“Hey, what's for dinner?" Taehyung pulls him out of his hole of self-pity by barging into his room and throwing himself on his bed.

"Pizza?" Jimin suggests halfheartedly, closing his notebook and putting it aside with a sigh.

"What happened?" His friend sits up, studying him carefully upon noticing the slightest note of sadness in his voice.

Jimin rubs at his eyes. "Think I'm gonna fail Pharmacology."

"What? No, you're not." Taehyung immediately interjects. "You're super smart, Jiminie." "Well, I got a bad grade and Mrs. Kang said that I'll have to work really hard to catch up." Taehyung frowns. "But you studied like hell for it."

Jimin shrugs. "Wasn't enough."

He feels like a failure and, in his pessimistic state of mind, can only see the worst outcome possible. His mind only provides him with images of himself taking another test and getting even worse grades in the future.

"Why don't you ask for help?" Taehyung suggests, as usual shining a light into Jimin's life. "Whose help?"

"Every class has a top student." He answers. "Whoever it is, I don't think they'll refuse to help you."

Jimin hums. "You're right. I'll look into that."

Taehyung claps, smiling and ready to move on. "So... pizza?"

It's only later that night, when Jimin is in bed and almost asleep, that he remembers who is the top student of his Pharmacology class.

Jeon Jeongguk.

Dark, tall and mysterious. Impeccable style, with his dress shirts and boots. Parted hair that never seems to be out of place. Sharp eyes and even sharper jawline that make him awfully intimidating.

That Jeon Jeongguk.

And, well, Jimin would be fine with asking him for help despite being more than intimidated by his looks because he's sure he's not a bad person.

The thing is that he is, you know... a vampire.

Not that this should be an issue at all. It's been at least two centuries since vampires have been included in society and living side by side with humans in more than normal settings and relationships. They receive government help to feed and have made a deal to not bite anyone unless given explicit consent – apparently, that's a thing that people are into.

Honestly, Jimin is okay with it. He has no prejudice whatsoever, has learned to live with them and their differences since he was born, though as a kid he did find it weird how some of his parents' friends never ate with them when they threw dinner parties.

The actual problem revolves around Jeon Jeongguk himself.

Besides the obvious fact that his looks don't make it easier for anyone to come near him without spontaneously combusting, Jeongguk also doesn't allow for any unnecessary approach to happen because of his closed off personality.

If Jimin were to voice his opinion on the matter, he would say the other takes advantage of the still remaining – though almost gone – image of danger that's been attached to vampires since the beginning to build an aura of mystery around himself and keep people away.

It's not that he's rude or anything like that, but Jimin can't help but be intimidated by Jeongguk's demeanor.

And now he needs to ask the vampire in question to tutor him a few times a week so he doesn't stain his university record.

Just great.

"Listen, he's old, right? He has to be polite, at least." That's Taehyung's way of trying to help when Jimin whines to him the next morning.

It really says something that even Taehyung, who studies a few buildings away in a whole other departament, knows who Jeongguk is and why he seems to be avoided at all costs.

The comment doesn't do much to ease Jimin's nerves immediately but, as time goes by and he gets to watch Jeongguk throughout the one class they have together, Jimin starts believing that he can't be so bad.

Of course, he looks absolutely pissed off all the time and like he could cut anyone's head off if they so much as breathe the wrong way, but it's all good.

Jimin is not freaking out at all.

Once Mrs. Kang says they're free to go – not without reminding Jimin of his imminent failure first – he goes in search of his maybe-not-so-friendly vampire classmate to just get everything over with.

At least he knows Jeongguk won't humiliate him, he'll only say no.

Probably.

Hopefully.

Jimin finds him reading a book in the common area, posture perfect even around all the other students slouching all around him. He takes a deep breath, tells himself that he needs to do this and marches straight ahead with a purpose.

"Hey..." Jimin starts, trying not to be intimidated by the way the other looks at him, squinting before going back to his book. "You're Jeon Jeongguk, right?"

That earns him another look, this time with a raised eyebrow that probably has everyone else cowering under it, such is the intensity that it carries. Jeongguk nods once, not even bothering to close his book as if he doesn't expect this conversation to last too long.

"Do you ever speak?" Jimin asks, only half joking. He really needs the other to cooperate with him but to be honest he has no idea how to deal with his cold demeanor.

"Only when necessary." Jeongguk answers and it sends chills down Jimin's spine; there isn't anything particularly special about his voice but still, there's a hint of something that no one else has. Jimin wonders if it's a vampire thing. "Park Jimin, right?" The human only nods, suddenly nervous under his gaze. "Well, did you need anything?"

The question reminds Jimin of why he went against his better judgment and looked for Jeongguk after classes ended to talk to him.

"I can't fail Pharmacology." He blurts out as if that explains everything.

Jeongguk is still looking at him like he shouldn't be there at all. "That doesn't seem to concern me."

Jimin sighs. "You're top of the class. I need help. Can you understand that or is your vampire brain too old to process it?"

His eyes double in size once Jeongguk's eyes flash red before going back to their usual brown, realizing what he just said.

"You do understand that insulting people is not the best way to ask for help, right? Or... is your human brain to small to process it?" Jeongguk flips it back at him and Jimin relaxes because there's a hint of amusement on his face.

"Sorry, it's just..." He sighs, sitting down on the bench next to him. "I'm desperate."

That damn eyebrow is still up like it knows all of Jimin's secrets. "I can tell." He just stops and stares until Jimin has to look away because he can't bear this intense stare. "I'll help you." Jeongguk finally says after what feels like an eternity.

"Really?" Jimin asks, not even bothering to hide his surprise because he was sure he was about to be mocked right then and there.

"Next test is in three weeks, right?" Jeongguk doesn't seem to mind his exaggerated reaction. "Is two times a week good for you?"

"Whenever you can, honestly, I just..." Jimin rambles until he realizes he's doing it because of the look on Jeongguk's face and merely clears his throat. "Yes, it's perfect."

"Good. We can start tomorrow." Jeongguk then goes back to his book but turns to face Jimin when he doesn't get up. "Anything else?"

Jimin jumps in his seat, realizing he got too caught up in his thoughts to just leave. "Ah, no, um..." He tries to work through the awful feeling of his face heating up. "Thank you, Jeongguk."

He nods again. "You're welcome."

It takes all of Jimin's control not to trip over his own feet when he leaves, dying to get away from that scorching gaze; he's suddenly thankful vampires don't have any sort of powers, like mind- reading, otherwise he would be in an even bigger mess if Jeongguk were to decide peeping inside his brain for a moment there.

Because as much as he was terrified while talking to him, Jimin can’t even find it in him to deny that the whole exchange only served to make him even more attracted to Jeongguk and the atmosphere of danger and mystery that surrounds him.

Jimin can barely pay attention to his classes the next day, drumming his fingers against his desk, often getting looks from the students around him as he’s probably radiating waves of anxiety.

Taehyung only made things worse for him when Jimin told him he was going to study with Jeongguk from now on. He made sure to remind him that they would be alone with each other for at least a couple of hours, something that had never happened before and that Jimin had no idea if he would be able to survive.

First, because he doesn’t exactly see Jeongguk as the most patient guy so who’s to say he won’t kill him. Second, because Jimin can’t trust his heart to keep on beating when being placed at such close proximity with the vampire in question.

Oh, and Taehyung also sat by his side for hours until Jimin finally admitted that he might have started to harbor a crush on Jeongguk along the time they shared that one class together. It’s not a big deal, not something Jimin would ever even think about acting on since it’s based more on the image everyone has of Jeongguk than anything else – they don’t know each other, after all – but Taehyung screamed like the whole world was ending, so that was that.

