Chapter Text
💼
🎨
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cw: brief non-conensual touching (not between jikook) – there’s a short scene near the end of the chapter where jimin agrees to dance with someone but quickly decides he doesn’t like it, and the other party doesn’t take him at his word right away
It’s 2am, Jimin is waiting for his driver, and there’s an omega puking in the alley behind him. The scene is not an unusual one, although he doesn’t often end his nights offering to take someone home.
“Oppa,” the omega calls, sounding dreadful. “M’sorry. If you lend me a toothbrush, I’ll still have sex with you.”
“You’re not sober enough to know what you’re saying, Mina.”
Headlights in the distance signal to Jimin that his ride is finally arriving. He turns around, treading carefully towards Mina as he says, “Are you ready to go? We have plastic bags in the car you can throw up into…”
His nose wrinkles at the smell, his stomach threatening to overturn.
“... though I’d prefer you held it in till we arrive.”
“I’ll try,” Mina slurs, proceeding to stand and stumble into Jimin at the same time. She’s almost an entire head shorter than him, and though he’s on the lean side, he’s got muscles beneath, so she’s easy to handle.
It’s just the smell.
“Do you need help?” a voice calls.
His driver is fairly new, and if you ask Jimin, he should really be a model instead.
Kim Seokjin is a beta—good looking, level headed, and excellent at driving. He’s got a mild calming scent, and he knows when the right time is to crack a joke or when he should stay silent. It’s been two months since Jimin hired him, and he’s been grateful for the extra company before and after work, with someone he doesn’t have to talk business with.
“Yes, please. She’s a bit… incapacitated,” Jimin says.
Mina groans, eyes half closed. “M’not incapitated.”
“See?”
Seokjin chuckles, quickly sweeping to Mina’s other side to guide her to the car. Jimin lets out a sigh of relief. They’re almost there. He’ll try one more time—to get her address. If he can take her back to her place and not his own, he’ll call this night a success.
When Mina is sitting (read: half lying) in the back seat, Jimin says from the curb, “Where do you live?”
“Hm?”
“Your address?”
“Wanna go home with you.”
“I’m guessing,” Seokjin says, to which Jimin straightens so he can look at him, “that you were only recently acquainted with this…”
“Mina,” Jimin fills in. “Yeah. We met in the bar. Danced a bit. Drank a bit. Her friends left early, so she joined us and next thing I knew…” He waves a hand in Mina’s general direction. “If I knew this would happen, I would’ve kept my distance. Or asked for her address before we started drinking.”
“Not your fault. What do you want to do?”
Jimin only sees one option. “I’ll let her crash in my guest room.”
“Has anyone ever told you you’re too nice?”
Jimin snorts. “You’re the only one, hyung.”
Seokjin is tutting. “There’s something wrong with the world then.” He opens the door to the front seat, winking. “Let me take you home, boss.”
Though Jimin pays Seokjin for his services, their bond is slowly reaching the levels of friendship. Outside of work, he’s the person Jimin speaks the most to after all, even over his own family—though that could be because he works with half of them.
“I can bring her home in the morning,” Seokjin says once they’re on the way. “If you want to sleep in, I’ll just let myself in. You haven’t slept much this week.”
That’s true. The company is in the middle of buying out another, smaller company, so things are on fire more often than not. His father’s the CEO. His brother’s the CFO. Jimin tried to escape an officer role, but the pay was good, the people on his team are hard workers, and he was given a budget for an assistant and a driver.
So here he is, 29 years old, the CMO of a well-known publishing company, working 60 hours a week—sometimes more. Tonight barely passed as a social event. He came out to mingle with the new members of his marketing team, something his brother urged him to do to build a good working relationship with them.
He did, after all, cause half the members of their old team to lose their jobs.
“Tomorrow morning, no, it’s fine,” Jimin answers. He almost accepted Seokjin’s offer, but tomorrow’s a Sunday. “You don’t work tomorrow.”
“Technically,” Seokjin says with the hint of a smirk, “Tomorrow is today.”
“Ugh, you’re right.” Jimin shuts his eyes. He didn’t drink that much, but he can already feel an impending headache. A lie in would be great. Seokjin’s offer is tempting.
But Seokjin shouldn’t have to pay for his mistakes. After all, Jimin’s the one who smiled Mina’s way, who waved her over, who offered her drinks from their table, who gave her promises of a good night…
He doesn’t know why. Maybe it was the pressure of looking like everyone else. Just because he was their supervisor didn’t mean he was opposed to dating. And Mina is attractive and funny and sweet, but now that he’s sobering up, he sees it—she’s just like everyone else he’s ever dated and everyone he’s ever broken up with.
“Really, it’s okay,” Jimin says decisively. He opens his eyes. He can just go back to sleep after dropping her off. It’s his responsibility. “It’s your day off. I already asked too much making you get me tonight.”
“I didn’t mind. Plus, I live in the same building.”
That is a pretty amazing perk, Jimin will admit. It took some convincing, but he worked out a deal with his father to relocate Seokjin to his building, and lucky for him, Seokjin accepted the offer.
“To be honest, I’ll probably be up a few more hours after this,” Seokjin goes on. “So maybe it’s best I don’t promise to wake up early tomorr— er, today.”
Jimin barks a laugh. “Putting in your hours for Maple Story?”
“It’s a very important part of my life, thank you very much.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever understand.”
“One day, Park Jimin, I’ll introduce you to Maple World. You won’t ever want to go back to your cushy job.”
Jimin gapes. “Cushy?! You just said I don’t sleep enough!”
Seokjin hums. “Maybe cushy was a bit of an exaggeration.”
They bicker back and forth for a while, the streets of Seoul whooshing past them. Mina doesn’t interrupt. It seems she’s fast asleep now. At least Jimin knows he won’t have to pay cleaning fees for the car.
“Need help bringing her up?” Seokjin asks when they arrive.
Jimin wants to say yes. In fact, as it creeps over half past two, he wants to say a lot of things. That he’s tired. That he’s burnt out. That he spends so much time taking care of things, he barely knows how to take care of himself. Sometimes just wants someone to do it for him.
But habit has him saying, “No, it’s alright. I’ve got it.”
He ends up carrying Mina upstairs. If the roles were reversed, would someone ever carry him home?
For some reason, it’s all he can think about later as he falls asleep.
💼🎨💼
It is way too bright outside. Bright and muggy. Jimin wears sunglasses and a hat to block out the sun. Beside him, Mina seems to be doing her best to look composed, but it’s obvious she’s dying on the inside, her breaths purposefully slow, her hands in fists on her lap. She stares out the window without moving.
“I really am so sorry that this happened,” she says, taking another deep breath.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“And to Park Jimin of all people. God. I’m so embarrassed.”
“We’ve all had those nights,” Jimin tells her. He turns his blinker on, waiting for the left turn light to go green.
“Still…”
It’s silent for almost an entire minute before she speaks again.
“I wanted to get your attention. My friend recognised you when you walked in with your friends, and we looked you up. I saw… I saw who you were. Most eligible alpha. I thought I could… Please stop me if I’m talking too much.”
Not that again. Jimin stifles a sigh. Last year, someone got it in their heads to add him to some list. He’s fairly certain it was his mother. She can’t go more than half an hour in his presence without bringing up the fact he’s pushing thirty and still single.
“Keep going,” Jimin says, less because he’s curious and more because he’s overly polite in these sorts of situations.
“I guess I just wanted to know what you were like at first. It made me so curious, because you seemed kind of soft spoken with your friends? Like you were just observing them and not really joining in.”
Jimin frowns, the words rolling over him.
“Um, so, anyway, I got more curious. And then you invited me to join and I found out how nice you are. And… And what I’m saying is that…”
Jimin eyes the screen in the centre of the car, which indicates that they are five minutes from their destination.
That’s five minutes too long.
“I like you, oppa!”
There it is.
Luckily, this isn’t the first time Jimin’s received an unwanted confession. He has several responses, which he likes to cycle through from omega to omega, and the occasional beta. What did he say last time? That he was too busy to date? Not very creative, but it usually works.
To Mina, Jimin says, “I think I still have feelings for my ex.”
“O-Oh…”
“It wouldn’t be fair to you to date you while I feel this way.”
“I understand.”
Silence.
Their destination is two minutes away. Jimin speeds up.
“Maybe we could stay in touch though?” Mina asks. “In case your feelings ever go away.”
There’s so much hope in her voice. Jimin doesn’t want to be the one to dash it, but he’s not about to string her along either.
“You can give me your number,” he says. Without looking over, he reaches into his pocket and hands her his phone. “But I can’t promise you anything. I’m sure there are much better alphas out there for you.”
“I don’t know.” Mina takes the phone, quickly inputting her number. “You seem like a pretty great alpha to me.”
Jimin shouldn’t let the words get to him, but they do. That’s just it. He wants people to like him. He likes the attention. Says he’s not stringing anybody along but does stuff like this, no promises but chances, no yes’s but maybes, a little bit of hope.
“Thanks,” he says, flashing her a smile.
The car comes to a stop. Mina hesitates, the faintest hint of colour on her cheeks, her rosy scent spiking with what must be nerves. There is obviously something more she wants to say.
“Have a good rest of your day,” Jimin says, urging her, silently, to go.
“Right! Thanks. Thank you for the ride, oppa. And for last night. Um—”
“It was nice to meet you.”
“A-And you.” Mina opens the door, hesitates once more, then hops out. She gives Jimin a wave while he drives away.
💼🎨💼
Jimin doesn’t drive very far. He hasn’t had his daily dose of caffeine so he stops at a coffee shop a few blocks away. It’s almost noontime and though he promised himself a few more hours of sleep when he returns, he thinks he’ll need this—and some food—to chase away his headache.
He takes off his hat once parked, running a hand through his hair before putting it back on. His sunglasses, he hangs on the front of his shirt. He feels weird if he doesn’t wear a collared shirt so he’s got one on now, but the sleeves are rolled up. His shorts stop right above his knees.
The coffee shop has a little art store attached to it, selling paintings and crafted items that all look handmade. Jimin barely gives that side a glance, too focused on his goal.
“What can I get you?” a girl at the till asks. Her hair is dyed bright purple and she’s got silver contacts in her eyes. A tattoo of some flowers sits on her bare shoulder. It makes Jimin think of his own, hidden on his chest because god forbid the company’s board ever learned of it. They’d probably say he’s trying to ruin their company’s reputation.
“A large latte, with an extra shot, please,” Jimin says. “And a croissant.”
“For here?”
He considers staying. The place is small and there’s an empty cushioned seat in the corner. He doesn’t really want to drive another thirty minutes just to get home. He’s tired. A short break wouldn’t hurt. He’ll eat the food here, then head back.
“For here,” he answers.
