UNTILL I MET YOU || JIKOOK

18

JIMIN POV

Jimin found Jungkook difficult to talk to at first. He got the sense that the omega was used to self-censoring, using platitudes and pleasantries with ease.

The more he learned about the omega's father's attitude toward him, the better he understood.

Jungkook had learned to survive in a hostile environment. It made sense that he'd developed a mask to hide behind.

It would take time for him to learn that he didn't need to don a mask here. Jimin and his family would accept him for who he was, who he wanted to be.

He worried it wouldn't go both ways though. So far, Jungkook hadn't asked Jimin about his ability to shift.

Jimin was in no hurry to bring it up. hybe, like many of the alliance kingdoms, had oddly fixed ideas about what was or wasn't proper for their alphas.

That Jimin spent so much of his time out fighting pirates was already a strike against him.

Add in his talent for shape-shifting,something he considered as much a part of himself as his fighting skills or his fondness for his brothers, and it might just be a step too far for jungkook.

They agreed to start having breakfast together in the morning room and meet there again for an hour in the evenings.

Jimin had thought the early hour of their breakfast might be a problem for the omega, but Jungkook didn't seem to mind.

The first morning, he missed breakfast thanks to an early pirate attack, sending a servant to Prince Jungkook's rooms with apologies.

He got back to the castle just in time to change hurriedly out of his clothes and head toward the morning room.

He was right outside when he realized that he hadn't put any thought into his outfit.

He wore an old, worn tunic and pants that had seen better days.

But he was already late, and he didn't want to disappoint the omega twice in the one day.

He pushed open the door and stepped inside. Jungkook was curled up in an armchair near the fire, a book in his hand.

He glanced up with a soft smile.

"Hi."

"Hey. Sorry I'm late. I just got back."

Jungkook's smile became a frown as he took in his appearance.

Jimin started to wish he'd taken the time to choose something more appropriate.

He could feel the omega's judgment from across the room.

"You've been out all day?"

"The pirates landed on the other side of the island. It took time to rout them." He knew he sounded defensive and just about managed not to cross his arms.

"I'm sorry I missed breakfast."

At the mention of a meal, the omega became more animated.

"Have you eaten?"

"Not yet. I'll have something later."

Jungkook uncurled and stood, stretching. Jimin's eyes were drawn to the light of the fire as it played across his skin.

"Nonsense. You've been out all day. You must be starving."

He crossed the room and rang the bell, admitting, "I skipped dinner so I'm kind of hungry too."

Despite himself, Jimin was instantly concerned. "Why didn't you eat dinner?"

"I got distracted." Was it Jimin's imagination or was Jungkook the one on the defensive now?