Once he leaves the classroom, Jeongguk is already there waiting for him, leaning against the wall like a model straight out of an editorial shoot; Jimin has no idea how he looks like this so effortlessly.

“Hello.” Jeongguk greets him first, seeming slightly less cold than the first time they talked, which actually helps ease Jimin’s nerves a bit. “You have to eat, don’t you?”

Jimin feels his stomach perk up at the mention of food, especially since he didn’t even have breakfast that morning but the idea of sitting through a meal with Jeongguk staring at him and just waiting there until he finishes doesn’t exactly feel very appealing.

“Ah, I can eat when we’re done...” He says, trying to magically get out of this situation, but Jeongguk only narrows his eyes at him.

“Lunch is important, Jimin.”

The two fall into a staring match that barely lasts five seconds because Jimin just can’t for the life of him face Jeongguk for too long without feeling his cheeks start to gain color. He gives up.

That’s how they find themselves sitting at a table on the corner of the university restaurant, Jimin nervously sipping on his water while he watches Jeongguk pull out a bottle of his own from his backpack.

“I’m guessing that’s not beetroot juice.” He comments before he can catch himself when a small drop of red stains the vampire’s lips after he drinks from it.

“It is not.” Jeongguk answers, stoic as ever but with a slight tinge of concern in his eyes. “Does it bother you?”

Jimin shrugs, keeping cool and thinking logically about it. If he’s already there, might as well try to be friends with him – even though, he wouldn’t mind being more and, wait, where did that thought come from? “Lunch is important, you said it yourself. What does it taste like for you?”

Jeongguk remains silent for a while. Jimin is not sure if he’s thinking about what to say, if he’s bothered by the sudden curiosity or if he’s just not going to answer at all. “It’s sweet.” He finally says, actually surprising Jimin. “Human blood is sweeter and just better in general, but... It’s not always available.”

Jimin hums, thinking about everything he knows on the subject which, granted, is not a lot and very clouded by the prejudice that blinds the country. “The government gives it to you, right?”

“Yes. Blood bank donations.” Jeongguk explains, then makes a displeased face. “Not that they’re too happy about it.”

Jimin almost can’t focus on what he said because he finds himself distracted Jeongguk’s lips, now tinted red after half the bottle is gone and extremely attracting in the way they contrast with his pale skin. When he catches on to his staring, Jimin clears his throat and hurries to answer.

“Well, would they rather you go out killing people?” He ends up raising his voice just a little more than necessary, getting attention from some people around them and a smirk from Jeongguk.

Jimin really thinks he could die of embarrassment right now but thankfully he doesn’t say anything.

“We don’t need to kill to feed.” That’s what Jeongguk answers, completely ignoring – to Jimin’s happiness – that he just caught him staring at his mouth like it’s the only solution to all the problems in the world right now.

“No?” Jimin mutters, still shy but willing to make the conversation flow until they can’t remember what just happened.

“Not humans.” Jeongguk goes with it, though he doesn’t seem even slightly as nervous as Jimin is. “Your blood satisfies us easier. One blood donation is like a full course meal.”

“Oh.” The human says, frowning as he remembers all the things he ever heard about vampires and their killing sprees, nothing like what Jeongguk is suggesting right now. Jimin feels bad for believing the things people made up to corroborate their prejudices.

“Not quite what they say around, huh?” Jeongguk shoots him a significant look, as if he knows exactly what’s going on in his mind. Jimin wonders again is vampires really can’t read minds.

“Yeah...”

Jimin eats faster than usual, especially after Jeongguk finishes up his own drink, not wanting to prolong the awkwardness that comes with having lunch with someone that doesn’t quite have the same habits as him and that he doesn’t really know at all. The silence that stretches out between them is not exactly uncomfortable but it doesn’t feel right either, so he spends the walk to the library thinking of possible topics he could bring up to break the ice in their developing relationship.

"What are you doing here?" Jimin asks as a way to make conversation as he opens up his books.

"If I remember correctly, you asked for my help." Jeongguk answers, matter-of-factly as usual.

"No, I mean... in school." He explains. "Aren't you immortal? Thought you'd be bored of sitting through lectures by now."

Jeongguk shrugs as if it's obvious. "I enjoy learning."

"Okay, that's understandable." Jimin agrees, because he also really likes how much knowledge he can obtain in school. "How many degrees do you have?"

"Fifteen." Jeongguk answers and if he doesn't want Jimin to intrude in his life or something like that, he doesn't show it.

"What?" Jimin almost raises his voice way more than he’s allowed to in the library and he swears he sees a glimpse of amusement in Jeongguk’s eyes at his reaction.

"Excluding masters degrees, doctorates and PhDs..." Jeongguk says as if it’s no big deal, but Jimin is not having any of it, completely taken aback by the discovery.

"You have a PhD?" He asks, books completely ignored as he turns to face Jeongguk properly.

"I have four."

"Holy shit, how old are you?" Jimin only realizes how disrespectful that question can be once it’s already out but he doesn’t have the time to regret it because Jeongguk straight up chuckles at him, eyes crinkling and all, and he feels his heart skip a beat.

“Old.” That’s all the answer he gives him, and Jimin doesn’t pry any further.

Probably because his mind is too busy freaking out over the fact that he just made Jeon Jeongguk laugh.

As their tutoring lessons go by, Jimin learns that despite closed off, Jeongguk is endearing in his own way.

He has a really strong sarcastic vein that makes itself known frequently, causing Jimin to giggle more often than not.

He's attentive to Jimin's doubts with the subject and always ready to go back during an explanation and start over, or to drop his own books to answer a question. He is a wonderful teacher as well, making sure his words are clear and easy to understand.

Jeongguk also starts to answer to Jimin’s attempt at making conversation more often and, though he doesn’t give him too many details about himself or his life before turning into a vampire, he’s still receptive to the human’s curiosity and doesn’t seem bothered by his questions – if he thinks it’s to much, he simply shoots Jimin an amused look and doesn’t answer.

Through the two weeks that have passed since they started getting together to study, Jimin notices a change in behavior from Jeongguk – subtle, but it’s there. He doesn’t act cold like he does with everyone else and that makes Jimin’s heart practice cartwheels inside his chest, even though he tries to ignore it and act like it’s not happening.

But he can’t, especially because Taehyung doesn’t let him even try.

He’s always pestering Jimin about Jeongguk, especially since he found out that they exchanged numbers – they don’t text much, mostly to talk about the subject they’re studying, even though Taehyung somehow has convinced himself that Jimin has definitely sent at least one nude picture to him.

Or when he catches Jeongguk staring at them when he comes over from the Arts Institute to have lunch together and insists that the he’s desperate to join, to which Jimin rolls his eyes and tells him to stop making things up inside his dramatic brain.

But Taehyung always has an answer ready and he keeps arguing that if Jeongguk truly didn’t care about Jimin he wouldn’t look at him everywhere they go.

And, well, the staring is definitely more frequent than it should be, Jimin will give him that, but it’s still not enough evidence that there is anything going on besides their mutual class. He just can’t bring himself to believe it.

It’s only on their second to last tutoring session that Jimin really gets proof of how affected by him Jeongguk truly is.

"Are you okay?" Jimin asks when Jeongguk moves in his seat for about the hundredth time since they arrived.

"Yes...?" Jeongguk tries to answer in his usual way, but he sounds off.

