Archive of Our Own ^beta

Written as part of the Vmin Fall Exchange 2016 for CaptainButts. 

Based off the prompts: 

- university au where tae and jimin are hallmates and their hall has a prank war going on. at first its all fun and games--every man for himself, until they get caught up in drama and inevitably have to team up against the rest of their hallmates.
- any kinda au where tae is super weird and oblivious and the rest of bts tries to help jimin ask him out or s/t
- OT7 camping au where they go out into the wilderness and none of them are prepared like at all. jimin and tae get lost in the woods or s/t idk and they try to find the rest of the members only to find out it was set up so that they'd finally confront each other about their feelings

I may have mixed together all three of your prompts to come up with this, as I couldn't decide which one to write - so I really hope that's okay! Also I would love to write a space au for you sometimes to fulfil the extra prompt you suggested.

Anyway without further ado! Please enjoy~

Jimin stares at the vivid rivets of red rushing across the floor. He takes in the shaking hands grabbing at still skin, and frantic look of horror on Kim Namjoon’s face. Then, with a slow intake of breath, he glances to the motionless body lying across the floor, and his heart jumps to his throat so quick that his chest aches from the strain - because that’s his best friend lying there across the floor. Yet, even with that knowledge at the forefront of his mind, he can only watch on, slowly processing the sight of a sticky crimson wound slashed across the tan column of his friend’s neck.

His body tenses as Namjoon lets out a shudder of breath, his hands slick with red, red, red, and Jimin’s eyes zero in on the fan of dark eyelashes donned atop of closed eyes that should be fluttering with unchained laughter.

The whole scene makes his stomach turn uncomfortably.

“God damn it Jimin! Help me!” Namjoon cries, cradling Kim Taehyung’s limp body in his arms, his hands shaking as he tries to press what looks to be a dish towel to Taehyung’s neck.

The action itself doesn’t seem to do all that much, despite Namjoon’s best efforts, and it shows as the towel begins to bleed crimson; and Jimin keeps standing there in doorway frozen, looking on with his mouth slack, and fingers solid on the door handle. His words are there, dancing on the tip of his tongue, but he just can’t let them go. Instead he shakes his head, listening as Namjoon curses, and flounders for something. He can’t move though. He’s stuck there, with Taehyung lying limply in his lap.

It’s then that Seokjin surges forward from nowhere, a ray of hope in this very bleak situation. He nudges past Jimin, shooting across to room to kneel beside a frantic Namjoon.

“What happened?” Seokjin asks quickly, tone clipped and professional, all business, and no time to play as he starts elbowing Namjoon away, and holding the towel in his place at Taehyung's neck.

“I-I don't know. I just left him in the apartment for like 15 minutes while I went to get milk from the store, and when I came back he was just like this!” Namjoon reels off, running a bloodied hand through his hair in panic. “Oh fuck Seokjin, he's not dead is he?!”

“Shut up Joon, you're not helping!” Seokjin yells, anxiously looking about the room. “You have called for an ambulance, right?” he then asks, and Jimin's pretty sure that that's a no when he sees the pained expression fall across Namjoon’s face. “Damnit Namjoon! Call for one - now! That should have been your first reaction!”

“I panicked! He was just lying there Seokjin! What was I supposed to do?” Namjoon says, scrambling up off the floor to grab his phone.

“Just shut up and call them already! Come on Tae, wake up, wake up!” Seokjin calls urgently, his hands gathering Taehyung up.

Jimin thinks it’s a shame for it to be all over so quickly. He reckons he’d done a pretty good job, and now that effort seemed wasted for such a short show. But there’s nothing he can do as Seokjin’s hysterical calls are met with a soft giggle, and Jimin catches sight of Taehyung's chest shaking under older boy’s hand.

Quickly, he places his palm across his own mouth to keep himself quiet, not wanting anyone to catch him so soon, but for Taehyung, he knows that the damage has already been done.

“Taehyung?” Seokjin asks softly, removing the towel from his neck, and staring curiously at the other’s face.

Again, another round of low chuckling sounds, and one of Taehyung's hands moves to his mouth to try and stop himself. It's futile, because Namjoon’s caught on now, his hands pausing over the screen of his phone – and Jimin guesses he must see red.

“You little shit!” Namjoon roars, diving for the floor where Taehyung's still lying, fisting his hands into Taehyung's shirt angrily. “I thought you were dead, you fucker!” he cries once more, as Seokjin frowns, the picture of both befuddled and unimpressed.

“Please don't tell me that this is one of your pranks again Taehyung” Seokjin says tiredly, rubbing both finger and thumb against his temple.

“Oh course it is!” Namjoon hisses, still shaking Taehyung in his arms. “When is it not? I bet you were in on this too weren't you?!” he adds, pointing an accusing finger in Jimin's direction.

He can only hold his hands up guiltily, because yes, yes he had been aware of Taehyung's latest hair brained scheme. But unlike most other times, he hadn’t really been all that involved in this particular prank. His role had simply been to mostly stand watch to see when Namjoon returned. The rest had all been Taehyung's doing.

“Damnit Taehyung! What even is all this stuff?” Namjoon asks, hands moving to tear the fake neck wound from Taehyung's skin with a hard tug that leaves the latter yelping out in pain.

“It's a litre of fake blood, my stellar acting, and a fake slash wound” Taehyung grins. “It was mean to look like someone had taken a knife to my neck” he continues to explain, inspecting his now ruined shirt with a frown. “Although, it was a good job I brought a cheap shirt for this though, damn things ruined now”

“You are beyond a doubt the worst floor mate to live with – ever” Namjoon tells him, pressing a palm to his forehead, and giving a sigh of what seems like relief.

It's safe to say Taehyung is quick to make his exit, especially when Seokjin opens his mouth to no doubt lecture them both. Jimin can only offer a meek apology as they leave. But Seokjin shoos them off sharpish, already making a move to grab a wash cloth to clear up the mess of fake blood Taehyung had left in his wake.

“I think that went pretty well, don't you?” Taehyung beams as they make their way back to their apartment.

“Well, if we’re comparing it to that prank you pulled on Yoongi, and Hoseok last month where you tied up thousands of metres of string from wall to wall, and then placed cups of water all across the floor so as they couldn't untie them without tipping over said cups of water. Then yeah, I'd say you did pretty well; seeing as last time it was you who had to clear up the mess” Jimin says, smirking when Taehyung winces.

“Yeah… But, hey! You ended up helping that time too!” Taehyung cries as Jimin opens their apartment door.

“Only because you looked like you were going to pass out when you saw the look on Yoongi's face!” Jimin rebukes, rolling his eyes at the aghast look on his friend’s face.

Taehyung deflates dramatically, moving over to go and flop down on the sofa, which Jimin immediately sees as a bad idea considering that he's still covered in fake blood. He does not fancy having to strip down the sofa covers all because Taehyung was too lazy to at least show some consideration towards their décor.

“Oi!” he calls over, rolling his eyes when Taehyung whines at him. “Don't give me that look. Go take a damn shower before you sit down. You're covered in fake blood still, and I'm not prepared to clear up the mess you'll no doubt make”

He gets a heavy sigh for his lecture, but Taehyung at least hauls his ass towards the bathroom, stripping his clothes one by one, and dropping them behind him as he goes. Damn brat, Jimin thinks as he picks up each item of clothing, throwing them into the wash basket for when they next decide to actually do some laundry.

Living with Taehyung for the most part wasn’t all that bad for saying he’d once only been a friend of friend that Jimin only heard of in passing. But Sungjae had assured him that Taehyung was a decent guy. Possibly a little quirky maybe, but a decent guy none the less; and he’d just so happened to have his sights set on the same university as Jimin. Something that had made him the perfect candidate for being his roommate. This coincidence had ended with the two of them moving into the same apartment after a night out and too many shots of tequila.

Taehyung’s a performing arts student (who dabbled in art occasionally), with a dream of one day becoming Seoul’s finest actor, and possibly landing a leading role in the highest grossing movie of all time. A big dream, but not one that Jimin thought all that unachievable surprisingly – well maybe this opinion had come after he’d seen Taehyung act, but it was still the thought that counted, right?

Taehyung’s big smiles, warm hugs, with an addiction for physical contact, and anime. Not only that, but he’s an easy going soul, cheerful, and Jimin thinks he might have just found the perfect match in his mischievous personality.

Still, would be actor or not, Taehyung was a little messy, and maybe Jimin didn’t always find it that much endearing as he did annoying. But after he’d taken a hard look at himself, he’d come to realise they were probably just as bad as each other – just messy in different ways. Taehyung for one never picked up his clothes, and Jimin matched this by never leaving his shoes in the designated shoe rack, which meant they were both nearly always tripping over each other’s belongings. Taehyung also never replaced the loo roles, and Jimin always drunk the last carton of the milk in his efforts to maybe one day grow a little taller.

That being said, Jimin had just known Taehyung would be the perfect roommate after he’d been drenched in water from an overhead bucket falling millimetres’ shy of knocking him out as it followed the torrent of water raining down from above. It had apparently been Taehyung’s way of welcoming him when they’d first met up at the apartment, one that had nearly sent Jimin walking back down the hallway soaking wet to hail down a taxi home again.

It was swings and roundabouts, but they made it work between them somehow.

At least they’d managed to arrange the bedroom so as one of them was beside the light, and the other beside the window for optimum ease of access. It had cut out so much bickering that they’d been demoted to “young married couple” arguing status, instead of being at the “old married couple” arguing status they’d been at before.

Yeah, they were working on it – slowly.

“Hey Jimin!” Taehyung suddenly shouts, and Jimin turns to come face to face with a half nude Kim Taehyung standing there brushing a hand through his wet hair, and his face heats so quickly he worries that he may have given himself heat burn. “Do you mind if I use your towel to dry my hair off? My other ones in the wash”

Jimin can only nod in response, heart racing when Taehyung shoots him his famous gummy grin, and a quick “thanks bro” over his shoulder.

If only he could come up with a solution to his crush on Kim Taehyung where his heart didn’t get squashed in the process.

-X-

There are some days where Jimin wonders just why he did decide to choose dance as his major. It's hard work, with a surprising amount of the paperwork behind the scenes. The steps are complicated, and his only saving grace is that Hoseok is part of his course.

Although, sometimes he's not sure if that's a good thing or not…

Hoseok's beyond energetic when it comes to dance, and it's something that Jimin finds himself envying at times. Dance is truly Hoseok's life, and Jimin’s damn sure he's going to go far with it.

That aside Jimin can't currently feel his legs due to his last class which had lasted 6 hours too long. He takes it back. Damn Hoseok and his enthusiasm, he thinks while sliding down the door.

At least the apartment seemed to be empty for now. Taehyung no doubt had gone to one of his drama meet ups, or even an art convention in town. Either way, he’s looking forward to just being ugly by himself for a couple of hours with a decent boxset, and a bowel of salty crisps.

But then the door comes flying open, with a happy Taehyung entering in it’s wake an obnoxiously loud shout of “honey, I'm home~!” leaving his lips, and Jimin's plans go right out the window to fall to their death.

“Hey Jimin” Taehyung calls after spotting him on the sofa, vegging just like he'd intended.

He gives a strained noise of acknowledgment in return, and then shoves his head into one of their ratty cushions that they'd brought to make the sofa seem half decent.

“Have you been fed Myrtle?” Taehyung continues cheerfully, dismissing Jimin's lack of response; something he'd starting doing just after he'd realised that Jimin frequently danced to the point of fatigue.

Not that Jimin took it personally. Taehyung always made a point of fussing over his diet, taking the time to make sure he'd eaten properly, and checking that he was well hydrated at all times – even to the point of bringing additional bottles of water, and an array of various snacks to his dance competitions, and sometimes rehearsals. It was definitely something both Jimin, and his teammates found adorable, and very much appreciated.

“What? No, I thought you'd fed her this morning before you left” Jimin replies tiredly, lifting his head lazily, just enough so as he can look over the top of the sofa.

He sees Taehyung standing there with a frown, arms crossed, and that adorable little displeased frown resting on his face that only ever showed itself on two occasions. The first was when Jimin had neither eaten nor drank anything all day and he found out. The second, and more frequent, was when Jimin didn't take his turn in caring for their shared house plant (read: child).

Taehyung had at one time become obsessed with having a pet. He'd all but dragged Jimin around just about every pet store in Seoul in a desperate attempt to convince Jimin into agreeing on having one. But Jimin had stuck to his guns, sighing in exasperation while explaining that they could barely take care of themselves let alone a pet. With that said Taehyung had sulked for little over a week, before finally raising the idea of a house plant – to which Jimin had agreed. That was however, with the conditions that said plant was not poisonous, connected to drugs, or grew spikes (because lord knows Jimin didn't need the hassle of either one of them getting drunk and trying to dance with the damn thing).

All this had led to Myrtle, their aloe plant, joining the household.

Myrtle was a plant of simple needs, sunlight, a decent sized pot, and a sprinkle of water every couple of days. It was a perfect plant for a couple of university students who barely had their lives together. But Taehyung took the whole thing very seriously, and at times acted as though Myrtle was their first-born child rather than a small pot of fauna.

“Jimin! It was your turn!” Taehyung whines, rushing to their tiny kitchenette to grab a small jug of water for their plant.

Jimin watches him, eyes following his movements with a half lidded expression. The situation feels oddly domestic, Taehyung fussing about the place as he lies there on the sofa, watching his frantic actions. Almost like a husband and wife bustling about their everyday life in their less than perfect, but comfortable bubble.

“I'm sorry Tae” he calls softly, a smile already beginning to touch his lips at his own thoughts. “I'll remember to water her next time”

His apology seems to do little good, and by the time Taehyung's finished, Jimin finds himself being sat on as Taehyung drops down onto their already too small sofa. Ultimately, despite his fevered wiggling, he’s crushed between Taehyung’s backside, and the ironically hard cushions of their budget sofa.

“Ah, you heavy lump! What do you want?” Jimin whines, trying to shove the other boy off him, but to no avail. “I'm tired Tae! Tired, and damn sore” he then states, frowning when Taehyung ignore his cries, and instead moves on to rattle about something else.

“So I was thinking today” Taehyung starts, completely ignoring Jimin's plight as he sits quite happily atop of him.

“Huh, well that's never a good sign, is it?” Jimin mumbles, giving up on his struggle, and accepting his fate to be squished by his best friend and his bony backside.

“Rude” Taehyung quips in return, smacking Jimin's shoulder in warning before continuing. “As I was saying. I was thinking today about how to top my last prank on Namjoon”

“You mean the one where you feigned being murdered in cold blood while he was out innocently buying you milk for your poxy cereal?” Jimin chimes in again, raising an eyebrow sceptically.

