✨ Summary: The plan is to spend Christmas break just you and your boyfriend, but when his best friend, whom you hate, joins you, you anticipate to spend your first day off being irritated. You are very, very wrong.
✨ Pairing: Jungkook x Female!Reader x Taehyung
✨ Genre: Smut, porn with a smidge of a plot, enemies to lovers if you squint, college au, established relationship
✨ Rating: 18+ (MINORS & AGELESS BLOGS DNI. YOU WILL BE BLOCKED)
✨Warnings: Threesome, dom!Taehyung, switch!Jungkook, sub!reader, oral (m & f receiving), penetrative sex, dirty talk, cursing, mention of alcohol
✨ Word Count: 3.8k
✨ A/N: Surprise and Merry (belated) Christmas, Nikki @baepsaesbae! It is I, your Secret Santa Twinkle✨ for @bwcsecretsanta! I loved chatting with you and getting to know you! This fic came to me in a dream and then I listened to When You’re Mad by Ne-Yo almost repeatedly to keep me inspired, so I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for you. ❤️
Huge thank you to Dae @birbdae for reading this over for me 💖
The silence of campus is made even more apparent with the thick blanket of snow on the ground. The walk to your dorm from the building that houses the laundry room is a near lonely one, but you don't mind. You don’t get snow back home, so being able to see the way the snowflakes glisten around you is almost magical, even if it is the aftermath of a blizzard.
The sound of your boots crunching as you walk echoes around you as you adjust the laundry basket on your hip. Most students on campus have gone home for the week in preparation for the holidays, which leaves just you and a handful of others, which also means you didn’t have to fight over any of the machines.
Your phone rings in your pocket, cutting through the calming atmosphere, and you fumble to answer it.
“Hey, babe!” Your boyfriend’s voice rings through the speaker before you even greet him.
“Hey, Kook. On your way back?”
“Yeah…” he trails off, and you know he has more to say.
“Yeah, what?”
“Well, the trains stopped running because of the snow. Whenever they can clear the tracks, they'll be moving again, but no telling when that’ll be, especially since it’s supposed to snow more later. This means Tae’s coming back with me.” You’re frowning so hard at his words you wonder if he can feel it over the line.
“Babe,” his tone tells you that he already knows what you’re thinking.
“You promised we’d play Among Us when you got back!”
“We can still do that! Tae plays too.”
“No, now I don’t wanna play anymore,” you pout.
“Come on, don’t be like that, Y/n.”
Knowing how much Jungkook strives to keep the peace when you complain about Taehyung, you drop it. “Fine. I’ll be in my room when you get here. Drive safe.” You hang up before he can respond and stomp to your building, your serenity having been ripped away from you.
Taehyung is Jungkook’s best friend and, simultaneously, your least favorite person. You and Jungkook have been dating for two years since you both started college. He and Taehyung became best friends a year into your relationship when he was assigned as his new roommate, and never once have the two of you got along.
It started with small things. You and Taehyung have a couple of the same classes together, and he always seems to try and one-up you. If you answer an equation in front of everyone in math class, he makes sure to correct you on a part you may have missed or could’ve done better. If he is chosen to give a presentation after you in your shared public speaking class, he goes above and beyond what you did before him.
From there, it was trivial things such as cutting in front of you in lines or taking the last of something in the cafeteria. He always speaks with an air of arrogance that burrows under your skin, and you’re always one snide remark away from punching him in his chiseled jaw.
Jungkook laughs it off anytime you mention it, assuring you that Taehyung likes you a lot and isn’t your sworn enemy. You’re not sure what conversations they have when you aren’t around, but you’re not convinced that Taehyung isn’t just a colossal asshole. You already know today is going to be rough.
By the time Jungkook and Taehyung get to your dorm room, your laundry is folded and put away. You’re sprawled on your bed, more than halfway through The Nightmare Before Christmas, and on your first spiked hot cocoa. You’d need a little something if you were going to deal with Taehyung for the rest of the day.
Jungkook sets the plastic bags in his hands on your desk and leans over to kiss you. He smells the kahlua in your cup and takes it from your hands, taking a sip. “Aw, babe, you got started without us.”
“You know where my stash is,” you shrug, trying not to show your aggravation while Taehyung inspects your small bookshelf. You can practically feel him judging your reading taste without him saying anything.
Jungkook, oblivious to the vibe you’re giving off, moves to open the bags he brought, unpacking various snacks, then making himself a drink and offering Taehyung one, which he accepts.
“Does this even count as a Christmas movie?” Taehyung muses, taking a seat on one side of you.
“What?” You frown at him, and he shrugs, clearly unbothered by the dirty look you’re shooting him.
“I mean, isn’t it more of a Halloween movie? Jack only spends time in Christmas town for a bit, and he has that song about the town, but it isn’t very Christmas-y.”
“It can be for both holidays,” you deadpan.
“Eh, I disagree. It's not even-”
“I don’t care what you think. The Nightmare Before Christmas works for Christmas and Halloween!” The tone of your voice is shrill and laced with irritation. Taehyung blinks at you in response, caught off guard by your outburst.
Jungkook cuts the tension with a loud clearing of his throat and calls Taehyung’s name to hand him his hot cocoa. “I think we should just finish the movie, and then we can do something else. Does that work?” Your boyfriend suggests, doing his best to play the peacemaker.
“No, you know what, I want to know what your deal is,” you start, glaring at Taehyung with all of the fire you can muster.
“Y/n, why don’t we just-”
“No, Jungkook. I want him to tell me right now what his issue with me is. It’s been like a year, and all he does is antagonize me, and I’m sick of it! I thought I’d get to enjoy Christmas break spending time with only my boyfriend, but you’re here in my room being the usual thorn in my goddamn side! I deserve to know why you spend so much time pissing me off!” You finish your rant, huffing, and looking as intimidating as possible at Taehyung.
His jaw clenches as his mind is working, presumably coming up with an excuse for his behavior. He shares a look with Jungkook behind you, and you whip around and see your boyfriend nod.
Taehyung lets out a sigh. “I just like messing with you and getting you riled up. It’s fun.” He says simply.
“What?!”
“You’re sexy when you’re mad.”
It was your turn to stare at him blankly, your brain trying to make sense of his words. He’s been fucking with you for an entire year just for fun?
“Is this a joke?” You finally question, and he shakes his head. Remembering the nod Jungkook gave him earlier, you turn to him. “And you knew?”
Looking sheepish, Jungkook nods. “I mean, I told you he liked you and that he didn’t mean any harm by it.”
Frowning, you look between the two men, still at a loss. “I don’t know what to say. You embarrass me in class and talk over me and make fun of shit I like because you think I’m sexy? What is this, elementary school? Gonna put dirt in my hair next?”
Taehyung’s honeyed skin flushes a dark shade of red, and you think it’s the first time you’ve seen him anything other than confident and cocky. “Well, when you say it like that, yeah, it sounds really dumb.”
Deflated, you plop back onto your bed. You had gotten so heated in your earlier outburst that you ended up kneeling on the mattress, poised and ready to fight.
“Unbelievable,” you murmur. You pick up your mug that you at least thought to hand to Jungkook beforehand and down the rest of it in one gulp.
The three of you watch the remainder of the movie in silence, with Jungkook nursing his hot cocoa and Taehyung barely paying attention, scrolling through his phone instead. You keep going back to the idea that Taehyung thought it was a good idea to be a dick to you simply to get you mad for his own pleasure. Knowing it wasn’t done with ill intent does make you feel a little better, and the more you ruminate on it, you shift from being pissed off to oddly flattered.
Once the credits roll on the movie, you grab your laptop in search of another holiday movie. Jungkook speaks first, his words sounding loud in the otherwise silent room. “So, are we going to do anything with this information?”
Eyebrows furrowed in confusion, you look over at him. “What do you mean? What would we do?”
“Well...I mean, Taehyung admitted that he thinks you're attractive, and he and I have talked before about the three of us, uh, you know.”
You turn to face him fully. “Are you telling me you’ve discussed us having a threesome with him?”
“Yes?” Jungkook rubs the back of his neck nervously, eyes darting between you and Taehyung.
“I wouldn’t be opposed,” Taehyung offers up, his usual arrogance back in his tone.
“And to be fair, babe, there was that time like a month ago when we were drinking, and you admitted to wanting to cross a threesome off of your bucket list.” Jungkook points out. “I even asked if you had anyone in mind, and Taehyung was on your list.”
“I was?” Taehyung perks up even more interested in the current conversation.
“I-I was just-I…” You don’t know what to say. Both men are looking at you expectantly, and you don’t have a rebuttal ready. Yes, you remember that drunken conversation you and Jungkook had, and yes, Taehyung is on your list because, as terrible as he previously behaved, he’s still insanely good-looking. The possibility of a threesome was very realistic in college, so it was just a matter of time before the opportunity arose, but nowhere in this life or any other did you think it’d actually be Taehyung that offered.
Jungkook’s gaze softens, his hand reaching for yours to rub circles over your knuckles. “I don’t want you to feel pressured. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, babe.”
You offer your boyfriend a smile and grip his hand. “I don’t feel pressured, Koo. I’m just really surprised by all of this. Today took a complete turn than what I anticipated.”
“I can leave if you want, Y/n.” Taehyung’s hand covers your knee, and he sounds genuinely considerate. His coffee-colored orbs are soft as they scan your face, and his hand is warm through your denim. It takes less than a minute before you decide that you’ve nothing to lose. It’s nearly Christmas, it’s a blizzard outside, the dorms are virtually deserted, and the three of you have little to do, so why not?
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Both men question simultaneously.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
Jungkook’s eyes go wide as he comprehends your consent and shares a look with Taehyung. They communicate telepathically in front of you, stirring up annoyance in you again.
Before either of them make a move, you grab Taehyung’s face and pull him into a kiss. He goes rigid only momentarily, and then his hands are on you, pulling you to straddle his lap. His lips are different from Jungkook’s as the hunger behind them is much more frantic. His large hands squeeze your waist forcing a moan out. He uses the opportunity to slide his tongue into your mouth, immediately taking control. Taehyung is kissing you so hard it feels as though he’ll devour you, and it’s only serving to make you wetter.
Nearly forgetting your boyfriend was in the room, he reminds you of his presence when you feel his familiar lips on your neck, going straight for the sensitive spot under your ear and sucking harshly. You let out a whimper, and Taehyung breaks the kiss, immediately going to the other side of your neck and biting down.
“Fuck!” You shout at the sensation, then melt into both of their holds. Having two pairs of lips on either side of you drives you crazy, and you haven’t even gotten to the best part.
Without warning, both men pull away, and Taehyung is flipping you onto your back, your body bouncing on the mattress. His long, slender fingers work on the button of your jeans while Jungkook’s hands pull your shirt over your head.
“You don’t know how badly I’ve wanted to taste you,” Taehyung speaks into your thigh as he kisses each part of your skin he exposes. “Jungkook always talks about how sweet you are, and I need to find out for myself.” You think you should chastise Jungkook for so openly talking about your sex life, but you can only focus on Taehyung's soft lips that are now kissing your mound through your panties.
"This is what you wanted, wasn't it, baby?" Jungkook's voice is heavy in your ear, fingers tugging on both of your nipples.
“Yes,” you whimper as Taehyung finally peels your panties off and begins blowing on your core.
"How many times have you thought about this? Me letting someone else eat you out while I watch?" Jungkook’s tone is teasing as he ducks down and sucks a nipple into his mouth.
At the same time, Taehyung's lips attach to your clit. He wastes no time sucking on the sensitive bud, sending a spark through your entire body. The suckling sounds he and Jungkook are making have your thighs shaking as you let out a moan loud enough for anyone walking by to hear.
“Fuck, you sound just as sexy as I knew you would.” Taehyung groans as his mouth moves lower, his tongue plunging inside of you. He fucks you with his tongue a few times before he replaces it with his fingers. His mouth goes back to your clit while he fingers you, his fingertips brushing your g-spot every so often.
"Fuck, Taehyung!" His eyes, half-lidded, meet your unfocused ones. He locks onto your gaze as his fingers press deeper, and his mouth sucks harder. Jungkook’s teeth bite harshly on one of your tits, bringing your attention to him. Your eyes meet next as you watch him suck a bright red mark onto your skin, and he offers you a smirk.
Noticing he is still fully dressed when you reach to touch him, you frown. “Off.” You demand, pulling on the fabric of his top. Wordlessly, Jungkook obeys and pulls his hoodie over his head. You marvel at his body as he pulls his jeans off next and your mouth nearly waters at the familiar sight of his hard cock poking out the top of his boxers.
Taehyung pulls your concentration back to him with a particularly hard suck that has your thighs quivering. In a matter of seconds, you’re cumming with one of your hands reaching down to tangle in Taehyung's dark hair and the other clutching Jungkook's strong, bare thigh.
You let out a few more cries as Taehyung cleans up the mess between your thighs. When he pulls away, he shoots you the most sinfully sweet smile as his chin glistens with your juices.
“Holy shit, you taste so fucking good.” He groans. He licks his lips repeatedly, savoring your flavor.
The sight of him has you rubbing your thighs together, already feeling more wetness pool between your legs, yearning to cum again. As if reading your mind, Jungkook grabs your legs to open them back up and moves so that he’s next to Taehyung and between your legs.
"I need to fuck you so bad, baby." Jungkook’s eyes are wild as he scans your still panting form. The sight of his best friend making you cum sent him into a craze, and he was painfully hard.
"Make her use her words, Jungkookie. She has to tell us what she wants." Taehyung demands as he shimmies out of his pants and sweater.
"You know what I want," you beg. You bite your lip and spread your legs further, giving both men a view of your dripping pussy. Jungkook inhales sharply, looking as though he’ll bite his lip so hard he’ll break the skin. Taehyung’s still persistent, his face remaining stoic as he takes in the state of you.
"I wanna hear you say it. Tell us what you want, princess." Taehyung is already out of his underwear and stroking himself. Your eyes follow every flick of his wrist and twist of his hand, aching to touch him too. He’s thicker than Jungkook but just as impressive in length. You can almost feel every visible vein and ridge as you squirm in anticipation, watching him open and roll a condom on.
"Please, please fuck me. I need your cocks so bad!" You know you sound needy and desperate, but you don’t care. Jungkook looks over his shoulder at Taehyung, who gives him a nod.
"I’ll be the one fucking you first." Taehyung begins, grabbing hold of your hips and flipping you over onto your stomach. Jungkook scurries off of the bed and walks around to the other side to stand in front of you. "While I do that, you're gonna suck Jungkookie’s dick. Can you do that, princess?"
“Yes, yes, fuck, yes.” You chant, wiggling your hips for him. Jungkook rubs the head of his cock against your willing lips before slipping as far as he can fit into your mouth. His head falls back, and a throaty groan escapes him, resonating throughout the room.
Taehyung's hand strikes each of your cheeks twice, sending jolts of pleasure up your spine. With each smack, you let out squeals that send vibrations throughout Jungkook's body. While you’re no stranger to being spanked, the feeling of a warm hand other than Jungkook's colliding with your soft skin was different and exciting.
"Tae, you need to hurry up. I can't hold it much longer." Jungkook says to this best friend through gritted teeth. He’s embarrassingly close, but having watched you cum once already, he can barely contain himself.
The older man quickly obliges, running his fingers down your back as he rams inside of you. The obscene squelching sound your pussy makes when Taehyung begins fucking into you is embarrassing yet still manages to turn you even more. The stretch from Taehyung’s girth is nearly painful, but the amount of pleasure outweighs this, so you welcome it, pushing yourself back to allow Taehyung to shove himself deeper.
Finding a rhythm that pleases all of you is difficult at first. Taehyung keeps thrusting forward at the same time as Jungkook, which throws them both off. You are the one to take charge, keeping one arm on the bed to balance yourself while using the other hand to grasp Jungkook's thigh. Every time you push yourself back against Taehyung, you pull Jungkook forward, instantly making the movements more fluid.
Once moving in tandem, they pick up the pace at which they’re fucking into you, being spurred on by the increasing pitch and volume of your wails. You hardly have any coherent thoughts other than the blissful feeling of both of these men on you like this.
Taehyung's blunt nails dug into your ass as his hips snap impossibly faster, and you struggle to keep your mouth around Jungkook, who is nearing his climax. Your mouth is too warm, and your tongue is doing too many things for him to hold it any longer.
"Baby, p-please, can I cum on your face?" You nod, letting his cock fall from your lips and keeping your mouth open while he desperately jerks himself off over your face. Taehyung takes this opportunity to reach around and let his fingers toy with your clit as he fucks you sloppier than before.
“Cum with me, princess,” he practically growls, the pad of his finger working your clit rougher.
Jungkook cums first into your open mouth, some of it spurting onto your cheeks and chin. When you take his softening cock into your mouth to milk the rest of his orgasm from him, he nearly screams, his fingers digging into your shoulders to keep himself from toppling over.
“Y/n, shit, I’m going to cum,” is all Taehyung says before filling the condom inside you, bruising your hips with the iron grip he has on you.
Your whole body feels as if it’s on fire and trembles uncontrollably as you cum last, shrieking the names of both men as you claw at the bedsheets under you.
The only sound heard once you calm down is the heavy breathing of all three of you. Jungkook crawls onto your bed, collapsing first. After Taehyung pulls out of you and steps away to throw the condom away, you join Jungkook in a heap. He pulls you into his arms and places a kiss on your sweaty forehead.
"How was that? Did it fulfill your wildest fantasies? Good enough to cross off your bucket list?"
"It was better than anything I could've imagined. Neither of you disappointed." You give him a lazy smile before turning over completely to look at Taehyung, seeing him standing by the trash can, unsure of where to be. "You can come over here if you want. You don’t have to stand over there like a creep.” Taehyung lets out a nervous laugh and squishes himself onto the twin bed with the two of you, his long leg draping over both you and Jungkook. “How was that for you?" You ask once he’s settled.
"Eh, it was pretty good. I could offer you a few pointers.” He shrugs, brushing his bangs out of his face.
“Are you shitting me right now?” You scoff at him, your usual irritability creeping in.
“Y/n, I’m kidding. It was fucking mind-blowing.” He explains when he sees your expression. “There goes that frown I like to see.” Taehyung gives you the first genuine smile you think you’ve ever received from him.
The three of you lie in silence before Jungkook is once again, the first to speak. “So...I was thinking.”
“That’s a first.” Taehyung mumbles. You can’t help the giggle that slips out at the jab.
“Anyway,” Jungkook continues, choosing to ignore the comment. “I thought that since it’s still early afternoon and we have nothing but time, why not try to cross off some other fantasies on our lists together?”