"You seem a bit out of it today." Jimin insists, hoping he can get something from him and maybe help if he can.

Jeongguk doesn't say anything, though, so Jimin turns back to his book, not really surprised that he couldn't get an explanation for his odd behavior. Even though they have definitely been getting closer, Jeongguk is still not the type to talk about himself too much.

"Did you not put on perfume before coming here?" He suddenly blurts out and Jimin frowns.

"I- what? Do I smell bad?" Jimin is halfway through sniffing himself when Jeongguk lets out an incredulous laugh.

"Do you smell bad..." He mutters, shaking his head. "Quite the opposite, actually."

"I didn't, but-" Jimin is still confused and almost offended but then it hits him. And the idea makes him feel hot all over for some reason. "It's my blood, isn't it?"

Jeongguk scoffs, clearly irritated that he's feeling like this. "Nice to see your brain has finally started catching up on things."

"Don't even try changing the subject." Jimin turns to him completely, leaving his book aside without a single care in the world. "Are you all bothered because you can smell me, is that it?"

"Why are you smiling like that?" The refusal to answer only confirms it.

"Are you imagining yourself biting me right now?" Jimin mutters as he inches closer, loving the effect he has on the other.

"Jimin..." Jeongguk warns, eyes hard and voice lower than customary.

"That's dirty, Jeongguk, we're in public." Jimin teases, one hand coming up to rest on his thigh while he looks at him through his eyelashes.

In all honesty, Jimin has no idea what he’s doing or where all this courage came from, but knowing that there’s a chance that Jeongguk is attracted to him as well has raised his confidence levels about a thousand times. Suddenly, he doesn’t feel so nervous around him anymore.

Because if there is one thing Park Jimin can do is be a charmer.

Jeongguk holds his wrist before he can move any further. "Focus on your work."

"Ah, but now I can't." Jimin shakes his head like a kid who just found some trouble to get into. "Now I want you to bite me."

"I am not doing that." Jeongguk tries, but the way he sounds affected by the mere suggestion is obvious.

"Why not? I can see you want to taste me..." Jimin pulls his arm free and traces a path on his bicep with his fingers. "Aren't you thirsty for me, Jeonggukie?"

"Yes, I am." Jeongguk answers, and it surprises Jimin how quickly he agreed. "Is that what you want to hear? I want to take you somewhere we can be alone and crave my fangs on your neck, suck your blood out of you until it drips down my chin because I won't be content with just one drop."

Jimin’s body shivers visibly and it’s obvious that Jeongguk doesn’t miss it because his eyes flash red for a split second. "Do it, then." The human says, slightly out of breath.

"Jimin...” Jeongguk shakes his head, trying to get some clarity back. “Feeding off humans can be very... intense."

"Are you scared you won't be able to stop?” Jimin has no idea why he’s so into this, why his whole body seems to be on fire with the thought of being bitten by Jeongguk. “I trust you, though."

"I wish that was it.” Jeongguk tries to put some distance between them, as if that will make Jimin’s smell dissipate in the air, but the other only moves closer again. “No, um...” He swallows, watching carefully for his reaction. “I mean sexually."

"Oh.” Jimin swears the temperature in the room just went up by a few degrees. “So... what, you get turned on?"

"Not just me." Jimin doesn’t really know what to make of this information but a dozen images of him under Jeongguk panting and moaning his name invade his mind at the same time; judging by the way the other is looking at him, he’s not too different.

"Well, then, let's fucking go.” Jimin ends the distance between them, not even caring that they’re in the library anymore. He just can’t pretend he doesn’t want Jeongguk to eat him up any longer. “It's not like you haven't been making me horny since the first time I saw you."

Jeongguk smiles and shakes his head but doesn’t look or move away. "You're insufferable."

"Come on, you know I won't be able to get anything done now.” Jimin almost whines, even though he knows he already won this. “My apartment is so close..."

It doesn’t take long for Jeongguk to agree. "Alright."

The walk to Jimin’s place is silent and filled with expectation from both of them. Jeongguk constantly steals glances his way and Jimin doesn’t think he has ever seem him this agitated, but it’s not like he can do anything to help when his own nerves and anticipation are taking over him.

They’re still quiet as Jimin unlocks his front door, going in first and listening closely to make sure Taehyung isn’t home – his best friend is always listening to music or playing video games loudly, so it’s easy to figure out they’re alone.

He honestly doesn’t know how to feel about that.

"So, how do we..." Jimin clears his throat after he takes his shoes off, finding that Jeongguk is smiling at him like he can smell his increasing nerves.

Which he probably can.

"Just come here." Jeongguk says, sitting down on the couch and patting his thighs so that Jimin gets the message.

"Gotta be honest, never thought I'd sit on your lap outside of my dreams." The human jokes, using that as an escape to hide how he truly feels: the anxiety mixing up with the way his body responds immediately to the close proximity between them.

"That's a great piece of information I'll save for later, thank you." Jeongguk mutters in his usual tone, though Jimin has noticed he's been more amused lately. He likes to think he's the cause of that.

"Are you gonna kiss me?" Jimin whispers when Jeongguk pulls him even closer by the thighs, almost completely gluing their bodies together. He swallows, already feeling his breathing picking up from anticipation.

"Do you want me to?" Jeongguk whispers back. He's studying Jimin's face carefully, enjoying the lack of space between them and taking advantage of it to observe every little detail he couldn't see before.

"Do you really have to ask?"

Jeongguk smiles in his typical way and leans in.

He licks the seam of Jimin's lips sensually and elicits a whole-body shiver from him in doing so; not even Jimin himself knew he could be so sensitive. Jeongguk then pulls his bottom lip into his mouth and sucks slowly, now receiving an impatient whine from the man on his lap.

The teasing doesn't last for too long, mostly because Jimin moves on his own to deepen the kiss.

He sighs when Jeongguk finally does what he wants, licking into his mouth with vigor as if Jimin's lips are the answer to all of his problems. They groan and grab onto each other hungrily, finesse completely forgotten the more they get into it.

Jimin's fingers make a mess of Jeongguk's always carefully styled hair, satisfied that he can make his wish to ruin his impeccable looks come true. He pulls away to stare at him and shivers again at the way his eyes are glowing red, matching with his swollen lips, which are now slightly parted because of his fangs coming out.

Under Jeongguk's gaze like this, Jimin feels like prey.

And he loves it.

"Bite me." His voice sounds wrecked just from the kissing and Jimin has no idea why. He remembers Jeongguk saying that feeding off humans affects both parts, but he thought it would only start after being bitten; maybe the fact that he's been wanting Jeongguk for a while makes it more intense from the beginning.

Jeongguk pulls Jimin's head back by his hair to expose his neck and traces a line over his jaw to his pulse point with his tongue, making him moan quite loudly and sink his blunt nails on the vampire's shoulders over his shirt.

He inhales deeply and groans against Jimin's skin, leaving wet kisses all over his neck, the sharp tip of his fangs tickling the sensitive skin.

Jeongguk holds him in place firmly before finally sinking his teeth into him.

Jimin curses under his breath and closes his eyes at the sensation: it hurts – of course it does – but it's the pleasurable type of pain, the kind that has his toes curling and his mouth hanging open. He has to hold back his moans when he feels the other sucking on his neck, fighting his hips so that they stay still as well.

Jeongguk lets go of Jimin's hair to wrap his arms around his waist, holding onto him for dear life as he continues to feed. It's been a while since the last time he actually bit a human – about twenty to thirty years – and he had forgotten how good it feels.

