Chapter Text
Jeongguk curses at his phone, with only four percent battery left he knows it’s only a matter of moments before it’s dead and useless. He goes to open the message app to let Jimin know, only for the screen to go black a moment later.
“Fuck,” he mutters, going to drag a hand through his hair and grimacing when he recalls it’s full of product he had borrowed from the Omega that morning.
It felt so good, so right to wake up in Jimin’s nest, to shuffle around the quiet apartment and order him his favorite pastries so that when he’d wake up he’d have something to eat. To brush the hair from the sleeping Omega’s face and press gentle kisses to his eyelids until he woke, all sleep-warm and soft, to murmur quiet goodbyes and promises, to scent him softly, to be scented in return. He’d gotten plenty of curious glances when he had walked into Jeon Cosmetics that morning, but the only acknowledgement passed was a knowing smile from Minji and finger guns from Seokjin.
After that it had been meeting after meeting, which had an extra edge of enjoyment to them because he kept remembering last night and noticing how every Alpha he dealt with kept throwing him confused looks. He knew they could smell a pleased Omega on him, and though Jeongguk was not a petty person by any means, he couldn’t help the deep seated sense of satisfaction he felt when Jimin’s voice echoed in his thoughts.
“You are perfect for me.”
“You are everything I ever wanted.”
They fit together so well, so beautiful. It was exactly like destiny had made them for one another.
He climbs into his car and finds the jack to charge his phone while he’s at lunch, then heads for his next meeting, a little smile on his face the entire time.
Lunch lasts much longer than he’d planned, and he’s growing restless, his wolf pacing inside of him, his leg jiggling under the table until Yoongi shoots him a look and rests his hand on his knee. He holds back a sigh and fights the urge to roll his eyes. The Alpha duo they are meeting with today specifically said they are only interested in making sure they are on good terms with the Jeon Cosmetics team, but had no intentions of trying to cut a deal. Jeongguk can smell their bullshit from a mile away, but he plays along for now, it’s not like one lunch and a few jokes will cost him anything in the end.
They’re wrapping up, shaking hands and bowing when one of them leans a little closer to Jeongguk then is strictly necessary and says, “Is that the new cologne you announced a while back? The one based on that Omega model’s scent?”
Jeongguk’s wolf preens a little, and he can’t help the smile that breaks out across his face as he replies, “You could say that, yes.”
He gets nothing but a blank look in return, because the Alpha isn’t smart enough to put two and two together, but Yoongi groans and drags him away, shaking his head as they walk back towards the parking lot, “Really, ‘Gguk, couldn’t have been a little more subtle about it?”
“Why should I be?” Jeongguk asks, “I’m not going to keep Jimin a secret, his contract with us is technically over, it was completed with the last of the photo shoots we did; he’s a free man, and as such, we can do what we want without having to worry about the public seeing it as abuse of power. Not that it was to begin with, but I’d like to avoid having him get dragged in any more headlines if I can.”
Yoongi nods as they come to a stop beside his car, he pulls out his phone and checks his messages, eyebrows shooting up as he does.
“What is it?” Jeongguk asks, leaning forward so he can catch a glimpse of the other Beta’s screen.
“Looks like the Seoul Post wrote another article about you and that Lee woman,” he says, “I hate how these so called “credible” papers have resorted to what is essentially click bait.”
Jeongguk rolls his eyes, “Yeah, tell me about it, why the hell do they even care what I’m doing? I’m not an actor or an idol, why does it matter if I’m seeing anyone?”
Yoongi shrugs as he shuffles through the apps on his phone, “Who knows… oh, I got a message from Tae, he said Jimin was asking about you?”
Jeongguk feels a little burst of butterflies in his chest when Yoongi says that, and he can’t help but smile, “Did he say why?”
“No, just that he did.”
“Well, I forgot to charge my phone last night,” he gestures towards his car, “It’s plugged in right now, so I’ll text him in a moment.”
Yoongi smiles, “Forgot to charge your phone, huh?”
“Yeah,because Jimin and I were having sex,” Jeongguk replies without preamble.
Yoongi shakes his head, “I hate you.”
“You love me, and we’re both old enough to not tease each other for being intimate with someone, I just cut to the chase so I wouldn’t have to hear you give me a hard time.”
“I’m not Taehyung,” Yoongi replies, “Though I am a bit surprised, I thought you’d sworn off relationships, and ones with Omegas in particular.”
Jeongguk ducks his head and grins, “Well, things change… and Jimin is different,” he looks up and out at the busy street, “Do you believe in fated mates, hyung?” he asks.
Yoongi shrugs, “Never met any myself, but we’ve all heard the stories,” he nudged Jeongguk gently, “Why, is that what’s going on with you?”
Jeongguk grins, “I think it is.”
“Good for you, kid,” the other Beta replies, “Jimin is great, I think you two will be perfect together.”
Jeongguk shoves his hands in his pockets, “Thanks, hyung, I think… I think we will be too.”
“Now go reply to his texts and then get back to work, our day isn't over yet.”
Jeongguk grins and heads for his own car, every footstep feeling light, the sunlight bright, everything perfect, perfect, perfect.
He falls into the driver's seat and immediately grabs his phone, unlocking it with the grin still in place, ready to shower Jimin with love and jokes and probably facetime him because he misses him even though it’s only been a few hours since they last saw each other. He opens their chat and reads over the messages, the grin slowly slipping into a frown as he does.
Hi
We should talk
I heard some rumors I’m really hoping you can clear up for me
You always respond… why aren’t you responding now
I really need you to reply
Jeongguk please
I mean I guess you’re probably busy, you said you had meetings but
But what if you’re with her
I’m sorry, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions
I’m a mess, my wolf’s a mess, maybe this was a mistake
Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten tangled up with a CEO after all
I guess I’ll go… just text me when you get this… okay?
What the hell is this all about?
He growls to himself, closes the app and immediately tells his phone, “Call Jimin-hyung.”