“Sure thing.”
After he pays, he sits down, getting comfortable and pulling out his phone. It’s the weekend, but the C-suite chat already has twelve new messages since last night, there are three emails asking for his approval, and his mother wants to know if he’s free tonight for a date.
He answers the work messages first, making quick work of them, before opening his mother’s text. For a few seconds, he ponders. If he does it, that gets her off his back for a little while. If he doesn’t, he can enjoy his night, but he’ll probably get an earful, and the next time she asks, it won’t be a request.
“Your food and drink, Your Majesty.”
The words disrupt his thought process, and he looks up to see a croissant on a plate in one hand and a large cup of coffee in the other. Looks up further to see that one arm is covered in tattoos of various images, as if said arm has been turned into a canvas. Further still and he’s face to face with a mop of blond hair, dark roots growing in, and a happy-go-lucky smile.
“Is that mine?” Jimin asks, quickly setting his phone down. “I’m sorry. I must have missed my name being called.”
“Don’t worry about it.” The handsome server—Jimin has deduced that he works here, and decided that he is handsome—sets the plate and cup down. “I work here. I’m not just a random stranger helping out.”
For some reason, the words leave Jimin incredibly flustered. “I didn’t mean— I didn’t think you were—”
The happy-go-lucky smile grows, if that’s even possible. It leads to the server’s nose scrunching up, all cute. “I’m teasing you.”
Jimin’s jaw is doing this thing where it just won’t close. “... Right. Well… thank you.”
“No problem.”
As Jimin goes for the coffee, the server doesn’t move like he thought he would. Meanwhile, a couple of customers are walking in, and the opening and closing of the door blows a draft in. Jimin catches a whiff of the server’s scent.
He smells like all of Jimin’s favourite things rolled into one. Sweet with a hint of citrus, mixed with floral freshness. The scent of his coffee suddenly seems unappealing. He hasn’t smelled a scent with so many tones before; he wishes he could get another sniff, but the draft is gone, and the place goes back to smelling like coffee and baked bread.
“It’s Jimin, isn’t it?” the server says.
“Oh, yes.”
“Jimin, have you checked out our art shop? It’s a new instalment. I even have a few of my own pieces in there.”
Jimin had completely dismissed the little side shop, but he turns to it now, catching sight of the paintings on the walls. Some are of landscapes, others more minimalistic or abstract. There’s one of a girl, just her side profile, but the colours are bold and sharp, not at all representative of everyday life, yet striking in its own way.
“That’s cool,” Jimin says.
“If you’re interested, I can give you a little introduction to the place.”
“Oh, that’s okay.” The response is automatic. Jimin doesn’t want to be sold to. He wants to enjoy his coffee and leave, handsome server or not.
“You don’t even have to get up. You’ve got a pretty good view of the shop and I can just—”
“Jungkook!” It’s the girl at the cashier. She’s scowling their way—or, well, Jungkook’s way. “Don’t harass the customers with sales pitches. We talked about this.”
Jungkook gives a soft click of his tongue, but he more or less ignores the admonishment. “Would you say I’m harassing you?” he asks Jimin.
Jimin is stunned that Jungkook is asking him that. It’s just so… straightforward? It ignores the rules of politeness Jimin is so accustomed to—to pretend an unwanted sales pitch is really no big deal, to greet and thank kindness but never ask more than what’s necessary, to not ask questions like that, that might put someone on the spot or make them uncomfortable.
There’s really only one answer he can give. “No?”
“See, noona, it’s fine!” Jungkook calls to the cashier. He proceeds to take the seat across from Jimin. “I just want you to know, I’m not trying to sell you anything. My sister just likes to tease.”
Ah, so they’re siblings.
“Honestly, though, I’m not bothering you? Or taking you away from any important emails that need to be answered on a Sunday?”
Jungkook’s smile and tone is teasing. He must have noticed Jimin’s absorption with his phone, the flurry of his responses to emails.
“All my emails have been answered,” Jimin says. He glances at his phone, where another text has just come in from his brother. He grimaces. “I’ll give you two minutes before my phone piles up again with notifications that need my attention.”
“Two minute sales pitch? Easy.”
There’s a joking manner to the way he speaks. Jimin doesn’t feel like he’s being sold to anymore. Maybe that’s because Jungkook’s straightforwardness broke the ice. Jimin finds his mind straying to marketing strategies, and how he might be able to use similar tactics to increase their sales.
He snaps back to the present when Jungkook starts talking again.
“I volunteer for a homeless shelter, where I help people with job training and finding stable housing, the works. Well, I held an art workshop one day and discovered a lot of talent, so I thought why not sell the stuff they made and give them the profits? Help them turn their lives around? My sister owns this shop with her mate so I spoke to them, and as long as I work here once a week, the shop can stay.”
Once more, Jimin looks at the shop, imagining the people who made those paintings and bracelets and tiny carved things. Tries to imagine what it’s like not to have a home, or opportunities.
“Who drew the profile?” Jimin asks, drawn to it once more. “The girl. The colourful one.”
“Oh. That one’s mine.”
Something about the way the colours pop off the canvas… He can’t stop looking at it.
“You can’t tell, but it’s modelled off my sister. I did that one when I was just starting out.”
Starting out? “Is art what you do for a living?” Jimin asks.
“Yup.”
“Do you just paint? Or do you do other kinds of art too?”
“I dabbled in sculpting once, and I do still paint on the occasion, but I mostly do digital art nowadays.”
“Do you work off commissions usually?”
“Yes I do.”
“What are some projects you’ve done?”
Jungkook starts to smile, like he’s suddenly thought of something funny. “Why does this feel like a job interview?”
Jimin feels his cheeks grow warm. He tries to rein in his scent, not wanting to give Jungkook more fodder to tease him. Because that’s what he’s doing, right? Teasing him.
“I was just curious,” Jimin says.
“It’s okay. Got you to talk to me for more than two minutes.”
For a second, Jimin doesn’t grasp what he means. Then Jungkook points at the phone he left on the table.
“It’s been lighting up like crazy,” Jungkook says. “What kind of job do you even do?”
Jimin barely hears the question. He snatches the phone up, scrolling across the notifications (over twenty?) to try and understand what’s going on.
There’s been an issue…
Our acquisition might fall through…
The board wants to have an emergency meeting…
Jimin, can you…
We need you to…
“What the hell is happening,” Jimin mutters.
“Trouble at work?”
“Yeah…” He shakes himself. This isn’t at all what he needs right now. He needed one day, just one day to himself, that’s all. “Yeah, I’m gonna need to head to the office.”
Jungkook pouts. “That sucks. Not everyday we get such a pretty alpha in here.”
“What?”
Jimin isn’t a hundred percent sure, but he thinks Jungkook is an alpha? With that assumption, the words are jarring, out of place. Almost as if Jungkook is… hitting on him. Is that why he sat down? Is that why he’s speaking to him?
It is odd, to just start up a conversation with a customer. But Jungkook was so at ease doing it.
Jimin’s not sure if he should be flattered or embarrassed. He’s used to omegas falling over themselves for a chance to date him, but he’s never been hit on by an alpha. It’s just… It isn’t… It’s not normal. Alpha-alpha pairings are uncommon and generally frowned upon.
“How would you even know? You’re only here on Sundays,” another voice suddenly says, who must have been listening in. It’s Jungkook’s sister, who has an empty box in her hand, presumably for Jimin’s croissant. With her other hand, she lightly hits Jungkook on the back of the head.
She turns to Jimin with an apologetic look on her face. “Please excuse my brother. No manners. Constantly hitting on our alpha customers. Zero awareness when he’s crossed a line.”
Ah, so it’s a usual thing. The flattery Jimin almost felt fizzles away.
“That’s so not true, noona. You’re going to give him the wrong idea,” Jungkook argues.
His sister ignores him, handing the box to Jimin. “Here. You can take your food to go. I’d love it if you came again. I’ll even give you a discount next time, since you had to put up with Jungkook.”
It’s far out of the way from where he lives, as well as his office, but the offer is enticing.
Is it the discount?
Or the need to understand just what Jungkook means by that?
Is it normal for him to flirt with alphas? Or is Jimin an exception? What is the truth? Is Jungkook’s sister just teasing him? (A trait that must run in the family, considering the little jabs Jungkook threw his way, even in such a short conversation.) Or is this really a regular thing?
Jimin doesn’t know. He wants to know.
It’s not the discount at all, he decides. It’s Jungkook. Jimin can’t quite put his finger on it, but he thinks he could learn a thing or two from him; on how to be an alpha, and happy and easy-going at the same time.
That’s it. It’s not the almost-flattery of being hit on, but the easy way Jungkook holds himself. Jimin needs tips on how to relax, on how to relieve the burden of burnout and enjoy his life again.
Jungkook can teach him.
Right?
“Sure,” he assures Jungkook’s sister, careful not to look the other alpha’s way. “I’ll come back someday.”
💼🎨💼
The acquisition goes through just fine. Sunday’s emergency meeting ended up being pointless, but it does get Jimin out of a blind date. The company spends the rest of the week finalising everything, and Jimin wakes up the following Sunday morning content and with a plan.
Good luck today, boss!!!!!!!
The text is from Seokjin, who Jimin had over for dinner last night. It’s a rare evening he can do things like that—meet with people outside of work—and he took advantage of it. Over dinner, he explained his plan to Seokjin. He was going to befriend the odd coffee shop artist alpha, and learn his way of life.
“It’s simple, really. I just need to find out all of his tricks, and then apply them to my own life.”
“I don’t see why I couldn’t be your guide. I have plenty of life experience.”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Because I’m not an alpha?”
Jimin had been hesitant to answer, but Seokjin just laughed jokingly, and left him with one parting piece of advice:
“Maybe just, you know, don’t treat this so much like a business opportunity?”
Jimin has a habit of doing that. It’s not his fault. His life has been consumed by this job ever since he graduated—no, even before then, when he was just an intern at the company over school holidays and throughout his college years.
When was the last time he even made a new friend?
Seokjin. Seokjin is his most recent friend, but he’s also his driver and outside of him, Jimin can only think of his colleagues. He never kept in touch with his college friends, too busy to meet up with them that their bonds fizzled out after a year or two. Now he only sees them on his social media, if he finds time to even go on.
Anyway, he promised Seokjin that he would treat this like he treats his friendship with Seokjin, and that seemed to satisfy the beta.
Now Jimin sits in his car, parked across the street from the cafe. He can’t see much inside from here, but he’s certain Jungkook will be there. He has to be there, or all of this was for naught.
After a few minutes of deliberating (read: procrastinating) he finally forces himself out of the car. He’s mentally gone through some talking points. He just has to be natural—himself. He’s a self-respecting, confident alpha. He can do this.
