fic: there's something about you, baby
pairing(s): jimin/taehyung, yoongi/jin
words: 5.1k
summary: Jungkook’s phone gets confiscated on the fifth day of the month by his ex-roommate’s best friend, Jung Hoseok.
a/n: boys pinning, lots of fluff, college!au
there's something about you, baby
Jungkook’s phone gets confiscated on the fifth day of the month by his ex-roommate’s best friend, Jung Hoseok.
Jimin and Taehyung, in tireless solidarity, text Jungkook every day since.
On the fifth, they’d been absorbed in a game of UNO; everyone huddled up in a circle on Jimin and Taehyung’s floor, four pizza boxes lying agape between the seven of them. It’s one of those school nights where everyone needs the excuse to stay up to an unreasonable hour and not feel too guilty about it the next morning. The guilt becomes collective that way, none to go through on your own.
For someone who looked so impartial to participating in the first place, Jungkook manages to reverse Hoseok’s turn three consecutive times, conspiring with Jimin and Taehyung to let him receive the end of a 24 cards draw and only succeeding with two consecutive eights.
“Fine, if that’s how the three of you want to play- I’m making a new rule.” Hoseok says, struggling to wrap his fingers around the cards Yoongi keeps slapping in his hand. Seokjin regards him with a weathering look, can’t be a good idea if he’s already letting the three get a rise of him. “Loser gets his phone taken away for a day.”
“Fine.” Jungkook says, grinning from ear to ear.
“I can’t believe you’re taking this so lightly, Jeon Jungkook.” Hoseok says, scowling, he’s not a sore loser, he just hates losing to Jungkook.
“I promise I’m not, hyung.”
Sure enough, Jungkook doesn’t lose. Taehyung and Yoongi (who didn’t want to participate in this game of hurt prides and egos to begin with) are the ones pit against each other in the end, Yoongi succeeding with a wild card that ends Taehyung’s phone in Hoseok’s hand.
“Well, I could let the cute one suffer for no reason or I could just get everyone to agree Jungkook can live without his phone for a couple of days.” Hoseok says, a glance at Taehyung and then at the others. “I mean you can’t do that to someone who buys you pizza.”
Namjoon nods, taking a slice.
“You can’t do that.. like.. what about your rule?” Jungkook interjects, feeling the cruel stab of betrayal as he looks at his hyungs across the room.
“Exactly, it’s his rule,” Jin adds, “besides one day is not so bad.”
Jungkook shakes his head. “I can’t believe this.” everyone but Hoseok avoids the eye contact. Jimin secretly delighted it’s not Taehyung who’s getting his phone taken away; even under one roof he'd miss him too much. “I should have killed you when I had the chance.” Jungkook finally snaps, glaring at Hoseok as he gets up from the floor, tosses the cards to the ground, takes a slice of pizza and plants himself in front of the TV screen as he ignores everyone for the rest of the night.
It’s not like Hoseok planned it to go on for more than a day. But Hoseok was always one to go through life making things up as he went a long. And this, wasn’t the only rule he made on the spur of the moment. It certainly held up for more than one day. A fixture after another; a furious Jungkook.
From his room one the ninth of the same month, Jimin ignores Yoongi and scrolls down the jungkook-less chat he and Taehyung have been trying to keep up regardless. The last message is from Taehyung: today’s date and the time attached to a picture of him smiling big. A blurred picture nonetheless.
“I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not,” Yoongi calls from the couch in Jimin and Taehyung’s apartment- a student complex only a few blocks away from campus. “telling them how you feel is the bad idea.”
Jimin appears in the room, a second after, “hyung, you can’t compare everything with what happened between you and Jin-hyung.” he pauses, searches Yoongi’s face carefully before adding “besides, you haven’t even told him-”
“He would have left the second he heard it.”
“He would have left anyways.” Jimin, scowling, looking at Yoongi with a fixated expression. “You just gave yourself the closure you wanted to hear.”
Yoongi regards him with a tired expression, “This is the last thing I want to listen to right now, and from you of all people,” and when Jimin’s scowl deepens, about to retort, Yoongi quickly adds “Look, you can tell him if you want, in the most romantic way, wait for him all day and chase him away by the end of it. I won’t be there when it breaks your heart for days and months to come.”
“Hyung, you’re just making everything harder you know that?” He slumps into the couch next to Yoongi. And he knows Yoongi, he says things he doesn’t really mean, but at the end of the day he’s the one Jimin can turn to and not feel stupid afterwards.
“I know.” Petting Jimin’s hair. “It’s not supposed to be easy.”
“I know him so well, like our souls were made as one and poured into different bodies, I know what he’s about to say before he says it, I know what makes him smile and what makes him hurt. Like the back of my hand, I know him. But I can never predict what he’s going to say if I tell him, I’ve played it in my head over a hundred times- it’s… I can’t tell how Taetae’s going to react.”
The sound of keys being tossed on the side table startles Jimin, Taehyung calling Jimin-ah! Jimin-ah! and climbing up at the end of the couch beaming from ear to ear, the smile reaching his eyes.
“Jungkookie got his phone back. You should have seen it! He won fair and square!”
“What?”
“They duelled over UNO. I tried to call you but you wouldn’t answer.”
“Well, It’s about time he snapped.” Yoongi quips from under Jimin.
“Yeah, like, it really happened. It was like they were trying to kill each other. It was amazing.” Taehyung elated bounces on the couch a couple of times. “Also Jungkookie was so disappointed to get his phone back and find it dead.”
“Well, obviously. It’s not like Hoseok-hyung would have kept it charged.”
“But still, five days were a lot.”
“Will you please just sit the fuck down already?” And with that, Taehyung sinks into the couch by Jimin’s side, both of them scowling hard at the irritated Yoongi.
“Please don’t take your shit out on Taehyung.” Jimin starts, opening his mouth to add something but decides against it. Yoongi’s always been Yoongi this way, but he’d never unnecessarily and deliberately hurt people for the hell of it either.
It all started because Jugkook’s ex-roommate, Seokjin, was the love of Yoongi’s life.
And although it’s been around three weeks since he moved out of the dorm, took all his things and dropped them at his new apartment - the one that stood within walking distance from the stable income job he acquired only a week after graduation-, Yoongi still suffers.
Yoongi suffering only entailed that everyone else did as well. And it wasn’t that the empathy they shared was exceptional or anything. It’s just that, Yoongi made everyone know it all too well, that it was impossible for them to dodge around it.