“What exactly did you have in mind?” You’re suspicious but want to hear it anyway.
“Well, that time we were talking about threesomes, remember when I said double penetration could be super hot?” He flashes you his big, round doe eyes, and you cave almost immediately.
“Fine. Grab the lube.” You wave him to your bedside table, and he nearly falls off the bed in the process. Taehyung’s fingers begin trailing up your thigh as he presses into your side, already half-hard and kissing the shell of your ear.
If this blizzard doesn’t let up soon, you anticipate that you’re in for a very busy week.
Summary- Jungkook was the perfect boyfriend for two years, and then two months ago something changed. It was like a switch had been flipped and he’d gone from doting to distant. For the life of you, you could not figure out what happened, and you hated it
word count- 4.3k
pairing- nonidol!Jungkook x Reader (feat. Namjoon)
rating- R
genre- angst, smut
warnings- explicit smut (including fingering), unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it friends), sad sex, talks of depression and anxiety, talks of therapy, character death, car accident
a.n- First off a huge thank you to the brilliant Tailia @namyoongles for the banner! Isn’t it beautiful. Second, this is part of @btswriterscollective secret santa project and I’m so excited to reveal that I’m indeed @therealmintedmango‘s secret santa 🎅🏼I had such a great time getting to know you this month Mango and I really hope you enjoy all the angst in this fic! Happy holidays, love! 💕
As always feedback appreciated. Send me an ask! 💌
-
“Well if you can’t even talk to me, maybe we should just end this!” you screamed, your lungs aching as you looked at your boyfriend on the couch next to you, the room falling into a charged silence. It had been the same fight for months. The same constant back and forth. You would try to broach the topic but he would close off. Every time. His expression was neutral as he looked at you, his doe eyes betraying his defeat as he sighed.
Jungkook was the perfect boyfriend for two years, and then two months ago something changed. It was like a switch had been flipped and he’d gone from doting to distant. For the life of you, you could not figure out what happened, and you hated it. You hated how it seemed to bring all your insecurities to the surface and clawed at your emotions till they were raw. From the corner of your eye you saw Namjoon looking at you sadly, disappointed, before shaking his head at you and disappearing round the corner. You felt a tear roll down your cheek as you looked at your boyfriend, who sat in silence at your outburst.
Jungkook had always been quiet, introverted, and this cloud of mystery was one of the things that made him so unbelievably attractive, but now it was the worst thing about him. You didn’t expect this fight to escalate, you didn’t expect these words to come out, but now that they were you wanted him to react. Needed him to react. Needed just anything more than the stoic expression marring his features.
“Maybe we should…” Jungkook spoke softly, after what seemed like hours. It wasn’t what you were expecting and it only caused your anger to flare. He was seriously going to just throw away everything?
You looked at him next to you as he seemed to have moved further away. You’re not sure if he actually did or your mind was playing tricks on you again, but the seat cushion between you seemed to stretch for miles, Jungkook getting smaller in the horizon.
“You’re not even going to fight for us? You’re going to walk away?” You didn’t care that you were raising your voice, and that the one tear from earlier was now a flood cascading down your features. Maybe it was your fate. You never thought you deserved happiness and this was just another nail in your ever growing collection. You had spent your life chasing after that elusive ray of joy, only for you to get too comfortable when you reached it and it disappeared as soon as it appeared, throwing you into the darkness once again.
It figures that this happiness would vanish too. You wanted to reach out and shake Jungkook. Why did he have to change? Why did he have to do this to you?
“What did I do? What happened?” you asked, your voice small, as you looked at him staring at his hands in his lap. His long wavy hair fell into his eyes, and the longer he sat there in silence, the louder your heart crumbled. “Say something!” you exclaimed, followed by a quieter “Please…”
“What do you want me to say Y/N? You’re the one who wants to end us.” Jungkook finally looks at you, his lips pressed together as his tongue pokes lightly to the inside of his cheek. You’d seen this look before, but never directed at you. It was cold and made your skin pebble, made fresh tears stream down your face.
“Because you changed! Because you hate me!” you yelled indignitedly as he sighs once again. He lifts his head slightly as he looks at you, his eyes glassy.
“I don’t hate you,” he whispers quietly, the words floating in the tension in the air.
“Then why are you avoiding me? Why haven’t you said a full sentence to me these past two months?”
“Because…” He looks away again staring straight ahead at the blank wall of his living room and you can’t help but move closer, wiping your eyes to see him clearer.
“No. You can’t do your stupid quiet guy shit right now! I need to know!” You pull at his shoulder to make him look at you and as he does, his hand finds yours, holding it gently. His eyes swim with the love you’ve come to expect from him but it's tinged with an overwhelming sadness, a sadness that droops his features even though he tries to school them into a small smile on your behalf.
“It’s not your fault, okay?” He is still whispering, his hand squeezing yours as the other fidgets with the untied string of his sweatpants.
“What’s not my fault? Please Kook. Please talk to me!” You remove your hand from his and cup his face in both of yours, needing more, anything to help clear the haze in your head.
“I can’t.” His voice louder, he pulls your hands away from his face as he goes to stand up and you grab at his legs to stop him.
“Why not?!”
“Because you’ve never loved me and I had to find out when you were drunk!” Jungkook yells. He never yells, not at you anyway, but it’s not his volume that stuns you, it’s the words echoing through the small studio apartment. Words that make you freeze, dropping your hands from him as you feel the breath knocked out of your lungs.
“What?”
“That night after the club. While I was taking care of you. Me!” He points at his chest, his eyes ablaze as he continues. “Making sure that you didn’t get puke on your hair or fall or get hurt, you looked at me and do you know what you asked me?” His shoulders fall as he quietens once again, sighing and running his hands through his hair. His face distorts into one of heartbreak as he says the next words, his tone even and calm. “‘Why don’t I love you as much as him?’ And here I was like an idiot believing you every time you said you loved me”
You stand at his words. That wasn’t true. It wasn’t true. You remember that night. Not most of it but you know yourself enough to know you would never say that to him, not after he had worked so hard to put you back together again. Jungkook wasn’t your soulmate, you didn’t believe in those anymore, but Jungkook was your rock, your best friend. He was there when you couldn’t get out of bed for days. He was there when you didn’t know how to stop crying. He was always there. And you loved him.
“I do love you. Jungkook, please!” You grab his hands, holding them tightly as if he would disappear too. You looked at him desperately, trying to convey your feelings through your gaze, but all you found in him was defeat.
“I just can’t do this anymore. You’re right. I can’t compete with a ghost… not anymore.” He sighed again as his lip quivered. It stuttered your breath and you felt your chest tightened. You couldn’t lose him, not after Namjoon. As you felt the panic rising, the drunk haze of two months ago came into focus, spiking your adrenaline and paling your face.
You danced to the loud EDM pulsing through the club as neon lights flashed across your skin, setting your white dress aglow. Jungkook was pressed against your back as his lips ghosted the skin of your neck, his hands grazing your hips as he pulled you closer. You hadn’t felt this content in years, the tequila warming your veins in a sweet comfort as your boyfriend’s hips moved against yours, your arms around his neck, fingers playing with his hair.
You missed this. Missed going dancing and drinking because it was fun and not because you were trying to forget. Surrounded by your friends, you smiled as you opened your eyes, finally happy. Until you saw him and your heart dropped, making you freeze.
Namjoon smiled at you from the bar, the sweet dimpled smile that creased his eyes into crescents as he waved. How was he here? How was he back?
You felt your heart kickstart as you pushed Jungkook off you and raced to the bar. You’d apologize to him later, but you needed Namjoon right now. Needed to feel him in your arms, needed to smell his calming scent, and so like an addict you raced through the club looking for one more hit. When you reached the bar, he wasn’t there anymore and the sheer weight of disappointment made you sob. You felt a pair of strong arms surround you and the familiar smell of bergamot and vanilla encased your senses, pulling you closer into a firm chest.
“Baby what’s wrong?” A soft voice asked as you looked at Jungkook’s worry filled eyes. You hated that you were doing this again. It had been almost a year since this happened, and your mind felt numb as you grasped Jungkook’s black shirt.
“He was here! Kook he was here!” you exclaimed, your loud voice carrying over the music. You were sure you looked deranged, mascara running down your cheeks, lipstick smeared where it met Jungkook’s shirt, as you desperately cling to him. He looks at you sadly before pulling you into his chest once again, holding you tight, his fingers running soothingly on your scalp.
“I’m sorry baby. I’m so sorry.” He repeated that phrase as he stroked your back, trying to calm you down as you continued sobbing and onlookers peered at the two of you curiously.
The memory of the night jolts you as you grab onto Jungkook’s shirt the same way you did at the club, looking at him pleadingly. His face blurred behind your tears as you yelled.
“I was with him for five years and he fucking died!” There’s no volume behind your words, only the distraught behind the truth you felt you were never ready to face. You weakly punched at Jungkook’s chest trying to make him understand your agony. But you didn’t need to try, he already knew, had lived through it with you.
“Yeah Namjoon died! But I’m here! I’m alive!” His voice was broken as the tears finally escaped his eyes. He grabbed your hand from where it was knocking against his chest and held it there. “You feel this? That’s my heart racing for you! How it always does! Because I love you.”
“Kook-”
Before you can say anything else, he grabs your face and crashes your lips together desperately, wanting you to feel just an ounce of what he felt for you. Your sinuses full of tears, your lungs burn as you pull him closer. You want him to consume you, make you forget again as you taste the salt of his tears. The overwhelming guilt breaks you more as his fingers move from your face to your waist, digging in hard enough to leave bruises.
Three years ago you never thought you would love someone again. You didn’t deserve to not when it was your fault you could never see Namjoon’s face again. Your fault that the world would never know what difference he would have made to it. But when you stood outside the funeral his parents had banned you from attending, arm in a cast and stitches on your forehead, caving into yourself from grief, Jungkook found you. Held you tight enough to stop you from breaking and told you it wasn’t your fault, that there was no way to have known that the 14 wheeler would run a red. And he reminded you everyday till you believed him, till your dreams no longer weaved your memories into nightmares, till you no longer saw Namjoon everywhere you looked. Till you felt worthy to love Jungkook back.
When the air in your lung runs out, you pull away, but Jungkook pulls you closer, trailing his lips from your jaw to down your neck. He kisses you with fervor, nibbling the skin and soothing it with his tongue till you're moaning. You grip his hair and pull him back to your lips, his tongue caressing yours as your tears give way to the passion. Your heart stutters as his hands move to the back of your thighs and he effortlessly lifts you without leaving your lips, walking towards his bed.
Amidst the kisses, he bumps into the bookshelf that separates his bed from the living room causing a few books to fall to the floor, the loud thud breaking the silence in the room. He ignores it as he tosses you on the bed, climbing over you as you look up at him. There are still tears in his eyes as he slows down and presses his forehead against yours.
"I love you," he says softly but the sadness in his eyes never gives way to the usual warmth. It feels like a goodbye and you feel another wave of grief wash over you. Why did you have to be like this? Why couldn't you give him what he needed when he gave you so much?
You cup his damp face and he leans into your hands, closing his eyes as you kiss him tenderly, hoping to convey how much you needed him. You pull at the hem of his shirt, running your hands under it, feeling the light shudder that goes through him as his skin pebbles. He pulls the shirt over his head, tossing it on the floor as he kisses you again more urgently, his lips molding to yours, igniting a familiar fire in the pit of your stomach. He holds on to your face as if you would run away if he didn't.
You push gently against his chest and he looks up in alarm before you make him lie next to you and straddle his waist. You continue kissing him, trailing your lips over his neck, painting his golden chest red as the lump in your throat grows. Despite the tears still running steadily, you whisper 'I love you's, hoping he'd believe you, but you're not sure if you're trying to convince him or yourself.
He's right, you don't love him like you loved Namjoon. You don't think you can ever love anyone the way you loved him. Namjoon was your shelter amidst the rain, but Jungkook was the light amidst the darkness. It's different, it's incomparable. You never needed Namjoon the way you need Jungkook. Never woke up in the middle of the night relieved to find him still sleeping next to you. You had never depended on someone like you depended on Jungkook, and so, wasn't that love? Wasn't needing someone the same as you need oxygen, love?
You trail your kisses lower, but before you could reach his waistband, he lifts your shirt pulling it off you, and with his arms circled tight around your waist he kisses you again. The two of you kiss for a while, relishing the feel of each other's skin, his grip tightening till you can't breathe. He's never like this, never this needy and your heart breaks as you realize that he still thinks he's competing.
You don't know if you're still crying, but you pull yourself up and stare at him. "Jungkook, I love you. I need you. Please-"
But before you can finish your sentence, he rolls the two of you over, pinning you under him as he pulls your shorts down your legs. You didn't mean this need, but you couldn't deny how wet his length hardened against you made you. He traces his fingers over your soaked panties, groaning into your mouth before pushing them aside and thrusting two fingers in.
He swallows your moans as you arch into him. He sets a fast pace right from the start as his lips move to your chest. His mouth moves over your nipples, capturing one to tease it with his tongue, lapping at it furiously. He nips it lightly and you feel your whole body alight, leaving all your thoughts to tumble out of your head. All you see are the flashes of red behind your eyelids, all you hear is the sounds of his fingers thrusting in you, all you can feel is him as Jungkook does what he does best - make you forget.
“Want to make you forget. Want to make you mine,” he whispers against your chest, as he removes his fingers, pulling your panties off your legs as he takes his shorts and boxers off in a haze. You don’t know what’s going through his mind as he looks at you with a darkened gaze, his eyes roaming your body, before he kisses you again. It’s hard and rough, teeth clattering against each other, his tongue licking into you as you mewl.
His cock grinds against your clit as he kisses you and you can’t help the way your hips buck up against him. He looks up at that, a hand moving down to line himself up against you. “Please tell me you want me,” he pleads against your lips, and another tear rolls down your cheek as you nod vigorously before kissing him. Another wave of guilt rushes through you seeing your usually confident boyfriend pleading at you, and for the first time as he slowly sinks into you, you don’t think of Namjoon.
You gasp against his lips as he fully sheaths himself within you. “Jungkook… Kookie. Please… want you, need you.” He rewards your pleas by slowly pulling out and thrusting in again, gripping your waist tightly and bracing his knees against the bed to start rocking into you faster.
“I’m here. Me. Me. I’m the one here for you.” He repeats again and again, the mantra powering his thrusts, leaving you a moaning mess below him as he consistently hits the spot that makes you see stars. You wrap your legs around his waist, stuttering his name and holding tightly onto his forearms. You can feel your orgasm build up as you lose yourself in his touch, letting him move your body as he pulls you in each time his hips meet yours.
You tighten around him as you feel the high of your pleasure coursing through your veins. At the feeling, Jungkook moves forward, bracing his arms around your head, his forehead against yours as he commands you to open your eyes.
His eyes are glassy as he looks at you lost in pleasure like it’s the only thing he needs. He kisses you again, softly, a total juxtaposition to the hard movement of his hips that’s quickly tightening the coil in your stomach. His movements are sloppier now as he approaches his high as well, but he moves a hand down, fingers circling your clit.
“Cum for me, baby, please,” he moans as you lose yourself to the euphoria he provides. Jungkook watches your face contorted in pleasure as you writhe under him, finding his release soon after you.
You pull him closer, your arms tight around him, as he thrusts as deep as he can before stilling and filling you. He collapses on you right after, still buried inside you with his head in the crook of your shoulder, your pants echoing through the room.
He lays on top of you for a while, his crushing weight smothering you to the mattress, but you don’t move him, welcoming the intimacy after months of distance. You think he’s fallen asleep, but then you feel his shoulders shake, your neck getting damp as he sniffles next to you. The guilt returns as you stroke his back gently and let him cry, your own reservoir long empty. Without lifting his head, he grabs one of your hands, lacing your fingers together, as he holds it tightly.
“I’m sorry I’m not him.” He mumbles against you. You go to say his name but before you can he interrupts you. “I’m sorry I can’t make it hurt less. I’m sorry I can’t bring him back. I’m so, so sorry.”
You try to move his head to see him but he just nuzzles his face in deeper, his hair tickling your neck gently. Your mind feels heavy, like if you thought more your brain would simply shrivel up. You wish you were a different person, had a different life, made better decisions. You hate yourself for making Jungkook feel like he’s responsible for your happiness, responsible for putting you back together, but most of all you hate yourself for making him feel like he has to bring Namjoon back for you to feel happy.
Before Namjoon died, Jungkook was a different person. He was funny, energetic, competitive, but afterwards he just became quiet. Sure, he was introverted before, but he just lost the spark behind his eyes. It wasn’t surprising. Jungkook had known Namjoon even longer than you did. He grew up with him and looked up to him like a younger brother would. In the beginning of your relationship, you even felt that he thought he had some kind of responsibility to take care of you for him. He never pushed you, always relented to your requests.
The first time you slept with him was only three months after the funeral, when in a drunken haze you begged him to make you forget. He wiped your tears and held you as he helped you forget. In the two years following he never asked you to do anything, except for one thing. One thing you were always too scared to do because to you it would be admitting that you were broken. As you laid with your arms tight around him, lamenting how you broke him worse, you decided to give it to him.
“I’ll go to therapy.” Your voice was low but firm, and it jolts Jungkook to move up and lean on his hands next to your head. The movement makes the two of you wince as he suddenly pulls out of you, dragging his release down your thighs. His red rimmed eyes roam your face looking for deceit.
“You will?”
“I can’t expect you to fix me, Kook. I can’t put that on you.” You sigh, a hand reaching out to smooth the crease between his eyebrows. Your thumb brushes over his lower lip that juts out in a slight pout, and you can’t believe how lucky you are to have him in your life.
“You can. I’ll always be here for you, you know that right?” He whispers and it makes your heart ache when you think about how defeated he seemed earlier.
“Kook… I love you… I really do.” Your eyes are glassy again and you wonder how it is that your body can keep producing tears. He hugs you at that, his arms going under your waist to gently lift you and scoot the two of you upwards, resting your head on the pillows. He lies next to you, a little distance between the two of you, your hands laced together as you both stare at the ceiling, the emotions of the night turning to exhaustion.
“I should’ve talked to you instead of trying to run away.” Jungkook speaks after a while, making you turn your head towards him.
“I didn’t mean what I said-”
“It’s okay if you did. I miss him. I wish he was here too.” He looks at you with a small smile.
“No. It’s not okay. You don’t deserve this. You could be with someone else and you’d be happy. You could be happy Kook. Don’t you want that? To be with someone who doesn’t imagine their dead ex all the time?” Your voice is firm, even when it wavers slightly towards the end, your grip around his hand getting tighter.
