Jimin shifted nervously, holding his thumb on the neck of a champagne glass while well-dressed men and women walked around the art gallery MMCA rented to host their 'Still Life' Fellowship Showcase. The only rule for the submissions was that no fruit or vases could be the subject. The fellows had to explore what "Still Life" meant to them personally, beyond the traditional art style sharing the same name.

"Wow...Jimin-ssi." Min Yoona, an MMCA fellow, said as she approached Jimin's painting. The beta pushed a curl of magma-colored red hair behind an ear, then adjusted the string of her similar-colored floor-length slip dress. "Your portrait is so...nice."

Jimin rolled his eyes so hard he almost saw his own brain.

"Thanks Yoona-ssi. I could say the same about your ... dress."

Yoona frowned. Jimin ignored her, searching for their professor. The room featured several large, white blocks of walling to display the fourteen art pieces, set up like petals unfurling from a rose. The maze-like environment made it hard to keep an eye on where he was in the rotation of critiques.

After a moment, Jimin finally caught sight of their mentor rounding the corner of free-standing white walling. Professor Kim greeted another fellow, Seonghwa, with a smile. The omega had painted a forest, manipulating varying sizes of vague, dark shapes to create the impression of dead trees. The trees appeared endless, with bare branches and hollow trunks stretching out like long shadows. The artwork felt deeply personal; as if the omega had poured part of himself into the spaces between the branches and shadows. Jimin hoped their mentor would get lost in Seonghwa's work and entirely forget that Jimin was next in his rotation.

For Jimin's piece, he'd layered different hues of blue over Jungkook's facial outline, creating a water-like effect around his eyes. The negative space added a surreal feel to the painting, introducing an unsettling note to an initially tame piece. The massive canvas represented a month and a half of blood, sweat, and tears. Staring at it too long made Jimin feel nauseous. He couldn't help but assess how he could have used a darker blue in the right corner or how Jungkook's eyes needed just one more touch-up to truly encapsulate their roundness.

The itch to keep refining his work was a hard one to ignore. It was the main skill he hoped to gain from MMCA: knowing when to stop and be okay with whatever the final product looked like when it left his hands. As per the standard routine for their showcases, Jimin couldn't escape his personal perfectionism hell until Professor Kim stopped by.

Yoona had been the first to receive her feedback, so she was already free to roam. Jimin just wished the beta would roam literally anywhere else.

"Is he your alpha? The wolf in the portrait?" Yoona asked, eyeing the handsome face painted in varying saturations of blue. "A bit of a waste of a submission if you ask me, but it's cute that you painted him."

Jimin rolled his eyes again, squeezing as much sass into it as possible. There was no reason for her to assume he knew the wolf in the portrait at all – let alone believe he was an alpha. It'd been years since he'd heard someone refer to an omega as someone's wolf, too.

There was a light smirk on her lips as Yoona scratched the neck of her champagne glass with her manicured nail. "The way the paint bleeds over itself is nice, too. I bet it took a while for each layer to dry. It's a shame you only used blue, though. You shouldn't be afraid to use more colors, Jimin-ssi. I know it's hard for you to keep track of more than one."

Jimin clicked his tongue. "Right. Thanks, Yoona. Yours is the meadow portrait, right?"

If Jimin didn't think Yoona was such a bitch, her painting style might have been his favorite out of their cohort of fourteen fellows. She often gathered items from nature to press onto a canvas for her art, forming unconventional images. For reimagining 'Still Life,' she had created a 'meadow' by alternating fresh and dried flowers. Petals were pulled apart to form the impression of a sunset that could only be seen by taking several steps away from the canvas. The balance of fresh and dried petals added a cyclical depth to her art, contemplating the persistence of beauty. The fresh petals were vibrant; while the dried ones were more muted, their edges slightly curled in the piece. The contrast suggesting a sunset freezing life in its final, lingering light.

The beta grinned. "It's at the front. You should see it after your critique. It's hard to miss."

"Right. Will do." Jimin said, waiting for her to leave, but it seemed like Yoona was far from done with giving her own critique of Jimin's work. Jimin kept his positive opinions of her work to himself, knowing it would only fuel the beta's already unbearable ego. It was almost worse that she had the skill to back it.