In other words, Yoongi was being a shithead.
But Yoongi also loved, loves, Seokjin so much it’s ridiculous. It was obvious to everyone but Seokjin himself. Yoongi may have tried to be subtle about it, but they all knew each other too well to not have connected things together. Yoongi stealing glances. Yoongi smiling a little bit too big. Yoongi sleeping less. Yoongi getting distracted way too often. They were all signs of a boy in love. A Yoongi in love.
So when Seokjin decided to move out, it read nothing but unfair to Yoongi. Seokjin and his stable income and his beautiful face and his awkward limbs.
Hoseok was the first on the receiving end of Yoongi’s mood swings, being his roommate and all.
Namjoon, might have been their roommate in principle, but he barely stayed in that it didn’t feel right calling him that, so he was left out of any direct contact of Yoongi’s fiery outbursts.
Hoseok, in turn, got irritable, took it out on Jungkook, their next door dorm-mate, and Seokjin’s ex-roommate, as if Jungkook didn’t have enough on his plate as it is. But when Hoseok ‘took things out’ on Jungkook, it only meant he was spending more time with him. Which for Jungkook, was the same thing.
So naturally, Jungkook took to spending more time at Jimin and Taehyung’s apartment, and for the first week it was good, if not great. But things got strange when the two grew strange around one another; Taehyung apprehensive and Jimin biting his tongue when things between them got too uncomfortable. But things went completely to utter ruins when Yoongi started crashing there and made it uncomfortable for everyone else.
When Namjoon came in later, the mood has turned too sour in the room already. Jungkook huddled up next to Hoseok like a baby animal clinging to his mother, earphones split between the two of them and eyes too focused and ignoring of anything that’s going around them. Taehyung and Jimin, too, would be lying on the floor, finding amusement in the cracks on the ceiling; the paint that started to peel off and how it would only be seconds before it drops on Yoongi’s head.
And at the first thing Namjoon would say, Yoongi would let out a sigh.
Yoongi was difficult to deal with, generally, but Seokjin made matters worse when he moved out. So the only obvious solution was for the rest of them to intervene. It was only a matter of time before Hoseok mentioned the idea in passing, when the mood wasn’t too sour and only himself, Taehyung, Jimin and Jungkook were present.
It was cliche, even coming from Hoseok, it was too much. But they were also college boys with no other choice and means to support their other suggestions of ‘set them up on a date’ or ‘send Yoongi on the bus to the centre of the city, give him at least five seconds to get lost after getting off the bus and then call Seokjin-hyung in a panic and tell him we lost Yoongi-hyung while trying to get to his place, and when they find each other they’ll have no other choice but to talk.’ which for the two, they needed both the money and the participation from Yoongi himself.
So come Friday night, all seven of them got together at Taehyung and Jimin’s apartment. And though it would have felt nostalgic and reminiscent of times before Seokjin moved out, the mood was set a bit off because Yoongi stared daggers at Seokjin, and Seokjin looked too oblivious, which was frustrating to everyone in the room. But that was just part of Seokjin’s charm, he did so well at not letting things get under his skin. He was just the perfect one for Yoongi, really. Real Yoongi who looked at him lovingly. Not passive aggressive Yoongi who stared like he wanted to dig a hole in his chest.
So on that very Friday night, the two of them were found locked into a room, with five sets of ears glued to the other side of the door.
Inside the room, stood Yoongi and Seokjin with their built-up tension and thousand words that itched at the roofs of their mouths. But neither spoke, Seokjin hesitating before reaching for Yoongi’s hand, fingers linked awkwardly, the touch cold but sparking something in their insides nonetheless.
They sit at the end of Jimin’s bed, and before Seokjin opens his mouth to say anything Yoongi stops him, searches the room for a paper and a pen before taking seat next to Seokjin again, scribbling I don’t want the brats hearing anything. Yoongi is calculated and sharp, and he hates when people take things from him, like his right to object to being locked in a room with Seokjin right now.
Seokjin snatches the paper from him, fingers brushing at Yoongi’s, lingering for a second, as if thoughtful of what he wants to do next. But the pen is firm between his fingers next, a scribble so elegant like the way he is. Is this because you’ve been frustrated with your song lately?
Yoongi, shakes his head.
Is it about Namjoon’s questionable habit?
Shaking his head once again, Yoongi scowls at how small he feels. How absolutely ridiculous he’s being. He’s always been the one to say things without hesitating, without giving away how nervous and one edge he’s feeling.
Is it about me?
Yoongi holds Seokjin’s stare for a second, tearing the pen away from him and scribbling words the way he meant to say them, anger and frustration bubbling in his chest. You didn’t say proper goodbye, and I didn’t say all the things I wanted to say. He doesn’t tear his eyes away from the paper to look at Seokjin for reaction, instead he continues. It’s not the best way to say it now but, you really did fuck me over when you left like that, I- scratching off the letter there, so that it, he, felt less vulnerable and exposed, felt stupid and not important. You always act like nothing gets to you, but sometimes, this time, I couldn’t tell what was real anymore- I’m never sure of myself lately because of you, I can’t read you anymore, it used to be easy and now it’s not, can you tell that I-
And there, a touch so gentle it striking him still, the heat emitting from Seokjin’s body, burning, burning, like his skin caught fire. But the hairs on the back of his neck all stood, when Seokjin leaned into him, hot breathe tingling his skin, and it’s barely audible, he thinks he imagines it but then Seokjin repeats it one more time.
I love you, too.
It’s not how Yoongi imagined it would go at all. When he played it in his head time after time, Seokjin didn’t say those words and Yoongi wasn’t as much of a mess as he is right now. He knows he shouldn’t care, but he glances at the door as if to make sure no one is leering into this moment. This moment that’s should be only theirs, and no one else’s.
And Though it’s a stupid thing to do, he clasps Seokjin’s hand in his own and hurries behind the door, cramming their bodies in the tight space and finally looking, really looking, at Seokjin for the first time since this shitstorm hit him.
And it drives him insane because never have Seokjin’s face looked more kissable as it did that moment. And really, how did he get so lucky? So on his toes, the faintest of kisses he presses to Seokjin’s lips.
