Prepare for some domestic Jikook!!
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He pressed the doorbell again, the shrill sound of it muffled by the shut door on front of him.
He'd awoken before sunset, way before his alarm would have gone off and then sat in his bed for hours, thinking about what he should do. Misses Yang's words had swirled around in his head for a long, long time. And then suddenly, out of nowhere, a determination had gripped his heart, making him shoot up from his bed and get dressed faster than he ever had, nearly toppling down the stairs in his hurry.
He'd called Namjoon when he was already on his bike and though the boy had been surprised to pick up his call, he'd done what he'd promised he would do, not asking a single question as he did what Jimin asked for.
And now here he was, in front of a modern, two story building in Yongsan district at eight in the morning, the weather still cool but already showing signs of turning into yet another sunny, heated day.
The address Namjoon had given him had been easy to find, even as it proved his suspicion the other night right. Jungkook had to have been crazy to walk all this way to his house in the middle of the night drunk. He could have seriously gotten hurt!
He waited, but nothing happened again.
He pressed the bell again, then again, and then just kept holding it, the sound of the ringing as persistent as he felt. He knew Jungkook was home. Namjoon told him he'd called Jungkook and was sure the younger was back in lockdown in his flat.
"Oh, God damn it Namjoon!" came an angry annoyed shout from behind the door, still muffled by he barrier, but undoubtedly Jungkook's. He heard the distinct sound of heavy footsteps drawing closer and then:
"I told you already, I'm fine! I don't need your-"
The door swung open with such force, Jimin tumbled a small step back. Jungkook's hair was toussled, wearing baggy, black clothes like he'd just gotten out if bed and yes- he was definitely angry.
"Advice! I can-" And then his eyes dropped lower, finding him standing there staring up at him.
His eyes flew wide, the angry words dying on his lips as they formed a big, fat O and his hand dropped from the door handle.
"Jimin?" he let out on a breath, looking at him like Jimin was a mirage in a desert and he was just seeing things because he wanted to.
Jimin cleared his throat, not sure where to look and then whispered a small: "Hi."
It was probably the most stupid thing he could have said.
"What- w-what are you doing here?" he stuttered out, still staring at him like he wasn't sure Jimin was really there.
"I... Namjoon gave me you're address and... I thought- I mean-"
Oh and how he missed being a stuttering mess!
Balling his hands into fists, he took a deep breath letting Misses Yangs words and his own decision this morning give him the courage he needed for this.
Slowly he raised his head and held Jungkook's eyes, straightening himself and holding his ground- no cowering. No running away.
"I came to apologize for last night. I shouldn't have said those things. I know you only wanted to help and my words hurt you. I'm sorry."
Jungkook, if possible, looked even more shocked.
"You came all this way here to apologize?"
Jimin nodded his head.
Jungkook gaped at him for a second longer before his face changed, lighting up and a smile blossomed.
"That's so cute."
Cute? How was that cute? It felt like more like he had managed to climb Mount Everest to prove his courage, but not cute!
"Well, I can't let you stand out here all day long, can I? You wanna come in?"
Come in? Into his flat? He hadn't thought that far head. He'd only known he had to go see Jungkook and tell him he was sorry. But not what he'd do afterwards.
Jungkook chuckled at his gaping face, a glitter in his eyes as he reached out, gently took Jimin's wrist and led him inside. Jimin stumbled after him, his throat dry and the nervousness making his stomach flutter.
Jungkook let go of his wrist, only to slip his hand down further and thread his finger's through his, holding on to him as he came to a stop in front of a dark wooden door.
He typed in a passcode with his free hand and the door sprung open.
Jungkook turned to him with a smile an leaned down to his ear to whisper softly against him: "Welcome," and then pushed him inside with a hand on his back.
Jimin gawked.
He didn't know what he had expected Jungkook's home to look like, but it wasn't this.
Spacey and modern, and yet somehow comfortable and homey all at once.
The furniture was a sleek black, shiny surfaces mixed with dark brown colors to give it something warm. The little entryway led to a wide, open living room, the floor a brown-grey tapestry and a large black, leather sofa stood in the middle, facing a wide flat screen.