“No. I want to be with you.” His thumb caresses your hand as he turns on his side as he puts his arm around your waist. The warmth you missed these past months was back in his eyes, but instead of it raising butterflies, all it did was produce dread for when it would disappear as he continued. “I would’ve left a long time ago if I wanted to. If you don’t want me, I still can... if that’s what would make you happy.”
“I think you need to be with someone who you don’t have to put together again.” Your voice is small as he sighs again, letting go of your hand to pull you close to his body, cradling your head into his chest. On instinct, you wrap your arms and legs around him, nuzzling into his chest. The touch of his skin on yours never failed to comfort you.
“You’re not broken. I’m not putting you together. I just… I don’t want to lose you.” His voice reverberates through his chest as he holds you tighter, kissing the top of your head.
“But maybe you need to.” You want to be selfish, keep him for yourself but shouldn’t you let Jungkook go for his sake? Let him find someone with less work, no matter how much it hurts you? It was bad enough that your mental health was terrible, did his need to be too? You feel his heart pound under you and it causes yours to speed up as well, anticipating his words. You don’t know how you would react if he agreed.
“Tomorrow. Let’s talk about this tomorrow.” He says after quiet contemplation. “I love you. More than you’ll know.”
“And I love you. You. Jeon Jungkook. Even if I’m selfish and ruining you.”
He shushes you at that, stroking your hair as the two of you fall in a dreamless sleep. You didn’t know if your relationship would survive past the post-orgasmic endorphins, but you knew one thing for sure. You were in love with Jungkook and tomorrow you were going to set up your first therapy appointment to make sure you never made him feel like he lost again.
----
I hope you liked this angsty piece, for more fics of mine check out my masterlist
Genres: NSFW, Established Relationship, Fluff, and Smut
Warnings: Flirty Jungkook, Oral (female receiving), Unprotected Sex
A/N: Merry Christmas @jjungkooksthighs!! I am SO sorry this took FOREVER to post!! As you know I was visiting my girlfriend for Christmas and that included two 22 hour road trips! I hope you can enjoy this little Jungkook Christmas drabble. I hope it leaves you feeling warm. Lots of love, Dasher!
Shoutout to @thesoftsoobin for the AMAZING mood board. ily
~~~~~~~
Breathe in the frigid air, watch your breath dissipate into the evening sky. The sun has almost finished setting, creating a picturesque view in the park. Snow has settled gently on top of the grass, the trees, even the bench you’re now sitting on. Jungkook had cleared a spot for you to sit before he left to get the two of you some hot chocolate.
Your mind begins to wander... thinking about Jungkook. The two of you have been together almost a year now. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you, hands down. He’s kind, thoughtful, talented and... sexy.
A loud thud brings you out of your thoughts. A snowball landed on the back of the bench next to you. Looking up, you see Jungkook standing a few feet away from you balancing two hot chocolates in one hand, a second snowball in the other.
He cocks an eyebrow and launches the second snowball at you. It hits your chest and shatters, leaving a dusting of snow on your jacket. You let your body go limp, tongue flopping out of your mouth to play dead.
“No! I’ve killed her!” Jungkook shouts and he jogs over to your limp body. “If only I knew a way to revive her!”
You peek your eye open just in time to see Jungkook, still balancing two hot chocolates, reaching for your abdomen. He tickles your side and your body jolts, a loud squeal escaping you and tearing through the silence of the snow covered park.
Jungkook sits and hands you your hot chocolate, both of you laughing. Steam is rising from the cup and you can smell the rich chocolate. The first drink shocks your tongue, the hot liquid a stark contrast from the freezing temperatures outside. But the second drink warms your body from the inside out.
Jungkook places his arm around your shoulder, leaning in to kiss the traces of chocolate off your lips. Something catches his eye, the snow splattered across your jacket.
“Here let me help you with that.” Jungkook smirks, a familiar look forming in his eyes. He dusts the snow from your jacket, intentionally grazing your breasts. And even through your thick winter jacket, you can feel the electricity in his touch.
The two of you share a look and within a split second you are up from the bench and sprinting through the park, your half full hot chocolates discarded in a garbage can. It’s just a few blocks until you get back to Jungkook’s apartment.
Jungkook, ever the athlete begins to pull ahead of you, but he grabs hold of your hand, pulling you along with him. The cold air whipping through your lungs burns, but it can’t compare to the burning desire racing through your veins.
At his apartment, you leave a trail of clothes behind you as you make your way to the bedroom. Your jackets are thrown on the couch rather than carefully hung by the door. Beanies and scarfs strewn about. Boots kicked off near the dining table. Jungkook’s sweater and black jeans discarded on the floor in the kitchen after you boldly pushed him against the counter.
You struggled to get out of your leggings, too flustered to pull them off correctly. The moment you finally stepped out of them he leaned down to grab your waist and carried you the rest of the way to the bed.
He doesn’t bother with your dress, instead opting to slide his still cold fingers up your legs to pull off your panties. As he removes them, both of you can already tell how ready you are. But, it doesn’t take long before his cold fingers find their way to your warmth, his tongue following shortly after.
Not long after he begins tasting you, he has you panting and creeping toward your climax. He pulls away, however, and in the dim lighting of the room you can just make out his silhouette. He’s removing his boxers now and a wave of anticipation washes over you.
Jungkook crawls on the bed, coming face to face with you to leave a kiss on your lips. He positions himself over you and leaves a few more kisses on your neck before he slowly enters you. After months of incredible sex, you’re adjusted to the girth but it still feels so good when he fills you up.
His pace begins to quicken, his hands are firmly planted, one on the bed, one on your waist. He buries his face between your breasts as he continues with his rhythm. The fabric of your dress is fairly thick, but you can still feel his hot breath.
When he comes up for air you can see how flushed his face is, a familiar look of determination on his face. He’s close, but he wants to feel you come first. His hand leaves your waist and travels down between your thighs. It doesn’t take much for you to finally reach your climax, a gasp followed by a loud moan escaping your lips lets him know he’s succeeded.The pace of his hips meeting yours slows down and soon his climax takes over him as well.
After catching your breath and a quick shower, you and Jungkook climb into bed together. Abandoned hot chocolates long forgotten, his embrace more than enough to keep you warm.
~~~~~~~
Thank you for reading! I love getting asks and DMs, so hit me up! Check out my masterlist here and @jjungkooksthighs masterlist here.
Summary: When a rich cowboy moves into town you can't stand him, more so when he attempts to make some drastic changes but with a secret of your own he soon finds out that you'll protect your town and your privacy by any means necessary.
Genre: Idiots to lovers / Enemies to lovers / Angst / Smut / Wild west au / Cowboy au / One shot
Rating: 18+ (NSFW)
Warnings: Abusive ex / Mentions of stabbing (not detailed description) / Guns / Talk of scars / Shooting (not described) / Oral (f receiving) / Sex / Minor character death
Word count: 8100
Project: Bts writers collective secret santa 2020
A/N: This is for my Secret Santa @joontopia I was not planning it to be anything like this but it took on a mind of it’s own as I wrote, so my apologies. It’s not the fluffiest thing I’ve written but I really, really hope you enjoy this. If you have an issue with any of the warnings, message me and I will try and edit it for you. It was really lovely getting to know you through asks and trolling your page for clues and info about yourself. Enjoy ❤
Thank you to @moccahobi for beta reading this and @birbdae also, your comments helped me a lot, it’s much appreciated. And thank you to @wheresmymoniat for being a general angel and reading along the way, with your endless encouragement when I’m unsure of my writing.
Two months since Namjoon moved to town.
"Have you heard?" one of your usual patrons, Hoseok, asked, leaning discreetly across the bar.
You look over with a questioning eyebrow. "Heard what?" you reply, half listening and half keeping an eye on Taehyung over on the piano. After one too many beers, you wanted to make sure he wasn't about to put a fist through the keys, with his wild playing; giving the room a personal concert.
"Namjoon's planning on building a mall." he whispers, glancing around suspiciously.
The empty glass you're drying slams against the counter as you turn and face him.
"How do you know this?" you ask, voice low and uneven with anger.
"I heard him talking to Seokjin about it, he wants his help with planning."
Seokjin, the local and resident builder, he's also the best builder in the state. You knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't want to help with something like that. He wouldn't want to change this town...but maybe for the right price? We all know Namjoon has money, the way he flashes it around like a Hollywood star meant it was not a secret and he didn't want it to be. Even so, you highly doubt Seokjin would accept such an offer.
Doubt starts creeping in, an ugly voice whispering in the back of your mind.
"Hey, Jimin! Can you take over for me?" you call over to him.
He nods, joining you behind the bar instantly, as you grab your brown fringe-jacket and head out to Seokjin's ranch. You had to know if there was substance to this and not just rumours whispered between the townsfolk.
As your truck raced along the dirt roads, the sound of the roaring engine doing nothing to calm your mind, with flashing images, slicing their way behind your eyes like projector slides. Big corporate buildings, a shopping mall, more city folk, modernisation...not that you were against it. You just didn't want it here. That's what drew you to this place in the beginning a few years ago, that's why you stayed and built a life for yourself, that's why a lot of people stay here, for the vintage, small town life.
You fling your door open before your truck had even come to a stop and you waltzed straight up to Seokjin's front door. Your knuckles making loud contact as they rapped furiously against it.
He opens it with a frown, his face softening when he sees it's you but quickly his expression turns weary from the tense expression you hold.
"What's-"
"Are you helping Namjoon build a mall?" you demand, in no mood to be messed around.
His jaw tenses and he nods for you to come inside.
Storming into his living room too infuriated to sit, you stand and face him, arms folded, waiting for his response and dreading his answer.
"He did approach me about it but I said no. Did you really think I'd say anything but?" He shook his head at you, disappointment obvious on his face and immediate guilt rising inside you in response.
Your shoulders relax as you let out a breath you didn't realise you'd been holding. "I had to check before I assumed anything."
You slump down on the sofa, leaning your head back and staring up at his slacked ceiling. "Why is he doing this?"
He lets out a laugh as he joins you on the couch. "Now, you know the answer to that. Money. It's all he cares about. He saw an opportunity for something and he's taking it. End of."
You rub your eyes, trying to ease the tension created from your anger pounding inside your head, desperate to escape like some caged, wild animal. "If I went to see him with my gun, do you think it would change his mind?"
He laughs again. "I don't think he'd change his mind even if you shot him, sweetheart." A groan rumbles inside you, the idea of him being so stubborn, makes your fist want to connect with his jaw. "That's not deterring me from doing it."
"If he's going to do it, there's not much we can do." he shrugs and puts his feet up on his wooden coffee table, the wood dipping slightly on impact.
Fury lights your insides anew. You stand, striding across the room, "Like hell there isn't." you say, as you storm out and head off ready for a confrontation with the person you hate the most in this entire town.
You expect your wrath to have died down somewhat on your ride over but, to your pleasant surprise, it hasn't.
You come to a halt outside his ranch, looking over his land and the new building he spent ages preparing to become a hotel...an empty one at that.
After hammering on his door so hard the hinges rattled, he strangely and calmly invites you inside his house.
"You really should see someone about your anger issues. It's not healthy for one person to harbour so much...rage." he says, in such a condescending manner you clench your jaw to stop yourself from lashing out. You'd only be proving him right.
Something about him got to you, you two have clashed since the moment he arrived in this town, and he knew exactly how to play it too.
"The only issue I have, Namjoon, is you."
He sighs. "I would very much like you on board with this. I don't want to have you fighting the inevitable."
"The inevitable." you gasp with angered amusement, "as long as I'm living in this town, this is anything but inevitable."
"Why do you hate this idea so much?" he asks perplexed, with simultaneous interest and bemusement.
"Someone like you would not understand." You fold your arms in an attempt to hold in the pointless angry words you feel boiling inside.
He shrugs. "I would like to try. Humour me."
You let out an exasperated sigh, tired of the anger, tired of being so closed off but you had no choice but to be exactly that. "Some people have come here to enjoy the small town life." you reply simply, not having the trust in him or yourself to say more.
"And maybe some people have come here to escape something?"
You freeze, heart stopping before pounding so violently against your ribcage, you're sure it's echo fills the room.
He watches you carefully, searching your eyes and all you can do is stare back.
"You know, I did some research after our first encounter…"
You swallow, trying to ease the choking sensation in your throat.
"...I'm usually good at finding any useful information about people…"
He walks slowly around his kitchen island to you. You couldn't move even if you wanted to, your feet frozen to the spot but wanting to run, fighting for you to run.
"...But you...I couldn't find a single thing about you."
Your eyes connect with his as he towers above you, searching for your own answers, needing to find out what he knows.
"Don't you find that odd?" he asks.
Your mind races inside your frozen stature. You could not tell a man like Namjoon anything. You could not trust him. He will ruin this life you've made and turn it upside down.
"Well, I found it very odd. It's like you don't even exist...so that got me intrigued and asking some questions."
Your stomach drops as small beads of sweat break out across your forehead, the sudden heat under your flannel shirt almost unbearable.
"And do you know what I found out?" he taps his chin, drawing out the tension purposefully and making you want to headbutt the smug look off his face.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. No one knows a personal thing about you."
The relief you feel inside makes you want to collapse to your knees and thank gods you don’t believe in.
"That is, if they're being honest. I know you like to protect your own in communities like this. But it definitely has me wondering…?"
He waits for a response this time.
"What?" your voice comes out a raspy whisper, his words leaving the taste of ash in your dry mouth.
"What are you hiding?"
You steel yourself, remembering just how pathetic of a man he is and let's face it, you've dealt with much scarier things than him. "Even if I was hiding something, I'd certainly never tell the likes of you."
You turn and head towards his door, when you hear his voice again.
"I'm not stupid enough to believe we'll be friends, you know but I would like us to at least be civil."
You let out a bitter laugh. "You can keep dreaming, pretty boy." You storm out, slamming his door hard enough for the glass to rattle in it’s wooden frame.
Three and a half months since Namjoon moved to town.
He's wasted, completely inebriated. You watch from behind the bar, getting ready to close, as he fumbles for the keys to his truck.
He came quietly into the bar this afternoon, face like thunder, ordering drink, after drink, after drink, no other words spoken. Most unusual for the chatty Kathy he is.
You've never seen him so drunk - so vulnerable. You wonder if perhaps something has happened. But, honestly, do you really care?
The keys slam to the floor and he goes head first into the driver's side door as he bends to retrieve them, face down in the dirt.
You shouldn't let him drive home. Definitely not.
Quickly shrugging on your jacket and grabbing your keys, locking the bar doors behind you as you rush over to him.
"Hey, big guy, come on, let's get you up." you throw his arm around your shoulders and use all your strength to get him on his feet and on balance.
"I don't...need...your help." he mumbles, leaning into you, almost ready to pass out.
You open his truck door and shove him in, sliding him over as you climb in beside him. He doesn't notice as you pry the keys from his weak grip and start the engine.
Driving to his ranch would be a mistake; the pretentious layout of it would mean you would have to walk him much further than you think you actually could. Not without dropping him a few times, although that's not a bad idea.
You sigh as you drive down the winding dirt road that led to your land. The idea of having this man in your house would usually have infuriated you. But after seeing the sadness that clouded his eyes this morning you...felt for him.
You once told him he must have a miserable existence, being surrounded by money and not love. You wince at the memory. You were no different, except you weren't surrounded by either, how miserable does that make you?
As you pull up to your ranch, you look over to him, passed out, face squashed against the glass of the window. You wonder what secrets he must have, what sadness he's known, what dreams he’s had. How does someone get to be the way he is?
There are surely a few people who would ask that very question about you. Only, you had a reason...have a reason. One you will never be free from. You push the thoughts away, back down into the pit they're buried into. No time to dwell in self pity. You're in this position through no fault but you're own, you bought it on yourself and now you have to live with those choices.
You practically carry him the few steps to the front door and over to the sofa. He stumbles and almost trips over your rug but you hoist him up, almost injuring yourself in the process. You practically throw him onto the couch, where he tries to hold himself up but fails and collapses into the pillow you shove under him.
"I wish…" he starts, slurring every word. "I wish I was more like you."
"No, you don't." You reply into the thick silence that envelopes you in a inescapable cage.
His eyelids close and immediately a roar of snoring fills the room, vibrating not only your eardrums but you're sure the walls too.
You lift his legs and lay them flush with his body, his limbs are so long they hang off over the armrest.
Taking one last look at him and wondering exactly what he meant by that, before heading upstairs to bed.
Why would anyone want to be like you?
The day after you let Namjoon sleep on your couch.
You had taken longer than necessary in the shower this morning, pottered around upstairs, procrastinating, which is something you rarely do and all to avoid the man you'd left slumped unconscious on your couch.
You listen for any signs of movement down stairs and when you hear none, part of you hopes he's gone. That he woke up early and drove home, no awkward encounter, no questions, just peace.
You should be so lucky.
As you descend your wooden stairs, you hear the rattle of snoring and roll your eyes.
He lay on his stomach, face squashed on its side with limbs splayed out and hands sagged against your rug.
How were you going to get rid of him?
You prepare a few things in the kitchen before taking some pain killers and a glass of water over.
You nudge him tentatively with your foot. Nothing. Nudging him again, harder this time, but still nothing.
"Hey." You call harshly into the heavy silence. Nothing.
Inspiration strikes, as your hand lashes out, flicking the glass forward and sending water cascading over him.
He jumps up with a gasp, bolt upright, shock contorting his face.
You bite back a laugh at the sight of his drenched form.
His eyes widen when he focuses on you and then dart around wildly searching for answers.
"I drove you home last night as you could hardly stand but you passed out so I brought you here." You explain in a blasé manner.
Holding out the pills, he takes them mechanically.
"I'll just refill your water for you." You skip off with a smirk. His wet hair clinging to his forehead, little water droplets dripping off the end of his nose. The sight deeply satisfying, in more ways than one. As much as you would never admit it, he looked good wet.
He swallows the pills and greedily downs the water you return with. Gasping for air, he finally meets your gaze. "We didn't…" he stumbles on his words and you laugh loudly.
"Trust me, you were in no condition for anything physical last night."
A hint of a smile plays around his mouth but he tries to fight it. "That doesn't sound like you're completely repulsed by the idea?" One of his eyebrows pulls up into a challenging arch.
"Ha! If you were the last man on earth and the human race was left depending on us to continue, only then would I possibly consider it."
A shy smile and a dimple creating an endearing crevice in his cheek. "Well that's not a complete no, so I'll take that."
You shake your head, amused, if not a little perplexed by him.
