Running In Circles // pjm.

Compromise

Showtime came around and everyone was restless. The Japan stages were some of the biggest stages in the tour and after the last performance's incident, everyone was determined to get everything perfect. I checked on all the outfits and their seams and after some anxiety and Taehyung's words of reassurance, I decided everything was right on track. 2 hours to go, time to get the boys dressed.

I started with Jin because he was the only one who had eaten. Food was not permitted on the chair and meals were not to be eaten after getting dressed. This was my only rule. The boys had to eat first and then sit for hair and makeup, a hard rule I had set after Namjoon's one disaster a couple of months ago. Food was spilled, makeup was messed up and a jacket had suffered as consequence. A last minute save by me had fixed it and thereon after, a law was in place.

Laughing and joking around, next came Yoongi and then Jungkook. the other stylists started on Hoseok and Namjoon while Jimin waited for Mia. Him being comfortable only with Mia had been weird initially, but we had found a way around it. She had been one of their stylists for a long time and as a result of the teams changing ever since, he had chosen to stick with her. She always did his look first and then anyone else who was left. I looked around for her, since we were nearing time but she was nowhere to be seen. Jimin sat in the chair next to Jungkook's and they messed around on his phone while I finished his hair.

"You're good." I said, patting his shoulders, signaling him to free the chair for Taehyung.

"I'm always good," he said and winked at me cutely before getting up and striding to the couch where the food was.

"A-a-ah! Are you eating? I thought you ate already!" I said.

He laughed loudly at my reaction and I spotted Jimin smirk from my periphery.

"I did eat, Tara. There's a couch here too, you know, like, to sit on." He stated.

"okay. But I'm watching you." I said, double pointing to my eyes and his. He laughed nervously and nodded.

"Where is Taehyung?" I asked the room in general.

"Taehyung? You don't call him oppa, okay, but first name?" Jimin said, sneering. I knew he was joking but- What's his problem?

"For your information-" I started, but one Kim Taehyung interrupted me.

"I asked her to call me by name, hyung. Taehyung-ssi was too weird for me. Besides, we're close enough so it's good." He said.

Jimin's jaw clasped in response and he just hummed in response.

I noticed Taehyung was already dressed, "wait, you're done?"

"Yep. We only have an hour and we have to mic check too." He said.

Shit. "Where the fuck is Mia?" I turned out and asked some of the staff.

"Language." Muttered Jimin.

I scoffed at him. "We don't have time for this."

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and called her. She answered on the second ring.

"Hey, Tara! I'm on my way back to the stage!"

"On your way back? Where did you go? We don't have time and Jimin-ssi isn't ready!" I practically yelled.

"One of the sets was left back at the hotel so I went to get it. I thought I'd make it back fast enough but I got stuck in some traffic... could you do Jimin today? Please?"

Boy, could I.

"Um, okay. Although, he's the one with the issue not me. I've never had a problem..." I whispered into the phone, feeling Jimin's eyes on me.

"Just tell him I'm not there, what can we do?" she said, defeated.

"Yeah, okay, I'll see you." I said and turned to face Jimin.

"She's not here," I began, "you have no choice but to sit in my chair today." I shrugged. He has to listen to me today. I smiled.

He sighed and said, "it's not your chair but okay."

I raised a brow at him. He didn't stand up.
"Well?" I prodded.

"You don't mean literally get off this chair and move to the next chair when you could just come here?" he said. Ah. He thought I was speaking metaphorically.

"Well, yeah..." I said.

"Just come here." He was looking me right in the eyes.

Oh. Ugh.

"Fine. Only because we don't have time for this." I said and moved to the next vanity.

He smirked at me and I rolled my eyes.

"That's not very nice." He, all patronizing.

"I know. But it's the nicest of the bunch of things I would rather do." I said and began his makeup. He laughed softly and stilled the instant my hand touched his face. I felt the last of his laugh rumble under my hand and I grabbed a brush instantly to distract myself. This is work, Tara. Focus.

I was inches from his face and I couldn't help but admire his features. His eyes are closed, he never has to know. My brush drifted over the soft slits of his eyes, the smooth creases of his skin, the cushiony plump of his lips. God, he's beautiful.

Before I realized it, my movements had slowed and I was gliding my hands at a rather leisurely pace. His eyes opened slid open and he watched me for one second too long. "We don't have all day, Tara." He whispered, brusquely.

Sweet baby Jesus.

"I'm almost done," I said, getting myself together, "also it's the first time I'm doing your look and I'd rather not give you a chance to complain." I said and stood upright. I hurriedly moved behind him and did his hair in a whopping 7 minutes, sped up by the awareness of his eyes on me in the mirror.

"All done." I said, tucking my hands behind my back and giving myself a moment to admire my work. At least that's what I told myself.

His eyes finally left my face and he looked at himself in the mirror. Giving me nothing more than an acknowledging "hmm", he stood up and left the room.

"Fuck him and his hmms." I said and sat down.