Chapter Text
Jungkook knew, objectively, that he was not fine.
He could just barely go through the motions of something so small as brushing his teeth, or something so large as working on a company cleaning crew. Sometimes his job felt more doable than anything else, though, no matter how difficult it was to pull through.
He had a hunch as to why. Getting out of bed, brushing his teeth, getting dressed, eating something - it all depended on him. He had to do it, running on only the thought of ‘you have to, I have to, there’s no other option.’ But at work, he was given a task and a time to complete it. He wasn’t given the praise he desperately craved, hope for it clawing sharply up his throat each time his work was inspected, but he knew he did well if they didn’t tell him to redo it and that was enough. It had to be.
Except it wasn’t.
And now he was hiding in a bathroom on the floor he’d been assigned, trying desperately to get his gasping sobs under control, crouched on the floor with his head buried between his knees.
“Fuck,” he whispered to himself. It didn’t help, though; talking to himself wouldn’t help this time, and would probably just make it worse.
He needed to snap out of it. He couldn’t afford - emotionally, financially, physically - to subdrop. He’d missed a day last week because he got sick (he hadn’t been sick, though, he had been alone and hurting and desperate and dropping) and his pantry was already scant. He couldn’t hold his head up as a sub, but as long as he kept himself from starving, it was that much better.
“Fuck,” he whispered again. His voice wavered with the word, another sob rising up. He tried to let it out as quietly as he could but he heard it echo in the bathroom. At least it was two in the morning, too late for even the most devoted employees to still be around. Maybe he could recover just enough to finish cleaning and clock out and run home and let himself drop because spacing had never really been an option for him.
He could do it, he decided. He had to.
But when his legs gave out after one shaky step, his ass hitting the floor hard enough to bruise, he realized he couldn’t. And his boss was nice enough, but she was a switch and she’d say his dom needed to take better care of him and he’d say he didn’t have one and she’d say he’s a liability if he can’t take care of himself and he’d lose his job and then he’d lose his apartment and then he didn’t know what to do because he couldn’t go home because it wasn’t his home and they’d made that very clear and—
“Hey,” someone said.
Jungkook yelped and scrambled back, staring up with wide-eyed panic and his heart in his throat.
“Hey—” the man said again, holding his hands up in supplication. “I didn’t mean to scare you. What’s wrong?”
Jungkook stared at him, barely able to see. “I—”
The man was clearly a dom. Everything about him screamed dominance somehow, even as he crouched in front of him. Still not close enough to touch; still projecting not a threat. “Are you dropping?”
Jungkook didn’t have it in himself to deny it. He nodded with a whimper.
“Is there anyone I can call for you?”
Jungkook’s lip wobbled before he let out a helpless sob, covering his face with his hands and shaking his head quickly. He tried so hard to be okay by himself, but - he wasn’t. And he couldn’t help the shame that came from that. Some submissives could live by themselves, taking care of spacing and dropping and eating and everything else, but Jungkook - he wasn’t like that. He was weak, his family had always told him so, and now, breaking down in front of a strange dom in a bathroom while he was at work - he’d proved them right.
It wasn’t illegal for subs to not have doms, but it wasn’t usual, for sure. It wasn’t safe, enough so that most subs without one would use a matching agency. But Jungkook was terrified of being given to a dom that was like his family - generations of doms and dom-leaning switches who couldn’t stand that he wasn’t like them, enough so that he wasn’t even theirs anymore. He didn’t want pain, he didn’t want their aggressive methods of spacing him (dropping him, really, though he wasn’t sure they knew the difference), didn’t want meanness and anger and cruelty for the rest of his life.
So that left him with no one. It left him alone.
And this dom must know how pathetic that was. He must think the same as everyone else. And yet.
“Okay,” he said easily. “My name is Yoongi. Can you tell me your name?”
“J-Jungkook,” he said, voice wobbly. He jerked in alarm when Yoongi sat cross-legged on the floor. “I-I haven’t mopped that yet, sir—”
“Call me hyung,” Yoongi said with a gentle smile. “And there are more important things than keeping my pants clean.”
Jungkook furrowed his brows. “Like what?”
