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Airports, busy, crowded, nerve racking!
It’s funny that once upon a time being at the airport would be the start of your vacation. Now it’s just a whole stress fest!
Airports are also loud and Jungkook hates loud.
Especially when he’s being yelled at by a lady in a language he doesn’t know. She seems mad, oh so mad, in hindsight he wouldn’t blame her. Who isn’t mad in airports nowadays? Also he did bumped into her, which made her spill her coffee. Maybe this was her last straw. But she wouldn’t stop screaming and shouting and pointing and glaring. What’s worse? The staring, oh everyone is staring - at Jungkook, murmuring God knows what.
Do they think Jungkook’s an idiot? Do they know Jungkook’s been an idiot? Every angry volley this lady sent his way made him regret ignoring his instincts even more. He should have listened to Namjoon when he told him that his now ‘ex’ boyfriend, who he referred to as a Clown, was bad news. He should have listened to Hoseok when he said that Clown was two faced. He should have listened to Taehyung when he said that Clown was not the prince charming he was making himself out to be.
But Jungkook was a hopeless romantic and even though deep down he resonated with what his hyungs told him he still defended that Clown. “Namjoon hyung you barely know him.” “Hoseokie hyung he's a nice guy!” “Taehyungie hyung you can’t judge him like that!” Turns out they were right. He really wasn’t prince charming at all but a clown and not the fun kind more like Pennywise minus the murder; just evil.
Jungkook had met him six months ago and had fallen for his charms faster than a stone thrown in a pond. When he told him “Let’s go to Paris! I'll take care of everything!” Jungkook was impressed he’d planned and packed and ignored warnings because it was Paris! The city of Love. But it wasn’t really not with Clown.
Turns out he was controlling and obsessive and pushy and disrespectful of boundaries. When they’d gotten to the hotel - Clown totally shitfaced; Jungkook sober - he’d tried to force Jungkook telling him he’d show him what real love was. Jungkook didn’t even know he could run so fast. Thankfully he hadn’t unpacked completely so it didn’t take much. He didn’t even know where he was going! Somehow he found himself on a 4 hour Eurail train to Amsterdam and then kept saying ‘airport’ repeatedly till a taxi driver realized he needed to get to one.
So here he was nervous, frantic, scared and now embarrassed. Didn’t this lady have a flight to catch? Why won’t she stop? It was getting hard to breathe, he was going to cry, there were too many eyes, his ears were burning.
Then there were some strangers cold fingers in his hand. “It’s okay, you’re alright” the stranger said in Korean. While the strangers' friends seemed to be talking to the lady. Who proceeded to shake her head and walk away saying something, swearing at him maybe?
“Hi I'm Seokjin, this is Yoongi and this is Jimin are you okay?” The stranger, Seokjin, asked. But Jungkook was too overwhelmed, too tired, too exhausted. So the tears fell and Seokjin pulled him in, giving him a hug of comfort and reassurance. Listening to Seokjin’s strong heartbeat, Jungkook grew more stable.
When he explained his situation the guys were pissed but sympathetic. Jimin even patted his head saying “Love sometimes really is blind.” Yoongi suggested buying a ticket at the other terminal back to Seoul and Seokjin offered to stay back while the others started their tour. The three were going to see Europe.
They had to take the inter airport rail to the next terminal and Jungkook couldn’t help marvel at how different this train ride was. “The next flight is in 4 hours and you can only buy your ticket 2 hours prior!” the lady at the counter had said. Seokjin volunteered to hang with him since there was an obvious language barrier.
So they went back and walked about and ate and laughed and went to the shops and made a game out of spotting people who wore the color purple. Just random things that had Jungkook laughing more in the 2 hours than the 4 days he’d spend with Clown. “Tokki, you know just because that guy was a clown doesn’t mean you’re wrong to fall in love right?” Seokjin had asked as they sat in one of the ‘relaxing’ spots, he’d started calling Jungkook the name because of his teeth. “What if I always mess up?” Jungkook had asked, worrying his lips. Seokjin smiled at him, pulled his lip using his thumb saying , “Trust your instincts.”
Now you see therein lies an issue because Jungkook, hopeless romantic Jungkook’s instincts want Seokjin. He’s never felt this way before, ever. He just met the guy but why does it feel like he’s known him all his life? Why did he give Jungkook the bigger slice of cake at the coffee shop? Why did he hold Jungkook’s hand while walking? Why did he hold Jungkook by the shoulder when in a crowded area? Why did he hold Jungkook by the waist on the train?
The train they are on now so that Seokjin could drop him off and Jungkook could buy his ticket? Was Jungkook being an idiot again? Does his brain equate Seokjin with the prince who saved him? Is Seokjin his Prince charming? So many questions! What does his instinct say?
“Well this will be it tokki! I'll leave now. Yoongi and Jimin are most likely already settled. Safe Journey and I hope we meet again.” Seokjin said as he pushed Jungkook’s hair behind his ear. Jungkook, too confused, could only bite his lip and nod his head.
He’d watch Seokjin walk away and then go buy his ticket and then go back home and then never see Seokjin again because let's be honest who keeps in touch with chance encounters? Just then it was announced that the train was heading back to Seokjin’s terminal. Seokjin sighed and once again pulled Jungkook’s lip away from his gnawing teeth. Jungkook looked at him, eyes big, hoping, praying his confusion would clear.
Maybe cupid was tired too because Seokjin smiled and ducked his head giving Jungkook a kiss on the forehead. “Safe flight tokki” he said, turning around, walking away. Jungkook’s heart had never felt so warm before. Is the forehead even connected to the heart? What is this chaos in his soul? This is ridiculous. He should turn around, buy his ticket and leave. He should go home, bury himself in shame and listen to all the “I told you so’s”. He should let go. But he didn’t want to.
“Hyung…?”
Did Seokjin stop and turn around? Did Jungkook ask him if he could be with him? Did Yoongi, Jimin, Seokjin and Jungkook have a wonderful time in Europe? Did Seokjin and Jungkook fall in love? Did Jungkook get kissed while on a gondola under the Bridge of Sighs in Venice? Did they burn up the night while overlooking the Eiffel Tower in Paris? Did they get married? Did they live happily ever after?
“You ask so many questions!” The young girl huffed at that exasperated by the suspense and her boyfriend who seemed invested in the story asked “But did he? Did you?” Seokjin smiled. “Yes” Just then Jungkook came holding two cups of coffee, replacement coffees because that's how this couple had met Jungkook and Seokjin. When Jungkook bumped into the girl and made her spill her coffee at the same shop at the Amsterdam airport, 25 years later.
“Sorry about that again” Jungkook said as Seokjin wrapped his arm around his waist. “Oh don’t bother tokki-ssi! You guys are so romantic! Have a safe flight!” She said bouncing a little as the couple bowed and went away.
“Tokki-ssi? Did you tell them our story?” Jungkook asked proceeding to bite his lip as Seokjin smiled at him, pushing his hair now streaked with white behind his ears, pulling at his lip with his thumb. “Hmm...I did.” Seokjin said pulling Jungkook in and kissing him till they were wrapped in each other with whispers of “I love you hyung” “I love you too my tokki.” in between.
