Chapter Text
The light outside is grey and soft, the streets still quiet, the bed still warm, when Jimin wakes and finds himself alone yet again. He sighs into his pillow and drags his mate’s from the other side to wrap his arms around; a poor substitute for the feeling of Jeongguk’s body. Outside the bedroom he can hear his alpha, moving softly so as not to disturb him, though Jimin knows that it’s only a matter of minutes before he slips back into the bedroom to press a goodbye kiss to his cheek and whisper a soft, “I love you.”
He’s always sweet like that, knows Jimin doesn’t like it when he leaves without a goodbye, maybe a little scenting, always considerate and soft for his omega.
Or at least he is when he’s home.
Jimin watches through heavy-lidded eyes as the digital clock on Jeongguk’s side switches its display to six thirty-two, and right on time the bedroom door opens and his alpha steps into the half-lit room.
“Don’t go,” is the first thing Jimin says as Jeongguk leans over him, and while it might sound like he’s pouting, in reality his wolf is a little desperate, hating that they’ll be separated for the next ten to twelve hours yet again.
Everyday is like this, even most Sundays, and it is starting to wear on him. He is tired of this routine, tired of saying goodbye, tired of starting his day alone and coming home alone and going to bed alone and waking up alone…
“You know I have to.” Jeongguk says with a fond laugh, completely missing the little whispers of sadness and need that comes through Jimin’s scent, lost as it blends with their combined smells of cloves and honey that have soaked into the bedding over the years. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
But that’s not true , Jimin thinks as Jeongguk gives him a gentle kiss and a quick nuzzle to his neck before he’s gone. Looking so handsome in his suit and tie, his leather satchel slung over his shoulder and his hair combed back, looking every inch the CFO of one of the most successful businesses in the nation.
He recalls Jeongguk’s boss, Namjoon telling them at a holiday party that Jeongguk’s workload would be reduced once he took on that position, and yet it seems like the opposite occurred, and Jeongguk is at the office before opening until after closing almost every single day since he’d taken on the role nearly a year ago.
He’s not concerned about his alpha cheating on him, this isn’t some K-drama nightmare where there’s another omega. Jeongguk never comes home later than he says he will, he never looks disheveled or carries another wolf’s scent. He still says I love you, still replies to all of Jimin’s texts, still checks in with his own, he’s loyal and so obviously in love…
He’s just never around.
And Jimin had held all his sadness in at first, because he loves Jeongguk just as much if not more than the alpha loves him. They bear each other’s mating marks with pride, they still curl around each other each night when they sleep… but then the signs of exhaustion and burn out start to show in Jeongguk.
The shadows under his eyes, the clipped tone, the falling asleep on the couch on those nights where they’re both home early enough to watch some TV together, they’re all red flags, and Jimin doesn’t know what to do about them.
A few weeks pass like this, and it wears on them both, culminating during a Sunday morning where Jeongguk actually snaps at him, and though he apologizes immediately afterward, hugs and kisses and scents him while expressing his remorse, it’s enough to unsettle both Jimin and his omega, and that evening he sends a quick text to his alpha to let him know he’ll be over at Taehyung’s apartment for the night.
“I don’t know what to do,” he admits quietly to his friend as they sit curled up together on the couch, surrounded by takeout containers and a forgotten movie playing on the television. “It’s like his job has become his number one priority, not me… and I—” He cuts himself off with a frown, “That sounds selfish, doesn’t it? Am I being selfish?”
“Babe, no,” Tae rushes to assure him, nuzzling a little into his neck and releasing a wave of his rose scent to calm him, “you’re not, it’s totally normal to want your mate around, especially because your marks are still so fresh, it hasn’t even been a year yet, Jimin…” He trails off into thoughtful silence before hooking his chin on Jimin’s shoulder, “I’m going to tell you a secret, something that no one else knows, not even Yoongi.”
That gets Jimin’s attention, because if Tae has something he hasn’t told Jimin, his best friend, or Yoongi, his mate, then it must be quite the secret.
“When Yoongi and I first mated something similar happened, we both know he’s always been a bit of a workaholic, but it was getting absurd, to the point where we almost never saw each other, so in my infinite wisdom I decided to try a little something.” Taehyung laughs at himself and shakes his head, “Honestly if my omega hadn’t been so distraught I might not have come up with the idea, or gone through with it, but I did, and it worked so…”
“What worked?” Jimin asks.
“Putting my slick in Yoongi’s food.”
The quiet in the living room rings loud until something blows up in the movie they are watching, and then Jimin is spinning around on the couch so that he is kneeling between his friend’s legs, eyes wide and hands gripping the other omega’s shoulders, “Tae, what the fuck ?”
“I know !” His friend says with another laugh, “It’s unhinged but I swear on my life it worked! It was like a reminder to his wolf where his priorities should lie, because I think the modern world confuses those basic alpha instincts to provide and protect. We get so much bullshit about needing a stable job and lots of money and gods know alphas aren’t the best critical thinkers in the world… so… put your slick in his food, Jimin-ah, you’ll have him home and in your arms like clockwork every day.”
He glances at the clock across the room and a slow smile spreads across his face, it’s almost 8 PM and as soon as the clock hits the hour the front door opens and Yoongi’s deep voice rings out from the entry, “Tae-yah, I’m home!”