Yoongi huffed a little laugh, though it wasn’t derisive. “Jungkook-ssi, may I help you, please? I won’t do anything untoward. It hurts to see you suffering.”
Jungkook’s heart spiked with hope even as he tried to shove it down. “Y-you’d help me?”
Yoongi nodded. “I’d like to space you, if possible.”
Jungkook yearned, hoped, wanted, but he also knew the right answer. “Th-thank you, dom-ssi, b-but I have to—have to—”
Yoongi seemed to understand Jungkook’s vague rejection and gave him a reassuring smile. “The floor can survive a day without being cleaned, darling. I’ll let your supervisor know I relieved you for the night.”
Jungkook searched his face for any lies or uncertainty, but he couldn’t force himself to say no. He didn’t want to. Nothing in him wanted to say no. “I-it’s okay?”
“Dom will make sure it’s okay, Jungkook-ah. I promise.”
Hearing Yoongi refer to himself as dom, as Jungkook’s dom, was enough for his eyes to start to glaze over. “Please?”
“Such a polite boy,” Yoongi said quietly.
The keen Jungkook let out was probably much too loud for such a mild compliment but Jungkook couldn’t help it. He shook with the need for more.
“Can I move you, sweetheart? Not too far, just my office.”
Jungkook nodded before doing his best to mind his manners and speak; words were already hard to get out. “Y-yes, sir.”
Yoongi seemed to be able to read his mind once again. “You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. Nodding and shaking your head is fine. Are you okay with tapping three times if you can’t say stop?”
Jungkook nodded before tapping the floor thrice to show that he could.
“Perfect,” Yoongi said, sending a shiver all the way down Jungkook’s spine. “Very good, Jungkook-ah. Can you stand?”
Jungkook nodded before freezing, tearing up all over again, shaking his head. “S-sorry—”
“It’s okay, sweet boy. I’m proud of you for being honest.”
Proud, Jungkook thought, another whine escaping him.
Yoongi just smiled, holding out his hand. “Let me help you up.”
Jungkook latched on to the order. There was no ‘Is that okay?’ or ‘Would you like me to?’ There was a strong ‘Let me’ and that was all he wanted. He put a shaky hand in Yoongi’s own and allowed himself to be pulled up, leaning into Yoongi’s side as the dom put his arm around his waist.
“I’d carry you if I could, but—” Yoongi huffed out a laugh. “My partner would be able to if he was here.”
Jungkook made a questioning little noise and could have scolded himself for his nosiness, but Yoongi didn’t scold him.
“It’s why I’m here so late,” he said, walking him slowly down the hall. “Usually we convince each other to go home and leave work for the morning, but—he’s out of town, and, ah, he’s usually the only thing that can get me away. I’ve never been glad he’s gone, but—"
Jungkook blinked and furrowed his brows, letting out another curious hum.
“If he’d dragged me home, I wouldn’t have found you.”
If Jungkook had been more aware, he might have noticed Yoongi leading him to one of the co-CEO offices that even cleaning crews weren’t given access to, but as it was, he just let himself be led inside, focusing on nothing but Yoongi’s voice and his smell and his touch. He whimpered pitifully when Yoongi started to pull away.
The dom paused, cupping Jungkook’s cheek with a frown.
Jungkook was seized with panic for a moment, the thought of causing that frown, of disappointing his dom making him nauseous, but Yoongi sighed before he could spiral too far. “Poor thing,” he murmured, half to himself. “You’re so close to a drop, aren’t you, darling? Dom will take care of you as best as he can, but I’m pretty sure you’ll get subhigh from it.”
Jungkook made an interested keening noise. That didn’t sound bad to him in the slightest. That sounded like possibly the best thing that could happen to him. He thought he was closer to spacing than dropping now, anyways; even the smallest bits of Yoongi’s positive attention soothed his mind, giving him a pleasant hazy buzz.
“It’s better than dropping,” Yoongi decided. “I need to ask you a few things before you’re too far gone, though, baby. Do your best to answer for me.”
Jungkook nodded. He really was close to being far gone, with nothing but a few minutes of Yoongi’s gentle guidance.
“Good boy,” Yoongi said, and Jungkook fell to his knees.