The white walls were filled with large photo's of nature and landscapes, giving the place some natural feeling next to the paintings with vivid colors and smooth processing. Done by someone with an eyes for how one color could compliment another and flow seamlessly to the next. Beautiful. Just like the photos must have been done by someone who had an eye for beauty and saw the allure of seemingly simple things. Like a tree. But this one was shot from the forest floor, the stem giving up the impression of reaching into the sky, the background faded and misty, giving it something eerie yet serene.
Or the landscape of a little park, a lake to it's feet and the light caught beautiful, the sunset stark and vibrant on the low horizon and making the water sparkle like flaming diamonds. And then the silhouette of a group of people, leaning on each other's shoulder or lying in the grass to the lake's shore. Five of them.
Jimin's head snapped around to Jungkook.
"Did you take these pictures?" Because those five people looked very familiar and the picture just screamed love and family.
Jungkook smiled, his expression almost bordering on shyness as he lowered his eyes to the floor.
"Maybe? I don't want you to think I'm self-obsessed to hang my own works on the walls, but I wanted to put up something personal. And all the pictures and paintings have memories with them. It makes this place feel more like home."
He did the paintings too? Jimin gaped some more.
"Jungkook," he let out on a breath, his voice thick with emotions. "They're beautiful."
"You like them?"
"Like them?" he heard himself echo and turned back to the softly smiling boy still holding his hand.
"I love them! They're absolutely stunning."
Jungkook smiled, wide and happy and then smirked as he leaned down a little.
"And I still meant what I said. My camera has not captured anything more beautiful than you."
A hot shudder went down his spine at his words and the way his hair fell down in his face, slightly brushing his forehead.
"So... you're not mad anymore?"
Jungkook took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a second before turning his body fully towards him and let go of his hand, only to have both of them come around his face, cupping it and letting his thumb stroke over his cheek, then gently over his lower lip.
"I wasn't mad. I was worried, Jimin. I still am."
Jimin inhaled a shuddery breath, reaching up his hands to Jungkook's wrist, but not to pull it down. He only held on, seeking his warmth.
"I know. That's why I'm apologizing. And... why I wanted to come and explain."
Jungkook's mouth parted in surprise, then shut it again and quickly asked: "Have you had breakfast yet?"
Furrowing his eyebrows in confusion, he shook his head.
"Then let's eat something first, Okay? I was planning to stop by at a bakery when I would have come over later, but now that you're here, let me make you something."
His heart made a little loop in his chest. Jungkook would have come over. He would have come back. It meant more than Jungkook could ever understand.
Slowly he nodded.
The younger didn't immediately let go of his face though, pulling him closer instead. And when he leaned down, he prepared for the kiss, but his lips never met his. Instead they landed on his forehead, the gesture so sweet and gentle, it made his heart leap again.
Only then did he step away, interlocking their hands again as he lead him into the kitchen.
It was huge and modern, and the cupboards filled with groceries. Cupboard that weren't crooked and light beige walls that had no holes in them. Jungkook made him sit on one of the bar chairs in front of the kitchen isle while he put ingredients in front of him, starting to expertly chop and slice, his movements clean and precise. He had put on some music- by simply talking to the little AI who complied his orders without hesitation.
Jimin was caught between admiring Jungkook cooking and being reminded of a very different time where a massive, stocked kitchen and the newest technologies were natural to him.
"You're quiet," Jungkook commented as he poured water into the rice cooker an turned it on.
"Just enjoying the view," he said, trying to keep the mood light.
Jungkook grinned, keeping his eyes on the frying pan as he added his chopped veggies and the then the kimchi.
"Then don't let me stop you."
And he didn't, watching him cook and feeling breathless by the way the light shone on him through the window, his gaze concentrated and focused, like cooking was something serious to him, every movement precise and skillful. He was so god-damn beautiful, Jimin had no idea how to handle it. And then it was out his lips before he could hold it on.
"You're so beautiful."
Jungkook stopped mid-stir, his head shooting up and meeting his eyes, a wonder in them that left him even more breathless- made Jungkook even more dazzling.
He stared, then shoved the pan aside from the stove and came around the kitchen isle in three massive steps.
