Finding himself

Where's our Jimin

Jungkook felt excited, he would be with his old friends again. Somehow with the forced military enlistment things hadn't been the same when they came out. The drive wasn't there, it was hard to get back what they had, had.
They had decided to part ways, Namjoon ran an art gallery, Tae went into acting, Suga stayed with music Jin had a restaurant, Hobi was a choreographer and Jimin? Last they heard he had gone away for a while.
Their old boss had got in touch to ask them to do a charity concert as the public had run a where are they now? Item and wanted to see them.
Jungkook missed the old days , he had solo hits but always felt something was missing.
His mind went back to pre military days and the fun they had, he remembered people shipping them his favourite was Jikook, him and Jimin. The smaller boy had worked so hard to become a member and when told his image didn't fit had dieted extremely. Personally Jungkook had liked chubby and skinny Jimin and thought he was quite cute. They always got on well together.
Then of course there was the Taekook ship but he had never thought that was believable so he didn't interact as well with Tae, who he treated more like a brother.
They were all meeting up in a secret location, a villa by the sea. They would stay there while training.
Jungkook arrived, his driver getting his case out and bowing before driving off. Jungkook strode to the door opening it to find himself in a large foyer that led to an open plan sitting room area.
"Kook! Your here how are you?"
Tae enveloped his old friend in a hug.
"Hey Tae, you look well life treating you good?"
Tae smiled," oh yes people adore me just like they will adore us,Taekook is back."
Jungkook raised an eyebrow," was Taekook ever there?" He laughed.
Tae seemed a bit annoyed at this but covered it up.
"Who else is here?"
"RM is out on the veranda with Jin who is getting a barbecue going, Suga and Hobi are half an hour away."
"And Jimin?"
"Oh I don't know..." Tae just waved his hand as if Jimin didn't matter.
Jungkook frowned, had Tae fallen out with Jimin?
Jungkook walked through to the veranda greeting the others.they chatted about how great it would be to get back together.
"The gallery is ok but..., it doesn't fulfil me."
"Mmm , my restaurant was my dream but I enjoyed the group more."
"I love acting but also singing" Tae stated.
"Well I must admit it's not the same solo."
"So this is where you are hiding!"
"Hobi, Suga! Great to see you!"
"Hi Kook, loved your last song, but there again my lovely Suga helped produce it!"
"Eugh! Hobi get a room," Tae said sneeringly.
"Tae?" Jungkook didn't understand his behaviour.
"Oh don't mind him he's a pompous git, surprised he came, is Jimin here?"
"Not yet,"
Hobi and Suga looked at each other and then Tae,
"Let's hope he doesn't let anyone stop him," Suga said meaningfully.
Tae stomped away, "what's going on?" Jin,RM and Jungkook looked at the two others.
"Look we don't want to cause any bad feelings," Hobi muttered.
"If somethings wrong I think we need to know?" RM said dropping back into his role as leader.
Suga spoke up," it was in the military,Jimin was doing ok, you know him he could charm the birds from the trees, Tae was struggling a bit, one night he got back drunk to camp, Jimin tried to get him into his bunk and it got noisy, the group captain came to see what the fuss was and Tae said Jimin had accosted him that he'd tried to tell him no but Jimin had always had a thing for him. He acted so well that Jimin was thought to be guilty by the captain. He knew Jimin being famous would make waves if he got him out so he made his life hell instead, when Tae woke up in the morning he felt it had gone too far to take it back so didn't do anything about it."
The others looked astounded, Tae walked out at that moment and he saw the look on their faces. Glaring at Suga he said," you had to tell them didn't you? If your stupid friend hadn't been in our group you would never have known!"
"But I do and I'm disgusted with you, you know how the military treat gays!"
"Is that why you and Hobi kept it a secret?" Tae sneered.
"It was nobodies business, you outing Jimin just saved you from a reprimand but ruined him."
"I know! I do know, I've felt guilty all this time, I saw how he changed, sunk into himself scared to mix, I'm a coward ok, he treated me well and I was an asshole to him, I'm a jerk ok I admit it, everybody loved him and he couldn't do any wrong just like everybody loved Jikook not Taekook!! It was always about him!