“Like clockwork,” Taehyung whispers in Jimin’s ear before rising to greet his mate, a shit-eating grin on his face as he strides across the living room and into his unsuspecting alpha’s arms.
🍯
Things get a little better after that night, if only because Jeongguk feels guilty for snapping and essentially chasing Jimin out of their home. It gives Jimin hope, and for a while he doesn’t have to think about what Taehyung told him, because his alpha is home again… until he’s not.
It lasts a few days and then things return to how they were before, with late nights and exhaustion and an alpha that looks worn out and sad and always replies with the same thing when Jimin asks him to take some time off, “I need to provide for you.”
He’s sitting in the kitchen, staring at the fridge and wondering what he should have for dinner when he gets a text from Taehyung, just four words but it’s enough to send him spiraling.
You try it yet?
He doesn’t need to ask what his friend means, he knows, and after a few long seconds of staring at the question, lower lip caught between his teeth as he thinks, he replies.
Trying it tonight.
Taehyung replies with a slew of emojis that makes Jimin laugh, albeit a bit nervously, but then he’s locking his phone and setting it aside, and after a moment's hesitation he walks into the bedroom and grabs one of his favorite toys.
A couple of hours later he is ascending to the top floor of Rkive Inc. the floor numbers flying by as he shifts his weight from foot to foot. He texted Jeongguk about half an hour earlier, telling him to not order out because he was on his way with dinner. Jeongguk had replied with excitement, which had made Jimin smile, but had also done little to calm his nerves.
What if he noticed? What would Jimin say in response if he asked what he’d added to his meal?
He swallows nervously as the elevator doors open and after a moment he squares his shoulders and walks down the hall, most of the other offices empty and dark due to the later hour.
“Hey mooncake,” Jeongguk greets him at the door with a kiss to his cheek and a quick nuzzle along his jaw, “what did you bring me?”
“It’s just japchae,” he says quietly, hoping that Jeongguk doesn’t think anything of the blush on his cheeks or the slightly nervous edge to his scent. I should have worn blockers , he thinks in a panic, but no— that would have been even more suspicious .
“ Just japchae, he says,” Jeongguk replies with a fond roll of his eyes, “as if he’s not the best cook I know.”
“I can’t stay,” Jimin says by way of a panicked response as his cheeks heat up even more while Jeongguk takes out the container, “I promised Hobi I’d help him with his next routine, and he doesn’t have a lot of time this week…” He trails off, hating that he’s lying to his alpha even a little, but absolutely unable to sit here and watch him eat that meal without his scent going haywire with apprehension.
Jeongguk pouts a little but nods, “Okay baby, just don’t over do it, yeah?”
He bites back the urge to point out that’s what Jeongguk has been doing for months now and nods, “I won’t,” he promises softly, “I’ll text you when I’m home, okay?”
Because he knows that even though he fully intends to stop by the studio and let Hoseok distract him for a couple hours, he will still be home before Jeongguk.
“Eat well,” he says, a blush still high on his cheeks that he can’t hide, but Jeongguk just looks at him fondly and nods before shoveling a bunch of noodles into his mouth and groaning at how good it tastes.
“Thanks,” he says after he swallows, “I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”
Jimin flees the high-rise after that, cheeks now on fire, but his wolf incredibly pleased that their alpha is enjoying the meal.
🍯
“You did what ?” Hoseok asks, eyebrows up in his hairline with surprise when Jimin admits what he did, “Okay… well that’s wild and kinda insane but also sorta hot? Let me guess, this was all Tae’s idea.”
Jimin is slumped against the mirrored walls of the studio, dripping sweat from running through a routine with his friend. He lets his head fall back with a soft thud and sighs, “I can neither confirm nor deny that.”
“Which means it was,” Hoseok shakes his head and grins, “well, far be it from me to question you and your omega ways. Personally, I’ve never given Jin a reason to lure me back home, my wolf is far from confused as to where its priorities are.”
“I feel bad,” Jimin admits, “but every conversation felt pointless, and more often than not we’d end up irritated with each other. I hate it, but if he won’t listen even when I am open and honest…”
“Then you need to take matters into your own hands.” Hoseok agrees with a nod, “I just hope it works for you like it apparently did for Tae,” Hoseok says, “now go home and shower and get into bed so your man can come home and cuddle you.”
And that’s exactly what happens, he goes home, cleans up, and slips into the sheets, lying awake as he stares at the clock and counts the minutes, knowing that Jeongguk will walk through the door at 11:17 and be in bed by midnight.
It’s 11:11 when the front door opens.
Jimin is suddenly much more awake, staring wide-eyed at the clock as the sounds of his alpha moving quietly into the apartment reaches his ears.
He’s early, not by much, but still…
Maybe Tae was right…
Maybe this will really work.
It’s a few minutes before midnight when Jeongguk slips into bed with him, all warm from the shower and ready to cuddle. He usually just nuzzles a little closer, but tonight he wraps a firm arm around Jimin’s waist and pulls him against his chest, and they stay like that, Jeongguk’s nose buried in Jimin’s hair, until they are both asleep.