“Yup! That's the one”

“Don't you think you should lay off the pranks for a while. Or at least maybe let the people around us have just little bit of rest bite before you try to mentally scar them again?”

“I don't know what you're talking about. Namjoon's fine, I saw him out with Seokjin just the other night tucking into one of those giant T-bone steaks they've got on offer at that steak house on the corner” Taehyung says, hurrying on as his makes wild gesture with his hands. “Anyway. Never mind that, this is serious business Jiminie! I was thinking, and thinking, on how to top my latest accomplishment”

“Terrible idea” Jimin retorts, resting his arm across his eyes.

“I was thinking, and thinking it over”

“Mm”

“And it suddenly just dawned on me!”

“Uh-huh”

“We should date!”

Jimin, after processing Taehyung’s words, manages to choke on his own spit somehow, and then promptly lurches forward until he's sat upright with Taehyung still sitting atop his legs shooting him a concerned look.

“Are you oka-”

“You're joking, right?” Jimin asks, ignoring Taehyung's well placed concern, and bats away the hand moving to ruffle his hair.

“Well we'd be pretending of course” Taehyung grins slyly, showing off those pearly teeth of his. “Between my expect acting, and impressive social skills, I’m sure we’ll easily have everyone else fooled into believing that we really are”

Jimin ignores that fact that Taehyung was apparently intending to give himself all the credit; it was honestly something that he’d come to expect in their whirlwind friendship born on the bed of pranking and playful bickering. Instead he zeros in on the real problem before them, the one that currently has his heart hammering like an inconsiderate builder working on a construction site at ass o’clock in the morning.

“So fake dating - that's essentially what you're asking for here, right?” Jimin clarifies hesitantly, hoping to God that this was just another one of Taehyung’s terrible ideas of joke.

Apparently not, he realises a second later when said boy breaks out into an amused smile, playfully shaking his head from side to side with a motion akin to a doll on strings. God dammit, he thinks dryly, flopping back down on the sofa again.

It's not that much of smart idea though, because seconds later Taehyung rearranges himself on the sofa, opting to instead hover over Jimin with a leg planted either side of his thighs. They're now in an incredibly promiscuous position, and Jimin's incredibly thankful that they'd never given out copies of the keys to their apartment; because no one on their floor seemed to have a scrap of discretion when it came to just waltzing into apartments unannounced.

“Aw, come on Jiminie~ It'll be fun - I promise! Just a little bit of fine acting, and the occasional hand holding” Taehyung presses, leaning ridiculously close to Jimin's face, so close that Jimin can count the eyelashes decorating his eyelids; and really, he can feel himself caving already under that hopeful expression.

Because in all honesty, he's never been all that good at saying no to Taehyung.

“It's not like it’ll be real” Taehyung adds a moment later, a soft smile pulling so effortlessly at his lips.

And there it is. Those small words that carry such a cold feeling shooting through his veins. The very words that leave him with such a lovely sense of awakening; a cold slap of reality. Of course it won't be real - because Taehyung doesn't really love him. At least, not in the way that Jimin so desperately wants him to.

But this, this charade that Taehyung’s proposing, well, it might just be the closest chance that he’ll ever have to the real thing. But to be honest, he’s always had been a gluten for punishment.

-X-

“You’re either insane, unbelievably desperate, or just really, really stupid” are the exact words Jeongguk graces him with when Jimin eventually cracks, and then blurts out Taehyung’s haired brained scheme.

Jeongguk, ever the master of tact, had always had been blessed with an alarming sense of perception; even to the degree where it was sometimes both a little unnerving, and just a tad annoying. So, it hadn’t been all that much of a surprised to Jimin when the boy had cornered him during lunch, immediately accusing him of “not being his usual self”; something which of course he’d fiercely denied.

However, Jeongguk, despite his many flaws, was a cute kid, one that Jimin had a hard time ignoring for very long. Thankfully those feelings didn’t extend to the length they did for Taehyung; if they did, then he’d be incredibly whipped for not one, but two ungrateful brats; and that doesn’t even bare thinking about. Jeongguk was adorable, but fortunately he didn’t have the power to get Jimin’s heart a fluttering like Taehyung did.

“Maybe I’m all three” he finds himself agreeing, taking a slurp from the gloopy concoction that sat in front of him; the same concoction that the lunch ladies serving behind the counter liked to call strawberry milkshake, Jimin still isn't convinced.

“There’s no maybe about it - you're beyond help” Jeongguk stresses, folding his arms in that way that always makes Jimin feel like punching him in the arm – damn kid was getting too big for his own boots.

What's worse is that Jeongguk happened to also be a dance manor like him. Not only that, but he just so happened to take the same art course Taehyung was on too. This meant the terrible twosome often concocted evil plans together, and generally wreaked havoc wherever they could. Jeongguk apparently admired Taehyung's free spirit, and Taehyung enjoyed the company of someone who was just as daring as he was.

Jimin on the other hand, often found himself playing mother to both of them more than he liked to admit – because heaven forbid Namjoon, Hoseok, or Yoongi had to get involved with such shenanigans. Plus, someone had to take over as mother hen since Seokjin had graduated last year…

“Ah, you don't get it!” Jimin cries, slumping over onto his folded arms, a meek attempt to bury himself into his jumper - the metaphor for the escape from his problem was apparently now the arms of his oversized hoodie.

“Honestly, how long have you been crushing on that dork now? 2 years? 3 years?” Jeongguk asks, sounding so damn smarmy as he quirks an eyebrow at Jimin's slumped form.

“Three years” Jimin mumbles back, lifting his head ever so slightly to peer at an unimpressed Jeongguk.

“Exactly” Jeongguk says, leaning his chin on his palm. “If you go ahead with this fake dating bullshit it's definitely going to end badly – for both of you. Although, this should have obvious from the beginning. You're honestly just asking for trouble”

“But I already agreed to it!” Jimin whines petulantly, pulling his lips into a plump frown. “He's going to think something's wrong if I back out now” he then adds, a nervous look flashing across his features, a look which clearly doesn’t draw an ounce of sympathy from Jeongguk, seeing as he only rolls his eyes before sighing dramatically.

“So? Just tell him you don’t want to do it. Taehyung’s hardly going to hold it against you. Sure, maybe he’ll demand you do something else. But he’s unlikely to end your friendship over it. He’s always coming up with these haired brained schemes anyway” Jeongguk tells him, taking a bite of the sandwich he’d brought earlier. “In fact, I’ll bet he’ll have already thought one up by the time you tell him you don’t want to go ahead with this one”

Jimin mules it over for a second, taking another long sip of his drink. Tell Taehyung he doesn’t want to go ahead with it, avoid the inevitable heartache, and spend the rest of his life wondering what it would have been like to have those hands cradling his. Or go ahead with it now, for however long Taehyung’s interest was piqued, and have a small slither of a moment basking in what it would be like to be cherished by the person who held his world.

Tough choice, he thinks to himself.

But this would likely be the only chance he’d ever get.

He knew full well that Taehyung held no romantic interest in him. It was beyond obvious from the way he ran about hollering “bro” at him at every chance he got. Not only that but Taehyung harped on about Girls Generation so much that Jimin knew almost everything about them, despite never actually having had that much of a vested interest in them.

Besides, he was hardly Taehyung’s type to begin with. What was it? A girl that seemed cold on the outside, but was actually incredibly warm hearted? Jimin hardly thinks he fit’s that. After all, Seokjin had referred to him as a puppy the other day. A puppy. Just about as close to a warm hearted, innocent, ball of sunshine you could possibly get.

No, this would be his one shot to experience to finally see just what it would be like to be something more in Taehyung’s life – and it was a chance he couldn’t afford to turn his nose up at. What could be better than getting to experience even just a moment of romance with the person you'd only ever dreamed of being with.

Even if it was for the pretence of a prank.

He decides to leave Jeongguk’s advice hanging in the air, unanswered and therefore unacknowledged.

-X-

Like with all things in life, Taehyung decides the best way is to dive in head first.

Being on different courses they're schedules don't always match up. But Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings are the only exceptions. So, it's not much of a surprise when Taehyung rips back the covers on his bed, while loudly calling “rise and shine bro” at the top of lungs - it's a nasty habit Taehyung had never quite grown out of ever since Jimin's alarm clock had died a watery death thanks to some prank that had backfired some months ago. He supposes he should also blame his lazy attitude for not bothering to just set the one on his phone.

“Godamnit Tae” he groans, rubbing his hands down his face. “I swear to God I'm going to brain you one of these days”

“You love me too much for that darling~” Taehyung calls back, grabbing a towel from the back of the door, and shimmying his way to the bathroom with far too much energy for a Monday morning.

It's then Jimin remembers the horror that is this particular Monday morning. This was the Monday morning that Taehyung had decided to start his dating prank; parting cheek kisses, and hand holding included. His cheeks are already beginning to burn at the thought, and he promptly buries himself back under the covers. He wasn't going to survive this; this might actually be the year that kills him. Should he say his goodbyes now, and write out his final will and testament for his meagre belongings and few last wishes?  

No, revenge sounds better.

Braving the cold of the apartment he slips into the kitchen, and listens to make sure the showers still running; which to his great delight it still is, because Taehyung always takes a good half an hour to wash up. Happy to find the object of his petty revenge is still in position he twists the tap on, waiting for a couple of seconds as the water rushes down the plughole, and mulls over the guilt of wasting water unnecessarily before turning it back off again.

Right on cue he hears the satisfying sound of Taehyung yelping from the bathroom, a high-pitched squeal (by Taehyung's standards) echoing through the apartment.

“Jimin!” Taehyung yells, sounding less than pleased regarding the suddenly gush of cold water that had obviously rushed through the shower head. “Why’d you turn the tap on?!”

“Oops! Sorry Tae! I forgot you were in there!” he calls back, trying his best to sound as apologetic as he can, which admittedly isn't much; but hey, Taehyung's the aspiring actor, not him.

Turns out that revenge really is a dish best served cold…

The whole thing was made even better by the fact that he'd already showered last night before going to bed, which meant Taehyung wouldn't have the pleasure of repeating his little cold water stunt later on. It looked like he might just be on a winning streak for today if he kept this up, he thinks to himself hopping up on the counter as he poured himself a bowl of cereal.

Taehyung liked to think of himself as the best when it came to pranking. Supposedly no one held his creativity, and daring personality. Jimin liked to think of it as Taehyung's insane side speaking, and more that he was rash rather than daring; especially when he brought up pranks involving Yoongi being doused in a bucket of syrup sat precariously a top his apartment door. Because if that wasn’t a stupid idea then Jimin didn't know what was.

“You did that on purpose” Taehyung accuses as he walks into the kitchen with a mop of towel dried hair, and a shirt 4 sizes too big hanging off his frame looking more like a dress than a shirt.

Jimin feels his mouth go dry, and his eyes immediately dart to the stretch of tanned skin inching up his thigh. Sometimes he's sure Taehyung does this on purpose. He's not shy when it comes to walking about the apartment half dressed like this. But as soon as someone other than Jimin stepped into the room, he's quick to made a distressed shriek and disappear from view. To this day he's unsure whether he should be honoured by Taehyung feeling comfortable enough to be half dressed in his presence, or suspicious enough to outright demand an answer to his behaviour.

“Maybe I did, maybe I didn't” Jimin replies, taking a nonchalant swig straight from the carton of milk still sat beside him; something he knows Taehyung deeply disapproves of.

“Jimin!” Taehyung cries right on cue, sounding aghast as he wrinkles his cute little face into the look his mother had made when he'd told her he was leaving to attend university in Seoul.

Ah, there's the look he'd been aiming for. Admittedly Taehyung looks a lot more attractive making that expression than his mother had; that, and Taehyung isn't going to hold a family meeting after making it. So, it's pretty much a win-win situation.

“I've told you about drinking the milk like that! It's gross! I have to use that milk too, and I don't want you contaminating it with your saliva!” Taehyung rages, taking the carton from him with a quick tug, which causes Jimin to splash more than a fair amount down the front of his t-shirt.

“Hey! Watch it” Jimin cries, rolling his eyes as Taehyung starts to wipe at the lid of the milk with his shirt. “Great, now this has got to go in the wash again” he mumbles, yanking his top up over his head with a pout. “You know, it's about time you did the washing for a change Tae. If I remember correctly, the last time you had a meeting with the washing machine was sometime last year”

When he receives no reply from his usually quick fire friend, he looks up, only to find Taehyung stood there gawping at him at in the middle of the kitchen. It's a funny sight, one Jimin was often a spectator to. Especially when the other boy was in a state of confusion of wonder. It was something their group of friends had coined as “Blank Tae” – a name given to Taehyung's state of open mouthed shock.

However, he's confused as to what had suddenly invoked that rather amusing state, and so he proceeds to launch his crumple up, freshly removed, shirt straight at him.

“Oi, wake up” he follows said action with, a raised eyebrow aimed straight at him.

It’s enough to have Taehyung floundering, hands snatching at the material before hurtling it to the floor; something which Jimin doesn’t at all appreciate in the slightest, because lord knows what activities had taken place on these very floors. These apartments were after all commonly used by university students – ones that likely knew nothing of the wonders of cleaning, and a good bottle of bleach.

“Go and get changed” Taehyung mumbles, turning away as he runs a hand through his hair distractedly. “My class starts in half an hour”

Jimin frowns, wondering just what the hell was up with the other boy. But none the less he does as Taehyung asks without another word. He likely was having another one of those last-minute panics about something for his end of term stage play; at least Jimin hopes that’s all it is.

Taehyung was known to fall into his little slumps from time to time. Jimin himself was pretty sure it was down to him being so hyped 24/7. His mind likely couldn’t keep up with his boisterous personally, and the episodes sometimes lasted for a couple of days at a time.

Hopefully it would be nothing a good ol’ boy’s night in wouldn’t cure. He’d talk it through with him, listen to him fret, and try to offer as much advice as he could, while taking the time to let him vent. Because he’s a good friend, and he knows that that’s all he’ll likely ever be in Taehyung eyes. So, if that’s the case, he’ll aim to be the very best friend he could ever ask for. At least maybe then Taehyung will always keep him by his side.

“Hey, are you done yet?” Taehyung suddenly asks, appearing in the doorway, already dressed up in a thin over jacket, and satchel bag thrown over his shoulder.

“Yeah, one second Tae – we don’t all wake up looking as fantastic as you y’know” Jimin replies sarcastically, grabbing his own backpack and slinging it over his shoulder.

“Well, hurry up darlin’ – times a wastin’~”

At least being bedside this idiot forever meant he’d never likely be bored.