Yoongi winced, hurrying to get a throw pillow from the sofa against the wall. He eased him up enough to put it under his knees, but didn’t try to pull him up. Jungkook was grateful. He wanted to stay right there, wanted to kneel for him forever.
“I’ll have to save that for later, hm?” he said, giving Jungkook an almost-teasing smile. “I suppose I don’t need to ask how you feel about praise. Is there anyone I need to call for you, Jungkook-ah? Friends, family, roommates—"
Jungkook’s eyes watered again. He shook his head. He was alone.
Yoongi softened, though it was almost imperceptible given how soft he already was. “Okay, that’s not a problem. What’s your full name?”
“J-Jeon Jungkook.”
“What are your limits, sweetheart? We won’t be doing anything sexual tonight, but I need to know as much as you’ll tell me.”
Jungkook hesitated before swallowing, looking away. “I-I dunno, sir. D-don’t want to hurt bad.”
“Is there anything you need? Anything you want?”
Jungkook couldn’t keep himself from blurting out his deepest desire. “Touch—”
“Ah, sweet boy—” Yoongi said, petting his hair and smiling when Jungkook leaned into his hand almost forcefully. “Of course I’ll touch you. How could I not cuddle such a darling thing, hm? Anything else?”
Jungkook shrugged after a moment. Yoongi took his silent answer as hesitation, though, and prompted him with a quirk of his brow. Honesty, he said without speaking.
Jungkook ducked his head. “I-I don’t know, sir,” he said quietly. “I haven’t liked much.”
Yoongi frowned and Jungkook squeezed his eyes shut so he wouldn’t have to see it. “You’ve felt a lot of pain, haven’t you? Not enough love.”
Jungkook nodded jerkily, another sob catching in his chest.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Yoongi sighed and pet Jungkook’s hair. He chased after the touch, though he didn’t need to. Yoongi cupped his cheek before pulling him into a hug, warm and all-encompassing and everything Jungkook needed. “I know that has to be hard. I’m here for you now, though, okay? I’d like to change you out of your work clothes, I don’t think they’ll be comfy to sub in.”
As soon as he said it, Jungkook felt just how scratchy the coveralls were on his skin, so uncomfortable all at once that it was almost painful. When he was at home, he was in soft everything, and there was nothing he wanted more than to feel softness again. He didn’t have to plead for Yoongi to start unzipping them.
He froze when the dom helped him get his arms out. His sleeve was hardly delicate, hardly soft, and he had a sudden surge of worry that Yoongi wouldn’t believe him when he said he didn’t want pain. But Yoongi only blinked after a tiny moment, bringing Jungkook’s tattooed hand to his lips and pressing a kiss to his inner wrist.
“Such a pretty surprise,” he said. “Look at you.”
“G-good?” Jungkook breathed.
Yoongi smiled, squeezing his wrist before giving it another kiss. “Wonderful, baby. So handsome. So cute.”
“Cute?” he asked, admittedly leadingly.
Yoongi didn’t seem to mind, though he had to have noticed. “Precious. And do you know, darling—I’m so happy that you’ll sub for me. I’m honored by your trust, even if it may be the result of desperation.”
“Trust you,” Jungkook rushed out truthfully. “Trust dom.”
“Precious,” Yoongi repeated. “Now let me get you out of these clothes, darling. I have some sweatpants you can wear.”
Jungkook sniffled and nodded, wiping his eyes with shaking hands. He was glad Yoongi didn’t expect him to be nude, even if it would have been preferable over the cotton coveralls. “Thank you, dom-ssi.”
Yoongi clicked his tongue, giving him a soft smile as he worked the coveralls over his leg. “You can drop formalities, sweetheart. Just dom is fine. Or hyung.”
Jungkook’s lip wobbled. “D-dom-hyung—”
Yoongi grinned, pulling him into another warm hug when his hands were free. Jungkook latched on, heavy arms wrapping around his shoulders. Yoongi kissed his temple and Jungkook’s grip tightened.
“Is that okay, baby? Kisses? I should have asked first.”
“S’okay,” Jungkook assured. His voice was getting slurrier by the minute. “Like it.”
Yoongi kissed his temple again in response. He gave him another squeeze before pulling back, clicking his tongue when Jungkook whimpered, desperate to keep him there. “More cuddles in a minute, I promise. Let dom-hyung get you comfortable.”