The beta tilted her chin at Jimin's painting, eyeing it a second longer. "The water detail in the irises is nice, too. It ties the harsh lines of the eyes back into the rest of the piece. And the way you use white to scrape some light across them? It's almost like you thought the concept through. How does it feel? You must be excited to submit something complex for once."

"Wow, Yoona, that was almost a compliment," Jimin replied.

Yoona's lips curled into a sharp smirk.

"Just saying." She twirled the golden liquid bubbling in her glass. The words she'd actually come over to say were finally warmed up, ready to be released. "It's bold, Jimin-ah, plastering the alpha knotting you. That's who he is, right? Your 'still life?' That his post-sex glow?"

"Why? First time seeing one?" Jimin's smile turned menacing. He had no intention of correcting her that Jungkook was just his roommate, not when he could stoop to her level and be petty instead.

Yoona's face paled. Her smirk dropped into a pointed look. "It just explains why you wouldn't sleep with Seohyun when I asked you to. He really liked you, you know. It's sort of a slap in the face."

"Wait. That's what you've been so mad about? Yoona, that's insane. You set someone up with me, told them I'd sleep with them without asking what I thought first, and when I said no - which is a normal reaction to a random wolf being thrown at you during a wine night - you somehow think you're the victim? Because somehow that was embarrassing for you?"

Yoona snorted, though her ears flushed red at the call-out. "It's not my fault you're known to sleep with anyone. This painting just proves it. I'm trying to compliment you, Jimin. For being brave enough to paint who you really are."

"And what I'm 'known for' is sleeping with anyone? Holy shit, Yoona." Jimin said, leaning back on his heel and popping his hip. "At least I'm not a raging bi-"

"Jimin-ah!" A voice cut through the tension, instantly halting Jimin's words as his mentor approached the two wolves. Yoona offered a polite bow, shooting Jimin a glare before drifting off to bother someone else.

Jimin quickly shook off his standoff with Yoona and bowed to his mentor in greeting. He was glad to see her go, but that relief was quickly replaced with a pit of anxiety when Professor Kim squeezed his forearm.

"You're the only one who chose a human subject, you know. Seohyuk did a wolf, but you're the only one celebrating our human form." Professor Kim said kindly, nodding at the canvas hanging behind Jimin.

At just thirty-five, Kim Namjun had already dominated the art scene with his series of portraits depicting Korean men and women as everyday Korean objects. He incorporated elements like traditional instruments, such as the haegeum, parts of Seoul's palaces, and fruits like the Jeju citron, weaving them into the bodies of his subjects and captivating the Western world in the process. Jimin found it a real honor to study under him not only for his talent but also because he was considered incredibly young in their field. He made success feel possible.

Jimin blushed. "I found inspiration in an unexpected place, I guess." Professor Kim gave Jimin a nod to continue, urging him to expand. Jimin swallowed. "I thought most of us would take 'still life' literally. Go for objects or nature. You know, like Yoona. But I liked the idea of capturing someone's perception of the world instead. How some people live only in the moment directly in front of them. Their lives are 'still' in that way. Almost like they're stuck in the present."

Jimin turned towards his painting, trying hard not to criticize where he could have added another stroke of paint or done one less. Jungkook's wide eyes stared back at him, filled with the same excitement they'd held when he'd soaked in the baseball game the night Jimin had first sketched him.

"I don't know what it'd be like to live unburdened by the things I've gone through," Jimin said, smiling at the memory. "But there's something kind of incredible about people who can. It's foreign to me, but I also find it really beautiful."

Jimin blushed, realizing he had just complimented himself in front of his mentor.

Professor Kim laughed. "Relax, Jimin-ah. Today is about celebrating all your hard work. I'm glad you were able to make something you connect with. That's what really matters with art, you know. Finding something you can step back and feel good about at the end of the day. The meaning is important too, but the joy you gain from creating it way more so."

Jimin nodded, unsure if he agreed, but he hoped to incorporate that mindset one day.