🍯
Jimin is a bit too nervous to add anything extra to Jeongguk’s dinner the next two nights, and both times they are back to square one— with Jimin eating alone and Jeongguk coming home at his normal, very late, time.
“You have to keep doing it!” Taehyung scolds him when he complains on the third morning, “One night with barely any in it isn’t going to do a thing!”
Jimin whines and whimpers but his friend is adamant that Jimin continues to try, so that night Jimin does, making some soup with his cheeks and ears aflame as he cooks alone in the kitchen. But as embarrassed as his human side is, his wolf is delighted, prancing inside of him like some happy little gremlin.
An hour later he is walking through the parking garage of Jeongguk’s work, soup in one hand, trying his best to regulate his scent because wearing blockers at this hour would be weird, there’s no one else here except his mate and a few janitors and…
The CEO of the company, Kim Namjoon.
He’s tall and handsome and dimpled, and is mated to one of the most popular singers in the country. Jimin finds him a strange mix of incredibly intimidating and very sweet.
He also wishes he were anywhere else in the world right now. Don’t CEOs travel? Don’t they have to work less? Aren’t they notorious for taking long weekends and extended vacations? So why is Namjoon here ? Right now ? With Jimin standing in front of him clutching a container of food that he’s added his–
“Good evening, Jimin-ssi!” Namjoon greets him from where he’s waiting for the elevator, “I just called it, forgot some things in the office.” He looks down at Jimin, all gentle curiosity and platonic alpha fondness, “Are you bringing dinner to Jeongguk?”
“Yes,” Jimin says softly.
Namjoon’s gaze gentles even further, “You’re a good mate to do this, because god knows I’ve tried to get him to go home early but he’s a stubborn fool.”
Jimin looks down at the floor as the elevator ascends, but before he can muster a reply the doors swing open and Namjoon steps out, “Maybe you coming to visit will remind him what he’s missing,” the alpha says with a kind smile, “because short of ordering him to leave early, I really don’t know what to do. He’s so stubborn.”
“He is,” Jimin agrees, thinking back to when Jeongguk and he had first met, how Jimin hadn’t wanted anything to do with the incredibly popular and confident alpha– or any alpha at that, only to have Jeongguk pursue him for half a year with a sort of adoring persistence that left Jimin defenseless in the face of his devotion. Jimin, convinced at the time that he wanted to be single, had resisted the urging of his wolf until the bitter end before giving in one tumultuous evening, walls worn down by Jeongguk’s soft determination and sweet nature.
“I know I had the same issue when I was just starting out as CEO,” Namjoon says, hand already on his own office door. “But my mate is fierce, and she made sure I understood where my priorities should lie,” Namjoon chuckles. “I doubt your tactics will be like hers, though, you don’t seem like the violent type,” he offers him a final grin before pushing his office door open, “have a good night, Jimin-ssi.”
“You too,” Jimin replies before fleeing further down the hall, mind consumed with his version of “tactics” and how they are probably very different from Namjoon’s mate.
But then he’s hit with the faintest scent of sweet clove and his thoughts become consumed by Jeongguk, Jeongguk, Jeongguk.
“You’re spoiling me,” Jeongguk murmurs as Jimin steps through his half-open office door, “what did I do to deserve this?” He stands and swoops around the desk to press a kiss to Jimin’s cheek, lips lingering for a moment before his long fingers curl around the soup container and he gently sets it aside.
“You’re my alpha,” Jimin reminds him, “you deserve all the nice things.”
Jeongguk smiles and tucks a loose strand of hair behind Jimin’s ear, “I’m very lucky to have you.”
Jimin can’t help but smile back, “Yes, you are.”
His mate laughs and shakes his head before turning his attention towards the soup container, “You should bring enough for two next time, I wouldn’t mind if you stayed and ate with me.”
“O-oh,” Jimin says, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t sure…”
Jeongguk looks up at him with his infamous puppy dog eyes, all soft pleading and adoration, just like they were in college again, “You can make up for it tonight by staying while I eat.”
And even though the thought is mortifying, Jimin could never say no to that look. He sinks into one of the chairs in front of the desk and tries not to look too horrified as Jeongguk opens the soup and takes a deep breath of the steam that curls up from the surface, “Oh, that smells amazing ,” he says, “I swear you’re becoming a better and better cook with every meal.”
Mentally Jimin runs through the steps of his newest dance routine, trying to distract himself from the nerve-wracking experience of Jeongguk eating his dinner. It’s typically a pretty emotive time for the alpha to begin with, who loves to eat even more than he loves to cook, but the sounds he makes around his first few mouthfuls are positively indecent.
Suddenly Jimin wishes he’d closed the door behind him when he’d walked in, because if Namjoon hears Jeongguk when he comes out…
But that doesn’t happen, instead he sits and watches Jeongguk devour his meal like a man starved and when he’s done he expects Jeongguk to thank him and say something about getting back to work, but instead the alpha sets the container aside and asks oh-so-innocently, “Will you stay? Just for a little while?”
And Jimin still can’t say no. So he sits and he suffers through the slight sweetening of Jeongguk’s scent as he works and the little glances his alpha throws at him and the gentle questions about his day that occasionally float across the room. It’s sweet and domestic and lovely, but Jimin just wants his alpha at home for the night, not in this corner office looking out over the lights of Seoul.
