向日葵
summer

"Yeah, I'm out of ideas." Seokjin admitted when the group gathered the next Monday. The younger pair had expected there to be a new way to promote the store ー they'd spent the entire walk from Taehyung's house discussing what it could be ー and they both felt a mix emotions. While the conversation had been fun, Jungkook was glad that some of them no longer had any possibility of happening. And he was glad the bear suit wasn't coming back.

"Except," Seokjin continued with a smile that could only mean trouble for one or both of his employees. The only thing going through Jungkook's head as he awaited the exception was, oh god. "I do have one final thing, as a celebration for surviving through all my jobs. Today, things'll go back to normal but I also need you to run a few jobs for tomorrow, which will be when we'll do the thing I've thought up."

"What is the thing?" Taehyung asked.

"Just a little barbeque. I'll need you to get some food for it: just some sausages and onions'll do, I'll get the sauces. Namjoon said he'll supply the actual barbeque and help outー"

"We get to meet Namjoon?!" Taehyung exclaimed, cutting his cousin off. His eyes were wide and a smile was forming on his sleeps. Jungkook hadn't realised this was so exciting.

"Yes, but I was speakingー"

"Jungkook, we get to meet Namjoon!" The pink-haired florist cut in again, turning to the younger. Seokjin's jaw visibly clenched.

"Taehyung. Talking."

"Yeah, yeah, Jin. But we get to meet Namjoon, do you know how exciting this is? I've heard so much about him but never got to meet him. I finally get to meet my future cousin-in-law." He then stood there, grinning widely. The older florist didn't say anything at first, just in case Taehyung decided he wanted to point out how exciting this was again.

"Can I continue?" The younger nodded. "Good. So, Taehyung, I need you to go to the butcher's and―"

"I can get the meat." The interruption now came from Jungkook, someone Seokjin wouldn't have expected to interrupt. But, at least, the boy had piped up with something useful. "I know a place with good meat ― that place I was telling you about. I can go there and get some."

"Alright, you do that then. Taehyung, you can stay here and run the shop then. Sound good?" Everyone nodded, and the boss clapped his hands together. "Alright, then you can go to work."

"Yes, sir, Mr Boss Man." Taehyung said, saluting his boss. His cousin frowned at him.

"Boss Man? You're an idiot..."

ーー＊ーー

"Min's Meat." Jungkook muttered under his breath as he approached the butcher's. He wondered if it was meant to be a double entendre; he figured it probably was. He entered the shop, instantly hit by a wave of cold air. It was like a fridge in the butcher's, a contrast to the sweltering heat outside. As he approached the counter, the brunette could see goosebumps appearing on his bare arms.

"Hey, it's skewer boy!" The butcher cried out behind the counter, instantly recognising the younger male. "You were one of the few guys who actually accepted my freebies."

"Oh... okay. I came to get some sausages, for a barbie." Jungkook said.

"Why stop at sausages? We have lamb skewers on saleー hey, I tell you what, I'm pretty bored here so how about I give you some skewers at a discounted price and I can make them with my secret recipe free of charge."

"I'd have to ask my boss... Hang on." He pulled out his phone and quickly opened up his messages with Seokjin. There weren't many of them but the older male had insisted they exchange numbers, in case he ever needed to contact him and because they were friends now. That was one thing about the cousins that continued to confuse the younger male: how easily they decided someone was their friend.

Jungkook:
the butcher is offering to cook some lamb skewers for free

Jungkook:
he says he's bored

Jin:
does that mean less work for me? coz i'm all for that

"He says that's fine." Jungkook said once the response returned. This seemed to please the butcher, who promptly threw his apron off and let it fall to the ground. He'd already packed up the meat and he handed this to the brunette.

"I'm Yoongi, by the way; Min Yoongi."

"Jeon Jungkook. Do you own the butcher's then?" Yoongi smiled, nodding as he turned around to look at the shop sign.

"Yep, completely mine. I even came up with the name ー clever, huh?" The florist nodded, smiling a little. "Business isn't doing too well though, and it's making Dad want to step in and show me how it's done. He and his dad started a business from scratch too, so I think he's a bit upset that I didn't take up the family business too. But hey, what're siblings for?"

"Yeah," Jungkook said in response, trailing off with an awkward chuckle.

"What do you do?"

"Currently I'm a florist, but I've only been working as one for a couple of months. Next year I'm going to go to uni to study hospitality and then after I get my degree I'll start working for the family restaurant."

"So floristry isn't the big dream?" Jungkook shook his head.

"No, the plan's always been to work at the restaurant; I haven't started yet because Grandma let me go to uni first." Yoongi nodded slowly, a soft frown forming on his brow. They lapsed into silence, heading off to the flower shop.

The barbeque was all set up when the pair arrived, and Taehyung seemed to be harassing a pink-haired man. Jungkook figured he was Namjoon. When the older florist noticed Jungkook, his attention was diverted and he waved excitedly. He rushed over to Jungkook, grabbing him by the hand and pulling him away from Yoongi.