"Good job, Jimin-ssi. Try and enjoy the rest of your night," His mentor said, parting with a glint in his eye before searching for the next painting to go and view. Jimin thanked him and bowed a full ninety degrees.

As soon as his critique ended, Jimin bolted for another champagne glass, draining half of it in one go. He was reaching for a refill when he spotted his friends walking through the front door of the art show.

"Taehyung!" Jimin brightened as his best friend held a bouquet of flowers in his arms. Namjoon and Seokjin followed close behind, also both carrying flowers. Jimin squealed when he saw them all and was immediately swarmed by a hug from Seokjin. The omega smelled like vanilla and coffee grounds.

"Congratulations, Jimin-ah," Namjoon said, pulling Jimin for a side hug after. He smelled like rain, creating a cozy scent when mixed with his mate's.

"I thought you guys wouldn't be able to make it!" Jimin said. Being surrounded by his friends felt like getting dunked in ice water; his nerves instantly shocked into confidence.

He couldn't stop grinning, arms full of three bouquets. Each wolf had chosen one in their own style: Taehyung's sexy and clean, a mix of black violets and baby's breath; Namjoon's a bundle of timeless pink roses, and Seokjin's was a storm of every flower imaginable. He could see each of them so clearly in their separate gifts.

"What, and miss your showcase? Never," Seokjin cooed. "I put one of the new kiddos in charge of closing the café today. It's good practice for them and good exposure therapy for me to trust my beautiful baby won't burn down without me there."

Namjoon and Taehyung exchanged a quick look over Seokjin's head. Taehyung barely lifted an eyebrow, and Namjoon only met his eyes briefly, but it was enough to clue Jimin in that Seokjin's late hours as a café owner was the source of the couple's recent tension.

Jimin pulled Seokjin into another hug, holding him a bit longer. Seokjin always kept a tight grip on his café, showing up to their group hangouts with coffee grounds and syrup on his arms as often as Jimin's were smeared with paint.

"Hyung, you didn't have to do that," Jimin said. He couldn't imagine how hard it had to be to balance that passion, but he knew Seokjin was trying. Jimin had already mentally prepared for his friend not being able to make it, so it was almost overwhelming that he came.

Seokjin laughed like Jimin had just said the funniest joke in the world, even going so far as to slap him on the shoulder. His laugh boomed with the strength of an old man, so much so that tears lined his handsome face. Jimin begged the omega to stop when people started glancing their way, seeking the source of the sudden noise.

"Worldwide handsome, you know?" Seokjin announced proudly, waving at the onlookers, completely unashamed. He blamed his "lethal face card" for the attention thrown their way and added that "everything will be fine because I'm beautiful."

Jimin grinned, covering his laugh with the back of his hand, which made all the flowers hug tighter against his chest. Namjoon kissed Seokjin's cheek and rested a loving hand on the small of his back. Seokjin melted into the touch; it was the only sign showing just how overworked the wolf truly was.

"Your mom?" Taehyung asked gently, noting the relief on Jimin's brow and the missing person next to him.

Jimin's smile faltered. "She's not here. And not on her way, either."

"I'm sorry, Jimin-ah," Namjoon said softly. "I know you were hoping she'd show."

Jimin shrugged, trying to brush it off. "She called earlier to congratulate me, which is something. I just... don't fully understand. She's the one who wanted to rebuild things between us, so why not come in person? It's more than my dad's done in years, but." He shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe that's why it hurts more. I feel like I'm going crazy trying to tell if I'm being too hard on her or if it's okay that I'm disappointed she isn't here."

Namjoon pulled Jimin into another side hug while Seokjin gently rested a hand on Jimin's forearm. Taehyung's amber-oud scent warmed the air, wrapping around Jimin like a cozy blanket. The overwhelming love of his friends tightened the knot in his throat, making him laugh awkwardly before he completely unraveled into a sobbing mess.

Jimin held up the flowers with a shaky smile. "Who needs the love and stability of family when I've got three sexy friends to love me instead?"