He gets sleepy after a while though, and when Jeongguk notices him stifle yet another yawn, he smiles gently and says, “You should head home, Jimin-ah.”
And Jimin, all soft and sweet with a whisper of cloves lingering in his senses asks, “Will you come with me?”
And Jeongguk smiles gently and sadly and says, “Not yet, baby.”
Jimin wakes up fully at the denial, his omega feeling rejected, and him not feeling much better. He nods and pushes himself to his feet, glad his own blockers are in place so Jeongguk can’t pick up on his sadness. He snatches up the soup container and drops it into his bag without a word, then presses a quick kiss to Jeongguk’s cheek, intending to leave as quickly as possible when the alpha stops him with a gentle hand on his wrist.
“I need to provide for us… for you, Jimin…”
The omega can only nod, afraid if he speaks that words will betray him, that he’ll say something bitter and sad and hurt Jeongguk when his mate doesn’t deserve that. So instead he presses another kiss to Jeongguk’s cheek and nuzzles him briefly before fleeing into the hall and toward the elevator, which is this time blessedly empty.
By the time he’s home he’s more frustrated than sad.
Sitting in Seoul traffic does that to a man.
He stands there in his empty, dark living room, far too big a space for him to occupy on his own and decides he is done with nervous trepidation and shame. If Jeongguk’s alpha instincts are going to go haywire, then Jimin is going to lean into his omega instincts to make things right.
The next morning he goes to work just like any other day, channeling some of last night's frustration into a new routine that is as aggressive as it is sexy. It’s easy to forget sometimes that omegas are wolves too, and though he is sweet and soft by nature, he is still a predator in some sense of the word. A persistent hunter, if you will, and right now his prey is his own damn mate.
He’d been asleep when Jeongguk had come home that night, and barely awake when he’d left that morning, and he knows when he gets home he’ll be alone for hours, but it will at least give him time to plan.
But first…
He grabs his phone and sets it up to record, then he picks out the sexiest part of his choreography, performs it, and sends the video to Jeongguk, not caring that he’s at work.
He’s going to remind that damn alpha every day what he’s missing.
He goes to the grocery store before heading home, gathering everything he needs to make all of Jeongguk’s favorite meals for the next couple of weeks.
Then he goes home and he cooks and he adds a little more of his secret ingredient than the last two times. And when he goes to drop off the meal that night he wears Jeongguk’s clothes, the sweatshirt large enough to show off his mating mark and a pretty little glimpse of collarbone and he “forgets” his scent blockers, knowing his honey scent will still be strong after his dance session, shower or no.
It’s a little bold for him, and he’s well aware of the chance that he might run into someone else in the building, but the luck goddess is on his side tonight as he ascends to the top floor, not another soul in sight.
Jeongguk greets him at the door today.
“Hey, mooncake,” he says, one hand curling around the curve of Jimin’s hip and tugging him close, “what was that video you sent me earlier?”
“Oh, just some new choreography I’m working on,” Jimin replies airily before he rises on his tiptoes and gives Jeongguk a kiss on the tip of his perfect nose. “Did you like it?”
“You sent it to me while I was in the middle of a finance meeting, I think it might have saved my life.”
Jimin laughs and slips away from Jeongguk, well aware of the way the alpha’s hand tightens like he’s trying to keep him in place. But Jimin is having none of that, if he has to miss Jeongguk all the time, then Jeongguk has to miss him right back.
“I can’t stay for long tonight,” Jimin says as he sets the meal he brought on Jeongguk’s desk, “I promised Taehyung I’d help him with his new designs.”
“Will you be home when I get home?” Jeongguk asks, eyes flicking back and forth from Jimin to the now open container of galbi tang filling the room with its aroma.
If there is a faint hint of sweetness to the scent, Jeongguk doesn’t mention it, but his nose does flare slightly like he’s trying to catch the scent of something he can’t name.
That’s Jimin’s cue to leave.
“Maybe,” he says evasively, “you know how Taehyung can get when he’s in a creative space, but I’ll try.”
“That’s all I can ask,” Jeongguk says.
“Send me a pic of your empty bowl so I know you ate it all?” Jimin asks, eyelashes fluttering cutely.
“Like I’d willingly waste a drop of it,” Jeongguk says, voice a little lower than usual. Jimin feels the smallest thrill run through him at the tone, his new mindset on the situation making him feel a little powerful, a little in control.
“See that you don’t,” Jimin replies with his prettiest smile, “maybe I’ll send you another video if you do.”
Jeongguk groans and dives in for a kiss, one that Jimin lets himself indulge in for exactly five seconds before he’s twirling away with a laugh, his phone buzzing in his pocket just as planned, “Duty calls, my love!” He laughs as Jeongguk growls and tries to capture his lips again, staying just out of reach as he backs towards the door.
“Remember to send that pic!” Jimin as he slips out the door and into the half-lit hallway, the sound of Jeongguk’s fond laughter keeping him company as the elevator doors slide open and shut once more.
🍯
“So, how’s it going?” Taehyung asks as the two omegas curl up on the couch under a mountain of blankets.
“Not bad,” Jimin admits, “I was pretty nervous at first, but now I’m more determined than anything. I need him and he needs me just as much, if this is the only way to get his wolf to stop being an idiot then so be it.”
