flowers and ink » yoonmin

seventeen.

As they left the park an hour later, Jimin felt light. He was still wearing Yoongi's snapback, but the bill faced backwards and Yoongi had tucked the cherry tree flower in the adjustment strap.

"You look like a straight up savage," Yoongi had told Jimin after doing so. Jimin had started laughing. "I'm kidding, you look adorable."

A happy blush still pigmented Jimin's cheeks, and he grabbed Yoongi's hand as they walked down the sidewalk. The sun shone down on them as Jimin grinned. Yoongi shot him a questioning look.

"I can't get lost, now, can I?"

"I agree. I'll get you one of those animal backpack leashes next time we're out," Yoongi concurred, and Jimin put his free hand over his heart, feigning betrayal. Yoongi just rolled his eyes and squeezed his hand, making Jimin's heart beat faster. Yoongi pulled them into Cafe Bliss, and Jimin tried to hide his ridiculous grin. Thankfully, the person behind the counter wasn't the usual girl. Instead, they were greeted with an enthusiastic "Thanks for stopping in to Cafe Bliss! How can I help you?" The person behind the counter was a boy who looked to be about their age. He had a round, happy face and what seemed to be a permanent smile. Jimin noticed that his teeth were a bit large, but he thought it just made the boy cuter.

"We'd like two hot chocolates and two vanilla cupcakes," Yoongi said, then winked at Jimin. Jimin remembered shoving a vanilla cupcake in Yoongi's face the night before and let out a giggle. The boy smiled at them, eyes twinkling.

"Coming right up, lovebirds," he said. Yoongi spluttered and Jimin laughed and punched him in the shoulder.

People seemed to be a lot more accepting of gay couples now, Jimin noticed. Seokjin had a boyfriend, and Jungkook and Taehyung were dating. Jimin felt himself tentatively placing his trust back in the world.

They waited at the counter, and Yoongi looked tired, leaning against the glass as if he couldn't stand by himself. His head began to droop.

"When did you fall asleep last night?" Jimin asked. Yoongi blinked, as if startled.

"Um, maybe a half hour after you did?"

"So at like five in the morning?" Jimin asked, feeling momentarily horrified. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Besides, you look really cute when you sleep."

"Shut up," Jimin mumbled, embarrassment coloring his cheeks. The boy behind the counter came over with their order. His name tag read Hoseok. Jimin thanked him, and Yoongi paid before Jimin could notice and protest.

"You're so sneaky," Jimin told Yoongi as they sat down at a window table. Yoongi just assumed a look of innocence, which made Jimin snort.

"I never thought I'd actually voluntarily hang out with you," Jimin mused as he swirled his hot chocolate around in the Styrofoam cup. "You were such an asshole, at first. But now I know that you're really just a ball of fluff."

"Excuse me," Yoongi began in an affronted tone. "I am not a ball of fluff! I am a tough, badass motherfucker with tattoos."

Jimin scoffed. Then curiosity got the better of him. "I've never actually looked at your tattoos up close before," he admitted. Yoongi pushed up his sweatshirt sleeves and laid his arms out on the table silently, and Jimin lost his breath as he stared at the ink. The black vines were more intricate and elaborate than he had first realized; little leaves and stems and thorns were rendered in meticulous detail. The vines wrapped around his forearms and disappeared into his sleeves. Jimin reached out and traced them, fingertips feather light against Yoongi's skin.

"They're really pretty. Why did you get them?" Jimin asked. Yoongi took a sip of his hot chocolate before replying.

"To me, vines always seemed pretty, but strong. They made something ugly-" his voice hitched "-look beautiful, and they also supported whatever they wrapped around. They're a part of me, so they remind me that I'm strong when I feel as if I'm not."

"Yoongi, you are beautiful," Jimin said softly. "And you are strong. I know that."

Yoongi worried at his bottom lip with his teeth, then relaxed and shot Jimin a grateful look. It made his features look soft. He pushed his sleeves back down and took a bite of his cupcake, and Jimin did the same. He became absorbed in his own thoughts as they ate; but all that was on his mind was Yoongi, as if having the boy sitting across from him in person wasn't enough.

"What are you thinking about?" Yoongi asked, and Jimin's mind went blank, thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind.

"U-um..." Jimin looked around the shop desperately, as if the man sitting a few tables away or Hoseok would miraculously come to his aid. Unfortunately, none of them did, and he stuttered, "N-nothing..."

Smooth, Jimin, real smooth.

He hurriedly crammed the rest of his cupcake into his mouth, flushing in embarrassment as the frosting decorated his face. Yoongi regarded him with amusement as he chewed quickly and swallowed.

"You have most of your cupcake on your face," Yoongi said, then smirked as he reached out and wiped Jimin's face with his napkin. Jimin could feel himself turning a violent red shade as the napkin scratched against his skin.

"Yoongi, I'm not a baby," he squeaked out as Yoongi retracted his arm. The sun shone in through the window and highlighted Yoongi's smug expression.

"You're my baby." Yoongi smirked.

"Whoa there, buddy, let's not get too frisky," Jimin blurted. Yoongi's mouth fell open in astonishment. Neither of them had expected that to come out of Jimin's mouth.

"What was in your hot chocolate?"

"Mistakes. Now I'm filling it with regret," Jimin said. Yoongi snorted.

"I think you've had too much time in public. Let's go." Yoongi stood and pulled Jimin to his feet. They threw their trash away, and as the door swung shut, Jimin swore he heard Hoseok yell something along the lines of "Please adopt me!"

~~~

"Hey Yoongi?" Jimin said. They were cuddling again in Jimin's apartment.

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember when you told me that you hurt everyone you loved?"

Jimin felt Yoongi's body stiffen.

"Y-yeah." Yoongi's voice cracked slightly.

"Why did you decide to give up on pushing me away?"

Yoongi sighed and Jimin thought he'd gone too far and that the other boy would close off in a way he hadn't for weeks.

"Because I'm selfish. And pushing people away often hurts just as much as anything I could do," Yoongi admitted softly. His body relaxed again, and he tightened his arms around Jimin's frame protectively. "You told me you were strong, and I hope that's true, because I have no intention of distancing myself from you. I haven't had a friend like you in years."

Jimin's heart panged at the word friends, but he set it aside. This conversation was too important for silly crushes.

"I must be selfish too, because I'm glad you gave up," Jimin said. "And Yoongi?"

"Yeah?"

"I haven't had a friend like you in years, either."

Yoongi laid his head atop Jimin's and they stayed like that for a long time. The trust they had planted in each other began to bloom.

idk why i'm writing so early in the morning. maybe bc i had most of this written last night idk. i'm really tired i went to bed at 1:30 and woke up at 9 kms

i didn't rly proofread this i hope theres no mistakes gotta blAST