Seokjin chuckled, and Namjoon nodded in agreement. Taehyung stepped closer, his shoulder gently overlapping Jimin's, like he could shield him from any lingering negative thoughts. It was subtle but instantly grounding, allowing Jimin to focus on celebrating his accomplishment of participating in MMCA's third showcase instead of the complicated mess that was his relationship with his parents.

The conversation turned into casual chatting between the friends before they decided to walk around and view all the artwork. Seokjin strolled with the confidence of a Joseon King, going from one art piece to the next, animatedly exclaiming elements he liked or didn't like. Namjoon stared after his mate like a moon-sick Lycan.

The pair were odd complements of each other. Namjoon slowly admired the art, tilting his head and sharing his thoughts only after observing the different pieces, while Seokjin preferred making quick judgments the instant he saw them. It caused the two wolves to bicker, but their words were as warm as the happy, amused shine to their eyes. Namjoon's hand stayed on Seokjin's waist as they moved around the space, placing little kisses under Seokjin's ear occasionally, trading private, sweet smiles.

Taehyung and Jimin trailed behind, giving the mates some space, with Jimin filling him in on all the latest drama from MMCA. The cohort spent so many hours learning together and receiving critiques that a strange sort of trauma bond was forged. Everyone knew too much about each other; something would blow up socially every other week. Sharing the harmless gossip with Taehyung felt cathartic. It was a perfect distraction to keep Jimin from checking his phone, hoping for a text from his mom saying she'd changed her mind and was on her way. Taehyung listened intently, sharing news of his jazz band members here and there, too.

They were nearing Jimin's painting when Taehyung's jaw dropped, staring at the gallery's front door. Jimin frowned because he'd only gotten to the best part of a story about a fellows' wine night standoff. It was between Seohyuk and an omega that Jimin adored, Seonghwa, that ended in the wildest trade of aired-out laundry Jimin had ever heard firsthand. That was until he turned around, and the thought left him entirely.

At the front door stood three alphas. They were large and burly against a sea of business casual. To the left was Min Yoongi, a pale man with a gummy smile, swapping two champagne glasses from a passing staff member's tray. On the right was Jung Hoseok. He was tall with a long face and an impossibly bright smile that absolutely lit up the room.

But it was the wolf in the middle that stole Jimin's attention.

Jeon Jungkook stood tall, with stray curls of black hair escaping at the base of his neck. He added a new outfit to his rotation of sweatpants and compression shirts, dressed in clean black slacks and a button-up shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to show swirling ink clawing its way up an impossibly muscled arm. The wolves stood confidently, with strong bodies juxtaposing incredibly kind faces, looking like a trio that came to collect money rather than art enthusiasts.

"I didn't know you guys ordered strippers for these kinds of things," Seokjin said before being lightly flicked in the back of his head by his mate. Seokjin pressed a kiss to Namjoon's neck, rubbing his nose delicately to scent the alpha in apology. "Relax, Bubba. You know no big, bad, burly strippers could ever do it for me like –"

"I should run over and go say hi," Jimin cut in, eyes fixed on Jungkook, desperate not to hear the rest of Seokjin's sentence. He handed his flowers to Taehyung with a quick, apologetic look. "Can you keep an eye on these for me? I'll be right back. Good luck with... all that." Jimin said after a second, motioning to all the PDA happening.

Taehyung shot him an exaggerated look of disbelief, glancing between Jimin and their friends as though Jimin was leaving him behind on a deserted island. Jimin mouthed a 'thank you' and an 'I owe you' before weaving through the room, rushing over to the jocks at the door.

"Jungkook! What are you doing here? How did you even know about this?" Jimin said, the shock clear in his voice. His head felt like it was spinning - and it had nothing to do with the champagne. The very last person Jimin expected to see was his roommate.

__________

A/N:

I decided to split the chapters up in half, including the two previously posted chapters, which is why there might have been notifications for four new chapters when there are really onto two new ones! This means that instead of six total chapters, we'll have twelve. AO3 will have the chapters as one, but the content will be identical to WP. WP will just have them split to make it more user friendly because of WP's formatting.

I'll update this in the overview section, too.

But how is everyone?? How are feeling??

- Vio