Chapter Text
HEAVEN AND BACK- Chase Atlantic
Jimin never had time to himself anymore, between the long hours of serving at that horrible prestigious restaurant for rich assholes who can't keep their hands to themselves and the nights of clubbing with Yoongi. He was tired. He just needed to breathe, but that was never an option. The loud music of the club pulsating at his feet, the sweaty bodies dripping around him, the free drinks offered, was usually fun. Hell, it's how he met Yoongi. But sometimes you just need a night to yourself, free of the vibrating walls and intoxication. He wouldn't dare tell Yoongi that again though, the last time he did, they got into an argument for three days straight. Accused Jimin of cheating on him, accused him of selling his body for the drugs they both indulged in, screamed at him until the sun came up. So now Jimin just complies.
He takes the shots, he snorts the coke, he dances with Yoongi. In fear of an argument, he'll do whatever it takes to make Yoongi happy. One of those things being not looking at other men, let alone letting them touch you.
The clock just hit 1:43 AM at their favorite club in the heart of downtown Seoul, many shots have been taken, many bumps have been sniffed. The music is seemingly louder on the high. Jimin actually has energy, he feels a nice buzz, he's enjoying his night for once. He had a long day at work, constantly being berated and cussed out by entitled diners. This is a night he welcomed the club with open arms, needing it, craving it. Nothing can ruin this, he thought to himself as he smiled at Yoongi from his place on the dance floor. Swaying back and forth to the rhythm, eyes closed, hands in the air, singing along, riding his high. I feel good. Yoongi loved watching him dance this way, screw his stupid dance competitions. He didn't dance specifically for Yoongi when he was in front of an audience, no, he danced for him this way. Sensually, for his eyes only.
Yoongi took his eyes off Jimin to grab the drinks from the bartender. Five seconds. Five seconds is all it took for some dirty scumbag to place his filthy hands on Jimin's waist when Yoongi wasn't looking. Yoongi slammed the drinks down onto the bar, spilling the straight liquor. Jimin immediately pushed the burly guy off of him, but Yoongi doesn't care. Yoongi locked his jaw, calmy walked over to the guy who was touching what belonged to him. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Looking at the stranger in the eyes, Jimin cowering behind his boyfriend now. He knows exactly how this is about to play out. "I'm having fun with a whore, what's it look like?" He got in Yoongi's face, having to bend down to reach eye level. "What did you just say?" Yoongi moved closer. "You heard me fucker, maybe you shouldn't leave your toy unattended next time." He spit on the ground and turned to walk away with a laugh, but Yoongi wasn't having it. He gabbed his shoulder and turned him around and punched him square in the jaw. Jimin flinched, but he ran towards his man, pulling on his arms to leave and to just let this go.
The stranger laughed at the punch, his mouth was bleeding and he once again spit in their direction. Yoongi was furious. "Man I'm not trying to get kicked out, was just tying to have a little fun." Now it was Yoongi's turn to laugh. Jaw clenched, "Get out of here before I knock every tooth out of your mouth." His eyes burned with fury. The stranger held his arms up in surrender and backed away. "Bastard", Yoongi muttered. He had drawn a small crowd, but no security was called. He frequented this club enough that they would never kick him out. He ran his fingers through his long black hair, turned to his boyfriend and raised his voice an octave too high, even over the music, it was too loud. "What is your problem, huh? Letting random men touch you. Is this what happens when I'm not around? Letting them grab you and grind on you like I don't exist? This is why I can't ever leave you alone." Jimin's eyes started watering, turning glassier than they had been all night from the drugs.
"Y-you know that's not true Yoongi-hyung.." He let a tear fall, he swiped it away and faced away from Yoongi, unable to make eye contact any longer. "I pushed him off, I didn't let him, I-I yelled at him to back off, please don't do this again." He lowered his head, knowing that his defense wouldn't work. Yoongi sees what he wants to see, regardless of the truth. This isn't new, so you'd think he would be used to being yelled at by the love of his life. But it stung, every time. "Please listen to me, it wasn't m-" "Wasn't your fault? That's rich. You were trying to seduce him, I saw it with my own eyes Jimin." The music continued to blare behind them, but all they heard was each other. The drugs Yoongi does are different from what Jimin takes. His are heavier, scarier, more addicting. The need for them every so many hours. The mood swings it causes in him, the absolute uncontrollable anger that shakes in his veins. Once the anger starts, it doesn't come down easily. Nothing can calm him down except for another hit.
Shaking, Jimin excuses himself for some fresh air. "Fine whatever, I'll be here drinking and being loyal. Do whatever you want." Yoongi scoffed and turned his back on him, making his way back to the bar. Jimin watches him for a second, debating actually going outside, but decides to anyway, damn him and his anger issues.