He half jogs across the street when the traffic clears, then opens the door. He’s dressed similarly to last week—rolled up collared shirt, a pair of nice shorts. No hat this time, just sunglasses that he settles on the front of his shirt once he’s inside.
He sees Jungkook’s sister first, taking orders from a group of teenagers. No sign of Jungkook yet, not even in the little adjacent store. He stifles his disappointment. If Jungkook isn’t here, he supposes he’ll just get his coffee to go.
“It’s you!” Jungkook’s sister calls.
Jimin takes note of her name tag this time—Sunhee. “It’s me,” he answers with a smile. “I thought I’d take you up on that discount.”
“Great! I should really give this discount a name… What do you think of the ‘Jungkook Crossed A Line Again’ discount?”
“Very catchy,” Jimin jokes.
Sunhee smiles. “What’ll it be then?”
Jimin rattles off his order and then, as casually as possible, he asks, “Where is he anyway? Your brother.”
“He only worked half his shift today,” she tells him, ringing up the order. “There’s this art exhibition and he’s showcasing some of his work.”
“Ah.” Too bad. Jimin kicks himself, but it’s not like there’s any way he could have known. “I’ll take the coffee to go, by the way.”
Sunhee’s eyebrow twitches, but her expression remains impassive. “To go it is. How would you like to pay?”
Jimin pays by card, then sits at an empty seat by the window as he waits. The day is promising rain, but since he’s just going to go home, it hardly matters. He checks his phone, surprised to see his notifications cleared for once.
“Latte for Jimin,” Sunhee says a few minutes later, delivering the cup herself.
“Thank you.”
Sunhee leans against the table, eyeing him. “By the way… And you don’t have to go… But if you’d like, Jungkook’s showcase is only a couple of blocks from here.”
She points at the address scribbled on his cup, then winks and pushes off the table.
“You didn’t hear it from me!”
The wink was odd but the information is wonderful. Jimin puts the address into his phone, sees it’s a six-minute walk away and decides he should be able to make it before the rain comes in. He thanks Sunhee on his way out.
Despite the clouds, it’s still a warm summer day. He walks slowly, wanting to finish his coffee before arriving. Do they even allow outside drinks at art galleries? He has no idea. He stops short, looking down at his outfit. What is the typical dress code for something like this anyway?
Nevermind, nevermind, he thinks, touching the area of his torso where that very word is tattooed. He’ll just go, and if they chase him out, he’ll leave with grace and come back to see Jungkook another time.
Jungkook…
He can’t place this strange fascination he’s developed for him. It’s not like they spoke much either. He supposes it’s like having a crush, but for a friend? A friend crush? He just wants to be his friend, that’s all.
Admission into the gallery is free. It’s a temporary showcase, and all the art pieces are on sale. Jimin sees as soon as he steps in that he’s underdressed. To make up for it, he subtly rolls down his sleeves and pockets his sunglasses. He brushes some of his hair off his forehead, casually coming to stand in front of a painting.
Occasionally, he’ll let himself glance away, searching, searching. He doesn’t see Jungkook amidst the crowd, so he takes his time moving from piece to piece, taking care to read every description card.
Jungkook’s pieces aren’t hard to find. He has a way of using colour to draw attention. Some of it is a little jarring, kind of the way Jungkook is—like a perfect representation of his personality. Different, striking, yet beautiful.
Jimin is usually pretty good at getting a sense of people. Maybe that’s why he already feels this sense of fascination and curiosity for the alpha. Even with Seokjin, it only took him a few minutes to know that he wanted to hire him, and that was before he saw him drive.
Jimin thinks he can trust his instincts.
“Is this what one might call stalking?”
Jimin startles, having not noticed someone come to stand beside him. Jungkook has appeared at his side, mouth tugged into a smirk. Quickly, Jimin tries to get his wits together to form a coherent answer.
“I’m most definitely not stalking you,” he says.
“Mhm.” Jungkook sounds unconvinced, and looks extremely pleased. “My theory is Sunhee said something to you. I had a bet going with her, you know. She said you probably wouldn’t come back. I said you definitely would. Turns out I was right. And if you’re here… you probably didn’t come just for her discount.”
The expression Jungkook wears is downright hungry. That is the only way Jimin can describe it. It has the hairs on the back of his neck standing. It’s like… how he imagines prey would feel beneath a hunter’s gaze.
He really thinks Jungkook might have the wrong idea. It’s what has Jimin saying, almost frantically, “I did come with an ulterior motive.”
Jungkook raises an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“I like your art,” he blurts. Now that, while accurate, is miles away from the truth of why he’s here. But Jimin can’t take it back; in fact, he can’t quite seem to stop himself from talking. “I work for a publishing company and we’re always on the lookout for people like you.”
“And what, exactly, do you ask people like me to do?”
“Cover art. Promotional materials. Anything design related.”
God, Jimin thinks. He is doing exactly what he told Seokjin he wouldn’t do. What the hell is wrong with him? Is he really so incapable of making friends like a normal person?
“When Sunhee mentioned you had an exhibition nearby,” Jimin goes on, with no regard to his internal turmoil, “I figured it was a good chance to see what you’re capable of.”
“And?” Jungkook asks. He’s standing too close, almost like he sees right through Jimin—only he’s seeing all the wrong things. “Do you like what you see?”
Jimin can smell him when he’s this close, that sweet-citrus mixture that makes his senses go haywire. “I…” He shakes himself, trying to get rid of the cloud in his mind. “I like your art. I think a lot of authors would love to have covers made by you.”
Jungkook hums, still staring at Jimin intently. Every muscle in Jimin’s body tenses. Maybe it ties into that feeling-like-prey thing. All that human fascination Jimin holds for Jungkook is nothing next to wolf instincts, and his instincts have him pumped up, like he’s expecting to be jumped.
Jimin has felt pumped up like this before, like that time in high school right after he presented, and another alpha was so jealous he scored the lead in their school’s musical, she stalked right up to him with her teeth bared. Another time in college, when he was out with some friends and he accidentally hit on an omega who was taken; her alpha had tried to knock him out.
Jungkook’s aura makes him feel similarly. Jimin shifts uncomfortably. What was he saying? … Right, he was trying to ask him to work for him. God, why have things gone so horribly wrong?
Maybe he needs to perform some course correction. If Jungkook won’t step away from him, then there’s no way he doesn’t have the wrong idea. Jimin just needs to make it clear he’s not interested in him like that.
“Jungkook, I believe you might think I’m here for… something else… but I’m really only here to make a business proposal.”
That was fine… right? Jungkook doesn’t back off, but his gaze does soften, that nice, easy smile reappearing on his face. “Of course you are.”
Jimin stifles his sigh of relief. “As I was saying—”
“How about we get out of here, Jimin?”
Jimin thinks his brain short circuits. “What?”
“Come on.” Jungkook jerks his head towards the exit. “I was getting bored anyway.”
Jimin huffs. “I really think you have the wrong—”
“I don’t think this is the right place for you to share your business proposal,” Jungkook says, a twinkle in his eye.
And that’s— Well, sharing his business proposal is exactly what Jimin wants. Or, no, it’s not, but it’s close enough. Jungkook is no longer hitting on him, and they may not be on their way to becoming friends, but business partners is halfway there, right?
“You’re right,” Jimin says. “Let’s get out of here.”
It’s raining when they exit the building. Jimin almost suggests they wait it out, but then Jungkook is grabbing his wrist, which though covered with the material of his sleeve, still makes his breath catch.
“Come on! Let’s make a run for it!”
Jungkook drags them out, and their feet pound the gravel as rain beats down on them. Jimin gasps as he’s drenched in mere seconds, but Jungkook keeps going until they make it across the street and half a block over. He makes for the door of what looks like a restaurant.
“You first,” Jungkook says, letting go of Jimin’s wrist.
And it shouldn’t be weird. It’s not like Jimin hasn’t had a door held open for him before—by friends or family, by Seokjin when he’s come by somewhere to pick him up. So it shouldn’t be weird… but it is.
Jungkook’s hair is plastered to his cheeks, his black v-neck t-shirt sticking to his skin, and his smile is like the sun trying to break through rain clouds. Jimin’s breath feels short, and he doesn’t think it’s because they sprinted here.
After a brief pause, he ducks into the restaurant. Jungkook follows close behind, bumping into his back in the process. Jimin apologises instinctively, taking a couple more steps in to make space. Jungkook doesn’t really seem to notice. He just steps around Jimin to ask for a table.
Discomfort settles on Jimin pretty quickly after that. It’s the rain, he tells himself. He doesn’t think he’s been soaked like this and out in public since he was a kid. Either he’s prepared or avoids going outside when the weather gets like this.
But Jungkook doesn’t care… so Jimin decides he shouldn’t care either.
“They’ve got amazing dwaeji gukbap here, almost as good as they make it in Busan,” Jungkook says once they’re seated. He turns the menu Jimin’s way. “Have a look and see what you want.”
“Dwaeji gukbap sounds perfect.” He barely glances at the menu. A hot soup dish would be great to warm up his water-ridden body. “Do you go to Busan often?”
“At least once a year. My parents live there.”
“Oh cool. My parents are from there so I go when visiting extended family, but I grew up in Seoul.”
“Yeah, the accent kind of gave it away.”
“Hey, hey, I’ve picked up my fair share of dialect,” Jimin argues, in dialect. Jungkook grins, which makes Jimin feel like he’s won a silent game they’re playing.
“So you have.”
They order some food from a waiter, as well as a couple of beers. “You don’t mind, do you?” Jungkook asks. “I’ve been craving an ice cold beer all day.”
“It’s fine. I’ll have one too.”
Jimin squirms in his seat, not enjoying the heaviness of his clothes and shoes. It’s getting everywhere, water spreading over the wooden seats and the floors. They should have waited for the rain to stop, or tried to acquire an umbrella from somewhere. This was just poor planning.
“I don’t want to put you on the spot,” Jungkook says, then taps his own nose, obviously intending to do so anyway, “but I’ve got a sensitive sense of smell, so I can tell… You don’t really want to be here, do you?”
“What? That’s not it at all.”
“You don’t have to humour me. I dragged you in here. I doubt you expected a meal when you came to talk to me.”
“It’s fine,” Jimin insists. He doesn’t like how easily Jungkook saw through him. He needs to get his act together. “I’m just uncomfortable because I’m soaked. I’m glad to be here.”
“Well then.” Jungkook sits back with a pleased smile. “Good.”
Their beers arrive. Jimin busies himself opening and pouring while Jungkook talks.
“Do you know what would be cool, Jimin-ssi? Since we’re here discussing business… Maybe you could think about sorting something with the shelter I work for. I know I could do a good job as a cover artist, but so could a lot of the people there. You have that kind of pull at your company, don’t you?”
