HELLO, DARLING | JIKOOK ✔

30 || GAME ON

For the past hour, Jeongguk has been secluded in his study wordlessly. Existing in silence slowly starts to hinder Jimin's thoughts and in fact, for the past few days he has been struggling to overcome the effect Chin-hwa's words have had over him.

But Jeongguk has been suffering the most.

With a plate of freshly cooked food in his hand, Jimin knocks on the study door softly and awaits a beckon. After some time standing patiently for a response, he doesn't get one. However just when he's about to turn around, Jeongguk's voice calls out to him.

Jimin pulls on his bottom lip and pops the door open, closing it behind him gently. Jeongguk doesn't look up but Jimin can tell that he's tired. He looks deflated and most likely feels the exact same, if his posture is any indication. His left arm is held in a sling and his free hand runs over his face.

"Jeongguk?" Jimin mumbles, placing the food to the side. He walks up to the man's desk and stands in front of it, playing with his fingers warily.

Jeongguk lifts his head, drawing Jimin's face into a frown. "Hi, Darling," he greets quietly with lost energy, pushing his hair back. "Come here." He pats his lap.

Not mulling the ginger demand over, Jimin dawdles to the other side of Jeongguk's desk and straddles his lap carefully. He looks the sling over and his eyes droop with sadness at the sight.

"It doesn't hurt, Darling. There's no need to worry." Jeongguk's free hand curls around Jimin's waist.

"Okay," Jimin replies, looking into the man's doe eyes. Wondering despite the tiredness that they hold, how the love Jeongguk has for him can still be so positively present. "How are you feeling? You aren't angry at me, are you?"

Jeongguk shakes his head. "I could never. You aren't your parents. Their evil doesn't run in your blood, Darling."

Sighing in relief, Jimin lifts his arms to play with Jeongguk's hair. He pulls an elastic off of his wrist and ties it all back, out of his brown eyes. "There. Now I can see you," he says while caressing his cheek.

A soft smile presents itself. Jeongguk squeezes Jimin's waist tenderly and his fingertips slide beneath the loose dress shirt hanging to perfection on his shoulders, showcasing his pretty collarbones and white chest.

"What happens now?" Jimin asks, keeping his arms circled around Jeongguk's nape.

"Honestly, Darling, I haven't gotten that far yet. What happened at the masquerade party wasn't good. I'm relieved that Chin-hwa is dead, but I ended his life in front of so many fucking people. Nobody knows me like this. That I'm capable of killing somebody without any remorse. I'm trustworthy and I'm loyal, but what will they take me as now?" Jeongguk's grip on Jimin's waist falters however the latter places his hand over top of the blond's, keeping it in place.

"Everyone must know how bad of a man Chin-hwa was, Jeongguk. You don't need to justify your actions, okay? He may not be as violent as Daeshim is but he was just as twisted. Sometimes it takes more than being physical to cause the most damage. Just seeing him gave me shivers. He would have hurt me and he would have hurt others. It's okay to be confused but please don't feel guilty. This is what he deserved. He had it coming." Jimin's fingers drag over Jeongguk's nape slowly and they tease the collar of his shirt.

Through the silence that has befallen them, Jeongguk's mind lingers and it's clear in the way his eyes wander the room to land on nothing in particular and freeze. Jimin brushes the man's bottom lip with his thumb mindlessly, boring into his contemplative gaze earnestly.

"...Is it possible?" Jeongguk asks, eyes averting to the beautiful ravenette in his lap.

Jimin tilts his head to the side. "Is what possible?" he questions.