Origin

Chapter 7

Jimin orders a casual meal of sandwiches and way too many French fries, offering Jungkook a beer, which he gladly takes. They barely move from their spots on the couch all evening, Jimin only getting up to pay the food delivery boy and then again to take Stacy out. He comes back inside with red cheeks, teeth chattering, muttering under his breath, "You were fucking right. Too cold to walk around. Good call, Jeon."

They talk in between bites of their meatball subs, Jungkook asking about Jimin's job, Jimin asking about Jungkook's tour life, and it never seems like they're comparing. Often, in these types of situations, Jungkook feels embarrassed, almost, talking about his success. He seems so...

Not normal, or like he's bragging. Jimin doesn't make it feel that way, though. He simply nods along as if it's a typical scenario for a 22-year-old to fly first class to and from various sold out arenas, and Jungkook relaxes, being honest when he talks about the past several months.

It's all good: the food, the twinkling Christmas lights, the company. And when Jungkook says, "Hey, I have a serious question. Do you pronounce gif with the hard 'g' sound or the soft?" Jimin just pinches his cheek, laughs, and calls him a total idiot. It's not at all funny, it's stupid, really, and yes, it's very good.

Considering this is the first time they've hung out other than in a dingy bar, drunk and stupid, Jungkook is weirdly comfortable to be in Jimin's presence, posters of Mr. and Mrs. Claus on every wall and all. It feels like visiting an old friend - one he's horribly attracted to - rather than getting to know the crazy, brilliant boy from Jana's. And though his stomach keeps twisting with first date nerves - is this even a date? - and he's unnaturally aware of his loud his breathing is, he's having fun.

Jimin is hilarious, even without tequila shots, poking gentle fun at Jungkook throughout the night, only scoffing for about 15 minutes when he puts on the original Jurassic Park and Jungkook admits he's never seen it before.

He drapes his legs across Jungkook's lap halfway through the movie, tossing a soggy fry at him, laughing when Jungkook sticks his tongue out to catch it and misses, and when Jimin starts going on about a story from the time his mom threw him an embarrassing dinosaur themed birthday party when he was in "Goddamn fucking high school, Jungkook," Jungkook puts his hand on Jimin's knee. Jimin doesn't nudge him away. He actually appears to look pleased.

They're sober, chemistry is present, and Jungkook is relieved.

Or, at least, he thinks the chemistry is present.

Jimin has made no move, really, to initiate any physical contact, sans stretching out over Jungkook's legs, but Jungkook has done that with his friends before, too, not necessarily indicating he wanted to take it any further than that.

And the more the night goes on, Jungkook isn't even sure if Jimin wants this to be a date. Jungkook's desperately grasping onto the fact that this is more than just a casual friend hangout, mind screaming to not be an idiot and muck it all up, and all the while, Jimin is scratching behind Stacy's ears from her position on the end of the sofa, scoffing when the clock on the wall chimes every half hour, spitting out an obnoxious verse of "Frosty the Snowman." It feels all too much not like a date, and that makes Jungkook feel even dumber for wanting to pull Jimin up against him, kissing and biting at the patch of skin under his jaw that's practically begging for Jungkook's attention.

Yeah, he probably shouldn't do that.

He must be visibly tense, because Jimin drums his fingers along the edge of Jungkook's jaw, obviously aware that something's going on in his mind. He smiles when Jungkook turns to look at him.

"Dinosaurs scary, Jeon?"

Jungkook blushes, leaning into Jimin's touch, just slightly.

"Something like that, yeah."

He loosens up significantly after that, Jimin close enough for Jungkook to be able to hear him swallow. He could easily pull Jimin up into his lap, could easily bend down and slot their mouths together. He doesn't, though, just stares at the TV, pretends not to notice how nice Jimin feels against his thigh. It doesn't go any further than that all night.

It's nearly midnight by the time Jungkook forces himself to get up off the couch, missing the warmth from Jimin's legs already. Stacy trots behind him to the door, and he squats down to rub her back, stalling, not wanting to head into the cold, not wanting to leave Jimin.

"Sorry this was kind of lame,"

Jimin says from a few feet behind him, rubbing the back of his neck, "but you picked it."

He smiles. "I did. But it wasn't lame at all. I liked Jurassic Park.

Good choice."

"Thank you. Means you're human."

Jungkook opens his mouth to respond, but then footsteps come from around the corner, and in front of him stands, presumably, one of Jimin's roommates. He's in elf slippers, wearing a red and white striped sweater, and Jungkook knows immediately that this guy is Hoseok . He stands up, trying his best to keep his laughter from breaking, and holds out his hand.

"You must be Jung Hoseok. I'm Jungkook ."

Hobi's eyes light up, shaking Jungkook's hand. "Hey, man. Yeah, I'm Hobi. Heard a lot about you. From Jimin and otherwise."

He smiles. "You're super talented."

"Thank you." Jungkook gestures around the apartment. "Loving Santa's workshop, by the way."

He laughs. "At least someone appreciates it."

"I'm sure he secretly loves it."

"I think so, too. Especially when I decorate the entire room on Christmas Eve with balloons and banners and streamers and sing 'Happy Birthday' for eight and a half hours straight."

Jimin clears his throat. "Why are you both talking like I'm not here."

Jungkook shakes his head, smiling, ignoring Jimin. "Can't let his birthday be overshadowed by his hatred for Christmas."

"Absolutely not. See, you get the concept of holidays and celebrating."

"Yeah, I love it. Oh, I didn't happen to see any mistletoe anywhere, by the way," he says, winking exaggeratedly. "Where's that at?"

Hobi laughs, his eyes crinkling, and Jimin smacks Jungkook in between the shoulder blades.

"Alright, buddy, that's enough out of you. Out you go."

Jungkook lets Jimin push him to the exit, Hobi still laughing behind him, and over his shoulder, Jungkook yells, "Hey, I want in on the eight and a half hours of singing 'Happy Birthday' this year."

"Done," Hobi agrees.

"Okay, good night, Jungkook," Jimin says, still shoving Jungkook through the door. "Come again soon."

He keeps his hands on the door frame, halting any further movement, and he turns around.

"Can I?"

"Can you what?"

"Come again soon."

Jimin rolls his eyes, but his cheeks are pink and he's biting on his bottom lip, obviously trying not to break his front. "Do you want to?"

"Yes," he replies without hesitation, hands itching to reach out.

"You want to come back to this hell?"

"Yes," he repeats, more firmly this time. He jams his hands into his pockets.

"Alrighty, Popstar, if that's what you really want."

Jungkook nods. "I want."

"Okay. Call me, then."

"I will."

"Awesome."

"I know."

Jimin bends down to pick up Stacy. "You can leave now."

Jungkook laughs. "Okay, I'm going. Bye, Stacy."

He doesn't bother trying to kiss Jimin this time, especially not with an audience of both Hobi and a Corgi, but that doesn't mean he stops thinking about it the entire way home. In fact, he drives himself to the brink of insanity thinking about it, sliding into his bed an hour later with the image of a bright smile and black framed glasses and God, he might honestly break if this is one sided.