Still With You [A Jikook Fanfiction ©️ Book 2]

Chapter Twenty One : Nov 2016

"Bangtan Sonyeondan!"

Every single member of BTS instantly froze.

As the name they had come to associate with themselves echoed around the arena, stimulating the mixed reactions of disbelieved cheers and shocked jealousy, every single member was still frantically reasoning with their brain than indeed yes... they had heard that name correctly. 

Still in disbelief, Jungkook's wide eyes drifted towards their leader. He was so shocked, Namjoon's move towards filing out of the Idol waiting area turned more into a delirious stagger, his hands shaking as he clasped the shoulders of each of them in stunned silence. Each of them began to slowly make their way to the stage, the roars of the crowd thinned, a small bubble of dulled noise enveloping each member in their humble attempt to process that yes...it had been their name read from the award paper.

"Did we... Did we just win...?" A timid voice finally managed to rise from Jungkook's throat as he glanced around at his brothers nervously, thankful that his first steps onto the stage did not end in a confused stumble.

"Yes Jungkookie..." Seokjin mumbled, although he too had only recently decided that his ears had not played tricks on him. The maknae's eyes widened. They had won? They had won Album of the Year? 

***

"Holy crap!" A squeal of laughter pierced through the loud bustling changing rooms as the final additions to Taehyung's stage paint was complete. Jimin looked up, his eyes growing wide as he followed Seokjin's jaw dropped gaze to Tae's back. Upon his skin, were two deep, jagged scars, blended thickly across his shoulder blades as if the young singer had indeed been harshly ripped of his precious black wings.

It was perhaps to be their most extravagant performance yet and certainly planned to send a very unsubtle message to their audience. They weren't playing around anymore. It began with Jungkook suspended in mid air over the stage, then, their performance would be eerily intersected with a brief dramatic interlude from Taehyung and Seokjin, finally concluding with the longest rendition of Fire they'd ever done.

Their shock of a win at MMA had understandably come with some harsh backlash. Fans of other groups had fiercely demanded it had all been an act of charity, a 'pity party' for the Kpop group barely scraping by in a small, irrelevant company. But BTS weren't backing down. They knew from now on, they'd have to use everything they had to prove they had deserved that award.

"Ok second performance. Mama 2016." Namjoon grinned, "It doesn't matter what happens, we just go out there and shock them all." They all nodded violently, "We're in this together and we always will be."

*
"Bangtan Sonyeondan!"

*
"I'm dead. I'm dreaming. I'm hallucinating... This is not real, this didn't happen-"
"-Tae stop being melodramatic and get off the floor. We won... Alright?"
The young singer lifted his head from where he had dramatically slumped within the hotel room, staring wide eyed up at the ceiling as if trying to figure out whether he was in fact trapped in a dream simulation he'd created for himself.

"Someone pinch me-Ow! Jimin!" The room howled with laughter as a sharp slap echoed around the space, "I said pinch! Not slap! Pinch!"
These hysterical antics drifted on for the rest of the evening, fueled by moments of sudden disbelief and the insistence from one or two that they were dreaming. They couldn't believe it. Not only had they won at MMA, but they'd won at MAMA shortly after. And soon, the hard work they had put in didn't quite seem so worthless anymore.

With all seven members in a overjoyed, happy state, it did not go unnoticed by those within the room that slowly, Jimin and Jungkook were inching closer with each heart warming laugh at each nostalgic memory one of the members happened to bring up. A smile drifted onto each face of the hyung line as suddenly Jimin took a sharp intake of breath and realised, Jungkook was staring adoringly into his eyes. They'd gotten so close, that, having both decided to address the other in the same moment, the lovers found themselves inches apart. The maknae gulped, his eyes flickering down to Jimin's soft lips and then back to the wide eyes in front of him. His heart fluttered at the touch of his older boyfriend's nose gently nusling against his own, both pairs of eyes closed in a wash of inescapable relief, and love.

A throat cleared loudly, "Oi bastards get a room or return to the party... Come on, out of your little love bubble now, chop chop." The trance broke at Yoongi's words and both maknae and his boyfriend spluttered with embarassed laughter. Finally sensing they'd surpassed the 'friendzone' once more, Jimin comfortably settled into Jungkook's lap, leaning his back against the maknae's warm chest as per Yoongi's request, they returned to reality. His heart jolted at the touch of two firm arms that wrapped themselves around his waist, accompanied by a gentle chin laid against his shoulder. They knew there was still some tension which had to be resolved first. But for now, both were happy to enjoy the loving embrace they were in.

As they all called it a night (or very early morning) Jimin felt timid fingers grasp his wrist as he stepped over the threshold of the hotel door. Turning back, he instantly became wrapped in a tight, endearing hug, a mop of dark hair deeply buried within the crook of his neck, "Jimin-shii..." the younger murmured, his grasp growing tighter with every moment, as if he never wished to let the precious older go, "I thought I was going to lose you..."
The older singer stood there, stunned. Although he'd seen Jungkook's support over the past month, the maknae never once vocalised how he had felt about the incident. He knew from Taehyung that the youngster had not taken the initial situation well, but since then, Jungkook had not commented on his emotions towards the event.

Jimin prised his boyfriend's head gently off of his shoulder, distinctly aware that the hotel door was wide open and any staff member could walk past at any moment.
"But you didn't," He replied, wiping a stray tear from Jungkook's cheek with a thumb, "I'm still here Kookie."
And the younger's response shocked him. "No-not my Jimin." A few more tears trickled down his cheeks, "I-I miss him so much...b-but-but we need to-"

Jimin nodded calmly, "-But we need to talk about some things first. And we will... Alright? How about tomorrow?" His heart soared in adoration as the youngster nodded timidly, furrowing his brow as if his mind had become subject to a cascade of confusing thoughts, "I'm going to sleep now Kook... But we'll talk I promise." It took every bone within his body to resist the temptation to lean forward and meet their lips. But he knew they'd get carried away. They wouldn't talk, the situation would be forgotten and then suddenly, out of the blue his guilt would flood back and it would shatter them both.

**
Despite what he'd said to Jungkook, Jimin didn't return to his room immediately. He hadn't lied to his boyfriend at all when he'd said his intentions of sleeping, but then, just as his hand grasped the door handle, his phone had buzzed. Initially, he wanted to ignore the message. It would only lead to more anger on his side. But then another part of him wondered if it might help his situation. If he spoke to him...

He scowled, "Damn you Ji-Seok." and spun on his heel towards the elevator.