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The airport no longer made Jungkook anxious, and he is grateful he was able to take a day off to welcome his best friend. He was gone for two years, traveling around for work, and Jungkook couldn’t wait to see his hyung again. It has been such a long time without seeing each other’s faces that Jungkook was starting to think he had made him up.
But he was real.
He is...
Stunning.
Looking as beautiful as ever, Jimin finds Jungkook in the crowd of people surrounding them. Of course it doesn’t take long before Jimin is running towards him, not caring about anything but getting to Jungkook as fast as possible.
His breath gets stuck in his throat when Jimin squeezes him in a tight hug, which breaks minutes after when Jimin leans back and looks up at him.
“Jungkook-ah,” he strokes Jungkook’s cheek with his right hand, his kind smile as blinding as ever. Happiness always looks good on him. Jimin is glowing more so than the last time they saw each other, on that terrible day that Jungkook saw him at the departure gate. Jungkook was used to being on the receiving end of Jimin’s fondness, but since he realized not so long ago that what he felt for his hyung was more than a crush, Jungkook has been trying not to imagine things. Jimin is fond of him, coddles him as any friend would do. There is nothing more in that look he is giving Jungkook, no subliminal message, no feelings undercover. But it is pretty damn hard when Jimin looks at him this way.
“Hyung…” Jungkook mumbles, trying to come up for air after that hug. “Did you grow taller?” he jokes with raised eyebrows while checking Jimin out from head to toe. Even after hours on a plane, his hyung looks amazing with his polished boots, his slim black jeans and his flushed cheeks. Jimin swats at him playfully, a scoff falling off his lips as he takes a step back to look at him again, Jungkook already missing the warmth of his touch on his face.
“Be careful. I might grow taller than you someday.” Jimin chuckles when Jungkook pulls a face.
“You’re tiny, hyung. You’re my tiny hyung,” he pouts to show he’s really endeared, emphasizing his words while pinching Jimin’s sides—which makes him giggle loudly.
“Stop, stop.”
Someone coughs behind Jungkook, and that’s when he remembers who drove him here.
“Welcome back, Jimin-ah.” Yoongi means to hide his gentle purse of his lips when Jimin hugs him tight too but his soft eyes give him away. “Yah, let me go.”
Jimin pretends not to hear his hyung’s complaint and looks over Yoongi’s shoulder, smirking at Jungkook. “Just say you missed and I will, hyung.”
Yoongi sighs and gives in. “I missed you, Jimin-ah. I’m glad you came back. Now let me go or I’ll tell Taehyung you’re here.”
“You’re no fun, hyung.” Jimin lets Yoongi go with a pout, but then he goes pensive, almost scared. “Do you think Taehyungie will be mad?”
“Do you not know your best friend?” Yoongi asks as he walks away to exit, leaving Jungkook and Jimin behind.
“He’s not even going to help me with my luggage.” Jimin huffs, but he’s neither angry nor surprised. He knows, and Jungkook knows too, that Yoongi will cook and let him stay in his home until Jimin has to leave again.
“But I will,” Jungkook smiles kindly, all too sweet, as they both follow after Yoongi.
—
When they arrive at Yoongi’s place, Jimin sighs heavily while toeing off his shoes. Though a smile is still intact on his face, Jungkook knows Jimin must be drained from flying across the world.
Jungkook’s not worried about ruining the surprise of his visit to their friend because Taehyung is still working, not like Yoongi who works from home. The couple has been living together since Jimin’s departure, as they were previous roommates and Taehyung couldn’t afford to stay on his own. Yoongi had offered Taehyung to stay that day and he never left. Lucky for them, they both were pining in silence for each other so everything turned out fine.
“Wow, this is…” Jimin gestures with his hands as he looks around the apartment, “...very tidy.” He sounds surprised and Jungkook knows why.
“Taehyungie hyung has improved a lot with Yoongi hyung around,” Jungkook says.
Jimin glances back at him and snorts, “Yeah, I can see that. I had to bribe him with food to clean his room.”
They laugh remembering the old times until two sets of paws are heard coming from the master bedroom. Holly and Tannie come running towards the small living room, sniffing and barking at Jimin. Cooing at both puppies, Jimin drops to his knees and plays with them.
Jungkook loves the sight. He loves it. He loves him.
