'Miss you too daddy'
It was hours later when he finally allowed himself to actually look. To pick up the device from it lay discarded on the coffee table.
And he instantly regretted it. Because his baby had sent him a picture in return and he looked so good he actually wanted to do something reckless and completely out of character.
Cream colored sweater that was loose at the neck line, leaving so much skin exposed. The slender column of his long neck and the delicate protrusion of his collar bone. Brown hair sweeping down over his forehead and black, thick rimmed glasses perched on his nose.
How anyone could look so good wearing glasses he would never understand.
And those lips. They looked so full and soft, just a little pink like he had just finished sucking on a lollipop. Parted just so and he actually wanted to bite the lower, thicker one. Suck it right between his own and nibble on it until it was swollen.
He had to stop this. He had to stop having these thoughts. Had to.
But the background caught his attention. The wide open expanse, the wooden floor and the racks of chairs lined up against the wall. He had never seen it before in all of the pictures that Jin had sent, and he felt something he couldn't describe well up inside of him.
Something he didn't want to be feeling.
Something ugly and cold and he tried to push it down but it just reared up endlessly.
'Where are you baby?'
He actually waited this time. Kept the phone in his hand until Seokjin replied. Counted down the minutes and growled when they reached the count of ten. Thought about sending another when the reply finally came through.
'Sorry daddy, I'm still at work. Talk to you when I get home?'
'You don't work on Thursdays.'
Seokjin worked on the weekends. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He had the schedule completely memorized. Knew because he had been so incredibly put off that they couldn't go out to any of the parties and he had been left sitting at home until Seokjin had told him to go and have fun. Just to please remember their agreement.
That Seokjin would be his only. No commitment. All the rewards, the benefits, with none of the actual responsibility.
'I know, but they were hosting a wedding reception so I agreed to come in and help out.'
'What if I wanted to see you tonight?'
It was already late. Glancing at the clock confirmed that idea. And he knew, rationally, that if he had wanted to see Seokjin he would have set it up much earlier. It was, perhaps, the only positive of this entire situation. He tended to formulate just enough of a plan and have just enough foresight to give just enough of a head's up. After which every thing was completely fair game.
'Jungkook.'
Seokjin rarely ever used his name. It was like it held some sort of power that he didn't want to wield. Like it made this entire thing too much. Made it too real.
'I really can't talk right now.'
'Don't you dare ignore me Seokjin."
But he watched as the little symbol next to the message changed into a check mark. And nothing else came through.
Nothing else. Just that. Just being left on read. With absolutely no reply.
He felt something twist inside of him. Something dark that he couldn't control. Something he had tried so hard not to think about.
Jealousy.
And it was painting his entire field of vision red. Made his fingers tighten until he heard the sound of plastic cracking and glanced at the phone still held within his hand. Growled at the sight of his twisted case, before checking to make sure the actual device was still functional.
Jealousy.
It's what had him practically stalking out of the house, ignoring the sound of Yoongi calling behind him, asking what had him so pissed off. But his foot steps were heavy and his shoulders were squared and the aura coming off him was thick and dangerous.
It's what had him driving to Seokjin's, practically ripping the door off the hinges as he entered the small lobby, climbing the stairs two at a time until he reached the apartment he occupited. Growled again in frustration as he realized he didn't even have the code to enter.
It's what had him sitting there, weight pressed back, fingers tapping against his knee as he waited. Had his teeth nipping at the skin of his cheek, chewing at it until it was raw and sore. Had him jumping up every time someone came up the stairs, but it was never Seokjin.
Had him sitting there for actual hours. But the sound of foot steps never sounded familiar.
'Where the fuck are you?'
He regretted it almost as soon as he typed it, his own thumb practically betraying him as he hit send.
'It was late and I didn't want to drive home so I'm crashing with Hoseok.'
'I'm gonna need some proof.'
'Are you fucking kidding me right now?
Seriously, Jungkook, did you hit your head or something?'
'I said I need a picture.'
'Did I ever ask you for pictures of where you were?'
'That's different.'
'Fuck you, Jungkook.'
But Seokjin was nothing if not obedient. And he watched as the picture popped up. Saw that they were spread out on the floor of what looked like an apartment, take out containers surrounding them. A pair of chop sticks in each of their hands. His pretty baby had changed into a tee shirt - and he recognized it instantly. Realized that it was one he had accidentally left behind when he had stayed over. His precious boy was wearing it. He wondered if he had even bothered to wash it, or if he had left his scent embedded into the fabric.
He should feel something. Guilt. Remorse. Anything but the smug satisfaction that he could literally get Seokjin to do anything.
'Send me the address. I'm coming to get you.'
'Jungkook.
It's late. All I wanted to do is eat and go to sleep.'
'You can sleep at home with me.
You don't belong with anyone else, Seokjin.
You belong with me.'
Little bits of truth, sprinkled in like he was a baker making some sort of delicious sweets. Letting his fingers get ahead of his brain, allowing his heart to do the work of formulating the words.
It was so manipulative. But he knew exactly what to do to make Seokjin bend, to make him give.
'Fine. Just text me when you get here.'
He was already half way down the stairs when the address came, and he plugged it into his GPS as he went. Already planning what his baby's punishment was going to be for misbehaving so badly.
...
Author's Note: The 'Where Love Goes' photo chapter in Echoes has been updated with some new pictures from this chapter if you're a visual person like me and want to check it out!