-X-

For saying Taehyung had been so enthusiastic about this fake dating prank, he hadn’t really taken the time to discuss all that much with Jimin. The basic need to know information and general plan had consisted of: we’re dating, so lots of hand holding, the occasional kiss, and plenty of sexual innuendos. It was all very vague, and reeked of Taehyung’s typical attitude of wing it and hope for the best.

So Jimin’s not all that surprised when they stroll up to the rest of their group and he simply blurts “we’re dating” with a huge smile plastered across his face. He nearly face-palms, and if it hadn’t of been something that might have blown their already thinly veiled cover, he might just have done it. But thankfully one of them holds a small amount of discretion, so he simply plasters a smile across his face, and watches the varying looks of disbelief cross the faces of his friends.

All except Jeongguk that is. Their youngest friend simply shoots him a look of disappointment, rolling his eyes condescendingly when Jimin’s smile turns a little more awkward. He’s likely going to be on the end of the very boring lecture later.

For now, he just has to make sure that Taehyung doesn’t blow their cover.

“You’re… What?” Namjoon asks first, a look of confusion clouding his expression.

“Dating!” Taehyung chimes merrily in return, that familiar gummy smile resting on his lips so innocently as he lifts their entwined hands like it explains everything.

Namjoon, bless his soul, still looks very much confused, something that doesn’t surprise Jimin all that much. The older boy might be very deep, and not to mention wise, but at times like this his usually enlightened vision escaped him – which was something Yoongi obviously enjoyed pointing out on a regular basis.

“About time” Yoongi comments suddenly, rolling his eyes at the linked hands Taehyung’s still holding up for them all to see.

This seems to catch Taehyung off guard for a second, and Jimin literally feels him falter, their hands lowering as Taehyung makes a noise of the confusion at the back of his throat. An obvious suggestion for someone to explain.

Hoseok preens at them, grinning smugly as he ignores Taehyung's desire for clarity regarding Yoongi's comment, and he shows off his seemingly very happy reaction at the news of them dating. It's not all that surprising to see. Hoseok was a big fan of match making, and Jimin had heard many a times through the grapevine that Hoseok had been trying to match him up with several potential suitors.

“I so called this!” said boy grins, clapping his hands together excitedly. “Yoongi, you owe me 20 bucks!”

“What? You guys were betting on us?” Taehyung whines, eyes darting between their group of friends accusingly.

“Yeah, and you let me down kid” Yoongi frowns, handing over cash to his grinning boyfriend. “Never thought either of you had the balls to confess to be honest”

Jimin figures that this is moment where Taehyung declares the whole thing to be yet another one of his tricks. He can already imagine the mocking laughter, and round of twitching brows on the faces of his friends. But Taehyung doesn't crack, he simply continues to hold Jimin's hand and pout.

Which is odd. Because surely they've accomplished what they set out to do. Taehyung, but mainly him, had managed to convince them all that they were indeed dating, and they'd even exchanged money for pre-set bets; something he's still pissed about by the way. So what's holding Taehyung up?

“Seokjin wouldn't betray me like this!” Taehyung yelps, sending a petulant look Hoseok's way, and stamping his foot.

“Yeah, well Seokjin is too good for any of us anyway – including Namjoon” Hoseok says drying, shooting Namjoon a look.

“Hey!” Namjoon calls back, sounding just as offended as he should.

“That's why he abandoned us all after he finished university. Then he went off to start up a café – to finally realise his dreams” Hoseok finishes dramatically feigning tears, and clamping both hands to his face.

“Oh, how's that going by the way Namjoon? Last I heard his dad had given him a small loan to buy that old rundown store in town he had his eyes on” Yoongi asks, and just like the news of Jimin and Taehyung's budding relationship is forgotten.

But Jimin's still hanging onto the previous conversation, anxiously waiting for Taehyung to declare it all a farce.

Except, he never does.

Instead they both stand there, hand in hand among their friends, all listening attentively as Namjoon reels off how Seokjin had hired some builders, a couple of hundred pots of pain, and an eccentric project manager to do up his new business venture.

It's not like Jimin minds all that much. The feeling of Taehyung's large hands curled around his is a good feeling. They're warm, and solid against his own much smaller ones, and there's something almost protective about the way they cradle his.

But as great as the feeling is, it can't mask the ache gnawing at the bottom of his stomach. Nor does it drown out the voice at the back of head telling him that none of this is real, that he shouldn't get used to it.

And it certainly doesn't cover up for the fact that deep down, he's still clinging to that ever-familiar hope of “maybe one day this will be mine”.

-X-

Parties are not a surprising event that regularly occur. In fact, they’re something Jimin finds himself craving these days. He needs something to keep his mind off things for a while, and hey that was something a good party would more than likely provide.

So, when Yoongi rolls up into their local hangout at the burger joint just on the corner and announces that some guys in his music class are having a party down on the field outside their place, Jimin already knows he’s down for it. Supposedly they'd given Yoongi the nod to bring his friends along too; because the university rule was the more the merrier. Naturally, Taehyung chirps up that he's free as soon as Jimin casually slides in that he can go, and with that Yoongi's already turning his head for a decision from the other's.

It sounds like it's shaping up to be a good turn out too, as Namjoon hurriedly sends a text to Seokjin to take a night off from whittling over his café renovations; and Hoseok is obviously going since Yoongi's their entry ticket in. This just leaves Jeongguk, who shuffles awkwardly for a moment on spot. He's not much of a party animal, and would likely rather spend his evening on LOL destroying his enemies and bathing in their virtual blood – but Taehyung ramps up the charm, and it's not long before Jeongguk caves, an amused smile touching his lips when Taehyung leaps up in victory.

He's particular about his outfit, because naturally he wants to look good while shaking his prized booty out on the dance floor; something he's hoping there will actually be. But then Taehyung leaps out behind him while he's rummaging through his wardrobe for something decent to wear, and starts babbling about matching colour coordinated outfits, and he's so close to just straggling him there and then. They might be fake dating, but Jimin has to draw a line somewhere.

Speaking of which…

“Hey, Taehyung!” he calls, turning away from his wardrobe and wandering out into the lounge, the towel from his shower hanging loose around his neck.

He finds said boy sprawled across their ugly floral printed sofa, showing no signs of actually getting ready. Yet another thing Jimin despises about him sometimes. Taehyung could leave getting ready till the last second, and still walk out their apartment looking fabulous, and dressed to the nines. He had a feeling it was to do with the fact that Taehyung had connections to an array of model friends who often gifted him with high end label clothing. That, or it was the blessing of his annoying gift of being able to pull off any, and every, item of clothing known to man. He often found himself wondering why Taehyung hadn’t pursued a career in modelling instead.

“Hey, are you even thinking about getting ready?” Jimin asks, leaning against the doorframe, eyebrow raised.

A groan comes from the Taehyung shaped lump occupying the couch, and Jimin smiles at him fondly. Taehyung was such a lazy lump at times, but Jimin knew he'd still walk miles for him all the same. It was one of the reasons he both hated and loved him. Even standing there now he could feel his heart constrict with the longing to just walk around the sofa and plop a kiss on his mouth just because.

Such an action would destroy their friendship though, and Jimin was certainly not about the jeopardise that all for the sake of getting some lip on lip action.

He mind then grinds to a halt, reeling back to earlier when Taehyung had confessed to them dating. It had been playing on his mind all day, leaving him mentally spinning in circles as he tried to work out why Taehyung had never revealed the prank. After all, everyone had seemingly fallen for the ploy hook, line, and sinker. So why hadn’t Taehyung just come clean, and pulled the rug from under them?

Feeling slightly anxious, but mainly intent on getting answers, he decides to quell his curiosity and just ask.

“Hey, why didn’t you end the prank earlier?” he blurts, folding his arms across his chest, and trying his best to look the picture of casual. “They all seemed to fall for it after all, and I figured you’d be itching to come clean and burst their bubble about it for a chance to say you fooled them”

Taehyung actually seems surprised for a second as he lowers the hand he’d been hiding his face behind. But then his expression turns devious again, that playful smirk falling into place so easily, and he’s grinning once more in a way that showcases those gummy teeth of his.

“Well that would be too easy Jiminie~” he coos, rolling onto his stomach. “I want them to get all cosy with the idea before I go in for the kill”

Personally, Jimin’s never heard anything more ridiculous. But this is Taehyung’s plan, and he’s not about to disrupt the madness; because everyone knew that once Taehyung had something stuck on his mind there was no turning back.

“Right…” he agrees, sighing loudly before he fixes him with a stern look. “Well, that’s all well and good. But are you going to go and get dressed tonight, or are you waiting for tomorrow? Because at this point that’s when we’ll be leaving if you don’t go and get yourself sorted now”

“I'm going, I'm going” Taehyung whines finally, rolling over to fix Jimin with a sulky looking pout that would put even the moodiness of child to shame. “Hey, why are you not wearing the shirt I pick-”

“We're not wearing matching shirts Tae!” Jimin calls over his shoulder, marching back into the bedroom.

The party is of course packed by the time they roll up, a six pack of beer and two bottles of something alcoholic from the back of their cupboard in hand.

People have already complied a mound of god knows what, and have set it alight to create a lovely, if not more than likely illegal, bonfire for them drink around. Not only that, but inside people have started to fall into the rowdy part of the evening, and already Jimin can foresee a fight breaking out at some point.

Why does he even come to these events again, he wonders to himself, eyes scanning the crowd of people milling about.

“Hey! Jimin! Taehyung! Over here!” someone suddenly yells over the noise, distracting Jimin from the sight of a group of guys starting up a game of Concoctions; he has to look away when he spots one of them dropping what looks to be a piece of mouldy cheese into a glass.

Taehyung’s suddenly hurling him towards a quieter corner where Hoseok, Yoongi, Namjoon, Seokjin, and an uncomfortable looking Jeongguk are settled. Namjoon had been the one to call them over, and it looked like he’d already sorted them out with drinks, giving them an approving look when they slam down their own goods.

“Ah, finally something that Jeongguk does enjoy drinking” Yoongi comments, handing one of the cans from the six pack to Jeongguk. “Here, get that down you”

Jimin snorts at the exchange, taking a seat next to Namjoon, and grabbing a can for himself – something which earns him a sharp look of disapproval from Taehyung. Said boy did not enjoy beer. In fact, he semi hated the stuff, and instead went for the fancy watered down realms of pretty cocktails with the tacky paper umbrellas, and slices of lime balanced on frosted rims of the pretentiously shaped glasses they were often served in. Jimin himself had no interest in them, and always cringed when ordering in drinks on behalf of Taehyung. He’d just about crawled into his own skin in embarrassment after the time the words “one Chocolate Pornstar please” had left his mouth. What made it worse was that the guy serving behind the bar had quirked a lip in amusement in response to the order, which had only helped to further increase his humiliation. After all, who named a drink “Chocolate Pornstar” anyway?

Jimin shakes his head in an effort to dispel the memory from his head, cracking open his can to take a quick swig. It tastes bitter against his tongue, and leaves a familiar warm burn traveling down his throat when he swallows. It’s a good sensation, one he’s been craving all week, and within the comfortable presence of their small group of friends he feels content. The tension in his body slowly begins to relax, and he soon finds himself forgetting the paper he’s been agonising over for the last two weeks, along with Taehyung’s ridiculous ploy he’d been dragged into playing along with for three days now.

It’s probably due to this lapse he’d fallen into so willingly that he declines Taehyung’s request after gulping down two more cans.

Coyly, as Taehyung often is, the boy leans over into his space, lips brushing against his ear in a way that has his skin tingling, a feeling of nerves tickling his stomach playfully. The younger boy’s breath is hot against him, movements purposeful as he skims his fingers up from his knee to mid-thigh. He’s acting, he has to be, all for the sake of his scheme. But even then, it feels so real that a bubble of disappointment fills inside of him leaving him aching in a way that has him frowning.

“Hey” Taehyung says softly, eyes staring at him from under that brim of dark eyelashes. “You wanna go and dance?”

Jimin can only mentally groan, eyes lifting to stare at the crowd of people who had steadily congregated in the middle of the room, bodies sliding against each other sensually in time with some heavy base song blasting through a set of speakers. It looks like a lot of effort right now, and as much as Jimin loves to drop it low and have a good time shaking his booty about. Well, right now he’d rather just chill out in the corner they seemed to have commandeered, surrounded by alcohol and good company. That, and he’s distinctly aware that Taehyung is likely just looking for another chance to flaunt their fake relationship, just to cement it little more in the face of their still unsuspecting friends.

“Not now Tae” he says, offering a smile to the other boy, hoping that Taehyung won’t take his refusal too personally. “Maybe later, yeah?”

He fully expects Taehyung to fight him on the matter; because lord knows Taehyung is about as stubborn as a mule at times. So, it’s no surprise when he finds himself on the receiving end of that oh so familiar pinched frown, lips curling into a displeased pout as he pushes the issue.

“But Jimin” Taehyung stresses, eyes widening as he tries to subtly hint at something; that something being the opportunity to drape themselves over each on the dancefloor no doubt. “C’mon, it’ll be fun – I promise”

Yeah, fun for Taehyung when he eventually gets the satisfaction of rolling about with laughter because he’d tricked the others once again – minus Jeongguk, who was already painfully aware of this madness. Not so fun for Jimin as he subtly tries to hide his burning cheeks, and fantasies of something more.

“Leave him be Taehyung. He already said not now” Hoseok laughs, rolling his eyes at round two of Taehyung pouting. “Why don’t you find Minjae – I’m sure I saw him loitering about the drinks table earlier”

Jimin pauses at that, mind reeling as he thinks about the same Minjae who had been pining after Taehyung for little over a year now. The boy was a year younger than Taehyung and himself, and shared drama classes with Taehyung, and had once played a love interest to him when their drama teacher had wanted to apparently “mix things up” during last year’s stage production. Obviously, it had been a very stressful time for Jimin as he’d sat watching the two rehearse their lines on the sofa, both of them sat conveniently opposite each other knee to knee. He’s got to salvage this situation while he can.

“Ah, you don’t have to Tae-” he goes to say, hand already reaching to grab his sleeve, but it’s too little too late.

“Fine. At least Minjae will dance with me” Taehyung abruptly says, his cheeks looking a tad flushed under the dim lighting; and honestly, the other boy hadn’t even had all that much to drink yet.

There again, Taehyung wasn’t exactly known for being able to hold his alcohol all that well anyway.

But with that said, Taehyung makes his exit, stalking off into the crowd of people, and stumbling his way through. Jimin wants to face palm, and not for the first time this evening.

“Wow, only a few days in and you two are already having lover’s spats” Yoongi comments from over the rim of his drink, accompanying the snide remark with a low whistle.