Jungkook let him go, even if it pained him to do so. It was so nice to be paid attention to, even if he was practically demanding Yoongi’s time. He would feel guilty later, he knew he would, but for now.
“Dom-hyung?”
“Yes, Jungkook-ah?”
Jungkook blinked, pouting a little. There wasn’t anything to say, really; he just wanted Yoongi to know this was nice.
Yoongi was not necessarily a mind reader, it seemed, but he waited for Jungkook to continue for only a moment before giving him a fond look and a forehead kiss. “Almost done.”
Jungkook shivered when he was finally free from the scratchy overalls and his slightly-too-tight boots, left in his undershirt, boxers, and socks. Though Yoongi didn’t expect him to be nude, Jungkook would have stripped it all off if he had his way; he settled for clumsily tugging his socks off before crossing his feet and sitting back on his heels.
It was a position that he liked, that he felt comfortable in, but it was one he was rarely able to use. When he tried to space himself, he needed discomfort to get anywhere close, an order given by some sub instruction video on the internet to stand with his arms outstretched or to kneel on rice. He hated that kind of submission, forced down by discomfort and pain, but he couldn’t get around it.
(And when his parents or relatives had to space him - had to, because of their strict once a week and only once a week schedule - that was always their go-to. They’d give him instructions, punish him for any inadvertent disobedience, and often, they’d leave the room and just forget about him. Their aftercare of halfhearted pets and praises and cups of processed fruit had been worth it until it wasn’t, enough until he knew better. Once he read his first silly romance novel filled with soft dominance and kindness and love, it was painful to look into the eyes of his aggravated parents who had never wanted a son like him. He was sure they were happy when he stopped trying so desperately to get their coddling; after realizing harshness wasn’t the only thing out there, they told him to rest and he dropped into sleep with an anvil attached, the imitation of what he so, so desired more painful than not.)
“Precious,” Yoongi said now, though, and Jungkook had no reason to not believe it. “You’re just the cutest little thing.”
Jungkook frowned when he went behind the desk all the way across the room, but it just made him happier when Yoongi came back.
“Can you stand for me if I help you?”
Jungkook nodded, taking Yoongi’s offered hand. He followed his guidance, holding onto Yoongi’s shoulders as he helped him into the sweatpants he’d fetched. He felt the fabric of Yoongi’s shirt with the sensitive pads of his fingers, blinking at Yoongi when he straightened up. Yoongi gave him a soft smile; he had to tilt his chin up a little to do so, and still, Jungkook felt so pleasantly small.
“Kneel for me, Jungkook-ah,” he said, giving him an approving smile when he knelt without hesitance. “Dom-hyung is going to leave the room for—oh, sweetheart, baby, only for a second, I need to get a blanket for you—"
Jungkook wouldn’t dare argue, but he couldn’t hide his distress, looking up at Yoongi with wide, desperate eyes, fisting his sweatpants hard enough that his fingers hurt.
Yoongi crouched in front of him, gently working his fists open and pressing his freed palms onto his knees. “I’m going to come back in no time. I’ll leave the door open so you can hear me. But I won’t have you going into shock when you start coming down, and the best way to keep that from happening is to bundle you up. You can come with me if you truly wish, but—I’d feel better if you stay here where I know you won’t keel over.”
Jungkook searched his face, heart in his throat. “D-dom’s gonna come back?”
“That’s right, baby,” he assured. “Dom will come back.”
“Won’t forget me?”
Yoongi’s shoulders went lax, his face unmistakably sad, though he tried to cover it with something more warm and open. “How could I forget you, Jungkook-ah? I could never forget this sweet face or your precious submission. Dom will remember you, and I’ll come back to you in no time at all.”
Jungkook nodded shakily after a long moment.
Yoongi kissed his forehead as he stood. “Listen for dom, okay, Jungkook-ah? You’ll hear me come back to you.”
Jungkook nodded again, staring at Yoongi’s back as he left, and at the door when he couldn’t see Yoongi any more. He heard the sound of keys jingling and a door opening; he heard it closing and keys jingle a short while after. Soon enough, Yoongi was back, a fluffy gray blanket in hand.