He loves Jimin and he feels so dumb. He feels stupid for not putting two and two together. How couldn’t he fall for his best friend? It’s pretty silly how he didn’t realize his feelings sooner.
Jungkook jerks out of his thoughts when he feels Yoongi’s palm on his left shoulder.
“How are we gonna do this?” Yoongi starts, glancing towards Jimin too. “We have a few hours left before Taehyung comes home.”
“Should we eat something first?” Jimin stands from the floor, ruffling a hand through his brown hair. “I should wash up too.”
So they do that. Yoongi cooks something and Jungkook helps his hyung until Jimin is ready.
Jungkook curses in his head the moment Jimin walks out of Yoongi’s bedroom with his wet hair and clothes too big for him. Wait—
“Is that my shirt?” He looks up, rather stunned, his heart beating loudly in his ears.
The blush in Jimin’s cheeks answers his question.
“Uhm—I might have kept it when you stayed over once and never gave it back…” He bites his bottom lip.
“Oh. Okay. Cool.” Fuck. Jungkook is not going to think about it. Nope. Not even gonna question it any further. “Cool,” he mutters to himself while looking back at the pan in front of him, trying to school his surprise.
He is definitely, one hundred percent not even going to think about Jimin swimming in his clothes. His clothes smelling like Jimin.
Jimin kept his shirt.
JIMIN KEPT HIS SHIRT AND HE IS NOW WEARING IT.
The kitchen falls back into silence as Jungkook freaks out, but gladly Yoongi breaks it soon after watching the weird, painful scene happening in front of his eyes. He takes pity on them.
“Jimin-ah, have you spoken to Hobi?”
Jungkook hears Jimin clearing his throat and then he answers, “Yes. Uhm, we texted before I took the flight. He told me he was coming tonight.”
“I’m sorry I had to tell him but he coerced it out of me,” Yoongi says and Jimin chuckles.
“You’re very easy to break, hyung. Have a soft spot for everyone of us.”
“Shut up, brat.”
—
After eating, they get ready for the surprise. It wasn’t going to be something fancy. Just the seven of them having food and drinks. The three friends who were still oblivious to Jimin coming back home were supposed to arrive after office hours.
The first one to arrive was Hoseok, who was in on the surprise. He squeezed Jimin’s sides and picked him up, squealing and saying how much he missed him.
With a few beers in his hands they waited for the other three to arrive. Seokjin and Namjoon were driving together and picking Taehyung up from work, and by the rumors going around, Seokjin and Namjoon have been seeing each other for a few months.
“Since when?” Jimin asks curiously. He has been away for far too long and if he thought about it, it made him kinda sad. But he was here now. And sitting close to Jungkook is not making his blush go down even if he tries. He will try to deny it and say it's the alcohol he drank but...everyone knows it’s not the cause of his shyness. Everyone knows but Jungkook.
Jungkook who remains oblivious about Jimin’s feelings. And he knows Jungkook would never look at him the same, or feel all the love Jimin has for him, so he will try to show it to Jungkook in other ways. Like squeezing his knee when he gets anxious, or smiling back at him when JImin feels Jungkook spaced out looking at him, or making him part of the conversation when Jungkook has been too quiet, when Jimin knows he is excited about a topic and he holds back.
Or staring at Jungkook...simply because he can. Because he wants Jungkook to feel it through his eyes when Jimin knows that it's silly. That’s not how it works. If he only took a chance. If only he didn’t have a friendship so good to lose.
“Maybe September? I don’t know. They have been weirdly quiet about it.” Yoongi answers with a shrug.
“Yeah, it’s very weird.” Hoseok adds with raised eyebrows.
Jungkooks nods too and says, “Seokjin hyung hasn’t said anything either, which is...hundred percent weird.” Jimin’s breath hitches when he feels Jungkook’s leg near his own and he tries not to show it by taking a sip. Jungkook does seem to have loosen up a bit after one drink, his feet firmly on the ground. Jimin wants to have him closer until every limb of his body is entwined with Jungkook’s.
Yet he knows that's wishful thinking.
And all he can do is long for his friend from a safe distance. Maybe he's not what Jungkook is looking for, maybe he doesn't see Jimin that way.
His damn heart pounds and breaks when Jungkook smiles back, scrunching his nose cutely.
Jimin daydreams because that's all he can do for now.
Their moment is gone in a heartbeat when Hoseok announces their friends are coming up.