Jimin narrows his eyes. “Did you look me up?”
“I did some digging. Came across this list that just happened to include an alpha named Jimin…”
Jimin groans, dropping his head into a palm. “Oh god, not that again. I want you to know, I didn’t give my consent for my name to be included, and I wouldn’t have if they’d asked.”
“No shame,” Jungkook says, leaning towards him. “It’s thrilling to know one of Seoul’s most eligible alphas is pursuing me.”
Jimin instantly reddens. “I- I’m not— This isn’t—”
“For my services.”
There’s a shit eating grin on Jungkook’s face that says he’s got Jimin exactly where he wants him. Heat slices across Jimin’s chest, a mix of embarrassment and anger making him want to disappear—or punch something.
Suddenly, Jimin has no idea why he wanted to be Jungkook’s friend. He grits his teeth.
Business proposal.
He decides that’s as good an excuse as any to get through this meal, and then he can disappear, never to come back again.
“What are your rates like?” Jimin asks, deciding to launch right into it.
Jungkook answers him. He answers all of Jimin’s questions, politely if with a lighthearted edge, like he might crack a joke any moment. Jimin is on edge the entire time he cycles through his list of questions. He has everything he needs by the time the food is served, and he’s halfway done with his beer.
“Now it’s my turn,” Jungkook says as Jimin digs into his food. Jimin frowns, but Jungkook doesn’t leave him hanging for long. “What I said earlier… I was serious about that. The people at the shelter could use the work, and it would be good for your company’s reputation too.”
Jimin can see that, but though the idea intrigues him, he’s fairly certain he’ll be shot down if he brings it up with the rest of the C-suite.
“I’ll think about it,” Jimin tells him.
“Okay… because to be honest, I don’t think I’d feel right doing anything for you otherwise. Not that it’s not a cool opportunity. It’s just that I have plenty of other work. I don’t have to take a job up with you.”
“So you’d offer your services… conditionally,” Jimin says.
“Precisely.”
And it feels like a challenge. Jimin tamps down on his alpha instincts to rise up to it. This is his way out. It would be easy to cut ties. Jimin can just say he couldn’t make it work, and Jungkook would go away.
Jimin groans inwardly as it suddenly hits—Seokjin is going to be so disappointed in him.
“So what does a CMO do for fun, anyway?” Jungkook asks, picking at the banchan they’re splitting between them.
What a difficult, complicated question. Jimin clears his throat. “I enjoy a good night out.”
Jungkook points his chopsticks Jimin’s way. “I actually knew about that. Do you know there are articles about you out there? You have a whole little fan club.”
“I promise that was unintentional.”
“Hm… So you like to dance, then?”
“I like to drink, though I swear getting older is making it more difficult.”
“Ah, a fellow hangover sufferer?”
“Yes, unfortunately.”
Jungkook’s eyes roam over Jimin’s face, but it’s impossible to tell what he’s thinking. “Do you live around here?” he suddenly asks.
Jimin tries to keep another wave of embarrassment at bay. “Um… no.”
He glances out the window, where it’s still pouring. At least his clothes have begun to dry, though he’s not looking forward to going back out there.
“I see. I thought you might. Our customer base at the café is mostly made up of people who live or work in the area.”
“I was passing by last week.” Jimin bites the inside of his lip, then decides to add, “I had to drop someone off.”
Jungkook hums. “Had a sleepover, Jimin-ssi?”
The tone is inquiring, but the gaze is mocking. Jimin did not expect that prolonged contact with Jungkook would leave him so… ticked off. He puffs his chest.
“You could call it that,” Jimin says.
“I see. Guess you’re not as single as that list made you out to be.”
“Oh, I’m single. It was just one night.”
Jungkook rests his chin over the back of his palm. “Not interested in settling down, Jimin-ssi?”
“Nope.” Jimin takes a sip of his beer. “And you? The internet didn’t provide much of a background on you in regards to your personal life.”
“My impression was that we were here to talk business,” Jungkook says.
Jimin has to bite his tongue so he doesn’t huff in annoyance. He’s sure it’s bleeding from his scent though. He’s sitting here all rattled and Jungkook is as calm as ever, his scent soft and mellow. He could be napping.
Despite trying to keep his annoyance at bay, Jimin still says, “You brought it up.”
“Actually, you brought up your little sleepover all on your own.”
“And you asked what I do for fun. Not exactly related to business.”
“Are you getting angry, Jimin-ssi? You know, you don’t have to answer any of the questions I ask.”
Okay. Forget it. Jimin huffs loudly. He can’t hide it anymore. “I think I’ve wasted enough of my time. I have a feeling a business relationship between us isn’t going to work.”
He stands, takes one last swig of his beer to finish it, then takes some cash from his pocket to leave on the table.
“That should cover both of us,” Jimin says heatedly. “Have a good day, Jungkook.”
He’s gone before Jungkook can respond. At the last second, he remembers the rain, but there’s not much he can do about it. He opens the door, mentally prepares himself, and then runs.
To get through the rain as fast as possible, not to get away from Jungkook.
Though, Jimin thinks sulkily, Jungkook may just get the wrong idea.
💼🎨💼
It’s just after 3pm the next day when his secretary pops her head into his office to say, “You’ve been hard at work this weekend, haven’t you?”
Choi Hyejin has been his secretary for over a year now. She’s someone Jimin relies heavily upon, and probably someone he would have liked to befriend if they had met in college. But they’ve never crossed that line. They don’t meet outside of work functions, and their conversations rarely stray from work related matters.
Still, she doesn’t speak to him in that stilted formal way a lot of Jimin’s employees speak to him in. He can relax a little more with her, and he’s grateful for it.
“This weekend?” Jimin asks. He purposely tried not to work over the weekend. And barring a few emails, he was successful.
“Yeah. I heard Jenny talking about it with Minho. One of them got an email from the guy you met up with detailing the new project you’re preparing to pitch to higher ups. Or… did I get that wrong?”
Jimin’s been working on a report, and in order to focus, he turned off all notifications for an hour. Now, he opens up his email. His stomach drops when he sees an email from one Jeon Jungkook.
“It’s honestly a great idea. Very innovative. I don’t think anyone else is doing it,” Hyejin goes on. “I can already name three authors of ours who would agree to it. Let me know if you want me to reach out.”
“Not yet,” Jimin says. He’s seething internally, and he would rather Hyejin remain ignorant of the fact. “Did you need me for anything else?”
“Nope. Just came to give you my support.”
Jimin’s lips press into a thin smile. “Thanks.”
“No prob, boss. Back to work I go then,” she says with a salute. She shuts the door behind her, and thank god the blinds have all been pulled closed, because a second later, Jimin is on his feet and swinging his chair to the side. It rolls and hits the wall.
How did Jungkook get their emails? But then, they’re probably listed somewhere online. He’s gotten his fair share of spam in the past.
Fuck.
Jimin drags the chair back to the desk, forcefully opening Jungkook’s email. He reads it, his focus simmering with anger. There’s some stuff there about thanking Jimin for yesterday’s meeting, a link to the shelter’s website and some of the artists who they’ve been helping, and an invitation to discuss all of this further.
Everything’s spiralling out of control, and Jimin only has himself to blame.
At the end of the email is a phone number. Jimin isn’t thinking with his logical, sane brain when he types the number into his phone and hits the call button. A few rings later, Jungkook picks up.
Jimin doesn’t let him speak.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asks.
Jungkook chuckles on the other end. “Hello to you too. You didn’t introduce yourself, but I’m assuming this is Park Jimin?”
“I told you I wasn’t interested anymore.”
“But I am. You make a good salesman, Jimin-ssi.”
“You’re trolling me.”
“That’s not a very nice thing to say.” Jimin can practically hear the pout in Jungkook’s voice. “I just want to help these people who, frankly, haven’t had much help throughout most of their lives. Why are you so against it?”
Jungkook’s tone has turned serious. Jimin grips the arm of his chair. “I’m not against the idea. I’m against you.”
“To be honest, I’m not sure what I did. I thought we were having a nice time before you stormed off yesterday.”
He’s making it seem like Jimin is the crazy one, like he hadn’t driven him off with his jibes and his taunts. Jimin has gotten angry with his employees before, but he can normally control the way he expresses it. The kind of anger he feels now is on a different level entirely.
“If that’s your idea of a nice time, then I’m not sure how anyone gets through a conversation with you.”
“Okay…” Jungkook pauses for a moment, then says, “You’re kind of hurting my feelings, Jimin-ssi.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“I think we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot.”
Jimin drags a hand down his face. He doesn’t know how to navigate this, instinct telling him to yell until he’s spent, logic telling him that will only give Jungkook more fuel to mock him.
“Or maybe this is a sign that we’d make terrible business partners,” Jimin says with as much firmness and control he can muster. He’s relieved he can’t see Jungkook’s face. That would make this so much harder.
“I actually disagree, Jimin…ssi.”
Jimin scowls.
“‘Jimin’ feels wrong considering we’ve only met a couple times, but if you really prefer that…”
“I actually prefer you don’t call me at all,” Jimin snaps back.
“Well… you do know that you’re the one who called me, right?”
That’s it.
He can’t do this anymore.
Jimin hangs up.
💼🎨💼
At least once a week, Jimin meets with the rest of the top management team to discuss their respective teams and align on their goals and budgets. It’s Thursday afternoon, just a few days after that nasty phone call with Jungkook, and they’re having one such meeting.
It goes smoothly, for the most part. There is nothing urgent to report, and the merger is going well. They’re about wrapping up when his brother Jaebeom calls his name.
“What’s this I’m hearing about a new philanthropic project you’re working on?”
“Philanthropy?” Jimin’s father asks. Park Juho is a stern, no-nonsense man who is a big reason the company is as strict as it is. It’s why Jimin will never tell him about his tattoo, and the reason Jimin was wary about Jungkook’s idea from the very start.
“Rumours spread fast around here,” Jimin says. He turns to his dad. “It’s nothing yet. Just a conversation I had with an artist who has a connection to this homeless shelter… He’s the one pitching me. I still have to figure out if it would be feasible.”
“What’s the pitch?”
“Connect artists in the home with our authors, and offer them jobs to draw book covers. I need to assess the talent in that place, but from what I’ve seen… I mean, the guy who’s pitching it, he’s great. He’s a well established artist, but I don’t know if the people at the shelter would bring the same quality of work.”
“Interesting.”
Well, that’s a better response than Jimin expected.
“Follow up on it,” Juho says. “I want to hear more about it.”
“Yes, sir.”
Everyone starts to get up, but as Jimin gathers his things, his dad says, “Stay for a second, Jimin. I want to talk to you about something.”