Seokjin kisses back like he has no intention of letting Yoongi go, turning them around so that Yoongi’s the one pressed against the wall. And for a second he wonders if picking Yoongi up and against himself -having him closer- would bode well, but Yoongi’s hands are in his hair and he loses sense of anything else. And when he kisses Yoongi he swears he feels the whimpers vibrating against his own lips, and it drives him crazy. Yoongi drives him crazy. And it’s all so exhilarating, Yoongi biting back a groan because he’s too proud, too possessive. Possessive of him. Possessive of Kim Seokjin. And if he could say it loud now, he would. But he presses it as a mere whisper against Yoongi’s lips, I love you.
And when they’re no longer kissing, the silence ensues, but Seokjin’s expression speaks a thousand words that Yoongi has to remind him not to say anything. But Seokjin only shows him the crumbled paper between his fingers, a teasing smiling when Yoongi reaches for it.
“I’m keeping this.” he says.
Your heart. He tells him when they’re let out of the room, allowed to sit through a movie the others been watching the entire time, or so they claimed when they’d been accused suspects of eavesdropping.
Sometime later, Jungkook asks Hoseok if Seokjin did something about the stick that had been up Yoongi’s ass for three weeks. And Hoseok, choking on air, agrees that that’s how it must have went.
-
On the twentieth of the same month, Jimin finds himself at Jungkook’s apartment. Hoseok and Namjoon had still been arguing over who gets to have Seokjin’s room and leave behind the mess in the apartment they shared with Yoongi, so it didn’t feel right calling it anything but Jungkook’s apartment until this thing was settled.
Jungkook for one, enjoyed his last moments of freedom. To which Jimin realizes only meant that he strolled around his apartment in shorts, turned up the music a little too loud, ate too little or too unwisely, stayed up the entire night glued to a computer screen, and slept in till someone, Jimin usually, got him ten minutes before class.
Spending time at Jungkook’s meant Jimin had time to feel a lot worse but also spare Taehyung any awkward eventualities. Spending time at Jungkook’s only happened after Yoongi quit being a shithead. Because resolving Yoongi and Seokjin’s shit only meant Jimin had, without distraction, all the time in the world to worry about his and Taehyung’s problem. The one which was obvious to everyone, even to the two of them.
To make matters worse, Jimin was still, maybe, actually, doing what Yoongi’s told him; swallowed his heart and with it, every possibility of being just himself around Taehyung. He wanted without a worry, to be Taehyung’s best friend who didn’t expect too much, didn’t want things too much. But his heart only hurt and his stomach churned when he looked at Taehyung and felt miles apart. A glance that lingered too long, wanting too much.
It got so bad that every time Taehyung did so much as look his way, Jimin would get flustered and his heart, ready to leap out of his chest. If he’d let it, it probably would. The words on the tip of his tongue with it, too.
Sometimes, Taehyung would hum an anime song while brushing his teeth- or Taehyung would drink his milk and leave a clump of cereal in the bowl- or Taehyung would look two sizes smaller than what he’s wearing, and Jimin, would be struck to death, in love and definitely dying.
But it was just that which made matters worse.
Taehyung squirmed and shifted uncomfortably, restless on his feet, always glancing Jimin’s way like he waited for something too himself.
When they’re in a room together Taehyung would grab Hoseok’s arms like it had grounded him somehow. Hoseok had that effect on people, made their worries dissipate into nothingness with a touch. They’d talk for minutes that felt like hours in their room, and when they’d come back Taehyung’d be looking at Hoseok and only him, eyes too focused as if afraid they’d land on something that could agitate him, and have him spill out words all over.
It probably was Jimin’s fault, for making things the way they were between them now. Had he been too obvious? He’d do better, if it meant Taehyung wouldn’t shy away from him the way he did. If it meant it would stop feeling as suffocating as it did to be in a room together. If it only meant he got Taehyung to look at him for more than a second. But it stings, when Jimin misses no other than the one who lived under the same roof as him.
It’s also probably the worst thing to feel, but Jimin, feels the worst when Yoongi and Seokjin are around. They could try to be as subtle as they want but Seokjin looks like he’d rather be nowhere else. Not even his peaceful apartment with the pretty kitchenette. And Yoongi’s eyes are alive, more than they had ever been, and he’s Jungkook’s favorite hyung once again and he looks so goddamn in love it hurts.
When Jimin catches himself feeling bitter, he pulls Hoseok to the side, tells him he needs someone to talk to, and when Hoseok follows him to the room, Jimin doesn’t talk, merely listens to Hoseok’s heart beating steadily in his chest as he lays there with lips quivering between his teeth.
“You both are idiots,” Hoseok says, fingers sweeping Jimin’s hair out of his eyes. “I can’t believe the amount of secondhand relationships I’ve been going through lately. You all are lucky to have me, you know that?”
And Jimin knows.
-
A school night. The night sky starry and the air cold. A faint screeching sound from the oscillating swings. Two boys, with heavy air and heavier hearts, blood racing and tongue tied.
Taehyung’s hands itch, fingers wrapped around the decaying metal, too firm afraid his limbs are going to do something drastic without consulting him first. On the swing beside him, Jimin, sweet tiny Jimin, who’s feet don’t quite reach the ground when the swing moves backwards.
Taehyung thinks about stepping off and giving him a push. But truth is, Taehyung was the one who needed a push here. He was a nervous wreck himself. And though it probably didn’t show; he was dying, a lump stuck in his throat, choking for air, dying. At least, figuratively he felt that way.
A glance at Jimin and all his resolve goes down the drain.
“Jimin,” he never was one to keep things to himself for long. He loved getting everyone involved, told his friends everything. Hardly kept things on his mind without thinking them out loud. If it stayed there for too long, it gave him headaches and stomachaches and definitely no conviction. “Hyung.” a nervous giggle, dragging the word too long.
And this gets Jimin looking at him in an instant, because they never were the ones for honorifics when it came to each other. It felt strange on Taehyung’s tongue because as long as he’s known Jimin, it felt like he was his person. His same, in a different body.
“I am going to tell you something but, if you hate it, please don’t leave. I’ll push your swing for an apology and we can stay here in silence for the rest of the night.” Jimin only stares. “But if you…. don’t hate it,” he pauses to think. “just let me know?”
Jimin nods once, catching his breathe, bracing himself.
“Ah.. the last few weeks have been so confusing, and.. I don’t know.. I mean we were in the same room but I hated it so much.. that you weren’t the one I could tell. Even now, I am not sure this, what I’m doing is right. Hobie-hyung told me I wouldn’t feel good if I didn’t, but honestly, right now, I feel like the entire world is going to collapse around me?” Taehyung says, not quite a question, what does Hobie-hyung know anyways?
