[JIKOOK AU] Jimin hires Jungkook to take photos of his tattoo shop, but what happens when the bunny boy gets a little too close for comfort? Will Jimin let his heart beat again? Will Jungkook be able to trust this dark brooding man?
Jungkook is walking down the road away from Uni. As he heads toward the Han River, his camera barely left his face, only pulling it away when crossing the road or adjusting settings. Sunset really is the golden hour for photos, Jungkook thought. The sun hung low in the sky casting a deep red-orange glow over everything. The river opened up to capture the city skyline perfectly.
Jungkook lifts his camera level to the bridge looking out into the sunburst Seoul sky. Just as the shutter went off, a motorcyclist speeds across his view. Jungkook startles. Looking into the viewfinder he finds a black biker streak through the golden sun. With a raised eyebrow and twitch of his lips, he decides to keep it. Even if it wasn't the originally intended image, it was still intriguing and likely would never happen again.
Jimin rounds the corner and pulls his black bike into the tattoo shop's parking lot. His blonde hair falls messily as he pulls his helmet off and moves into the building. The shop is alive with low buzzing from tattoo guns and chatting between artist and customers.
"Hey, boss!" Hoseok rings out when he sees Jimin walk in. He turns his attention back to the wolf on a man's leg.
"Sup, Hobi," Jimin replies back as he walks into the back room. "How's the shop been?" he asks after setting his helmet away and plopping into a sit behind a mini receptionist counter.
"Been good," Hoseok replies still focused on his hands at work. "Kind of slow, actually," Hoseok wiping at the man's new artwork. The guy smiles down at the finished work, very satisfied. Hoseok wraps up the piece and sends the man on his way. "You know, I was thinking we could revamp the place," Hoseok says walking back around Jimin. "It still has the 'Mom and Pop' feel, we should update it, ya know?"
This wasn't news to Jimin, Hobi has had this conversation a few times; valid but hard to put in motion. Jimin didn't have an eye for redecorating or creating a website or managing an Instagram account for that matter, but he knew that was where the customers were. On social media, liking, posting, re-posting, commenting on anything and everything they liked.
"I know, but unless you got someone to help then I'm at a loss," Jimin says tossing his head back on the chair.
He closes his eyes, thinking about the last couple of years. It was his dream to open his own shop and tattooing was the only thing he seemed to be good at. If it wasn't for Hobi, the shop would have stayed a dream. With Jimin's bad credit and shady past, Hobi was the one able to take out a loan and start up shop. Jimin and Hobi were co-owners, friends from younger days when they danced on the streets and caused trouble. Only, Hobi was able to get out of trouble better than Jimin.
"I think Jin can help with redecorating, and I think we should hire someone to take photos. High-quality photos of the shop would be inviting and we could ask our regulars to come in for touch-ups and get good pictures of those too," Hoseok says spinning in his chair.
Jimin perks up, lifting his head up to the ceiling, thinking about the logistics of a revamp. Hobi had a point. The shop was old but not in an endearing rustic way. In the way that one might question the foundations before stepping in. Granted the building was solid but the guts were just..not pretty. Hobi wouldn't have brought it up again unless he has a plan in mind.
"I'm assuming you have some more ideas," Jimin swirls to face Hoseok. Hobi wiggles his eyebrows as he lets out a little giggle.
"You know it," Jimin rolls his eyes but lets himself smile at this best friend. "I'll reach out and set some things up. Just sit tight," Hoseok winks.
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Hoseok walks into Jimin's apartment with takeout food in hand. "They were out of chili sauce," Hobi says as he sets down the food on the kitchen table.
"That's sucks," Jimin comes out of his room in gray sweats and a white shirt.
"I set up an appointment with a photographer to come over and figure out what we need," Hobi says as they pull out the food. "Are you free tomorrow at 3?" with food already in his mouth.
"Hmm, yeah I think so. I'll have to check the clients for tomorrow,"
"I already did. You're free." Hobi says matter of factly.
"Then why did you ask, if you already knew?" Jimin's gives a meme wft face.
"Call it manners. Anyway, we are meeting him tomorrow, so be nice!"
"I'm always nice," Jimin says bored.
"No. You're not." Hobi chuckles, "You get that "go fuck yourself" face when we talk to new people."
"Not my fault that we meet dumb people," Jimin says with sarcastic eyebrows.
"Just play nice, he's a sweet kid,"
"A kid? I thought this was a photographer," Jimin looking skeptical.
"It is. He's a few years younger than us, 20 I think. He's a photography major at X Uni. Even though he's still a student, his stuff is REALLY good. Wanna check it out?" Hobi asks as he starts pulling up Jungkook's Instagram page.
"It's fine," Jimin cuts off. "I'll trust that he isn't an amateur," he says uninterested. He'll trust that Hobi did his research like he always does.
"Ok, cool. Just be at the cafe down the street from the shop at 3 tomorrow, ok?" Hobi says as he throws his trash away.
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be there," still picking at his food. Half of his food goes uneaten into the trash soon after their talk.
After Hoseok leaves, Jimin retires to the living room with a bottle of soju for the night. It became more of a habit than a need to drink anymore. Since he left. It doesn't hurt anymore. He's moved on but the drinking stayed. Not into a problem but as a companion on empty nights. He soon passes out in front of the TV that was still playing reruns.