Jungkook couldn’t help it; he let out a sob as soon as he saw him, his relief palpable.
“My sweet boy—” Yoongi said, hurrying to his side. “Were you that worried?”
Jungkook shrugged, covering his eyes and trying to stop his chin from wobbling quite so much. “M’sorry—”
“Nothing to be sorry for,” Yoongi reassured. He put the blanket on the couch behind them, giving Jungkook’s hair a comforting pet. “I’m proud of you for staying, darling. You’re doing so well for me.”
Jungkook hiccuped and shook his head without thinking. He froze immediately, looking up at Yoongi with fearful eyes.
Yoongi furrowed his brows but kept petting his hair, giving it a tiny tug. “You don’t think you’re doing well?”
Jungkook didn’t answer.
“Well. I think you’re doing well. I think you’re being perfect, honestly, so brave and polite, even when you have fear.”
Jungkook sniffled. “Oh.”
“Oh.” Yoongi smiled, giving Jungkook’s nose an affectionate bop. He was rewarded with Jungkook’s giggle, quiet and charming. “I’m going to do some ropework on you now, darling. Nothing elaborate this time.”
He didn’t mean to say this time, even though he felt it. But Jungkook’s eyes were so bright that he couldn’t imagine taking it back; he didn’t want to, anyways.
“Yes, dom,” Jungkook whispered. He glanced up, meeting Yoongi’s eyes briefly.
Yoongi touched his chin, giving him an encouraging smile. “What is it, baby?”
“C-collar?”
Yoongi clicked his tongue before cooing. “Oh, sweetheart—you want a collar?”
Jungkook sniffled, nodding shyly.
“Dom-hyung will tie one for you. Ah, you’ll look so pretty, bunny—”
“Bunny?” Jungkook perked up, bright-eyed and so sweet.
“Do you like that, darling? Being a sweet little bunny?"
Jungkook nodded, physically leaning towards Yoongi’s voice.
Yoongi caught him before he could topple over, giving his cheek a kiss. “Sit still for me, bunny.”
Jungkook sat back on his heels obediently, the picture of pretty submissiveness, looking up at Yoongi with trusting doe-eyes.
“Good boy,” he praised. Jungkook’s lashes fluttered helplessly; he swayed a tiny bit before catching himself, holding himself up right. “Such a good boy, darling, listening to dom so well. Are you comfortable?”
“Yes, dom,” Jungkook said. He could hear his lisp slipping out, but Yoongi didn’t seem to mind.
“Let dom know if that changes. If you start to get uncomfortable, physically or otherwise, tap me or tell me to stop and I will.” He caught Jungkook’s worried glance and pet his hair, giving it a gentle tug. “Like a pause button. We’ll figure out how to make it better, and then we can keep going.”
Jungkook’s shoulders relaxed a little, relieved. “Uh-huh. Oh—yes, dom—” he rushed, eyes going wide.
Yoongi smiled and kissed his forehead. “Dom will forgive any lack of formality tonight, okay, bunny? Hyung knows you’re respectful. And your darling mind is feeling heavy, isn’t it?”
Jungkook nodded, feeling a little dizzy now that he thought about it. “Heav-heavy.”
“My poor baby,” he clicked his tongue. “Hyung will make you feel better.”
“Dom-hyung—hyung.”
Yoongi smiled when he didn’t continue; there was nothing Jungkook wanted to tell him, he just wanted the assurance that he was heard. “I’m going to start binding you now, darling. Alright?”
Jungkook nodded again, shifting. “Y-yes, sir.”
Yoongi gave his forehead a gentle kiss, rubbing his shoulder when Jungkook leaned into his touch. “Sit pretty for me, sweetheart.”
Jungkook sat still and Yoongi got to work.
Ropework was one of Yoongi favorite things to do - in addition to coaxing someone’s submission, restraining them in comforting and challenging ways alike, there was a huge amount of satisfaction in particularly beautiful ties and learning different methods of bondage. It was relaxing for him to focus entirely on binding a switch or submissive, tuning into their evolving needs.
For Jungkook - at least for now - that need seemed to be feeling held, the ropes a constant pressure that weighed him to the ground. Yoongi made sure the ropes bit into his skin just enough to leave marks that would last for an hour or so after he was unbound; not tight enough that Jungkook would go numb at all, but he felt sure he would want a temporary reminder of the feeling.