He looks down, and through long eyelashes, he takes a long look at Jimin, wetting his lips, “I don’t even know what I am saying right now? Does everything suddenly make no sense to you too?” He stops on his swing, feet digging into the sand, toes curling inside his shoes. “Nothing makes sense unless I’m with you. And I don’t like being in the same room with you and not being able to tell you all the things I want to say. I am always ever thinking about one person.” This time, looking at Jimin, voice low but sure. “I am always ever thinking about you.”
“Isn’t it ridiculous? You’re right next to me but my mind won’t stop having thoughts about what you’re doing, what you’re feeling, if you’re happy right now, if…. you’d love me back.” A quick glance at Jimin and then he drops his gaze to his feet, “Stupid, Jimin.”
And there, silence, so deafening he thinks his heart stopped along with it. So on his feet.
He doesn’t know how many seconds it has been, but it’s too long. Too bad for his heart, anyways. He’s pushing Jimin on the swing, and he can’t help it, the soft whimper escaping his lips, or the hot trail on his cheeks. And for the life of him, Taehyung couldn’t bear to look at Jimin’s face. The only thing he remembers is the way Jimin’s lips looked, parted and the way his face flushed when he had nodded first.
“What are you doing?” Jimin, whipping his head back, his expressions sharp it terrifies Taehyung what else it could mean.
“You really don’t have to say anything,” Taehyung says, “I’ll be okay. We’ll-”
And there, Jimin leaning across the swing. “But you don’t know anything at all, Tae. You really don’t know-” and maybe Taehyung imagines it, but there’s a tear threatening to fall off Jimin’s right eye, and maybe if he hadn’t winked it back, it would have. Taehyung doesn’t remember anything after that, it’s all a blur, Jimin, pulling him down, their faces apart, a curious stare.
“I didn’t say it, Tae. Don’t act like you know everything.” And the hand gripping his, Taehyung remembers. Their skin seething under the weight of it. But it disappears the moment Jimin lets go, and walks off.
-
Taehyung never thought he’d be so confused around Jimin. When they first met, there hadn’t been a single moment where he’d been confused by Jimin. Yet, here he was chasing the boy he loves around a stupid campus, more confused than he’d ever been.
The night at the park, had only made Taehyung feel like he’d gone back to square one. Jimin had been so angry, fuming, and did anything in his power to avoid Taehyung. But Jimin didn’t let Taehyung push him on the swing, and Jimin, didn’t let him know.
Jimin, as tiny as he is, got angry quite a lot, quite visibly, but Taehyung wasn’t anywhere near letting go. Not now, when things got as messy as they are. As confusing as they are.
He’s sitting outside Jimin’s lecture room, and springing to his feet the second students start issuing out of the door. And there, the boy he loves, a full 5’8 foot of concentrated exasperation, is walking fast, out of the room maybe aware that Taehyung’s waiting for him. But it’s been ridiculous, the fourth day since that night at the park. The fourth day since he’d last given him an answer other than “I have to study now,” or “I can’t believe you can’t tell yet.” And he’s so stubborn, too stubborn. And maybe if Taehyung wasn’t so confused, he’d be stubborn back, but Taehyung had poured his heart out that night, and Jimin was being difficult.
He grabs Jimin by the backpack, and though Jimin’s about to shrug it off, Taehyung’s one step ahead, throwing his arms around Jimin’s middle, locking him in place. “I won’t let you go until you tell me what’s pissing you off. If you don’t like it? What is it? Do you hate me?” And there, Jimin frees himself with a forceful shove.
“Of course not. Can we not do this now?” He says, scowling, and looking at the hall packed with students around him. “Or here?”
“Fine, where do you wanna go?”
And so they’re sitting behind the stairs, Taehyung’s legs tucked under him, facing Jimin, looking at him with big curious eyes. “So, are you going to tell me?” He asks. “every time I try to make sense of what you’re mad about, you get super pissed and tell me to shut up. I won’t know if you don’t tell me. Not this time.”
“You’re going to think it’s stupid but it’s not. Oh my god, Tae,” Jimin, eyes shifting with guilt, mumbling. “I wanted to tell you first.” And there, Taehyung, with his eyes round and lips parted staring at Jimin like this wasn’t what he’d expected to hear at all. “What.” Jimin spits out, incredulously “I can’t believe you stole my confession.”
And Taehyung may be grinning a little too big when he shifts closer to Jimin, the freckle on his nose suddenly making Jimin want to plant million little kisses on every inch of his face. On that freckle. On those unbelievably long lashes. On his lips. But the way Taehyung keeps shifting up and down, giddy and elated makes Jimin’s inside churn, holding him still instead.
“Are you kidding? Is this why you’ve been so pissed? How proud are you?”
“Shut up” Jimin drawls. “This has nothing to do with pride. It has everything to do with you stealing things from me, though.”
“I can’t believe this.” Taehyung is saying, “Jimin, do you really… um.. love me this much?” and there, a bashful smile, up close, he can feel the heat from both their faces.
Jimin’s eyes searching Taehyung’s, a look so intimate they both feel the weight of it. “Yes. And some more.”
“Jimin-ah” Taehyung whines, shuffling on his feet, “I don’t think I could handle this.”
Jimin’s smile reaches his eyes, and his eyes are kind, and his eyes are looking at no one but Taehyung. Have they ever looked at anyone else, really? “Good. Don’t handle it. Maybe then you’ll learn not to steal people’s confessions”
Taehyung throws his head back in exasperation “Oh my god would you just let it go already?”
“No I won’t, I am going to steal your first something back.” And maybe Jimin leans into it with a smile, but it dissipates into the nimblest of touches, a kiss so fervent and unfeigned. A kiss he’d been feeling too guilty for wanting for the longest of time. A kiss he could have now.
Taehyung kisses like an angel, soft and innocent like a curious boy exploring the universe. A kiss that makes Jimin’s chest swell with gooeyness, makes his limbs weak and his eyebrows tremble. But his hands are in Taehyung’s hair and on his neck, but it’s not urgent, a soft stroke to let him know he’s loved, to let him know he’s never going to get hurt. They’ve got all the time in the world anyways, and Taehyung’s not going anywhere, he wouldn’t let it happen. He kisses him like a lazy afternoon, a touch so careful, a touch that only meant he loved him.
words: 5.1k
summary: Jungkook’s phone gets confiscated on the fifth day of the month by his ex-roommate’s best friend, Jung Hoseok.
a/n: boys pinning, lots of fluff, college!au
there's something about you, baby
Jungkook’s phone gets confiscated on the fifth day of the month by his ex-roommate’s best friend, Jung Hoseok.