"Jeongguk..." Jimin whimpers, pushing him away only to crash their mouths together again.

He doesn't care that he can taste his own blood in Jeongguk's mouth, though a part of his brain tells him that he definitely shouldn't be enjoying this so much.

They kiss like there's no tomorrow, a mess of tongue and teeth, saliva and blood, not able to hold back. Jeongguk's fangs are still out and feeling them against his mouth makes Jimin want this even more.

"Keep going." Jimin mutters against Jeongguk's lips, encouraging him to go back to his neck.

When he does, Jimin starts circling his hips, moaning when he finds that it feels better than any other time he chose to grind on someone to get off. His mind is cloudy with lust and he doesn't even notice that he rips the buttons on Jeongguk's shirt in his haste to touch him better.

Jeongguk is holding onto his hips to help him move, grip tight as if he's afraid of letting go. When Jimin scratches down his abdomen, he pulls away from his neck abruptly to kiss him again, blood messily dripping down his chin and on their clothes.

Jimin gets lost in the way Jeongguk's kiss feels so different from everyone else's. He's floating in that pleasure, immersed in a bubble of their own and completely unaware of anything that doesn't involve what they're doing.

That's why he misses the moment the front door opens and Taehyung walks in with his brother Seokjin.

"And I mean, fuck that but-" Taehyung stops mid-sentence and his voice catches Jeongguk's attention, forcing them to break the kiss and stare at the newcomers. "What in the name of God..." He starts when he notices the state the other two are in but only shakes his head. "You know what, I'm not even gonna ask what type of kinky shit you two are into."

Once Taehyung is gone, dragging a somewhat horrified Seokjin by the wrist to his bedroom, Jimin finally seems to gain back some clarity.

"We should... get cleaned up." He says, still panting and starting to get bothered by the tightness in his jeans.

"How's your neck?" Jeongguk asks instead of making any effort to get up, studying his face then turning his head to get a better look at where he bit him.

"It's fine.” Jimin answers, still affected by what just happened. He can’t seem to be able to clear his head from the fog that fills it. “Though you could probably-” He’s interrupted by his own moan when Jeongguk licks over the bite mark to clean up the blood that dripped down over his soft skin. “Yeah, like that, shit."

He tries to move his hips against Jeongguk’s again but the other stops him with a firm hand, though he still doesn’t pull away.

“Jeongguk...” Jimin whines in complaint, wanting nothing more than to finish what they started.

Jeongguk doesn’t answer. He continues to lick Jimin’s skin anywhere he can find remnants of blood, over his neck and up until his chin, until he reaches the corner of his mouth. Jimin thinks he shouldn’t be enjoying this so much now that he’s a mess of saliva and half-dried blood, but he finds that he only wants more of Jeongguk, the effect of his kisses intoxicating and addictive.

“Finish what you started.” He says, pulling back to look into Jeongguk’s eyes, now back to their usual brown.

“What?” Jeongguk answers, and his voice is hoarse showing how affected he was and still is by their little make-out session. “I came here to bite you, and I did.”

Jimin full on pouts. “Want more now.” He moves to start kissing Jeongguk’s neck down to his collarbones that are exposed because of his ripped shirt. “Want you.”

Jeongguk lets Jimin push him back against the couch and attack his lips. The kiss is hungry like the previous ones but he still holds Jimin down, not letting him grind on him like he so desperately wants to, and it doesn’t take long before Jimin whines, mouth still on his.

“We’re not alone anymore, Jimin.” Jeongguk says, something else hidden in his firm voice. Jimin swears there’s a hint of possessiveness in there and the thought sends another shiver down his spine, especially once he remembers he’ll carry the bite mark with him for at least a few days and everyone will know. “Let’s get cleaned up.” He pushes Jimin out of his lap gently and follows him until they’re side by side in front of the bathroom mirror.

Jimin gasps when he sees their reflection, though Jeongguk doesn’t seem surprised in the slightest; in fact, he looks quite amused. There’s still some blood over his face and neck, a few drops on his shirt that are definitely going to serve as a permanent reminder of that day, all of that adding up to his swollen lips and the quickly forming bruise where the bite sits.

Jeongguk isn’t much different: his hair is completely out of control from Jimin’s fingers, the area around his mouth down to his chin is stained blood red, his white shirt is open and a few stray drops landed on his muscular chest and ran down his abdomen.

Jimin is sure he just started to drool.

“You owe me a new shirt.” Jeongguk is the first to turn the water on, carefully washing his skin and then using his damp hands to take care of his hair, managing to do a pretty good job at it.

“I think this looks just fine, actually...” Jimin says, still staring at the way Jeongguk’s muscles bulge when he moves, resisting the need to adjust his pants. Then, he stops and thinks: he really doesn’t want anyone to stare at Jeongguk when he walks around campus back to his own place. “You know what, you’re right, I’ll get you something to wear.”

Jeongguk stares him down for a good five seconds with his usual smirk in place, once again as if he knows exactly what’s going on inside Jimin’s brain, until the human decides he can’t do it anymore and moves so he has successfully pushed him away from the sink to clean himself.

Jimin hates the way he can still see Jeongguk’s smug expression even after he closes his eyes, but he hates even more the fact that the vampire has completely pulled him in, alluring him with his aura of mystery and turned it into almost suffocating desire.

Especially because Jeongguk doesn’t show him even half of what he feels or thinks, and Jimin has no way of figuring out if they’re into each other in the same intensity. Because he wants Jeongguk so badly, but it’s more than a make-out session or a one night stand; Jimin wants him for and with everything he has to give and he’s not sure just how much of that Jeongguk is willing to share.

That is, until a thought crosses his mind. It’s something that Taehyung had managed to plant in his brain a while ago and has now grown into something Jimin can probably use to his favor.

"You can smell everyone else though... right?" He asks suddenly as he dries his face, looking at Jeongguk through the mirror, and he seems like he has been dreading the moment that question would come up.

"What do you mean?" Jeongguk tries to gain himself some time. Jimin knows what he’s doing but still explains it to him anyway.

"You can smell people whenever they pass you by."

Jeongguk bites the inside of his cheek in thought, seemingly having realized that there’s no escape from this conversation. "If there isn't anything too strong masking their scent, yes."

"And it doesn't bother you.” Jimin concludes with a dangerous smile, putting the towel down and stepping right into his personal space. “What makes me so special, hm?"

Jeongguk rolls his eyes but stands his ground, looking down at Jimin when he gets close enough that their chests are touching. "You had to ask, huh?"

"Of course.” Jimin nods, eyes still locked and smile firmly in place. “What makes you want to drink my blood instead of theirs?” He pushes, loving the way Jeongguk swallows hard and doesn’t seem so keen on answering. “Not gonna lie, that makes me pretty happy.”

"You're really gonna make me say it."

"Obviously."

Jeongguk sighs, studying Jimin’s face before bringing his hands up to hold his waist. "I like you.” He admits. “It unbalances the chemicals in my brain so your smell feels stronger and more appealing."

"Oh.” Jimin breathes out, wrapping his arms around Jeongguk’s neck as pride swells up in his chest at having been able to catch the vampire’s attention. “Yeah, I definitely enjoy that."

Jeongguk smiles at him and pulls him into a kiss, this time a much softer one and it’s like they had never been this close before with how different it feels.

“You’re impossible.”

Jimin gets a perfect score on his Pharmacology test.