“That’s my Jimin,” Taehyung says fondly, “you got that man chasing you once, I know it won’t take much for him to be doing it again.”
“I hope so,” Jimin replies, “though now that I’m thinking about it differently, it is sort of fun you know? Having a harmless little secret.”
“A harmless little secret that will lead you to getting absolutely railed if things go as planned,” Taehyung replies with a salacious grin.
They dissolve into giggles, all pressed together on the couch, scents all sweet with amusement and happiness.
“You guys are cute,” Yoongi says as he shuffles past them and into the kitchen, completely oblivious to the devious reason behind their joy.
“He has no idea,” Taehyung whispers deviously into Jimin’s ear, causing them both to dissolve into another round of laughter. Just then he gets a notification on his phone from Jeongguk, and when he checks he finds a picture of an empty food container. He shows it to Taehyung, who congratulates him on a meal well made with an amused wink, and is just about to set it aside when he receives a text.
Thank you for always taking such good care of me, omega
I can’t wait to come home and hold you tonight
He reads them quickly and doesn’t share them with his friend, enjoying the quiet elation he feels at being called omega by his mate, if only because it feels like months have gone without Jeongguk recognizing his wolf. Baby steps , he thinks to himself as he prepares to go home, we’ll have our alpha back in time for our next heat .
The wolf in him likes that very much.
🍯
Jeongguk has been coming home early— well, earlier .
It’s not by much, and neither of them mention it, but every night for the last week Jeongguk has broken his meticulous routine and arrived at their door a few minutes before his usual time.
Jimin takes this as a sign to continue with his plan, and even goes so far as to up the amount of slick he’s adding to Jeongguk dinner. Not by much, but still…
He’s rewarded a couple of days later when he wakes up one morning to Jeongguk scenting him. Consciousness bleeds slowly over him like the sun edging the horizon, but he feels all warm and soft and pliant, and there is a low rumbling sound coming from somewhere to his left.
“Jeongguk-ah?” He asks dazedly, blinking heavy-lidded eyes open to the sensation of a nose slowly dragging up and down the column of his throat.
“Mmm… good morning,” Jeongguk says tiredly.
Jimin is still half asleep, drowning in his mate’s warm scent, and thinking hazily that he can’t remember the last time he woke up like this, a little scent-drunk and purring quietly in his alpha’s arms.
“Sorry I woke you,” Jeongguk says quietly, “you just looked so…” he trails off and presses a kiss to Jimin’s cheek, “edible.”
Jimin is just about to suggest Jeongguk stay and see what he tastes like when the alpha sighs and rolls out of bed without another word, shuffling off to the bathroom in silence. The door closes and he throws a glance towards the clock, giving a tired little sigh as the time blinks two minutes past when Jeongguk would have usually gotten up.
It’s not much, but it’s something.
He hears Jeongguk’s phone buzz from somewhere nearby but is too tired and morose to spare it even a glance. Instead he lies in bed and stares at the closed bathroom door, imagining a world where Jeongguk came out and climbed right back into bed again like he used to, willing to be late if it meant a little extra time with Jimin.
His mate’s phone buzzes again.
He ignores it.
It probably doesn’t matter anyway.
🍯
“He’s going to be gone for four days ,” Jimin says without preamble when Tae answers his facetime request, panic lacing his voice. “What am I supposed to do? I was just about to increase the amount! And I can’t miss that many doses, I’ll be back to square one.”
It’s the middle of the day and Jimin has just gotten off the phone with Jeongguk, who had called on his lunch break, “Just to chat.”
He hadn’t done that in months, usually choosing to work through his allotted hour, so Jimin and his wolf had been feeling particularly pleased with themselves until Jeongguk had reminded him about the conference he and Namjoon would be attending.
Four days. In Tokyo. Four days. Away from Jimin’s cooking.
“That sucks babe, I’m really lucky Yoongi hates traveling, he doesn’t get a chance to get away from this deliciousness.” Taehyung sounds completely unconcerned, and Jimin finds that irritating.
“I am having a crisis !” He hisses at the phone, “The least you could do is show some sympathy.”
“I’m very sympathetic!” Tae protests, “And incredibly invested in your pursuit of getting the sex life you deserve!”
“It’s not just about sex,” Jimin protests, defensive because if that was the only problem here his life would be much easier.
His friend's expression softens, “I know, ducky, I’m sorry…” he trails off and taps a finger against his lips. “I suppose there’s no way to go with him?”
“Not a chance,” Jimin says with a shake of his head, “and besides I’m sure he’s going to be going out every night with colleagues and it’s not like I can cook him a meal in a hotel room.”
“Hm…” Taehyung hums, “you’re in a bind, baby…”
The two friends sit there in silence and then it hits Jimin in a flash of violent, brilliant inspiration.
“Taehyung… can I have your mom’s yakgwa recipe?”
After several minutes of listening to his friend howl with laughter over the thought of someone using his family's generation's old cookie recipe to get laid, Jimin has a detailed explanation, a page of messy, handwritten notes, and a plan.
The next couple of hours are spent at the grocery store or in the kitchen, where he makes a test batch of normal cookies that he’ll take into work to hide the evidence, before committing himself to making the real thing in two days time, right before Jeongguk leaves for Tokyo.