Hoseok of course, never one to miss the opportunity to giggle, laughs at the comment before nudging Jimin’s side playfully while Jimin cringes.

“I wouldn’t worry about it Jimin. Taehyung will be back in no time once he’s got a little more alcohol in his system” Seokjin tells him, a motherly sort of smile following, because Seokjin was always the one to soothe situations when it called for it.

Jimin reckons he's likely right. Taehyung always did have a habit of wandering back to them when he was sufficiently drunk. With that in mind he throws back the remainder of his can and swiftly reaches for another from a fresh pack Yoongi had pilfered on his last excursion to the kitchen.

It's a little after 12, and halfway through a heated game of Pennies when Jimin next spots Taehyung drunkenly stumbling towards him while carrying a glass full of something suspiciously pink. He can already make out his flushed cheeks, and half lidded expression from across the room, added to that he's pretty sure he's drunk way over the usual limit that Jimin allows for, which means getting him home is going to fun. By that he means a nightmare.

Drunk Taehyung was cute, but he was also awkward as fuck when he didn't get his way. Jimin would rather deal with moderately tipsy Taehyung over drunk Taehyung any day.

That being said, it didn't look like he had much of choice considering that said boy had just made eye contact with him across the room.

“Jimin!” he hears him cry, arms both flying up into the air, before he snags Minjae’s sleeve to tug him over to their corner.

He braces himself for a hyper active, and ridiculously clumsy, Taehyung to come cannon balling himself back into his life with all the force his intoxicated body can muster. But instead, Taehyung stumbles his way over and then drops himself very ungracefully into Jimin's lap giggling like a child, and weaving his hands into his hair. The touches are soft, far more gentle than Jimin would have assumed them to be, and despite the fevered look Taehyung’s currently sporting, he can still see a glimmer of affection shining in his eyes.

“My Jiminie~” he coos, giving him an affection smile that has Jimin's stomach fluttering with surprise.

He's drunk, he reminds himself quickly, adjusting his hands to Taehyung hips to keep him steady, and somewhat balanced in his lap. At least that's the excuse he gives for his best friend’s current behaviour, especially when he feels a pair of wet, sticky lips pressed against the side of neck. The sensation makes him jump, hands momentarily losing their grip. The action nearly causes him to drop Taehyung in the process, and can already hear both Hoseok, and a suddenly rowdy Jeongguk whooping and cheering in the background.

Their racket must spur Taehyung on, because as Jimin pulls back to yell at Taehyung, and maybe get him to stop with the kitten kisses, he gets a full-on set of lips smashing messily against his own, and the taste of his last cocktail is suddenly invading his mouth; and it’s the worst combination of sickly sweet sugar and sharp fruity aftertaste Jimin’s ever experienced. It's not exactly completely terrible, for saying Taehyung's drunk and he's maybe a little tipsy. But it's still not exactly what Jimin would call the most co-ordinated of kisses.

But more than that he's hurt. Hurt because Taehyung's taken this whole thing way too far, and it has to stop – right now.

Mainly out of pure instinct, Jimin pulls his hands from Taehyung like he's been burned, and that alone causes the boy in his lap to teeter dangerously. But then, rather than steadying him, Jimin shoves his hands against his chest to push him away from him, sending him tumbling to the floor with a heavy thud. There's a faint squeak from his friend as he goes down, and then a low groan after he hits the floor, but both are barely audible over the noise rattling from the speakers. However, Jimin had slowly come to find himself subtlety attuned to Taehyung, and so he still manages to catch the noises despite his current shock.

The rest of their friends are slowly start to react, and Jimin finds himself quickly sobering up even though he'd downed various alcoholic drinks including over 5 cans of beer, and several shots of something far too fruity. Hoseok blindly reaches for Taehyung, Namjoon helping to pull him upright. But their fallen friend doesn't seem interested in the help right now, and instead of offering his thanks once he's back on his feet, he turns a set of angry eyes directly at Jimin.

“Wha’ did you do that for?” he slurs, taking a stumbled step backwards as he sways, no doubt feeling a little off centre from the quick change in positions.

The feeling of all eyes on him, including Minjae's accusing judgemental stare, is enough to have Jimin panicking. Because technically Taehyung and he are still pretending to be madly in love, and more than likely, despite being drunk off his ass, Taehyung is still playing his part too.

So, in their eyes Jimin has no reason to push Taehyung away; even if he was currently having an internal crisis within himself, and he really doesn't want to deal with the questions right now. In fact, he doesn't want to deal with anything right now. But more than that, he doesn't want to deal with the look of hurt that is fast beginning to dawn in Taehyung's eyes. Which is strange, because shouldn't Taehyung be angry with him rather than upset?

It's too messy, and far too complicated to think about right, especially with his drink addled mind.

So, with that decided he makes a coward’s exit, and bolts off towards the door without a word, dashing away from the scene he'd caused, and pushing his way through the crowds of people clogging up the make shift dance floor.

He'd deal with the bullshit that was no doubt going to arrive in his lap tomorrow when his head was a little clearer.

-X-

It shouldn't surprise him when said bullshit doesn't wait till morning.

He'd managed to successfully stumble his way home, something he'd been fairly proud off despite the swimming sensation clogging his mind. But alcohol had a funny way of catching up with you, and so he'd forgone the task of getting changed, and had instead simply kicked off his shoes and collapsed in the nearest bed to sleep tonight's nightmare off. He wished movies wouldn't make getting drunk so glamorous, because it certainly wasn't.

Combined with the emotional shit that had come with Taehyung kissing him, he felt like he'd been hit by a train due to the long walk back. Not only had he nearly twisted his ankle by falling off the pavement multiple times, but also he'd stumbled into a hedge a handful of times too and was now wearing half a bush.

So, he's not quite as eloquent as he maybe should be when Taehyung comes wandering into the room with misty eyes, rosy cheeks, and hands softly shaking him from the realms of an alcoholic coma. His first instinct is to shout at him, maybe tell him to leave him alone. But as he opens his mouth to do just that, Taehyung beats him to it.

“Jiminie, you're in my bed…” he says meekly, seemingly already knowing that something is wrong, and that maybe he's the reason for it.

The gently spoken accusation has Jimin pausing though, sitting up to stare about the room. It's not difficult to realise that even in the dark gloom he's in the wrong bed. His is by the light switch, within perfect reaching distance, and Taehyung's is by the window – which is exactly where he currently is.

“Ah, right” he finds himself saying, hurriedly pushing back the covers to make his escape. “Sorry, I'll move”

Taehyung shakes his head, tousled hair falling into his eyes, and Jimin pauses, watching as he moves to sit on the back, his back to him.

“Taehyung, what are yo-” he starts, wanting nothing more to just roll into his own bed and go back to sleep.

He's irritable, a little volatile in the feelings department, and right now he can't guarantee that he won't lash out if Taehyung does or says the wrong thing.

“Did I do something wrong Jimin?” Taehyung asks mournfully, tilting his head to stare at the floor.

He looks the picture of lost, lost and drunk. The wet eyes, and mussed hair don't help, and Jimin's beginning to feel the tell-tale signs of guilt bubbling up inside of him.

“You kissed me Taehyung” he says softly, curling his fingers into Taehyung's sheets as his own words stir the memory of Taehyung settled in his lap like he belonged there, with his arms gripping him tight enough to make it look like he never wanted to let go.

He catches sight of the other boy’s lower lips quivering before he sinks his teeth into the flesh, and takes a deep breath through his nose.

“T-that, that didn't mean anythin’ Minnie” Taehyung tells him, swinging a leg up onto the bed, his hand making a grab for Jimin. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It didn't mean anything!” he begs, gripping Jimin's hands tightly as he stares at him with wide eyes.

It's funny though, because Jimin feels like if those hands weren't there he might actually fall away. That dull ache, formed by his own insecure thoughts, the same one he'd been carrying around with him since the start of the week has finally managed to chink his armour, and pierce through the most sensitive part of his soul with the help of those words. Taehyung might as well have just punched him through the chest, and shattered his heart. Because right now, he figures the pain might just have rivalled that. Hell, it might have even hurt a little less compared to what he was feeling at that moment!

To hear someone you love so dearly say something like that, to say that something that meant so very much to you say that it didn't mean anything. It just hurt too much, and what was worse, he couldn't even tell Taehyung that without running the risk of ruining their entire friendship. Because clearly he didn't mean anything to Taehyung beyond the realms of friendship. If he did, then he wouldn't have said something like that so easily…

“Just… Just drop it Taehyung” he struggles to say, the lump in his throat aching as he tries to hold the tears back. “I'm okay”

He can't afford to let Taehyung see him cry, otherwise he'd never hear the end of this conversation until said boy got to the bottom of exactly what was wrong. He'd sleep on it, and maybe think it all over in the morning. Then after mulling it over for a while, he’d get over it all over again, and they could move on, and pretend this had never even happened.

“No!” Taehyung cries abruptly, causing Jimin to pull back and stare at him in surprise. “No, something's not right. You're not okay” he insists, grabbing Jimin's hands again, and cradling them between his own. “I can't just let it go when you're not oka-”

The problem with bottling things for so long, is that eventually that bottles going to fill to the point where you can't fill it anymore, and when that happens it overflows, the contents spilling over the brim and escaping for everyone to see.

Jimin's bottle had finally hit that point.

“You kissed me Taehyung! In front of everyone! You kissed me!” he yells, voice rolling across the room with a strained roar, thick with emotion.

But then it dies, echoing out into nothing, leaving behind a stunned Taehyung, and shaking Jimin still bathing in the aftermath of his explosion. For a moment there's only silence, the two taking in Jimin's rage, absorbing it like dried sponges. But then Taehyung's reacting, tears spilling from his eyes like someone turned on a tap.

He doesn't have the energy to deal with it. Taehyung often soaked up all his energy on just a normal day. He was bright, and bouncy, full of life, and it drained Jimin down to empty sometimes. But having been disturbed from sleep, and upset to boot after an evening full of partying, Jimin just can't muster the strength to have a full-on heart to heart with a drunk Taehyung to explain himself.

So, he lies back down, fully aware that he's still in Taehyung's bed. But fuck it, Taehyung can have his for the night, and they'll deal with all this tomorrow.

“I… I'll go” Taehyung whispers softly, still snuffling through his tears, and hiccupping around his words meekly.

Jimin pulls the covers up over his head, burying himself both in blankets and his own distraught feelings. Is this what it feels like to be rejected, he wonders, listening to the soft shuffling as Taehyung stumbles from the room, the sound of a door opening and closing echoing through his head far too loudly.

Because if it is, Jimin never wanted to fall in love again.

-X-

It’s still early when he next wakes, the sound of morning birds that would have normally driven him insane tweeting away cheerfully. Yet despite such a cheery morning wake up, one that would have had Disney rolling about in envy as the morning sun beams warm rays of sunlight onto his bed sheets, he still finds that he just can’t stay settled within the warm security of his bed.

Last night’s events were still playing heavily on his mind, and it wasn't like trying to sleep it off had done all that much good; despite the lies he'd tried to talk himself into. He briefly wonders whether it's plaguing Taehyung too; seeing as they were both cursed to always remember the night before, whether they wanted to or not. No amount of alcohol ever seemed to wash away the aftertaste of stupid decisions made with a drunk mind.

Still, he remembers that Taehyung isn’t even here right now. Despite himself he can still clearly remember the broken sound of the other boy announcing his departure like the dejected male lead in some tragic romantic drama. Even just remembering the way Taehyung had sounded, so desperate for him to hear him out, makes Jimin feel like utter shit. Because they just don’t fall out.

They bicker, fuss, and argue - but they never fight. It’s just not them to push to the point of not speaking, because someone always caves and apologises. It’s either that, or Taehyung leaves and later returns with an armful of treats and hopeful expression as he asks if he wants to watch a movie.

So, for Taehyung to leave, and then not come back at all… It just doesn’t feel right, and it’s a thought that lights a fire of anxiety within the depths of his stomach.

Instinctively he reaches for his phone, typing out a quick text asking if anyone had seen him, and then sends it as a group text to the usual suspects in their small circle of friends – excluding Taehyung of course. He doesn’t even think the other boy would reply if he had extended the message to him, and honestly, Jimin isn’t ready to deal with that level of rejection right now. He’s thinking of maybe dropping down to the local café and grabbing the biggest strawberry tart he can find, and maybe a bottle of that sugary soft drink Taehyung is always craving before he goes to find him. At least then it’ll be him who has a peace offering.

He’s at the point of grabbing his jacket when his phone pings, a single message from Seokjin explaining that Taehyung had crashed down the hall at Namjoon’s place after turning up teary eyed on the doorstep. It’s not all that surprising, and Jimin smiles fondly at the text as he imagines a flustered Namjoon answering the door to a sniffling Taehyung.

Realising he’s a strawberry tart short, Jimin still decides to go and collect his absent friend all the same. Seokjin no doubt had been looking forward to spending some quality time with his boyfriend, and there was no chance of that happening with Taehyung moping about Namjoon’s apartment like a lost child. Seokjin’s motherly instincts would no doubt automatically kick in, and Namjoon would likely find himself resigned to the sofa while Seokjin, and Taehyung talked it out on his bed.

Unsurprisingly, it’s Seokjin who answers the door, a finger pressed to his lips, and wearing a fluffy pale pink bath robe. He’s as handsome as ever, even though it’s still pretty early, and he offers Jimin one of those warm smiles that makes Jimin a tad homesick for his mother’s affectionate embraces. Slowly he opens the door for him, guiding him inside, and gesturing to the sofa to the far side of the room.

“He showed up late last night with a face full of tears, and babbling about upsetting you. Namjoon nearly turned him away thinking it was just part of another one of his pranks. But then Taehyung burst into tears all of sudden and he panicked. You know Namjoon’s always had a soft spot for Taehyung after all; despite not knowing what to do when it comes to tears” Seokjin explains with a soft chuckle. “He didn’t have a clue what to do with him, so I took over and sat him down. Couldn’t get a word of sense out of him though. I figured you two had just had a petty fight over something. But then he said he couldn’t go back to the apartment, so I told him to make himself comfy on the sofa, and threw a couple of blankets over him. Next thing I know he was out like a light”

“Ah, I’m sorry…” Jimin offers, rubbing the back of his neck distractedly as he stares at Taehyung’s sleeping face. “It’s my fault, I shouldn’t have gone off on him like that. Especially since we were both still drunk”

Seokjin’s expression softens, almost as though he knows more than he’s letting on; and really, it wouldn’t surprise Jimin all that much if he did. Out of all them, minus Yoongi, Seokjin was likely the most perceptive when it came to other people. He was quiet most of the time, and studied people from a distance. Combining that with his already vast experience of life, he excelled beyond the rest of them easily when it came to understanding delicate situations.