Jaebeom ruffles Jimin’s hair before he leaves, which is just so—demeaning. He’s only three years older, and this is a workspace. Jimin takes a breath to steady himself. That whole experience with Jungkook has wound him up throughout the week. He needs to relax.
“Your mother sent me something,” Juho says once the room has cleared out. He opens something on his phone, then slides it across the table. Jimin takes it, stomach dropping when he sees a picture of him standing next to Mina as she vomits into an alley.
Jimin hands the phone back. “It’s not what it looks like.”
“I know it’s not, but you of all people should know that doesn’t matter when the public will form its own opinions regardless of the truth.”
“I was taking care of her, making sure she got home okay.”
“Are you dating the omega?”
Jimin crosses his legs stiffly. “No.”
“Then perhaps you should have thought twice before being alone with her.”
“We weren’t alone for long—”
“The picture says otherwise.”
Every muscle in Jimin’s body is tense. Juho is the kind of alpha he doesn’t want to get on the bad side of. Past experience is already making his own alpha cower, and it’s as frustrating as it is unnerving.
“I’m sorry, father,” Jimin says. “It won’t happen again.”
Juho just grunts in response. “Has your mother found you any good matches?”
“I’m meeting one this weekend,” Jimin says.
“Good, that’s good. Your mother has good taste, son. You should consider the omegas she introduces to you more seriously if you’re to be mated before you’re thirty.”
Thirty isn’t far at all, just a few months away. That’s not a lot of time. Jimin feels nauseous just thinking about it.
“I have yet to meet anyone I want to mate, but I am taking it seriously, I promise.”
“Alright, Jimin.” Juho stands. “That’s all. Time to get back to work.”
Jimin buries himself in work until 9pm that night in an attempt to escape the pressure weighing on his shoulders. The issue is, he can’t escape it when he finally closes his eyes, and as such, sleep is a long time coming.
💼🎨💼
The homeless artist project is on Park Juho’s radar, so Jimin makes a point of following up with Jungkook the following week—via email. He doesn’t think he can stomach anything else.
Dear Jungkook,
Thanks for the information. Could you put me in contact with someone at the shelter? I’d like to verify a few facts and see how viable this venture would really be. Thanks.
Regards,
Park Jimin
CMO, Park Publishing
Jungkook reply comes within the hour, but it’s short, barely even a line:
Hi Jimin. Anything you need to know, just ask me. The shelter has made me your point of contact.
Jimin slams a hand on the desk. Fine. Fine. He’ll work with him. He hates this but he’ll do it, and soon enough, it’ll be over, and he can go back to his regular work-filled life and pretend Jeon Jungkook doesn’t exist.
He considers handing off this work to someone else, then decides against it. His interactions with Jungkook have been… childish… and he’d rather not give Jungkook the chance to tell his employees about it.
They email back and forth for a little, finally deciding that it would be best if Jimin just comes to the shelter to speak to some of the interested artists and gather samples. Most of them don’t have access to computers 24/7.
An idea, Jungkook slips in one of his emails, would be to donate some funds to the shelter. Do some good for the community, Jimin-ssi.
While Jimin is certain Jungkook is mocking him, it’s not a terrible idea. He can see opportunity here, which he sort of hates, because this wasn’t his idea to begin with. But he’s the only one who can bring it to life, so he grits his teeth and goes with it.
He does pawn off some of the work on his secretary. She gets in touch with some of their regular authors to see if they would be interested, and also starts building him a pitch deck for the project. All he has to do is talk to Jungkook.
How hard can it be?
The following weekend, Jimin picks Jungkook up from the coffee shop himself. He almost asked Seokjin to drive him—sometimes he’s just so very tired, and driving feels impossible—but he changes his mind because he doesn’t want to face Seokjin about all of this yet.
How did your meeting with Jungkook go? Are you guys best friends now? Do I have some competition? Seokjin asked the next day.
Jimin gave some half-assed answer about needing to spend more time together before he can really call him a friend and then changed the subject.
So Seokjin doesn’t know about all the stuff happening with Jungkook, and to be honest, Jimin would like to keep it that way.
Jungkook whistles when he opens the door to the passenger seat of Jimin’s car. “My very own chauffeur. I feel like I’m in a movie. Hi, Jimin-ssi.”
Jimin rolls his eyes. “Just tell me where to go.”
“In a bad mood today?”
“I’m working,” Jimin says.
Jungkook shoots him a wicked grin. “So that’s a yes then.”
Jimin chooses to put the car into drive instead of answering. Jungkook gives him verbal instructions. The place is less than ten minutes away. They could have just met there, but apparently it’s down a side street that can be hard to find.
Jimin’s pretty sure Jungkook just wanted a ride in his car.
Despite the simmering irritation, the visit actually goes well. Jimin turns on his charm, talking to each artist individually to discuss whether this is something they really want to do. Jungkook has already vetted them. Honestly, the artists are all amazing, and there’s a flutter in Jimin’s belly by the end of the visit.
Suddenly he can’t wait to turn this project into reality.
“So…” Jungkook says as they walk back to Jimin’s car. “What did you think?”
Jimin has a stack of samples in a folder. They all came prepared and ready to work. Everyone seemed content with Jimin’s proposal for how they would get paid. The people who run the shelter thanked him profusely when he arrived, because despite Jimin’s original reluctance, he decided to put in a small donation of his own.
If this doesn’t work out, at least he did something.
“I think they’re all very talented,” Jimin says.
“So you’re going to give them jobs then?”
“It’s not that simple. I need the CEO and the CFO’s approval first, and the sign off from authors who would want to work with them. We still have to build a campaign. It’s not just about them drawing art for book covers. It’s about showing that there’s talent in parts of our community that often go overlooked.
“That means arranging meetings between the authors and the artists. They should get to know one another throughout the process. I want the artists to feel like they’re not just drawing art based on a brief. They should feel like partners, as much a part of the story as the authors are.
“We should get footage of the process, get to know the artists through interviews. Put them on the map. Humanise them. But to do that, I need to come up with a budget, and budgets need approvals. Not to mention putting together a team to manage all of this and paying them too. There’s still a lot to do.
“But…” They’ve stopped next to Jimin’s car. “I think it could turn out really well. I want to see this through.”
Jungkook wears this soft expression, lips almost tilted in a smile. “I’m impressed.”
Jimin turns away to unlock the car, embarrassed. “I’m just doing my job.”
Jungkook walks around to the other side, saying, “But you didn’t have to. Or do you want me to work for you that badly?”
It’s crazy, how one second Jimin can be on the verge of being endeared by Jungkook, and the next, he’s back to being irritated. It’s the tone, Jimin decides. Jungkook just speaks with this tone and it triggers a heated response from his body.
“Let’s see how all of this pans out first,” Jimin says, getting inside the car.
Jungkook does the same. “Don’t tell me you’re going back on your word?”
“I’m not. If you want to start some work for us already, I’ll get you in touch with someone from my team.” Jimin starts the car. “Now where am I dropping you off?”
“I thought maybe we could do something together,” Jungkook says. “I wanted to get you a meal, for helping the shelter out.”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“I have a date tonight.”
Jimin tries not to grimace at the fact. He needs to show his dad he’s trying, so he’s meeting the same omega he met last week. It’ll be their second date. Jimin planned it; or, well, his secretary planned it. She’s the one who chose and booked the restaurant.
“Ah.” Jungkook’s disappointment is apparent in the way the usual freshness of his scent wilts just a little. “I guess we’ll have to do it another time.”
“Guess so.”
“Where are you going?”
“This restaurant called Tamayura. I’ve never been. My secretary said it’s supposed to be good.”
Jungkook opens his mouth.
“Yes, my secretary made the reservation. No, you do not need to make a comment about it. I already know how it sounds.”
Jungkook says nonchalantly, “I was going to say that your secretary is right. That restaurant is great. Are you doing teppanyaki or sushi?”
“I haven’t figured that part out.”
“An alpha took me there once,” Jungkook says. “Got us a private room with a teppanyaki chef. It felt very exclusive. He paid for the meal.”
Jimin shouldn’t be so surprised to hear it. He already knew Jungkook had a thing for alphas. But hearing about it now, like this, and for him to speak about it so casually… It brings back Sunhee’s comment about Jungkook hitting on him the first day they met.
“Cool,” Jimin responds, because he’s not sure what he’s supposed to say.
A part of him wants to inquire further, to ask if Jungkook dates alphas exclusively, or if he’s open to all subgenders. But that feels too personal. They’re not at that level of friendship, if you can call this a friendship at all.
“Where should I drop you off?” he asks instead, starting the car.
“The café. I may as well work a few more hours since you’re not available.”
“Okay.”
Jimin gets the address up and pulls out of his parking space. Meanwhile, he can feel Jungkook watching him. He’s not sure why, but it makes the back of his neck prickle and his cheeks feel warm. Good thing the café isn’t far from here.
“Your date,” Jungkook says a few minutes later. “Omega?”
“Of course,” Jimin confirms, then regrets the sharpness of his tone. For a second, he thinks he sounds like his father.
“Of course,” Jungkook repeats.
When they reach the café, Jungkook reaches towards Jimin to squeeze his shoulder. “Have fun on your date, Jimin-ssi.”
The words linger once Jungkook is gone.
As does his touch.
💼🎨💼
Jungkook [Monday, 11:52am]:
You’re famous, Jimin-ssi
I was doing a bit more research about your company
And this came up
[photo attached]
That’s in front of the hotel where Tamayura is, isn’t it?
So I don’t think it’s crazy to say…
That the girl next to you is your omega
Jimin [Monday, 8:37pm]
Pretty sure this is what one would call stalking
And she’s not my omega
We’re just dating
Jungkook [Monday, 8:39pm]
I see you’re not the possessive type
Though you never struck me as such
You’re a little too controlled for that
Jimin [Wednesday, 11:45pm]
I don’t care what you think of me
Jungkook [Wednesday, 11:49pm]
Well hello there
It’s late
What are you still doing up?
Jimin [Wednesday, 11:50pm]
None of your business
Jungkook [Wednesday, 11:50pm]
[typing…]
Jimin [Wednesday, 11:50pm]
I just got home
Jungkook [Wednesday, 11:51pm]
Had a fun night out?
Jimin [Wednesday, 11:51pm]
At the office?
God no
Jungkook [Wednesday, 11:53pm]
Busy day?
Jimin [Wednesday, 11:55pm]
Everyday is busy
Some days I just find it harder to stop
Jungkook [Wednesday, 11:56pm]
And today was such a day?
Jimin [Wednesday, 11:57pm]
Well
Jungkook [Thursday, 12:01am]
Well?