It’s in his eyes and the strength that bathes them, the same one that pierces through any barrier upon first meeting, no matter how long it’s been there for or how unbreakable it was supposed to be in the first place – no one can say no to him; no one would dare to. How he can read people so easily, as if they were a simple magazine for children, and how he is feared for all the emotions he is known to hold inside his hazel orbs.

It’s in his voice, smooth like velvet as it touches skin, effortlessly sending waves of shivers to anyone in close proximity, but firm like the reprimanding commentary of a teacher as it forces people to just listen. Pay attention to me, he says without even needing to utter those words, and they don’t have a choice but to do so.

Everything in him begs for recognition but in such subtlety that it feels not as a burden to the ones surrounding him, but rather as a blessing to be regarded by divinity like he is.

The dancer is a rare gem in a universe of commoners, royalty inside and out, from head to toe an almighty force of nature that causes the most thrilling chaos in its way, the type of danger one can’t look away from even if it means facing blindness as a reward for their curiosity.

And yet, he lets himself be dominated so easily.

The photographer doesn’t need much to strip him from all the control his small hands hold, throwing away the image of an immaculate being along with another one of the dress shirts he wears so often. One word is all it takes – sometimes even something simple as a look – and they fall into a well of understanding that only those who have merged their souls in the deepest of levels can comprehend.

There is no holding back. They are on the same page, want the same thing, urge for the same release and crave for the same type of touch; it’s carnal, but it is also spiritual, something akin to an out of body experience whenever they meet like this.

The dancer enjoys this feeling, the heaviness of another body on top of his as he is worshiped like he feels he deserves to be, not even one inch of his porcelain complexion ignored by the photographer in his careful and thorough ministrations, showcasing his adoration in the most obvious of ways, his lips not only placing luxurious kisses over the expanse of his skin but also leaving behind the deepest of love confessions.

The photographer, on his part, would never be able to deny just how much satisfaction he finds in the fact that there is no one else in this entire galaxy that is able to watch the dancer fall apart like this. Pride swells inside his chest at the reminder that he is the chosen one, the man that has been crowned king by the owner of the throne himself; the only one the dancer has sworn to love and trust until the very last day of their lives.

They have been like this from the very beginning, driving opposing forces that collided in the most unexpected way but, instead of being responsible for a trail of destruction, could only meld together and compliment each other in the most beautiful and hypnotizing way.

The dancer wouldn’t have imagined, upon first meeting the photographer, that they would become the unity they are today. He wasn’t special – none of them were.

Until he was.

And like a shot from a rifle, also just as strong, the dancer found himself living in a world so completely different from his own that he had to find someone to hold on to, and there was no one better at the time than the sweet photographer, the only one to have ever been able to capture the dancer’s aura in a lifeless image.

To this day, no other person has found what it takes to have his place.

He’s still powerful like this, sweating and panting out moans that sound even better than the orchestrated melodies he leaps up to on stage. He’s powerful in the way he holds the photographer close, certain to bruise and leave his mark behind so every one that ever glimpses his way knows that he is taken. He’s powerful in the way he meets his movements halfway, hips working in ways that would scandalize his loyal audience.

It’s in moments like these, when they are alone and free to be whoever they want to be, that the photographer realizes the dancer is his own spectacle. He doesn’t need strong lights or heavy crescendo notes to guide him; he is his own light, his own melody to keep growing and building until he explodes into the most alluring of sights.

The photographer can only watch, heart beating fast and chest heaving, as they both come down from a high unparalleled. No other feeling he could experience, he knows, can come even close to having the dancer in his arms, unguarded and blossomed into his full and true self.

The photographer loves him in a way not even the most talented poets could describe.

Since the babysitter left, Jungkook had to learn to live on his own and to take care of his own needs, only being able to count on his father to keep his bank account full enough so that he doesn’t have to ask him for anything else.

At school, Jungkook has a few friends – even a boyfriend at one point, before it all went downhill for good – but he can’t bring them home because his father said so and he really doesn’t need any more problems with him.

It’s a constant game of being careful, living in that house with a man that can’t even look at him without finding something bad to comment on. Most of the time, Jungkook can avoid him and all the hateful words that come out of his mouth when he locks himself inside his room and comes out only when absolutely necessary.

But of course that doesn’t always work.

“Where were you?” Jungkook freezes when he walks past the kitchen and hears his father’s voice calling out to him.

A big block of hesitation seems to land over Jungkook’s head before he answers the question. He can’t lie, because the other man already knows exactly where he was, but he’s aware that the truth won’t bring him anything good.

Still, he tries.

“Dance class.”

It’s impressive to Jungkook how much anger his father can carry only in his gaze. He’s always been a man with a hard posture, extremely serious and apparently without the smallest place in his heart for any emotion that’s not bad.

And ever since Jungkook started enjoying dance, it all got ever worse.

Maybe that reminds the man of his late wife, who was also a very talented dancer. That’s what Jungkook thinks, even though his father uses any other reason to hurt him and try to make him quit the classes.

Deep down, somewhere hidden in his mind, there is the comprehension that the words shouted at him aren’t really what his father means. Everything he does and says is caused by the pain and trauma of losing the woman he loves so quickly and early in life, leaving him to raise a child without even knowing where to begin.

That doesn’t mean that this treatment doesn’t hurt Jungkook, because it does even more than he can explain; but there is space in him for forgiveness if the older is willing to change.

The problem is that Jungkook knows that’s never going to happen.

“How many times did I tell you I don’t want you taking those classes?” He’s furious, which is nothing too different from ordinary, but Jungkook still takes a step back.

“But I like dancing.”

It’s a useless argument, because he’s never going to change his mind to accept one of his son’s passions. In fact, with each passing day, it seems like he’s more and more willing to force Jungkook to do everything he hates only to make him unhappy.

“I don’t care.” There it is, that’s the truth. Jungkook feels his chest tighten with the harshness of those words. “You’re already a freak just by liking men, I won’t allow you to ruin my reputation even more by being a fucking dancer.”

Something breaks in an irreparable way inside Jungkook when he hears that.

It’s not too far from what he’s used to, but for some reason on that day the insult hits him harder, like the knife was sharpened right before being thrown at him.

And he stands there at the kitchen door, eyes on the floor while his heart seems to want to come out of his body and his mind decides it’s time to go. He doesn’t know if his father expects him to fight, make up an argument or raise his voice so he can humiliate him even more or if he’s waiting for a positive answer, but all he can say is,

“Okay.”

So Jungkook goes up the stairs to his room, closing the door behind him before marching to his desk in search of a notebook and a pen, all while working on automatic.

It would be a lie saying that Jungkook never thought about giving up on himself before; in fact, that idea has crossed his mind way more times than he can even count.

However, he always had a dash of hope that his father could change someday and accept him as he is, without yelling hateful comments at him every day. Besides, when he was old enough to understand his mother died while giving him his own life, he unconsciously decided he would do everything in his power to make her last wish worth it.

Except he can’t do it anymore.

He knows he can ask for help, find a way to make all that pain stop without going for the last resources but he doesn’t think that anything anyone can do for him is enough to erase all the damage his father causes on him.

In this moment, this seems like the only way out.

Jungkook doesn’t cry while he writes the letter he’s going to leave behind. For some reason, he feels too empty to even shed a tear.

All he does is say his goodbyes and apologize for being such a disappointment in his twenty years of age. He tells his father that he never meant for it to be this way, he really wanted to make him proud, but he was never good enough to do it; he apologizes for that, too.

He takes the bottle with his sleep medicine from the bathroom cabinet and carefully places the envelope over his pillow on his well-made bed for his father to find the next morning when he goes in to wake him up and remind him of their daily schedule.

