Chapter Text
Jungkook spends the next two weeks swamped with work, the whole reason he arrived early from his trip. He worked part-time in his hyungs’ photo studio, which was soon to become a photography agency by how fast they were growing in recognition, and workload. Said hyungs, Namjoon and Hoseok, had met in college cementing their friendship by starting a business.
Jungkook mainly helped with the scheduling of photo shoots and other events, sometimes working the occasional wedding himself. Nature photography was his passion, but capturing genuine moments between people who loved each other was also pretty rewarding. It was like engraving people's feelings into tangible evidence.
His vacation had been cut short after receiving a very suspicious phone call from his hyung asking nonchalantly if Jungkook could put him in contact with one of his classmates for “some simple shoots a student could find detrimental in their learning process.” He had then changed the subject, recited some nonsense information about Curaçao laced with random questions (“Did you know the island is actually a desert? Did you know they eat iguana regularly? Have you tried it? Was it as stiff as a shoe?”) and promptly hung up. “Oh! Remember to ask some friend of yours about the shoots. They are nothing really, but experience is important. Ok, bye, take care Kook.”
Through the whole conversation Namjoon’s voice had been a little high in pitch, just like whenever Jin hyung stopped by the office to ask him out for lunch, almost as if Namjoon was nervous about something.
Jungkook had then decided to call Hoseok, just in case.
Namjoon was nervous alright.
“That idiot overbooked himself!,” Hoseok panicky voiced screamed over the phone,“and in the process, he overbooked us!!” Jungkook’s hyung had then taken a deep breath and continued in a more reserved manner, “He just accepted way more jobs that we can cover. I think he doesn’t know what a calendar is, Kook. I’ll be damn if I have to lose face in front of clients.” Hoseok sounded defeated and exhausted already, transmitting his anxiety directly to Jungkook, who unconsciously started biting his bottom lip. He made a quick decision, “Hyung don’t worry, I'll come back and help out.”
“What, no, you are doing your thing over there, we can take care of things ourselves”, even through Hoseok’s stern reply Jungkook could hear the subtle hints of desperation, “but hey, maybe you could help me out with some classmates of yours to use as interns?”
Jungkook snorts at that.
“Hyung, you hate interns.”
“Yeah, but who am I to deny the religious experience of learning from me and the chaotic energy of Namjoon in an office?,” Jungkook laughs airily at that, picturing a poor intern overwhelmed by Hoseok’s military professionalism and Namjoon’s disastrous organization skills.
“Hyung.”
“Yeah?”
“I'm coming back.”
“No, you are not.”, responds Hoseok mildly irritated, “ We are grown men, we can handle our shit. Just go have fun, don’t even think about the interns. You know what? We don’t even need them.”
Jungkook can’t really find it in his heart to kick his hyungs to the curb though. They had been kind enough to give him a job, and if he wanted to become a partner in their business once he graduated, which had been his plan all along, he needed to start making responsible decisions from now on. He resorts to his whiny/annoyed voice to get his hyung to cave, “Hyung, I have all the footage that I need. I took amazing pictures and even have material for a couple of vlogs already. I have nothing to do. I’m actually so bored, you don't even know. Besides, I can come back here if I want to. Right now I just want to go back home and help you guys out, so just, accept it, ok?”
There are a couple of seconds of radio silence, a clear signal that his hyung is mulling over the offer.
“Jeon Jungkook?”
“Yes, hyung?”
“I love you so much.”
Jungkook smirks a little, his hyung is accepting defeat.
“I know, hyung.”
*****
Surprisingly, even with so many busy days Jungkook doesn’t feel as tired as he thought he would, and the only person to thank for is Jimin. The blonde man had taken over the heavy workload around the house (*cough* cleaning up after Taehyung *cough*). Yet, what the young photographer is most thankful for is getting home to a warm meal and the prettiest guy he has ever seen making conversation and asking about his day. He is sure he blushes like a teenager whenever Jimin greets him home with a disarming smile. He is also mildly certain that Taehyung is also there, but you know, details.
Today though, the apartment is empty. He rummages around the kitchen looking for something to eat, and just as he thought, there's a plate in the microwave with his name on top of it. Of course Jimin fixed him something even if he was going out.
A warm feeling settles on Jungkook’s chest at the thought of the blonde man worrying about him. In all honesty, he had had a mini meltdown after realizing he had accepted to share his space with one more individual. His anxiety had spiked up. Navigating daily life with a whole new other person he knew nothing about terrified him. He now laughs a little at his cowardly initial reluctance. Waking up to the cutest blonde bed hair making coffee and throwing sleepy smiles his way is enough to thank the gods for his decision. Apparently, disney movies are right to preach that change is good. It’s more than good, it’s practically divine.