Once they arrive, everything is chaos. Screaming, tears of joy and long hugs.
Taehyung is shocked his boyfriend kept a secret from him yet he kisses his lips because he loves surprises. Yoongi blushes.
Seokjin and Namjoon look cozy together and Jimin doesn't waste the opportunity to hint about it when Namjoons rounds Seokjin's waist with his arm.
"Young love," he sighs dreamily while looking at the couple, "Except Jin hyung. You're not young anymore but that's beside the point." He smirks, making everyone around him giggle, including Seokjin who threatens to pinch his cheeks with his chopsticks.
The food is amazing and it feels like home. Jimin missed this, missed his friends and the city, missed how conversations would glow from one to another freely.
He missed having Jungkook by his side, feeling his heat, smelling his body soap, hearing him laugh and throw his arms around when he was complaining to his hyungs. It all made Jimin soft.
Taehyung glanced at him, catching Jimin like always, and gave him a private smile. Taehyung knew him all too well, maybe more so than Jimin knew himself.
Maybe it is time to be brave.
—
Even after their friends left, Jungkook made no move to leave either. Taehyung and Yoongi were already asleep, the dogs following them to their bedroom.
So, it's just Jungkook and Jimin in the kitchen, working in comfortable silence. Everyone would think they are always playful and joking around, but these are the moments Jimin loves the most.
When he shares silence with Jungkook he feels he can breathe properly. He can relax and open up. Lower his walls and let Jungkook in.
And Jungkook is so gentle it breaks Jimin in tiny little pieces.
"I'm in-"
"I'm glad you are home, hyung."
They say at the same time which makes them chuckle.
"I'm happy to be back," Jimin whispers. One, two, three. It takes a few seconds to make up his mind before he says, "I missed you, Kook-ah." He is sure his face is crumbling like wet paper but he doesn't care. "I am happy to be here. To be with you right now."
"I'm happy that you're happy, hyung." Jungkook smiles softly. His eyes shine brighter, matching Jimin's. Jungkook looks shy when he says, "I missed you too. Probably too much."
"Good for you I'm not leaving again, I guess?"
"What?" Jungkook gets closer, the dishes forgotten in the sink. "Are you-?"
"Staying?" Jimin beams and nods eagerly. "I'm staying so we won't have to miss each other," he jokes but it fades soon enough when Jungkook stares right into his eyes. With just one look he can transform Jimin into a puddle on the floor.
"Hyung?" Jungkook starts, taking Jimin's hand on his own and setting it against his chest. Jimin startles when he can feel Jungkook's heartbeat under his palm. "You make me go crazy."
Jimin wants to cry at how honest Jungkook is being. "You-I?"
"I can't hide it anymore." Jungkook shakes his head. "Being away from you made me realize how strong I fell for you. I was so dumb, Jimin-ah. And I was so afraid you wouldn't-"
"Kook-ah, I fell for you too. I think I saw you for the first time and thought you were very cute and then you grew up, and I grew up," Jimin smiles fondly, "And it clicked. You were more than a friend. You were my partner, my safe place." He chuckles in disbelief, "I would have told you sooner but I was afraid too."
"We are both idiots." Jungkook pouts and leans down. Their foreheads touch, and they are so close Jimin can taste strawberries on Jungkook's lips.
It feels right.
Jimin sighs heavily as if is trying to get rid of the tightness in his chest. "What should we do now?"
“Go to bed,” Jungkook says and goes red when Jimin raises his eyebrows.
“Wow, Jeon Jungkook-”
“No! No, I didn't mean it like that! I mean I want to sleep with you!” He realizes what he says as soon as he blurts it out. He shuts his eyes, embarrassed, and Jimin can only giggle as he throws both arms around Jungkook's neck.
“You should ask me out first,” his lips brush Jungkook's ear. He feels Jungkook’s breathless exhale. The thud thud thud of his heart gives him away. It just makes Jimin’s lips stretch into a wicked grin. Breaking the hug, Jimin says, “Okay, let’s get ready for bed.”
“What?” Jungkook looks alarmed, and Jimin thinks he is failing to hide his satisfied smile.
“Get ready to cuddle me to sleep, Kook-ah.” Jimin winks at him over his shoulder as he walks out of the kitchen and towards the guest room.
When Jungkook hugs Jimin to sleep that night, he believes he is the luckiest person in the world.