breadcrumbs are there and he’s the only one picking them up.”
“I think we can safely rule out Jin.”
“Aw, why?” Tae bemoans from the side.
“Seriously Tae?” Jimin and Jin say at the same time.
“Shh, my shows on.”
“Last alpha to stand in the altercation-”
“Altercation.” Yoongi scoffs, “see, this is what they do, it’s all explosive language, and dramatic wording. It’s pathetic. Gets far too many people into more trouble than they should be.”
“Shhh.” Taehyung swats at him again.
“No, if they think one of us is Jimin’s mate, they should know why we all ended that interview the way we did, packs stay together.”
“Shhhhh.” Taehyung repeats.
Yoongi only sighs in response.
“And Jimin doesn’t seem to interact with him as much as the others when Jin eventually does sit next to him. Although there are points.”
“Aww, Jimin, don’t leave Jin out.” Taehyung whines. Joon flinches below Jimin.
“I thought Jimin was all over me personally.” Jin shrugs before receiving a death glare from Joon. “Sorry Joonie.” He grins.
“I’m telling you it’s Jungkook.”
“I’m telling you it’s Suga.”
“I’m telling you it’s RM. The clues are there.”
With that Hobi switches the TV off, and they all lean back.
“Why does no one let me have any fun.”
Jimin giggles at Taehyung in response.
“At least I got ruled out tonight” Jin stretches his arms above his head. “Back on the market for that future lucky omega or beta.”
“You know, I’m taking it as a positive they think it’s me because at least it means me and Tae are hidden for a bit longer.” Tae nods in response.
“Until Jimin and I eventually get figured out.”
“We’re not at mating stage yet, so we only have each other to hide. It’s easier.” He shrugs. “I mean we’ve only been together, what… two, two and a half years?” Jungkook looks at Taehyung who nods. “You two have been together since basically debut.”
“Not quite, but close enough.” Jimin corrects him, “and we’ve wanted to mate for over two years.” He adds:
“And you had to pick comeback.” Jin says exasperated for the umpteenth time.
“We couldn’t make it easy on ourselves Jin. Where’s the fun in that?” Jimin smiles.
“You two are giving me grey hair, let alone Jin, at this point.” Yoongi sighs.
“Look, we talked. We think we should just go with the best plan possible, and just get it out there. Sooner, rather than later. Let’s just see what Bang says.” Jimin snuggles back into Joon.
“Besides, we’re all going to be finding apartments after the tour; and me and Jimin are going to be living together, so everyone will figure it out then. And I want to finally be able to date Jimin in the countries we go to.” Namjoon whines. “It’s really hard keeping it hidden for this long.” Jimin nods, sighing.
“It’s hard for us, and we’re a fraction of your time together.” Jungkook says in agreement.
“Maybe you should just say fuck it and post something.” Taehyung muses.
“Not wait for Bang?” Hobi looks across.
“Like Jin always says; what they gonna do? Fire us?” Jin taps the temple of his head and points to Tae as if he’d imparted great wisdom. “You mated and if that didn’t send him over the edge, this won’t.”
“Well whatever we do, you aren’t doing anything until your mating bond is sealed.” Yoongi rules.
“You need to get him to bed Joonie, he’s looking dead on his feet again. And I mean sleep.”
“No fooling around. I know Jin.”
“It’s only a couple more days.” Jungkook calls after them positively.
Joon carries Jimin out of the room as the rest stare at one another.
“Ah fuck it. Let them post.” Hobi says as he stares at where Joon just left.
“You think?” Yoong and Jin look over worrying their lips.
“Yeah, who out of us wants their relationship monetised? Free on weverse and instagram. One post. It’s done.”
Jin tilts his head, before he eventually nods. “Okay. Bangs going to be pissed with me - that’s going to be fun - but okay.”
“Hyung if it-“ Kookie starts.
“If you don’t think I can handle Bang Kookie, you don’t know me well enough.” He winks across.
“They can finally be together like they’ve wanted to be for years” Tae sighs wistfully for his best friend.
“So it’s agreed. We go against Bang?” Jungkook’s tongue fiddles with his lip piercing.