He kept an eye on Jungkook’s face - he was relaxing little by little, his pretty eyes fluttering shut, rosy lips parting. If it wasn’t for his occasional blinks to make sure Yoongi really was there, really was touching him, Yoongi might have thought he was asleep. He smiled warmly every time he caught Jungkook’s eye, pressing the occasional kiss to whatever part of his body he was binding. Several to his shoulders over his shirt, a few more on his wrists, some on his forehead when he worked around his waist, not wanting to dip low enough to be inappropriate for the scene.
“You’re being so good for me, sweet boy,” he told him.
He was being truthful - he was understating the truth, really. Jungkook was being so perfect, the sweetest, most well-behaved submissive Yoongi had ever met. He’d had the pleasure of dominating brats and babies alike, but there was something so uniquely wonderful about Jungkook that he couldn’t quite name. He wanted to praise him until the very words were imprinted onto his skin right beside his tattoos, wanted to dom him until those awful tears he spilled as he drew closer and closer to dropping were nothing but a bad dream that was left far behind. It was a strong feeling, much too intense for having met the sub not even an hour ago, but - there was something about him. Jungkook called to him like no one had before. Even Namjoon, the love of his life, pulled him in in an entirely different way.
Namjoon would get it. Yoongi knew he would.
But that wasn’t important right now. Right now, all that mattered was this darling sub who had put all the trust in the world in Yoongi’s hands.
When he finished binding Jungkook’s arms and torso, he carefully, carefully, tied a collar around his pretty throat, loose enough to not choke him in the slightest with a very, very easy-to-untie knot at the front. Jungkook seemed to melt as soon as he felt it; he swayed enough that Yoongi caught him, gently holding his shoulders until he regained his balance.
“Careful, darling,” he said quietly.
Jungkook made a weak noise, opening his eyes just enough to blink blearily at him.
“Oh, honey—” Yoongi was careful to not sigh. He didn’t want Jungkook to interpret any single thing he did as disappointment, especially when nothing could be farther from the truth.
He was disappointed at the world around Jungkook, really. He had clearly been neglected - as a submissive, sure, but as a person, too. Dominant or not, Yoongi knew he would suffer without Namjoon’s companionship, or the love of the friends that had become his family. He could be wrong, he knew, he would check with Jungkook before deciding just how furious he should be, but - it seemed that Jungkook had none of that. No friends, no family, no love. He said he didn’t have anyone to call when he was dropping, something so emotionally and physically dangerous that emergency services were often called when subs were alone. Submissives weren’t helpless creatures, Yoongi knew. That didn’t mean Jungkook didn’t need someone.
“Dom-hyung wants to hold you, Jungkook-ah. Is that okay?”
Jungkook’s nod was enough for now. They could work on verbal cues later.
Yoongi very intentionally did not think about how ‘later’ felt inevitable. It would hurt if that wasn’t the case, he realized, if domming Jungkook was a one and done situation - but he’d take what he could get. He would give this special boy all the love and attention he could muster and just hope it was enough for Jungkook to want to come back.
Yoongi was careful as he pulled Jungkook up, helping him keep his balance. He laid on the couch before pulling Jungkook down on top of him, clumsily throwing the blanket over them both. Jungkook relaxed even more at the contact, resting his cheek on Yoongi’s chest with a soft hum.
“H’vy,” he mumbled.
Yoongi didn’t deny it. He smiled to himself, petting Jungkook’s soft hair. “Dom likes it, baby, don’t worry.”
Jungkook nodded, taking him at his word.
“Are you comfortable, sweetheart? Want dom to move you?”
Jungkook shook his head before stumbling over his tongue. “‘Less—’less dom wants.”
“Dom just wants you to feel nice. Settle down for me, bunny. Take a rest.”
Jungkook’s voice came out a little shaky. “D-dom leave?”
“Dom won’t leave,” Yoongi promised, rubbing his back before tugging lightly on his collar. “My heavy baby will keep me here.”
Jungkook let out a tiny giggle and it was one of the prettiest things Yoongi had ever heard.
“Rest, darling. I’ll be here when you wake up.”