Finally away from tense, suffocating air in the club and into the chilly October atmosphere, he is able to breathe. He spots Jungkook near a lamp post, the warm light cascading down onto him. "Hey, I was wondering where you went." Jimin crosses his arms to keep himself warm now, approaching his best friend. "It's too hot in there tonight. Wait, why do you look like that? Have you been cryin-, did Yoongi and you get into a fight again?" Jungkook pulls out a cigarette offering one to Jimin while waiting for his answer. Jimin hesitates, wondering if he should be honest for a second, but Jungkook can always see through the lies so he opts out, grabbing the cigarette. He lights it up with a deep inhale, the cool menthol burning his lungs, the nicotine settling in his veins. He explains what happened through the minty drags and white exhales.
"I am so sick of him treating you like property, truly Jimin-hyung, you need to leave him." Jungkook lights up another cigarette, Jimin does too. "I can't, you know it. He would never allow it.." He turns from him now, feeling pathetic, sad. Jungkook rolls his eyes, another inhale of nicotine. "I hate whatever bullshit he's on. It gotten worse recently, is he taking something new?" Jungkook asks, knowing that Jimin probably wouldn't know. Yoongi mostly hides it from them, aside from what he shares with the two, but they know he takes things he would never admit to. "I think so, I think he's smoking something, when we're in the apartment, he locks himself in the bathroom for thirty minutes, and when I go in after him, there's an obvious cloud of something, thick in the air, not weed. Chalky smell kinda?" Jimin throws his cigarette on the ground and sighs. His blonde hair falling into his eyes now. "Shit hyung, that sounds serious. I hate that for you. Clearly whatever it is has been making him tweak out more than normal. It makes me scared for you, truly." Jungkook now looking at the ground, scared for his friend, terrified really. He hates Yoongi, but he would lash out at him as well, the only way to keep Jimin in his life is to accept his relationship with him.
Jimin decides not to comment. He's tired of defending his relationship, tired of defending Yoongi. Tired of the late nights of him being at the dealers place. He always drags Jimin along, but he's never allowed to accompany him inside. So he waits and waits in the car, sometimes for as long as two hours. It's ridiculous, but he can't leave. Not now, not ever. His heart belongs to him, no matter what, through the abuse, through the screaming between them weekly. But Jungkook is right, it's gotten worse. Jimin is trapped. He's torn. Suffocated. Sometimes bruised, but his friends don't know that part. He covers the purple and yellow bruises with makeup if they're in visible places. They can't know.
A piece of paper flies in the wind towards the two, taking their attention. Jimin picks it up, glancing it over. "What is it?" "Jungkook! It's a flyer for a dance competition, oh we haven't done one in so long it seems." Jimin hands the flyer to his friend, excited, but the excitement is short lived. "Right." He sighs. "Yoongi doesn't like when I do them." He remembers, losing the small spark in his eyes. He hasn't truly danced in months, dancing is only reserved for the parties, the clubs, his boyfriend. Jungkook rolls his eyes at the mention of Yoongi again. "Fuck him, lets enter. There's money to be won here Jimin, think about it." "You know whatever money I make doesn't even belong to me. There's no point. Yoongi won't allow it." He huffs. "So find a way around it, don't tell him, if we win, we can put the money away, save it for an escape plan. To get you away from him for good." Jimin snatches the paper from him, crumples it up and throws it back on the ground. "No. I don't want to leave him, I just want him to get better." He whispers the last sentence. Jungkook gives him a sympathetic look, wishing he would change his mind. "Okay Jimin. I'm done for tonight. I'll see you when I see you." And with that, Jungkook walks down the sidewalk, still busy at this time of night.
Jimin's chest aches as he walks back into the club to find Yoongi. He spots him with yet another, full drink. He drops his shoulders as he approaches him. "Have you calmed down yet?" Jimin asks softly, not wanting to irritate him further. Yoongi chugs his drink, drops the empty cup on the bar and pulls Jimin in for a hug. "I'm better now." He slurs. He's had too much now, he won't be able to even hold a conversation at this point, let alone apologize to Jimin like he so desperately wishes to receive, but he knows even a slightly sober Yoongi won't say sorry. The small hope he tried to hold onto dissipates. His mind drifting back to the crumpled up flyer outside the club as he finally wraps his arms around him, hugging him back. "Okay babe, I think you've had enough for tonight, let's go home." Yoongi agrees.
Jimin lays in bed, staring at the website for the competition, Yoongi passed out on the couch, he couldn't walk far enough to get to the bedroom. He reads over the rules, the money he could win, chest aching with need for an outlet of some kind. He opens his messages, and writes out a text to Jungkook, 'I think I do want to enter the competition..' He thinks for a minute, deciding to add more. 'I really want to do it. I miss dancing. I miss you..' He hesitates. Thumb hovering over the send button. Two minutes pass by, knowing Jungkook is asleep, he sends the text anyway. 'I'll sign up. I'll find a way. Let's do a unit? He rolls over, seeing the empty space where Yoongi usually is. I don't want out... I love him. I love him so much it hurts. I haven't tasted freedom in so long. I'm not myself. He faces the other side of the bed now, lost in his thoughts, he deletes the message thread with Jungkook from his phone and closes his eyes. He can't know. Fuck it. I want to dance again.