“We go against Bang.” Hobi, Tae and Jin say in unison.
“Yeah. Fuck it, let’s do it.” Yoongi nods and sits up.
“I taught you guys so well.” Jin pretends to wipe away a tear.
“We’ll tell them tomorrow. Let’s just get it over with. They could post tomorrow night.”
“Oh!! I know the perfect picture!” Tae goes through his phone as they all get up to leave.
“Hey!”
“Night Tae,” they all call.
“Kookie?! You literally sleep with me!” He runs after him.
Jimin and Namjoon wake up the next morning, legs tangled together.
“One more day of tough work. And hopefully only two more days of this.” As if to show what he means Jimin snuggles deeper into Joon’s arms. They had more schedules to come, but only one more day this week.
“Jimin, I don’t want to do it Bang’s way.” Joon said, looking at him.
“What? You don’t want to tell people?” Jimin’s eyes went wide and he pulled the sheets against him, pulling back. Panic filling him.
“No. No. Stop. Feel the bond. Feel it. It’s okay.”
Jimin closes his eyes, tapping into their bond and feeling only contentment and love and he sighs happily, snuggling back down.
“I don’t want to do it Bangs way.” He repeats. “I want to do it our way. I do not want it to be monetised, or be flashy, or be forced to do some mated photoshoot with assigned merch. I don’t want to be anything we’re not.”
“So you want to go with Tae’s suggestion?”
Namjoon nods. “Please tell me you’re okay with that. If you aren’t we’ll meet in the middle.”
“Feel the bond Joon.” He closes his eyes and smiles “I’m more than okay with that.” Jimin sighs happily.
Jimin curled up against Namjoon, leaning up to kiss him, before burying his head against his chest, hearing his heart beat.
“Tonight” Namjoon whispers against his head.
“That soon? You don’t want to give it until…”
“No, I will stay by your side all day today and I don’t care what anyone thinks. It’ll all be over with, tonight.”
They walk out of the room sometime later. Jimins muscles ache with the feeling Namjoon left on him as they made love this morning. He couldn’t resist when he rolled over on top of him. Namjoon now smelling completely of a mixture of both their scents, and Jimin couldn’t wait to smell it on himself.
“So no rules today?” Jungkook looks around the group.
“New rules.” Namjoon said. His arms wrapping around Jimin’s shoulders as he brought him backwards flushed to his chest.
“I’m going to sit next to Jimin all day, and we and him are going to do whatever skinship they want with anyone.”
“Alpha haze gone?” Yoongi grinned.
“Gone.” Namjoon agreed. “You are going to allow me to get away with anything. Because I still need touch, at least for today., and Jimin definitely still needs it.” He looked pointedly at Jin.
Jin only nodded in response, impressed at the clearness in his voice, smiling lightly. Relieved leader Namjoon was back.
“Then we are going to post on instagram and weverse tonight. That is final. No arguments.” Jimin grinned, and brought his hands up to Joon’s arms, squeezing.
They all smiled.
“What?” Jimin looked at them.
Taehyung giggled “we were going to tell you to post tonight.” He answered grinning.
“We’ve got this.” Joon says.
“We’ve got this.” They all repeat.
Jin stops Joon before he gets in the elevator. “This is the right choice.” He says. “Fuck ‘em.”
Namjoon grins and steps in.
They step out and Joon doesn’t even bother to drop his conjoined hands with Jimin. Walking past the cameras as they bug Yoongi for his first talking head.
Jimin grins and wraps his free arm around the arm Joon’s holding his hand with. Sighing contently.
“And I’ll be helping you out of the car today.”
“I actually feel a bit more awake today.”
“And I’ll be helping you out of the car today.” Namjoon repeats.
“And you will be helping me out of the car today.” Jimin giggles lightly. “My own Prince Charming.”
Namjoon nods and helps Jimin in settling next to him.
“Just promise me, don’t go alpha and accidentally say you’re my mate, or hint at anything to come.” Jimin murmurs quietly as to not alert their driving team. “I don’t want any one at Big Hit getting the drop on what we’re doing, or it being an exclusive for any random company.” He squishes his nose up in disgust.