“Calling Jimin-hyung,” his phone echoes back at him obediently.
It rings a handful of times, and with each concurrent ring Jeongguk’s heart sinks lower, but finally he hears it, Jimin’s soft and sweet voice saying, “Hello?”
He sounds like he’s been crying.
“Hey baby,” Jeongguk says softly, “I’m sorry I didn’t respond to your texts, my phone needed to charge so I just left it plugged in in the car while I had lunch… is everything okay? What did you mean when you asked if I was with her? I was with two Alphas and Yoongi.”
“Oh,” Jimin says softly.
“Jimin, love, what’s up? What happened?” Jeongguk asks, because it’s obvious that something is bothering the Omega, he sounds distant, worn, nothing like the way he had sounded when Jeongguk had left that morning.
“I just… I’m going to send you something okay, and then you can just… explain it to me?”
His wolf is on high alert, it feels threatened, though Jeongguk isn’t sure why, “Yeah, that’s fine, go ahead,” he murmurs. A moment passes and he gets a text from Jimin and the link alone has his cursing. He switches the phone over to speaker and pulls up the article, scoffing as he reads the headline.
“I’ll tell you right now without reading it that there is not a shred of truth to this thing,” he replies immediately, “Do you know where I was this morning, hyung?”
“Where?” Jimin asks.
“Half-naked and in your nest,” Jeongguk replies as he takes a screenshot of his call history and sends it to Jimin, “Here’s the calls I made, look it over, see if it seems weird to you,” he knows it shows that the first call he made this morning was to a nearby bakery for the pastries he’d left Jimin, the next was to his driver letting him know he could take the day off, the next one was to Yoongi, a call that lasted nearly half an hour as they discussed what they thought they could expect from the lunch meeting they had planned.
“Okay,” Jimin says, and he sounds a little better, a little more certain. But Jeongguk is still nervous.
“Jimin, there is no one else for me, and I’ve never been involved with Hajoon-ssi, we met once, a couple years ago at a fund raiser and she tried to get me to date her for awhile, but I wasn’t interested,” he sighs and drags a hand through his hair, this time completely ignoring how it’s covered in product.
He knows Jimin has his insecurities, knows he’s afraid, Jeongguk was too, but he knows now, beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no one else for him in the world, let alone Seoul, “Jimin-ah, listen to me,” he says softly, I’m going to make some phone calls, the first one is going to be to the Seoul Post telling them to take down that article, the second is going to Lee’s manager, telling them to inform her that she needs to stop spreading misinformation about us, the third will be to my lawyers, and the contents of that conversation will depend on how the first two conversations go…” he taps his lips in thought, “After that I intend to surprise you, so I need you to promise me something.”
“What?” Jimin asks, a little bit of life coming back to his voice.
“I need you to promise me that you won’t let the doubt get to you, that you’ll put some faith in me, in us , that we will be okay, no matter what,” Jeongguk says, “I’ve got an idea of how I’ll prove my devotion to you, but it’ll take a few hours to get together, so until then, can you just… promise me you’ll hold on, that you’ll wait?”
There’s a long pause on the other end of the line, then a soft “I can do that,” breaks the silence.
“That’s my man,” Jeongguk says just as softly, “I promise you, I swear up and down and left and right that I’ve never felt like this for anyone except you, and I’m going to prove it to you, okay Jimin-ah?”
“Okay,” Jimin replies.
“Okay,” Jeongguk echoes, “I’m going to keep you on the line for the first few calls, I’ll use my other phone… where the hell is it?” He finds it after some digging and realizes it’s not charged either, “Okay, hold on, damn batteries…” he mutters under his breath as he unplugs the first phone and plugs in the second. It takes a while to power on, but instead of letting the silence linger he asks, “Did you like the pastries I got you?” and he thinks he detects the first hint of a smile in the Omega’s tone when he replies.
“Yes, you got all my favorites… I didn’t realize how much you were paying attention.”
Jeongguk smiles, “I’m always watching you, hyung,” then he frowns, “But not in a creepy way.”
That actually gets a laugh out of Jimin, though it’s still not as bright as usual. Jeongguk takes it as a good sign nonetheless.
“Jimin-ah,” he says softly, “Can I tell you something?”
He hears Jimin take a deep breath.
“Of course you can.”
“I think I’m falling in love with you,” he admits.
There’s a long pause, then Jimin says softly, “I think I’m falling for you too… but I’m scared.”
“It’s okay to be afraid,” Jeongguk says with a smile, though he knows Jimin can’t see him, “But I’m going to show you why you don’t need to be when you’re with me.”
🔹🔷💙🔷🔹
Jimin listens as Jeongguk makes several phone calls, the first to Minji, who he tells to cancel all engagements for the rest of the day and tomorrow due to an “unforeseen emergency”. When she asks what happened Jeongguk says briefly, “I’m making sure someone knows how much I am devoted to them,” and Jimin melts .
Though there’s a part of him that is still afraid.
Because he’s rational and certainly calmer then he had been earlier, he can tell his wolf is still panicked, full of self doubt and uncertainty that they aren’t what the Beta actually wants in a mate. He’s not sure how best to reason with it, so instead he listens as Jeongguk ends the call and makes another, this time to the Seoul Post. Just one mention of his name gets him in touch with the head editor, and Jeongguk explains that the paper has to do two things to make this right and one of them involves them no longer spreading lies and misinformation. Jimin thinks this is a tall order for any news source, but the CEO has enough influence and comes across as sincere enough in his threats to make the man (no doubt an Alpha) take him seriously.
“If you don’t rectify this situation, I will not be the one who calls you next,” Jeongguk finishes, “It will be my lawyers, and the next time you get a photo of me in public will be when I take you to court.”
