Chapter Text
"Are you ready?"
Koo’s voice was often merry, as he chirped happily around the flat quite often, but this time he sounded more than excited. Jimin peeked through the curtains surrounding the bathtub and found himself nose-to-nose with Koo. He smiled, glad to see him, but confused.
"Why are you asking, Koo? We’re meeting Joon and Seokjin in four hours! There’s no rush…"
"I can’t wait…"
Koo looked absolutely elated. He was jumping on his feet, already wearing his jumper, coat and Converse shoes. He had even tried to put on a bucket hat, hiding his bread hair quite successfully. He seemed ready to hop in a car and leave.
"Please!" he implored. "I want to go!"
"I’m taking a shower!" Jimin replied. "Let me finish!"
"You always smell good, who cares?"
Jimin giggled and closed the curtains, begging Koo to leave him alone. Sometimes, he wished they could bathe together and have fun under the water, but Koo would get soggy and maybe worse. Jimin didn’t want to know what would happen if his lover got soaked, accidentally or not.
"Come back quickly," Koo pouted from the other side of the bathroom. "You’re taking too long, I miss you."
"It’s just a shower! I do this every day!"
"You don’t need it!"
"Why are you being such a baby, Koo?"
Koo scoffed and left the bathroom with a giggle. Jimin was hit by a wave of love and affection for his boyfriend, and decreasing the temperature of the water stream did not change anything to the way his body was burning up for him.
They had lived a year and a half together, more or less. Koo had found an online job in journalism. Jimin had plastered foundation all over his face and made the webcam blurry for the job interview, and there had been no issue whatsoever. Koo spent his days typing on the computer, waiting for Jimin to come back from the laboratory and feeling useful. Finally.
Jimin had felt the change two weeks later. Koo was more assertive, less scared of stating his opinion and standing up for himself. When Jimin was too worried about him, his health and his life in general, Koo knew how to stop him with diplomacy. They were a chaotic but completely whipped duo, which was to be expected from a couple with a man and a piece of sentient bread. Jimin would have never traded this for any kind of normalcy. What was normal, anyway? Jimin had thrown this concept away a long time ago.
Jimin turned the water off and dried himself, slightly worried about the near future. They were going to meet Namjoon and Seokjin and fly to the destination Koo had chosen months ago, now that they finally had time to travel together. Koo was very impatient to talk to Seokjin, even if he was aware that the worldwide-renowned chef would most likely want to get a taste.
As soon as Jimin left the bathroom, Koo was pressing his body against him.
"I can't wait to visit Japan," he sighed, kissing Jimin’s neck impatiently.
"Me too. Are you stressed about being seen by other people?"
"I am, but… I guess you're more worried than I am."
Jimin smiled sheepishly.
"I don't want anyone to make you feel uncomfortable, that's all. I know we will most likely see a grand maximum of three people with our schedule, but… I want your first holiday to be perfect, you deserve it after working so hard."
"You work hard too, Jimin. You're always here, taking care of me…"
Jimin caressed the back of Koo’s neck slowly, feeling as comfortable as he could be. He was never more relaxed than when his boyfriend snuggled against him.
"I’m just trying to make life as smooth as possible, it's not a big deal."
"Nothing has ever been smooth since you've made me, Jimin," Koo murmured with a smirk. "We're not a very regular couple. People usually don't need to discuss not eating each other."
"I will never agree to this," Jimin bit back. "You made me eat your crust as garlic knots once, but that's all you're going to get. Ever."
"I really, really want you to bite me, just a little…"
Jimin whined as Koo’s tiny teeth grazed against his neck. Damn, it feels so good…
"Don't trick me," he sighed. "I don't want to take the risk of hurting you. We have no idea how to repair you anymore, since you can't put yourself in the oven without feeling that awfully hot temperature."
Koo nodded and hid his face back in the crook of Jimin’s neck. He breathed in deeply and Jimin smiled, amused.
"Can you smell anything?"
"No, I still can't."
"It's fine. Maybe you will, one day."
"I hope so. I want to smell what you cook. What do I smell like?"
Jimin caressed Koo’s cheeks and kissed his rough lips, inhaling deeply as Koo whimpered. He had remained as sensitive as ever, extremely aggravated every time Jimin touched him. That was something he didn't want to change – Koo’s heightened pleasure was a sight . He could never get enough of his moans between every kiss, his shivers under every caress.