Jimin [Thursday, 6:49am]
Sorry, I fell asleep
Please ignore I said all that
Jungkook [Thursday, 9:55am]
Sure, Jimin-ssi
Only because you asked so nicely
💼🎨💼
At lunch time on Thursday, Jimin reads through his text chat with Jungkook, annoyed he reached out to him at all. He’d just been exhausted last night. And on the way home, Seokjin had asked him if the life lessons he learned from Jungkook were working, so with the alpha on his mind, Jimin couldn’t not respond to the texts he had purposely left on read.
You’re a little too controlled for that
What did that even mean? Jimin almost asked, then changed his mind before he could hit send. The words have been on his mind all week though. Trust Jungkook to disrupt his thoughts with his crude and inaccurate observations of Jimin’s life.
His computer pings with an email notification, successfully distracting him from Jungkook’s annoying antics. Setting his food aside, he writes a response to the email. There are some other unanswered ones in his inbox, so he takes some time to deal with those too.
Before he knows it, it’s time for a scheduled meeting with the rest of the marketing team. Jimin sighs as he takes in his half eaten lunch, then puts it away for later.
The day passes excruciatingly slowly, and yet he feels like he hasn’t had a single moment of rest. From dealing with employees who need his help to assuring his brother that they’ll meet their KPIs to dodging requests from his secretary to finalise some dates in his calendar, he thinks his brain is reaching a tipping point.
And there’s still one more day left in the week.
He sleeps in the car ride home, head against the window. Afterwards, Seokjin wakes him by shaking his shoulder.
“You know I don’t like telling you how to live your life, but maybe you should try to leave work at a more reasonable hour, if you can,” he says once Jimin has blinked awake and returned to reality.
“Mhm.” He rubs his eyes, then glances at the time on his phone. It’s just about 11pm. “I know. Just hate it when things pile up.”
“I know. I suppose one thing I can be thankful for is the lack of traffic getting you home at this time.”
Jimin gives Seokjin a small smile. “Yeah. At least there’s that.”
“Come on.” Seokjin exits the car and gets Jimin’s door for him. “Your bed awaits, boss. It’ll be far more comfortable than the car seat, I can assure you.”
“I’m sure you’re right.”
Jimin really sleeps that night. He doesn’t even bother plugging his phone in to charge, which means his alarm doesn’t go off, which means he’s surprised and groggy when he wakes up to light streaming in through the window.
It’s when he pads into the kitchen and sees the time on the microwave that he stops short.
“Shit.”
It’s 9am. He’s late.
“Shit!”
His doorbell rings, and Jimin wonders if that’s the first time it did that, because he’s pretty sure he heard the sound in his dream. Is that what woke him up? He’s about to head to the door when the sound of the keypad being activated comes on.
Seokjin walks in a second later. He takes Jimin in, shirtless and in nothing except a pair of shorts. “I tried to call, but it kept going straight to voicemail. You okay? Overslept?”
“My phone died,” Jimin says, already heading back to his bedroom. “I’ll be ready in five minutes. Can you go start the car?”
“Yeah, of course. We’ll leave as soon as you’re ready.”
They have to get through traffic, but forty minutes later, Jimin is rushing out of the elevator on his floor. He doesn’t hear the greetings from his employees. He has a meeting that started ten minutes ago, and though he texted that he would be late because of traffic, it won’t leave a good impression.
Not to mention his father will be there, as well as the rest of the board.
“Jimin-ssi!”
The voice comes as soon as Jimin steps foot in his office, just to grab some files he needs. Sitting on the couch is none other than Jungkook. What the hell is he doing here?
Nevermind that.
“Sorry, I have a meeting now,” he says, picking up the files from his desk.
“Hyejin said. She told me I could wait here.”
“Right, okay.” Jimin does a double take when he realises that Jungkook’s hair is no longer that striking blond he got so used to. It’s dark brown, slightly curled, and tied back in a little ponytail. He wears slacks and a blazer over his t-shirt. A pair of glasses sits on his nose.
Is he trying to say something with that look?
Is he mocking Jimin’s corporate lifestyle?
Nevermind. He doesn’t have time for this.
“I’ll be back soon,” Jimin says, shaking himself. He’ll deal with Jungkook later. For now he needs to make sure he makes up for his tardiness in this meeting, and that means faking a confidence he doesn’t feel.
“Take your time, Jimin-ssi.”
He leaves the room with Jungkook’s voice echoing in his ears.
💼🎨💼
“I sense a lot of…” Jungkook gestures in Jimin’s general direction, “... stress from your side of the table. Did I come at a bad time?”
Jimin did not manage to say anything about their homeless artist project during the earlier meeting. Though he’s not ready to pitch it, he wanted to get a general feeling for interest levels. He feels like he’s flying blind a little with it. He wants it to work so badly, but he’s never taken on a project like this, and he’s still not sure how the board will take it.
“You’re fine,” Jimin says, setting his papers to the side. He rests his elbows on his desk, looking Jungkook up and down. The new look suits him, and for some reason Jimin hates that. “Why are you here?”
“Well I’ve been speaking to Minho, and he told me to drop by today to discuss the work I might be able to do for you. I spoke to him, but he couldn’t answer all my questions, so I was told to talk to you.”
“Excuse my surprise, but I wasn’t told about any of this,” Jimin says, glancing at his computer screen. There are a lot of unread emails in there, but none about Jungkook.
“That’s alright. I had no plans for today, so I was happy to wait.”
Jimin pulls up his calendar, surprised to see he has no other meetings. Usually people are trying to squeeze last minute meetings with him on Friday afternoons. Maybe Hyejin had something to do with it. She’s been very aware of all his late nights this week.
“May I be blunt?” Jungkook asks.
Jimin resists the urge to roll his eyes. “You always are. What is it?”
“You look like you haven’t slept in a week.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I actually slept in this morning.”
“Ah, hence the panicked entry. You must have needed it.”
For some reason, all Jimin can think is how he craved a change to his lifestyle only a few short weeks ago. He thought Jungkook might be the answer to all his problems, and here they are, but Jimin’s still at it—overworked and tired.
All he’s done is added more work to his pile, and while this new potential project has stirred his interest more than any other project has in years, it still takes up a lot of his mental energy, of which he’s not sure he has much left. It’s hard to be excited about anything on a regular day.
And honestly, it’s such a far cry from who he used to be that it’s making him feel a little depressed.
He did need the sleep. He needs so much more of it. In fact, he’s long overdue for a break. But even the thought of it has his stress rising, because there’s just no time for it. There’s no one on his team he trusts enough to hand his work to, and he’s got too many people counting on him.
He eyes the clock. It’s just about noon. He hasn’t done a single thing on his task list, and yet he just wants to go—to get out of this stuffy office and forget his responsibilities for a while.
“Should we go somewhere?” Jimin asks.
Jungkook has wide eyes behind his glasses. “You and me?”
“We could get lunch? And you can buy me that meal you promised me.”
“If you have time, sure. But I hadn’t intended the meal to be a business one.”
“Then it doesn’t have to be,” Jimin says.
Jungkook starts to smile. “I am all for that idea.”
“Great.”
They leave together, taking the elevator down. Jimin shoots a quick text to Hyejin to say he’ll be out for lunch, and then he silences his phone. It’ll just be a couple of hours, and then he’ll shift focus back to work. He deserves this.
“Shall we go somewhere else?” Jimin asks.
“Where were you thinking?”
“Ramyeon? There’s a good place near where I live.”
“I love ramyeon.”
“I’ll call my driver.”
There is this strange, buzzing excitement shooting through Jimin as they wait for Seokjin outside. He hasn’t done this before, just decided to take off, not without making sure the people on his team have detailed instructions of what to do while he’s gone.
But he figures—it’s a Friday.
He figures—Hyejin has things under control.
He figures—he’s worked hard enough for the week.
Seokjin pulls up two minutes later. The expression he wears when he sees Jimin is not alone is priceless. Jimin will sometimes meet people for lunch meetings, but he rarely leaves the office with someone.
“Hey,” Jimin says, getting in the front seat. Jungkook gets comfortable in the back seat. “We wanna go to that ramyeon place near the apartment. You know the one?”
“Sure thing, boss.” Seokjin glances in the rearview mirror. “Hi there. Are you a coworker?”
“Not really. I’m Jeon Jungkook.”
“Ooh…” Seokjin looks at Jimin, wiggling his eyebrows not very subtly at all, before pulling out of the building’s lobby. “Jimin hasn’t scared you off yet, then?”
There’s a grin in Jungkook’s voice. “Not at all. I very much enjoy his company.”
“Jimin hides his fun side from most people.”
“Does he now?”
“Let’s not talk about me like I’m not sitting right here,” Jimin says.
“I’ve found him to be very stern, actually,” Jungkook goes on to say. “But I like that in a person.”
“Then I guess he made the right choice pursuing a friendship with you. You’re an artist, right?”
Jimin tries to hide his souring scent when Seokjin says that. God, what is Jungkook going to think? He’s going to have the wrong idea all over again. But then, what is the right idea anymore? Jimin doesn’t even know, and he has no energy to stop it.
“I am,” Jungkook says without missing a beat. “How long have you worked for Jimin?”
They talk most of the ride over. Eventually, Jimin relaxes and busies himself looking out the window. There’s not much point in trying to control the conversation, and anyway, he put himself in this situation. He thinks a part of him wanted Seokjin to meet Jungkook.
A part of him wanted to show that he was putting effort into this big plan of his to change, somehow. Like it could prove he did, in fact, have control over his own life.
Even if he’s got the pressure of marriage hanging over his head, and his father’s words ringing in his ears more often than not. He can still make friends. He can still take time off from work in pursuit of other things.
Right?
Even if it’s all a charade, because he and Jungkook are more business partners than anything else.
Seokjin drops them off and wishes them a good lunch. Jimin thanks him and hops out of the car, Jungkook on his heels. He grabs them a table, then gives Jungkook his recommendations, which the other alpha accepts graciously. It’s only once their menus have been taken that Jimin is faced with the fact that he’s alone, once again, with Jungkook.
“I’m a little hung up on something your driver said,” Jungkook says.
“Did he say something? I wasn’t paying attention.”
Jungkook smirks like he knows Jimin is lying. “You chose to become friends with me. He thinks we’re friends. What’s that about?”
“No idea.”
“You talked to him about me.”
“So?”
“So you told him we’re friends?”
“I did no such thing. I can’t control how Seokjin sees my relationships with people.”
Jungkook hums in interest. “Of course, of course. Still, a very curious thing, that, especially considering I thought a small part of you might hate me.”
“Hating someone takes far too much energy,” Jimin states. “You just annoy me, that’s all.”
“Ouch.” Jungkook grips his chest dramatically. “So I’m nothing more than a pest to you.”
Jimin raises his chin proudly, lips on the verge of a smile. “Precisely.”