Jimin’s never seen or heard this side of Jeongguk before, he listens silently and understands why the Beta has made it as far as he has in the industry. While he’s become accustomed to a softer side of him, one who is smart and funny and endlessly patient and kind, now he’s witnessing someone who expects to be listened to, who knows what he wants and is going to get it, one way or another. It would be intimidating if it wasn’t so damn attractive.
It’s reassuring to like every side of him as Jimin listens silently to the apologies and excuses that the editor-in-chief gives to Jeongguk, who simply makes the man promise that there won’t be further “misunderstandings” in the future before saying, “While I have you here, and as a show of good faith that you will follow through with what we discussed, I’d like you to have a reporter on sight at 6 pm tonight, at the corner of Bungullae and Mangrono.”
Jimin frowns, because that’s close to where he lives, but he doesn’t say a word, well aware that the editor has no clue that he’s listening to the entire conversation.
The next call is to Jeongguk’s lawyers, who grumble a bit when the CEO informs them of his conversation with the Seoul Post editor but then fall silent when he tells them about his next step.
“I want you to get in touch with Lee Hajoon’s manager and legal team, and inform them that there will be repercussions if Hajoon-ssi continues to imply we are in a relationship, I also want you to look into the possibility of them having found a body double for me, and if we find enough evidence of that, I would like him served with a cease and desist order.”
After over an hour on the phone, Jeongguk ends the final call and silence falls once again, “Are you still there, Min-ah?” Jeongguk asks into the quiet.
“Yes,” Jimin replies, “I’m still here.”
“Okay,” Jeongguk takes a deep breath, “How are you feeling?”
“Better,” Jimin admits, “Though I’m sorry me overreacting has caused you so many problems.”
“No, that’s not— Jimin, listen to me,” Jeongguk says, “You are not overreacting, I would have been upset too, if I were in your shoes…” he sighs, “I’m partially to blame for this mess anyway, if I had just been more assertive when it came to the rumors around me and Hajoon-ssi, then we wouldn’t be here, but I honestly hoped that she would find someone else to use as a way to gain more attention, once she realized I had no interest in playing into her games… that was wrong of me, but…”
“But what?” Jimin asks.
“But I never had a real reason to care before. Rumors were just that, rumors, and I was too busy with work to be bothered with them. But now I have you,” he sighs, “God, I really wish I was with you right now so I could hold you, but I’ve got a plan, I’m going to have to pull a lot of strings, call in a lot of favors, but at 6:00 pm tonight, I’m going to have a surprise.”
“Should I be scared?” Jimin asks.
“No, or at least, you shouldn’t be if love doesn't frighten you,” Jeongguk replies.
And maybe there was a time Jimin might have found something to fear at the prospect of love, some reason to hold him back, but he finds himself not afraid when it comes to Jeongguk; the morning has been a roller coaster of emotions for him, but the last couple of hours talking to Jeongguk has made him feel better, worlds better. And while he also feels a bit silly for having reacted so strongly to rumors, he’s also glad he talked to Jeongguk, because if anything their conversation is proving to Jimin (and his wolf) just how devoted the Beta is to him and to their love.
“I’m going to go,” Jeongguk says gently, “But if you need anything— anything at all, give me a call, okay?”
“Okay,” Jimin replies softly.
“I’m serious, love,” Jeongguk whispers, “Even if the only reason is to hear the sound of my voice, or to tell me you miss me, or to ask me what my favorite noodle dish is, I don’t care, no reason is too small, alright?”
Jimin can’t help the little laugh that bubbles out of him, “You’re ridiculous.”
“For you, yes,” Jeongguk replies, “For you, the skies are the limit, metaphorically and literally.”
They end the call and Jimin sits in the quiet of his living room and closes his eyes for a minute, letting the many emotions he’s been feeling run their course in the silence before he calls his mother. She listens silently as he recounts everything that happened since they first spoke, then heaves a giant sigh of relief.
“Thank god, I didn’t want to believe it, but it felt wrong keeping it from you,” she says, “I hope you aren’t angry at me for telling you, but I’ll understand if you are.”
“No, I get it, what if he had been just stringing me along? I’d want to know,” Jimin replies, “But he’s not, and… eomma, I think I’m in love.”
“Ah my little spring roll, he’s an absolute catch, but in my unbiased opinion, he’s the one who’s really lucky,” Nabi says, “Now… where is the wedding going to take place?”
“We haven’t even made things official yet, eomma, don’t you think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself?”
“You kids and your ‘making it official’, really! In my day you just flirted with someone and then when they finally kissed you it meant you were dating,” she huffs out a heavy sigh, “Fine, I’m a patient woman—” he hears his father burst out laughing in the background, followed by a muffled grunt as something soft seems to hit him in the face, “Sorry, had to hit your appa with a pillow. As I was saying, I’m patient, baby bean, I can wait as long as you two need, though I’m guessing you’ll be engaged before the end of the year.”
They keep talking as the day winds down toward evening, and finally Jimin excuses himself because it’s 5:00 pm and he wants to shower and feed himself something more than just the pastry he’d eaten earlier in the day. He tells his parents he loves them and promises to be in touch, then quickly goes through the motions of cleaning himself up and eating.
By the time he’s done it’s nearly 6:00 pm.
Jimin walks to the window and looks down at the street to see a number of people on the sidewalk with their phones out, all of them taking pictures of his building. He frowns, because he’s never once had this level of attention from media or fans, so why would it start now? He doesn’t dare get a closer look though, but he can’t help but notice when a few of them turn to point skyward, and he follows their fingers to see a small plane buzzing overhead with a banner attached to it.
Keep Your Eyes on the Sky
The plane disappears from his field of vision, but he can hear more approaching, and he watches in awe as two slightly different looking planes fly toward one another; they spiral as they do, trails of white smoke in their wake, then at the very moment they look like they’re about to collide they change trajectories and start flying upward, smoke still pouring out of them.
And with it they form a heart.
“Oh god,” Jimin whispers, one hand flying up to cover his mouth as he stares, amazed at the shape in the sky.
But it’s not over.