Jungkook climbs through his bedroom window, landing on the grass in front of the house easily in the same way he’s done so many times before. Once again he goes around his home, moving on towards the small forest that’s right behind the place he lives.

There’s a special tree there, where his babysitter placed a small wooden swing on one of the branches so that they could spend their afternoons when the weather was nice. When Jungkook reaches it, that’s when he starts crying.

His body starts feeling heavy and he needs to support himself on the wood that scratches his hand that’s not holding the bottle – which, on the other hand, feels different to the touch; maybe he got the wrong one.

Jungkook sits on the wet ground as he sobs alone in the woods. He cries so much that breathing gets harder as he goes on, oxygen more and more absent from his lungs, until he needs to close his eyes to try getting himself back to normal.

It feels like a small eternity until he opens them again, not because his breathing has returned but because there’s someone talking to him.

“You okay?” It’s another boy, they might share their age, and he seems genuinely worried, though he’s smiling. “Clearly not the best thing to ask but… I didn’t know where to start.” He eyes the medicine in Jungkook’s hands wearily before focusing back on his face.

“Who are you?” Jungkook asks, voice hoarse from the recent crying fit.

“Ah.” The boy smiles widely again and crouches next to him, putting them at eye-level. “Jimin.”

Jimin, whoever he may be, has something in him that Jungkook can’t quite identify. In the forest that grows darker by the second, he didn’t hesitate before stopping to ask a random stranger if he’s feeling okay; that’s not something everyone would do.

“Jungkook.” He introduces himself as well when he realizes that’s what the other is waiting from him and then has no idea what else he’s supposed to say.

Thankfully, he doesn’t have to think too hard.

“Does this tree mean a lot to you?” Jimin asks, hugging his knees so that he’s more comfortable in that position.

Jungkook shrugs, still not feeling strong enough to do any more than that. “I guess.”

“You came to it in a crucial moment, I’d say that looks like a big deal.”

Jungkook nods, more focused on the way Jimin talks than in the words themselves; in that moment he decides that, if velvet could talk, that’s what it would sound like.

“Is it the swing?” Jimin keeps trying to prolong the conversation and, while Jungkook has no idea why he’s doing that, there’s no denying the fact that it does help him feel better.

“Yes.” He’s finally able to get up and goes towards the wooden toy, the paint that used to cover it now ruined because of the time exposed to the weather. “It’s mine.”

Jimin makes a sound of understanding and stops next to him, pushing the small swing with his delicate fingers.

“I walk around here all the time… Always wondered what’s the story behind it.” He faces him with a world of expectations in his eyes, as if knowing why that swing is there could that his whole universe.

“My babysitter and her boyfriend put it there when I was a baby.” Jungkook starts. There’s really nothing too special about that, but he finds that talking about it makes him see how much that gesture meant to him, a kid without both his parents. “As I grew up, they made the necessary adjustments until it reached a point where they didn’t have to anymore.”

Jimin seems more than satisfied to hear that, even if the story doesn’t sound that interesting to the ears of the person telling it.

“And have you been back here recently?”

Jungkook doesn’t really get what Jimin means with that question until he realizes the other is cleaning the seat’s surface.

“I’m too old for that, Jimin.”

Jimin laughs and rolls his eyes. “There’s no age limit to appreciate the small things, Jungkook. Come on, sit.”

A second of hesitation still goes by while Jungkook questions whether or not he’s really about to sit on a swing that’s been untouched in the woods for years, with the risk of it falling under his weight if it’s rotten on the inside.

Still, Jimin’s eyes convince him to do what he tells him, and his happiness doesn’t go unnoticed with the way he claps animatedly.

Jungkook holds on to the ropes slightly and slowly lowers his body over the seat, surprised in the best way possible when it supports him even after going so long without use.

He doesn’t feel like a kid again, but he can see clearly all the moments he lived there, being pushed by the babysitter to whom he was so attached to and feeling all the love he never received inside his own house.

For the first time that night, Jungkook smiles. A good feeling invades his chest and, when Jimin pushes him carefully on the back so that the swing moves, it overflows in the shape of laughter.

A cold breeze blows against him as he sways back and forth, his skin coming up with goosebumps in a way that reminds him of how special the little things really can be.

“And you didn’t want to sit on it...” Jimin shakes his head as he walks back into Jungkook’s sight, both smiling. “You know, me and my friends make a bonfire here every night… Want to come?”

This time around, Jungkook doesn’t think twice before agreeing.

It doesn’t take long for them to start getting deeper into the woods, the trees making an impressive roof above their heads.

Right as it starts to get too dark Jungkook sees a dot of light a few meters ahead, and he soon realizes that’s the bonfire Jimin mentioned.

The light comes accompanied with voices and laughter that rise gradually in volume as they come closer. Jungkook unconsciously allows himself to fall back behind Jimin, nervous about what the others will think of him being there without being invited.

“Jimin’s back!” One of them announces to the rest before his gaze lands on Jungkook.

“Found someone.” Jimin explains to the group, that seems more than satisfied with just those two words. “Jungkook, these are Seokjin, Hoseok e Taehyung.”

There isn’t even a flicker of distrust in their eyes when seeing a complete stranger being introduced to their space. On the contrary, they all look beyond excited that Jungkook is joining them, as if they were only waiting for him to arrive.

“You know, you won’t need that anymore. I didn’t after I ended up here.” It’s Hoseok who says that, talking to him for the first time and pointing to the bottle of medicine that Jungkook didn’t even remember still carrying with him. “Be our guest.” He opens a big smile and motions for the bonfire, his intentions clear.

Jungkook goes closer and sits next to him, studying the thing in his hands carefully and noticing it full, though he clearly remembers it being only halfway there earlier.

It’s a weird feeling, looking at those pills and seeing all the bad things they represent in his life in each of them. For that reason, Jungkook raises his arms above the fire and throws them out, getting rid of it while the rest of the group cheers around him.

When his eyes meet Jimin’s, they smile.

After the initial anxiety of being with people he just met goes away, Jungkook gets even more comfortable than he expected and finds his place in the conversation, fitting in perfectly. He laughs like he hasn’t done in a long time, feeling completely accepted and loved in that group that found him only a few hours ago.

He notices Jimin’s gaze on himself a few times and even risks looking back at him, thinking that he other looks happy that he settled in so well between his friends without trying too hard.

When conversation starts to die down, Jimin pokes him on the thigh and gets up.

“There’s a place I want you to see.”

Jungkook joins him through the trail between the trees, not saying goodbye to the other three because he knows he’ll see them again soon.

It got even darker in the forest during the time they spent around the bonfire and Jungkook can’t see anything ahead of him, has no idea how Jimin knows where he’s going either.

He stops walking when a scream so loud it’s deafening comes from right behind him, his body freezing up in place with the sheer terror of the sound. He hears it a second time, a bit closer, and covers his ears with every drop of strength he can muster through the fear.

“Hey, Jungkook.” Jimin calls out, holding his wrists with his hands and pulling them away from his face. “It’s okay, just ignore it.”

His voice sounds so close that, even though he can’t see him, Jungkook can tell exactly where he’s standing. His calming tone, still the same velvet from before, certainly helps Jungkook get back the beats his heart skipped.

“I got you.” Jimin tells him and then interlaces their fingers so that they can finish the path to wherever it is they’re headed.

Jungkook can’t take that scream out of his head, but does everything he can to focus on the fact that he didn’t hear it again and on the warmth of Jimin’s hand against his as he guides them through the tree maze.