He sighs, wiping down his damp jeans. "Well, I suppose I better get out of your hair." He stands, seeming slightly unsteady and visibly in pain as he clutches his head.
"Why don't you stay for breakfast, have some coffee then I'll drive you back to your place in the truck?"
He stares at you with his mouth popped open in a little 'o', the same expression you imagine looking at yourself with. Where in the fuck did that come from? Have you forgotten who he is?
"If that's ok with you, that would be great...unless you're planning to poison me?" There's humour in his remark but a sincere worry too.
You chuckle as you head over to the stove, switching it on and cracking some eggs into the heated frying pan, the sizzle filling the silence. "I can assure you, I'm more of a 'violence is the answer' type person, in case that wasn't obvious already."
You smile to yourself at the memory of the very first day you met.
He'd backed his truck into yours, denting the hood and completely knocking off the bumper before driving home. You had greeted him in his living room, not bothering to knock, just letting yourself in, backing him into a corner and threatening him with a wrench. The image of his wide eyed, frozen form brought you a fresh wave of satisfaction as he handed you a wad of cash and uttered frantic apologies.
"Hmm, so I recall." He replies, brows furrow in thought as he takes a seat at your table, clearly his mind travelling to the same place yours is. You'd gotten off entirely on the wrong foot, and if you were honest, still continued to.
"How do you like your eggs?"
He smirks. "I'm assuming, 'with a kiss' is pushing it."
You shoot him a glare, even though you feel amusement tug at your lips.
He holds his hands up. "Fair enough, as they come will be fine."
Once breakfast is done, you drive him home, smiling and laughing more than you thought possible with him, you realise he's actually quite humorous when he's not torturing you by his existence.
You stand awkwardly by his truck waiting for him to say words that are clearly trying to escape from his mouth but he seems to be having trouble forming.
"Thank you...for last night...and this morning. You've been surprisingly kind, even if I really don't deserve it." He looks at his feet while clutching his hat tightly, looking utterly innocent and fragile, suddenly seeming like a much younger man standing in front of you.
"Don't mention it. It won't happen again, don't worry." You smile playfully as you knock on his truck and leave, feeling his eyes watching you as you saunter off down the dirt road to work.
"I'm sorry, did I just hear that right?" Seokjin asks, his voice shrill, shock making his eyes bulge comically at you. "'He's not that bad' since when, please tell me!? A few days ago you thought he was the devil in disguise."
You laugh at his reaction and poke him playfully on the chest. "Hey, listen, all I'm saying is we only show people what we want others to see, doesn't mean it's always real."
He thinks for a moment, eyes sparkling with amusement. "So what you're saying is, he acts like Mr big shot money bags but he isn't?" He gives you a quizzical look and checks your temperature with the back of his hand.
You laugh again and shove his hand away. "Yes, I am fine and yes in a way. Sure, he has money and he shows off but maybe he acts like that to hide something else. Maybe he thinks that's what people expect of him, maybe he's scared of something."
Seokjin's windshield wiper laugh shrieks in your ears. "Ok, now I've heard it all. Firstly, there’s nothing deep about this man, other than his cash flow and secondly, you think he's scared? The man is an arrogant moron, end of."
"Everyone's scared of something, it's not that far fetched."
He leans in to you slightly. "That is a lie. You, my friend, are scared of nothing." He gets up from his bar stool, placing his hat on his head and downing the last of his drink. "The day I see you scared is the day the world ends. There's not a problem you can't get out of with your fists or your smart mouth." He laughs as he leaves the bar.
The irony is, there is one problem that would get infinitely worse with your fists and your smart mouth. Something that would have you terrified beyond imagination. Something you plan to hide from for the rest of your existence.
Five months since Namjoon moved to town.
You are back at his door, although this time you stand on the doorstep and pound angrily to be let in.
When he opens it, he looks hesitant. "You don't usually knock, just barging in is more you style rig-?"
"Why was there a man taking photos of me today?" The words leave your mouth in a furious rush, the need to be out and to hear another dreaded deal he's made. To prove yourself right about the type of man he is.
"What? You mean the photographer?"
You take a shaky breath to calm yourself. "That's usually what they do isn't it? Take photos?" You say between gritted teeth.
He frowns. "Well, yes, I don't understand why you're upset? I listened to you and told you I'm not building the mall, I've hired someone to take pictures of the town as it is, just to get business for my Hotel, and you're still upset with me!? Jesus, I can't win." He runs a frustrated hand through his swept back hair, forehead exposed - it suits him best that way.
You melt slightly under his accusing stare and suddenly you feel embarrassed by your reaction, it's not all anger, it's fear clenching your heart in its iron grasp. You want to scream, to run from it but you can't, it follows you. It followed you here and to the town you were in before. It will follow you wherever you are. You know this, you've accepted it and this is why you can't afford to get attached to someone, not romantically. It would cause too much heartache on both sides, when you'd eventually have to leave again.
"No, I'm not upset about that." You sigh and rub a hand across your eyes, exhaustion and exasperation weighing you down like a ton of bricks. "I just….I can't have my picture taken. Do what you want, but please, I'm begging you, do not put me in them." You stare at him with desperation, flitting from one eye to the other.
"Ok, ok." He says quickly, putting an arm on yours to reassure you. The touch soothes you for a moment and takes you by surprise.
"I'll make sure they delete the ones of you, ok? You have my word."
You see the honesty radiate from him and you relax. You're on the verge of tears with relief and happiness, the fear deflating as you stand here.
"Thank you!" You plead.
There's a moment of silence between you and you're not quite sure why you're still standing here.
"You know, if there's anything you ever want to tell me or talk about, you can trust me. I know I've not been great but I'll always be here if you need someone to lean on."
An odd warmth spreads through your chest, until you feel it's ready to burst. You can't help the smile that stretches across your lips.
"I know you can bear the brunt but sometimes it's nice to not have to." He adds, eyes wide and welcoming, enticing you with his earnest expression and the dimple that appears from his sideways smile.
You grab him by the collar and pull him to you, lips crashing against his with ferocious hunger. You feel him freeze against you before he returns it with feverish hands running down your back and cupping you under the buttocks, lifting your legs beneath you.
You wrap them tightly around his waist as he leads you quickly inside, kicking the door shut behind him.
He doesn't make it up the stairs, the plush living room rug against your back a suitable substitute for his bedroom.
Your mouths dance, tongues interlacing all the while his hands are everywhere all at once, the heat from them setting your veins alight with fiery lust.
Your hands find his hair and your fingers run through his silky locks, using them to pull him even closer to you.
He moans into your mouth, the sound enticing you further.
"I want you so bad." he says in a breathless whisper.
You hook your leg over his and push him, flipping him on his back, straddling him.
You pull your button up off over your head and he groans when he discovers you aren't wearing a bra. His hands slide quickly up your waist to fondle your breasts, plunging his teeth into his generous bottom lip before he sits up and sucks a nipple into his mouth. A hiss escapes you as pleasure shoots straight to your core and has you grinding against his denim clad erection.
He cups the side of your face and brings you back down to his mouth, your lips meeting once again in a hot, fervent kiss.
His lips find their way to your ear. "Stand up."
There was no authority in his voice, just a soft pleading, one you could not resist. As you rise, his fingers were already undoing your jean buttons then pulling them down around your ankles and helping you step out of them.
On his knees looking up at you with heavy lids, as he places a faint kiss against your clothed sex. The sight of it heavenly, you couldn't help but admire his beauty, the sheer amount of it having escaped your notice before.
He slips a finger under your panties and pulls them aside, lips instantly on you, hot and wet, causing your head to snap back with explicit language echoing past your lips.
He chuckles against you, the vibration making you gasp as his tongue delves to your most sensitive parts, a venture no previous man has been. The sensation; mind blowing and you find yourself grinding against him. The relentless pace of his tongue against your swollen bud has you crying out, hands gripped into his hair as you come undone against his mouth. His arm snakes around your waist, supporting your trembling frame as your moans of ecstasy repeatedly fill the silence of the room.
As the spasms of pleasure subside, you're vaguely aware of Namjoon removing his trousers, his hand still in contact with your skin, as you drift back down from your euphoric cloud.
You mount him before he's finished pulling his pants from his ankles, his hands find your buttocks and guide you onto him. You lower yourself, sliding him into you.
He lays back, a look of pure adoration as he watches you wind your hips round, back and forth and up and down, until he's a writhing, moaning mess underneath you. His lips constantly find your skin, leaving moist trails, cold from the air, all over you.
Your bodies crashing against each other as you eagerly chase your end.
Feeling yourself tightening around him, coiled like a spring ready to bound into a new realm of elation.
"That's it baby, let go." He says softly, clinging onto your hips to keep you moving.
Your orgasm explodes, more intense than before, completely taking over you as you contract around him. He joins you, filling you with his warm seed, cradling you in his arms as you both ride out your spasms of bliss.
When your mind has returned to your body, you slump onto the rug, your bare bodies beside each other, as he turns towards your back his fingers skate over the large scar on your back. You go rigid for a moment, preparing yourself for his questions, attempting to scramble up a lie in your mind. His lips find the puckered pink skin and place a chaste kiss on it. His questions don't come, instead he wraps you in his arms and holds you close enough you can feel his pounding heart against you.
No words are exchanged. There isn't anything to be said but you feel everything and more in that moment.
Two weeks since you had sex with Namjoon.
"Very nice. You've really captured the beauty of the town in these." you smile at him and lay a gentle hand on his knee. Something he chooses not to ignore, placing his hand over yours while he continues clicking through the various pictures on his hotel website.
"Yea, the photographer did a really good job." he looks over to you, with a raised eyebrow. "So you approve of these?"
"Of course." you say, standing and grabbing your jacket draped across the stairway banister.
"That's a first." he teases, a smirk playing across his full lips, calling out to you as usual.
You drape your arms around his shoulders and place a slow kiss on his neck, the moan you entice from him has your lips smiling against his skin.
"Stay." he says quietly.
"I can't, I have to work." It's regretful but true. "Besides, I've been holed up in here for nearly two weeks. Time for a change of scenery."
He pouts as he takes your hand, pulling it towards his chest. "There's nothing wrong with the scenery here...especially when you're upstairs...in my bed...naked."
His eyes hold burning heat, pupils blown with longing and it sends throbbing lust right between your legs.
"How about, you think about me naked and in your bed...until I finish work, then I'll make up for all that torture." you reply, winking at him before your lips meet in a passionate, fiery kiss.
No one has ever kissed you like Namjoon. No one has given you this feeling...one you can't quite describe. For the first time in years, you feel completely yourself and...happy. Your chest swells when you look at him and you find it odd how someone you could hardly stand, now has such an effect on you.
"This evening is going to drag." he rolls his eyes. "I'll pick you up after work."
Your insides grin. Part of you wanted to keep him your dirty little secret and the other part wanted everyone to see you together.
You nod and plant one more kiss against his mouth, as you tear your body and your eyes away from him.
That’s when you see it.
Your face. On his screen. Bold as a summer's day.
Your stomach drops, turning into a lump of concrete inside you, weighing you down. Rage alights in you but betrayal counters it, racing through your veins in your shaking limbs and spilling out of your eyes in hot tears.
Namjoon follows your eye line and freezes. Neither of you move.
All you can do is stare at the smiling, care free photo of you, behind the bar. And all you can think of is, how many people have possibly seen this? Who has and what now?
He turns back to you, eyes wide and encased with a frown, a pleading hand outstretched towards you, as you realise you're backing up and heading to his front door.
"I didn't know." he says quietly.
"You promised me that I wouldn't be in any of them!" you yell, skin hot and your stomach churning. "I can't believe I let you fool me. I genuinely thought you were telling me the truth. How could you do this to me?"
Something flickers across his face but it's gone before you realise what it is, as he takes another step towards you. "I didn't do this!"
Your heart pounds in your ears, every part of you throbbing with treachery.
He drops his hand, sensing it's useless.
"Clearly your word means as little as I do to you." you close the distance between you, a finger pointing in his face. "If I ever see you in my bar, so help me, I'll make you unable to ride your horse for a very long time."
He opens his mouth to speak.
"I beg you, give me one reason." you spit, venom encasing every word. You storm out, feeling sick to your stomach. This is the man that you've been having the most amazing, passionate sex with for the last two weeks. You've been inseparable, opened yourself up to him in every way. Laid yourself bare and vulnerable for him.
You wanted to scrub yourself down, feeling like you've gone past enemy lines and turned against your own. He was a risk, you'd known that but had still let yourself get caught up in him. Believed in his lies. In him. You left him in the middle of the room, staring after you, getting in your truck and driving. After calling Jimin to cover you, you head to the next town, where you can be alone and drink until you forget.
Three months since Namjoon betrayed you.
You've been a wreck. For three months you've been constantly looking over your shoulder, sick to your stomach. Your emergency bag packed and hidden in your truck, should you need to flee. Your life shoved in that small leather bag. You didn't have much, that was clear to you but it seemed sadder than ever to have your most important things in one tiny holder. No one that would care when you were gone. Maybe Seokjin, but he'd forget about you eventually, any friends you make always do.
Namjoon had not been back into the bar, not while you were working anyway, you're not sure he'd have the guts. You had seen him fleetingly on a few occasions, his hopeful glances towards you rebuked by your impassive, stony face.
At some point Seokjin informed you, your photo had been removed from the website, Namjoon clearly trying to make amends for his deception - unsuccessful and useless attempts. You do not bend or yield to someone who has stabbed you in the back, you learnt that the hard way a long time ago...quite literally too.
You shrug into your jacket, noticing how much roomier it had become recently. Eating has not been high on the priority list when your stomach churns with anxiety and trepidation. You turn off the lights and head to the door of the bar, keys in hand.
A squeak from the hinges sounds into the silence, you look to see the doors wobbling slightly, the breeze catching it.
Suddenly, the hairs on the back of your neck are on end, goose bumps leave a bumpy trail across your skin. You're just being paranoid. No one's here. It’s just the wind.
Your feet move quickly to the doors, imagining you can hear following footsteps. Just as you reach your exit, a swift, sharp pull on your hair sends you slamming into the wooden boards.
A weight on top of you, pinning you down and unable to fight. A hand across your mouth to stop you from screaming and making it difficult to breathe.
His scent. It encases you, trapping you in another time and freezing you in those moments, those memories. The abusive days, the violent temper, the possessiveness, the cuts and bruises, the stabbing. Staring death in the face had been the final moment to give you the confidence to run, to escape but forever looking over your shoulder, forever living in fear.
Terror has taken over your body, not even trying to fight at this point.
"Did you miss me?" his sickly voice whispers in your ear.
Inside you're screaming, begging and pleading but nothing comes out into the silence, just the sound of his harsh, excited breathing.
"I knew I'd find you, knew it wouldn't be long until someone led me to you."
You could feel your limbs shaking wildly underneath him.
"You knew I'd find you didn't you? You led me here with that photo, I knew you missed me, baby." he kisses your forehead, your skin crawling beneath his lips.
"I'm going to take my hand away now, you're not going to scream, are you? You're going to be a good girl, aren't you?"
His words twist your insides in the most repulsive way as you nod your head.
His hand comes away, freeing your face and you gasp, desperately filling your lungs with air.
"It's so good to see your face, baby."
Your eyes, now adjusted to the dark, could make out his teeth, his lips pulled into a sinister smile.
"Will you at least let me sit up, Yoongi?" you ask, sounding much braver than you feel.
"You're not going to do anything stupid." he orders.
"No." your face is deadpan because it has to be, a slither of anything he deems untoward would make matters much worse for you.
Even as your brain frantically tries to find you a way out, any idea hitting an immediate dead-end, your face remains impassive.
He releases your wrists above your head and slowly climbs off of you, still crouched and ready to pounce should you run.
You had to be smart about this if you were going to get away, you had to think. THINK!
"You've been very bad, haven't you? Running from me like that. And I know you like playing games but I've not appreciated this hide and seek exchange between us. Four years I've been searching. That's a long time, baby." his menacing tone has you on edge, wondering just what he is going to do.
"You left me to die." you reply, recalling that night with a chill creeping up your spine. A knife in the back and for what, having said a few too many words to the corner shop owner, like 'how are you?'
You wonder what type of weapon he has on him tonight and you push the thought away.
He stares at you shocked, as if attempted murder is so far fetched from what he's capable of.
"Who do you think called the ambulance? I would never let you die, I would never let you leave me."
Lies. You knew a passer-by had rung the ambulance, had stayed with you until they came and had waited to hear your prognosis at the hospital. You even met them a few weeks later, when they brought you flowers. But for now he had to think you believed him.
"Is that what they told you?" he leaned in stroking your face and you had to swallow the recoil that your body reacted with.
"Is that why you've been running from me? Oh baby, you should have said and we could have had this all straightened out, wouldn't we, hm?"
He grips your chin, keeping it aimed directly at him, his fingers just forceful enough to leave bruises.
He watches your mouth, licking his lips. He wants to kiss you and you're preparing yourself for it.
"How many other men have been on these lips? How many have been inside them?" he sneers pushing his thumb, harshly inside your mouth, the taste bitter on your tongue. The Yoongi you know, well and truly here.
"No one."
"Don't lie to me." he squeezes your jaw, pain blazing underneath his fingertips causing a whimper to escape your lips.
The satisfied look in his eyes has bile rising in your throat.
"I'm not lying. You think I'd want another man anywhere near me."
He smiles, clearly not catching the bite in your words.
"If I find out different, there's going to be problems." he sing songs. "You understand?"
You nod and he releases your chin, harshly discarding you like a useless piece of meat.
He stands and offers a hand out to help you up. You want to spit at it and slap it out of your face but you shiver at the reaction that would bring.
You take it and he pulls you up, harsher than was necessary but you ignore it. He's on you, stalking towards you, backing you against the hard, wooden panels of the wall behind.
Your heart pounds violently, the sound all you can hear, you can hear your breathing spike as does his. He's excited, but you're trying to survive.
He closes the small amount of distance between you, his body pressed firmly against yours. One hand grabs your waist, pinning you harshly in place, the other travels to your throat. He keeps it there pressed lightly against your windpipe, not doing any damage but enough to show you the threat that's there. You swallow involuntarily.
The wind picks up outside and you hear the door wobbling, your attention back on it. How can you get to it?
You can hit him with something, but it would have to be hard enough to take him down and give you enough of a chance to run. Every thought seemed risky.
"Are you going to be a good girl and come with me willingly?" he raises an eyebrow at you.
"Yoongi, I can't just pick up and leave."
He adds a pressure to throat, fear rising up in you hot and fast.
You put your palms up. "I'm not saying no. I'm saying, I have a job here, people know me. If I get up and leave without a word, they'll think something awful's happened and that'll create problems for us."