The first plane comes back, and this time it’s coming from the opposite direction, showing a different side of the banner with a different message.
Eyes On Me
A sob escapes his lips when he recalls Jeongguk whispering that to him whenever Jimin was afraid, whenever he felt overwhelmed. In the distance he hears music, and it draws his tear-filled eyes down to the street, where they widen at the sight of what’s approaching.
It’s a fucking flash mob.
Everyone is dressed in gray suits and black hats, their dress shoes loud as they march down the road in perfect unison and just as they get in front of his building the music changes from some random instrumental song to another.
“Oh my god,” Jimin groans as "Together Forever" by Rick Astley starts blasting.
Jimin stands there with tears in his eyes and his hands pressed to his lips, heart hammering, breath ragged, because this can’t be real, it can’t be, and yet… and yet…
It is.
There are dozens of them, and Jimin can’t help but wonder what exactly Jeongguk had to do to get such a grand spectacle together in such a short span of time. He watches as they dance, a crowd of spectators gathering around them, phones raised as they film the forty-plus people that line the streets. And it’s only now that Jimin realizes the street is devoid of traffic, that Jeon Jeongguk, Beta extraordinaire, CEO of the Year, Seoul’s most eligible bachelor and unofficial King of Cosmetics, has somehow managed to get his entire street closed just so he could put on a show for Jimin.
“You ridiculous…” Jimin mutters under his breath as a black car pulls up and Jeongguk emerges with a megaphone in hand.
“Park Jiiimiiiiiin!” he practically screams, having apparently decided that the whole city needs to know what he’s going to say, “We met by chance, but even then, on that first night, I knew there was something special about you. It was instant, a connection I’d never experienced before, and even though we were total strangers, there was a part of me that wanted to give you the world, no questions asked, right then and there.”
He smiles, and it’s so joyous and pure that Jimin holds back a sob just at the sight of it, “You have no idea how thrilled I was when you got in touch, and even though I didn’t need you to repay me for what I did, I couldn’t imagine a world where I told you no. So we met, and I wasn’t sure how it was going to go, because— and allow me a moment to be vulnerable here, I’d been hurt before and I was afraid, but you were kind and sweet and gentle and friendly, and you kept being that way the entire few hours we spent together.”
“I’ve spent the last couple of months falling for you, Jimin-ah, and you made it so easy. Some people don’t believe in destiny. Some people think that romance is dead and grand gestures are no longer made. But I’m here to take a stand and say that it was fate that brought us together, that it was destiny that said we were meant to be, that romance lives in late night drives through Seoul, in quiet moments in empty office buildings, on moonlit balconies and… dare I say it— in your eyes,” he grins, like he knows how cheesy he’s being and he doesn’t care.
“So I’m here to say, in front of all of these people and then in front of all the people who will watch this online, that I have every intention of courting you, that I want nothing more then to spend the rest of my days by your side, and I hope, I hope with the highest of hopes, that you will accept my offer to court you, because you are perfect for me, and I want to be perfect for you.”
Jimin turns away from the window and starts to run, he flies out his front door, down the hall, and into the stairwell, vaulting over railings and landings on light feet before sprinting further down until he’s on the ground floor. He races through the lobby, which is full of people who all seem to be cheering for him, bursts out the front door, and barrels straight for Jeongguk.
Jeongguk, who stands there— face flushed, chest heaving, smile bright and eyes shining.
Jeongguk who turns and opens his arms.
Jeongguk catches Jimin with ease when the Omega launches himself at him.
And Jimin is crying, but they are happy tears, and Jeongguk is scenting him and the whole world smells like rivers in summer, like lazy afternoons skipping stones and leaping into cool, green waters, like willow trees and laughter, like hope and home . And Jimin begins to laugh through his tears, dizzy with joy and Jeongguk, scenting him in return as the Beta spins them around and around, and suddenly there are dozens of little “pops!” and glittering confetti and rainbow colored streamers are bursting into the air as the flash mob pulls out confetti poppers from their pockets and aims them over the happy couples head.
Jimin looks up, eyelashes fluttering as confetti rains down on them, “I can’t believe you,” he whispers to Jeongguk, who doesn’t put him down but looks up at him with pure adoration.
“You didn’t think I’d do this without confetti, did you?” he asks.
“That’s not—” Jimin cuts himself off and shakes his head, “You know what? I think I need you to kiss me right now,” and yes there are still people filming, and the atmosphere around them has become more like a block party than anything else, but Jimin doesn’t care. He looks down at Jeongguk and he can see forever in his eyes and taste it on his lips when he leans down to capture them with his own. Then everyone is cheering and it’s the most ridiculous moment Jimin has ever experienced in his life and he is so, so happy that he’s experiencing it with Jeongguk.
🔹🔷💙🔷🔹
Four months later…
“Can you just–” Jimin sighs and drags a hand through his hair, eyeing his mother as she bounces excitedly in front of him, “Can you just not embarrass me tonight?”
Nabi grabs his shoulders and shakes him, roughly, till it feels like his brain is rattling around in his skull, “I don’t know what you mean!” she says, “How could I ever embarrass you? Jeongguk loves me!”
“Yes, but these are his parents and they are…”
“They are what? What could they possibly be, baby bean?” Jongdae comes up beside his wife and wraps an arm around her waist, effectively trapping her.
“He means they’re normal,” the Alpha says, “So just… try not to overwhelm them?”
“Oh my god,” Nabi says, a hand pressed to her chest in shock and dismay, “What are you implying?”
“We aren’t implying anything,” Jimin says, “I am telling you that you are a lot, that you walk in and and the decibels are immediately at a ten when they should be at a three and I love you so much but if you could just not yell or tell any embarrassing stories tonight, that would really mean a lot to me.”
Nabi goes to speak, then catches herself and asks quietly, “Jimin, are you… nervous?”
She wiggles her eyebrows.