He’d likely already sussed the situation between Taehyung and him.

“Honestly, what do we do with the two of you” Seokjin comments with a sigh. “This is your second fight in space of a day right? First at the club, and now this? I mean it’s healthy to fight, but not to this extent. If you keep it up, you’ll be announcing your break up sooner than you think”

Jimin almost chokes on his own spit when he catches the knowing wink Seokjin sends him.

“Y-you know about the prank, right?” he asks, body tensing subconsciously under Seokjin’s perceptive look beaming down at him.

“Don’t look so shocked” Seokjin chuckles, hiding his laugh elegantly behind his hand, before breaking into a sly smile instead. “Taehyung told me last night. It was about the only thing he said that actually made some kind of sense” he admits, causing Jimin to deflate a little bit. “I don’t think he meant to say it in all honesty. But he suddenly blurted it while he was babbling about you two fighting”

“Yeah” Jimin says, sighing himself as he turns to look back at the still sleeping boy on the sofa. “Taehyung never really was good with actual arguments. I remember when Yoongi snapped at him that time. I thought he was going to burst into tears. He’s a great actor, but when it comes to real emotions I don’t think he knows quite how to deal with them”

“Well, you might be right there” Seokjin agrees softly, folding his arms across his chest resolutely. “Are you going to take him back to your place?” he then enquires, quirking an eyebrow at him. “I think Namjoon’s getting a little anxious over the thought that he might end up sulking around here all day”

At that Jimin laughs, briefly imagining a paranoid Namjoon on the lookout all day for one of Taehyung’s crudely crafted pranks. He guessed he should probably spare the poor guy from that, or else Namjoon might actually end up with that aneurysm he’s promised was fast forming.

“I better take him off your hands then” he laughs, gently moving across to kneel next to the sofa, his hand settling in Taehyung’s hair affectionately. “Tae” he calls, carding his fingers through the unkempt locks of his hair.

He seems to be still dressed in last night’s clothes, the faint smell of booze, and stale cigarettes clinging to him like a break-up gone wrong; and Jimin can easily spot the smear of old eyeliner streaking down his cheek where he’d clearly rubbed it against the pillow propped under his head during his sleep. In truth, he looks a mess, and definitely doesn’t live up to the usually excellently dressed Taehyung that he’s used to. But it seems that that’s just a credit to how upset he’d obviously been.

Ah, there goes the guilt again…

Having been roused by his call Taehyung slowly begins to stir, his eyelashes fluttering against his cheeks like a set of jet black wings. He grumbles softly, attempting to roll over again until Jimin laughs, and places a palm flat against his stomach to stop him. That seems to get his attention, and in an instant Taehyung's spinning over in his tightly wrapped burrito blanket bundle.

Jimin forces an awkward smile to his face when he meets Taehyung's curious eyes, attempting to act as normal as he can, so as not to spark the memory of last night. The last thing he needs is to make a scene in front of Seokjin.

But Taehyung drops his gaze quickly, shuffling into an upright position, with a soft “good morning” falling from his lips. Already Jimin can sense the unfamiliar presence of a wall of awkwardness forming between them. His heart drops at the uneasiness hiding within Taehyung's actions. It's painfully unfamiliar to him, and he finds himself wanting to call him out on it, and yet not wanting to push the situation in case he only elevated it.

Besides, now was clearly not the place to base a potential argument.

So, he bites his tongue, offering a watered-down version of his usual smile, and waits for Taehyung to gather himself together. Through some twisted sense of irony, Taehyung must feel the same, and so he doesn't waste any time either. The general consensus seemed to be to get it together, thank Seokjin, and leave. Although, for once that verdict hadn’t been reached via their usual on point eye contact conversations, but instead from the painfully obvious awkward air they both so clearly wanted to escape from.

“You off then Taehyungie?” Seokjin asks, smiling softly as Taehyung runs a hand through his hair bewilderedly.

“Oh, uh, yeah. Seems like it” Taehyung replies softly, keeping his head low. “Thank you for letting me stay the night” he adds, sounding so unusually shy that Jimin has to do a double take from behind him.

But it doesn't faze Seokjin. The older boy merely smiles, reaching to ruffle Taehyung's bed head affectionately.

“You're welcome Tae” he tells him. “I'll see you both later”

With that said they both trail out, and Jimin makes sure to thank Seokjin again as he leaves. Yet even once they're alone together, Taehyung still doesn't say anything. As soon as they're back within their own apartment he escapes to have a shower, and for once doesn't leave his clothes littered about the floor. It's almost eerie, and so very unlike their usual dynamic.

Jimin wants to just storm into the bathroom and demand that Taehyung talk to him. But something tells him that that wouldn't go down so well with the other boy, and instead he stands feeling a little useless in their open kitchen.

Was this how it was going to be now? Both of them skirting about each other like love struck teenagers – minus the love-struck part obviously, because it was obvious that Taehyung didn't feel that way for him.

He's so wrapped up thinking about a life of silence with Taehyung, that he doesn't notice that said boy has even finished with his morning soak, and had wandered back into the room wrapped up in one of the fluffy fresh towels.

“Hey” Taehyung calls, causing Jimin to jump back against the counter.

He stares at him stood there, looking at him like a stranger, and it's so painfully obvious that there's a giant wall forming between them; and with every second that passed it seemed that another brick was added. It's heart wrenching in the worst kind of way, and makes Jimin worry drastically, because they lived together, and they honestly couldn't afford to be acting like this towards each other. But here they were, Taehyung staring nervously at him, hair dripping wet, and scattering droplets of water across the floor, and Jimin gazing back him regretfully, wishing that he could say something that might fix the problem.

“Did you feed Myrtle?” Taehyung asks softly, voicing something so familiar in such an unfamiliar tone; and a small part of his heart just breaks.

Despite himself he drops his gaze to the floor, hand gripping the counter till his knuckles turn white. He can't bare to look at him.

“No… I didn’t”

-X-

Just as he'd expected things with Taehyung don't just return to the way they were before. Where laughter, pranks, and a constant stream of chatter once were has now been replaced with sparse glances, empty beds, and a vast silence deeper than the sense of regret Jimin feels..

More often than not Taehyung is gone from the apartment, and had even taken to staying elsewhere during the evening too. It meant Jimin had found himself alone with too much time to think and not enough social contact. In the end, he'd found he couldn't stand the unfamiliar silence anymore, and he'd relocated to Yoongi and Hoseok's place, with a flimsy excuse of wanting to go over his dance thesis with Hoseok just so he wouldn't have to face the fact that Taehyung couldn't stand be alone in the apartment with him.

It hurt to even think about it. Because clearly Taehyung was upset, but Jimin had realised that technically he'd had no reason to be in the end. Taehyung didn't like him in a romantic sense, and had himself said that the kiss meant nothing. Which would mean that the argument should have meant nothing to him as well. In Taehyung's mind it should have just meant they'd apologise, and then move on like they always did.

So why was he avoiding him to the point of vacating his own home? The question drives him mad, leaving him sitting on their ratty ass sofa alone mulling it over, and over, and over until he can't stand his own thoughts any longer. But then a sudden spark of realisation hits him one morning while he's reaching into the top shelf of the cupboard for a new box of cereal, poised on his tiptoes and refusing to use the mini stool Taehyung had purchased in a petty attempt to both help him and point out the fact that he was short as fuck without actually having to voice it.

What if Taehyung had figured out that he had feelings for him?

Jimin's blood runs cold at the thought, his fingers freezing in their fight to hook a finger at the base of the box he's reaching for. It would make sense, he realises. Taehyung could have finally put two and two together, and gathered that the reason he'd freaked out and shouted at him like he had was because he liked him. So, it was only natural that Taehyung kissing him, and obviously not meaning to, would have been an issue for him. Because to Jimin something like that was basically like dangling the forbidden fruit in front of him, and then snatching it away, leaving him to only imagine what it would taste like for real.

The more he thinks on it, the more it makes sense. He falters again, twisting round to lean against the worktop, any thoughts of grabbing something to eat now forgotten. He doesn't think he can face eating when something like this is weighing so heavily on his mind.

If Taehyung really had worked it out, then that would mean he was now likely feeling awkward about being around him, seeing as he didn't like him in return, and so he was therefore avoiding him so that he wouldn't have to face the issue. Which again, would make sense for Taehyung, because damn did that kid like to avoid his problems like the plague; that was until some sucker like Jimin forced him to confront them.

Although, this could all be untrue. He had no easy way of knowing for sure if Taehyung even had realised how he felt; unless he grew the balls to ask him. His imagination could simply be running wild due to his panic, and he could be working himself up for nothing. Yet even so, Jimin couldn't help but work his way through every possible situation just in case.

What if Taehyung didn't want to see him again for example? Or what if they stopped being friends over it?

What if Taehyung decided to move out?!

The utter panic he'd been feeling before tenfolds in what feels like seconds, and before he even knows what's happening the room feels too warm, his heads spinning, and the floor comes rushing up to meet him as his legs buckle from underneath him. He's left crouched on the floor, heart racing in his chest as he frantically gasps for air.

“Calm down Jimin!” he shouts at himself mentally, grasping for past information he vaguely remembered being told in health class years ago. “Breathe” he tells himself, trying slowly to take a few long gulps of air. “You're getting worked up over nothing”

It's a pained process, one that takes a while, as he begins to regulate his breathing back to a bearable level. But eventually he's sat on the tiled floor, hand in hair, and finally back to regular respiration, blankly staring at the ground while wondering just what the hell had happened.

He's shaken, never having felt so scared in his life by the threat of either passing out, or actually dying from lack of air to his lungs. It's only natural that he's not so sure that he wants to be alone right now.

Maybe it was time he actually spoke to Taehyung.

-X-

He doesn't go and see Taehyung in the end. The thought of facing him had overwhelmed him by the time he'd gotten himself dress, and out the door.

Instead he makes his way to Hoseok and Yoongi's room once more, intent on staying there for a while, or just until he got his head together. At first they don't seem to mind him lazing about their sofa, flicking through the TV channels distractedly, not really taking much interest in anything that's on.

However, like all things, their patience thins, and eventually comes to an end.

“You know, you may be my friend Jimin, and I'm all for being one of the most loyalist of people. But even I have my limits you know” Yoongi tells him, a judgmental look heavy in his eyes as he stares at him from where he’s sat at his laptop on the sofa. “Plus Hoseok, and I were planning on having a date night tonight, so I don’t want you hanging around while we’re having se-”

“Oi!” Hoseok shouts, eyes glaring at Yoongi from the kitchen where he’s fetching three glasses of what Jimin hopes is something stronger than the cola he’s been serving up all afternoon.

He can’t stand the stuff right now; it’s reminding him far too much of the bottle sat back home on the counter which explicitly belongs to Taehyung.

“Gross…” Jimin mutters in return, taking the glass from Hoseok, which true to his fears is another cup full of cola. “I really don’t want to know about what you get up to behind closed doors”

“I take offence to that!” Hoseok cries sounding more than a little offended. “I’ll have you know that there is nothing remotely gross about our sex life” he declares, taking a measured gulp of his drink as though to cement the statement.

But then Yoongi chuckles behind his hand, eyes dancing mischievously as he utters a quiet “pretty sure what we did the other night would be considered gross” – and at this point Jimin is beyond done with the two of them.

“Urg, please spare me” he groans, covering his ears dramatically. “I really don’t need to know”

Hoseok rolls his eyes at him, placing his glass down on the table as he narrows his eyes at Jimin critically. It’s a sign that Jimin’s about to get the third degree about something, and already he can feel himself starting to curl inwardly. It’s almost as though he’s about to get a scolding from his mother…

“Have you spoken to Taehyung yet?” Hoseok asks, apparently trying to sound as casual as he can, but Jimin’s no fool, and he can sense the prying tone that hides beneath.

Being the mother hen that Seokjin was, he'd made sure that the others had been aware of the growing void between Taehyung and Jimin, and had given strict orders for them to help out where they could. Jimin was only aware of these orders because Jeongguk was a little brat, and didn't like to think that he was being bossed about. So, he'd spilled the beans during Jimin's last excursion over to his place.

“No” he replies quickly, and goes to try and change the subject so as to avoid talking about Taehyung, but Hoseok clearly premeditates his move, and stops him before he can.

“Well you should” the older boy tells him firmly. “You can’t just keep hiding out here expecting things to blow over. You two clearly have some unresolved issues for whatever reason, and you need to at least try and corner him into talking about them”

“I’ve tried to!” Jimin finally snaps, gritting his teeth as the regret sets in. “But he’s never around, and bolts for the door the second I try and brooch anything. Hell, he’s pretty much avoiding me as much as I am him; but unlike me, he’s not really being all that subtle about it”

At that Hoseok at least seems to look a little pitying; not that it’s what Jimin was going for with his little outburst. But he guesses it beats being lectured.

However, he soon backtracks on that statement a second later when he catches Hoseok shooting a look Yoongi’s way. It’s as though they’re speaking with just their eyes, having some kind of silent conversation that he’s clearly not privy too. It’s the sort of thing that Seokjin, and Namjoon used to do, the sort of thing that would have in the past made Yoongi roll his eyes too. But here they are doing the same thing. Jimin guesses it’s a credit to just how far their relationship had come. It’s also beginning to make him feel like a third wheel…

He realises with a crushing sense of jealousy that he’s envious.

He’s always wanted that connection with someone, and it’s something he’d once thought that he shared with Taehyung. Because for all their frequent bickering, they really did tend to be on the same wavelength most of time, always finishing each other’s sentences, and seeming to just automatically fall in sync with each other. It was as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The thought that they might have lost that just tears him apart.

“I think I’m goanna head back” he says softly, rising from the sofa slowly. “I’ve got to finish that paper”

He pretends to miss the worried expressions that flicker across both Yoongi and Hoseok’s faces, and instead focuses on the door, and the promise it lends of escaping the reality of everything he’d ever wanted. They’re right after all. He can’t just hide out at their place forever hoping that things will magically fix themselves. The time for moping over what could have been was over. People got rejected every day, and it was high time he moved on and tried to rekindle what was left of his friendship with Taehyung before it was too late.

-X-

“Camping?” Jimin says blandly the second the word falls from Hoseok’s mouth.

“Yes! Camping Jimin – I’m sure you’re familiar with the concept” Hoseok replies, rolling his eyes and making some grand gesture with his arms. “You get a group of people together, drive them out to the middle of nowhere, set up a couple of tents, roast some marshmallows on an open fire, tell some creepy ghosts stories, try not to hook up with someone, or maybe do, and then sleep it all off” he reels off. “Well, I mean I personally won’t be hooking up with anyone – because I already have Yoongi. But you know, you might end up doing so, I don’t know”

Jimin shoots him his most unimpressed look he can muster, because he can so sense the unsubtle hint hiding within Hoseok’s dolled up words.