Jimin and Taehyung, in tireless solidarity, text Jungkook every day since.
On the fifth, they’d been absorbed in a game of UNO; everyone huddled up in a circle on Jimin and Taehyung’s floor, four pizza boxes lying agape between the seven of them. It’s one of those school nights where everyone needs the excuse to stay up to an unreasonable hour and not feel too guilty about it the next morning. The guilt becomes collective that way, none to go through on your own.
For someone who looked so impartial to participating in the first place, Jungkook manages to reverse Hoseok’s turn three consecutive times, conspiring with Jimin and Taehyung to let him receive the end of a 24 cards draw and only succeeding with two consecutive eights.
“Fine, if that’s how the three of you want to play- I’m making a new rule.” Hoseok says, struggling to wrap his fingers around the cards Yoongi keeps slapping in his hand. Seokjin regards him with a weathering look, can’t be a good idea if he’s already letting the three get a rise of him. “Loser gets his phone taken away for a day.”
“Fine.” Jungkook says, grinning from ear to ear.
“I can’t believe you’re taking this so lightly, Jeon Jungkook.” Hoseok says, scowling, he’s not a sore loser, he just hates losing to Jungkook.
“I promise I’m not, hyung.”
Sure enough, Jungkook doesn’t lose. Taehyung and Yoongi (who didn’t want to participate in this game of hurt prides and egos to begin with) are the ones pit against each other in the end, Yoongi succeeding with a wild card that ends Taehyung’s phone in Hoseok’s hand.
“Well, I could let the cute one suffer for no reason or I could just get everyone to agree Jungkook can live without his phone for a couple of days.” Hoseok says, a glance at Taehyung and then at the others. “I mean you can’t do that to someone who buys you pizza.”
Namjoon nods, taking a slice.
“You can’t do that.. like.. what about your rule?” Jungkook interjects, feeling the cruel stab of betrayal as he looks at his hyungs across the room.
“Exactly, it’s his rule,” Jin adds, “besides one day is not so bad.”
Jungkook shakes his head. “I can’t believe this.” everyone but Hoseok avoids the eye contact. Jimin secretly delighted it’s not Taehyung who’s getting his phone taken away; even under one roof he'd miss him too much. “I should have killed you when I had the chance.” Jungkook finally snaps, glaring at Hoseok as he gets up from the floor, tosses the cards to the ground, takes a slice of pizza and plants himself in front of the TV screen as he ignores everyone for the rest of the night.
It’s not like Hoseok planned it to go on for more than a day. But Hoseok was always one to go through life making things up as he went a long. And this, wasn’t the only rule he made on the spur of the moment. It certainly held up for more than one day. A fixture after another; a furious Jungkook.
From his room one the ninth of the same month, Jimin ignores Yoongi and scrolls down the jungkook-less chat he and Taehyung have been trying to keep up regardless. The last message is from Taehyung: today’s date and the time attached to a picture of him smiling big. A blurred picture nonetheless.
“I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not,” Yoongi calls from the couch in Jimin and Taehyung’s apartment- a student complex only a few blocks away from campus. “telling them how you feel is the bad idea.”
Jimin appears in the room, a second after, “hyung, you can’t compare everything with what happened between you and Jin-hyung.” he pauses, searches Yoongi’s face carefully before adding “besides, you haven’t even told him-”
“He would have left the second he heard it.”
“He would have left anyways.” Jimin, scowling, looking at Yoongi with a fixated expression. “You just gave yourself the closure you wanted to hear.”
Yoongi regards him with a tired expression, “This is the last thing I want to listen to right now, and from you of all people,” and when Jimin’s scowl deepens, about to retort, Yoongi quickly adds “Look, you can tell him if you want, in the most romantic way, wait for him all day and chase him away by the end of it. I won’t be there when it breaks your heart for days and months to come.”
“Hyung, you’re just making everything harder you know that?” He slumps into the couch next to Yoongi. And he knows Yoongi, he says things he doesn’t really mean, but at the end of the day he’s the one Jimin can turn to and not feel stupid afterwards.
“I know.” Petting Jimin’s hair. “It’s not supposed to be easy.”
“I know him so well, like our souls were made as one and poured into different bodies, I know what he’s about to say before he says it, I know what makes him smile and what makes him hurt. Like the back of my hand, I know him. But I can never predict what he’s going to say if I tell him, I’ve played it in my head over a hundred times- it’s… I can’t tell how Taetae’s going to react.”
The sound of keys being tossed on the side table startles Jimin, Taehyung calling Jimin-ah! Jimin-ah! and climbing up at the end of the couch beaming from ear to ear, the smile reaching his eyes.
“Jungkookie got his phone back. You should have seen it! He won fair and square!”
“What?”
“They duelled over UNO. I tried to call you but you wouldn’t answer.”
“Well, It’s about time he snapped.” Yoongi quips from under Jimin.
“Yeah, like, it really happened. It was like they were trying to kill each other. It was amazing.” Taehyung elated bounces on the couch a couple of times. “Also Jungkookie was so disappointed to get his phone back and find it dead.”
“Well, obviously. It’s not like Hoseok-hyung would have kept it charged.”
“But still, five days were a lot.”
“Will you please just sit the fuck down already?” And with that, Taehyung sinks into the couch by Jimin’s side, both of them scowling hard at the irritated Yoongi.
“Please don’t take your shit out on Taehyung.” Jimin starts, opening his mouth to add something but decides against it. Yoongi’s always been Yoongi this way, but he’d never unnecessarily and deliberately hurt people for the hell of it either.
It all started because Jugkook’s ex-roommate, Seokjin, was the love of Yoongi’s life.
And although it’s been around three weeks since he moved out of the dorm, took all his things and dropped them at his new apartment - the one that stood within walking distance from the stable income job he acquired only a week after graduation-, Yoongi still suffers.
Yoongi suffering only entailed that everyone else did as well. And it wasn’t that the empathy they shared was exceptional or anything. It’s just that, Yoongi made everyone know it all too well, that it was impossible for them to dodge around it.