“Yes I am nervous!” Jimin replies, throwing his hands up in exasperation, “My parents are meeting my boyfriend's parents, and you are one incident away from showing up on the evening news!”
Nabi gasps, eyes wide and expression scandalized, “Jimin that was one time, and I–”
“We’re going to be late,” Jongdae says gently.
Jimin squares his shoulders and gestures toward the restaurant they’re standing in front of, “Jeongguk is already here, so are Yejin-ssi and Ujin-ssi, so can you just…”
“I will behave, I promise,” Nabi says solemnly, then without another word, she spins on her heel and marches into the tiny hole in the wall place Jimin and Jeongguk had decided to introduce their parents to each other.
There had been a very brief discussion about going somewhere fancy, but Jimin had swiftly vetoed that. The last thing he wanted was for his mother to be escorted out by the staff at some high end establishment.
He sees Jeongguk immediately, both his wolf and he can now find Jeongguk in a crowded room within a matter of seconds. They’ve become attuned to each other in the months that they’ve been official, to the point where there are times where Jimin swears he can feel what Jeongguk is feeling, think what he is thinking. His boyfriend looks up a second after Jimin sees him, and he practically glows, his face breaking out into a smile and his eyes lighting up so brightly Jimin has to blink to clear his vision, like he’s glanced at the sun.
He rises and meets them halfway, pressing a quick kiss to Nabi’s cheek, who melts immediately, and shaking hands with Jongdae before gathering Jimin into his arms and pressing a swift kiss to his neck, “Hello love,” he says quietly enough for only Jimin to hear, “Are you ready for tonight?”
“As ready as I can be,” Jimin says, “Fingers crossed eomma doesn’t embarrass me too much.”
“I heard that.” Nabi says.
“Yes,” Jimin says, “I hoped you would.”
Three hours later, Jimin and Jeongguk are sneaking out of the restaurant, leaving their tipsy and loud parents behind, firmly bonded and incredibly embarrassing.
They walk hand in hand down the streets of Seoul, neither of them in a hurry to go home. Jimin feels safe and content beside the Beta, who cuts an imposing figure as the wonder, masks on and practically unrecognizable in their street clothes.
The city glimmers and shimmers around them, bright and beautiful, a wind off the sea chasing away exhaust and leaving only fresh, cool air behind. Jimin and his wolf, now fully awakened, are content in a way he never thought possible. He’s started a small agency that represents Omega models and gives them the safe space they need to shine, but also to be safe and respected. It's partnered with Jeon Cosmetics, and so far he’s seen nothing but success. He’s glad he can give other models a place he wished he had, and a voice he never was allowed to use. They deserve that, and he is happy to facilitate it all.
But the best part of his life is the Beta beside him, a man like no other, who is patient and kind and funny and smart, who respects him and loves him and treats him like he is something worthy, something precious.
He looks up at Jeongguk and sees that he is already looking down at him, his eyes shine like stars and his smile is the sun in the dead of night, and Jimin thinks that he can see forever hidden in its depths.
🔹🔷💙🔷🔹
Two years later…
Jeongguk stands in front of a full-length mirror, smoothing over the lapels of his suit and frowning at his reflection, “Are you sure I look okay?” He asks, brow furrowed as he straightens the boutonnière of bluebells and tiger lilies fastened to the lapels.
“ Yes !” Four voices chorus emphatically from behind him.
“Are you sure, because this is really important and you know Jimin is going to look absolutely stunning and I don’t want to bring down the whole aesthetic just because I don’t look as perfect as he does. Are we certain about the pocket square, does it even match? And my hair? What about my hair? Is it too long? I should have gotten it cut. Does anyone have a pair of sciss—“
“Son,” Yejun says, “Take a deep breath for me and listen.”
Jeongguk takes a deep breath and listens.
“Now, ignoring any and all bias I might have because you are my child and I love you— yes you look amazing, the pocket square matches flawlessly and was picked out by Jimin himself so just trust him, your hair is perfect and I believe it was at dinner last night that Jimin gave a five minute long, slightly tipsy speech about how much he loves every single one of your curls and how it’s the perfect length. But also please remember, he is hopelessly, madly in love with you. You could show up in a shark onesie and he would just smile and tell you how handsome you are.”
Yejun pulls him into a careful hug, mindful of the boutonnière, and scents him lightly, “You are going to be okay,” he promises, “Fated, remember?”
Jeongguk heaves a heavy sigh, “Yeah,” he murmurs, relaxing a little in his fathers hold, “I’m just nervous.”
“Which is completely understandable,” Ujin assures him, “And I’m sure Jimin is as well, but it’s going to be fine, okay? Even the weather cleared up for you.”
The Alpha is right, it had been raining all week, and would start raining again the next day, but there was a twenty-four hour window of blue sky and fluffy clouds that just so happened to fall on the day they had planned for their wedding. They are in Scotland, marrying in an ancient castle because one night while drinking soju and cuddling on the couch Jimin admitted to having a deep seated love of ancient western European architecture that he was surprised to find Jeongguk shared. A year later, when Jeongguk had proposed, he followed it up by asking if Jimin would like a destination wedding where they flew their closest friends and family out to witness their union.
Once Jimin had stopped crying he had agreed with everything.
So here they are, in a medieval castle on a beautiful day, surrounded by ancient stonework and dark tapestries and stained glass windows. Jimin is in a room further down the hall, where his parents, his brother and his wife, Hoseok, and Taehyung keep him company as he prepares. The wedding ceremony starts soon and Jeongguk is beyond thrilled, though also terrified.
He swallows down his fear and looks to his wolf to guide him, it knows what it’s doing, and is far more self-assured about their future. It doesn’t care about the venue, about the location, about the boutonnière or his hair, it cares about Jimin, their fated, their mate . Jeongguk takes a deep breath and releases the death grip he’s had on himself all day, handing the proverbial reins over to his wolf, and feels immediately calmer.