“Seokjin was scared of the dark when he got here.” Jimin comments, his voice echoing in the silence of the woods while he holds firmly onto Jungkook’s hand, helping him ground himself and keep calm despite still being frightened.

“Must have been hard for him...”

Jungkook can only see Jimin tilt his head in thought because they reach a clearing and the moonlight finally shines on them. It really is too dark there; the trees cover most of the luminosity that the sky can offer and drown them in pitch black darkness that seems to swallow them whole.

“Getting here is the easiest part.” Jimin says as he sits down on the wet ground and surrounds himself of the small yellow flowers that grew in that field. “It’s the before that seems endless.”

“Did he say why he was scared?” Jungkook asks while joining him.

There is something extremely comforting about sitting there in the low light with Jimin, feeling the petals of the flowers tickle the skin of his naked arms and watching the dark middle of the night sky while a few dots of light adorn it.

All his life, Jungkook can’t remember ever feeling so welcome like this. Not even with the people he considered close has he experimented such a good and freeing sensation like the one he does right now.

Even Jimin’s silence is meaningful, his sighs a tight hug on Jungkook’s tired body.

“I suppose it’s not really easy for anyone but...” Jimin finally answers, eyes fixated on the tree line ahead. “He was taken from home once. Locked up in a cabin a few meters from here, because his parents were important people in the city. It was too much for him.”

Jungkook has no idea how to answer to that.

It was never a surprise to him what human beings are capable of doing for their own benefit, whether it be emotional, physical or financial. The world is moved by selfishness, after all.

But he saw Seokjin when they gathered around the fire, smiling and telling jokes, and there was nothing wrong of minimally out of place with him.

“He seems fine now.”

Jimin smiles.

“There’s freedom in the woods.”

Jungkook nods, gaze back to the sky where the moon looks down at him. He agrees completely with what Jimin just said, more than anything because he felt on his own skin the hug of the trees and the whirl of emotions that it brought to him.

“You feel it too, right?” Jimin asks him and when Jungkook turns to face him, he finds that his eyes are already on him, analyzing him closer than before.

Jungkook nods one more time, staying quiet while Jimin picks one of the small flowers and places it on his grown out hair.

They both smile with the gesture, sharing that moment that’s so intimate and only theirs. Jungkook loves the way Jimin caresses his cheek, his touch light as a feather, and can’t help but to lean into it.

Jimin looks at him like he’s the most precious thing in the entire world and, indeed, that’s how Jungkook feels, at least there in that moment.

So much so that he doesn’t feel even slightly insecure as he moves even closer, their faces mere centimeters apart. When their noses bump into each other, Jungkook notices that Jimin has closed his eyes so he does the same, letting himself go until their mouths meet in a chaste peck.

Jungkook pulls away minimally, but doesn’t take long before he’s kissing him again, this time deepening it as he pulls Jimin’s bottom lip between his before tracing it carefully with the tip of his tongue.

It’s a terrible cliche but Jungkook is sure no other kiss in his life was ever like this one; nothing came close to the utter euphoria that Jimin’s lips pull him into while they move against his. It feels like they both have a silent connection since the second they met, that perfect synchrony that turns everything they have together into something more than extraordinary.

It’s Jimin who pulls away first, slowly as if to not break the bubble they’re in. His eyes remain closed for a moment but he smiles when he touches their foreheads before putting some more space between them.

“You’re a special one, Jungkook.” It’s only a whisper, but it has the same effect on Jungkook’s heart than if those words were yelled into a microphone.

They exchange a meaningful look and then Jimin lies down on the grass, one arm under his head and the other stretched out next to him. Jungkook can’t help but to stare at him, the way he contrasts beautifully with the flowers on the ground, their light petals a total opposite from his black hair and clothes.

“Will you join me or not?” Jimin asks, amused after staring back at Jungkook for a while, raising his arm so that he understands he’s supposed to lie down over it.

The comfort that Jungkook gets when he scoots closer to Jimin’s body is indescribable. He feels the other’s warmth floating to him until it touches his own skin while one of Jimin’s hands finds the back of his neck, caressing him softly there.

They don’t say anything, but they also don’t need to.

A loud noise catches Jungkook’s attention and he sits up quickly, heart racing without knowing why, only that it sounded exactly like someone calling for help. He turns his head to the direction where it came from, not sure what he’s looking for but finding only the trees that surround the clearing.

“Did you hear that?” He asks Jimin, who has also sat up again.

The other only nods, also looking at the edge of where they are. There’s something else in his face, as if he’s contemplating what to do next; and that makes zero sense to Jungkook, because he has no idea what’s on the other side of those trees.

“Happens sometimes.” Jimin answers, his voice oddly distant.

“What’s in there?” He’s not absolutely sure he wants that question to be answered but the words come out of his mouth before he can hold them in.

“The lake.”

Jimin’s answer doesn’t tell him much, nor was it what he expected to hear. A heavy feeling fills his chest and he can’t even find an explanation for that, but it might have something to do with the fact that Jimin seems to be in the same place mentally and he can’t bear to see people he cares about down.

“Want to go over there?” Jimin looks at him suddenly and he seems to have gotten a hold of himself and of whatever was clouding his brain earlier.

Jungkook hesitates. “Everything okay?”

“There’s no one there.” Jimin assures him, already getting up and ready to go but Jungkook holds him back by the arm.

“I mean with you. Is everything okay?”

The look on Jimin’s face softens and he smiles the same way he’s been doing since the beginning of the night and only that is enough to make Jungkook start believing that there’s nothing wrong with going to the lake.

But Jimin doesn’t answer his question, only takes his hand and pulls him out of the clearing.

They’re immersed in darkness for a short amount of time until they reach the margin of a small lake that extends itself not too far ahead of them. The moon shows up in the sky again, not as strong as before but still enough for them to be able to see each other.

Jungkook can’t deny he feels weird standing there, as if that lake isn’t really a good place to be, but Jimin seems like he’s back to being calm so he chooses to ignore his mind for now.

A soft breeze blows against Jungkook’s hair and he remembers the small flower still sitting there, taking it carefully so that it doesn’t fly away and keeping it safe on the pocket of his sweatpants.

“Here.” Jimin comes up to him with rocks in his hands, that he shares with Jungkook to pass the time. “Try it.”

They each take turns with skipping the rocks, laughing with each other when an attempt fails or making bets as to who can send them farther away.

“You look close to the others.” Jungkook comments while he tosses another rock on the lake, counting as it skips four times before sinking.

“Actually, I only knew Taehyung before I got here.” Jimin answers, getting ready for his turn; he can’t mask the sadness in his voice. “He died with me.”

Jungkook’s brain doesn’t register the words completely at first, but when it does, he finds that it’s not really a surprise.

Just because Jimin hadn’t said that exact phrase before, with all the letters in a way that it couldn’t be misinterpreted, doesn’t mean Jungkook didn’t know. In fact, he’s sure that since the first moment his mind had already established what was going on.

Meeting Jimin in woods didn’t happen on accident, Jungkook is aware of that. All the circumstances that surround them, everything the other boy told him throughout the night… It was always very clear.

And that’s why he doesn’t get scared, only accepts what fate has brought him and, even more than that, holds on to it as tightly as he can.

“You’re too young...” Jungkook knows he’s speaking in the present, but he can’t simply bring their existence down to a verb tense.

“So are you.”

There’s something Jungkook can’t identify in the way Jimin says that. His voice sounds like it holds a mix of different emotions and for that reason he can’t pull them apart; all he knows, deep down, is that none of those feelings are happy.

