4. the hero returns (and falls)
note : i'm hella sick please pray for my nose skskks. listen to the few things by jp saxe and charlotte lawrence it's such a beautiful song. enjoy reading you guys. <3
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Jimin was having one of his bad days. He had woken up a bit too ahead in the early hours of the morning, thanks to an effective panic attack, and he had just been in a very sour mood since. The man had wanted to take a long warm shower, which had turned into quite a hot shower with his skin burning at some point, thus irritating him further. Then he had asked for pancakes to be delivered to his penthouse only for the said dish to come with maple syrup and fresh strawberries, without nutella, and Park Jimin loved his pancakes with nutella. After an unsatisfactory breakfast, he had wanted to tinker in his workshop, but he had slipped down three stairs while on his way and now Jimin was just done; he was so, so done with the day.
Jimin was having one of his bad days, and that's why he had decided to stop by a vintage ice-cream store so he could just eat ice-cream and grumble to himself about how luck was not on his side. Then he spotted the man, the automotive designer kid he had offered free medical treatment to, and suddenly Jimin felt like he was not having that bad a day anymore.
The man sat with a party of his friends, all of them collectively laughing at a joke he had cracked, and Jimin found himself staring at the man as he threw his head back and laughed. A whole ass bunny, Jimin thought to himself, a small smile playing at his lips.
"Good day, sir. What would you like to have?" The woman at the counter asked him, causing him to stop staring at Jungkook and turn his head around to face her. Her eyes widened in recognition and Jimin put a finger to his lips. "I'd like to stay on the down-low, yeah?" The woman blinked at him, blushing furiously when he shot her a wink. "A classic banana split with extra walnuts and cherries."
"One classic banana split, gotchu," the woman took down the order, now blatantly checking out the billionaire who stood in front of her, "anything else sir?"
"Maybe your number along with it would be sweet," he grinned boyishly, pleased to watch the woman dissolve into a stuttering, flushing mess in front of him. "I'm just kidding, the banana split is all, thank you."
Jimin moved to the pick-up area, tapping his foot on the ground and looking around as he waited for his order. It took everything in him to not turn back to the table where Jeon Jungkook sat with his friends, and Jimin cursed himself to look straight ahead where his order would be delivered soon.
"A classic banana split," the woman who had taken his order brought it to the pick-up area, "and my number to make it much more sweeter."
Jimin looked at the number on the napkin before his eyes found the woman again. She blew him a kiss and gestured him to call with her hand, mouthing a call me. Jimin chuckled as he picked up his order, stuffing the napkin with the number into the pocket of his pants. His eyes unconsciously drifted to Jungkook's table again and he was disappointed to see they were getting ready to leave. Well, he couldn't care much about the other men but he didn't want Jungkook to leave.
"A medium sundae with hot fudge, black raspberries and graham cracker crumbs," another woman now stood at the pick-up area, reading out the order. Jimin watched a buff man walk up to the counter, roughly shoving his shoulder as he walked past him to collect his order. "Thank you sir, have a nice day."
"Out of my way kid," Jimin heard the man snarl from behind him and he moved, not wanting to cause a scene in a public place. The man had enough place to walk yet he intentionally bumped into Jimin again, the latter stumbling a few steps.
"Watch it," Jimin said calmly, yet the fire in his eyes was promising nothing good as they burned into the rude man.
"Excuse me?" The man now moved closer to Jimin, trying to look intimidating, but the latter hardly flinched or moved away. "Watch what?"
"Your actions, watch it," Jimin muttered, eyes narrowing when the man placed his sundae back on the counter and cracked his knuckles. Jimin realized this man didn't know who he was, but once he did he would be done for. Park Jimin would make sure of it.
"Hey, hey," Jimin watched a figure insert himself between the buff man and him, pressing the man's chest and pushing him back the slightest bit to keep him from punching Jimin. "Let's not make this violent, there are kids here and—"
A collective gasp could be heard as the man's fist connected with Jungkook's face, sending him straight to the ground. Jimin was seeing red at this point. He caught the back of the man's shirt and turned him around, eyes fuming.
"I don't think you know who I am," he spat, watching as one of the staff members called the police. "But it's okay, you'll have plenty of time to know when you're locked away for this violent behavior."
Jimin heard the police cars before he could see them. But once they had reached and had taken the man away, Jimin turned his attention back to Jungkook, who was being helped up by his friends. Jungkook's eyes met Jimin's and he instantly turned away, motioning to his friends that it was time for them to leave.
"Wait," Jimin found himself speaking, eyes locked with Jungkook's. "I'm taking Jungkook with me for a little while, if you guys don't mind."
"You know Park Jimin?" The billionaire heard one of Jungkook's friends whisper-scream into his ear. Jungkook opened his mouth to speak but pain shot through his jaw and he winced, squeezing his eyes shut.
"He'll explain later, but I'm taking him with me lads. Have a good day."
Jimin didn't wait for any replies and he caught Jungkook's arm with one hand, dragging him towards his car. Jungkook followed behind wordlessly, his face throbbing from the new hit. His injury from two days back had hardly gotten to healing when he was whacked another time in the same place.
"You're stupid," Jimin reprimanded him after they both sat and put on the seatbelt, "fucking stupid, I tell you."
