Safe With You | Yoonmin

Chapter 9: Tell No One

| Jimin|

ALMOST THREE MONTHS HAD PASSED since Min Yoongi's arrival, and the winter storms were beginning to wane. It still snowed often, but the howling winds would abate on occasion, offering breaks here and there.

The winter festival would take place soon, signifying the end of the storm season and the anticipation of spring. Although it probably wouldn't be much of a festival this year. There wouldn't be much food to spare for the feast.

Min Yoongi was healing. The alpha could now walk on his own with the help of a crutch, albeit with a significant limp.

Now that Yoongi was somewhat independent, Jimin had moved back into his private room in the servants quarters. It would be inappropriate for Jimin to continue sleeping in such close proximity to the elder when he no longer needed constant help.

For the first time that Jimin could remember, his little room felt rather... lonely. Perhaps he had grown to accustomed to sleeping near Yoongi in the guest quarters, because he found himself missing the alpha's scent each night as he tucked into his sleeping roll.

He still spent most of each day with the alpha though. In part because Jimin's morning and evening meals were still delivered to the guest room, and he didn't dare ask the palace servants to do any different.

Each morning Jimin rose with the dawn, bundling up in his coat and furs before heading out into the blustery snowscape. The snow was piled high to either side of the garden path, reaching above his head in most places.

This morning he shuffled through the white maze with a parcel of carefully wrapped books tucked under his coat. A surprise for Yoongi.

Lately the alpha was bored out of his mind. There wasn't much to do in the isolated guest quarters. Yoongi had begged the palace staff for any work they could spare and he had been given ropes to braid and straw mats to repair. It kept him busy for a while, but a few days ago Yoongi had run out of materials. Now he was restless again.

Jimin had borrowed these books from Ryu Okgyun's library the night before -- it was one of the few privileges granted to him as a ward of the Alpha. There were histories of weather, reports of past harvests, and copies of diaries from noble Alphas, Betas, and elders who were long deceased.

The familiar scent of grassy fields and citrus welcomed Jimin as he approached Yoongi's room. The alpha was already awake and settled into a chair when Jimin eagerly rushed in and pulled out the parcel, waving it.

"What have we here?" The alpha asked softly.

"Books! You said that you can read, yes?"

The alpha nodded hesitantly, "I can get by."

"Well I thought you might appreciate these, especially if you want to learn more of our history." Jimin unwrapped the parcel and began pulling out different volumes, explaining each one.

Yoongi's interest was growing. "How did you get these?" The alpha asked.

"Alpha Ryu! He says that nothing is more important than our history. Any resident of the palace is allowed to borrow them, although almost no one ever does."

The alpha hummed, reaching out to run his hands over the smooth pages. "That is kind of the Alpha Okgyun."

Breakfast was soon delivered, and the pair settled down to enjoy their food and books in companionable silence.

They read in silence, for the most part -- Jimin had learned that the Min alpha was a man of few words -- but occasionally Yoongi would speak up to ask for help with a word he didn't recognize, or for clarification on something he read.