Safe With You | Yoonmin

Chapter 38: Autumn Leaves

| Jimin |

RETURNING TO THE POTTERY SHOP felt so surreal after everything that had happened. Strangely mundane after weeks of living in hiding in Hyun-Joo's cellar, then the attack, moving in with Yoongi and tending to the injured alpha as he healed.

But life goes on, and one must pick up the pieces eventually. There is always work to be done.

For well over two months now, Taehyung had been bearing the brunt of the pottery work, but yesterday morning the beta had knocked sharply on Yoongi's doorpost, calling in a half teasing, half panicked voice, “Are you going to nest until springtime, Jimin? Did you forget that I’m helpless when it comes to making tea pots? I need your hands in the shop, before Master Kim sees my failed attempts and sends me packing–”

Though he felt reluctant to leave Yoongi’s house and the nest – his safe place – the thought of returning to work with Taehyung sounded like a breath of fresh air. Jimin had spent many days helping Yoongi around the little house and in the garden, and he was beginning to feel a bit stir crazy.

It was adorable how Yoongi clearly didn’t want Jimin to go, but was doing his very best to look excited and be supportive as he helped Jimin into a pair of straw sandals.

“If you grow tired, or if your wolf becomes uneasy, ask Taehyung to bring you home,” Yoongi cautioned as he straightened Jimin's robe which didn't require straightening in the least. He cast a look at the beta waiting in the doorway. “Please look after him, Tae. Don't let him overwork himself.”

Jimin smiled fondly, rising an inch on his toes to give the alpha a peck on the cheek. “You don't need to worry about us, Yoongi.”

“I’m not worried,” the elder mumbled, but almost immediately he followed up with, “I’ll stop by this evening. To walk you home. Or to Hobi's.”

Jimin chuckled, “I’ll see you soon then. And you take care as well. You no longer have stitches but you should still mind your side. No shifting or jumping. And don't eat Paenji while I’m gone. Promise?”

The alpha made a show of looking disappointed at this last order. “Fine.” He pressed a kiss to the top of Jimin’s head. “Go on then, you two.”

When Jimin and Taehyung reached the end of the path to the main road, the omega looked back over his shoulder and saw Yoongi standing quietly in the doorway, watching them go.  Again he felt a tug of misgiving about leaving Yoongi for the day, but this was quickly erased by Taehyung’s excited chatter and the sights of the village around them.

Sure enough, when they arrived at the shop together, Jimin saw a squashed, vaguely tea-pot-shaped mound of clay on the worktable. Upon closer inspection, he could make out the clear intention of Taehyung's angry fist right in the center. He raised his eyebrows at the beta. “Which attempt was this?”

“Four,” Taehyung pouted. “I can never get the spout right. But this is a commission from elder Jung Dohyun. He expects it to be complete before the season turns...”

Jimin set to work quickly, tugging his work tunic off its hook on the wall and slipping it over his shoulders. The familiar feel of the hemp material, the straw sandals on his feet, the scent of clay…all of it filled him with a deep sense of calmness. He had missed this more than he realized. Being an apprentice had always given Jimin a sense of purpose and belonging. In here, all his worries could melt away as he focused on sculpting beautiful things from ordinary looking clay.

Together they consulted the drawing the customer had provided, as well as Master Kim’s instructions. Then, with steady hands, Jimin took the little mound on the table and reshaped it, adding a bit of water to help eliminate the creases and folds, kneading it again and again until it was completely smooth. Then he set to work using a wood cylinder to roll the clay out until it lay flat and even, no thicker than the tip of his little finger. He took up the thin fettling knife and began to make slow, measured cuts. Eight perfectly identical rectangles to make up the walls of the vessel. This type of tea pot was not shaped on the potter’s wheel, rather, it was molded carefully from many small flat pieces, giving it a distinct octagon shape from above.