He watches you for a moment, eyes thin and suspicious, you can practically see the cogs turning in his mind. "What do you suggest then?" Before you can even open your mouth, he adds. "I'm not leaving you."
"Why don't you stay here with me for a little while?" you can feel the sweat on the back of your neck, the idea of him being with you any longer than he has been already filling you with absolute horror.
"Then we can announce that I'm moving back with you."
"How can I trust you, after the way you've behaved?" his face is millimetres from yours suddenly, the tips of his noses touching.
"W-what do you want me to do to prove it to you?" you stammer, losing your composure momentarily.
"Kiss me. Like you used to." he smirks, knowing that towards the end of your relationship, touching him in any way had repulsed you, you hadn't kept that a secret.
You take a breath to steel yourself, if this is what you had to do…
Namjoon's shadowed face captures your attention as it appears just behind Yoongi's head and directly in your line of sight, holding - what looks like - a metal crowbar in the air. He nods to you.
The relief you feel cascades around your body, washing waves of solace through you, your skin tingling as your adrenaline spikes even higher. Everything seems much more hopeful in this moment and you've never been so happy to see Kim Namjoon.
Your eyes flash back to Yoongi, you could not lose it now, otherwise it's another person to be endangered by him.
You grab either side of his face, tilting your head, he closes his eyes as he prepares for your lips to touch his. He moans from anticipation, the sound bringing a fresh wave of nausea over you.
You meet Namjoon's eyes once more, watch him raise the crow bar higher, preparing to swing…
You push Yoongi's face as hard away from you as fast as you can muster and duck. Your eyes squeeze shut as you hear his gasp and then the noise of the metal connecting with his skull.
"Run! Go now!"
You do. Your legs charging forward before you even have a chance to process Namjoon's words to you. You push through the double doors, the cool night air hitting your skin and giving you added power to your legs. You race along the dirt path, hearing the ruckus ensue in the bar. You stop. Namjoon's face bloodied and bruised flashes in front of your eyes. An image you can't escape.
You couldn't leave him to deal with this man alone. You had to face your past. Face him, like you would face anyone else threating your life, or your town, or your friends. You yank out your phone and dial Seokjin's number.
"Do you know what time it is?" his voice thick with sleep sounds on the line.
'Jin, I need you to call the sheriff and come down to the bar! I'm in trouble. Bring your gun!" you hang up not giving him a chance to respond as you race back to Namjoon.
You throw open the doors and see the two men throwing punches in and out of tight holds as they roll around on the floor.
How could you get to Yoongi without hurting Namjoon?
You stand hesitating in the doorway.
But watching Yoongi take control and pin him down before connecting punch after punch, the sickening sound of flesh hitting flesh, something inside you snaps.
You charge at him, bringing your foot up to connect with his face, the impact sending him flying backwards. By the sound, you're pretty sure you've broken his nose.
You crouch down to Namjoon as he sits up, wiping his bloody mouth on the sleeve of his plaid shirt.
"You ok?" you ask, eyes wide as they skim over his face, assessing him.
"What are you doing here!?" he exclaims, desperate eyes pleading with you to leave. "I told you to get out of here!"
You want to say so many things in that moment, looking at him and realising; he's got a good heart, even if it is a little misguided at times. Looking at him and realising all the unspoken feelings between you. From the moment you met him, he's been a disaster and every time he tried to be nice and make an effort you violently pushed him away to protect yourself. But you couldn't do it anymore. You cupped his purple marked face in your hand, wishing you could erase these marks, left because of you.
He leans into your hand, just for a moment before his attention is behind you. Grabbing your waist and pinning you to the floor before spinning on top of you, shielding you from the skull cracking snap of the gunshot. The deafening sound echoing in your ears, as pain sneaks through the hole in your left arm, the one underneath Namjoon's weighted, limp body.
Six months since the shooting, Christmas day.
Your first Christmas without the thought of Yoongi hanging over your head like a dark cloud, the kind that gives you headaches and makes your mind feel heavy and slow.
Seokjin had gotten there with Sheriff Jungkook just after the first shot rang out.
You don't remember everything but you do remember hearing the second shot clap like thunder around you, a split second of light illuminating the thick darkness, followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground.
That was it, he was gone, no more looking over your shoulder, no more running and no more fear following you with every decision. The demise of Yoongi. You are free.
You feel lighter as you open the oven and baste the turkey once again.
"When is dinner going to be ready?" Seokjin whines from the sofa.
"Oh, have a little patience." you scold him.
You are more than grateful to have him with you at this time of year, seeing as neither of you have any family here, it's worked out nicely.
"I see Jimin is doing well after taking over Namjoon's Hotel." he remarks.
You nod. "Yep, business is going well for him. I'm glad. I will miss him at the pub though."
"What about Namjoon's house?"
Your hand stills, stopping stirring the vegetables bubbling away in the pan and a hard swallow slides down your throat. "What about it?"
"Is it going on the market?"
You glance over and notice him watching you from the corner of his eye.
"I'm not sure, it's not been discussed."
He nods carefully.
Footsteps down your stairs have your head turning towards them. The sight of him, bare chested, hair swept back effortlessly almost takes your breath away.
"We can discuss it now, if you like?" Namjoon teases you and places a kiss on the side of your head. "Seeing as you keep ignoring my question."
Seokjin sits bolt upright. "What's this? What question?"
You laugh. "Not that question!"
The disappointment across Jin's face is obvious.
"I keep asking her to sell this place and move in with me but I haven't had an answer yet." Namjoon watches you, an arrogant look on his face as he turns towards your guest.
The wrinkled, pink scar on his back greets your view, a perfect circle from where the bullet entered. He was lucky. You'd almost lost him before you even had him, before you realised how much you wanted, needed him.
You go toward him, wrapping your arms around his stomach. You go on tip-toes to kiss his scar. You match. Two scars in exactly the same place caused by the same person. In a sick way that connected you forever and the thought brought you comfort somehow.
Namjoon had saved your life, endangering his in the process. Now it's you who would protect him from anything.
"Yes." you say quietly against his back.
He turns, wrapping you in his arms.
"What?"
You look up at his bewildered face. "Yes, I'll move in with you."
His face blooms into the most beautiful smile, making your insides flutter. He brings his lips crashing down against yours, a kiss that takes your breath away and makes you giddy.
This is the true start to your life, after existing for many years you're now truly living, with the sound of Seokjin's cheers and hollas in the background.
maybe i was not the best secret santa (and sorry for that) but with all my heart, i wish you a 2021 full of joys and good vibes! it’s probably not the gift you were expecting but i hope you like it.
also, thank you so much to @bwcsecretsanta for organizing this and let us see the talent of ofter people ♡
Genre: Roommate to Lover, Friends to lover, Fluff, slight angst.
Pairing: Jimin x Reader
Word Count: 4,5k
Rating: PG-13
Warning: the reader is a little insecure, grinch joke, ugly christmas sweater, low budget christmas party, a pandemic quarantine itself is a big warning (Please stay safe!)
Summary: A pandemic quarantine, cookies, a bet, and a night with just the two of you; you and your very own crush who is also your best friend. What could happen?
A/N: this drabble is for @btswriterscollective ‘s holiday event! It’s my first time joining an event since I wrote my fics. And this fluffy Christmas fic is dedicated to @lunar-jimin. Merry Christmas! I’m still new at writing fics so It’ll be a little messy but I hope this will make you happy! - your secret Santa, Rain
also thank you for my beta reader, @arizonapoppy Merry Christmas<3
“So what are you doing for Christmas?” Jimin asks casually as he puts chips into his mouth. His eyes are glued to the TV which plays Princess Diaries out of nowhere, and you’re pretty sure that both of you don’t even pay any attention to the movie. Today is supposed to be your movie night with your best friends, just wine, and a lot of food, and maybe some board games if you can’t find anything to watch. But since the pandemic, you can’t just barge into your friends’ home easily. That’s why you are stuck in your apartment with your roommate, Jimin.
You’ve been living with him for two years, introduced by mutual friends. You searched for an apartment, Jimin looked for a roommate, it was perfect. There was just a little thing that your friends knew: that you had a crush on him.
Well, who doesn’t?
Jimin is hot, smart, and cute all merged into a fine man. A fine man with a body that makes other men envious. It’s unfair too that he is also kindhearted. It’s like everything you need for a man, you can find in him.
Jimin is like a chameleon. He can be a nerd in the morning, and a fuckboy in the evening. He can be a bulky gym-addicted man to start and then turns into a cuddly soft boy in the space of minutes. He can be a boy that an older woman loves, or a strong-fatherly figure that girls would obsess over. He cooks, he cleans, and he also takes care of you when you’re sick.
He is so perfect. So fucking perfect.
That’s why it’s hard for you to not fall in love with him, not when he is just a room away from you, and not when he becomes your best friend so very soon. It’s like Universe wants to torture you. Like the Universe sees an opportunity to mess with your heart, let alone your relationship with people.
Yes. You’re in love with your best friend who is also your roommate.
You like him, a lot, to the point that your hand goes clammy whenever he’s close to you. To the point that his scent after shower raises your heartbeat. To the point that you feel a stab of pain to your chest whenever he comes home with Jisoo.
You sip your wine slowly. “I might be skiing again right now, if we weren’t in a pandemic.” Your eyes wander to the photo frame above the TV; it was when you were on a skiing trip with your friends last winter.
“Do you want to do something with me then?” He turns his head to face you, eyes twinkling in excitement.
“Sure, why not?” you shrug. “We’re going to do these for Christmas, after all. So yeah, just make an appointment for that.”
Jimin snatches the wine glass from you and puts it on the shaky table in front of you so clumsily that he almost makes it fall and colors your cheap white carpet red. “That’s not what I meant! Let’s just make a small Christmas celebration just the two of us. We should bake, cook, and decorate!”
“Won’t it be bothersome, though?” You’re actually pretty worn out. Your finals have just ended, all of your assignments and papers are all submitted. Not to mention you just finished your internship program for this semester, because somehow they didn’t cancel the program because of the pandemic. You were pretty busy. What you really want is just food and your bed. Celebrating Christmas? Maybe it’s just a privilege for you.
“Come on!” he whines. “It’ll be fun! This is the first Christmas, just the two of us!”
And maybe the last one, you think. Staying with Jimin has been hard for your heart. You’re supposed to move this year. You’ve searched the possible rooms, looking for extra jobs to afford it, and anything you need to rent the new room. But again, because of the pandemic, that plan will be postponed. There’s no way you would move at the time like this. So, yeah. Maybe this Christmas would be a nice memory. “Fine. So what should we buy then?”
The corners of his eyes crinkle with his widening smile. “Should we exchange gifts? What do you want for Christmas?”
You fold your arms, thinking. “Ehm. I know! I read it online earlier this morning, there’s a discount in the supermarket for instant noodles. Can you believe it? Buy three get two for free!”
“That’s not what I meant!” he whines. “Clothes? Books?”
“Not really; Why would I buy clothes when I spent most of my days in the apartment? And besides I’m broke.” Well, you’re not lying. Even though you’re gonna spend Christmas away from your family, it doesn't mean you won’t send them gifts, and with those pricey gifts and delivery fees; yeah, it costs you a little more than you’re expected.
Jimin pouts. “Fine… So no exchanging gifts then. Well, Christmas Eve is tomorrow anyway, there’s no way we can find gifts in such a short notice.”
You poke his sides playfully, “come on don’t be sad. And I remember you said something about baking?”
He smiles widely and rises from the couch. He walks inside his bedroom and returns with a legal pad in his hand. “What about decoration? I believe we can still find a Christmas tree downtown,” he suggests as he scribbles his ideas on the pad.
Your hand automatically stops his moving hand. “Let’s skip the Christmas tree. It’ll be too expensive. How about we just make paper chains or something like that?”
“Why? It’ll be like an investment! We can use it next year.”
“I know, but…” You bite your lips, hesitant to tell him. “It’s just…”
Jimin looks at you for a moment and then draws an X on the pad. “Fine. No decoration. Let’s keep our budget to minimum then. What about food?”
“I’m not sure. With all of the baking we’ll do, it’ll be a mess if we decided to cook too.”
Jimin taps his pencil on his chin. “You’re right. Let’s order pizza and chicken then?”
You give him a thumb up and pat his shoulder. “Okay. We should go shopping in the morning.” A yawn leaves your mouth and you rise from the couch. “Well, I’m going to retire for the night. Good night.”
“So early?” He looks at you with a raised eyebrow and then to your abandoned glass of wine. “Fine. See you tomorrow.”
You give him a wave and head to your room. With the weight in your heart, you plop on your bed and sigh. Again, you missed the chance to tell him that you’re going to move out. Your mind wonders whether it’s a good idea to spend Christmas Eve tomorrow with him. Just the thought of that makes your heart race again.
Get your head straight, Y/N!
He is your best friend. Control your feelings!
Just hang in there a little more, Y/N.
Hang in there…
You’re awakened by the sound of metal crashing outside your room. You grunt as you reach the phone, eyes widening when you see that it’s noon already. You rise and walk outside to look for Jimin.
“Hello, Sleepyhead.”
You rub your eyes slowly and stretch your body. You were asleep for more than twelve hours, and instead of energizing you, it physically drained you. Your body aches. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” you ask hoarsely.
Jimin smiles as he hands you a mug of hot chocolate. Even if it’s noon already, it’s still winter and sure a hot beverage wouldn’t hurt. And the time and weather on your phone says it’s actually colder than yesterday, which is why even Jimin wears a thick black turtleneck instead of his usual pajamas. Not that you’re complaining about it. He looks good, like very good. And he just stands out perfectly in your all-white kitchen. “Because I know you’re tired. I feel bad, too, because you did this because I asked you. I’m sorry. And besides, you’re scary when I wake you up by force.”
You sit on the counter, collecting warmth by holding the mug. “Thank you. But don’t feel bad. I agreed to do it, too. So, if you give me fifteen minutes we can go to shopping-”
“That’s not needed anymore.”
Your eyes widen in surprise as your lips touch the hot chocolate, dripping some of it from your mouth. “But.. I thought we’re gonna bake cookies?”
“Yes, we are.” He cleans your chin with his thumb slowly, makes you jolt a little at his touch. The way he licks his thumb casually afterward is not helping at all. “But I already went for groceries!”
“I see, but you should just wait for me. We could go together.” You blow the beverage to cool it down and sip it slower than before.
His hand travels to your cheek and pinches it softly. “That’s fine. So just wake up already and help me bake!”
You look puzzled and yet you walk back again to your room, leaving him humming Christmas songs in the kitchen. You lean on the back of your door after you close it. Your face feels hotter as if you can still feel his fingers on your face. Smooth and warm. The warmth slowly fills your chest and makes you hard to breathe. It’s like magic. And it's even more magical that you still can stand even though your knees are all wobbly.
You shake your head to clear your mind, to clear any unnecessary thoughts, and head to the bathroom. This is going to be a hard day.
Fifteen minutes later, you go back to the kitchen, finding Jimin playing with his iPad. “What cookies should we make?” you ask as you lean on the counter, head propped on your chin. You’re wearing your Christmas sweater that your mom sent you earlier this year. It has a Grinch on the front of it and a huge Christmas tree on the back. It screams ugly in every Christmas sweater contest. You’re supposed to wear this together with your family, sitting together in front of a fireplace. Since it’s not going to happen, at least the sweater can give you some warmth this Christmas.
He lifts his head up and his eyes fall on your green sweater. “It suits you really well, not gonna lie.” He throws his head back in laughter.
His laughter again sways your heart, stealing your breath. You hit him softly on his shoulder and tie your hair loosely in a low ponytail. “Shut up. So what should we make?”
“It’s gingerbread cookies! We can decorate them too. I bought like a dozen cookie cutters just for this day.” He opens a plastic box to show you proudly.
You pick some of the cookie cutters, trying to identify the shapes. “Are you sure you picked the right shapes? Isn’t this like a mermaid-ocean-package?”
“What?” He immediately scans the box and sighs. “Fuck, I’m sure I picked from the right shelf. I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for? Maybe some people are mixing it up. That’s fine!” You pat his shoulder reassuringly.
Jimin grabs all of the cookie cutters and stuffs them into their box. “Just wait for an hour. I’m gonna have this exchanged.”
You grab his arms to stop him from walking away. “Don’t bother. They’re still cookies and edible even though they’re in different shapes. I mean, mermaids celebrate Christmas too, don’t they? In any case, it doesn’t really matter.”
“It does matter!” He pouts. “It’s our first Christmas together, I want it to be perfect.”
You chuckle. “Why would you want that?”
He sighs and scratches the back of his head. “I just feel we’ve been too distant lately, and you look very tired. I just want to make you happy.”
You freeze for a moment as you look at his face. A hopeful thought sneaks to your mind and you clear it immediately. “We can just make our shapes then. You know, just cut it with a knife or a toothpick or anything.”
He looks you back in the eyes, waiting for another reassurement. “Really?”
You smile. “Yes, it would be fun, making our own shapes. Besides, we don’t need perfect-shaped cookies just to make our Christmas perfect, do we?”
He returns your smile with a wider smile and pulls you into his chest. “Alright. Thank you, Y/N.”
You’re again puzzled with the sudden act and clear your throat as you pat his back. “Alright let’s bake some cookies then.”
He releases you immediately with pinkish cheeks.. “By the way, I’ve already mixed all of the ingredients a few hours ago, just so you know. The dough needed to be chilled.”
“Really? So I’m going to just cut them out and decorate it?”
“Yep.” He opens the fridge and pulls out a bowl of brown mixture. He scoops some flour with his hands to the counter and throws down the cookie dough. “Don’t worry I’ve cleaned the counter a few times.”
You’re not a cook yourself but you know a thing or two about cooking and baking. You baked cookies a lot when you're a kid, but as an adult? Not so much. So you just watch Jimin using his rolling pin to thin the dough with admiration on your face.
“What’re you doing? You should help me!”
“Oh right.” You laugh and walk to the sink to wash your hands. You snatch the rolling pin from his hand and start rolling it slowly. “Let me roll this.”
“Wait a minute.” He walks to the cabinet nearest you and grabs an apron. “Don’t want the Grinch to be dirty.” He unfolds the apron and throws the loop over your head.
You hold a breath when he touches your sides to tie the apron around your waist. You clear your throat just so you can distract yourself from the shivers that come from the feeling of his breath on your neck. “Is this fine?”
He pulls away from you. Looking around your shoulder, he eyes the dough. “I think this is the perfect thickness.”