In other words, Yoongi was being a shithead.
But Yoongi also loved, loves, Seokjin so much it’s ridiculous. It was obvious to everyone but Seokjin himself. Yoongi may have tried to be subtle about it, but they all knew each other too well to not have connected things together. Yoongi stealing glances. Yoongi smiling a little bit too big. Yoongi sleeping less. Yoongi getting distracted way too often. They were all signs of a boy in love. A Yoongi in love.
So when Seokjin decided to move out, it read nothing but unfair to Yoongi. Seokjin and his stable income and his beautiful face and his awkward limbs.
Hoseok was the first on the receiving end of Yoongi’s mood swings, being his roommate and all.
Namjoon, might have been their roommate in principle, but he barely stayed in that it didn’t feel right calling him that, so he was left out of any direct contact of Yoongi’s fiery outbursts.
Hoseok, in turn, got irritable, took it out on Jungkook, their next door dorm-mate, and Seokjin’s ex-roommate, as if Jungkook didn’t have enough on his plate as it is. But when Hoseok ‘took things out’ on Jungkook, it only meant he was spending more time with him. Which for Jungkook, was the same thing.
So naturally, Jungkook took to spending more time at Jimin and Taehyung’s apartment, and for the first week it was good, if not great. But things got strange when the two grew strange around one another; Taehyung apprehensive and Jimin biting his tongue when things between them got too uncomfortable. But things went completely to utter ruins when Yoongi started crashing there and made it uncomfortable for everyone else.
When Namjoon came in later, the mood has turned too sour in the room already. Jungkook huddled up next to Hoseok like a baby animal clinging to his mother, earphones split between the two of them and eyes too focused and ignoring of anything that’s going around them. Taehyung and Jimin, too, would be lying on the floor, finding amusement in the cracks on the ceiling; the paint that started to peel off and how it would only be seconds before it drops on Yoongi’s head.
And at the first thing Namjoon would say, Yoongi would let out a sigh.
Yoongi was difficult to deal with, generally, but Seokjin made matters worse when he moved out. So the only obvious solution was for the rest of them to intervene. It was only a matter of time before Hoseok mentioned the idea in passing, when the mood wasn’t too sour and only himself, Taehyung, Jimin and Jungkook were present.
It was cliche, even coming from Hoseok, it was too much. But they were also college boys with no other choice and means to support their other suggestions of ‘set them up on a date’ or ‘send Yoongi on the bus to the centre of the city, give him at least five seconds to get lost after getting off the bus and then call Seokjin-hyung in a panic and tell him we lost Yoongi-hyung while trying to get to his place, and when they find each other they’ll have no other choice but to talk.’ which for the two, they needed both the money and the participation from Yoongi himself.
So come Friday night, all seven of them got together at Taehyung and Jimin’s apartment. And though it would have felt nostalgic and reminiscent of times before Seokjin moved out, the mood was set a bit off because Yoongi stared daggers at Seokjin, and Seokjin looked too oblivious, which was frustrating to everyone in the room. But that was just part of Seokjin’s charm, he did so well at not letting things get under his skin. He was just the perfect one for Yoongi, really. Real Yoongi who looked at him lovingly. Not passive aggressive Yoongi who stared like he wanted to dig a hole in his chest.
So on that very Friday night, the two of them were found locked into a room, with five sets of ears glued to the other side of the door.
Inside the room, stood Yoongi and Seokjin with their built-up tension and thousand words that itched at the roofs of their mouths. But neither spoke, Seokjin hesitating before reaching for Yoongi’s hand, fingers linked awkwardly, the touch cold but sparking something in their insides nonetheless.
They sit at the end of Jimin’s bed, and before Seokjin opens his mouth to say anything Yoongi stops him, searches the room for a paper and a pen before taking seat next to Seokjin again, scribbling I don’t want the brats hearing anything. Yoongi is calculated and sharp, and he hates when people take things from him, like his right to object to being locked in a room with Seokjin right now.
Seokjin snatches the paper from him, fingers brushing at Yoongi’s, lingering for a second, as if thoughtful of what he wants to do next. But the pen is firm between his fingers next, a scribble so elegant like the way he is. Is this because you’ve been frustrated with your song lately?
Yoongi, shakes his head.
Is it about Namjoon’s questionable habit?
Shaking his head once again, Yoongi scowls at how small he feels. How absolutely ridiculous he’s being. He’s always been the one to say things without hesitating, without giving away how nervous and one edge he’s feeling.
Is it about me?
Yoongi holds Seokjin’s stare for a second, tearing the pen away from him and scribbling words the way he meant to say them, anger and frustration bubbling in his chest. You didn’t say proper goodbye, and I didn’t say all the things I wanted to say. He doesn’t tear his eyes away from the paper to look at Seokjin for reaction, instead he continues. It’s not the best way to say it now but, you really did fuck me over when you left like that, I- scratching off the letter there, so that it, he, felt less vulnerable and exposed, felt stupid and not important. You always act like nothing gets to you, but sometimes, this time, I couldn’t tell what was real anymore- I’m never sure of myself lately because of you, I can’t read you anymore, it used to be easy and now it’s not, can you tell that I-
And there, a touch so gentle it striking him still, the heat emitting from Seokjin’s body, burning, burning, like his skin caught fire. But the hairs on the back of his neck all stood, when Seokjin leaned into him, hot breathe tingling his skin, and it’s barely audible, he thinks he imagines it but then Seokjin repeats it one more time.
I love you, too.
It’s not how Yoongi imagined it would go at all. When he played it in his head time after time, Seokjin didn’t say those words and Yoongi wasn’t as much of a mess as he is right now. He knows he shouldn’t care, but he glances at the door as if to make sure no one is leering into this moment. This moment that’s should be only theirs, and no one else’s.
And Though it’s a stupid thing to do, he clasps Seokjin’s hand in his own and hurries behind the door, cramming their bodies in the tight space and finally looking, really looking, at Seokjin for the first time since this shitstorm hit him.
And it drives him insane because never have Seokjin’s face looked more kissable as it did that moment. And really, how did he get so lucky? So on his toes, the faintest of kisses he presses to Seokjin’s lips.