Jungkook quickly changes and sits on his old leather couch (now Jimin’s bed) to watch a movie and eat his precious dinner. Now that what Hoseok had baptised as “Namjoon’s schedule from hell” has finally ended, he can relax for a while instead of turning in as soon as he is done with his food.
The movie he picks is a murder mystery he has wanted to watch for a while. After settling the clean plate on the coffee table he gets comfortable on the couch, long legs placed on the other arm of the couch and head gently rested on Jimin’s pillow. It smells like the blonde and Jungkook’s own fabric softener. He thinks he’s in heaven. He also thinks he is a little creepy, but the movie is kind of boring, and he feels exhausted from work but sated from the food. It’s as if he could fall asleep right there. Wrapped in gentle smells and the tv as background noise.
*****
Jimin and Taehyung get home after their ice cream run to find a sleeping Jungkook curled on Jimin’s pillow and blankets.
“Oh look at that!", Taehyung teases, “Your puppy missed you!”, giggles uncontrollable at the sight of Jungkook holding the sheets tightly to his ears, “He looks like a human taco.”
Jimin smacks Taehyung hard on his chest and sets his attention on the sleepy lump occupying his makeshift bed. Under the living room’s dim light Jungkook’s features look softer. All the power the young photographer holds locked away inside puffy eyelids and long lashes. Pink lips slightly pouty and inviting, ready to be pecked. Jimin gulps down heavily, and tries looking anywhere else, stomach doing cartwheels just at the thought of kissing Jungkook.
Over the past couple of weeks Jimin has learned a lot about Jungkook. He now knows that Jungkook's appearance greatly deviates from his personality. He looks imposing at first, hard stare accompanied by messy dark locks swept back and tangled black ink decorating his arms and neck. Yet, his initial “bad boy” assessment had crumbled to the ground the second Jungkook looked into his eyes. Because his eyes were warm and kind. A boyish charm emanating from them, galaxies filled with possibility staring back. Jimin knows he never stood a chance.
The layers with Jungkook don't stop there, because the guy is also a huge dork. A dork cutely obsessed with photography, videos games, editing and horror movies. The days Jungkook arrived early from his work, granted they were not a lot, Jimin would turn into a big pile of mush. And it really isn't Jimin´s fault, how could he keep it together when Jungkook would immediately ditch his leather jacket and skinny jeans for bulky sweats, round glasses and unmade hair. He would also obliterate all the snacks reserves and steal Taehyung's candy. Jimin thinks that watching Jungkook happily skip to his game chair munching away and screaming at his headset while playing is time well spent.
Jungkook, as it turns out, is quite the chatterbox, once he decides he can trust you. He seemed rather shy at first, almost aloof at times. Taehyung had advised Jimin to just teased the younger mercilessly, since apparently that had been his strategy to get him out of his shell when they first met. After a couple of teasing comments from Jimin and a very badly placed joke about his sexual kinks (“Jungkook do you have a secret bdsm dungeon in your room? I keep hearing agonizing screams or humiliating insults coming from there”) that resulted in Jungkook becoming a stuttering mess while blaming his horror movies and his good for nothing gamer friends Jimin came to terms with the fact that he was getting nowhere. In fact, Jungkook was getting even shier around him. It was thanks to Jimin’s fixation with cooking that Jungkook started to loosen up.
One night when he had just finished making dinner with Taehyung, Jungkook had burst through the door looking tired and a little disheveled. Jimin had immediately set another plate on the table and poured Jungkook a glass of wine, which Jungkook took gratefully. From there on, dinner became a thing for the three of them. They would eat and drink while sharing stories about their day until the young photographer excused himself to got rest. Jimin was proud his cooking had helped them breach the line between polite roomates to what could turn into friendship. Jungkook had gone from asking basic questions about Jimin (“Oh I heard you are almost done with school, what’s your major?”) to excitedly recommending lenses to capture the ocean with and summaries of the goriest movies he had ever seen (accompanied by graphic descriptions of the blood splatter). Jimin thinks he could hear Jungkook talk all day, and he would never get tired.
Jimin laughs a little to himself as he recalls Jungkook saying last night that today was his last day of “running around like a headless chicken.” The blonde is elated at the thought of getting a chance to spend more time with Jungkook. He is also vaguely aware of the fact that he might be nursing a tiny little small crush on the younger.