“So how do you want to shape it?” Your hand moves to the corner of the tempting brown dough to rip it and puts it on your mouth, letting the dough melt on your tongue. You open the drawer to search for a small knife. “I’m thinking a puppy would be cute, but without the proper cutter, I’m afraid it’d turn out horrendous.”
“Oh my God, I just have a nice idea!“ He claps his hands together, eyes twinkling. “Should we have a competition then? ‘Who’d make the best identifiable cookies’. It would be like charades!”
You chuckle. “That’s like totally random. I think you hang out with Taehyung too much.” The second bite you ate is sweeter and all you can taste is just sweetness and the ginger. Did I taste some cinnamon in there?
He smiles proudly. “I think we can ask Taehyung to guess. What topic should we use… Animals would be too easy. How about food?”
“Fine! What’d the winner get?” you ask as your hand moves again towards the dough, but Jimin slaps it lightly.
“Why do you keep eating that? It has raw egg for god’s sake. Anyway, I think...” he rubs his chin and leaves a hint of flour on it, thinking. “What about the loser should grant the winner’s wish?”
You pout and use your sleeve to clean his chin. “A wish? Sure, but we should make some rule-”
“Make that three wishes,” he grins.
“Three??” your jaw drops.
He takes a step forward, forcing you to step back. Your hip bumps the counter as he reaches out his hand. “Are you afraid to lose, Y/N?”
You laugh in amazement. “No. Three wishes just for today,” you reply as you move closer to him and accept his hand. “Deal.”
After hours of baking the cookies, letting them cool off, and decorating them, it’s time to play the cookie charades, as Jimin named it. Both of you have written all of the answers on a piece of paper so it’d be fair, and no one can change the answer later.
Jimin holds his phone as he waits for Taehyung to answer the video calls. Just after a few rings, Taehyung picks up the phone. “What’s up Jimin? Aren’t you with Y/N?”
“Hey Tae!” you wave at the phone when Jimin shows it to you. “What are you doing? We miss you!”
“Nothing. I just played games for twenty -four hours straight so I’m resting my eyes right now. What do you want?”
Jimin clears his throat and faces the camera. “So, Y/N and I are baking cookies, and we want you to guess the shapes. It’s kind of a battle.”
Taehyung grunts. “Why would I want to get involved in your rivalry? It’s so bothersome.”
“If I win I can give you one of my wishes!” you chime in, snatching the phone from Jimin’s hand.
“Yah! That’s bribing.” Jimin yells.
You scoff. “Fine! Pretty please?”
Taehyung rolls his eyes and sighs. “Fine. Let’s just get this over with.”
Jimin snatches his phone again and flips the camera. “Alright, thirty seconds on the clock each part and you should answer as many cookies as you can. To be fair, we’re not telling you whose cookies they are. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Can we do this immediately?”
You open your timer on your phone and set to thirty seconds. “Alright, one two three. Start!”
The first cookie’s shaped like a circle, but decorated with multiple colors. It has a brown-black stripe, red stripe, and green stripe stacked between two brown-yellowish stripes. “Hmmm, Hamburger?” Taehyung answers.
“Correct!”
The second one is also a circle with a light brown color, with a little orange accent on it. “What’s that… a potato?” he squints his eyes as he looks at his phone screen closely.
“Wrong, it’s a hotteok.”
“The fuck I should know? It’s nothing like hotteok!” Taehyung rants on the other line, seemingly excited about the game.
“Just answer it! Fifteen seconds left!”
The rest fifteen seconds and another thirty seconds flew fast and Jimin concluded the game as he waves to Taehyung. “Alright, Tae. Thank you for playing with us. I hope to see you soon!” Jimin yells.
“So who’s the winner? Ya-” Taehyung asks as Jimin hangs up the phone.
Jimin puts his phone inside his pocket and looks at the answer sheets. “So, the first one has four rights and the second one has three rights. So that means…”
You bite the inside of your cheeks to control your emotion, but looking at Jimin’s face, you’re losing it. “FINE! You win!”
Jimin smiles wider as he jumps happily. “Of course I’d win!”
“I still think that putting Sprite as a question is cheating.” You cross your arms over your chest. “It’s not even a food!”
He laughs again mockingly, “It is if I say it is.”
You pout. “Fine, whatever. What are your wishes then? Remember, that those wishes are only valid until midnight.”
Jimin walks to the couch and sits with a smug expression on his face. “Let’s start with cleaning all of those cookie sheets and mixing bowls.” He picks up a remote and turns the TV on to play some movies. “Start cleaning, Cinderella!”
You sigh as you look at the piled-up dishes. Why did I even agree in the first place? you mumble quietly as you brush the crumbs from the pan and the hardened icing from the bowls. And the fact that it is filled with icing sugar before only makes it harder to clean. You scowl as you run them under the hot water, leaning in to scrub them more harshly.
“Don’t be mad, Y/N. You can win it next year,” Jimin reassures as he bites into his cookies. His voice is only half-mocking.
You slam the bowl into the sink with a clang, sending a cloud of bubbles across the counter. “Yeah, right. Like I would want to visit your apartment next year.”
“You what?” he asks, his voice blurred with the sound of the song coming from the TV. He turns his head to look at you weirdly.
You freeze, realizing that you just blurted the one thing you don’t want him to know. “Nothing,” you reply as you continue to wash the dishes, avoiding his gaze.
Jimin rises from the sofa and turns the TV off. He walks back to the kitchen and grabs your arm harshly, forcing you to look at him. “What do you mean?” His voice is cold, the smile vanished from his face.
“It’s nothing.” You try to brush his hand away and continue washing the dishes, but his grip tightens.
“I said, what do you mean?”
You take a deep breath. The scrubber slips from your hand under the water as you turn to face him. “I think I’m going to move out from this apartment.”
“What? Why?” His forehead creases. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No. Not at all. You’re a perfect roommate.” You clear your throat awkwardly. “It’s just, something happened.” You reach for the scrubber again.
He pulls at your sleeve, and you look at him again. “What happened? Is it a money thing? If it is, don’t worry about it. You don’t even have to pay right now. Just tell me.” His mouth is pursed with worry and your head roils with a sudden guilty feeling.
You shake your head weakly. “No, it’s not something like that. I’m fine.”
“Then why are you not telling me? I’m your best friend!”
“IT IS BECAUSE YOU’RE MY BEST FRIEND!” you yell, yanking your sleeve from his hand.
“What? What do you mean?” he demands.
You control your breaths. “Nothing.” You turn the faucet off and stomp towards your room. Jimin’s hand grabs you again before you get two steps, stopping you from leaving him. The warmth of his hand seeps into your body. You feel nauseous. You need to stay away from him right now. “I need some time alone.”
He bites his lips, annoyed with your answer. “Well, then you have to tell me what’s wrong.” He steps closer to you, eyes glaring. “It’s my second wish.”
“That’s not fair. I--” Tears threaten to fall at your sudden exposure.
“Tell me, Y/N. You promised me you’d gran-”
“I LIKE YOU, OKAY?” You confess as tears fall from your cheeks. Your knees turn weak after you let it out, and you slump at the counter. The secret that holds your relationship together, that makes you the way it was. It’s over for you and Jimin.
Jimin steps back from you, loosening his grip around your hand. “You what? Then why would you move out?” he asks softly.
Your fists tighten to stop your tears from falling even more. “I tried to not like you, but it is too hard, Jimin. I can’t control my feelings. I’m sorry. I really wanted to be your best friend and also your roommate, but I just ca-”
Your words are interrupted with his lips crashing on yours, catching you off guard. His lips are soft and you can taste the cinnamon-sweetness from the cookies mixed with the saltiness of your tears. Just when you try to comprehend what’s going on, he pulls away. His hands find their rest on your face and cup it gently, swiping any tears leaving from your eyes. He rests his forehead against yours and sighs. “You’re stupid.”
“Wha-what? Why?” you stutter, throat drying because of the sudden closeness.
“Why do you think I chose you to be my roommate?” His warmth spreads to your cheeks, sending another hope to you. His gaze softens and you gather all of your courage to meet him back. “It’s because I like you too.”
Again you freeze on the spot. Eyes widening, breath stopping. And it makes Jimin giggle. “I always liked you, Y/N.” He leans in and gives a chaste kiss on your nose and moves downward to plant another on your lips.
“Bu-but I thought you.. With Jisoo….” There’s no way Jimin would like you. It doesn’t make any sense. You pull away from him. “Stop playing with me.”
Jimin pulls you in his chest, resting his chin on your head. “I don’t know what you are talking about, Y/N. There’s never been another woman. It's always been you.” He takes a deep breath, and continues. “Jisoo is my cousin, and she knows about my feelings.”
“Cousin?”
“Yes. She sometimes crashes at our apartment when she has a fight with her boyfriend, who is, by the way, none other than our dear friend Taehyung.” Jimin smiles and pulls away, but keeps his arms holding your waist close to him. “And even though she sleeps here, I always take the couch. She always leaves early in the morning because Taehyung picks her up. Their relationship is a little weird, if I may say so.”
“Taehyung?”
“Look I can even call my family members just to prove it to you, if it’s what you want.”
You shake your head, looking lost. You know Jimin is telling you the truth, but still you can’t believe that he likes you. Like he actually likes you.
“I was going to tell you tonight, but this somehow happened.” He calls your name softly to gain your attention. “So yeah, I like you a lot. And don’t ask me ‘since when’, because I don’t even know the answer. It just grows each day and each moment I spend with you.”
And just like that relief washes in you along with your tears. All of the thoughts you have of losing Jimin are vanished. All of your doubts are answered. You bury your head in his shoulder.
Jimin laughs and hugs you tighter. “Why are you crying?” He strokes your back to calm you down as you sob in his chest. “It must have been bothering you a lot, does it? I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you this.”
“I’m not stupid.” You sniffle as you put your arms around him, hugging him back.
“Sure, you’re not.” He laughs again and kisses the top of your head lovingly. “So, here’s my third wish.”
Your eyes widen with the sudden change of topic, looking at him in confusion. “Like right now? Wha-what is it?”
He looks directly to your eyes, gaze softens each time he takes a deep breath. And with this proximity, you can hear his heart racing inside his chest, playing the rhythm answered with your own beat. Not even a Christmas carol can top this symphony. Not when the world is only yours and Jimin. Not when is just you and Jimin, and nothing else matters.
And finally, Jimin opens his lips slowly. “Be my girlfriend?”
Thank you for reading! Hope you all have a merry christmas!!
Genre— Fluff, College au, Friends to Lovers, Holiday au
Warnings— None
Word Count— 3.6k
Summary— You’ve gone the entire semester being friends with Park Jimin. Now that the holiday season is in full swing, will things take a turn?
A/N— This gift was created through @bwcsecretsanta event and is for @pjmsdior. Surprise! I’m your Secret Santa, Winter Bear ❄️🐻 It has been so fun getting to know you and sending fun little asks. Please stay in touch and know that you can always come chat with me! I hope you enjoy my present, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays~
“We only have two days before everyone goes home. Well, I guess it’s more like one and a half now. We gotta make this count!” Jungkook enthusiastically stated to everyone crammed into his tiny dorm room.
“We just finished our last final, can’t we chill out for tonight? We can watch a holiday movie or something,” Taehyung complained.
“That’s exactly why we should celebrate! I heard they’re having a floor wide gingerbread house competition tonight,” Jungkook wiggled his eyebrows.
“Yes, we all know that, Kookie. We literally all live on the same floor and have the same RA,” you reminded him, “Honestly, I’m down to make a gingerbread house. I haven’t done that in forever.”
“Then it’s decided, we’re building edible houses tonight. We still have a few hours to kill so we can watch a movie if you guys want,” Jimin suggested.
With everyone in agreement, all four of you crammed onto Jungkook’s tiny twin bed to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000). Your first semester of college has been a success. You aced all your classes and lucked out on being in a great friend group. You met all three boys at your first dorm mixer. Thankfully, you all came to a mutual agreement that dorm parties were way too crowded and not even that fun if you weren’t completely drunk. So, you all decided to leave together and played ping pong in the lobby. All four of you had been good friends since.
Jimin and Taehyung were roommates and were practically inseparable. For once, it seemed like the random roommate system created a perfect match. Jungkook was the luckiest of all, since his roommate dropped out early on and he never got a replacement one so he had a room all to himself. The other boys joked that he could have hookups any time he wanted but despite his good looks, Jungkook wawa rather shy when it came to girls. He was awkward when you first met, but he easily warmed up to you and now treats you like one of the boys (Jimin often has to remind him of this when he tells him to keep his poop jokes to a minimum).
You used to get dirty looks from other freshman girls when they saw you surrounded by all the cute boys, but you learned to ignore them. You tried going on dates with some guys, but freshman boys are still just high schoolers disguised as college students. Needless to say, you never found any guy that interested you.
Of course, no one could blame you for having a tiny crush on Jimin. You liked everything about him. He was extremely thoughtful, very intelligent, and was in fact a very cute boy. However, you kept your romantic feelings a secret because you didn’t want to ruin the group dynamics.
These thoughts were hard to suppress when you were literally pressed up against his chest. In order for everyone to fit comfortably, Jimin offered for you to lean against him as he put his arm around you. The other boys paid no attention to his move, which you were thankful for because they would have made fun of you for blushing. You couldn’t pay attention to the movie. You were engulfed by Jimin’s scent (he wore a light yet alluring cologne), and your heart was beating so loudly you were worried that he could hear it.
“Should we wear Christmas sweaters?” Jungkook glanced at the clock as soon as the movie ended.
“I don’t have any,” you shook your head.
“I have an extra, you can borrow it if you’d like, “Jimin offered.
“Perfect! Tae do you have one?” Jungkook didn’t give you time to reply.
“I have one with polar bears on it,” Taehyung answered.
“That’ll work! Let’s meet back here in 10,” Jungkook stated as he stripped off his shirt.
“Stop showing off,” Taehyung laughed as he slapped the younger boy’s abs, “C’mon ___, let’s go get changed.”
The other boys’ room was just a couple doors down from Jungkook’s. Taehyung went to change in the bathroom while Jimin picked out a sweater for you. You waited patiently while you looked around Jimin’s side of the room. Your gaze stopped at his polaroid collection that hung above his desk. Looking at them made you smile as you reminisce the fond memories from throughout the semester. You saw the boys laughing and smiling, a surprising number of Jungkook shirtless, and a few selfies that only got Jimin’s forehead as he tried to fit everyone in the picture.
Then you saw one you’ve never seen before. It was a solo picture of you from Halloween. You wore one of your favorite black dresses with flowy sleeves paired with a pointy witch hat that brought the look together. Upon a closer look, you realized you weren’t even looking at the camera. Instead, you were looking away at an angle that made it seem like you were doing one of those classic model poses.
“I didn’t know you took this,” you called to Jimin, who was rummaging through his closet.
“Oh. Yeah, you just looked picturesque in that moment. I’m glad I got to capture it,” Jimin said in an uncharacteristically bashful way, “Here’s my Santa sweater,” he handed you the article of clothing.
“I actually look kinda cute here, so you did a good job,” you teased him as you put the sweater on over your shirt.
“You always look cute, so don’t worry about that,” Jimin smiled softly.
“You guys ready?” Taehyung barged in, ruining the moment.
“Yep!” you quickly answered and walked out of the room. Jimin was always sweet, but was he purposely flirting with you there?
“Give me a second, I’m almost ready,” Jimin responded with a tinge of annoyance.
Jungkook was already waiting outside the room, apparently too impatient to wait for everyone to show up in his room. He was sporting a green sweater that was obnoxiously decorated with real ornaments.
“Did you make that yourself?” Taehyung asked in awe.
“Made it last year with my family; they insisted I bring it with me,” Jungkook shrugged, “Let’s go win this thing!”
“Whaddup guys?” your RA, Jin, greeted the group as you entered the lobby. Four gingerbread kits were set up on a table in the middle of the lobby. Jin glanced at his watch and sighed.
“Hey Jin. Ready for the holidays?” you asked.
“Ready to get away from all you troublemakers,” Jin laughed, “Just kidding. You guys are the only ones who show up to my events, so you’re all automatically my favorites. I had to invite a few of my friends to help make it a real competition.”
“There’s already four people here though, that’s all you need,” Taehyung observed.
“That’s no fun. This is a team competition,” Jin explained, “Counting my friends, I think we can split up perfectly into teams of two.”
“I call ___,” Jimin immediately spoke up.
“Dude, I thought we were gonna be partners,” Taehyung looked butt hurt.
“Don’t worry Tae, we’ll kick their asses. Let’s combine our creative juices together,” Jungkook slung an arm around Taehyung.
“Fine. But keep your juices to yourself,” Taehyung sighed.
“What’s good, party people?” an unfamiliar voice shouted.
“Ready to show these Freshman how to properly make a gingerbread house?” Jin called out to his friends, “These goons are Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hoseok. I’ll pair up with Namjoon.”
“Sope in the HOUSE!” Yoongi and Hoseok hollered in unison.
“Oh, and I forgot to mention that the winner gets a $50 giftcard,” Jin winked, “Ready, set, go!”
You and Jimin quickly got to unwrapping all of the goods. You were in charge of putting the house together as Jimin thought about how to decorate. The icing that held the walls together looked a bit messy, but you could cover that up with even more frosting.
“Wanna start icing the details and I’ll add the candy?” Jimin suggested.
“Yes chef,” you nodded and got back to work.
Jimin delicately added gumdrops and mints to the roof and added licorice to line the windows. You moved on to take care of the front yard. You added candy canes to make an arches along the front walkway, which was lined with kisses. More and more candy was being added onto the house up until Jin’s timer rang.
“Time’s up! Step away from the houses! Let’s start from this side with Jungkook and Taehyung’s house,” Jin announced.
“It’s certainly...avant garde,” Jimin commented. Icing was piped around the house in intricate patterns and candy was strewn across the house with no rhyme or reason.
“We didn’t want to be confined to the cookie cutter gingerbread house norms,” Taehyung said proudly.
“I can’t tell the windows apart from the door,” Namjoon whispered.
“You’re not supposed to!” Jungkook snapped, “Our house is anything you want to imagine.”
“Alright, moving on-- what the hell? Did you guys even try?” Jin shot a disgusted glare at the SOPE team.
“In my defense, I haven’t had dinner yet,” Yoongi shrugged.
“And I thought it wasn’t fair that only Yoongi got to eat it so I joined him,” Hoseok hung his head.
You stifled your laughter as you looked at their plate. Candies were piled up and the house laid unconstructed with many bites taken out of it. Jin shook his head and continued to present his house, which honestly was not much better than his friends’ lack of a house.
“This one was my bad,” Namjoon rubbed the back of his neck.