It’s not that he doubts Jimin, or their bond, but he wants everything about today to be flawless, the perfectionist in him far too wrapped up in the details, but with his wolf at the helm, his racing thoughts calm and his focus narrows down to one person only.
Jimin.
Jimin who he loves, adores, and practically worships. Jimin who has become so much more than just a face on a billboard. Jimin who has taken his life by the reins and wrote his own story. Jeongguk’s other half, his better half, a man of endless patience and perpetual kindness, a man capable of so much love that sometimes it leaves Jeongguk breathless.
Jeongguk has been honored to watch Jimin create a life for himself outside of the world of fashion, taking remote classes in photography, gaining thousands of followers on social media through vlogs and beautiful photography, who sells his work to people all around the world. He’s happy in a way that makes Jeongguk happy, and it’s all thanks to one fateful night in a crowded club, and two wolves who knew better than their humans did about what was in store.
His friends and family usher him downstairs to the chapel, where sunlight streams through the stained glass windows and the open doors let in a warm spring breeze. There are bluebells everywhere, in garlands that hang from the ceiling and vases in every corner, the air is thick with their scent, and Jeongguk drinks it in greedily, though it is a poor substitute to Jimin, who has yet to appear, and won’t for another ten minutes, but Jeongguk wants to be ready, trading quiet words with the castle owners to make sure everything is prepared, nodding to the officiate, a Beta with a gentle smile and long gray hair done in intricate braids, before going to stand at the altar, ready to receive the love of his life and promise him forever.
His earlier anxiety is left somewhere upstairs, floating in dust motes and settling between the cracks of old stones, he doesn't need it anymore, not when he knows what’s to come.
🔹🔷💙🔷🔹
“You look so handsome!” Jimin’s mother grabs him by the shoulders and shakes him happily, a smile brighter than the rays of sunlight pouring through the windows on her face even though she’s crying, and has been for almost an hour, “My baby, my little prince, my sunshine buttercup duckling!”
“I’m going to start calling you that,” Taehyung says immediately.
“Do it and see what happens,” Jimin replies, eyes narrowing dangerously from over his mother’s shoulder, “Eomma privileges do not extend past her.”
His mother starts sobbing, and Jimin hopes that later tonight when the drinking starts they will have an easier time keeping her calm, but for now he just holds her and rocks her back and forth, his father joining him to make a Nabi sandwich, until she’s calmed down enough to start whining that she’s being smothered.
“Oh god I’m sorry,” she says as she frantically begins to smooth out his suit, “Thank goodness we haven’t put on the boutonnière yet—“ her eyes widen comically when she catches the look Jimin throws toward the floor, where said boutonnière is currently laying, half-crushed and sad, at their feet.
Her face goes deathly pale, but before she can drop to her knees and cry out to the gods for forgiveness, Jimin captures her hands and presses a kiss to both of her cheeks, “Leave it, Eomma, the flowers don’t matter,” he says softly.
“But it matches Jeongguk!” she wails, tugging out of his grip to pick up the tiny bouquet, “And it’s my baby’s big day, how can I not worry?”
“I thought I was the baby,” Jaehyun mutters from where he’s lounging against his wife on a nearby sofa.
“It’s because I’m shorter,” Jimin assures him, “I am baby by default.”
“You are very small,” Jaehyun agrees.
“I just can’t believe it,” Nabi says softly, “My handsome boy, all grown up and marrying one of the most powerful men in Korea,” her eyes grow shiny with fresh tears, “Though he could be a pauper for all I care, he’s so perfect, and funny, and sweet, and smart, and charming, and handsome—”
“And your husband is right here,” Jongdae reminds her with a laugh, deep voice rumbling with amusement, “You’re lucky that neither Jimin or I are insecure, or we’d have to worry about you trying to steal Jeongguk away.”
Nabi gasps, scandalized, “I would never!”
“Tell that to drunk-you tonight at the reception,” Jaehyun calls across the room.
“My own family turning against me, on this, my eldest son's wedding day,” Nabi shakes her head, “Where has the respect gone?”
“The same place where all that expensive wine I got you for your birthday went,” Jimin replies, as he glances at himself in the mirror. He looks good, having grown accustomed to seeing himself the way Jeongguk sees him, and it makes him smile, both he and his wolf a happy mix of calm and elated.
“Ah, so in the toilet, I see,” Nabi says sagely. She takes a steadying breath and throws her shoulders back, “Okay, I should be able to hold it together for another…” she glances around only to realize there isn’t a single clock within view, “How much time left till the ceremony?”
“Ten minutes,” Hoseok says before glancing at his phone, “Sorry, seven minutes.”
“Oh shit!” she says, “Come on, we have to get to our seats, oh my god, what was I thinking, crying all over you when you were supposed to be downstairs already, I swear I’d never forgive myself if I had made you late to your own wedding, and can you imagine what Jeongguk would say, and his fathers! Oh my god I would never live it down…”
Jimin tunes her out as their little group leaves the room and descends the staircase to the main floor. He can smell Jeongguk’s scent already, bright and clear as the river that runs along the edge of the castle property, lined by bluebells and lush, green willows. Everyone except his father slips into the chapel, leaving Jimin and the Alpha alone in the quiet of the narthex.
“I know I’ve said it before, but I’m so proud of you, Jimin,” Jongdae says, “You never gave up, you fought so hard and for so long and I’m so happy with how you’ve grown up, and I’m so proud to call you my son,” he pulls him into a hug and presses a kiss to the top of his head, “I know you and Jeongguk are going to be so happy together, and it does my heart good to know you have someone who matches your caliber, and who will take care of you just as much as you take care of him.”
Jimin blinks back the sharp hint of tears that threaten to fall, not wanting to enter the chapel while crying, though he knows he will be by the end of the ceremony, “Appa,” he says softly, “Thank you.”
“I love you, and even though your eomma forgot to say it in her panic, she does too, so much,” his father pulls pack and pats him on the shoulder just as a violin starts to play from within the chapel, “You ready?” He asks.