"You smell absolutely delicious, Koo. Like the bakeries of my childhood. Like home."
"Jimin…"
Koo was slowly moving his hips against his boyfriend’s crotch, out of breath. Jimin’s heartbeat quickened. God, he always loved that shift in the atmosphere. It always starts so fast with you, my baby...
"Why are you so horny?" Jimin asked. "Is this why you were so early and impatient? Are you looking for something?"
"Do we have time?" Koo asked shyly.
"How many do you need to function like the quiet piece of bread you're supposed to be before meeting our friends?"
Koo smiled, embarrassed. He raised two fingers, and moaned shamelessly when Jimin’s hand slipped into his underwear, pressing him against the wall. Koo looked absolutely decadent, fully dressed in the living room, whimpering in his coat and sneakers. Jimin loved it.
"Always horny… You're a mess, baby. Just before taking the plane, on top of that… You have no shame, none at all."
"It's your fault," Koo muttered, breathless. "You're too beautiful, way too beautiful."
"Is this all you see in me?" Jimin asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"No… You're the love of my life. Makes me hot all over."
Jimin captured his lips and Koo whined helplessly. Jimin stroked him slowly, swallowing every sigh, every loud moan, and eventually every scream as Koo came dryly twice between his fingers. He was panting, gripping Jimin's shirt to stay on his wobbly feet.
"Enough?" Jimin teased.
"I- I want more – "
"I don't know if we have time for that…"
"Just your hand, just – don't stop…"
Koo being so needy was not very usual from him. He had to be hiding something emotional, something he thought he could deal with until he begged for Jimin's hand to forget whatever was driving him towards melancholy. Jimin didn't want to dig for it now, but he was worried.
"Something on your mind?" he asked, caressing him lightly to avoid overstimulating him.
"I'm… a little scared of taking the plane."
Jimin sighed with affection and kissed Koo gently.
"I will hold your hand, don't worry."
"But what if we die?"
Jimin removed his hand from Koo's underwear and shook his head.
"God, don't say things like that – "
"I'm sorry, Jimin, I didn't want to say sad things, but… It's scary for me, you know?"
"I know, it's just – I shouldn't have asked, you wanted to feel good and I changed the topic. Come here."
They hugged, and Koo crisped a little around him. The sound was both worrisome and strangely exciting. Jimin touched Koo's ear with his teeth, pretending to bite him as a joke, and Koo smiled brightly.
"I daydream of that very often."
"Why are you so obsessed with me eating you? What do you want me to bite? Do you hate your toes that much? They're cute."
"I don't know, the thought just makes me… very horny? I can't explain."
"You're constantly horny, baby."
"Yeah… Speaking of which… Do you think you could make me a little less stressed about the plane?"
Jimin chuckled and made him orgasm until he begged him to stop, collapsing on his knees to wrap around Jimin's legs. His shoulders were shaking, but his little teeth peeking through his lips proved that he was finally satisfied.
"We're all set, then," Jimin declared, unable to stop grinning.
"I – Yeah, I think we are."
x
"You don't even know how pleased I am to meet you, Koo!" Seokjin exclaimed, shaking his hand with no hesitation.
They were going to the private airport in Seokjin's car, driven by his personal chauffeur. Namjoon was smiling fondly, happy to see everyone getting along.
"How do you feel about going to Japan?" Seokjin asked.
"Stressed, but very happy. I want to visit quiet places with you all, and take pictures with Jimin."
"Not with me? I would transcend your photo album, think about it."
"I –"
"Stop teasing my boyfriend," Jimin intervened. "He’s going to say yes to everything to make you happy."
"He is old enough to choose for himself!" Seokjin retorted. "What do you think, Koo?"
"I would like to have all my friends on some pictures… And also other pictures with only Jimin and me."
"That can be negotiated."
Namjoon and Seokjin started discussing the specifics of the journey. Jimin held Koo’s hand, aware that he had to be more and more worried about the whole ordeal.
"There will be no security at any point, I made sure of that. I already prepared an authorisation for three professional collaborators. You won’t be forced to work in the kitchens of my restaurant in Hokkaido, of course, this is just a cover."