"Come meet Namjoon, c'mon." The rose haired florist said excitedly, placing the younger in front of the baker. "Namjoon, this is Jungkook; Jungkook, this is Seokjin's future husband. Don't you think they make a good match? He's so smart too; their children will be so amazing!"

"Taehyung, you're getting too excited." Seokjin chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "If you don't calm down I'll make you put on the bear suit." Taehyung sighed and skulked off into the shop.

"Woah, this is an expensive barbeque." Yoongi said, announcing his presence to those who'd previously disregarded him. He admired the barbeque, his mouth parted in a small 'o' shape.

"You must be the butcher. I'm Kim Seokjin." The eldest said, extending his hand to the butcher. Yoongi drew his gaze from the barbeque and held out his own hand, shaking the other's.

"Min Yoongi. Are you really giving me the honour of cooking on this?" The florist nodded. "I thought this was going to be just a regular barbeque but no, you pulled out the big guns."

There was then a loud crash, followed by a bear suit-clad Taehyung's reemergence. He yelled loudly as he jumped through the door. In response, Yoongi shrieked.

"Can I have one?" Taehyung asked as he approached the barbeque. He'd discarded the bear head earlier but was still walking around with the suit on. As he reached towards one of the skewers, Yoongi attempted to bat him away with the tongs. He then stopped himself, not wanting to dirty the suit with barbeque grease.

"They're not cooked yet."

"When will they be cooked? I've been waiting for ages." The florist whined.

"You can't rush perfection." Taehyung just sighed and took a seat beside the barbeque. Yoongi glanced down at the younger male, smirking at his appearance. The effeminate male looked rather flushed and his pink hair clung to his forehead. He was watching Jungkook, who was watering the live flower display. Yoongi noticed this, "The kid seems nice."

"Huh, who? Jungkookie?" The older male nodded, making Taehyung smile fondly. "Yeah, he is pretty nice."

"He was the only person who tried one of my samples, stayed for some conversation and then actually came back to buy some more... And he let me do this."

"So nice..." Taehyung responded under his breath. The male on topic was unaware to the fact he was being discussed, continuing to make sure the flowers stayed hydrated. He then crouched down, checking on one of the ones that looked like it was struggling more.

"So what's you two's relationship? Workmate, friends... What?"

"Friends. But I think we're good friends: we've slept at each other's house." Taehyung huffed and stood back up. "I'm getting too hot in this. I'll be back."

And then he disappeared back into the store, leaving Yoongi to continue to make sure the food was cooked.

"Ah, hot!" Taehyung cried as he bit into a sausage sandwich. He waved his hand in front of his mouth, making a little 'fufufu' noise as he did so.

"It literally just came off the barbie; what'd you expect?" Seokjin chuckled. He squeezed some tomato sauce onto his own before biting into it. Jungkook watched the group, wondering if there was even going to be enough food for the customers. Everyone was eating something and complimenting Yoongi, who accepted them all as though it was nothing new to him ー probably was.

"Jungkook? Hey Jungkook!" The brunette looked around when he heard his name, spotting Jimin a few metres away. He was holding another male's hand, but quickly let go as he rushed over to his friend. "What're you doing here?"

"I work here..." Jungkook responded as he pointed at the shop behind him. He then nodded at the stranger approaching them. "Is that Hoseok?"

"Oh yeah, Hoseok! Come meet Jungkook." Jimin seemed so happy as he introduced his two friends, the younger male noticed. "Hoseok, Jungkook; Jungkook, Hoseok."

"Hi." The older male grinned as he waved at the florist. Jungkook just gave an awkward wave back. "I've heard so much about you, it's good to finally meet you in person."

"Oh..." Both Jimin and Jungkook looked rather uncomfortable, chuckling awkwardly. It wasn't hard to tell they'd spent a lot of time around it each other based off the similarities in their gestures. "You guys should try the skewers, Yoongi is really good."

"How much are they?" Hoseok asked, patting around his pockets until he found his wallet. The younger just shrugged; this wasn't something he'd asked. He let the pair walk up to the rest of the group and buy some. Taehyung, having recognised Jimin, took the liberty of introducing him to the rest of the group for Jungkook. The younger male was too distracted by the way Hoseok was touching his friend ー a lingering touch of the waist, brushing of hands, resting his hand on the back of the waist. He was looking too much into it, Jungkook told himself, shaking his head. He then rejoined the group, taking his place beside Taehyung, who handed him a lamb skewer.

"This seems like a nice group." Seokjin said as they all ate. "I might be speaking prematurely but it seems like a nice group of friends."

"I think friends of Jungkook's are probably good friends." Taehyung agreed. The younger looked up from his food at the sound of his name, a blank look on his face. "We should eat together more often. Plus I bet Jimin has some embarrassing stories of Jungkook."

"I have plenty." Jimin chuckled. "We should get together again sometime and I'll tell you them."

"I have embarrassing stories of you too." Jungkook muttered, but the older only shrugged.

"You're the one who gets more embarrassed." The now defeated brunette shut up and just stood there, staring at his feet. He really hoped Jimin didn't say too much ― there were plenty of things his friend knew that would absolutely mortify the younger if Taehyung found out about. If anyone found out, for that matter.