Jimin opened his mouth to ask what he was doing, but the younger had already crashed into him, gripping his face tight as he pulled his lips up to his and kissed him.
It wasn't wild and heated and without control. It was slow but deep, Jungkook making his head swirl with the way his tongue explored his mouth, the way he pulled his head closer, tilting his own head to the side and opened his mouth wider to deepen the kiss even more. Jimin reached up on instinct, wrapping his hands around his neck and holding on tight as Jungkook rose, taking him with him. His hands dropped to his waist as he lifted him and gently sat him on the kitchen isle, stepping in between his spread leg, their faces on the same height now as he kept making his head swirl with those thorough, deep kisses. Jimin felt himself melting into him. Melting for more than just his body.
They were both breathless when Jungkook pulled away, both of them breathing heavily as they stared into each other's eyes.
And just kept looking, so much passing between them and this time Jimin didn't try to stop it. Didn't avert his gaze, his hands still locked behind his head, his fingers brushing against that soft hair at his nape.
Jungkook had placed his hands on his cheeks again, his thumb drawing small, caressing circles over his skin, then slowly came to his lips, tracing their outline as his eyes slipped down to them as well, lingering there like they had been caught in a dream.
"Everything about YOU is so god-damn beautiful, but I think it was those lips that sealed my fate. Made me incapable of looking away. "
He sounded breathless and his voice low, reaching into Jimin like nothing else ever could.
He felt the shift in his heart. Something so little, yet it felt major to him.
Jungkook saw it. Heard his small intake of breath to start the words he feared, but needed to say.
But the younger stopped him, putting his index finger over his lips, silencing him.
"Don't."
He lowered his eyes for a moment, taking a steadying breath.
"Don't tell me if you're not ready. I know I was wrong too yesterday. I promised to give you time and then I asked you to move in with me... I know that was stupid and too fast and I had no right to tell you to quit your job. I'm sorry too. And I don't want you to feel like you have to tell me so I understand why you said no. If you're not ready, don't say it."
Jungkook grew quiet and Jimin stared at him for a long time, sorting through all his emotions and only found the same determination he had felt this morning. No more running. No more letting the fear win.
"His name was Seong-Min."
Jungkook sucked in a sharp breath, like he really expected him to stay quiet and say nothing.
Then such a dark shadow fell over his face, Jimin flinched.
"Didn't I warn you not to tell me their names?"
Jimin's blood shot into his head, remembering how murderous he had looked when he'd said that. And now.... oh... he really shouldn't have said that name.
But then Jungkook sighed, drew in a long breath and nodded, more to himself it seemed.
"Go ahead. Tell me. But he's already a dead men. It doesn't matter what he did. He's fucking dead." And there was not a single ounce of doubt or regret in his voice.
Jimin, even though he just said the name of the boy who had haunted his nightmares, managed a smile, then unlocked one arm from behind his neck and pinched his nose.
"You're not gonna do anything but listen, okay? And when I'm finished, you can shout and curse his name all you want, but you're not going to do anything else. He's not worth it."
Jungkook only kept on staring at him with that dark expression, his lower lips pressed out and a frown on his face. And then, more surprising than his ability to smile, was Jimin's following chuckle.
"Are you pouting?" He asked Jungkook and yes- that was definitely his pouty face and it was beyond adorable.
"No. And if I were, I would have a valid reason because you're asking for the impossible."
Jimin sighed and rolled his eyes, then grew a little more serious.
"Promise me. Promise me that no matter what I say, you wont do anything. And please don't pity me. I don't want pity."
Jungkook dropped his pout, his expression heavy and realizing the seriousness of his request.
He leaned forward to make their foreheads touch, their noses brushing against each other as he let out a long breath that tickled his cheeks.
"When have I ever been able not to do as you told me? And I don't think pity is the reaction you need to worry about. But first.. let's eat. I'm not sure I'm going to be hungry afterwards."
Jimin nodded with his forehead still against Jungkook's.
He younger exhaled loudly, then drew away, grabbed Jimin's waist and then set him back down on the chair like he really was his baby. He went back to the stove, but not before leaning down to place another long, deep kiss on his lips.
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