Jimin snorted. "You sound like a stoner."

"I am a stoner."

Jimin laughed, resting his head on the back of the couch. It felt too good to be sitting down.

"Any news on Yoona?" Taehyung asked, shifting the conversation to something lighter, though equally as fun to talk about. Drama.

Jimin groaned, rolling his eyes. "We had a check-in on our submissions last week. I had nothing to show yet, so she turned to me and called me an early bloomer."

"What does that even mean?"

"No, because - exactly. First off, I think she was trying to call me a 'late bloomer,' like I'm late to start my project, so somehow that translates to me being late in my life experiences. Which doesn't make sense on so many levels. Second, if you're going to try to be backhanded, at least research your insults."

Taehyung snorted.

Jimin turned his gaze up at the alpha. "Speaking of drama, how's the band situation? My Yoona feud is nothing new."

Taehyung groaned, rubbing his face with his hands. "I have no idea. Our saxophonist is just on a completely different page than everyone else."

Jimin nodded. "Yeah, I remember you saying that. Is it just with you or with everyone in the band?"

Taehyung sighed. "Sort of everyone right now. It's like every time we sit down to brainstorm, it turns into a battleground instead of creating something together. Everyone has such strong opinions about the music, so it's hard to find common ground. Jazz is chaos, which makes it beautiful, but we still need to work together for it to organically grow."

Jimin nodded. "What do you think is causing all the tension? Maybe there's something behind the scenes you're not aware of?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure," Taehyung admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I mean, we all care about the music, and that's part of the problem. We're all so passionate, but it leads to our ideas clashing over our direction."

"Yeah, I can see how that," Jimin replied thoughtfully. "I think when everyone's so invested, it's easy for disagreements to escalate. Have you talked with your band about it yet? Not about your music, but the tension you guys are all feeling."

"That's the plan tonight. We're talking things out before we dive in again. Try to see what's really going on, and hopefully, it'll open space for us to perform together more cohesively."

Jimin nodded. "You want to come over to smoke after? So, you have something fun to look forward to?"

Taehyung looked over at Jimin, smiling. "Ah, Jimin-ah. My favorite non-smoking ally."

Jimin laughed, shrugging. "Look, I'm not a smoker but I love a good nap on a couch. You smoke, I nap; it's a beautiful friendship combination."

Taehyung snorted. "Sounds beautiful, but I can't tonight. I think the guys and I are going to be working this out all night. Hopefully, we can improvise together afterward to get back into it, so I think we'll be going until morning. But thanks, Jimin-ah. Next time, for sure."

Taehyung looked down at his phone and frowned at the time. "Damn, speaking of which, I should get going." He blinked. "Unless you want to come with me? I could use a buffer to ease into it."

Jimin slowly peeled himself off the couch. He looked out his studio window. The sun going down had cast the space in a deep golden light. "I can't tonight, Tae. I need to shower this charcoal and paint off me. Plus, it sounds like a band-member thing. I don't know how much help I'll be sipping whiskey in the corner. But call me if you need support or an excuse to leave the room. I'll keep my notifications on in case you do."

Jimin glanced down at the charcoal smeared across his skin. As much as he loved Taehyung, the thought of stepping into a crowded social setting while he felt so cozy, comfortable, and tired made him want to fling his body off the nearest cliff. His need for a hot shower and an even better nap won over any thought of leaving his apartment. Taehyung just shrugged, knowing Jimin well enough to have anticipated the answer, and a box smile appeared on his lips for getting it right.

Jungkook was making a protein shake in the kitchen when they emerged from the makeshift studio, his hair damp from a shower and those grey sweatpants hugging his frame again. Jimin screamed at himself and at his omega for how quickly his gaze flicked to the stupid Calvin Klein waistband, startled by the fact that he was starting to find the outfit attractive.

Maybe Jimin was turning into a stalker.

It's okay if you find him hot. Doesn't mean anything if there isn't more to it. He reassured himself. He was probably just exhausted, too, which didn't help.

"You heading out?" Jungkook asked as Taehyung and Jimin came into view. "It was good to meet you, man."

"Right," Taehyung replied, casting a sidelong glance at Jimin. "Good to meet you too. Man."

Jimin shot Taehyung a look to play nice. Taehyung's expression lost its humor, looking directly at Jungkook with darkening eyes. He spiked his scent, much more a threatening reminder than a possessive one, signaling not to mess with Jimin or his space.

Jungkook glanced between Jimin and Taehyung, lingering on Taehyung briefly before shifting his focus back to Jimin. He leaned against the kitchen counter, taking a sip of his shake. While Jungkook wasn't exactly smiling, his energy brightened as he engaged with Jimin. He focused on the omega, seemingly just happy to be there and utterly unphased by Taehyung's whole protective-best-friend deal.