“Not in a million years, I may still have some fog around the edges, but I’m cognitive.” He smiles.
“You told yoongi it was clear.”
“And if I didn’t he’d have told me we should wait, and I am done waiting - I’ve done ten years. I’m tired.”
“Eleven” Jimin whispers, smiling sadly.
“Even worse.” Joon groans, leaning down to kiss him.
“I’m going to take you somewhere magical before we go on tour: I swear it to you.” Joon whispered into his hair.
“Take me somewhere with a beach, where I can do nothing all day and make love to you all night.”
“Deal.” Namjoon grins and kisses him.
As they pull up, Namjoon gets out first and greets the press.
He looks up to see Yoongi disappearing into the building and smiles, before turning back to hold his hand out for Jimin.
Jimin takes it, and his entire body relaxes. Letting Joon take the lead as he pulls him out and next to him.
Jimin smiles gratefully up at him as he then bows and waves to the cameras in front of him.
There are many shouts of Jimin’s name, and he can hear the word ‘mark’ ‘bite’ and ‘alpha’ being thrown at him.
“Vultures.” Joon mutters under his breath as he smiles and waves.
“Just remember, we have the upper hand. They want the information we have.” Jimin places his arm in his, uncaring that it causes the cameras to go wild once more and for shouts of both their names to increase.
Jin looks over at them and nods, before turning to walk into the building, the others following him as the couple fall into step behind them.
“It doesn’t make me want to go any less nuclear.”
“Imagine how annoyed they will be when their company doesn’t get the exclusive.” Jimin giggles, patting the arm his other arm is linked through.
Namjoon only hums in the response, holding the door open for him as they walk inside.
Jimin and Namjoon spend the entire interview session with their hands on each other in one way or another.
A hand on the thigh, a hand on a shoulder, a side hug for a question that really didn’t need that level of affection.
Jimin kept up appearances and reached across to the other alphas as they rotated, but they didn’t hold the same level of intimacy as when Joon just brushed his hand or held his shoulder.
He reached out in their bond, and he only felt contentment on Joon’s end so he pushed away with a hug directed at Kookie, or a hand hold with Yoongi.
He couldn’t believe how easy it was, he felt Joon’s emotions at all times. He could feel the spikes of jealousy from the fog, but he could equally feel it being cooled over as soon as Jimin touched him.
They sat in the middle so Namjoon’s got to initiate skinship with their other omegas just to throw everyone even more.
Jimin was sure Joon could feel his little spikes of jealousy every now and then as each time it entered his mind, his hand would land on his thigh.
They all wore secret smiles as they answered their questions. Content with the knowledge they had; but no one else knew.
Thankfully the Japanese media were less interested in Jimin’s mark, and more about when they should expect any further Japan tour dates, or even a potential single. Which they all knew was written and completed by Joon and Hobi over a month ago.
They teased and shrugged. Suggesting where they’d like to perform in Japan in the future, yoongi listing off some places they already knew they were going but hadn’t been announced yet.
Jimin could feel some anxiety coming through the bond and tried to hold in his giggle. He guessed he would need to get used to feeling everything the leader felt now it was starting to fully take hold of his soul - he didn’t even really need to find it anymore. It just existed, more and more with every passing minute. He couldn’t understand how he had never felt this part of him before. It felt so natural.
“Jimin?” One reporter said before they left. She had been wonderful in her comments so far, so Jimin smiled in response, eager to hear more from her.
“I wanted to say congratulations, from the whole of Japan. We do not care who, but we wish you both well.” She stood up, and bowed towards him.
Jimin looked up at her, and smiled. “Thank you.” He whispered in Japanese, his face creasing up into one of the most beautiful smiles Namjoon had ever seen.
Hobi had to grab Namjoon in a fake back hug as they all stared up at her, worried he was going to rush forward. Namjoon was grateful for the prevention, and patted Hobi's hand as he tried not to melt.
Jimin curled up against Namjoon’s side in the car. His head hidden in his chest.
“That’s our new normal, I guess.” Namjoon mumbled.
“Could you feel me? Through the bond?”
Namjoon nodded. “I’ve never felt it so clearly, I didn’t even need to try to find you.”
