Toxic

v

Well this time it's Jimin's fault.

How many times did his parents warn him to pay attention when something's in the oven? Not enough Jimin thinks as he's claws at the oven dials in an attempt to shut the screaming machinery off. Cursing at himself before the forces above, Jimin cautiously peered at the meat simmering in the oven. The top was blackened but he was pretty sure the meat inside would be fine. Sighing in relief, Jimin reached in to grab the tray with his mitts.

At least I don't have to scrap the entire meal. That'd be one giant waste of Namjoon and Hoseok's time since they were the ones who bought the stuff. How dumb can you get Jimin? I don't have time to cook something new since I started making dinner so late.

Jimin stared at the charred skin of the lamb feeling a bit hapless as he began to brush aside the burnt flakes. He wanted to make lamb since Jungkook seems to really like it when he does. Jimin also thought of it as a sort of 'thank you' gift to his boyfriend for giving him a haircut as well. There's also the fact that Jimin was feeling guilty for sneaking shoes behind Jungkook's back and wanted to lessen the weight on his chest somehow. Like the air head he is though, Jimin missed the sound of the oven beeping while trying to remember how to tie shoelaces.

Judging the lamb chops to look and taste presentable, Jimin padded over to the veranda. He felt like he was a criminal trying not to get caught as he carefully pushed aside a cluster of potted plants to reveal an inconspicuously upturned planter. At least Jimin hoped it looked inconspicuous as he slipped out his sneakers that were tucked underneath. An upturned planter in the veranda sounds like a stupid place to hide something of such value, but it's probably the best option. Jungkook rarely went to the veranda unless Jimin begged him to join him outside. While Jungkook locked himself up in his workroom, Jimin was staring at the sky from the veranda. The veranda was more of Jimin's than it was Jungkook's. All the plants at the veranda were cared for by Jimin so he was fairly certain the Jungkook wouldn't start poking around and find his sneakers. It's not like Jungkook spends all his time there anyway. Why would he, when he can leave and go outside anytime he wants?

Jimin plopped down on lounge chair, holding his shoes gingerly. Jimin slipped the sneakers on slowly as he tried to savor the feeling of shoes on his feet. It took a couple of tries to tie the shoelaces properly after so long but he managed to make a droopy bow with them. As Jimin stood up, a smile spread across his face. Jimin's cheeks were hurting from the foreign feeling of joy as he rocked back and forth on his heels trying to feel the padded shoes between his feet and the veranda floor. Slowly, Jimin walked around the veranda, unable to stop smiling. Closing his eyes, Jimin began to imagine walking with Jungkook at the park.

The grass would be greener up close and the sun would shine so brightly that it would hurt my eyes. Jungkook would laugh at me squinting at the sun at tell me to cut it out. We'd hold hands and sit together on a park bench. Nice old ladies would stop to tell us how cute we look together and Jungkook would blush with me and it would happen and it will happen and this is real-

Nothing quite rips one away from their imagination then the sight of the person they were imagining.

It's only from years of staring at the same street, only from burning the image of the man he loves into the back of his mind, only from years of waiting for Jungkook to drive down the street after work that snapped Jimin out of his daydreams to see the unmistakable car turning the corner.

Eye's widening in horror, Jimin began to yank off his sneakers as fast as he possibly could. It wasn't a small boy running around his apartment trying to hide all evidence and suspicions. It was a haphazard dance with careful and 'precise' movements performed by a desperate, and still small, boy. Sneakers were lovingly, if not roughly, shoved underneath the planter, veranda door slammed shut and hastily latched, hands brushed against an apron to wipe off dirt, and an impromptu pirouette because Jimin likes to feel special.