The gingerbread house looked like it was struggling to stand up. The walls were lopsided and the icing was messily laced around the entire thing.
“I wanted to go for a White Christmas look and have the roof be completely covered with the icing. But thanks to Namjoon’s sloppy work, it got too heavy and the house started to fall apart--” the house collapsed right as Jin said that.
“___ and I made a picture perfect gingerbread house,” Jimin boasted. It was true. Your house looked like it was done by a professional. The icing was well done and the candies were placed in all the right places. No one else made a front lawn like you guys.
“It looks like we have a clear winner,” Jin nodded.
“Good try guys, better luck next time,” Jungkook stepped up to claim the prize.
“___ and Jimin are the winners,” Jin handed you the giftcard while looking at Jungkook in disbelief.
“Woohoo! Great job __!” Jimin cheered and hugged you tightly. You once again caught a whiff of his cologne and felt yourself melting in his arms.
“Boo! Lames!” Jungkook yelled at you both.
“Wait, is it snowing?” Yoongi said as he looked out the window.
Sure enough, white flurries were swirling around as snow landed on the ground. It must have been snowing for a bit, as it was actually sticking to the ground and there was at least an inch of it.
“Let’s go let’s go!” Jimin took your hand and dragged you to the elevator.
“You too, Jin. I wanna pelt my RA in the face,” Jungkook stuck his tongue out at Jin.
“Oh you’re on, kid. Let’s go boys,” Jin motioned to his friends.
Cold air whipped across your face as soon as you walked outside. You weren’t wearing nearly enough warm layers and the cold chilled you to the bone.You stuck your tongue out to catch snowflakes as you shivered. Jimin wrapped his arms around you, catching you off guard.
“Cold?” he whispered in your ear.
“Maybe a little,” you admitted as you felt your ears warm up. Right as you said that, a small white ball exploded on your chest. Jungkook had his signature bunny smile plastered on his face as he laughed hysterically. He was on a rampage, and you laughed as you watched him chase Jin around with a gigantic snowball.
“Oh, it’s on!” Jimin yelled at him as he started to form ammunition of his own.
You went to stake your own tiny claim of land to make snowballs in. Taehyung was running around with an arm full, pelting anyone in sight. Endless bouts of laughter echoed outside of the dormitory as you and your friends engaged in an intense snowball fight. There was no clear winner, but no one could feel their extremities by the end of it.
“Alright alright truce! You kids go take a hot shower before you get sick. I don’t wanna get blamed for anyone having an unpleasant holiday season,” Jin finally shooed all of his kids out of the snow.
“I can’t believe this. Why do my parents have to come pick me up a day early?” Jungkook complained as he sprawled out on his bed.
“Because they love you and are excited to see you, Kookie. Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of time to partake in more shenanigans next semester,” you patted his ankle in reassurance.
“If you’re leaving, then I’ll probably drive home today too. I miss Tannie,” Taehyung sighed.
“Why? ___ and Jimin are still here. You guys can have fun without me,” Jungkook pouted. Jimin and Taehyung exchanged a quick glance at each other before Taehyung talked about how much he missed his adorable little fluffy companion.
“I’m telling you, you have to sneak Tannie over here next semester,” you joked.
“He’ll get too excited and bark. Jin is chill, but probably not that chill,” Taehyung said somberly, “But don’t worry! We can take a field trip to my house next semester for sure. My mom makes the best food.”
“I can’t wait buddy,” Jimin smiled as Jungkook finally got out of bed to start packing. All three of you saw Jungkook off once his family came to pick him up. His mother was sweet and you could tell that he got his charisma from his father. Taehyung hugged both of you goodbye and you watched him drive off.
“Guess it’s just us left huh,” Jimin observed.
“What do you wanna do? It’s not even 11am yet,” you checked the time, “Oh! How do you wanna split up the gift card? It’s a visa so it can be used anywhere.”
“Why don’t we spend it together? That way it’s fair. What do you say to one final outing to commemorate the end of a great semester?” Jimin offered.
“Sounds good! Do you wanna stay on campus or?” you trailed off.
“I have an idea,” Jimin nodded, “But it’s a surprise! Meet in my room after we get dressed? Change into something a little warmer.”
“Fine,” you rolled your eyes.
You showed up in front of Jimin’s door wearing a cozy sweater a couple minutes later. You also sprayed on some of your favorite perfume, but he probably wouldn’t notice. Nor would he notice the extra effort you put into styling your hair.
“Hey you ready to have some fun?” Jimin greeted you with a smile, “You look...nice.”
“Thanks, you too. Now will you tell me where we’re going?” you asked.
“I’ll tell you on the way. C’mon let’s go catch the train!” Jimin led you by the hand down the hallway yet again.
The way he said that you looked nice made you feel self conscious. He had the same tone that people have when someone really doesn’t look nice but they were too far into the sentence to correct themselves. Now sitting together on the train, you wondered if you were wearing too much perfume.
“How do you feel about ice skating?” Jimin asked.
“I love it. Haven’t done it in a while though,” you answered.
“Perfect! I realize I probably should’ve made sure you enjoy skating before surprising you with it,” Jimin laughed nervously.
“This still makes for a fine impromptu date,” you laughed with him before realizing what you said.
“Date?”
“Sure is weird not having those two around causing a scene!” you interrupted him.
“Um, yeah. They’re good dudes,” Jimin awkwardly agreed.
You shifted uncomfortably in your seat. You finally get some alone time with Jimin and you’re making it all weird. The other boys always made sure there was never a dull moment during your escapades. You wished they were here right now.
“This is our stop,” Jimin tapped on your knee.
The snow had stuck overnight, making everything that the sun touched glisten. Your spirits lifted as you walked around the decorated town, the festivity of everything seeped into you. Christmas lights were strung up everywhere, and there were big red bows on nearly everything.
“You good? You seem kinda out of it,” Jimin nudged you.
“Oh yeah, I’m fine! Don’t worry about it,” you shot him a fake smile.
“Hey, don’t lie to me. I’d like to think I know you better than that. What’s wrong?” Jimin prodded.
“It’s nothing really. It’s silly, believe me,” you replied quickly.
“___,” Jimin said in a serious tone.
“I didn’t mean to say ‘date’. It was just a stupid slip up and I guess I was worried about making this awkward when you’re really just trying to be a good friend and--”
“This is a date,” Jimin stated.
“It--what?” you were surprised.
“The boys and I have been planning this since last month. We figured it would be the only natural way for us to spend time together. Alone,” Jimin blushed as he looked at the ground.
“If you wanted to make it seem natural then you probably shouldn’t have disguised it as an accidental stroke of luck,” you crossed your arms, “And the way you said I looked nice earlier made me feel like I’ve had something on my face this whole time.”
“No no! You really do look nice! I was actually gonna say super cute but I chickened out. Aw, ___, you look lovely. I’m sorry I made you self conscious,” Jimin pulled you in for a hug, “I’ve liked you for a while, but I was scared that you didn’t feel the same way. If this makes you uncomfortable, we can just forget about this whole date thing and just skate as friends,” he whispered.
“I was scared of ruining the group so I never wanted to tell you that I like you,” you responded once the hug ended.
“I guess we both goofed. So can we call this an official date?” Jimin asked with a hopeful smile.
“Yes, yes we can,” you laughed.
“Sweet. Since it’s a date, can I hold your hand?” Jimin held out his hand and you happily took it. He led you to the ice rink as you both laughed and made fun of each other for being so coy for the entire semester.
“So how long have you liked me?” you asked.
“Would it be cheesy to say since I first laid eyes on you?”
“Yes.”
“Then since I first laid eyes on you,” Jimin was pleased with his answer.
“And the other two knew?”
“The entire time,” Jimin confirmed, “It was actually Taehyung who came up with this plan.”
“Why didn’t you just ask me out normally?” you tilted your head.
“Honestly, we never thought of that,” Jimin admitted.
“You boys are all so dumb,” you laughed.
“True, but it worked!” Jimin defended, “We’re here! You got the gift card on you?”
After paying for the ice skate rentals, it was now you leading Jimin into the ice rink. It had been a while since you last skated, and you were eager to glide across the ice again. You dragged Jimin behind you as you trudged forward.
“Do you not know how to skate?” you looked back at him.
“I do, but this is more fun,” Jimin smiled. You let go of his hand and took off. You laughed as he struggled to chase you. His version of skating was more like inching forward very very slowly with the grace of a newborn deer. You skated circles around him to tease him. The teasing continued until you both wore yourselves out (and your rental time was up).
“That was fun,” you announced happily.
“Speak for yourself, I lost track of how many times I fell on my butt,” Jimin rubbed his backside with a sad frown.
“7 times. And you fell onto your knees 3 times,” you informed him, “Do you wanna grab something to eat to make you feel better?”
“Some hot chocolate would smack right now,” he nodded.
“Let’s go get you warmed up big boy. Wanna go to Starbucks or something?”
“I have some hot chocolate back in the dorm. Can we heat that up and watch a movie?” Jimin asked sweetly. You nodded and made your way back to the train station. You leaned onto Jimin’s shoulder on the way back, enjoying your new freedom to be a little flirty with him.
Once back in Jimin’s dorm room, you made the hot chocolate while he changed into pants that didn’t have ice all over them. Both of you snuggled together on Jimin’s bed while Die Hard played on his laptop (believe it or not, that counts as a Christmas movie).
“Would you say today’s date was a success?” Jimin asked before taking a sip of his drink.
“I’d say so. I think we get along well,” you nodded.
“Well that’s a relief. I can take you on more next semester if that’s okay with you,” he looked into your eyes.
“That’s perfectly fine with me,” you smiled before kissing his cheek. This semester definitely ended on a high note. Tis the season.
pairing: namjoon x female!reader
genre: mostly fluff, a tinge of angst, a lot of mishaps, mall workers
warnings: language, mentions of mild burns, not using oven mitts, lapslock, a lot of mentions of falling because we’re clumsy
word count: 5.8k
summary: floral fantasy is instagram famous, not only for their delectable desserts and drinks, but also the absurdly good looking staff members who’d make celebrities crumble with a mere flicker of a smile. you can’t help but fall for the one temp worker who’s as clumsy as he is good looking.
notes: merry belated holidays ellen @joontella! it’s peppermint, finally delivering your present to you because i am an excellent procrastinator. this was inspired by my friend commenting on how the majority of holiday movie leads seem to be mall elves, so i present to you...a mall elf! in all seriousness, i hope you like it! i also wanted to add your answers to the character (about your favourite and least favourite part of the holidays) so i put those in here. 💕
the moment the clock strikes midnight on december 1st, the mall changes: it shifts from plain decorations and advertisements into a winter wonderland, with fake snow and garlands and tinsel wrapping every square inch of the mall. twinkling snowflakes hang from the ceiling, a cascade of light fragments spinning over the white, mall floor, and the railing are covered in boughs of holly and streams of glitter. it’s absolutely magical. or so every customer thinks.
in reality, all the mall workers are contractually obligated to work after the mall closing hours, to file in through the glass doors and haul decoration after decoration out of the mall storage room, put in elbow grease to transform the mall into something vaguely resembling the north pole and distinctly looking like a christmas catalogue display, only with more glitter and more snowflakes and too much tinsel.
you absolutely despise it.
to be fair, working a graveyard shift to help “build the holiday magic and festive cheer” was written in the job description when you signed on for the job, in fine tiny print you skipped over as you signed your name on the bottom of the paper, forgotten and ignored in the thrill of having a job that pays more than minimum wage. of course there was a catch; there was always a catch.
you kick a plastic reindeer, watch it clatter on to a pile of fake snow from your annoyance. jungkook, the head mall—santa’s elf, you correct yourself—snaps his head in your direction, before running over and propping up the reindeer. “oh no! are you okay, vixen?” he pats the reindeer gently, brushing off glittery cotton fluff from its body before frowning at you. “please be careful with the props! all of these are essential to the holiday magic we provide to the children and mall patrons! what would they think if they came into the mall and we only had 8 reindeers instead of all 9?”
you blink twice, trying to bat away the sleep that’s weighing down your eyelashes and mingling with the glitter from all the ornaments. “that we have 8 reindeers.”
there’s another frown on his face, eyebrows pinching together as he opens his mouth when there’s a loud crash on your right.
there’s a tall, broad man on the floor, tangled in tinsel and lights, next to a ladder, as another tall, broad man and a short, soft looking blonde come rushing out of the floral fantasy cafe doors. the blonde starts cackling immediately—peals of laughter slipping out of his lips as he props himself against the ladder, doubling over at the unfortunate christmas decoration accident—while the tall broad one (the one not tangled up on the floor), sighs and crouches down to try and untangle the other one.
“i swear, i don’t even know how this happened,” you overhear tinsel boy explaining, “i was up on the ladder trying to unwrap the lights and i guess i pulled too hard? i fell over.”
blondie cackles even louder as both of the boys give him a look: tinsel boy looks confused, a little apologetic like he’s done this before, while the other tall, broad one sends him an exasperated look. “yoongi, come help me, so we can all leave early.”
ah, to leave early. you’d like that.
jungkook lets out a tsk and hands you a box of snowflakes to hang from the roof of santa’s workshop, deeming you high risk to the reindeers, and moves on to the next poor, tired santa’s elf who is—heaven forbid—letting the garland hang an extra inch longer than protocol.
you shift your gaze back to your right and meet eyes with tinsel boy who’s looking right at you. a flicker of heat rushes up to your cheek, as he looks away, back to the tall broad one who’s trying to untangle him.
“namjoon,” the broad one sighs in relief when his hands finally find the right loop, “maybe you should try the stickers.”
“absolutely not,” blondie glares, points to the glass window of the cafe, and even from where you are, 2 stores down and 2 across, you can see the abysmal state of the stickers, air bubbles and stuck together where it’s not haphazardly slapped on to glass. “we are two stickers down and tae is going to have my head when he finds out.” his tone softens, eyes as gentle as his smile, when he sees that namjoon has deflated a little, spirit a little squashed like the tinsel around him. “maybe you can decorate the counter namjoon. i think you’d be good at that.”
namjoon brightens up, dimpled smile illuminated by the string lights dancing across his face, and hands yoongi the lights. he gives a mock salute. “yes, sir.”
you bite down your laughter as he skips into the store, nearly tripping over his shoes. at least you’re not alone in your lack of holiday decorating luck, you think as you reach your hand into the box of snowflakes and cough, a storm of dust and glitter puffing up into the air.
god, you hate your job already.
in all fairness, after a 5 hour shift and glitter congested lungs, the mall looks lovely, a christmas card come to life with enough lights to rival a hallmark christmas movie or those drive through holiday light tunnels. if you were a customer, you’d stand gaping at the front entrance too, breath caught in your throat at the festivities. but instead, you’re rubbing bleary eyes from the lack of sleep, back at the steps of the mall less than 6 hours after the nightmare of the graveyard shift. lethargy clings to the edges of your thoughts, smudging cohesion into a whirlpool of fatigue, so you collect what little of yourself you can and trudge your way to floral fantasy.
floral fantasy is instagram famous, not only for their delectable desserts and drinks, but also the absurdly good looking staff members who’d make celebrities crumble with a mere flicker of a smile. there’s a whisper where you live, small talks through the grapevines, about how the requirement to work there is to look like someone who’d make models cry. rumour has it every single worker has been recruited by a talent agency, only to all be turned down for reasons unknown. you believed it when you first stepped foot into the cafe, mouth agape and words lost at the sight of the pretty workers at the register, but the speculations hit you twice as hard right now, when you’re clutching on to the last bit of your sanity.
tinsel boy is in front of you. you knew he was pretty yesterday, wrapped in twinkle and catching the light, but he’s even prettier up close, skin shimmering in soft pastels, and you wonder for a moment if he’s actually this pretty or if it’s just an optical illusion, a trick of your mind bending the light to create a pretty ringlet around his head. you almost run your mouth, almost let your mouth run without its filter. almost.
instead, there’s a crash, an angry hiss of steam, and the distinct sound of someone yelping in pain that cuts through the fog of your wonder. blondie rushes out from the back (yoongi, you think his name was), door swinging behind him. “goddamnit namjoon, i leave you alone for thirty seconds! thirty seconds!”
namjoon shrugs sheepishly. there’s a grimace on his face as he nurses a palm, red and angry. yoongi rushes over with a wet towel and wraps it around namjoon’s palm, another hiss seeping from namjoon’s lips. “i got-fuck-distracted by something,” he looks at you, cheeks tinged pink, and tries to put on a smile, though it resembles more of a grimace. “welcome to floral fantasy.”
yoongi follows his gaze to you too, blinks twice before a smile spreads on his mouth too. “we’re usually a lot more composed than this.”
“i’ll take your word for it.” you laugh, remembering last night. “the place looks nice. it looks like you’ve done a wonderful job.”
the cafe, normally in theme to its name as an everblooming wonder, is decked with evergreen wreaths and red ribbons, a brilliant fantasy of lights. the wall filled with paper flowers is replaced with white and silver paper snowflakes, just as photo ready as the people inside.
“thank you,” yoongi smirks, looking over at namjoon before pushing him towards the register. “we tried.”
“i’m sure you must be tired from last night,” you smile at namjoon.
“you must be too. i know the mall elves had to stay even longer than we did.” he smiles, dimples blooming. “what can i get you?”
you look at the menu over his head, the words blurring together the longer you look at them, mind too sleep deprived to focus. “i haven’t been here often, so i’m not sure what’s good. what would you recommend?”
he opens his mouth, hesitating for a moment, before letting out a low chuckle, hand rubbing the back of his neck. your eyes follow the movement. “i’m actually new here. my friends own the cafe and i’m just here to help for the holiday rush.” he side eyes yoongi who’s running the coffee machine with precision and ease, grace in each movement as he fixes namjoon’s mistakes. “i feel like more of a nuisance than of help though.”
“i understand that feeling,” you motion towards your attire, a bright splash of green, red, and white that’s as cheerful as you are tired. “i most definitely am not as perky as my job requires.”
he laughs at your statement, a genuine bubbling laughter that tickles one out of you. there’s a sparkle in his eyes—a trick of the light, you tell yourself—as types something on to the screen. “i have just the thing for you.”
you start to fish around your bag, trying to find your card in the mess of old receipts and chewing gum, when he speaks again. “it’s on the house. my treat.”
you furrow your brows, lips quirked. “are you allowed to do that?”
“i get free coffee everyday,” he shrugs, “and i do enough damage without caffeine in my system. consider it a gift from a fellow new mall worker, a comrades in agony.”
you can’t help the worry that spreads across your face. “will you be making it as well?”