"Uh…," Jimin hesitated. "Restaurant? Where are you taking us, exactly? You just mentioned that we would have walks in the forest…"
"We’re going to the traditional inn I bought with a Japanese friend a few years ago. It’s one of the most beautiful ryokan out there, with nine rooms and a restaurant open to anyone from the outside. It’s in the middle of a forest, and also near an onsen… But I wouldn't recommend that."
Koo chuckled. Yeah, there’s no way he will put himself in a hot spring.
"Jimin could go," Koo said. "I will watch."
"You have made your bread shameless, Jimin," Seokjin laughed. "But it’s good to see you both so lovey-dovey. Cute."
"Baby, stop embarrassing our new friend," Namjoon said.
"I’m not embarrassing him!" Seokjin protested, but Namjoon silenced him with a kiss.
Jimin felt Koo’s fingers tighten around his hand, and he saw how intensely he was staring at the couple. When their eyes met, Jimin understood. He wanted this. He wanted them to behave like boyfriends in public. He wanted to be known as Koo, with his date Jimin, everywhere and beyond.
"I don’t know if we will ever be able to live freely," Jimin whispered into his ear. "But it’s okay for me. Is it okay for you?"
"I want everyone to know I love you," Koo muttered.
"Maybe there will be a day when the world won’t be such a cold and unforgiving place. We will always protect each other in the meantime, right?"
Koo nodded and wrapped his arms around Jimin’s shoulders, holding him firmly. Seokjin reached out and grabbed a few breadcrumbs from the car seat.
"Fascinating," he murmured.
"Don’t you dare eat that," Jimin warned him.
"Not yet."
x
Koo almost blacked out from panic in the plane, and Jimin had honestly never felt worse in his life. Namjoon and Seokjin were looking at them with worry, silent, waiting for the situation to get even more severe. Koo was crushing Jimin’s hand and crying with no interruption, trembling from head to toe.
"Koo…," Jimin said, "please, talk to me…"
Koo couldn’t pronounce distinct sentences. He mumbled something incoherent and finally fainted, collapsing against Jimin’s chest. Namjoon sighed and took his pulse.
"All good. I’m sad that he ended up like this, but I couldn’t give him any meds for that… He has no stomach, I’d be worried not to know what happens after he ingests something."
"I’m not sure he even has an esophagus," Jimin said, caressing Koo’s back. "Your pills wouldn’t go anywhere."
The rest of the flight was quite awkward. Jimin wasn’t in any mood to joke around, and Namjoon and Seokjin couldn’t stop looking at Koo’s lifeless body on the seat. Something ugly at the back of Jimin’s head made him wonder if he would ever wake up. He told me he was scared of taking the plane… If Koo didn’t make it, Jimin would never be able to forgive himself, ever.
Thankfully, Koo snapped out of the limbs of his mind and opened his eyes, shivering slightly. Jimin immediately cupped his cheeks and kissed his nose.
"Where are we?" Koo asked, dazed and confused.
"We have just landed near Seokjin’s ryokan…," Namjoon replied. "We have to drive for an hour before we’re there. Are you okay?"
"Uh… I feel… weird."
"You lost consciousness. Tell Jimin you’re fine, I know he doesn’t want to insist but he was horribly worried."
Koo turned to Jimin and kissed him way harder than expected. Jimin gasped in surprise against his lips and melted into the kiss, feeling like he was the one being comforted by his boyfriend. It shouldn’t be like this. Time seemed to linger endlessly. Jimin started to wonder if Koo was showing off in front of Namjoon, because his kisses were rarely that heated. He chuckled and playfully bit his bottom lip.
"Hey. He doesn’t have to know that you’re a good kisser."
"I’m sorry."
"You don’t look sorry."
Koo smirked, and Jimin knew he was back to his normal self.
"I’m glad you’re back, it’s not funny when you pass out."
"Depends. Sometimes, I like that…"
"God, not here – You’re impossible, Koo, I’m starting to regret when you were silent. Get up, now, the car is ready."
"I need to rest a little, on the actual land," Koo sighed.
"You will! We will go to bed soon, okay?"
Namjoon cleared his throat, and Jimin wondered how much he had actually heard and understood. Well, he will have to get used to it. Koo doesn’t have any filter.