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There was something about being back in Busan.
Between filming the second season of Are You Sure?, to recording in LA, choreography prep, press and the actual tour Jimin hadn't been back since they were still in the military.
Seoul was where his life was now, where it had been for half his life, but on some level, Busan would always be home. There would always be a part of his heart here, a ghost ache that only soothed completely when he was here. It was more than just his family being there. It was the memories mixed with the grains of sand and lush mountain-scapes. The sounds of the waves calmly crashing on the shoreline, the bustling city life colliding with nature. The scent of the air rich with sea salt, cedar and bergamot. Sweet and citrus and sea. Despite how long it had been since Jimin had been a daily presence in the town, those things still steeped deep in his skin, down to the marrow of his bones.
He wouldn't give up the life he had for anything-- but that didn't mean Jimin didn't miss it. Jungkook seemed to feel the same.
There was a strange mix of ease and excitement that came with being back, a sort of lethargy that could only come with being so comfortable in your own skin and a flood of familiarity unmatched no matter how many places they traveled around the world.
And to celebrate their BTS birthday in Busan? What could be better.
Thirteen years.
The idea took his breath away. How could it feel both just yesterday and another lifetime ago at the same time? Somedays, Jimin felt so close to that wide-eyed, insecure boy he'd been, so loud and boisterous to try and cover how out of place and undeserving he saw himself.
"Where has your mind run off to?"
Jimin gazed up at the sound of Jungkook's voice, his tattooed fingers brushing the hair from Jimin's face.
On the opposite side, Jungkook seemed so far from the young kid Jimin met more than 13 years ago. From skinny, boba eyes and bunny teeth, uncertain and face still full with child like wonder... to this tall, broad and muscled body overflowing with confidence and charisma, always secure in who he is and what he wants.
From clingy boy following him around to protective, at times possessive man.
From a puppy love crush to steady love and devotion.
Fumbling to masterful.
Near overwhelming enthusiasm to honed skill letting him play Jimin like a violin.
Golden Maknae indeed.
Jungkook give a breathy chuckle, tugging lightly at Jimin's long hair. "Are you even with me?"
"I'm here, just thinking about everything, the concert today. I can't believe we got to celebrate 13 years with Army in Busan. It was an amazing day."
"I could tell. You were a beast on stage today."
Jimin quirked and eyebrow. "Me? Did you see yourself. Those expressions you gave during some of the songs, you looked more like a fierce beast than I ever could."
"Me? I'm just a harmless bunny."
Jimin scoffed. "Angry bunny maybe. Thirteen years ago, you were just a baby bun."
Now Jungkook understood, Jimin was being nostalgic. His eyes went soft, smile a little sweeter. "Still your baby bun."
Taking in Jungkook's look-- Black dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to show off his tattoos and bulging forearms, top buttons undone giving a peek of his sculpted chest, lip pierced, hair styled-- and he wasn't sure anyone could refer to Jungkook as baby or bun anymore. But he appreciated that Jungkook gave him the leeway to do so on occasion.
It was more than just the way he looked though. Just as much if not more, it was the way Jungkook carried himself. Poise, assuredness, bold and daring. He believed he could do anything and if he couldn't, he'd figure out a way with sheer determination. Just a little smirk, a flick of his tongue over his piercing and a moment of focused attention could make the masses swoon. Charm and magnetism the likes of which could take down the world if he ever decided to use it for evil.
He wondered what the world would think if they knew he'd been unavailable give or take for a decade. If they thought he was flirty, being playful, they should stop to see how close Jimin happened to be, because chances were Jungkook was showing off for him. It wasn't cockiness from Jimin, just fact... fact the baby bun had been telling him for nearly as long.
Jimin felt selfish sometimes, for monopolizing so much of Jungkook's time and attention. But no amount of guilt would be enough to make him give it up. To be honest, he was pretty certain if he tried, Jungkook wouldn't listen. He might just double his efforts just to try and get Jimin to change his mind.
At this point, Jimin wasn't sure he could survive without Jungkook at his side. Everything they'd been through together, the life they'd built, it only worked if they were together.
"Are you ready to go?" Jungkook murmured, thumb brushing back and forth over his cheek. "We're supposed to meet the guys for celebratory dinner."
Jimin leaned into the touch. "Or, hear me out, we could stay a little while longer."
Jungkook chuckled. "Oh we could. But if we stay any longer, I'm going to get you naked and ruin your make up and we won't leave the rest of the night. Then all that effort getting ready would have been for nothing. And you look so pretty, I'd like to show me off."
The words warmed Jimin from the inside out and he felt the blush take over his cheeks. Still, he couldn't help but giggle. "Show me off? No one is going to see me but the boys."
"You think I don't still like showing you off even when it's just the boys? I get to make them jealous. They wish they has someone this pretty who would get dolled up just for them."
Jimin rolled his eyes. "Who says I get dolled up for you? Maybe I just do it because I like it, because it makes me feel good."
Jungkook grinned, broad enough for his dimples to pop. "Jokes on you then. Doing it for you is still doing it for me. Anything that makes you feel good, makes you happy... makes me happy."
"Aish," He shoved Jungkook's shoulder lightly. "You're such a sap."
"I know. I think maybe it's the anniversary or being back home. Maybe it's all of us being back and this whole new album and tour. A little of everything. But I can't help myself. It's got me sentimental."
"Me too," Jimin murmured softly.
Pulling Jimin to his feet, Jungkook tugged him right up against his body with a strong arm around his waist. With his free hand, Jungkook tipped Jimin's chin upward, meeting his eye before leaning in to press their lips together in a soft kiss. As their lips touched, Jimin's eyes fluttered closed. His form melted into Jungkook, full trust that the younger man would hold his weight and keep him upright.
"Let's go before I change my mind and we ditch out on everyone," he all but growled into Jimin's mouth. "I don't need them trying to barge in here and drag us off to dinner when I've got you bare and tangled up in hotel sheets."
"You're so possessive."
"You love it."
"I didn't say I was complaining." Patting Jungkook's shoulder, Jimin moved out of his hold. The kissing was certainly not helping convince them to walk out the door. Just as he picked up his phone, it buzzed with a message. "That's Tae, they're already in Joonie-hyung's room waiting for us."
Jungkook huffed. "They're impatient."
"They're not. We're already at least 15 minutes late. Tae asked if we were coming or if we were already naked. He asked for photo proof if we were ditching them for sex."
Tongue poking into his cheek, Jungkook brought his own phone out of his pocket, shooting off a quick message of his own.
Mind your damn business.
When have I ever?
You get no pictures.
We'll see.
TAE!
Move your ass.
"What did you say to him?"
Jungkook put his phone away, grabbing Jimin's too. All he saw was a string of laughing emojis and some smug comment about knowing how to get Jungkook moving.
"I told him to fuck off... more or less."
Jimin laughed. "He wouldn't do things like that if it didn't get under your skin so well. For the record, I would never send him naked pictures of us."
"I would literally never let you out of the house again."
Jimin rolled his eyes. "Ok angry bun. Let's go celebrate, everyone is waiting."
Thirteen years down, only a life time to go if they were lucky. Jimin hoped they would always be so lucky. He would never not want more of this. The flirtatious tension between him and Jungkook, the jealous banter between Tae and Jungkook, the way all the pieces always fell into place when the seven of them were together. The joy, the happiness and laugher and tears. The sharing the stage and singing their hearts out. The playfulness, the love, the devotion between them all. Finally all back together, the dark days of enlistment behind them and nothing else ever standing in their way.