"I'm sorry I made you hate me Tae, Jikook wasn't real neither was Taekook, I didn't know I'd made you feel so bad,"
Everyone turned at the quiet voice to see Jimin, or a pale ill looking version of him standing behind them twisting his small hands nervously.
"Jimin my god are you ok?" RM asked
"Sure , nothing to worry about, hey guys."
Jungkook stared at the smaller male overcome with the need to protect him, he smiled at him clasping his small hand and drawing him to a seat," Jins cooking it will be done soon ,"
Jimin nodded shyly pulling his hand away. Jungkook frowned, he never used to do that.
Tae stepped forward," Jimin... it's been a long time coming..., but I'm sorry for everything, I was a coward and jealous and you didn't need to be treated like that."
Jimin nodded," it's ok, you taught me a lesson I needed to learn, not everyone likes you, the friends I thought I had there soon discarded me, I don't tend to make friends easily now," he murmured quietly.
Tae felt shame run through him, Jimin had always been outgoing and flirty but now..., he stared at the male in front of him who seemed nervous in their company.
"Right guys foods ready let's eat...."
Hobi got a plate for Suga who pecked him on the lips, Tae filled his plate and RM followed, Jin went to put some food in a plate for Jimin but he held his hand up," not too much please I am only just getting my appetite back."
Jungkook looked at the meagre amount Jimin put on his plate, was that all?
Jungkook looked at Jin who shrugged his shoulders but looked worried also.
They sat around the table chatting like the old days well most of them, Jimin was quiet.
"You know I miss the old days Hobi sighed, I like being a choreographer but it's bland, Suga said the same didn't you?"
"Yes love,"
"So Jimin what work are you doing ?"
Jungkook asked trying to get Jimin involved.
"Erm , just this and that, nothing great, I just move around I Erm spent two months in hospital caught pneumonia and then had appendicitis it's been a slow recovery but I'm ok now."
"You poor thing you sure your ok to do this?"
"This is the only thing that means anything to me I have nothing else , I promise I will work hard to be good enough."
The others felt disquiet at his words it seemed like Jimin hadn't been doing so well.
Trying to lighten the mood Jin said "well apart from Suga and Hobi anyone else hook up?"
"I met a nice girl but I dunno it didn't feel right," Jungkook said.
"My partner is running the restaurant "
Jin said.
"Mine is taking care of the gallery," RM said smiling.
"I had a few flings and there is one girl I really like."Tae murmured.
"You Jimin?"
"Nobody is into short uninteresting men like me," he tried to joke.
"Your not uninteresting," Jungkook said.
"Well shall we look at the rooms? There are more than enough." RM said.
They went inside and up the stairs , opening one door it was a double room with en suite, " we will have this," Suga dragged their suitcase into the room.
Jin claimed the next room and Tae the one opposite, Rm had the last room in that floor.
A curved stairway went up and two doors were next to each other and a door at the end.
"Which one Jimin?"
"I don't mind it's just a room you choose," they opened both doors into nearly identical rooms with en-suite but they had an advantage of one long balcony looking out to see.
"Aw nice we should have come up here," Tae said.
"I don't mind swapping," Jimin said.
For once Tae was like his old self," No Jimin you have given up enough for me already, enjoy the room, now what's that door down there for?"
They all wandered along to find a dance studio one mirrored wall one glass wall looking out to see and a music set up.
"Wow nice," Hobi said.
"Security and staff are in the lodge at the gate we drive through and will only come here when needed, for practice we have a choreographer who will come in but we need a music coach to help us limber up our voices. We have tomorrow off then down to work. Anyone want a beer, I'm going back outside.
"If you don't mind guys I'm tired so will go to my room," Jimin smiled then went in his door closing it.
The others went down to drink.
"We have to build Jimin up , there's nothing off him," Hobi said.
"I wonder how long ago he was in hospital,"
"I text the boss, he said Jimin discharged himself to be here, so I don't want him overdoing it," RM said.
Jimin was exhausted he really wasn't flit he thought, luckily he had the practice room down the hall!