“I doubt it” Jimin sighs, folding his arms across his chest. “I mean, assuming you’re inviting our usual gang, that would mean my options are either Taehyung, or Jeongguk, and we both know that neither of them are remotely interested in hooking up with me” he states, taking a bite from his sandwich viciously.

He won’t lie, he’s still bitter about the thing with Taehyung. Because the other boy is still avoiding him like the plague. He’d now taken to awkwardly darting off in the other direction whenever he saw him coming, and had made a habit of coming back ridiculously late, and then leaving at the ass crack of dawn just so as not to be around when Jimin was up. It was painfully annoying, but Jimin was standing his ground of just letting Taehyung be for the moment. He’d realised that they were both adults, and that when the opportune moment arrived, they’d hopefully both be ready to talk it out as such…

That had been two weeks ago, and now his patience (or what was left of it) was starting to wear thin.

“Ah, don’t be so negative!” Hoseok cries, slinging an arm around his shoulder playfully, before his expression falls to a serious look that had Jimin perking up curiously. “The thing is, we’re planning this for Seokjin” he says softly, eyes dropping to the table as he takes his bottom lip between his teeth for a moment. “Namjoon says he’s been looking stressed recently. So, he broached the idea of doing something to him, and Seokjin said he’d really like to get the gang together to go camping - because you know Seokjin loves nothing better than us all kicking back and having fun together. He even offered to drive us all down there! So it would mean a lot if you could just drop this whole silent treatment with Taehyung, and come along for the weekend”

Jimin goes to protest, and maybe point out that Taehyung was being just as stubborn as him. But Hoseok presses a finger to his lips before he can even open his mouth, sending him an unamused look with it.

“Shh, Namjoon’s already talking to Taehyung about it. Most likely guilt tripping the kid as we speak. So all you need to do is agree to come along, and we’ll have ourselves one pleased Mama Jin!” Hoseok finishes with a coy look, his eyes perfectly reflecting that he already knows he’s won; it’s a little hard not to know when he’s flashing that famous Cheshire Cat look like the cat that got the cream.

Also, he'd used the Mama Jin card - the ultimate guilt trip.

“Ah, fine!” Jimin yells, throwing his hands up in defeat, a pout fast forming as he lowers his voice to complain. “I don’t know how you’re going to fit us in all in one car though”

Again, Hoseok throws him a coy smile, and leans in close into his space, the picture of impish and slightly smug.

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that Jimin~” he purrs, reaching a hand out to pat his head patronisingly. “Namjoon’s pulling in a favour from one of his old friends…”

To that Jimin can only look utterly bewildered as he pushes down the rising thought that something seemed far too well planned about this whole thing.

“A favour?” he echoes, watching the playful shine twinkle through Hoseok’s eyes forebodingly.  

It seemed that the worry wasn’t worth it when the day finally came.

The so-called favour that Hoseok had hinted at before turned out to a poorly renovated Volkswagen camper van T1 that Namjoon kept insisting would still run; despite Seokjin’s nagging that he still wasn’t sure. What makes it worse is that Yoongi keeps referring to it as the “swag van” as they clamber aboard rather hesitantly, the occasional soft chuckle falling from his mouth like an unfunny uncle laughing at his own jokes. Jimin guesses that he has to be thankful that at least one of them is having a good time.

However, it doesn’t take long for Yoongi to sober up once he catches sight of a ratty looking bed set up at the end of the camper, and he’s soon grabbing Hoseok’s arm as he charges over to claim it for the remainder of the journey.

“Great” Jeongguk mutters, dropping his bag to the cramped table that was awkwardly placed inside against the far side of the vehicle. “So what? The rest of us are on the floor I guess?” he says, raising an eyebrow to Namjoon still stood outside the van. “Is that even legal?”

Namjoon throws Seokjin a helpless look, seemingly looking like a cornered husband under the unimpressed eyes of his wife.

“W-well, I guess for now that’s our only option. I mean, it’s only an hour and a half’s drive, right?” He says sheepishly, offering Jeongguk a quick shrug.

“Cool” Jeongguk simply says, genuinely looking pleased with the idea for reasons Jimin can't fathom.

“Are you two getting in then?” Seokjin asks, making Jimin jump as he turns to find Seokjin staring between himself and a meek looking Taehyung stood just behind him. “It'll be a tight squeeze, but you two are close, right?”

Jimin just knows there's something more behind that bright sunny smile Seokjin's giving them, and he would bet his entire first car savings account, which admittedly wasn't a lot, on the fact that whatever it was it didn't mean much fun for him. Still, he supposes he should be more concerned about the reality of spending the next however longs car journey squished into a small space next to Taehyung. Jeongguk had already, rather kindly, settled himself down on the other side of the van, and was apparently refusing move, meaning he would literally be crammed in beside Taehyung for the entire journey. This was clearly contrived.

But they make the most of it – well as much as they can anyway. Taehyung had packed a set of cards, and not even 10 minutes into the journey he's pulling them from his bag while asking softly if anyone wanted a game. However, Yoongi, and Hoseok were already snoozing on the bed, tangled up within each other. It was semi cute, if not a little gross, to see his close friends being so mushy together. But more than anything the sight had his gut twisting in envy as he side-eyes Taehyung who was dealing out cards silently to their three-man group on the floor.

They're apparently playing Go Fish – a game that Taehyung knows full well he hates due to the fact he's never actually won a single game in the whole time he's known him. A part of his mind screams at him to point it out, but then he remembers he's meant to be playing the role of an adult in this longstanding fight, and so he stays silently seething instead.

“There better be a pond, lake, or some other body of water at this camp site, just so as I can push you in it!” he thinks spitefully as he hands over his 7 of hearts to Taehyung begrudgingly, sourly noting the fact that Taehyung stubbornly wouldn’t meet his gaze.

Loves a funny thing he finds, because as much as he'd like to shove Taehyung into a lake right now, he also knows damn well he'd never do it even if the opportunity arose. Or maybe he would, but you could bet your ass that five seconds afterwards he'd be pulling him straight back out again with a towel already in hand to dry his hair off. Because Taehyung had his hands tightly clutched around the softer side of his heart, and it literally broke him a little to see the other boy suffering. Such as the time Taehyung had lost out on the lead role for one of his important stage productions due to being down with a fever. The younger boy had sat and balled over it for hours until the point he'd made himself sick. But Jimin had still stayed with him the whole time, steadily nursing him back to health with the limited supply of cough medicine they could afford, and some cheap super market own brand chicken soup.

So even now, with Taehyung ignoring him, and his own heart aching with the need to just figuratively kiss and make up, he still couldn't bring himself to just cut Taehyung off like that. Especially when he can spot the dark circles under his eyes, and tightly furrowed brows knitted in unnecessary concentration. Those combined had him a little more than worried. So he keeps his head low, silently brooding for the rest of the game.

“Go Fish” Jeongguk mutters, folding his hands closely to his chest, a coy smile settling easily on his lips.

Taehyung scowls, taking a card from the top of pile, and scowling further as he takes a peak before adding it to his hand.

“I've got this in the bag” Jeongguk brags, quirking an eyebrow at Jimin. “Hand over the fives Jimin” he says, smirking as Jimin shoots him a dark look before tossing two cards his way. “And I think that's another win for me!” Jeongguk announces, spreading his hand across the floor to showcase his latest collection. “You're both so bad at this - it's hardly even fair at this point”

“Ah! Shut up already!” Jimin yells, folding his arms petulantly. “I don't want to play this game anymore”

Taehyung actually laughs beside him, flashing his gummy grin brightly as he collects the cards from the floor, long fingers shuffling them with far more ease than Jimin knew he ever have.

“Is that ‘cause you haven't even won one game yet~?” Taehyung dares to ask, an impish smile on his face. “Come on Jimin! I know you'll win this one” he adds a second later, his expression rolling into a far softer one as he begins to deal the cards again.

But Jimin's stuck for a reply. Because its first time Taehyung had actually spoken to him in over a week; well other than the stiff demands for cards while they'd been playing.

Was this his way of saying he was finally ready to get things back to normal? Taehyung never really had been good with words. Well, not with ones that carried anything deep or significant anyway. He was great with casual talking, but when faced with unknown consequences, such as loosing friendships with one wrong word, his usually bubbly conversational side burst.

So perhaps this was the olive branch he'd been waiting for.

Only it's not. Because Taehyung pauses in his deck dealing, head shooting up to stare at Jimin's face as though he'd just realised what he'd said. It's not hard to pick out the genuine shock that's painted across his semi stunned expression, and Jimin can see those hesitant gears churning behind his eyes, grasping for something quick to say. He knows the feeling, because he's in the exact same situation; only his brain catches up that little bit quicker.

He’s always been soft when it came to Taehyung. How many times had he come to admit that to himself now, he wonders? So it's no really surprised when he opens his mouth and let's a soft “yeah, let's go again” fall from his lips. He'd once again offered Taehyung an escape route, and once again Taehyung had taken it, a small smile forming on his lips, the whispered end of a “thank you” burning behind his eyes.

But Jimin feels it for real moment later as Jeongguk gets down to business demanding cards, and Jimin feels fingers brush again his arm, a subtle “I'm sorry” etching into his skin.

He feels disappointed, almost like Taehyung was running away from properly talking about this. But then he feels happy a second after, because Taehyung turns his eyes to him, loudly demanding for Jimin to help him because “Jeongguk’s cheating again Jiminie!” – and Jimin can't wipe the smile from his face in time to stop himself from laughing.

-X-

It’s not like Jimin had expected the air between them to have cleared up completely. But it would have been nice if Taehyung hadn’t sprinted past him as soon as the camper van had come to a stop.

Seokjin had been the one to announce they were there, a huge smile on his face as he brought the van to a stop. Thankfully it seemed they’d arrived in one piece, something Namjoon seems to be more than thankful for as he clambers from the van to take a deep inhale of air looking inches away from getting down to his knees to kiss the dirt in relief. It's not that Seokjin’s a bad driver or anything. But even Jimin has to admit that he'd of likely gone insane after being trapped in a van with a bunch of unruly kids in the back, screaming over a card game for over an hour. He guesses that they should of maybe headed the warning to pipe down after the fourth time they'd been told.

They’d decided on camping at Bukhansan National Park, and Namjoon had had enough forward planning sense to pre-book a small plot for them while he’d been doing a little research into their stay. After that, he’d made the executive decision that they would be prepared enough to sort themselves out. So while booking them in, he’d turned down the option to hire any of the extras such as plots for camp fires, and stoves. Because apparently they were about doing this the traditional way? Jimin has no idea at this point, and frankly he just wants to get to campsite, roll out his sleeping bag, and maybe take an hour’s kip. That’s providing the other’s will actually let him…

“So there’s loads of trails about the park” Seokjin says as they start to lug the stuff from the van.

Jimin guesses that’s a no to the hour’s sleep then…

“I was thinking we could do some hiking before it gets dark, and maybe gather up some firewood or something” Seokjin continues, a practically radiant smile settled on his face; and honestly, Seokjin must already know that no one’s actually going to say no to him when he’s looking at them like that.

It was a little known fact that everyone in their group adored Seokjin. He was kind, and looked out for them all with the attentiveness of a mother. He’d practically doted on Jeongguk when he’s first started university, always checking in on him, and barging into his flat to make sure that he was living off more than packet noodles, and cheap microwave meals. It had been the same for Taehyung, and him, except Seokjin had held less pity for them, and had taken a tough love approach when it came to their laundry situation.

If you asked Jimin, it was clearly favouritism on Seokjin’s part.

“Ah, well, I think we should get setup first” Namjoon says, ever the voice of reason within the group. “But yeah, afterwards we should be good” he smiles, and yeah, Namjoon's probably the biggest indulger of Seokjin’s wishes.

After four badly constructed tents, six meltdowns, and three threats to pack up and leave, they're just about done with camp setup. In all honestly it's terrible, and very much clear that no one was fully prepared. Yoongi perhaps had been the most of use surprisingly, and Jimin finds he has a new sense of admiration for the other.

He'd been able to just about assemble two of the four tents himself, with a little help from a confused Hoseok who'd simply followed every strict instruction Yoongi had given him. He'd also been the only one to pack a first aid kit, something which had come in use for when Namjoon had so very nearly hammered a metal peg through his finger; thankfully he'd come away with only a surface gaze which had soon been bandaged up. Hoseok had been sure to sing his praises while firmly reminding everyone that he was very much off the market to anyone who might have been interested.

Naturally Jeongguk had taken the opportunity to interject here by very rudely asking “who the hell said anyone was interested?” Needless to say, Hoseok had not been impressed with his attempt at humour; both himself, and Taehyung however had both been chuckling under their breathes.

But by the time they were done everyone else was already growing weary, and clearly ready to call it a day. However, ever one to be stubborn, Seokjin insists that they get up off their asses and go for this hike he'd apparently been promised.

Jimin blames Namjoon entirely.

The trails entirely man made, and is much like the ones Taehyung and he had frequently taken hikes on. They both shared a love of casual hiking: nothing too strenuous do course. Because if they went on for too long then Jimin would find himself victim to Taehyung wanting piggybacks all the way back down again.

Still, the trails pretty, and Seokjin seems pleased; so really, that's all that matters.

He walks alongside Hoseok mostly, sparing the occasional look back to see Yoongi, Jeongguk, and Taehyung enthusiastically taking photos. The three of them were their groups own little photography club, as Hoseok liked to say, seemingly always up for taking pictures and hooking each other up with the best shots they’d taken. It was cute, if not a little annoying when they all had to stop and wait so as one of them could snap a shot of some picturesque scenery that could pass off as the backdrop setting for a sea side postcard.

However, after a while of taking pretty photos, and posing with the charming background of the world below, Jimin begins to realise that the sun is fast setting on the horizon. Under normal circumstances he supposes he wouldn't really care. They have their phones for light, and he's within the comfort of a fairly large group of people. But these aren't normal circumstances. Because Jimin realises with a trickle of dread that he no longer knows which way will take them back to camp.

He's just hoping that one of the others knows where they're going. Because as of right now he's got no clue seeing as every tree, bush, flower, and patch of grass looks the same as the last.

Again he's blaming Namjoon for this. Because if he hadn’t of taken the group off the trail path, then they wouldn't have ended up here in the first place. Here being in some kind of glade area with a random pond dumped in the middle. Granted it's pretty, but every time they moved away to find the trail they'd been following, they somehow ended up back at the same spot again. At this point it's almost like the damn pond was mocking them, along with the family of ducks that seemed to have taken residency upon it.