Jimin nods, “I have been for a long time.”
Jongdae offers his arm and Jimin curls a hand around it, and a moment later the double doors leading into the chapel swing open, being held by the castle owners, who beam at Jimin as he nods his thanks. The sweet smell of wildflowers fills his nose as the tremendous cries of the violin spill out and echo upon old stone.
Then he steps forward and sees Jeongguk, and everything else is forgotten.
It doesn’t matter that he’s seen him countless times before, it doesn't matter that he’s woken up next to him every day for well over a year, right now, at this moment, it’s like he’s seeing him for the first time.
But it’s not an overcrowded club, and Jimin isn’t about to lose consciousness. Instead it’s within ancient walls with the clear winds of spring pouring in from open windows, it’s surrounded by people he loves and who love him in return, and Jimin’s thoughts are clear, his heart and mind aligned with that of his wolf, who sings a song he knows by heart, one that it doesn’t sing alone.
He can’t help but smile when he meets Jeongguk’s eyes, and knows that he sees both wolf and man within them, assured and content and so in love.
🔹🔷💙🔷🔹
“And that is the story of how Jimin got the school bully expelled and convinced the school board to fund a drag show,” Jaehyun concludes proudly, supporting his tipsy and giggling wife with one arm as he beams around the room, “I thought I’d never be prouder of my big brother then in that moment, but I was young, and I didn’t know what life would bring us,” he turns his attention back to Jimin, who is currently curled up against Jeongguk’s side, head resting on his shoulder, “Now I can say that I’m even prouder to be his family, because he’s made a life for himself despite the odds working against him. He wrote his own story when a mindless industry tried to write it for him. He is smart and kind and funny and the best role model I could ever hope to have,” Jaehyun sniffs and dashes a hand roughly under his eyes, his wife cooing gently at him as he struggles to maintain his composure, “I haven’t even drank tonight!” He laughs through his tears, “but I’m so emotional!”
He takes a deep breath and smiles, though it wavers a little around the edges, “I love you, Jimin, so much, I couldn’t ask for a better brother or a better friend, I wish you and Jeongguk all the best in everything you do, though you don’t need anyone’s wishes, because destiny will take care of you both,” the last words come out a little strangled, and he collapses back into his seat, laughing and blushing and letting his wife wipe at his cheeks with gentle fondness as the room erupts in cheers.
With ponderous gravity, Yoongi slowly rises from his seat, “I guess as Jeongguk’s best man that means it’s my turn,” he says with a lopsided grin as he looks around the room, “First of all, Gguk, you should thank me, because Taehyung tried to bribe me into talking about The Martini Incident, but I love you, so I will save that story for another night.”
“How dare you expose me like that, hyung!” Tae cries from where he’s currently sandwiched between Seokjin and Namjoon, “I thought we were friends!”
“Friends don’t try to bribe friends with barbecue and thirty thousand won,” Yoongi fires back, “Now, let me speak in peace,” Tae falls back into his seat with a pout and Yoongi waits a moment to make sure the other Beta stays quiet before he begins.
“Jeongguk is many things, a go-getter, a brilliant businessman, a talented creator; he is driven, passionate, and wildly intelligent. He has not only made a name for himself in a world that doesn’t like to make room for those that society considers different, but he took his success and used it to raise others up as well. For every step forward he reached back and pulled those below along with him, creating a safe space for those of us who are so often overlooked and underestimated.”
Jeongguk swallows hard, because he can already feel the tears in his eyes. Jimin senses his distress and turns just enough to press a kiss to his scent gland, calming pheromones rising out of him as he seeks to ease Jeongguk’s emotions. He responds by pulling the Omega a little closer, the tightness in his throat easing a little as he breathes in the scent of bluebells and tangerines.
“But Jeongguk is also more than that, he is kind, he is funny, he is patient and so, so worthy of every success that has come his way, though they have all been wrought by his own hands, brought about by hard work and determination.”
“I won’t go into details, but many of you here know that he gives his whole heart to everything and everyone he cares for, and while I’d like to think we, as his friends, have given back as much as we were given, this romantic bastard has had his fair share of heartbreak,” there’s a few weak chuckles, and even a laugh from Jeongguk, because Yoongi isn’t wrong, he is a romantic bastard, and his heart had been broken in the past.
“Where hard work and diligence couldn’t help, fate stepped in,” Yoongi continues, “Destiny was waiting in the wings all this time, coming forward in an unlikely place, making itself known in a crowded club, on a dance floor where the chances of finding something as amazing and beautiful as true love seemed impossible, but if I learned anything from Jeongguk’s story, it’s that everything is possible.”
Yoongi reached down to lift his glass of champagne, “Here’s to you, Gguk, and to you, Min, though you don’t need toasts and well wishes to assure you a happy life together, because you have something better, a love that was meant to be.”
Now Jeongguk is crying, Jimin is crying, Jongdae and Nabi and Yejun are sobbing, and even Namjoon is wiping a stray tear from his cheek using Taehyung’s fluffy hair as a handkerchief.
“You made my speech suck!” Jaehyun whines through his breakdown, but Yoongi just smiles and shrugs, raising his glass a little higher until everyone else joins him.
“To Jeongguk and Jimin, a couple like no other!” He toasts, the newlyweds’ names echoed by everyone as they raise their glasses and drink to the union.
The music starts shortly after, and a small space is cleared at the center of the room for Jimin and Jeongguk to dance. Jimin rises first, pulling Jeongguk along with him, and the Beta follows happily; he would follow Jimin to the ends of the earth and beyond if that was what his Omega wanted. He has barely touched his champagne, but he still feels a warm glow within him, a contentment like no other, bordered by anticipation for what’s to come later.
Because they intend to mate.
Just the thought makes his wolf want to sing, it’s not common for couples to mate any more, since most don’t feel the need. They aren’t in touch with their wolves though, and such a primal thing like a mating mark is considered antiquated and unnecessary. But for Jimin and Jeongguk it feels right, the natural next step to their union, a way to connect their wolves and their souls even more than they already are.