Seokjin kisses back like he has no intention of letting Yoongi go, turning them around so that Yoongi’s the one pressed against the wall. And for a second he wonders if picking Yoongi up and against himself -having him closer- would bode well, but Yoongi’s hands are in his hair and he loses sense of anything else. And when he kisses Yoongi he swears he feels the whimpers vibrating against his own lips, and it drives him crazy. Yoongi drives him crazy. And it’s all so exhilarating, Yoongi biting back a groan because he’s too proud, too possessive. Possessive of him. Possessive of Kim Seokjin. And if he could say it loud now, he would. But he presses it as a mere whisper against Yoongi’s lips, I love you.
And when they’re no longer kissing, the silence ensues, but Seokjin’s expression speaks a thousand words that Yoongi has to remind him not to say anything. But Seokjin only shows him the crumbled paper between his fingers, a teasing smiling when Yoongi reaches for it.
“I’m keeping this.” he says.
Your heart. He tells him when they’re let out of the room, allowed to sit through a movie the others been watching the entire time, or so they claimed when they’d been accused suspects of eavesdropping.
Sometime later, Jungkook asks Hoseok if Seokjin did something about the stick that had been up Yoongi’s ass for three weeks. And Hoseok, choking on air, agrees that that’s how it must have went.
-
On the twentieth of the same month, Jimin finds himself at Jungkook’s apartment. Hoseok and Namjoon had still been arguing over who gets to have Seokjin’s room and leave behind the mess in the apartment they shared with Yoongi, so it didn’t feel right calling it anything but Jungkook’s apartment until this thing was settled.
Jungkook for one, enjoyed his last moments of freedom. To which Jimin realizes only meant that he strolled around his apartment in shorts, turned up the music a little too loud, ate too little or too unwisely, stayed up the entire night glued to a computer screen, and slept in till someone, Jimin usually, got him ten minutes before class.
Spending time at Jungkook’s meant Jimin had time to feel a lot worse but also spare Taehyung any awkward eventualities. Spending time at Jungkook’s only happened after Yoongi quit being a shithead. Because resolving Yoongi and Seokjin’s shit only meant Jimin had, without distraction, all the time in the world to worry about his and Taehyung’s problem. The one which was obvious to everyone, even to the two of them.
To make matters worse, Jimin was still, maybe, actually, doing what Yoongi’s told him; swallowed his heart and with it, every possibility of being just himself around Taehyung. He wanted without a worry, to be Taehyung’s best friend who didn’t expect too much, didn’t want things too much. But his heart only hurt and his stomach churned when he looked at Taehyung and felt miles apart. A glance that lingered too long, wanting too much.
It got so bad that every time Taehyung did so much as look his way, Jimin would get flustered and his heart, ready to leap out of his chest. If he’d let it, it probably would. The words on the tip of his tongue with it, too.
Sometimes, Taehyung would hum an anime song while brushing his teeth- or Taehyung would drink his milk and leave a clump of cereal in the bowl- or Taehyung would look two sizes smaller than what he’s wearing, and Jimin, would be struck to death, in love and definitely dying.
But it was just that which made matters worse.
Taehyung squirmed and shifted uncomfortably, restless on his feet, always glancing Jimin’s way like he waited for something too himself.
When they’re in a room together Taehyung would grab Hoseok’s arms like it had grounded him somehow. Hoseok had that effect on people, made their worries dissipate into nothingness with a touch. They’d talk for minutes that felt like hours in their room, and when they’d come back Taehyung’d be looking at Hoseok and only him, eyes too focused as if afraid they’d land on something that could agitate him, and have him spill out words all over.
It probably was Jimin’s fault, for making things the way they were between them now. Had he been too obvious? He’d do better, if it meant Taehyung wouldn’t shy away from him the way he did. If it meant it would stop feeling as suffocating as it did to be in a room together. If it only meant he got Taehyung to look at him for more than a second. But it stings, when Jimin misses no other than the one who lived under the same roof as him.
It’s also probably the worst thing to feel, but Jimin, feels the worst when Yoongi and Seokjin are around. They could try to be as subtle as they want but Seokjin looks like he’d rather be nowhere else. Not even his peaceful apartment with the pretty kitchenette. And Yoongi’s eyes are alive, more than they had ever been, and he’s Jungkook’s favorite hyung once again and he looks so goddamn in love it hurts.
When Jimin catches himself feeling bitter, he pulls Hoseok to the side, tells him he needs someone to talk to, and when Hoseok follows him to the room, Jimin doesn’t talk, merely listens to Hoseok’s heart beating steadily in his chest as he lays there with lips quivering between his teeth.
“You both are idiots,” Hoseok says, fingers sweeping Jimin’s hair out of his eyes. “I can’t believe the amount of secondhand relationships I’ve been going through lately. You all are lucky to have me, you know that?”
And Jimin knows.
-
A school night. The night sky starry and the air cold. A faint screeching sound from the oscillating swings. Two boys, with heavy air and heavier hearts, blood racing and tongue tied.
Taehyung’s hands itch, fingers wrapped around the decaying metal, too firm afraid his limbs are going to do something drastic without consulting him first. On the swing beside him, Jimin, sweet tiny Jimin, who’s feet don’t quite reach the ground when the swing moves backwards.
Taehyung thinks about stepping off and giving him a push. But truth is, Taehyung was the one who needed a push here. He was a nervous wreck himself. And though it probably didn’t show; he was dying, a lump stuck in his throat, choking for air, dying. At least, figuratively he felt that way.
A glance at Jimin and all his resolve goes down the drain.
“Jimin,” he never was one to keep things to himself for long. He loved getting everyone involved, told his friends everything. Hardly kept things on his mind without thinking them out loud. If it stayed there for too long, it gave him headaches and stomachaches and definitely no conviction. “Hyung.” a nervous giggle, dragging the word too long.
And this gets Jimin looking at him in an instant, because they never were the ones for honorifics when it came to each other. It felt strange on Taehyung’s tongue because as long as he’s known Jimin, it felt like he was his person. His same, in a different body.
“I am going to tell you something but, if you hate it, please don’t leave. I’ll push your swing for an apology and we can stay here in silence for the rest of the night.” Jimin only stares. “But if you…. don’t hate it,” he pauses to think. “just let me know?”
Jimin nods once, catching his breathe, bracing himself.
“Ah.. the last few weeks have been so confusing, and.. I don’t know.. I mean we were in the same room but I hated it so much.. that you weren’t the one I could tell. Even now, I am not sure this, what I’m doing is right. Hobie-hyung told me I wouldn’t feel good if I didn’t, but honestly, right now, I feel like the entire world is going to collapse around me?” Taehyung says, not quite a question, what does Hobie-hyung know anyways?