To make matters worse there was no reception for miles around, which meant no internet, which meant no looking up where they were to find their way back. Jimin frankly can't believe their misfortune, and as soon as they eventually got back to base camp he was going to take a blood oath to never travel to any location that couldn't make a promise of a constant, and stable, internet connection.

“I say we spilt up” Hoseok suggests after Yoongi makes the pro-decision to stop the group from wandering any further.

“That's a terrible idea” Jeongguk counters, folder his arms across his chest definitely. “There's no signal here, so how are we supposed to reach each other if one group finds their way back?”

“He's got a point there…” Seokjin says, leaning his head on Namjoon's shoulder. “Although, it would probably be quicker…”

“Yeah, because at least if one group makes it back then they could likely find someone to help find the rest of us” Namjoon agrees, rubbing a hand across his face tiredly.

“They might have a detailed map of the area too…” Yoongi chips in.

“It's worth a shot” Hoseok adds brightly. “I call dibs on grouping up with Yoongi!” he then cries, grabbing his boyfriend’s hand enthusiastically, and Jimin smirks inwardly at the small smile that colours the older boy’s face.

“It's decided then” Namjoon says. “I'll go with Seokjin” he decides, smiling softly as he takes Seokjin's hand within his, a shy expression taking over when Seokjin laughs softly.

“Jeongguk, you come with us too” Seokjin adds, reaching out for him to follow.

Jeongguk doesn't look amused at the idea. Maybe because it means that he's going to be playing the role of their child until they make it back to camp. Either way, Jimin can't help but grin at the sour look on his face.

“Jimin, Taehyung, you two go that way” Namjoon says, pointing off in the direction of a path heading back into the dense trees. “Seokjin, Jeongguk, and I will head off towards that old oak tree we passed before, and Hoseok, Yoongi, you guys head downhill” he instructs, looking ever the proud leader of their group.

Everyone else seems pretty happy with the plan, and Jimin realises them that Taehyung and himself are the only ones who hadn't voiced opinions during their little group get together. Not that Jimin was against the plan per say. He just wasn’t so keen on the decision of who he'd been partnered up with. But he hardly wants to kick up a fuss - especially when they seemed to all be getting along so well in the middle of what essentially was a crisis.

“Best get moving then” he mumbles to Taehyung, reaching for the cusp of his sleeve to start dragging him in the direction Namjoon had pointed to before.

They walk in silence, and while Taehyung doesn't seem to be pulling away from the firm grip he's got on his sleeve, Jimin can tell that he's not exactly what you would call “okay” with being pulled along like a rag doll in such a manner. But Jimin's on a mission right now, and he doesn't want Taehyung wandering off away from him. The younger had a habit of doing that sometimes, and it had been the cause of many a public service announcement in large shopping malls when Taehyung didn't answer the 600 calls made to his mobile after they'd lost him.

He supposes he should be grateful that the silence between right now isn't overly uncomfortable.

Well…

So maybe it is uncomfortable. But Jimin's trying his best to just deal with it for the time being, and get them back to base camp without one of them making the whole situation worse. However, that's getting more and more difficult with each passing minute.

The suns beginning its descent into the skyline, meaning it's getting darker and darker. Because of that there's obviously less and less light, and the trees towering above them like giant forest guardians aren't helping; if anything, Jimin almost feels like they've become ants trapped within a dark maze of dense forest with no hope of escape. Yet they keep moving anyway, almost as if staying still will mean their end.

“Maybe we could climb a tree or something?” Taehyung says softly after they’ve been wandering about for half an hour.

His voice sounds like its usual low rumble, and Jimin jumps from the sudden break in silence before stopping mid walk to turn and stare at him. He'd been so wrapped up in the idea of something rushing from the woods to ambush them, that he'd nearly forgotten about the fingers bunched up within Taehyung's sleeve; and maybe also the person wearing that sleeve. But climbing a tree? Really?

That seems like a bad idea just waiting to happen - no matter which way you looked at it. Especially when a certain Kim Taehyung was involved. However, he can only nod his head mutely, dropping his gaze to the ground a second later when Taehyung sends him a soft smile.

“I guess it wouldn't hurt…” Jimin hears himself mumble to the floor, cheeks flooding with heat when he hears a rumble of laughter in return.

He's about to ask just what's so funny, his head shooting up to stare at Taehyung. But then he stops himself before he can ask, eyes widening at the sad smile lining Taehyung's lips painfully. He'd always had expressive eyes, ones that brimmed with constant emotion; they were a dead giveaway for how he was feeling at any time. Which was good, seeing as Taehyung liked to lie about how he was really doing, and had a nasty habit of always playing the role of that one friend who was always happy. Jimin knew that one day he'd be a brilliant actor, award winning and all.

But his eyes – they were his one weakness, and it crushed his heart to see them mirror such sadness.

“You're going to have to let go of my sleeve if we're doing this” Taehyung says, his voice hesitant as he stares at Jimin, expression falling to a cautious look.

“Right…” Jimin agrees softly, letting the fabric between his fingers fall away.

There's a pause in Taehyung's movements, almost as though he was going to say something more for a split second. But it's over a moment later, and that cautious expression is wiped away as though it had never even been there. But Jimin knows he'd seen it – and he won't forget.

“Okay, so I'm thinking this tree!” Taehyung says, casually wandering over to a thicker trucked tree, and nudges his foot against the bark.

There's plenty of branches, most of them fairly thick and sturdy looking, and Jimin can see a couple of stragglers scattered nearer the base of the tree as a starting point to climb. From what he knows, Taehyung's a fairly decent tree climber. He was always scrambling up trees in the park, grinning back down at Jimin while balancing along the branches. He called it adventurous exploration, Jimin called it Taehyung's inner child breaking free.

“Just don't get stuck!” Jimin calls as Taehyung reaches for the branches above him, placing a foot firmly against the bark as he begins his ascent.

“I won't, don't worry!” Taehyung replies, a trill of laughter trickling into his tone. “You know I do this all the time!”

“Yeah, but last time you got yourself stuck, and we had to call Seokjin and Namjoon to come help you down, because you were too embarrassed for us to call in any professional help” Jimin counters, raising an eyebrow as Taehyung waves him off. “You damn man child” he then mutters, taking a step back to watch Taehyung dance about the branches, each step taking him higher and higher up the tree.

“Wait, wait!” Taehyung yells down to him suddenly, eyes wide with wonder. “I think I can see the camp!” He says a moment later, balancing atop one of the thinner looking branches, his hand gripping a handful of foliage to keep himself steady.

“What? Really?!” Jimin calls up, grinning at Taehyung as he looks back down to him with a thumbs up and that familiar toothy smile. “That’s great! So which way do we go?!”

“I’m thinking… That way!” Taehyung grins, fingers pointing off into the distance vaguely.

“What do mean think?” Jimin snaps back at him. “We need a solid “yes, it's definitely that way” before we start walking off into the sunset” he fumes, pursing his lips as he watches Taehyung slowly start to makes his way back down the tree.

“Okay then” Taehyung says, rolling his eyes. “Yes, it's definitely that way” he smirks, deliberately gesturing slowly over in the direction he had before, holding Jimin's eyes with a languid look that has Jimin bristling under his gaze.

He's about to open his mouth and give Taehyung a piece of his mind, just to show him once and for all who's boss. But just as he does the cocky look on Taehyung's face falls away, melting into an expression of “oh shit, I fucked up” just as he loses his footing on the branch beneath his feet.

It's like watching someone slip on ice, that comedic sort of flailing that occurs just before the person ultimately loses their balance. But then the horror of the situation sets in, and Jimin realises with his heart in his mouth that Taehyung is already falling.

“Taehyung!”

Instinctively he runs, feet moving before his brain can even begin to catch up. He doesn't even have time to think about whether he'll make it before Taehyung hits the floor. But looking back, it had been fairly obvious he wouldn't, and he's left to watch as Taehyung smacks into the ground with a dull thud. He takes a moment to thank whichever deity that might be listening that he hadn't heard any kind of sound indicating a possible broken bone.

Taehyung had seemingly fallen into a patch of grass just shy of the base of the tree he'd valiantly been scaling, untamed and much longer than that of regularly tended city foliage. Jimin couldn't argue that it had broken the fall in any way possible, but he liked to think that it had been a better alternative than slamming into hard concrete. Never the less, he finds Taehyung curled into a foetal position, groaning quietly as his hands reach for his ankle, face crumpled in pain.

“Oh God, I should have known that this would happen” Jimin whines, frantically checking Taehyung over, while simultaneously trying to keep a lid on his panic levels; because Lord knows that wasn't going to help anyone. “I should have never of let you climb that stupid tree!” he grumbles, thankfully finding no further damage to his equally stupid friend.

“It's not your fault” Taehyung sighs, pulling himself up into a sitting position, his expression wincing when he pulls his leg up, hands clamping around his ankle. “It's my fault, I shouldn't have tried to climb it in the first place”

Jimin knows it's true deep down, but he honestly can't stand the deflated look resting on Taehyung's face right now. It doesn't look right. Nothing but a blinding smile, or maybe a frown of concentration, looks right on Taehyung's face. Not that he'll ever admit that publicly; and he certainly wouldn't right now. So instead he cuffs Taehyung around the head, making his best “I'm angry with you, you little shit” face, and proceeds to pull Taehyung's fingers away to get a better look at his ankle.

“Doesn't look broken…” he murmurs softly, using a single finger to poke at the bare skin where Taehyung had rolled up his jeans. “Does that hurt?” he asks, smiling when he receives a deadpan stare for his efforts.

“Yes it hurts idiot!” Taehyung whines, wrapping his hands around Jimin's to pull it away. “Stop poking it!” he frowns, rubbing the skin tenderly as Jimin rolls his eyes. “I think I twisted it when I fell”

“Well, that's good then” Jimin laughs, ducking a flying fist aimed his way. “What? It is!”

“How is this good? I'm done for, no more hiking for me!” Taehyung wails dramatically, flopping to the floor like the drama king he was. “Cruel world! Take me now!” he cries to the heavens.

“Oh my God, Taehyung, stop screaming” Jimin tells him, smacking his arm in reprimand. “I meant it's good because we won't have to take you to the hospital”

At this Taehyung blinks, sitting up to stare at him before breaking into a wide smile. The look makes Jimin's stomach twist, a fluttery feeling bursting within him, and he finds himself clenching his fists to ground himself; and maybe stop himself from floating away with the feeling.

“I knew that” Taehyung laughs, and leans back on his arms to beam up at the sky full of an entire pallet of colours as the sun sets further. “Wow, it's so pretty” he admits, seemingly forgetting all about his dramatic fall, and the supposed pain he’d been feeling just a few seconds ago.

His face instead turns serene so quick that Jimin has to do a double take just to check he's still sat next to his dork of a friend and not one of Vogue’s top models.

“Y-yeah” Jimin stumbles awkwardly, not missing the eerie parallels between their thoughts as he stares at Taehyung's face. “It is”

“You know what else is pretty?” Taehyung smiles, tilting his head to look at Jimin expectantly.

“What?” Jimin asks back, eyebrow raised as he waits for Taehyung to finish off the meme that he's already fully prepared for; honestly, anyone would think that Jimin didn’t live with this walking meme enthusiast.

“You” Taehyung says softly, eyes so sincere in a way Jimin had never seen directed at him before, and the weight of one confessed word almost knocks him to the ground – if he was honestly he thinks it still might.

“W-what?” he croaks, unable to stop himself from asking. “Did you…” he starts, suddenly feeling beyond suspicious. “Did you just confess to me by meme?”

He's honestly just trying to cover for his own nervousness at this point. Hiding behind a joke so that Taehyung won’t notice his heart rattling behind his ribs, threatening to burst out his chest at any moment.

But then, with a burst of noise, Taehyung laughs brightly, shattering any illusions Jimin might have had. He sits up properly, resting an arm on his knee, and belts out another round of what Jimin now realises to be fake laughter. Pro-actor his beautifully rounded backside! Jimin could still see through that chinked façade, no matter how many times Taehyung claimed himself to be unreadable; and Taehyung claimed him to be an idiot. The damn nerve of him.

“No, seriously” he asks, steeling his resolve. “Were you serious?” he asks, beyond fed up with this ridiculous playground charade they’d been performing.

At that Taehyung falters, cheeks looking a tad rosier in the dim light. He fumbles with the rip in his jeans at the knee, looking abruptly fascinated with the stray threads. It’s a cute move, but it’s also a dead giveaway that Taehyung had indeed slipped up.

“It was nothing” he admits softly, voice hinting that it was certainly more than nothing. “Just forget it” he sighs.

“No” Jimin says slowly, his heart now hammering in his chest like as he tries to gather every inch of courage he possesses. “C’mon! It’s not like you actually meant it or anything” he laughs, trying to turn the tone to a more light-hearted vibe.

But Taehyung's not laughing. Instead he dips his head, staring down at the threads on his jeans again with an awkward sort of fascination that has Jimin’s nerves buzzing under his skin. To say that he suddenly feels the weight of the situation would be an understatement, and his light-hearted laughter soon dries up, turning more uneasy by the second.

“Oh” Jimin can only say, letting the silence stew between them, he'd never been so lost for words before while talking to Taehyung; well, maybe except for the time Taehyung had come back to the apartment drunk, and wearing the mascot uniform for the local burger place down the road.

“Wait, wait!” Taehyung suddenly says quickly, waving his hands about frantically as though he'd suddenly developed the power to stop time with a mere flick of his wrists. “It's not like that” he goes on to say. “Well, it is… But I didn't- you weren't supposed to- what I mean is-”

Watching Taehyung flail about over his words had always been amusing. Because Taehyung often tripped himself up, especially when flustered. He'd always thought that it made his words seem that little more honest, and that certain endearing spin to them. Of course, Jimin didn't point and laugh at him during these times, because Jimin wasn't mean, and he usually always came to his rescue when Taehyung started to become deflated and that little bit frustrated with himself.

Like now for example.

He smiles, pressing a hand into the soft tresses of Taehyung's hair, biting back the laugh that's dying to break past his lips at the sight of the other boy with his face pressed to the bend of his knee, a failed attempt at trying to hide his face.

“Are you trying to confess to me TaeTae~?” he finds himself asking cheekily, biting the inside of lip.

He can hardly believe his ears as it is, and combined with the stunned look Taehyung sends him he thinks that he might just be dreaming. For a split second he feels like it's him that's fallen out the tree, and is sporting a concussion leading him to think up this entire situation.