“god no.” “absolutely not.” namjoon and yoongi speak at once, twin looks of pain on their faces.
namjoon holds up his palm as the printer makes a whirring noise. “i think it’s safer for all of us that yoongi makes your drink.”
the coffee is good, coats your tongue in mint and just the right amount of bitterness. the caffeine sinks into your bloodstream, wipes the film of sleep from your eyes, and gets you through seven hours at the mall. by the end of it, your cheeks hurt from smiling too hard, voice a little hoarse from the high pitch elf voice, but there’s a warmth from the coffee that lingers, settles into your bones and stays despite the frosty air that blasts a little too hard through the itchy material of your elf dress.
you find yourself back at the doors of floral fantasy the next day, still in your bell hat and jingling shoes, less tired but sleepy nonetheless. it’s a little before the mall opens, but the doors are unlocked when you push, a little bell chime ringing through the empty store. the smell of baked goods fills the air, a cozy warmth juxtaposing the white winter wonderland theme, and you take in a deep breath, let it fill your lungs.
“wow.” you whip around to see namjoon holding a tray of scones and muffins. “you look like you fit right into the store.”
you snort as you twirl, the pom poms twirling as your dress swirls with your turn. “i’m a christmas card come to life, the splitting image of cheer and festivities. though i can’t really say i’m quite into the look.”
he opens his mouth to say something, but there’s a ringing that permeates and breaks the moment. “oh shit,” he drops the tray down on the counter, “seokjin told me to watch the macarons. i’ll be right back” he races off, the back door swinging to the tune of his panic.
you giggle and look at the menu properly this time, at the pretty penmanship curling across the black chalkboards. there’s candy canes and hollies drawn on the borders and tiny wreaths pinned to every corner, ribbon on the bottom, and you try to match the baked goods to the menu names when there’s a muted yelp and crash coming from behind the doors.
“i swear to god, kim namjoon! the oven mitts are not decoration!” you hear, and you grimace, mind already picturing the damage his clumsiness has caused.
namjoon and seokjin, you assume, come out of the backroom a few moments later, another wet towel on namjoon, on both hands instead of one this time.
“oh,” seokjin says. “hello.”
“hi,” you wave awkwardly. “i’m guessing this is bad timing?”
“no, it’s not,” he pulls out a medical kit and starts applying burn cream on namjoon’s hands, sending daggers every time namjoon inhales sharply in pain. “yoongi should be here in a couple of minutes if you want coffee.”
“did you like the coffee yesterday?” namjoon asks, hope sparkling in his eyes.
“i did!” you beam back. “it was good, so i came back to see if you had any recs.” you look at the tray behind the two. “and to try a baked goods. a fellow elf told me they’re quite spectacular.”
seokjin brightens at that, perks up and puffs his chest as he finishes the final touches on the bandages on namjoon’s hands. “you heard correctly! just wait a moment!” he rushes off to the back, and it’s just the two of you again.
“you seem to be catching me at my worst, but i swear, i’m more put together than this,” namjoon chuckles, lifting his palms “how was your first shift?”
you laugh, caressing your elbows to your body. “it was okay. a lot of happy kids, which was nice, but there were also a lot of crying ones. by the end, i was just ready to go home. i did, however, like the coffee from yesterday and figured i would come back to see if you had another recommendation, from a fellow second day-er to another. it was the one thing that got me through the shift.”
he beams again, and it ignites a warmth in you, much like the coffee from yesterday, that spreads gently across your body, on your cheeks, on your mouth. his smile is pretty, like a warm breeze on a spring day, like cherry blossoms fluttering gently in the wind. the coffee is good, but you think the reason for the lines outside the cafe, the loyal customers, is partly due to the way the smiles here feel like love letters.
“i have something in mind for you today,” he smiles at you as yoongi walks in, nodding at you in greeting. “just wait a moment.”
you walk out of the cafe, a coffee in one hand, box of baked goods in another, and a heart that feels a little like a snow globe, glitter and snow gently falling down after being shaken by a cute pair of dimples.
it becomes a routine of sorts: almost every shift begins with a visit to floral fantasy, even on the days namjoon isn’t working, and you build up a small friendship with everyone who works there, though it’s mostly seokjin and yoongi and namjoon you see. there always seems to be some mishap with namjoon when you walk into the store—it’s mostly limited to small things like jammed display doors, smooshed pastries as he reaches for another, and misshapen ice cream swirls—although seokjin and yoongi tell you he’s not as clumsy as he presents himself when you’re around.
“he’s actually quite brilliant,” seokjin tells you as he packs in an extra macaron in your gift box, smiling as you light up in glee. you really shouldn’t be spending your paycheck on pastries, but seokjin’s culinary training at le cordon bleu makes them a little too good, a little too addictive, and has you asking for one (or two) on the days when your shifts are a little too long to bear without coffee and sweets. “he’s double majoring in literature and philosophy, minoring in greek and latin to gain deeper understanding of the classical philosophers, and takes french in his free time. he wears himself a little too thin, if you ask me, but he likes what he does. he’s a sweetheart, even when he’s clinging to the last thread of his sanity, muttering on and on about paradoxes and something about beds.”
“he just needs to get a better understanding of his strength,” yoongi tells you when you come in after your shift one day, over the hiss of the steamer as he makes you a cafe au lait. you don’t have the heart to tell him that you prefer your coffee sweet after remembering how his eyes lit up as he told you about his barista training, raved about coffee done correctly rather than frappes and awful starbucks beans. the resentment on his tongue made you promise yourself to never step foot in a starbucks, lest you find yourself the subject of his bitterness. “sometimes he gets a little too excited and forgets about things, like how fragile objects can be or safety concerns” he and seokjin exchange a knowing glance before he smiles down at the coffee, blank canvas coming to life as he pours in the steamed milk. in the matter of seconds, there’s a cute bear hanging on to the edge of the cup, and you gape in awe at his skills. “he means well though.”
namjoon presents himself a little differently than his friends do when he catches you on your lunch break, keeping you company as you eat your sandwich in the cafeteria. “i don’t really know how these things keep happening, but they do. i’m a magnet for trouble like bella swan.”
you cackle out loud and, in the process, almost spit out your coffee, courtesy of namjoon. “i’m sure it’s not that bad.”
“well, i don’t have a creepy, emotionally unhinged vampire that lusts after me, so yes, my situation is a bit better.”
he looks like a kicked puppy, eyes all sad and tugging at heartstrings. you find yourself reaching a hand out, patting his arm. “there, there. i’m sure santa has you on the nice list despite it all. for not interacting with a god-forsaken, toxic vampire.”
“good. i was awfully worried i was on the naughty list.” he tries to keep a straight face, hold his laughter in, but it seeps and bubbles out and his eyes crinkle into crescents. “do you not like the holidays?” you tilt your head at his question, a silent ask to elaborate. “you seem to not be in the holiday spirit when i ask you about it. unless, i’m reading incorrectly and it’s just your job you despise, which i totally understand. i love kids, but they can be hard to deal with.”
you chew on your sandwich for a little longer than you have to, feel it go down your esophagus while the sorrow sticks in your throat. “i like christmas. it’s just a bit lonely on my own?” you put your sandwich down gingerly on to your tupperware. “i think the best part of christmas—the holidays in general, really—is spending time with family and loved ones, but i don’t get to see them very often. not since i moved for college and everyone is busy with their own lives. i love christmas dinner and celebrating together, watching the clock strike midnight on new year’s. i still send gifts to them, but it’s not the same as watching them open it, watching eyes light up and twinkle in delight as they see the stockings and rip the wrapping paper.” you stick a grin on your face, as cheerful as the one you put on for your job, but your laughter sounds weak, even to your ears, and you shift your gaze on to the sandwich in your tupperware, trying to hide your tears. there’s a comforting hand on top of yours, gently squeezing like he’s trying to pass his strength on to you. “i mean, it’s fine. post-holiday depression can’t really hit if you don’t feel the holiday cheer to begin with.”
he doesn’t say anything as you blink furiously, trying to clear out the fuzziness in your vision: he rubs his thumb against the back of your hand, a gentle reminder that he’s there and listening to what you’ve holed up and deemed too stupid to tell other people.
“maybe this holiday season will be different,” he offers.
there’s a flicker of hope that burns in your chest. “yeah, maybe it will be.”
it’s a couple of days later when you step back into the cafe, having been too tired to come by after your shifts, and you’re nursing the desire to knock down every single reindeer and the stupid gingerbread house just to spite the kids. (and maybe see the look on jeon jungkook’s face, savour it slowly. god, his love for christmas cheer and order drives you mad, though you’re sure you do the same for him, every time you slip out of character when there’s a particularly nasty child in line.) you must look as exhausted as you feel because when namjoon turns around at the sound of the bell twinkling, thirty minutes before the cafe closes, he drops the tray and you watch as the pink coffee cups and pretty plates fall to the floor, shatter into pieces.
“fuck,” namjoon looks at the floor in dismay, crouching down to collect the pieces.
“be care-“ you start, but his voice cuts through before you can finish.
“ow, fuck.” he staring at the rose blooming on his thumb, cut quickly filling with red.
you grab a napkin from the counter and hand it to him, gently pulling him up and aside, out of harms way. “i don’t know if your hands will be okay by the time your stint here ends.”
he snorts at that, heading behind the counter and reaching for the medical kit again. “i’m quite resilient.”
“is it weird that i believe you and don’t at the same time?” you smile at his pout, wincing when it causes your cheeks to twinge in pain. “are you manning the store alone today?”
“i can be responsible! is that so hard to believe?” he laughs and motions to the store. “this is seokjin and yoongi’s baby. seokjin has always wanted to do something with food and yoongi’s always loved coffee, so this is their brainchild. i’m guessing they trust me enough to not burn the place down, or at least try not to.”
he fumbles as puts a bandage on the cut and you can’t help but smile as you remember the stickers he tried to put on the cafe door. you take the broom from him when he makes his way over. “here, let me help.” he tries to protest but you move the broom out of his reach. “consider it my way of saying thank you for the great coffee recommendations.”
namjoon’s dimples are back, shining in full force, and you start sweeping, telling yourself you’re focusing on the pieces of china and not averting the warmth of his smile because it does not feel like a sugar rush, like the warmth of the holidays you haven’t felt in a while. you feel something creep up in your throat—loneliness, sorrow, exhaustion—so you force it down and stare at the tiny pieces on the floor, watch the little fragments twinkle as you push them around with your broom.
“are you okay?” there’s a hand on your arm and pair of warm brown eyes looking at you, concern brimming in the light. you let yourself get lost in them for a moment, let it wash over you before you respond.
“yeah,” you smile, “just tired.”
he gently takes the broom and dustpan from your hands, and gives you his hand instead, leading you to the behind the counter and to the backroom. “i have just the thing for you.”
“am i allowed to be back here?” you quirk your head in amusement, letting him lead. “better yet, what are we doing?”
it’s strange—to the say the least—to be in a place you’re so accustomed to but have it looks so different than what you’re used to: steel and silver replacing marble and white, ovens and storage racks in place of glass displays case and chalkboards. but there’s still the same magic: the same kind of warmth and care you’re greeted with at the entrance lives in the backroom, with the ovens and fires, with the stand mixers and ingredients, with namjoon flitting around the stove. there’s a tick-tick-tick as the stove flares to life, a clang as it meets pan.
“yoongi taught me how to make hot chocolate, back in high school, because he was so fed up with how much i loved it, how much i would ask for it.” you can feel the smile on his face, even as his back is to you as you lean against the counter. “it’s one of the few things i know how to make from scratch, albeit a little labour intensive. once you try it, there’s no going back to instant packets.”
namjoon motions you over, handing you the whisk, and the two of you settle in to a comfortable silence as he scrapes in vanilla, sifts in some spices, adds in heavy cream and milk. it smells heavenly, lingers on the edges of his white shirt. the two of you are so close, you’re scared he can hear the vivace of your heartbeat over the whisking, so you whisk a little faster, let the cream splash on the edges until he gently takes the whisk from you. “wow, maybe you should work here. we could have you as back up if our stand mixers ever break down.”
he pours the mixture into two orange mugs, topping it with something white and fluffy before handing one to you. “hot chocolate a la namjoon.”
you close your eyes and let the mixture settle on your tongue, sweet and warm. it settles in your bones, distilling and coating the exhaustion and loneliness until all that’s left is the warmth of spending the moment with a loved one. the effort and time comes through. “colour me impressed.”
the smile on his face is as warm as the drink in your hands.
the two of you bask in the silence, in the warmth, in the comfort of each other’s presence, as you sip the rest of your hot chocolates.
there’s an unspoken rule: the closer it gets to your last day of work, the slower time moves, like it’s waiting to prolong your misery. the kids aren’t awful—they get nicer as it inches closer to christmas, too well aware their gifts depend on their behavior—but no matter how many kids you entertain, how many photos you snap, how many smiles you pinch out, nothing makes your shift go by today. you’re so close to throwing down your elf hat and walking out the door, freedom so close yet so far.
it’s christmas eve and the mall is busier than usual, packed with folxs trying to get their last minute christmas shopping done. you can’t say the same for the santa’s workshop line: there’s a lull like no other, and while you would be grateful, jeon jungkook has been watching over everyone like a hawk, squawking at every elf to “keep up the magic!” just until 10 minutes ago when he left for lunch. you just want to go back to your apartment and settle under your covers and let yourself enjoy the measly number on your paycheck.
“you look like you’re having the time of your life.”
a voice comes up from behind you and you startle, relief only settling in when you see who it is.
namjoon is holding a tray of cupcakes that looks like christmas trees, dusted in powdered sugar and topped with a fondant star, and you “ooh” over them as he laughs. “seokjin was experimenting with flavours and i figured i would bring some over to the north pole.”
you frown in mock anger as you pluck a cupcake off his tray. “it’s santa’s workshop, not the north pole. i don’t even want to think about how much more fake snow we would have to bring to call this the north pole.” you take a bite into the cupcake, moaning as the sugar hits your tongue. “these are so good.”
namjoon blinks at you, looks down at your lips and laughs with pink tinged cheeks. “you have frosting on your lips.”
“oh,” you lick your lips, “is it gone?”
he brushes his thumb against the corner of your mouth, fingertip lingering a second too long as he drags it down. “all better.”
there’s a long, awkward silence between the two of you, seconds dragging by as you fumble to string a cohesive sentence together.
“do you-“
“it’s my-“
“you can go first,” namjoon offers.
“it’s my last shift today, so i won’t be able to visit as often anymore.” you try to keep the tremble out of your voice, try to dampen the disappointment as you kick at the floor. “so i wanted to say thank you. for everything.”
“oh.” he doesn’t say anything else and anxiety pools in between every beat of the song that’s blasting through the mall speakers. you try to find something to fill in the conversation, anything but what you want to ask him, when you hear your coworker’s voice.
“jeon’s making his way down!”
“i have to go. thank you for the cupcake!” you wave the treat in your hand and start to get back into position.
“wait! y/n!”
as soon as you turn around, there’s a giant weight on top of you, and both you and namjoon come tumbling down, back knocking against the floor. namjoon’s foot, caught on the wire, pulls out the string lights from the socket and brings a snowman to the floor. the poor snowman, in turn, knocks over the reindeers one by one, like a set of dominos, each one falling to the floor with a graceful “thump.”
you let out a groan, crushed by namjoon’s large frame. there’s something wet smudged against your cheek, and the tray that once was in his hands is now uncomfortably sandwiched between your stomachs, digging into your ribcage.
“fuck, i’m so sorry,” namjoon scrambles to get off of you. “this keeps happening around you. are you okay?”
when you prop up your weight on your hands, you see that your elf costume is smeared with dark green frosting, the white trim matted together with pieces of the chocolate cupcake. you can’t help but laugh: it seems awfully fitting that namjoon’s fall, which marked your first shift, would laso be the highlight of your last one.
“i’m alright. you?”
he nods, motioning towards your elf costume. “i don’t think your costume is though.”
“i kind of like it better this way,” you laugh as you start to pick up the reindeers, “it feels much more festive.”
“i feel bad.”
he sends you an apologetic look, puppy eyes and pouty lips, and something in you says fuck it. “you were right about the hot chocolate. i tried to drink instant mix and it didn’t taste the same. you could make it up to me with another cup?”
something flashes in his eyes as he smiles. “i’ll do you one better. what are you doing tomorrow?”
you furrow your brows, trying to figure out what he’s asking. “nothing?”
“i’m off too, if you wanted to go on a date? most of the city is going to be closed, so we could watch a movie, have dinner at my place? and i could make you hot chocolate?” he bites his lip at your silence, at the way your eyes go wide. “or not. i’m sorry; i just thou-”
you press your lips against his and put your hands on his shoulder when he kisses you back. it’s a short kiss, sweet and gentle like he is, and it’s over all too soon (you are in public after all), but it leaves a trail of butterflies in your stomach and a dazed look in his eye.
“a date sounds good.” you tell him as he stands up, tray in hand.
“tomorrow then.”
you nod, the smile on your face as sweet as the frosting on your outfit, as he runs back towards floral fantasy.
“looks like someone has holiday plans after all,” your coworker nudges you.
the smile on your face refuses to dissipate, even as your cheeks feel the tender ache. “i guess so.”
“you know, the first time i saw you, you were wrapped in tinsel because you fell off the ladder trying to decorate the outside of floral fantasy.” you tell him on his couch, over hot chocolate.
he chokes and sputters. “i was distracted.”
the statement sounds vaguely familiar, mind hazy from time. “by what?”
he looks at his mug of hot chocolate intently, like the surface is reflecting his answer to him. “You.”
It’s your turn to choke on your drink. “I’m sorry?”
his ears and cheeks are dusted with pink, a sunset on his face. “You were so pretty that i forgot i was on a ladder, and i fell.”
it takes all of your willpower to iron out the smile that threatens to slip through, but one look at his face--at his pretty, pouting face--and you burst out laughing, laughing even harder when he joins in.
“I’m clumsy when i get nervous,” he continues, when both your laughters simmer into giggles, “and everytime you came into the cafe, i was so nervous that i made silly mistakes like burning my hands and forgetting oven mitts. The one time you came in and i dropped the tray? The light was hitting you at the right angle and—god—it made you look like an angel.”
you hide your grin behind your mug, take a sip before you let him know. “the coffee was good, but i mostly came in to see you.”
his eyes light up at that, brighter than the christmas tree haphazardly wrapped behind him, and you kiss him, mouths moulding together. he tastes like goodness and hot chocolate and the warmth of the holiday season, like the thrill of opening a present that’s been under the tree for so long.
maybe he was right. maybe this holiday season will be different.