He looks down, and through long eyelashes, he takes a long look at Jimin, wetting his lips, “I don’t even know what I am saying right now? Does everything suddenly make no sense to you too?” He stops on his swing, feet digging into the sand, toes curling inside his shoes. “Nothing makes sense unless I’m with you. And I don’t like being in the same room with you and not being able to tell you all the things I want to say. I am always ever thinking about one person.” This time, looking at Jimin, voice low but sure. “I am always ever thinking about you.”
“Isn’t it ridiculous? You’re right next to me but my mind won’t stop having thoughts about what you’re doing, what you’re feeling, if you’re happy right now, if…. you’d love me back.” A quick glance at Jimin and then he drops his gaze to his feet, “Stupid, Jimin.”
And there, silence, so deafening he thinks his heart stopped along with it. So on his feet.
He doesn’t know how many seconds it has been, but it’s too long. Too bad for his heart, anyways. He’s pushing Jimin on the swing, and he can’t help it, the soft whimper escaping his lips, or the hot trail on his cheeks. And for the life of him, Taehyung couldn’t bear to look at Jimin’s face. The only thing he remembers is the way Jimin’s lips looked, parted and the way his face flushed when he had nodded first.
“What are you doing?” Jimin, whipping his head back, his expressions sharp it terrifies Taehyung what else it could mean.
“You really don’t have to say anything,” Taehyung says, “I’ll be okay. We’ll-”
And there, Jimin leaning across the swing. “But you don’t know anything at all, Tae. You really don’t know-” and maybe Taehyung imagines it, but there’s a tear threatening to fall off Jimin’s right eye, and maybe if he hadn’t winked it back, it would have. Taehyung doesn’t remember anything after that, it’s all a blur, Jimin, pulling him down, their faces apart, a curious stare.
“I didn’t say it, Tae. Don’t act like you know everything.” And the hand gripping his, Taehyung remembers. Their skin seething under the weight of it. But it disappears the moment Jimin lets go, and walks off.
-
Taehyung never thought he’d be so confused around Jimin. When they first met, there hadn’t been a single moment where he’d been confused by Jimin. Yet, here he was chasing the boy he loves around a stupid campus, more confused than he’d ever been.
The night at the park, had only made Taehyung feel like he’d gone back to square one. Jimin had been so angry, fuming, and did anything in his power to avoid Taehyung. But Jimin didn’t let Taehyung push him on the swing, and Jimin, didn’t let him know.
Jimin, as tiny as he is, got angry quite a lot, quite visibly, but Taehyung wasn’t anywhere near letting go. Not now, when things got as messy as they are. As confusing as they are.
He’s sitting outside Jimin’s lecture room, and springing to his feet the second students start issuing out of the door. And there, the boy he loves, a full 5’8 foot of concentrated exasperation, is walking fast, out of the room maybe aware that Taehyung’s waiting for him. But it’s been ridiculous, the fourth day since that night at the park. The fourth day since he’d last given him an answer other than “I have to study now,” or “I can’t believe you can’t tell yet.” And he’s so stubborn, too stubborn. And maybe if Taehyung wasn’t so confused, he’d be stubborn back, but Taehyung had poured his heart out that night, and Jimin was being difficult.
He grabs Jimin by the backpack, and though Jimin’s about to shrug it off, Taehyung’s one step ahead, throwing his arms around Jimin’s middle, locking him in place. “I won’t let you go until you tell me what’s pissing you off. If you don’t like it? What is it? Do you hate me?” And there, Jimin frees himself with a forceful shove.
“Of course not. Can we not do this now?” He says, scowling, and looking at the hall packed with students around him. “Or here?”
“Fine, where do you wanna go?”
And so they’re sitting behind the stairs, Taehyung’s legs tucked under him, facing Jimin, looking at him with big curious eyes. “So, are you going to tell me?” He asks. “every time I try to make sense of what you’re mad about, you get super pissed and tell me to shut up. I won’t know if you don’t tell me. Not this time.”
“You’re going to think it’s stupid but it’s not. Oh my god, Tae,” Jimin, eyes shifting with guilt, mumbling. “I wanted to tell you first.” And there, Taehyung, with his eyes round and lips parted staring at Jimin like this wasn’t what he’d expected to hear at all. “What.” Jimin spits out, incredulously “I can’t believe you stole my confession.”
And Taehyung may be grinning a little too big when he shifts closer to Jimin, the freckle on his nose suddenly making Jimin want to plant million little kisses on every inch of his face. On that freckle. On those unbelievably long lashes. On his lips. But the way Taehyung keeps shifting up and down, giddy and elated makes Jimin’s inside churn, holding him still instead.
“Are you kidding? Is this why you’ve been so pissed? How proud are you?”
“Shut up” Jimin drawls. “This has nothing to do with pride. It has everything to do with you stealing things from me, though.”
“I can’t believe this.” Taehyung is saying, “Jimin, do you really… um.. love me this much?” and there, a bashful smile, up close, he can feel the heat from both their faces.
Jimin’s eyes searching Taehyung’s, a look so intimate they both feel the weight of it. “Yes. And some more.”
“Jimin-ah” Taehyung whines, shuffling on his feet, “I don’t think I could handle this.”
Jimin’s smile reaches his eyes, and his eyes are kind, and his eyes are looking at no one but Taehyung. Have they ever looked at anyone else, really? “Good. Don’t handle it. Maybe then you’ll learn not to steal people’s confessions”
Taehyung throws his head back in exasperation “Oh my god would you just let it go already?”
“No I won’t, I am going to steal your first something back.” And maybe Jimin leans into it with a smile, but it dissipates into the nimblest of touches, a kiss so fervent and unfeigned. A kiss he’d been feeling too guilty for wanting for the longest of time. A kiss he could have now.
Taehyung kisses like an angel, soft and innocent like a curious boy exploring the universe. A kiss that makes Jimin’s chest swell with gooeyness, makes his limbs weak and his eyebrows tremble. But his hands are in Taehyung’s hair and on his neck, but it’s not urgent, a soft stroke to let him know he’s loved, to let him know he’s never going to get hurt. They’ve got all the time in the world anyways, and Taehyung’s not going anywhere, he wouldn’t let it happen. He kisses him like a lazy afternoon, a touch so careful, a touch that only meant he loved him.