Suga Baby •Sope•

Twenty Six

"That'll be twelve fifty." The mousy girl behind the counter said quietly.

Jimin fished his wallet out of his back pocket at the same time as Taehyung. They exchanged glances, Jimin raising his brow in question.

"What're you doing? I'll pay." He told the taller boy, resting a hand on his forearm to stop his movements. He knew Tae couldn't really afford it. Lunch here would probably mean missing out on something essential later. And since Hobi got his sweet new job, they were weren't hurting for money anymore.

"No, it's ok. I can-" He objected but Jimin shook his head, waving his card (well, technically it was Hoseok's spare) at the cashier who looked completely disinterested in their exchange.

"I'll pay you back." Taehyung insisted.

"Not if you want to stay friends, you won't." Jimin threatened teasingly. "Besides, I kinda like being your sugar daddy." He grinned impishly at the suddenly flustered boy. Both the Jung boys were incorrigible teases and relentless flirts. Jimin was perhaps a little shyer than his aggressively confident brother, but Hoseok had taught him everything he knew.

"You are not my sugar anything." He almost squeaked the words.

Jimin finished paying and meandered toward one of the cheap, brushed metal tables outside the small fish and chips store. Taking a seat, he lowered his voice until it was unnaturally deep and dropped a wink. "You sure, baby?"

The moment held, silence stretching between them until Taehyung gave a derisive snort, shoving Jimin's shoulder playfully. "You think you can buy all this with a burger and a few fries?" He gestured at his slouching torso. "I'm worth at least twice that!" He scowled with fake indignation.

Jimin doubled over with laughter, very nearly falling off his chair.

They spoke casually as they ate, often-times incomprehensibly with mouths almost overflowing with food. It was not exactly the most romantic of dates. But Jimin didn't mind. They could have been talking about the optimum PH of soil while doing the dishes and he still would have thought it was magical. That's what Taehyung did to Jimin's life. He just sort of lit everything up, made the mundane special.

"Wha?" Taehyung's cheeks were puffed out like a nut-stuffed chipmunk's, his lips pursed in a pout.

"Hmm?" Jimin hummed softly, a small smile playing around his lips.

Taehyung took a moment to swallow, choking a little on the sheer volume in his mouth.

"You're staring at me." He pointed out hoarsely.

"Oh. Sorry." Jimin straightened, his eyes dropping with embarrassment.

"It's ok. I don't mind. Just thought maybe you were wanted to say something. I know I can ramble sometimes. My mother says I don't let people get a word in edgeways. Anyways, what was I saying? Oh yeah, so that guy Justin I was telling you about? So, he says that his cousin caught a phone while he was on a roller coaster on the weekend." Tae informed him conspiratorially.

"No way." Jimin breathed, completely entranced.

"Well that's what I said. But it turns out it was true. I mean, sort of. There was a guy who caught one. Just not Justin's cousin. I mean, I don't think so anyway. It was in Spain so it probably wasn't." He tilted his head the way he always does when he's considering.

So. Frickin'.Cute. He thought, that small smile gracing his lips again. Taehyung blushed and ducks his head.

Oh no! Did he say that out loud? Stupid brain not stopping his mouth!