🍯
“I wish you didn’t have to go,” Jimin says the night before Jeongguk is supposed to leave. It’s a rare occurrence for them anymore, but apparently Namjoon had chased Jeongguk out of his office, reminding him that he needed to pack and be rested for their six A.M. flight.
“Me too,” Jeongguk sighs, “but it’ll be a good chance to network, and with any luck this time next year we can expand our brand overseas.”
Jimin doesn’t want to hear any of this, not when it’s code for Jeongguk spending even more time away from him and their home. He doesn’t respond, instead he thinks about the pretty little tin secreted away in Jeongguk’s bag, full of flower-shaped yakgwa cookies waiting to be devoured by a homesick alpha.
🍯
“Don’t miss me too much,” Jeongguk teases at the airport terminal, minutes before he’s supposed to board his flight.
“Alpha, I miss you all the time,” Jimin replies, tired from a late night and an early morning, defenses down and maybe a little too bold as he nuzzles into Jeongguk’s neck.
Gentle arms wrap around his waist and he melts into Jeongguk’s hold just a little, “I’ll be back before you know it,” he promises, “and I’ll facetime you when I get there, plus every night until I’m home.”
“Thank you,” Jimin replies. He’s feeling a little extra needy and it’s probably because he’s a few weeks away from his heat.
Overhead the PA announces that boarding is about to begin for Jeongguk’s flight. With a sigh Jimin reluctantly steps back from his mate, rises on his tiptoes, and presses a soft kiss to his cheek, “Love you,” he whispers.
“Love you more, mooncake,” Jeongguk replies as he tucks a loose strand of Jimin’s hair behind his ear and presses a lingering kiss to his lips, “talk to you soon, okay?”
And then he’s gone, swallowed up by the shuffling crowd and leaving Jimin alone and a little sad.
He gets through the first few hours by keeping himself busy, he teaches a couple of his classes, tutors a small group of students that are paying for extra training, then buys himself some takeout and goes home. Determined to avoid the kitchen for a few days while Jeongguk is away.
He’s just settling down at the living room table with Netflix and chicken when his phone dings with a facetime request from Jeongguk.
“Hey handsome,” his alpha greets him the moment the phone connects. “Ooh, is that chicken from Hyodo?”
Jimin waves a wing at him in hello, “Yes, I’m wiped out from classes and my feet hurt, standing in the kitchen was out of the question.”
Jeongguk has the phone propped up on something as he shuffles around his hotel room. He’s still dressed, though in a different suit than the one he left in this morning, and from the state of his room, he hasn’t had much time to unpack.
Which means he’ll be discovering Jimin’s surprise any moment now.
“Yah, what is this?” Jeongguk asks right on cue, holding up the little clear-topped tin Jimin had sneaked into his luggage, “Did you make these?”
“I did,” Jimin says, unable to hide his blush but hopeful the phone wouldn’t make it too obvious.
“That’s so sweet of you,” Jeongguk says with all the fondness in the world, “thank you for thinking of me, maybe the team would like to try them—”
“ No! ” Jimin says, heart kicking into overdrive because Jeongguk can’t share these, he can’t . But now he’s looking at Jimin like he’s an insane person and he has to back peddle quickly, “No, I mean, I didn’t make a big batch so there’s not that many in there and um… I was hoping you'd enjoy a couple each night when you get back to your hotel at night, as a little reminder of home.”
The confusion on Jeongguk’s face melts away into something soft and loving, and then he’s opening the tin and his expression shifts to delight, “You made yakgwa ?” He asks with a wide eyed look towards Jimin before he leans forward and smells them, humming happily and then sighing, “They smell just like you.”
If Jimin was a weaker omega he’d be dead by now.
“Well, they are honey flavored after all,” he laughs, trying to cover up his mortification with false bravado, “and I bet if you taste even one right now you’re not going to want to share any later.” He winks cutely and it pulls a happy laugh out of Jeongguk, who then proceeds to pop a cookie into his mouth right then and there, before half collapsing dramatically a moment later.
“They’re amazing,” he groans, “and god they really do taste like you—”
He’s interrupted by the sound of someone knocking, and for a second Jimin swears his eyes flash red as he looks towards the hotel room door, “What the…” He trails off and shakes his head as the moment passes, “I guess I should get going,” he says reluctantly, “the team is supposed to meet for dinner and that’s probably Joon coming to collect me.” He sighs and offers Jimin the gentlest of smiles, “I’ll text often and we’ll facetime again tomorrow, once I’m back in the hotel room.”
“Sounds good baby,” Jimin replies softly, “I’ll miss you until then.”
“I’ll miss you too, mooncake,” his mate whispers, then with a mischievous smile he adds, “and you’re right, no one else gets to eat these cookies except me.”
The call ends and Jimin’s wolf sings triumphant within him.