"I'm smart," Jungkook managed to respond, even through the throbbing pain in his jaw.
Jimin stared at the man, smiling to himself and shaking his head at the words. He handed his untouched banana split to Jungkook, who in turn just blinked innocently at the ice-cream. "A sundae on a Sunday," Jimin said, causing Jungkook to raise a brow at him. "I swear I'm not drunk, this is just the way I talk."
"Okay," Jungkook resorted to staring out the window, unable to look at Jimin for more than five seconds. "Okay, I'll hold it for you."
"I was giving it to you so you could eat it, but okay, suit yourself."
Jungkook just held onto the ice-cream, cheeks flushing just the slightest bit. This whole situation was so embarrassing, and being caught by Park Jimin in the same scenario for the second time made it all the more embarrassing. Jungkook wanted to fade away.
"I remember I told you I would take you on a longer ride," Jimin snickered as they started the familiar road towards Park Tower. "I've got to admit, I didn't think it would be this soon."
Jungkook stayed quiet, opting to stare at the passing buildings instead of looking at Jimin.
"You have a huge punch me written on your forehead, that's probably it, huh?"
Jungkook eyed the banana split that rested on his lap, finally scooping a spoonful of chocolate ice-cream and some banana and shoving it into his mouth. He heard Jimin laugh from beside him and Jungkook puffed his cheeks to look irritated.
"All it took to make you eat it was to ask you questions you're too embarrassed to answer," Jimin smiled at him, eyes turning into crescents, "noted."
The familiar building came into view and Jimin poked Jungkook's side to get him to show some sort of reaction. The man turned, only to be blinded by the brightness of Jimin's smile. Jungkook gulped, suddenly wanting to run away.
"Back where it all started," the billionaire exited the car and started his walk into the lobby of Park Tower.
"Technically it started with you finding me on the streets," Jungkook retorted, completely catching the billionaire by surprise.
Jungkook had expected Jimin to be offended, but the billionaire just looked embarrassed at the words. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I was drunk and I absolutely did not mean that," he muttered, sounding apologetic. "And aren't you supposed to be shy and shit?"
Jungkook frowned as they entered the elevator and the doors shut. "How are you supposed to know what I'm supposed to be like?"
"So you aren't supposed to be shy and shit?"
"Guess you'll never find out," Jungkook found himself answering, feeling content with the way Jimin's eyes lit up.
"I usually end up finding out everything, so it'd be best to not challenge me."
The elevator dinged when they reached the penthouse and Jungkook expected to see Dahyun standing by the doors, waiting to scream at Jimin, but he found the penthouse empty. He furrowed his brows, turning to look at the billionaire who had now trudged to the bathroom to take out the first-aid kit.
"You don't expect me to make Dahyun work on Sundays, do you?" Jimin questioned, bringing the first-aid box with him and setting it on the ground. "I know I told you I'm not nice, but I'm not that bad."
Jungkook was surprised that the man was able to remember everything even though he had been under the influence of alcohol. He felt Jimin hold his chin and turn his face so he could inspect the new bruise. From the concern in Jimin's eyes, Jungkook could tell it was pretty bad.
"Why would you even jump in front of that guy?"
"He was going to punch you," Jungkook said, watching Jimin as he put some ice cubes into a small towel. "I couldn't just let him punch you."
"I'm flattered," Jimin sighed, holding the towel gently against Jungkook's bruised jaw. "But he would have paid for it after. Now you're hurt and—"
"You would take his punch regardless, wouldn't you? You would be hurt regardless. What I did was right."
Jimin frowned, moving the towel away from Jungkook's face and leaning back to look at the man. "You don't know me," he spoke, voice now softer, "why would you take a bruise that was meant for me?"
"If you were in my place, you would have done the same thing."
And Jimin knew, it was absolutely something he would have done, regardless of who had been on the receiving end of the punch. He would have done the same thing Jungkook had done.
"Also," Jungkook continued, trying to smile as much as he can, "you're Park Jimin. We were properly acquainted in four three-quarter minutes on the streets, remember?"
Jimin laughed, hiding his face behind one hand as if he were embarrassed by his drunk self. Jungkook bit his lip as he watched the man laugh, wincing when his teeth came in contact with the cut on his lip.
"My whole face is fucked I literally can't even blink."
"Why would you want to blink when I'm in front of you?" Jungkook rose an eyebrow at the words, cocking his head to one side. "Kidding," Jimin chuckled, "maybe."
"Maybe," Jungkook rolled his eyes, a small smile taking over his face. "Maybe, is it?"
"Hm, automotive designer from the University of Michigan." Jimin snorted, placing the towel back against Jungkook's jaw. "You should have seen your face, so proud to be an alumnus of the University of Michigan, oof."
"It took me a lot of hard work to get in, of course I would be proud."
Jimin studied Jungkook's face, his eyes sparkling whenever he mentioned his college. "You and me both," Jimin smiled softly. "I mean I'm naturally smart, a born intellectual, but I think I remember doing this thing you mentioned. Hard work, was it?"
"You're annoying," Jungkook grinned, warming up to the man.
"Most people would prefer the word hot, but okay, you do you boo."
~
❝ IS IT BETTER TO BE FEARED OR RESPECTED? I SAY, IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR BOTH? ❞
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