“Me too.” Jimin sighed. “I feel like I know you so much better now, I didn’t think that was possible.”
“I love you so much.” Joon whispered into his hair.
“I know, I feel it, that’s what’s crazy.” He shakes his head. “I love you too.”
“You don’t even need to say it.” Namjoon taps his chest indicating he can feel if.
Jimin feels himself start to cry, and Namjoon pulls him to him. Rocking them back and forth. “You, me, forever. That’s what matters.”
Jimin nodded.
“I want to go to that spot in Italy with the big cheese, and i want to kiss under the sparkling Eiffel Tower. Hell I want to kiss at the top of the Seoul tower.”
“Is that what you’re thinking about right now?” Namjoon giggles.
“I’m thinking about everything I wish we could have done.” He sniffs.
“That explains the melancholy.” He taps Jimin’s chest.
“I love you.” Jimin whispered as his eyes closed, no need to say the words out loud.
Seconds later Jimin crashes out against Namjoon’s chest.
Namjoon grinned and pulled him closer.
He vaguely feels himself being manhandled and wraps himself upwards around Joon. “You’re helping today - that’s a nice surprise.”
Jimin nodded in his still dazed state, and snuggled in. Falling back to sleep in his safe bubble.
Joon walked them slowly back to their elevator, being mindful of Jimin within his arms.
“He’s not glass you know.” Taehyung giggled from his side.
“Trust me, I know.” Namjoon responds.
“Okay, we don’t need anything more.” Hobi reminds him, taking it as an innuendo.
“I’m being serious, I can feel him - through the bond - every heart beat, every emotion, I can feel it. I know exactly how he’s feeling right now. I-I can feel everything.”
“Everything?” Jungkook questions, everyone turns their heads in small surprise, waiting to see if it was all just what they imagined - internet talk and their elders exaggerations - or if it was true.
“Everything.” Joon says simply.
They all look at one another re evaluating their world view.
Joon was sat with Jimin in his arms later. Jimin kept his eyes closed, not ready to let anyone but Joon know he was awake.
Taehyung dropped into the seat next of him.
“This is going to be rough.”
“I don’t know how this is all going to work in all honesty.” Jimin feels him shrug, he loves that Namjoon, and all the alphas, never made anyone feel like they were not an equal, none of them were ever an omega, they were always on the same ground. They never pretended to have all the answers, or know more than them. They were honest. Truthful. Open to discussion.
“It’s going to be tough in terms of public reactions and certainly bangs reaction, but I don’t care about either of those things. As long as I can hold Jimin’s hand in public, and he can hold anyone else’s hand in public without all the scrutiny that’s all I care about.”
Taehyung laughs. “You still have the fog, I can hear it in the way you said that.”
“I do not.”
“Yes you do, and I can tell, Jimin may be your soulmate romantically, but he’s mine platonically, and the way he’s acting, you have the fog, and he knows it.”
He feels Namjoon sigh. “Look, okay, yes, yes I do. But if you tell anyone, Yoongi won’t let me do this and I, we, need to.” He pleads.
“I would never, Jimin needs this, maybe even more so than you.” He fiddles with Jimin’s hair. “Protect him?”
Namjoon smiles and leans his head against the top of Jimin’s. “Jimin’s weak right now, but we both know he’s more than capable. I can feel it through the bond. He’s almost there.”
“I just get so worried.”
“I have him Tae. Your job is to concentrate on Kookie.”
He hears a hum, before he stands. “I’ll never not worry about him, and he’ll never not worry about me.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” Joon laughs, “I can feel his love for you through the bond too.”
“I’m going to need you to sit me down and tell me every single thing you feel when he looks at me.” Taehyung grins. “I wanna feel special.”
Joon laughs. “Promise.”
When Jimin can feel he’s walked away he cracks an eye open. “He’ll be devastated when he figures out there’s more love for you.” He giggles.
“Well, I won’t be the one to tell him.” Joon kisses his hair and settles them back down.
Some while later, with fully stomachs thanks to the culinary delights of Jungkook they lounge on the various chairs.
After some while Jin talks. “Are we all set?”