Taehyung’s loud yawn disturbs Jimin from his thoughts,“Jimin, I’m beat, I don't think I can stay up to watch a movie,” Taehyung's mumbles. He stares for a moment back at Jungkook and quickly remembers that the young photographer is taking up Jimin’s sleeping space, “do you want me to wake Kookie up? Though I think you could just go to his room and sleep there. I'm sure he wouldn't mind.” Jimin eyes his best friend suspiciously. Taehyung has been trying to play cupid ever since Jungkook had come back from vacation, which really just meant Taehyung acting even more extra than usual and wiggling his eyebrows at both of them after making sex jokes. For once, Taehyung seems genuine, tiredness winning over his need to annoy his best friend.
Jimin tells Taehyung not to worry about the sleeping arrangements. He doesn't have it in him to wake Jungkook up, not when he has been through a hellish week and looks so peaceful on the couch. He’ll just have a glass of wine while watching a movie and wake Jungkook up when he decides to turn in for the night. Taehyung seems to consider making a joke, but decides to just waddle to his room with a simple “don't do anything I would do” that earns him a well-deserved eye roll.
Jimin places himself in Jungkook's soft gaming chair Jungkook and decides on an action movie. After a few minutes he gets swallowed by the car chase and fast pace of the feature, wine bottle getting slowly consumed.
It’s not until his peripheral vision detects movement near him that Jimin reacts.
By jumping out of the chair and almost spilling the wine.
A soft chuckle follows, Jimin automatically melts.
“It's ok, hyung. I'm not a ghost.”
Jungkook sits down groggily on the couch. White sheets spilling at his sides contrasting with the blackness of his tattoos. He is shirtless, and Jimin´s mind can't seem to comprehend the whiplash. One minute, Jungkook looks like an angel and the other like a complete vixen. Muscles bulging and chest expanding as he stretches. Jimin traces the lines of his ink in the dim light until arriving at Jungkook sleepy face. Puffy eyes stare back at him and Jimin can't seem to be able to say anything, he feels spellbound.
Jimin’s transfixed state gets cut by a loud whine.
“God, this couch is uncomfortable. How do you even sleep here?,” Jungkook frowns at Jimin and pouts. Jimin gives him a lopsided smile, “It's not that bad, really. I’ll be able to buy an inflatable mattress by the end of the month,” Jungkook opens his mouth as Jimin holds a finger up, signaling he is not done talking, “Before you start, no. I'm not letting you buy it for me.” There’s a tender look directed at Jungkook, followed by a sigh, “You are already kind enough letting me freeload until I get my paycheck.”
Jungkook grunts a little in acknowledgment. He knows not to press the issue, so he just throws his hands up in defeat while he bites his bottom lip. It’s edering really.
“Anyways,” Jungkook says, changing the subject, “I stole your crappy bed. I feel guilty.” Another pout.
“Oh, yeah?,” Jimin teases, “Well I've been launching on your game chair, even when I know it’s off limits”
“It’s off limits to Tae cause he is gross. You can use it whenever you want, hyung.”
Jimin thanks Jungkook as the younger casts his gaze down and scratches his neck shyly. Jimin can physically hear his heart exploding. He wants to coo at Jungkook so bad, but doesn't want to ruin the sentiment.
Jungkook is promptly saying goodnight, standing up awkwardly and making his way to his own room. Jimin can't help to stare a little, Jungkook in his shirtless and sweats glory and all. As Jimin enjoys the view, the young photographer pauses for a second and turns back. Jimin quickly gazes back at his ignored movie.
“Umm, hyung”, the younger mumbles getting closer to Jimin, “You know, my bed is pretty big. It can easily fit three people. I think we could share. I-if, if you don't mind, that is. You probably won't even realise I'm there too, it's that big. I really do feel bad when I think about you in this crappy couch. You could crash w-with me until the end of the month.” There's a scarlet blush quickly devouring Jungkook’s cheeks and ears. The younger kind of wants to take it back and just run back to his room in embarrassment.
For a second Jungkook thinks that Jimin will just ignore his proposal, but then in the tiniest voice the blonde answers with a tentative, “Are you sure it’s ok? I don't want to invade your space, Kookie.”
Jungkook tries to pull a serious face, though right now he just wants to wallow on the fact that Jimin just called him by a nickname.
“I mean it, hyung,” he says sternly, though his voice breaks a little.
Jimin seems to consider something. Eyes trailing back to Jungkook’s room. A pleased rosiness on his cheeks when he responds, “Ok then, let’s go”.