🍯
The next three days go by slowly despite Jimin being busy the entire time. But at least the hours are punctuated by texts from Jeongguk, the frequency of them going up with every passing night until the last day when they start arriving like clockwork every half an hour. Some of them make him laugh, like his mate’s ongoing commentary on his coworkers or his speculations on the private lives of the socialites staying in the room next to his, but a few make him sad, leave him filled with longing and ready to be back in Jeongguk’s arms, things like–
I never realize how big a king-sized is until I have to spend a night in one alone
or
I saw a newly mated couple and it made me think of us
and
I wish you were here so I could show you everything, I think you’d love Tokyo
But then it’s finally, finally, the last night of him being away. Jimin answers when his mate calls a few minutes before their scheduled time with a smile on his face and is greeted by a grinning Jeongguk, already sprawled in bed with flushed cheeks and messy hair.
“Hey little moon,” he says as he drags a hand through his still slightly damp hair, making it even messier than it was before, “how’s my baby?”
“Are you drunk?” Jimin asks with a laugh, feeling all fond and soft for his alpha, whose words are a touch slow and careful like he’s trying to make sure they don’t slur.
“A little tipsy,” Jeongguk admits, “you should have seen Hansik though, and Eunwoo,” he shakes his head and falls back into bed with a sigh before blindly reaching for his bedside table. “I’ve been saving the last six cookies for tonight,” he admits, “I wanted to eat them all on the first day so I hope you appreciate my self-control.”
Jimin laughs and shakes his head, “It’s probably for the best you didn’t do that, imagine how disappointed you would have been the next day without anything to remind you of me.” He sounds calm, he is calm, except for the part where he’s watching Jeongguk open the tin and reach for one of the last yakgwa he made, the honey coating shining bright beneath the single bedside lamp he has on. He’d planned for Jeongguk eating two a night, and hadn’t considered the possibility of him holding out so he could splurge on the final day.
Knowing his alpha, he should have realized this would happen, but here he is, facing the consequences of his own actions.
He’s fairly certain that somewhere in Seoul, Taehyung is laughing at him.
Jimin isn’t sure how that will affect the alpha, but he guesses he is about to find out. They talk as Jeongguk eats the cookies one by one, making softly indecent sounds with every bite until they are all devoured and he is licking the glaze from his fingertips while making direct eye contact with Jimin.
Which is fine.
Absolutely fine .
They talk for a little while longer, and at first Jimin thinks Jeongguk is getting tired, his responses coming out a little slower, his eyelids lowering… and then he notices Jeongguk starts touching himself. It’s innocent enough at first, just one hand rubbing his chest in an absentminded manner, back and forth, back and forth while he listens to Jimin talk about a new routine he’s working on.
“You’ll have to send me a video,” he says, tone soft and laced with something as his hand starts to slip a little lower, move a little slower, until it’s dragging across his abs, and that’s when Jimin realizes that Jeongguk isn’t sleepy in the slightest.
Maybe he should have gone to Tokyo after all, because right now Jeongguk looks like it’s not just yakgwa he wants to devour. He bites his lower lip as he watches, and when he drags his gaze back up Jeongguk is looking at him, watching him, and even though it is filtered through a small screen, he feels pinned in place by that look.
“Is there… something you need help with?” Jimin asks carefully, maintaining eye contact as he shifts his position in bed to get more comfortable.
“Maybe,” Jeongguk says, voice deep and rumbling as he toys with the waistline of his boxers, “I know it’s late, and we haven’t done this in a while…”
He’s right, they haven’t done this since Jeongguk started taking on more responsibility at work, but that doesn’t mean Jimin has forgotten how.
“It’s not that late, baby,” he says softly, tongue wetting his lips and loving the way Jeongguk tracks the movement with his eyes, “and you know I don’t mind taking care of my alpha.”
Jeongguk nods absently, fingertips now under the fabric of his sweatpants and for a moment he looks like he did when they first met, sprawled out in a cramped dorm bed, oversized shirt riding up over his stomach, waistband low, tempting Jimin to come cuddle with him even though they weren’t even dating yet.
“Will you even be able to sleep if you don’t get some relief?” Jimin asks, keeping his voice low, his tone soft, “Let me help you take care of yourself, okay? You know I love watching you get off.”
Jeongguk groans, hand now palming the obvious bulge forming in his sweats, “Okay,” he says.
“Thank you alpha,” Jimin says sweetly, glad he decided to wear one of Jeongguk’s shirts to bed tonight, the size of it allowing him to slip one shoulder free and show off his mating bite proudly. “Can you pull your pants down for me? You know I love to see all of you, how big you are…”
Jeongguk obeys immediately, pulling his sweats and underwear down to reveal his fully hard cock, and just the sight of it is enough to get Jimin’s mouth watering. It’s been awhile since he had the chance to go down on his mate, but that doesn’t mean he’s forgotten what it's like, “Wish I was there to taste you,” he whispers, “lick the full length of you, wrap my lips around the head and suck.”
Jeongguk isn’t touching himself fully yet, those long fingers are just caressing the underside of his cock, tracing the veins and curves like he’s imagining his touch is Jimin’s tongue. “You know how big you are,” Jimin sighs as he continues, “you know how hard it is for me to deep throat you right away, so I’d have to go slow at first, ease myself into it… but I’d probably still gag a little, since alpha is just… so… big.”
Jeongguk groans and gives up on teasing himself, his large hand wrapping around the base of his cock and squeezing it like Jimin would if he were there. “I know you like it when I gag a little though,” he continues as his own hand drifts lower, arousal growing as he watches Jeongguk get off, “shows how hard I’m trying, shows how much I want to be good for you.”
