𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐄𝐒 ✦ jikook

e i g h t e e n

A/N: Still can't believe that the story reached 1K *squeals in Whale*. Thanks guys for supporting me through my ups and downs. You're my major motivation not to drop this fic although it's freaking long ( I took a previous look at the not-so-detailed draft :)) )
Important: ships will be changed later people be ready 

"Jimin-sshi, can I use your shampoo?" 

"If you don't, how can you even shower!" Jimin yells from his cozy, small kitchen filled with the muffled popping in his microwave and continues with scrolling over his Instagram after hearing an affirming noise in his bathroom. His best "hoe" decided they have a movie night instead of having it on Thursday as usual after Jimin stopped over to greet. Jimin agreed almost immediately. After all, it's great to have company after being through a lot of what happened this morning. 

"Seriously, why didn't you shower earlier?" Jimin fakely knits his eyebrows together after seeing Hoseok getting out of his bathroom smelling like him and using his towel - the one he has just gotten out of the washing machine. 

"Devil's Curses and stuff." Hoseok stretches and trots over to Jimin, slightly sniffing like a little pup and when he seems to spot something, sparkles fill his eyes, making them glimmer under the warm yellow light. "Are you making your butter popcorn?" 

"It's movie night after all," Jimin shrugs and walks over to his fridge to grab some butter. "Think it'd be good to treat you after some what a tiring day for both of us." 

"Looking forward to seeing you talk about that and that crush of yours." Hoseok gives him a cheeky smile after throwing on his shirt that clings onto him perfectly, leaving only his boxers on. It's natural seeing his friend like this. In contrast, it would be weird if Hoseok agreed to list pants or trousers, shorts even in his home wear. He grabs the stick of butter from Jimin's hands and uses his leg to pull the cupboards open for him to get a big plastic bowl.

"You go and select a movie, something light for this night then we can small talk before actually going to bed." His friend gives him a smile that lights up every corner of his room and then turn to cut slices of butter to melt. Jimin looks at him adoringly and plops himself on the comfy carpet to select a movie himself. He wonders if back then he didn't find his way to Hoseok, would it change? Would it be better than this present he's in or worse? Would he be able to find himself a friend that brings Jimin a homely aura more that this? He gives Hoseok a closer look, from where he was seated on the fluffy carpet, he could see a happy Hoseok, humming a tune and knocking the kitchen counter with his knuckles into beats he doesn't know. The homely smell of butter, the heat that balances the coldness from his AC and Hoseok bright smile when he caught his friend looking at him with round eyes is what resembles Jimin's mother...

He wonders what she's doing right now... slightly sniffing to himself when he stumbled upon a film for the night. He picks it up then put it down, wondering if he should see it or not. 

"You found something that clicks?" Jimin swivels, seeing Hoseok setting a plastic bowl on his coffee table and plops himself down the mat next to his friend. "The fault in our stars?"

"I didn't recall you like romatic..." Hoseok lightly snickers and his smile fades away completely when he sees Jimin's beautifully glazed, red-rimmed eyes. "Minnie, have you been crying while I was in the kitchen?"

"I- uh.." Jimin flinches when Hoseok lifts his hand up to wipe his tears, trailing down his cheeks and his head slightly drops down, his shoulders relaxes from all the flinches. Pink hair stands hiding his eyes. "Yeah.. I can't help it.."

Hoseok looks at him with sad eyes and cover his small, chubby hands with his big ones which makes Jimin looks up with puffy eyes and sniffs.

"Look here.." Hoseok starts and looks at him softly in the eyes. "I told you once that if you have something that weighs you down, just.."

"Pour it out.." They said in unison and Hoeseok gives him his medication, always effective to brighten a sad person: his smile. 

"So if you're ready, just tell me..." Hoseok rubs circles on the back of Jimin's hand and with those words, Jimin breaks down into a sobbing mess. The one that Hoseok hasn't ever seen since he met Jimin. Jimin was, to him, a soft puppy that jumps and smiles every now and then. Doing cute things in high schools and with his killing beauty, even if it was him to die for, everybody wouldn't mind. Hoseok misses that time. After that beautiful timing was when his family rejected him for his liking towards boys and that night, when he opened the door was to reveal a sobbing Jimin with bruises on his right cheek and a busted lip corner. It was heart-wrenching for both of them. One was due to rejection by one's own family, own loved ones. One was due to the beating of one's friend. Jimin doesn't deserve to be like this, he doesn't deserve to cry. He was just a teddy that's hidden behind a shell to protect him from criticism.

"I miss them Hoseok..." Jimin says, looking up at Hoseok since now he's in his friend's protective arms. "I miss my family so much..." 

"I know Jimin," Hoseok whispers comforting words into Jimin's ear to soothe his cries and sobs. How painful and bitter it was to have nostalgia even when his family abandoned him. "It's okay... You're with me now, I'm going to take care of you.. I'm your second family..."

Jimin's tears pools down like rain, staining Hoseok's shirt. His friend looks at him sadly. It was his first breakdown after all these years gnawing down the pain, closetting it in his chest and hiding it from everyone with his bubbly smile. Being abandoned by loved ones was something hurtful, something that feels like you're never wanted anymore. If your relatives hate you, why would anyone bother to look at you?

That was what Jimin's thinking right now. He's depressed, he's scared that his only family - his Hoseok, will discard him, will kick him out of the house nonetheless than his father did. How his feet pushed Jimin's body down the porch making his back ached and bruised for days and his eyes picturing that hauntingly pitiful look from the neighbors looking down at him from their windows without reaching out an arm to help and the disappointing face of his mother and brothers hugging each other crying before his father slammed the door shut after spitting at his face: "You are never my son!"

Have memories triggered and replayed hurts like a bitch.

Hoseok sits and hugs Jimin without saying anything until Jimin drifts into deep slumber. Snoft snores escape his soft pink lips, he would sometimes hiccups due to all the crying but Hoseok hugs him closer, reminding him that he's here no matter what. Deciding that sleeping in this preposition will cause numbness in the morning, Hoseok quietly stands up to stretch and carries Jimin onto the couch bridal style. The popcorn he made left untouched and cooled in the bowl on the coffee table. After covering Jimin with a thick blanket from his bedroom, he sits on the other end of Jimin's couch and chews down a handful of buttered popcorn in peace. The lights are dimmed, only the table lamb beside him is on, casting down a shade of orange hue, sharping his straight nose, cheekbones and jawline. He sits silently, while chewing on the popcorn, sweetness booms in his mouth and he thinks of what happened before. It's painful to look at him like this, to learn about his past and not doing anything that can help him and Hoseok is no more or less than his best friend, his family, his guardian. That one Jimin always give his gratitude towards. But his hearts aches when Jimin mentions about his colleague and crush, love at first sight to that crappy cop that successfully stole Jimin away from him. He wants to be the only one that Jimin thinks of, not him.

Twisted smirk in the dark.

Whoever the fuck it is, Hoseok hopes that he could meet him soon.