Jimin wraps his arms around Jeongguk’s neck and rests his head on his chest before beginning to dance, eyes closed and the feeling of his happy purrs rumbling through wherever they touch.
“I love you,” Jimin whispers, loud enough for Jeongguk to hear, but no one else.
“I love you too,” Jeongguk murmurs back, “More than anything, darling.”
They dance, wrapped up in each other, oblivious to the world around them, and as the song dwindles to silence, Jimin stands on tiptoes to press a chaste kiss to Jeongguk’s cheek, “I’m sorry there was no confetti, love,” he whispers.
Jeongguk grins, “Who said that?”
Jimin blinks up at him in confusion, “What?”
“Surprise!” A chorus of voices cry out, and suddenly a shower of dried flower petals start raining down around them.
“There’s always confetti,” Jeongguk says, and he smiles and he is everything, everything.
🔹🔷💙🔷🔹
The night dwindles away to nothing, their guests filtering away to their rooms, until it’s all quiet and soft, the windows and doors thrown open to the night, and their hosts leading them by lantern light across the indigo and silver gardens, all bathed by moonlight and starglow. Tomorrow everyone will fly back home to Korea, but Jimin and Jeongguk will remain, secluded and safe in a place where they can be wrapped up in each other and no one else. They’re handed a key and given gentle assurances that everything they need is already in place, that they won’t have to leave their little haven unless they want to.
Jimin can see the mating mark on the necks of both their hosts, two Omega women with rolling accents and cascades of black hair and green-blue eyes. They congratulate them in whispers before taking their leave, all smiles and gentle assurances that they will be available should the newlyweds need them.
Then they’re alone.
There are no words traded as they enter the dark cottage, not even a whisper exchanged as they lock the door behind them and head for the bathroom, where they shower away the remains of the celebration, helping each other with gentle hands and lingering eyes, not a sentence said as Jimin runs his hands along the hard lines of Jeongguk’s body, a breathy gasp the only sound he makes when Jeongguk does the same.
The Beta’s eyes are dark and soft, yet hungry and yearning at the same time as he looks down at Jimin, turning him gently so that he’s facing the shower wall before dropping to his knees to lick along the cleft of his ass, moaning at the taste of Jimin on his tongue, a low, rumbling growl tumbling from his lips when Jimin’s back arches and he’s half presented in front of him, already soft and pliant with want.
They abandon the shower shortly after, both breathless and lust-blind, falling onto the massive bed and its soft sheets that smell like lavender and night air, spring winds pouring in through the window as Jimin straddles Jeongguk’s waist and bends down to press kiss after kiss to his lips, his neck, his shoulders and chest. Instinct-led and hungry, he licks and bites at Jeongguk’s scent gland until he’s drunk and floating on his lover’s scent, breathing it in like he needs it to survive, breathing it in like he’s been drowning his whole life, and Jeongguk is what he needs in order to live.
Jeongguk returns each kiss with one of his own, each drag of teeth and tongue and lips returned, all praise without words, all prayer with no sound. The Beta leaves trails of warm embers on his skin with every touch, heat blossoming beneath the tips of his fingers, palms leaving tiny fires in their wake, and Jimin floats embraced by flame, something so primal yet quiet and certain leading him forward as he reaches down to take Jeongguk’s cock in hand and to ease himself on to it.
Ecstasy like he’s never known blooms within him, he is made of sunrises and shooting stars, he is full moon glow and auroras, and all the light that blazes to life within him pours out and into the man, the wolf, the love that lies beneath him and looks up with veneration in his eyes. He writes songs into Jimin’s skin with his touch, traces poetry into flesh with his fingertips as Jimin pulls moans and breathless gasps from his kiss-bitten lips.
He feels his climax nearing and knows it’s almost time. So he leans forward till they are chest-to-chest, Jeongguk buried deep within him, and presses a soft kiss to the tender area where his shoulder curves upward into his neck. There he stays, poised and waiting until Jeongguk gathers himself enough to mirror his pose, and as he draws closer and closer to a final release, he takes warm skin between his teeth and bites, Jeongguk following close behind.
If he held the sun within him before, it goes supernova in this moment. Everything is blinding light and pleasure like he has never known, a cry tumbles from his lips, or maybe it’s Jeongguk who calls out, Jimin cannot tell, because he feels like they are one and the same, like they share a heart and a soul and have finally become one after a lifetime of wandering through a world without knowing who they were looking for.
It is perfect, they are perfect, whole and home, complete and endless, wolf-song in their veins, love in their hearts, riding their climax to its tremulous end.
They lay like that, licking each other's wounds until the bleeding stops and the pain eases, and though they were both spent and shaking, they cannot stop touching each other, cannot hold back from the urge to keep kissing, to keep each other close. Eventually Jimin slips off of Jeongguk, but only so he can pull the Beta on top of him, feel his weight and the thundering cadence of his heart as they lay chest-to-chest, gazes locked and still trapped in a high that will linger for days to come.
“I love you,” is the first thing Jimin says, and he feels it more completely than he thought possible. He feels it in his very soul, it pulses within him, an almost tangible thing that he thinks could take shape if spoken enough, a spell woven by moonlight and carried between the sharp teeth of a wolf. He looks into Jeongguk’s eyes and sees both man and beast look back at him, and he knows he has been found, that he will always be safe within the arms of the man who lays above him, “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Jeongguk whispers, one large hand coming up to cup his cheek with a gentle touch, “I am so glad we found each other.”
And what more is there to say? Jimin wraps his arms around Jeongguk and pulls him into a kiss that he knows will last forever, even when their lips are not locked, even when miles divide them, this is a song that will continue until it is replaced by the slow dirge of death, but even then, even after, they will have each other, because now that they have found each other, they will never be lost again.
Fin.