"I'm gonna put Fast and Furriest on. You want to join, or are you heading out too?" He asked.

"You hate that movie," Jimin replied.

"Yeah, but a new one came out on Nest-Flix, and I like exploding cars, so."

Jimin flicked his brows up. His smile grew slowly, disbelief and amusement blooming with it. "I mean, what's not to love about exploding cars?"

"Exactly."

Taehyung leaned against the wall, tilting his head with a lazy lift of his brow at Jungkook. He crossed his arms, a low growl rumbling in his throat, causing Jimin to jump at the sound. While Taehyung wasn't exactly a pacifist, he rarely disliked someone enough to drop past indifference. "I get that Jimin is letting you stay here because his jerk of a roommate ditched him and left an alpha in his place, but a movie? Really? Maybe be a little more sensitive to the fact that you're in an omega's apartment instead of hitting on him two weeks in."

Jimin shot Taehyung a deadpan look, expecting his friend to throw some equally sassy look his way. Instead, Taehyung wore a serious expression, and Jungkook finally took the bait. He turned to Taehyung, and Taehyung's amber scent clashed with Jungkook's citrusy sandalwood as they glared each other down. Jimin instinctively reached for the side of the counter, feeling his head grow lighter at the clash of scents and the weight of tension growing in the room from the threatening pheromones the two alphas flooded his tiny apartment with.

Jimin wanted to snap at them to stop, but the physical shock kept him at bay. Taehyung stood incredibly still, and Jimin realized his friend might actually jump Jungkook. The musician, with his delicate build and artistically thin frame, drowned beneath oversized layers, looked like he might pounce on a guy twice his muscle mass at the mere thought of Jungkook making Jimin uncomfortable in any way.

Jimin felt two things at once: first, annoyed because these fucking alphas kept scenting territorial pheromones into his apartment without consideration that it'll knock his omega-ass out. And second, understanding. Jimin had almost two weeks and multiple conversations with Jungkook to grow trust with him, while Taehyung had only just learned about the alpha - an athlete from a sport and sub-culture that historically objectified omegas – that morning.

Jungkook's alpha engaged with Taehyung's own wolf, transforming the stand-off into something more primal. Jimin might murder them both if they didn't knock it off. His head was starting to spin, and it was getting harder to keep his eyes open. He thought about reaching for the cooled frying pan on the stove. He could knock at least one of them out with it so they'd stop, and then maybe he could fucking breathe, but he wasn't strong enough under the pheromones causing his omega to heel in his chest. Plus, there was the whole don't result to violence moral standing and legal repercussions to consider when hitting someone over the head frying pan.

Noticing Jimin's grip slip, Jungkook immediately pulled back. The initial bloom of sweeter, lemony calming pheromones briefly filled the air, but Jungkook cut it off without Jimin asking. He bit back the reflex to release them, remembering how Jimin asked him to be more mindful the first day he moved in. In the absence of Jungkook's scent, amber overpowered the kitchen. Jungkook reached for Jimin, steadying him by the shoulders, his expression a portrait of apology. Jimin managed a slight nod to signal he was okay, and Jungkook nodded back before reaching over Jimin's head to turn on the oven fan, hoping to clean some of the air before looking back at Taehyung.

"Woah. Dude. What the fuck? I'm not coming onto your friend. Just trying to get some quality roomie time in." He explained. The black color left his irises as Jungkook returned to the forefront of his body, his wolf settling down.

"Some what?" Jimin laughed weakly, eyeing the oven fan. He was surprised at how well it worked to clear out the pheromones. He'd never thought to use it to clear alpha bullshit before. He could feel his omega wag its tail, and he couldn't help but melt a little bit at Jungkook calling watching a movie together 'roomie time.' It was sweet.

Taehyung finally calmed down, his scent softening back to the amber oud notes of an expensive cologne instead of the burning forest it had been before. Color returned to his irises, and his wolf seemed to step away. Jimin didn't seem afraid of Jungkook, and that was what his friend cared about ensuring most.

"The offer stands for jazz tonight, Jiminie. If you don't feel safe staying here alone with him." Taehyung said to Jimin in a low voice. "Unless you really want to watch Fast and Furriest: the fastest and the furriest part fifty - the still fast and still furry."

Jungkook frowned. He took a long swing of his protein shake, crossing an ankle. "You're making fun of me." He observed Taehyung. "That's okay. Not everyone knows how to enjoy things. Says more about you than it does me that you're making fun of it without giving it a chance."