A server brings them some barley tea, which Jungkook automatically goes to serve. “So my dear friend, Jimin-ssi, tell me more about this fun side your driver mentioned. Seems to me it’s usually buried pretty deep.”
“Actually, it comes out whenever I’m in good company.”
Jungkook smiles. He really does look very smart, like this. The way his loose hair frames his face, the way the glasses perch on his nose, even the way he pours their drinks, tattoos on his hand peeking out.
“You must be in good company, then,” Jungkook says, voice low and a little taunting.
Jimin looks away, taking a sip from his drink to avoid the way his ears get hot. Jungkook is always ready with a quip to tease him, isn’t he? To change the subject, he says, “You upgraded your look.”
“You think it’s an upgrade? Thank you very much, Jimin-ssi.”
“I think it’s the jacket. Did you borrow it from one of your smarter friends?”
Jungkook tsk’s. “Are you implying that artists aren’t smart?”
“I never said that.”
“I was reading between the lines. Something a smart person should know how to do.”
Jimin rolls his eyes. “Taking my words out of context doesn’t make you smart.”
“Maybe you should speak more clearly then, if I’m misunderstanding the things you say. What did you mean by your comment, hm?”
“I just…” Jimin flounders, trying to find solid ground to stand on. “It’s a smart jacket, and you… not that you can’t be smart in your own way, but it doesn’t seem like your style. That’s all I meant to imply.”
“Aish.” Jungkook chuckles. “You’re so serious sometimes. It makes it hard to make fun of you.”
Jimin flushes. “So you are making fun of me!”
“Only because you make it so easy! Plus, Jimin-ssi, you have to agree that you like it, at least a little bit? I’ve caught you smiling once or twice. You can’t hide that from me.”
“It frustrates me so much, sometimes all I can do is smile.”
“Your scent says otherwise.”
“You shouldn’t spy on people’s scents.”
“Whatever you say, Jimin-ssi.”
Jimin gnaws on his lower lip, then says, “You’re still calling me that.”
“Because I like seeing your reaction to it.” Jungkook’s eyes meet Jimin’s own, the intensity of his eye contact increasing. “Jimin-ssi.”
It’s everything that Jungkook implies in the way he says it. It’s not just taunting or mocking; there’s an air of desire behind it. Like Jungkook wants to swallow him whole. That’s why Jimin reacts. That’s why he doesn’t like it.
A waiter interrupts them when he comes with their food. Jimin blinks and clears his throat, trying to calm himself. His alpha feels stir crazy. Maybe he needs to go for a long run later today, work off the excess restlessness. Jungkook seems to have that effect on him.
“So,” Jimin says once he’s calmed down, “Do you have a fun side you keep buried too?”
“No buried sides here. What you see is what you get.”
“Hm… Disappointing.”
Jungkook’s lip twitches and his scent surges, and for a second, Jimin feels incredibly satisfied. Maybe he can see why Jungkook enjoys teasing him so much.
“Are you doing anything tonight?” Jungkook asks.
“I don’t have any specific plans, no. But you never know what might come up.”
“You should come out with me then. I’ll change your mind about me very quickly.”
“And where will you take me, Jungkook-ssi?”
Jungkook stares at him a few seconds too long, then grins. “To a place you’ve definitely never been.”
“I think you underestimate me,” Jimin says.
There’s a triumphant glint in Jungkook’s eyes. “I really don’t think that’s true.”
Jimin narrows his eyes, but he’s far too curious to back out now. “Fine. Just name the time and place. I’ll be there.”
“I’ll text you the details.”
“Great.”
“Good.”
“Can’t wait.”
Jungkook is still grinning. “Oh, me too, Jimin-ssi. Me too.”
💼🎨💼
Jimin hasn’t worn a shirt this bright since college, but Jungkook told him not to come dressed in his boring work clothes, so it’ll have to do. It’s got a collar but he doesn’t button it all the way up, trying to maintain a smart, yet casual, look. It’s a bright yellow colour, and tucked into tight jeans, he thinks it’ll suit whatever bar or club Jungkook is about to take him to.
Rather than give the exact address, Jungkook is having him meet him at a 7/11 nearby. Don’t wanna ruin the surprise, was Jungkook’s explanation when Jimin asked why he was being so cryptic.
Whatever. Jimin is trying to prove something—to Jungkook or himself or whoever—so he agrees to it pretty readily.
He arrives to find the street is packed. It’s 11pm and there are hordes of people around. It’ll probably be a typical night out. Maybe he’ll find an omega or a beta to take home, although he needs to be careful. He might not have expressed any commitment to the omega he’s dating, but he still can’t have some random person spreading photos of him with someone else.
“Wow,” Jungkook says when he spots him. “I like the shirt.”
“It was a gift from a friend,” Jimin tells him, deciding not to mention he received the gift in college. God, he hasn’t thought about his college friends in a long time. He briefly wonders what they’re up to.
“Things make more sense now. It doesn’t seem like something you’d pick out on your own.”
“Mhm,” Jimin responds, unamused. “Where are we going?”
Jungkook smiles. “Follow me and I’ll show you.”
They only walk for a minute before they arrive at their destination. There’s not much of a line outside of it, so Jungkook takes them straight to the entrance. Jimin takes quick stock of his surroundings, fairly certain he’s never been here and—
Does that sign say ALPHAS ONLY?
“Jungkook—”
“Come on,” Jungkook says, guiding him in with a hand to his back. Only because Jimin is trying to get away from the touch does he enter, though he’s pretty sure his heart is in his throat.
If his dad ever found out he came here, he’s sure he’d be disowned.
It smells like an alpha den in here. Jimin resists the urge to cover his nose from the overwhelming scent of lust and arousal. An omega would not fair well in here, and he can already tell he’s going to struggle.
“What is this place?” he asks Jungkook, even though he already has an idea.
“It’s where alphas come to find alphas,” Jungkook tells him. “You said you wanted to see more sides of me. I like alphas, and the alphas who come here all think the same way.”
“Except me.”
Jungkook doesn’t respond for a beat. And then, “Yeah. Except you.”
Jimin wants to ask why am I here then, but the music is loud and Jungkook has already turned away to lead them to the bar. He orders a drink, instructing Jimin to do the same, and then they wait.
The place is packed. There’s an uncaring nature to the way the alphas here dance and interact, like there’s nothing holding them back. Jimin’s chest feels tight watching them. He’s so very out of place here, and he’s sure everyone can tell.
“Relax,” Jungkook says, lips dangerously close to Jimin’s ear.
Jimin’s alpha rages, feeling challenged by the close proximity. Maybe it’s this place making him more reactive. It’s hot in here, and his discomfort has him wound tight.
To distract himself, he asks, “How did you find out?”
“That I liked alphas?”
Jimin nods. If he’s in the business of getting to know Jungkook, it should be okay to ask that.
“Guess I’ve known for a long time. Omegas and betas don’t affect my alpha like another alpha does. My biology’s different, I guess, but I’m not complaining.” Jungkook gives him his signature shit eating grin. “There’s nothing quite like taking an alpha’s knot.”
Yeah. It’s insanely hot in here.
As their drinks arrive and Jungkook reaches for his, Jimin pops open another button. Then he grabs his own, happy for the iced cold drink to cool his heated skin.
“I wouldn’t know,” Jimin says.
“What?”
Jimin thinks he waited too long to respond, so he explains, “About taking an alpha’s knot.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to.”
He’s halfway through his drink when Jungkook jabs a thumb behind him. “Come on. I have some friends to introduce you to.”
Friends?
Jimin didn’t expect this to involve anyone but the two of them.
But well, maybe it’ll be better this way, considering how irritated he gets at Jungkook without a buffer in the way.
The names of tonight’s buffers are Yoongi, Namjoon and Taehyung. Apparently Jungkook met Taehyung on a night out once, and after being introduced to the other two, the four of them became fast friends.
“Jimin?” Taehyung says, shaking Jimin’s hand far longer than necessary. He’s got that playful look in his eyes that Jimin recognises because he sees it all the time on Jungkook. “I see. Welcome to Paradise. All alphas are welcome.”
“Thanks,” Jimin says, because he’s not sure what else to say.
They’ve got a booth that wraps around a table, so the three of them slide in further so that Jungkook and Jimin can join. It seems all of them know who Jimin is, and Jimin thinks that’s a little unfair. Jungkook has never mentioned any of them before.
“You work in marketing?” Namjoon asks, shouting over the sound of the music.
Bars like this are not the right place for conversation, but Jimin answers anyway, “Yup!”
“That’s cool!” comes Namjoon’s terse response, and maybe that’s all anyone has to say.
Yoongi orders shots for all of them, maybe to break the tension or maybe just because he wanted them—because all of them are relaxed and smiling, and Jimin is starting to think he’s the only tense one there.
What had Jungkook said before?
Relax.
He has a hard time with that, sometimes. He can admit that, even if he hates saying it out loud.
After a round of shots, they get a round of drinks, talking as much as they’re able without getting too deep. Jimin learns that Taehyung is an artist too, and that Yoongi and Namjoon dabble in music, though they have corporate jobs they do full time. Jungkook offers to share their music with Jimin later, if he would like.
Jimin says sure. The drinks have successfully loosened him up, and in fact, he would like to hear their music. He likes music, even if he hasn’t listened to much of it lately.
“Should we dance?” Taehyung says.
Everyone’s up for it. Jimin follows. He’s more or less gotten used to the scents packed in here, although it’s denser in the middle of the dance floor. He’s sure he’ll get used to that soon too though. Jungkook brought him here to have fun, so he’s going to have fun, alpha-exclusive club or no.
Jimin can tell from their scents that no one is together, which is why he’s taken aback when Jungkook starts to dance with Taehyung, and Namjoon starts to dance with Yoongi. There’s nothing too physical or sensual about it. They’re just having fun, playfully spinning one person around, laughing as one of them grips the other’s hip.
They switch partners pretty quickly, rotating like this is something they do often. Jimin mostly tries to ignore it, even if it does fascinate him when Taehyung buries his nose in Yoongi’s neck, scenting him just for a quick second.
Jimin turns away from it, only to find himself face to face with a male alpha who’s an entire head taller than him. He opens his mouth to apologise, but then the alpha is leaning down close to his ear.
“Wanna dance, beautiful?”
Jimin’s belly stirs. He doesn’t know how to define the feeling that cuts through him. If it’s flattered at the compliment or surprised. He’s never, in his entire life, been called beautiful.
He glances at the others, but they’re all distracted, and anyway, a dance doesn’t have to mean anything, does it? If the others can do it with each other, so can he, even if it’s with a stranger.
So he smiles. “Sure!”
The alpha takes him by the waist, pulling him flush against him in one swift motion. Jimin’s breath gets knocked out of him. He didn’t expect this, to be manhandled like he’s just a doll to be played with. He puts his hands on the alpha’s chest, pushing him a little away.