“Watch the broadcast, wait for the perfect moment. Instagram.” Yoongi replies, looking at the pair.
Hobi leans forward grabbing the remote.
“It’s RM.”
“I don’t know why I keep having to explain this to you, but it’s Suga.”
“Actually, I’ve lost hope on Jungkook, and I’m starting to think it’s RM too.”
“Aw, that’s a shame.” Tae sighs. Jungkook’s eyes swinging to him in confusion and Jimin’s in laughter.
“I think all of us can collectively agree it’s not Jungkook. There was little mate chemistry at all in today’s interviews. Very much best friend vibes.”
“Oh it’s sad, another one down.” Tae notes as if he’s keeping track, his eyes focused on the TV.
“Seriously?!” Jungkook’s eyes snap up to him.
“Shhh.” Tae hisses.
“Tae, you know.” They all say in unison. Only to be swatted at.
“It’s obviously Suga. Look at the way he smiles in this clip here.”
“Awe. You look so cute hyung.” Tae sighs from Jimin’s side.
Jimin can feel Joon grumble under him and does his best to cover it so Yoongi doesn’t figure out the fog is still in play.
“I love you.” He whispered into Namjoon’s ear and places his hand softly on his cheek. Smiling when their eyes connect.
Namjoon nods, grateful, and kisses him.
“Look I have to side with my fellow panelist at this time. RM walked Jimin into the venue, they had their arms linked, and RM was looking extremely fretful for Jimin. It’s RM.”
“We all know Suga doesn’t do the pap walks. RM could have just been taking care of another alphas mate.”
“This close to a mating bite?! No way. I would have torn someone to shreds had they done that to my mate this far in.”
“I really do like that guy.” Namjoon nods.
“But we all know whoever the mate is, he is extremely secure in his relarionship-”
Jimin felt Namjoon preen at that, and leant to kiss him on the cheek. “And that’s one of the reasons I love him so much.” Jimin smiles to the group.
“-which sounds like more of a Suga trait.”
They all chuckle.
“Okay, that’s just stupid.” Taehyung mumbles.
“Hey! I’m secure. Wait. What am I saying this is still bullshit, but I am secure when I’m in relationships!” He huffs.
“You are. I don’t know if you’re secure enough to let your mate walk arm in arm with another alpha secure.” Hobi comments.
“Trust me, having felt it, no one could be that secure. It’s like your omega being in heat times a million. You couldn’t survive it because I couldn’t. She’s just trying to make you fit her narrative.”
“It was clear from all the interviews today that it is RM. There was barely a moment the two of them weren’t touching.”
“And before you start talking about that one interview, they physically couldn’t as they all had answer cards.”
“I hated that interview.” Jimin moans, snuggling his head back into Joon’s neck, feeling content at their contact.
“Me too.” Namjoon groans from below him. Bringing him closer into his arms.
“I feel like I’m going crazy here, I don’t know how you don’t see it’s clearly Suga. Do I need to start bringing up posts on my phone? The third interview of the day-“
“-Look I hate to stop you there, but this is getting ridiculous. I’ve been going back through the posts, and it was always RM, I’m telling you. If you look back at even their debut-”
“That’s your moment.” Yoongi looks at them.
The TV turns into background noise as they all stare at one another.
“Do it.” Jin says after a long moment of anticipation.
They both pull out their phones.
Park Jimin
It was always him. 💜
RKive
It was always him. 💜
“Breaking news just coming into us right now…”
Hobi switches the TV off and they all stare at one another for a while. Jimin and Namjoon’s phone buzzing on the side, everyone else’s slowly joining theirs.
“This is going to be a wild ride.” Jin mumbles.
“I can’t wait.” They both said in unison. Feeling it through their bond.
With that Namjoon stands up, and Jimin wraps his arms tighter around his neck.
“And on that note- I’m taking us to bed, and will not be leaving it until very late tomorrow - so don’t bother us.”
Jimin giggles and kisses him. Letting Joon quickly walk them away from the group.
Taehyung claps at them.
“So i guess at the next press round we’re going to have to deal with a a different kind of mark on Jimin.” Yoongi comments.
There’s simultaneously a round of laughter and groaning as they realise what’s in store.