Jimin frowned, still holding onto the counter, trying to catch his breath. Taehyung's expression melted into an apologetic one and Jungkook jumped to his feet, putting down his shake to go to the living room and open some windows. Jimin relaxed the second the rush of cold wind and city scents further cleared out the alpha's scents. Jimin straightened out, throwing Jungkook a grateful look which caused the jock to blush slightly as he came back to the kitchen.

"I'll be fine, Taehyung-ah. Seriously. Don't worry about me."

Taehyung frowned, hesitating at Jimin's doorway. Finally, he melted away his reservations and pulled Jimin into a warm hug.

"Alright, but call me if you need anything," Taehyung said as they parted. They exchanged quick goodbyes, with Jimin promising to reach out if needed and asking Taehyung to do the same. Taehyung then left without casting another glance at Jungkook.

As the door clicked shut, Jungkook took a sip of his protein shake.

"You got interesting friends."

Jimin's brows rose. "And you don't?"

Jungkook shrugged. "You want to watch the movie, though?"

Jimin snorted, but his smile still grew. "And what? Miss our regularly scheduled, long-standing tradition of Roomie Time? What kind of wolf would I be?" He placed a hand dramatically on his chest, his lips curling into a deadly grin.

A laugh danced in Jungkook's dark eyes, taking another sip of his protein shake. "I'm aware the movie's bad, you know. They just say, 'We're family,' and then something explodes for an hour and a half. But I think it's okay to enjoy things that aren't that serious."

Jimin's smile dipped slightly, guilt creeping in. Taehyung was only hard on Jungkook because Jimin had him fed that perception. "I'm sorry about Taehyung. He's not usually an asshole."

Jungkook shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked down. "I'm sorry for giving into it. I should have noticed sooner that we were affecting you so badly. I'm normally more perceptive than that, but he said that shit about me hitting on you, and I just lost it."

"What? No, you noticed right away. The fan? That was genius. Genuinely - I never would have thought that of that." Jimin said, exasperated. It seemed to cheer Jungkook up, easing some guilt from his brow. "And thank you," Jimin added a more serious note. "For stopping right away. I don't know what's been going on with me lately. I'm not usually this sensitive to scents."

"No, it's normal," Jungkook reassured him. "It can't be easy to adjust to alphas constantly being around you. I'm grateful you're so kind to me, you know. I'm sorry if I'm making things harder for you. But I think you'll love the movie if you give it a chance. If you let yourself have fun with it, I mean. My birth mom texted that the soundtrack tops all the other movies - they got Chappell Rawrn on it."

Something bright and warm bloomed in Jimin's chest as he looked at Jungkook. The alpha seemed so excited - not by the idea of watching a movie with his roommate or even about the film itself. He just seemed happy that Jimin was focused on him.

"Give me fifteen minutes to shower, and then let's watch cars blow up. There's popcorn in the right cabinet if you want to make some. I'm still covered in charcoal and paint, but I'll come right out after." Jimin said, melting a little bit more.

Jungkook perked up, standing with a dumb smile as if he had a tail wagging behind him.

"I call the right side of the couch, though," Jimin said as he walked towards his bathroom.

"I call the heavy blanket, then. The big fancy one," Jungkook shot back, rummaging through the cabinets for popcorn.

"I love that blanket," Jimin pouted from the doorway.

"I love the right side of the couch," Jungkook replied, peeking out from behind the cabinet door with a cheeky grin.

"Fine. Trade?" Jimin suggested.

Jungkook reached over the kitchen counter, offering Jimin a fist vertical bump. "Trade."

Jimin looked down at Jungkook's hand, thinking how deflated he had gotten when Taehyung had rejected his crazy hand combo earlier in the day. It was nothing, just a small kindness, but he met Jungkook's fist with his own. It caused Jungkook to break into a massive smile, his scent sweetening into its more citrusy notes. Jimin's water lily own meeting it.

The jock never failed to surprise him. Jimin laughed, waving as he slipped into the bathroom without looking back, knowing that if he stayed any longer, his smile might grow dumber by the second.

_______________

A/N:

Jesus Christ, you guys, I edited this chapter after spending hours reworking an old fic — and the old fic is heavy. In retrospect, some stories are just darker that I remember when first writing them. Going to AbaJ was like watching cartoons after a horror movie.

Sorry this section is shorter than the rest!! Chapter 2 didn't split apart very well, but I tried my best to make it work. There will be more Jikook-heavy interactions soon too, don't worry <3 

Hope everyone's weeks have been good and that they've been having a good time with the story so far!! Let me know what you think!!

- Vi