bound | minjoon

FIRST

Namjoon walked home through the snow and the gathering darkness, ignoring how Christmas lights were decorating the trees along Junggu district's sidewalks : he hated that period of the year.

Pulling his coat tighter around himself, Namjoon hastened his pace and frowned unconsciously. Three years now, and it still didn't hurt any less; he could still picture every moment as if they were happening all over again.

December 24, 2012: Jimin had been out of town for work, but he was flying home in time to spend　Christmas with Namjoon. Namjoon had been to the kink shop and bought a leather rope. After years of loving and ardent sex with the gorgeous boy he loved more than anyone he'd ever known, he was going to come out to Jimin about his kink. He was nervous and hungry, a bad combination that made him even more distressed, so he decided to stop by Yangmiok, a nice and welcoming restaurant which served the most delicious bulgogi Namjoon has ever eaten, before picking Jimin up at the airport.

Yangmiok was a place where long-time local residents and newcomers mixed freely, and Namjoon loved it for that. Also, it had a television behind the counter.

Now, Namjoon paused outside the door to the restaurant. Should he go in? The memory of that night was burned in his mind. He didn't have to relive it again to remember the way he'd sat there, spoon half raised as he watched the news about the plane crash. And he recalled exactly the way his stomach had twisted, causing his heartbeats to stop for a brief second as life left Namjoon completely.

Through the window he saw Seokjin working the griddle, just as he'd been that night, and each consecutive Christmas Eve that Namjoon returned to repeat this useless little ritual of remembrance.

Namjoon went in and took a seat at one of the free tables.

" Namjoon-ah " said Seokjin who approached him as soon as Namjoon made himself comfy in his seat. " It's good to see you. " The elder smiled.

" Good to see you too, Seokjin. "

And it was. Namjoon liked Seokjin quite a lot. He liked his golden hair and his delicate body. He liked the tight pink tops he wore and the way they displayed his broad shoulders and flat chest, but most of all, Namjoon liked that Seokjin never wished him a merry Christmas.

Seokjin had seen Namjoon's face when the news of the plane crash came on. Engine failure. How could an engine just fail? But it had, and the plane caught fire.

It was Seokjin who'd made sure that Namjoon got home alright, and it was Seokjin who'd brought over food and coffee for the younger every day that first week, while Namjoon had sat on his couch staring at Jimin's empty chair.

" The usual? " asked Seokjin in a soft voice.

" Yeah. "

There were planty of people in the restaurant at the moment, but Namjoon didn't seem to notice; maybe he just didn't care. He glanced up at the television instead, it was turned to a local station, as always and an episode of Boarding House #24 was aired. The laugh track sounded hollow.

Jin brought him his bulgogi.

" Three years now, " Jin said.

This was new. Namjoon never really said anything about that argument before. " Yeah. "

Seokjin then sat down on the free chair, right in front of Namjoon.

" Three years now you've been coming in at the same time, on the same day. You sit in the same spot and you order the same thing. And the rest of the year I don't see you. Why do you do this? "

Namjoon leaned back and looked up at him. He always forgot how attractive and beautiful Seokjin could be, and how deep down that made him want to turn the tables on Jin and dominate him ― just like he'd wanted to do with Jimin and had never worked up the nerve.

" Why, you say? "

Jin met his gaze. " Yeah. I mean, it's not like you need to remind yourself. Do you? "

Namjoon opened his mouth. That was exactly what he'd been about to say ― that he did it to remember. But Jin was right. He hadn't forgotten, not for one second. So why?

" You know what I think? " Seokjin said suddenly.

Namjoon glanced down at his meal and tried to decide how he felt about this new, talkative Seokjin. Curious. He felt curious.

" What do you think? "

" I think you're replaying the day hoping somehow it'll turn out different. "

Namjoon almost choked on his own saliva. " That's ridiculous. "

Jin smiled, but his hazelnut eyes remained serious. " It's not going to change, Namjoon. "

Namjoon shoved his plate full of delicious meat away and stood. " I know that! I know it won't change, dammit. As it turns out, I'm not very hungry right now. I'll take this to go, please. "

Seokjin sighed. " I'll get you a fresh portion. "

He wrote out Namjoon's order, then packed a new portion of bulgogi into a to-go container. Before handing it to Namjoon, he wrote something on the lid.

" What's this? " The younger knew what it was. It was a phone number.

" I think you're a nice guy, Namjoon, and I like your taste in Christmas presents. "

Namjoon stared at him as Jin chuckled innocently. " Christmas presents? I never gave you a ― "

Jin's pretty eyes were clear and full of light. " Of course not. My guess it was for that guy who died in the plane crash. But I've never been able to forget how you looked before you got the news, when you first walked in here with that bag from Bururu ― happy and cocky, like you owned the place. If you ever get around to being that guy again, call me. I like a man who knows what to do with ten feet of leather rope. "

Namjoon could literally feel his cock shrink at those words and his face went red. He stared down at the number scrawled on the lid of the container. " I... I don't... I can't..." What, talk? Breathe?

" No worries. Toss it if you want. Just don't waste the food. "

Namjoon forced himself to meet Seokjin's gaze, who was giving the younger a penetrating look.

" Like I said, you're a nice guy. But you're still stuck in the past. "

Namjoon wanted to object, but Seokjin was right. He searched for something to say.

" Merry Christmas, " he blurted out of breath.

Seokjin gave a soft, startled laugh. " Merry Christmas to you too. "

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A/N : hello there beloved readers ! as you can see, this is my first work and before anything else, I would like to specify one important thing : this little story is not originally mine. years ago I've ran into a nice story called Love Bound by Jessica Freely and I fell in love with it. I couldn't stop myself from putting Namjoon and Jimin in the narrated situations, so here I am bringing this kind of adaptation to you guys.

with this been said, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I loved writing it ! next chapter will come soon, thank you for reading.

chu ♡