“I- uh” Taehyung stutters, head darting to the floor nervously, his pupils dilating under the strain. “Well I mean… You’re… Pretty decent” he finishes lamely, and it shows that he realises exactly how bad he sounds from the tight grimace that colours his expression.

Jimin can only blink at him, sitting in equal stunned silence. He hadn’t expected anything to come from his teasing. In all honesty, he’d been expecting Taehyung to brush the comment off, and rebuke him with some sort of stubborn scowl, and half arsed excuse. With that in mind, it’s his turn to laugh shakily, a hand moving to cover his mouth.

“Is this you joking around again?” he asks, and smacks the younger’s arm playfully, blinking in shock when Taehyung grabs his wrist, his eyes turning cold.

“I’m serious!” Taehyung demands, holding his gaze with an eerie calm. “I really think you’re amazing you know. Maybe I didn’t say it right before… But, I mean it. I think you’re amazing – and I know that I'm more than a little bit in love with you. I probably have been for a long time” he explains, eyes darting to the floor shyly, gnawing his lip nervously. “I thought that… I thought that I'd messed everything up with you…” he adds, voice sounding strained as he forces the words out.

Jimin sucks in a deep breath, his body frozen within the iron tight grip that Taehyung's got on him. His thoughts are spiralling, despite the fact that he's trying so desperately to organise them, and maybe just take in what Taehyung's saying. But it's hard, when for so long he'd thought he was the only one chasing. But it turned out that Taehyung had been doing the same all this time.

“Y-you're in love with me?” he hears himself ask, eyes blowing wide when Taehyung nods his head in response, and Jimin wishes he could ease that furrowed brow that's dipped downwards in worry. “I-I don't understand” he confesses, casting his mind back to the night Taehyung had told him that the kiss had meant nothing. “Why would you fake date me if you're in love with me? Why would you kiss me, and then turn around and tell me it meant nothing?”

The questions look like they hit Taehyung with the force of bullet. He jerks, his grip on Jimin's wrist beginning to shake with unease. Jimin knows it must be hard for Taehyung to confess all this. Hell, he'd obsessed over it for hours at a time, panicking relentlessly over how the other boy might take it, only to then talk himself back out of the idea all together. But right now he's starting to feel the tell-tale signs of anger bubbling up inside him, and more than anything he's ready to finally get some answers.

“I didn't know if you liked me” Taehyung admits softly, his voice all but a whisper as he slowly eases his grip on Jimin until it's nothing more than a limp hold. “I knew I'd never be able to ask you out loud, because I was too scared of what you might or might not say. So I figured the only way to really tell without getting someone else involved was to try some imaginary situation”

Jimin rolls his eyes, grabbing a hold of Taehyung's hand properly, and laces their fingers together. He can just imagine Taehyung sitting on his bed thinking this whole thing through by himself and coming to this ridiculous conclusion. Taehyung never did like to do things by halves. It was either the whole shebang or nothing.

“So you figured the only way to do this was to try and fake date me?” Jimin asks, a playful smile starting to tug at his lips when he spots the look of muted discomfort forming on Taehyung's face.

“I didn't know what else to do!” Taehyung cries mournfully, ducking his head back to his knee again. “I couldn't ask you in case things got weird between us! But then things turned weird anyway after I went and kissed you like an idiot at the party, and I just remembered thinking that I'd completely ruined everything between us, and that you'd never want to see, speak, or hear from me again” he cries, shoulders starting to shake in way that gets Jimin panicking.

Frantically, he lets go of Taehyung's hand, and starts to pull him up from where he's hunched over on himself, winding his arms around him until Taehyung's half lying across his lap, wrapped up securely in his arms. He then sneaks a hand up to pet his hair, smiling against the column of his neck when he feels Taehyung's hand fist into his jacket.

“You big baby” Jimin laughs, feeling tears starting to prick at his own eyes. “W-why would I ever not want to see, or speak to you again? You're probably the most precious person in my life”

“I was scared! I didn't want to see you look at me like-” Taehyung stops himself mid-sentence, pulling back to stare at Jimin with wide eyes. “I'm the most precious person in your life?” he questions in awe, tears still clinging to wet eyelashes as he speaks.

There aren't many times where Jimin feels like slapping the life out of Taehyung. But when the need does arise, it's usually because Taehyung isn't comprehending a situation where the answer is laid out so perfectly in front of him.

Situations like now.

“Yes Taehyung, you are” he laughs, reaching across to wipe a fresh tear away from Taehyung's cheek with his thumb. “But I thought that was obvious after I blew up at you for kissing me like you did” he continues, feeling a tad shy as he makes his own confessions.

“What? No! I had no idea!” Taehyung tells him enthusiastically, moving back into Jimin's space as he does, eyes wide with honestly. “I thought I'd pushed you too far or something. That why I left and went and stayed at Namjoon's place. After that things just felt awkward… So, I tried to stay away as much I could”

“Ah! This explains so much…” Jimin sighs, suddenly feeling a little silly as he realises that he'd gotten the situation completely wrong, despite thinking that he knew Taehyung so well. “Here I was thinking that I'd messed things up with you because of having a crush. But all along you were thinking the same” he laughs mournfully, reaching a hand up to brush through his hair in exasperation.

“I guess so!” Taehyung grins again pulling him into a warm hug, apparently too happy to care for their previous misconceptions.

Taehyung's clingy at the best of times, but right now after not having Taehyung this close for so long, Jimin's more than happy to be bundled up in his arms. He'd missed this closeness, and the frequent opportunity to press himself close to the other. Though he'd never admit it out loud, Taehyung was the perfect height to snuggle with. He could just tuck himself so neatly into the crook of his neck, and in a daring move he presses his lips to the warm skin at the column of his neck.

The move must surprise Taehyung, because he pulls back, slowly blinking at Jimin in a way that made him feel like as if he'd done something wrong. Was it too soon to be acting so playful? Jimin thinks not, seeing as he'd been waiting so damn long to do it. If anything, Taehyung damn right owed him as much due to putting him through all this stress and worry.

Still, he feels a niggle of panic, and nervously meets his eyes, arms resting on the other boy's shoulders.

“Sorry” he says, lips pulling downward. “Was that too soo-”

Warm, and maybe a little chapped from the cold, lips press against his. There's a slight tremble of hesitancy as Jimin takes his time responding; and who can blame him, he's kind of still in shock at how daring Taehyung's being himself. That being said, Jimin's quick to get with the program, and wraps his arms around Taehyung's neck, slanting his head to deepen the kiss – while also trying to stop himself from smiling too much. It's a giddy feeling that takes a hold of him, one that has him giggling against Taehyung's lip as they pull apart just a little to rest their foreheads together. He feels like a kid at Christmas as he stares back at Taehyung like he's everything he's ever wanted; and maybe he is.

The moments cut abruptly short though, just as Taehyung's reaching to swipe a thumb across his cheek tenderly, staring at him with such warmth brimming in his eyes.

From behind he hears the tell-tale noise of rustling leaves, followed by a muffled rumble of voices speaking in low tones. The sound has them both pausing, their cosy moment of reconciliation put on hold as they turn to the source. Abruptly the noise stops for a moment, as though the source had realised it had been caught. However, a second later there's a loud announcement hollering at them, loud and proud in a way only a certain Jung Hoseok could be.

“Hey! Get a room you two!” Hoseok shouts, emerging from the shrubbery as though he was fully entitled to be there spying on them like a creeper.

His breakout from the bushes is shortly followed by a string of loud cackling that signals the rest of their group is also present, apparently still hiding; and Jimin has a split-second where he worries that the noise they're making will bring all sort of night creatures chasing them in herds. Which would serve the rest of them right; it’s just he’d rather not be present for such an event.

But that thought dies quickly as the embarrassment of being caught in the middle of such an intimate moment with Taehyung catches up with him. That being noted, the two of them soon spring apart, Taehyung groaning as he twists his ankle a little in process. Of course, the noise instantly has Jimin hesitating between staying where he is, and shifting back to check on him.

Because you know, he's such a doting boyfriend already it seems - despite the fact neither of them had even had a chance to think where they stood with each other. However, the heavy blush, and hopeful look Taehyung sends him a second later when he meets his eyes has Jimin thinking that they'll have plenty of time to talk about that later.

“Hey, don't be so modest you two!” Hoseok hollers as their loitering group of friends trail over to them with varying looks of triumph on their faces. “We pretty much saw everything from where we were” he adds, giving them a wonky wink, his Cheshire Cat smile beaming at them full force.

Jimin’s about half a second from tackling him as he realises that this had clearly been a set up all along, and he promptly face palms to show it.

“You guys set us up” he groans, listening to the chorus of cackling laughter that sounds from the group.

Yes, Jimin does realise the irony of the situation. Taehyung, and him had originally schemed to fool the rest of the group, and in the end, it was them who'd been royally played. It's both bitterly amusing, and ridiculously frustrating at the same time, because he can't think of time where he’d been the one on the other end of a prank.

Taehyung's tricks didn't count!

“Hm, you mean it wasn't obvious?” Taehyung suddenly asks, tilting his head to stare at Jimin nonchalantly, ignoring the noise of protest both Hoseok and Namjoon make.

“You knew?!” Jimin cries, leaning over close to stare at Taehyung bewilderedly; because no, no way was he the only one who wasn't in on this heist.

Taehyung simply smiles, a coy look sparking in his eyes mischievously, and Jimin watches in mute irritation as Taehyung raises a finger and thumb to his chin, his signature “little shit” gesture.

“What? You mean it wasn't obvious?” Taehyung asks, humming thoughtfully. “My eyes aren't this big for no reason you know Jiminie. I know when somethings not right~”

“No way! Someone must have told you!” Hoseok accuses, whipping around to stare at the rest of group threateningly. “Jeon Jeongguk!” He cries, rushing up to their youngest friend, and fisting his hands into Jeongguk's jacket as he starts to shake him back and forth. “It was you, wasn't it? You traitor, you little traitor!”

“I didn't say shit!” Jeongguk yells back, and the other's start laughing at the comically look on both of their faces.

“I feel like I'm being underestimated…” Taehyung pouts, his bottom lip jutting out to the max. “I really did know something was up” he insists. “I just didn't know what exactly”

“Makes sense” Seokjin laughs. “I guess we could have been a little more subtle about it” he admits, smiling when Namjoon curls an arm around his waist. “Although I guess that's my bad for leaving these children in charge”

“Children?” Yoongi echoes, sounding disgruntled at the comment. “I believe it was me who had the foresight to remember to bring a map up here” he says, eyebrow raised, daring anyone to challenge him as he produces a crumpled map from the pocket of his jacket.

“Well, children plus Yoongi” Seokjin corrects apologetically. “Honestly, Yoongi is so organised! I almost fell for him…” he laughs, giggling more when Namjoon whips his head round to stare wide eyed at him.

“Excuse me?” Hoseok asks dumbfounded, causing them to laugh all over again, and Jimin can’t help but smile when he sees Taehyung tip his head back, a belt of laughter rushing from his lips.

It’s perfect, he thinks as he sits there, grinning at his friends, the situation, and Taehyung in particular with his gummy grin and crescent eyes sparkling. For the first time since they'd arrived at the campsite he felt content in the knowledge that things were finally okay again.

“Alright, alright” Yoongi cuts in, holding his hands up for them to stop with the celebrations. “As nice as all this is – congratulations by the way idiots” he says, side eyeing both Jimin and Taehyung quickly. “We should really get out asses back to camp. I caught the weather earlier, back when we actually had a decent signal, and they were predicting rain for tonight – and personally, I don't like the idea of being caught out in it”

The rest are quick to agree after a hasty glance upwards at the sky. There's a particularly nasty looking cluster of dark clouds hanging above them ominously, and Jimin knows he'd rather not be wandering the wilderness when they finally burst. That in mind, he jumps up, hurriedly dusting himself down of the dirt that has clung to his clothes.

However, it's then he hears Taehyung whine, and the memory of the other boy falling from the tree resurfaces. He spares said boy a meek look, offering a pained smile when Taehyung meets his eyes.

“I don't think I can walk back…” Taehyung murmurs, his hands massaging his ankle carefully. “It hurts too much when I put pressure on it”

Seokjin looks like he's about to crouch down and maybe take a better look at it after catching the exchange of words, but Jimin sees the opportunity and seizes it while he can. He has after all, always been the one to take care of Taehyung, and this new direction their relationship has taken changes nothing to Jimin. He has, and always will, be the one to look after him.

“Well there's no other way to do this” Jimin sighs dramatically. “I'll just have to carry you back down myself” he adds, grinning at Taehyung's bewildered expression.

The smile Taehyung shoots him is well worth the 40-minute treck back. Especially when he gets the chance to have him so close that he catches every vibration from his rumbling laughter against his back.

-X-

As nice as finding their way back is, the sight that greets them when they do is not what Jimin would call the warmest of receptions.

The tents are waterlogged from the rain that Yoongi had rightly predicted, and one glance at the inside of each of them is enough to prove that there's no way they'll be sleeping there for the night. Not only that, but the bedding they'd brought along, including the sleeping bags, are all either damp, or completely sodden with water. What made it worse was that not even their bags had escaped the rain, meaning that any clothes they'd had were now dripping with water too. Thankfully, Seokjin had made everyone put any actual valuables, such as electronic tablets, and Hoseok's prized collection of baseball caps, carefully away in the locked camper van for safe keeping.

However, that didn't solve the issue of them no longer having a dry place to sleep. It was pretty much dark now too, which made visibility rather null and void, and Hoseok kept getting spooked by what sounded to be an owl that kept hooting somewhere off in the distance.

“We're just going to have to sleep in the van” Namjoon says, offering an apologetic look to Seokjin as the other shoots him an unimpressed stare for the fifth time that day.

Realising it's clearly their only option left, they all head back to the van, and Jeongguk makes the lucky discovery of a couple of ratty looking blankets stuffed into a small compartment under the bed. It's a tight squeeze. So tight that Jimin has Jeongguk's foot in his face, and Hoseok's bony butt pressed against his shoulder blades.

But despite that he can't help but smile. Because despite the cramped position he's in, and smell of damp boy filling his nostrils, he's got the most precious person wrapped in his arms, and the freedom to press kisses to his skin whenever he pleases; and that alone is enough to have him overlooking the fact that Namjoon's just stared snoring.

“You know what? The next time any of you brats decide to start some drama, we're going glamping to settle it!” Seokjin says as he socks Namjoon in the arm in another desperate attempt to stop him from snoring.

I think this is still meant to be anonymous. But I will at some point add a link to my tumblr here at some point! ^_^

Thank you to Stacey at http://daemn.tumblr.com/ for arranging this exchange, and to CaptinButts for the prompts (I really hope you enjoyed the word vomit above)!