Instead of stepping back, the alpha runs his hands through Jimin’s hair, grinding his hips. Jimin blinks, feeling disoriented for a moment because this alpha’s scent is crowding his senses, and this is not at all what he signed up for. He’s not into alphas. Not one bit.
“That’s enough,” Jimin says, removing the alpha’s hands from his head.
“Do you like being chased, little alpha?” the stranger asks, looking and sounding like he’s up for the challenge. He replaces his hands on Jimin’s hips.
Jimin squirms away. “That’s enough,” he says again.
The alpha drapes his arms across Jimin’s shoulders, dropping his forehead low enough to almost touch. “I think you do like it. I like it too. Do you want to play?”
Jimin opens his mouth to chew the guy out because—how dare he? Act as if he hasn’t heard a word Jimin said? But before he can say anything, someone is stepping between them. Jimin barely registers what’s happening before Jungkook is shoving the alpha backwards, a hand splayed to his chest.
“Fuck off,” he says. “He doesn’t want you.”
“That’s not what he said.”
“Do you really want to have this argument? I can take you.”
“I’d like to see you try.”
Jimin wipes his forehead, which is slick with sweat. Jungkook’s citrus scent is heavy and flooding all his senses, and while a large step up from the stranger’s scent, it’s overwhelming in its own way. Jungkook is usually so calm, his scent bordering on mellow, so to smell it like this is turning his thoughts to mush.
“Okay, okay, break it up,” Namjoon is saying, and perhaps because he’s a similar height—and broader—the stranger alpha holds up his hands, obviously not wanting to cause any trouble.
Taehyung comes to Jimin’s side. “You okay? Some alphas here don’t know how to respect boundaries.”
“I’m fine,” he mutters.
A second later, Jungkook is there, leaning close to him as if about to scent him. Jimin stiffens, but Jungkook does nothing of the sort. He just sniffs, a look of relief coming over his face.
“He didn’t try to scent you,” he says.
No, no, he didn’t, and Jimin is sort of glad. He’s not sure he could have survived that, not when everyone is pumping out pheromones like their lives depend on it. He knows that alphas get like that when they’re horny. It’s an instinctual thing—like a call to mate.
He’s just never been surrounded by it to this extent. He’s used to the softer scents of omegas. Even when they’re horny, they don’t affect him like this. He still manages to keep a tight rein on his control.
But this… this is different.
“You’re sweating,” Jungkook says, feeling Jimin’s forehead. “It’s sort of hot in here. Should we step outside for a bit?”
“I think I’ll just wash my face.”
“I’ll show you where the bathroom is.”
It’s a one person bathroom, Jimin is relieved to see. He steps inside after assuring Jungkook that he won’t be long. He’s glad the other alpha isn’t insisting on joining him. Jungkook’s scent is far too overwhelming to withstand right now. Why does he smell like that, anyway? There’s an edge of possessiveness to the scent that Jimin can’t quite understand.
He shakes away the thought, focusing on splashing cold water over his flushed face. He uses toilet paper to dab at the wetness after while staring at himself in the mirror.
His hair is a bit of a mess after being tugged on. Frantically, he pats it down. Though the bathroom door provides some cover from all those scents, he’s still feeling overly hot. The air conditioning must not be working in this place. Or maybe it’s the alcohol.
After a few deep breaths, he feels a little more ready to face what’s outside. Maybe he’ll make up some excuse about wanting to go home soon.
He opens the door to see Jungkook leaning on the opposite wall. He straightens when Jimin emerges. “All good?” he asks.
“Yeah, much better,” Jimin says.
“Good. Yoongi’s speaking to one of the managers here to try and get that guy kicked out.”
“Oh, he didn’t have to—”
“Yes, he did,” Jungkook says sharply. His scent is still wild, thick and cloying in the air. Jimin tries not to breathe it in. “Some alphas just get off on subduing other alphas, doesn’t matter if the other alphas want it or not. It’s not right.”
Jimin shoves his hands into his pockets. “I guess you’re right.”
“But you’re okay, right?” Jungkook asks.
Jimin’s head swims when Jungkook touches his lower back. “I’m fine.”
“Okay.” Jungkook is suddenly pulling him into a hug. “I’m sorry though. I feel guilty, since I’m the one who brought you here.”
“Mhm.” Jimin sags in his hold, unable to stop from taking a breath. His thoughts feel like they’re rushing down a waterfall. He can’t seem to grasp any of them, can’t grasp anything. He shuts his eyes.
Draws another breath.
“Jimin?”
Jungkook starts to back away. Desperately, Jimin holds on, pulling him back. He feels scent drunk, completely and utterly wasted, crushed beneath Jungkook’s scent. The only thing he can liken it to is that euphoric feeling he gets right before an orgasm, but even that seems to pale in comparison.
“Hey, hey…” Jungkook nudges him off. “Did you have too much to drink?”
Jimin’s clothes suddenly feel too heavy, dragging him down. The air entering his lungs is heavy and thick. He turns away from Jungkook, undoing yet another button. He needs wind. It’s hot, hot, hot.
Jungkook grabs his arm before he can walk away in search of a solution. “Let’s go outside.”
That should help. God, it’s sweltering in here. He needs air.
On the way out, Jungkook fumbles for Jimin’s pocket, grabbing his phone. Jimin frowns. “What are you doing?”
His words are coming out slurred. Maybe he did have too much to drink.
“I’m calling Seokjin to come get you.”
“You’re sending me home?”
“Yes.”
Jungkook presses the phone to his ear as they step outside. It’s still crowded. The night is young in this part of town. There’s music from some speakers somewhere, blasting out beats that echo all along the street.
“Hi, Seokjin? It’s Jungkook. Can you pick us up? I think Jimin should go home… No, he’s okay, but I think he’s done for the night… I’ll send you our location… Thanks.”
Jimin doesn’t have the energy to be confused, too focused on the weight of his limbs and the way every pore seems to be leaking. He thinks maybe Jungkook is right. He should go home.
Jungkook pulls him along the street, taking him back to the 7/11 where this entire night began. It’s there that they wait for Seokjin. Jimin is leaning on Jungkook at this point, too hot and heavy to hold himself up.
“Need to take off my clothes,” Jimin mumbles.
“When we get in the car. Can you wait till then?”
Jimin grunts. “I didn’t drink much.”
“I don’t think it’s the alcohol.”
That seems cryptic, but Jimin doesn’t have the capability to form a coherent enough question to find out what it could mean.
Seokjin arrives only a few minutes later. He must not have gone far after dropping Jimin off. He doesn’t get out, just waits for Jungkook to settle him in the backseat. Jungkook, surprisingly, climbs in too instead of going back to his friends.
“Hot,” Jimin says, clumsily tugging on the buttons of his shirt.
“Here, let me help.” Jungkook stops him from ripping it off, carefully undoing each button until the shirt is fully open. Jimin barely notices Jungkook’s sharp intake of breath when Jimin’s torso is out in the open, his Nevermind tattoo in full view. There’s a sizzling feeling like tiny pins and needles all along the surface of Jimin’s skin that’s taking all of his attention.
And, he’s starting to realise, it feels familiar.
Seokjin is the one who says it. “Is he going into rut?”
And suddenly it all makes sense.
Somehow, despite the lack of pre-rut symptoms, he’s going into full rut. The timing couldn’t be worse. How the hell did this happen?
“I think so,” Jungkook says.
“Okay. I’ll get us home as fast as possible. Hang in there, Jiminie.”
Jimin covers his face with a hand. At least there’s an explanation for the odd sensations he’s felt all night. Because of course he would have been affected by all the scents and touches around him; of course he would lose a bit of control. Ruts in public, particularly surrounded by so many alphas, are not ideal.
“This is so annoying,” Jimin says at some point. He’s not fully dropped into his rut yet, but the heat of it is coursing through him, building ever so slowly, threatening to overflow.
When it hits him… God, he just hopes he’s alone when it happens.
“It’s okay. Happens to all of us,” Jungkook tells him.
Jimin drops his hand to look at him. It sucks that he smells so good. It’s okay to think that, right? When it’s just his confused wolf talking? He’s been surrounded by thick pheromones all evening, of course a scent like Jungkook’s would be calming.
It sucks that he looks so good too, parts of his skin exposed due to the rips in his jeans, his t-shirt too tight for his body.
(That thought, perhaps, is crossing a line.)
Jimin shuts his eyes so he can stop himself from looking.
What feels like only minutes later, Jungkook is waking him up. He’s outside the car already, the door on Jimin’s side wide open. “Come on,” he says. “You can make it upstairs, can’t you?”
Jimin sighs, his body pulling him down. He wants nothing more than to sink into his seat. “Too heavy,” he says.
“You’re a strong alpha. You can do it,” Jungkook tells him. The words probably have the opposite effect than he intended. Jimin’s dick pulses. He’s teetering on the edge, barely coherent.
“Just carry him,” Seokjin says from somewhere outside. “If I can smell that he’s almost completely dropped into his rut…”
“Right.” Jungkook practically drags Jimin out. As soon as Jimin’s feet touch the floor, he’s being lifted bridal style in Jungkook’s arms.
Maybe it’s just because Jimin hasn’t spent a rut with anyone ever, but the way Jungkook holds him is driving his alpha insane. He wants to run a mile in the opposite direction and bury his nose in Jungkook’s neck all at the same time. He’s heating up, his scent leaking off of him, instinctively calling for a mate.
If any omegas were around…
He doesn’t want to think about that.
In all his previous ruts, he doesn’t think he’s ever felt this far gone. Usually the symptoms of his pre-rut are clear, and he can mentally and physically prepare for it. He keeps a box of toys under his bed, and while that takes the edge off his urges, he can usually think rationally anyway.
It must be because he doesn’t spend his ruts around any other scent except his own. That must be the difference.
Jungkook brings Jimin to his apartment with Seokjin following closely behind. Jimin thinks he hears Seokjin offer to drive Jungkook home after. The thought makes Jimin grip the front of Jungkook’s t-shirt when the alpha sets him down on his bed. A growl erupts in the back of his throat when Jungkook pulls back.
He doesn’t want him to go.
Don’t go.
Alpha, alpha.
“I don’t think you know what you’re saying,” Jungkook says.
Why do those words sound so familiar?
Jungkook pries his hand off his shirt, then brushes the sweaty, matted hair off his forehead. “I’ll text you later, okay? Make sure you’re okay. Seokjin says you’ve done this on your own before. You’ll be okay.”
He doesn’t understand. Jimin aches for company, for someone who understands him, for someone to hold him close.
But he can’t say any of it. The words die in his throat.
As the door closes to his apartment, Jimin’s alpha whimpers.
It’s never done that before.