He pushes the hem of his little cotton shorts down and pulls Jeongguk’s shirt higher, angling the phone just right so that Jeongguk can see him, “Can I touch myself alpha?” He asks, eyelashes fluttering, a little breathless as he watches Jeongguk study him, hunger in his eyes.
“Is my baby getting wet for me?” His mate asks, “All hard and horny from watching?”
Jimin nods, breathless as he gives and wraps a hand around his own aching length, “Wish it was you,” he tells Jeongguk, “you always know just what I need.”
“Hm, that’s right, no one takes care of you like I do,” Jeongguk agrees as he strokes his cock lazily, “love all the little sounds I can coax out of you.”
“I’d be whimpering around your cock right now,” Jimin tells him, “moaning because I love how you taste, because I can’t decide if I want you to come in my mouth or in me, both sound so good. You’d have to decide where you want it more, because all I’d be thinking about is how much I love your cock.”
“Love seeing those lips wrapped around me,” Jeongguk replies, hand stroking faster now, eyes closed and head tilted back, looking like Jimin’s favorite wet dream. “Think I’d want to come in your mouth tonight, watch you swallow every drop of me.”
Jimin moans as he starts to stroke himself faster now too, “Would want you to grab my hair, fuck my mouth until you came. I’d be all relaxed now, it’d be easier to deep throat you, to just lay there and take everything you wanted to give me.”
“You’d take me so well, like you were made for me,” Jeongguk sounds wrecked, voice all deep and desperate as he gets closer to coming, hips rising off the bed as he chases his release. Jimin isn’t that far behind, worked up from a lack of recent intimacy and his approaching heat.
“I am, I am made for alpha,” Jimin agrees, “just wanna be good for you.”
Jeongguk spills a moment later, his orgasm long and drawn out as he gasps through it, and the sight of his cum is enough to send Jimin over the edge himself, painting his abs white with his release as he stares at the screen, disheveled and out of breath.
“Wish I was there to clean that up,” Jeongguk says with a lazy, lopsided grin after they’d both calmed down, “it’s been awhile since I had a taste.”
Jimin bites back the urge to ruin the moment and respond with something like, “And whose fault is that?” And instead smiles and says, “You know I taste good too.”
“Like honey from the hive,” his mate whispers in agreement, completely oblivious to the layers of truth to what he said.
“Do you think you can get some sleep now, love? You’ve got an early flight in the morning,” Jimin says as he grabs some tissue from the nightstand and wipes himself dry.
“Do you think the team would be upset if I left tonight?” Jeongguk replies with a tired laugh, “I’m sure I could catch a last minute flight and be home before sunrise.”
Jimin’s heart twists a little in his chest, because there was a time when Jeongguk wouldn’t have hesitated to do just that, when it wouldn’t have been a joke but a promise, a reason for Jimin to wait in heady anticipation for the man he knew was the love of his life to appear like the romantic lead in a movie.
But, Jimin supposes that was the first act of their play, where Jeongguk was the main character.
Now it’s Jimin’s turn.
“You know I always want you home with me,” he replies, feigning nonchalance even as his wolf howls within him, lonely and full of longing.
“I know baby,” Jeongguk sighs, “and I promise that when I get back I’ll take a day off to spend some time with you.”
“You’re only saying that because Namjoon probably threatened you,” Jimin replies, the post-orgasm euphoria draining out of him as the conversation takes a turn he doesn’t entirely like.
And Jeongguk, silly, misguided alpha that he is, just smiles, “Yeah, but it’ll still be nice.”
Jimin feigns a yawn and tries not to be petty, at least now Jimin gets him home and in his arms like he wants. “It will be,” he agrees, “I’m sorry I can’t pick you up tomorrow.”
He’s got work for the first half of the day, and will be in the middle of a class around the time Jeongguk’s flight lands in Incheon.
“It’s okay, Namjoon already offered me a ride,” Jeongguk smothers a yawn himself and offers him another smile, and Jimin can’t be upset with him no matter how hard he tries, not with his messy hair and warm brown eyes and that single dimple that no one else gets to see but Jimin. Not with his devotion and his adoration and his sweet kindness that spills out into every little thing he does. Jeongguk, with all his flaws, is still flawless in Jimin’s eyes, an amalgamation of perfection and messiness that Jimin adores with his whole heart and entire being.
“Hey,” Jimin says gently, softly, “I love you.”
Jeongguk blinks a couple times and then his smile grows and blooms into that same beautiful, nose-all-wrinkled, eyes-half-closed expression that Jimin fell for years ago. For a moment he isn’t the CFO of a major corporation, he is just Jeongguk, Jimin’s mate and the love of his life.
“I love you too,” he says, “so much, but is this your way of telling me to get some sleep?”
Jimin shakes his head with a fond smile, “No, but you probably should.”
“I probably should,” Jeongguk agrees, “but I can’t wait to see you.”
“I can’t wait to see you either.”
The call ends and Jimin cleans up a bit more, rinsing off in the shower and curling back up in bed with another one of Jeongguk’s shirts on. His omega is only partially satisfied with their night, but Jimin is fully content, face half-buried in Jeongguk’s pillow as he finally succumbs to much needed rest.