“Sometimes we trust people and they hurt us.” Jimin speaks out his thoughts, gaze still on the lake.

Jungkook isn’t sure if he’s about to tell him what happened to him and Taehyung, but he listens carefully anyways, holding on to the little rocks he still has in his hands.

“I don’t know if it’s more frustrating to get out of it hurt or… the fact that I deposited something so precious in someone who didn’t deserve it.” Jimin goes on; as usual, there’s nothing bad in his voice, only a perpetual wave of calmness. “My stepfather was never a good person. I knew that, Tae did too, but it wasn’t enough for us to be able to stay away from him.”

The knowledge that they’re siblings comes as a hard hit for Jungkook.

During the time they spent together around the fire, he noticed how close the two of them seemed to be so that in itself doesn’t surprise him. What really leaves Jungkook in a state of disbelief is the fact that they both had the same fate and that Jimin had to watch his own brother die at such a young age.

“But did you trust him?” Jungkook asks, trying to connect that part of the story to what Jimin was just saying.

“No.” He shakes his head. “I trusted our mother.”

Once again, Jungkook has no idea what to say to that. He lived a whole life of disappointment with a person that was supposed to care for him and love him unconditionally, it’s not like he really has anything useful to add.

But just like before, he doesn’t need to worry about picking the right words.

“I don’t resent her, neither does Taehyung.” Jimin says with the certainty of someone who has spent a good amount of time pondering over a subject. “I think she’s free from him now, at least that’s what I hope… Silver linings and all that.” He smiles, one more time impressing Jungkook with his way to see the world. “But I wish I didn’t have to drown.”

The cogs move inside Jungkook’s brain until he reaches a conclusion, also understanding why he felt so bad.

“It was you that I head back at the clearing.”

Still smiling, Jimin nods and comes closer, leaning his head on Jungkook’s shoulder. The lake looks like a painting from where they stand, reflecting the moon that has moved through the sky already.

“Taehyung can’t come here.”

Jungkook can understand that perfectly. It’s not a crazy thought to think he’s scared of going to the place where his last breath was taken from him so traumatically.

“Are you okay with it?” He asks, afraid that being there is bad for him somehow.

“I come by every once in a while...” Jimin answers before facing Jungkook. “What about you?”

“Me?”

“It’s almost dawn, want to go back to your swing?”

Jimin’s eyes tell him he’s going to be there whether he chooses to go or not and that makes it even easier for Jungkook to make that decision.

In the end, they do end up making their way back to the place where they first met, next to the big tree that had such an impact on Jungkook’s childhood. Standing there after everything and the night he had, Jungkook feels small to the world, but for the same time believes he can be the whole world himself.

It’s in the details, this feeling.

In the way Jungkook understands that he’s nothing more than a cog in the big machine that is the universe, but at the same time can feel the galaxy pulsate under his fingertips when he places them over that tree.

Jimin only watches him for a while, giving him the space he needs to go back to the first hour of the night and take in everything that happened since he left his house.

“To be honest, I never thought I’d get this far.” Jungkook announces, eyes glued to something in front of him.

“Are you proud of yourself?” Jimin asks.

Jungkook isn’t sure proud is the right word for it, maybe that’s not what he’s feeling at all. Either way, when it all comes down to what really matters, he supposes he’s happy with his choices.

He doesn’t have time to give Jimin a proper answer, though, because something interrupts him.

At first, he thinks it’s thunder, because his body shakes with the force of it and his heart tightens in an all too familiar way.

But then it happens again and this time Jungkook knows what’s happening.

His father’s deep voice echoes through the trees, their branches breaking under his feet while he runs, faster and faster, towards the heart of the small forest.

Jungkook doesn’t remember ever hearing him call out to him like that, so desperately; he doesn’t remember ever feeling important to his father like this.

“He’s fast...” Jimin says, a quick comment to break the silence.

“It’s late.” Is what Jungkook answers, both facing the direction from which the voice comes from, each second closer.

“It’s quite early, actually.” Jimin looks around them, sees the forest getting brighter slowly as the sun rises through the blue sky that covers them. Jungkook smiles, because that’s just such a Jimin thing to say.

“He’ll find me soon.”

Jungkook is the one to say those words, and for a moment he doesn’t really know what to do with them. Inside his chest, he can’t feel the weight that used to be there, the anguish that stopped him from breathing normally; still, it’s not all that easy to understand what he’s done to himself, even though he already knows.

“And do you want to be here when that happens?” Jimin asks, always careful, soothing voice and gentle eyes.

Jungkook’s answer isn’t verbal – in fact, he doesn’t do anything at all – but Jimin understands and stays by his side either way.

It doesn’t take long.

The entire forest falls silent when Jungkook’s father finally stops in front of him, as if even the birds knew that they shouldn’t sing in a moment like this. He looks chocked with what he sees, unwanted tears falling from his eyes when he finds his boy.

Jungkook watches him get closer and pull his body against his own, hugging him tightly as if he’s trying to give him life through that touch. Watches him cry like he’s never done before, sobbing against the cold skin of his only son.

“He never hugged me like that.”

For a reason that’s unknown to him, realizing that doesn’t hurt as much as he would have previously imagined it would. Of course Jungkook’s relationship with his father has always been fuel for a lot of bad feelings, but now he’s oddly incapable of feeling anything other than pity; for him, for the man kneeling on the ground in front of him, for both of them.

“It’s a big cliche.” Jimin says next to him, eyes also focused on the scene ahead of them.

“What is?”

“Life.” When Jungkook turns to look at him, Jimin doesn’t face him back for a while, until he smiles and their gazes meet. “Death, too.”

Jungkook looks back to his father, still crying while he holds him in his arms. He supposes Jimin is right, because he always thought he would end up like this, the same way as many more before him.

“I never liked cliches.” He mutters, facing the other when he feels him coming closer.

“Sometimes they’re good.” Jimin’s eyes travel around Jungkook’s face, now free from all the pain he still saw at the beginning of the night when they first met. One of his hands brushes the hair away from his hands to then rest on his cheek. “Comforting.”

There is so much in Jimin’s eyes, an entire ocean of deep thoughts and mystery, but Jungkook thinks he knows him perfectly well when they connect like this.

He holds Jimin’s wrist and pulls it away from his face softly so that he can press a feathery kiss to the inside of his palm, both of them smiling with the gesture.

“He’ll be fine, you know...” Jimin assures him as he looks back to Jungkook’s father, who is now getting ready to carry his son’s body back home. “They always do.”

Jungkook nods, also watching what happens next. It’s weird watching himself go away like this while he stays, but it’s even more strange feeling like he doesn’t belong to that moment in the past anymore.

The truth is that there is no place for resentment in Jungkook’s heart and he never wished anything bad upon his father, not even with all the awful things he yelled at him through the years. But he can’t help the wave of relief that washes over him at knowing that he will never have to go back to that house and to living with the man under the same roof anymore.

Jungkook hopes his father moves on soon, but he can’t feel bad for choosing to leave.

When neither of them can see Jungkook’s father’s silhouette in the distance, Jimin pulls him by the hand back to the place they had the bonfire, where the others wait animatedly for them. Not even a drop of regret fills Jungkook; on the contrary, he feels light when he joins the group he meet at the beginning of the night.

The birds resume their singing, announcing definitely the beginning of another day, and Jungkook thinks that yes, there is freedom in the woods but, even more than that, there’s freedom in Jimin’s eyes.