Low Stress: Puppy-Love (Jikook)

Chapter Thirteen: Donut Holes in Parking Lots

Jungkook walked back inside Hoseok's apartment with a vicious grin on his lips. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had such a good day. Jimin was blushing next to him and Jungkook felt a rush when Jimin's fingers trailed down his arm, finding his palm, and interlacing their hands.

Most of their friends were gaping, Hoseok the most shocked out of them all. He looked confused, glancing between Jimin and Jungkook. His focus lingered on Jimin and something like hurt flashed across his usually sunny expression.

Yoongi just lifted his beer, nodding at them like he was the wise old woman at the end of a superhero movie who knew everything all along. Taehyung kicked him in response.

"You had nothing to do with that." Taehyung said.

"I had everything to do with that." Yoongi scoffed.

"What the fuck are you talking about, old man."

Seokjin squealed and shook Namjoon's shoulder next to him. "NAMJOON-AH. THEY'RE SO CUTE."

Namjoon patted Seokjin's hand. He looked up at Jimin and Jungkook apologetically, taking Seokjin's marg away from him and placing it on the table. "I'm sorry, he's drunk."

Seokjin shook his head, waving his hand in front of his face and started crying like he was in a soap opera. "They just fought so hard." He explained when Yoongi and Hoseok were gaping at him. Taehyung awkwardly handed Seokjin his napkin to wipe the tears away. Seokjin gave Taehyung and air kiss in thanks and then waved Yoongi and Hoseok off. "How dare you two judge me, I'm your senior. All this work I put in for you kids and no respect in return."

Namjoon patted his thigh. "Alright, I think I got to take him home. Yoongi, Jungkook, do you guys need a ride?" He asked, glancing between the boys.

"Wow. Never felt so excluded before in my life." Taehyung whined. Namjoon blinked at him.

"Taehyung. Do you need a ride home?"

"No thank you, I'm staying the night but it was kind of you to ask." Taehyung replied, batting his lashes. Namjoon sighed, running a hand down his face. He followed that with a lighthearted swear, ruffling Taehyung's hair which Taehyung instantly tried to bat away.

"You can't even imagine how long it took to style this." Taehyung hissed, swatting. Namjoon gave the most dad-like grin, trying even harder to mess Taehyung's hair up. "Buzz-cut-ass-old-man." Taehyung mumbled when Namjoon finally got him and made his perfectly-messy hair now just 'messy.' Taehyung pouted pathetically and looked to Hoseok for help who only raised his brows in response.

"Jungkook?" Namjoon asked, getting up from his spot on the couch. "Ride?"

Jungkook blushed. Jimin's hand was so warm in his. It felt so gentle and molded perfectly. They'd held hands before, but then it had been just as friends. This was different. It was like electricity was attacking Jungkook's spine. "Um. I'll uber home. In a bit." He said and blushed harder when Seokjin coo-ed at him, pinching his cheek.

"Unless wait, my car is still at Yoongi's studio. Would you mind dropping us off?" Jungkook asked, stepping after Namjoon. A couple of their friends groaned at the use of us, but Jimin grinned in response. Jungkook turned to Jimin who raised his brow "I can give you a ride back home from there?"

"Hmmm. What about Taehyung?" Jimin asked. "He's just refusing the offer to be polite. So sad and lonely and selfless."

"Uh. No. No thank you. Absolutely not third wheeling." Taehyung said. "Jimin, my soulmate and best friend, I love you but I love myself more."

Jimin snorted, poking Taehyung in the side.

Jungkook smiled, feeling how close Jimin was standing to him while they teased their friends. Jimin's shoulder was gently touching Jungkook's, his arm the lightest pressure against Jungkook's own. It was intimate in its subtlety, and it caused Jungkook to grin so wide that it hurt. Jimin wasn't looking at Jungkook, but Jungkook could see how his cheeks flushed. Jimin moved his thumb lightly over Jungkook's own, creating the smallest circles and it was all Jungkook could do not to melt at the touch.