Remember to vote if you think that picture is absolutely wonderful, or if you think Jimin looks good in pink. Yeah, both of them are Jimin options today. Expose yourself.

---

Y/n

What a fucking goober.

Markus had caused more than enough problems for the blue team and the red team. The dorms never rested, the blue team had countless unnecessary dishes sent back because of him, and Louis had a constant rival he wanted to pummel. But that could end right then and there.

All because it was elimination.

The blue team had lost the challenge and the service, and it had been thanks to Markus. Then again, when was anything not thanks to Markus? If something went wrong, you could bet a million bucks it was Markus' fault.

That led her to the predicament: standing in front of Gordon. Well, sitting. The red team had won service, so they sat off to the side. No one had performed too poorly during service. Ophelia had made one mistake, but she had bounced back. Karen had screwed up one welly, but again, there had been a bounce back. That meant Gordon had no reason to do a surprise elimination and kick out a red team member. Markus was the obvious choice.

Unless Gordon wanted more drama. Then Markus would stay for like... ever.

Y/n wasn't excited to deal with elimination with Markus and Louis as the two nominees. Truth be told, Louis was likely up there for formality purposes since he was a decent enough chef. Markus, though? He hadn't so much as cooked anything, based on what Jimin had told her.

So, the blue team stood in front of Gordon with Markus and Louis stepped forward. Jimin had just outed them as the two nominees for the blue team, which meant they had to give a "convincing" speech for why they should stay.

Y/n didn't want to know what the fuck Markus was about to say.

"Markus," Gordon said with a sigh. Yeah. Gordon didn't want to hear it either. "Why do you believe you should stay in Hell's Kitchen?"

"I'm gonna win this thing, chef," Markus said in his obnoxious, loud voice. Good lord. She had never seen someone so aggressively bald in her life. Nothing was wrong with being bald, but Markus made it look... off.

"You?" Gordon chuckled. "Why?"

"I'm the best chef here, and I have the passion."

Jimin snorted at that, and Gordon perked his head up when he noticed Jimin's snort.

"Jimin? Have something to say?"

Jimin composed himself and cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, chef, I didn't mean to laugh, but Markus is the worst chef here. He's been sabotaging us this entire time."

"Sabotaging?"

"Not true," Markus was quick to say, almost interrupting Ramsay, which could be a death sentence if he kept up with his attitude.

"Yes, chef, it's true." Jimin rolled his eyes at Markus. "He didn't cook for twenty minutes of our forty minute challenge. Chef Scott needed to scream at him to get him to do his damn job. He's never scored over one point on anything, and I don't think he's sent out a single good dish in any service. I'm starting to think he's a plant for more drama and not a real chef."

"Wow." Markus turned and flipped Jimin off. "Fuck you, man."

"And he also resorts to insults," Jimin added, which had Y/n snorting, but she was far away and quiet, so no one heard her.

"Markus," Gordon said to regain the man's attention. "If I ask your team if they've given up on you, what do you think they'd say?"

Markus scoffed. "Those assholes will say yes. They want me gone. They see me as a threat."

"A threat to our safety, maybe," Louis said. It was almost a mumble, but considering the space that was Hell's Kitchen, and the fact that Louis stood in front, everyone could hear it, and Y/n snorted again, leading to a few of her teammates snickering, too.

"Alright. By a show of hands, who has given up on Markus?"

Right away, every hand on the blue team shot up, including Louis'. To be petty, Y/n raised her hand, and when she did, the rest of the red team followed. Gordon looked around with wide eyes, his hand on his chin with his index finger over his lips (a classic Gordon pose).

"Wow," he said, lowering his hand to place it on his snatched waist. "Even the red team is done with your shit, and, quite frankly, so am I. Louis? Back in line."

Damn. Ramsay was an icon.

Louis nodded. "Thank you, chef." Then, he returned to his team, and they welcomed him back with open arms.

"Come here, you." Gordon beckoned to Markus, and he grunted but did as he was told, stomping forward like a toddler and jumping to a stop in front of Gordon. "Give me your jacket. Your time on Hell's Kitchen is done."

He should've been the first elimination. Granted, the other blue team chefs who had gone home didn't know how to cook for shit either, but Markus was abysmal. The other day, he had burned toast in the dorm.

Toast.

"Chef, you're making a mistake," Markus said, and Gordon chuckled again.

"No, young man, I am not. I should have done this earlier. Now give me your jacket."

"No. I want to stay."

"That isn't your decision. Final warning: give me the fucking jacket."

All things considered, Gordon had been (relatively) calm that season. He had called them donuts and used colorful profanity, sure, but he hadn't done much in the way of getting up in anyone's face and yelling at them. Then again, it was (again, relatively) early on in the show, so maybe that was it, but in the heat of that moment, Y/n saw the true wrath of Gordon.

His wrinkly skin had tints of red on it, and his wrinkles somehow became more aggressive as he scrunched his face and glared at Markus. To be fair, everyone in the room was glaring at Markus, but still.

Markus narrowed his eyes, his hands behind his back and clasping his fingers, and then, he relented and unbuttoned the jacket, but instead of handing it to Gordon, he dropped it on the ground. Markus went to walk by, but Gordon grabbed his arm. It wasn't a rough grip, but it was tight enough to bring Markus back, almost stepping on the jacket.

"Pick it up," Gordon said, his tone wasn't what Y/n had expected. His voice had the same accent as always, but it didn't scratch or rasp or do anything that would show an angry Gordon. Instead, he was passive.

Almost too passive.

Markus scowled. "I'm not your bitch."

Oh boy. Markus was asking for a punch. And the cameras would capture every second of it. Hey, honestly, that sounded appealing. Markus getting decked on TV? Sign. Y/n. Up. That was the perfect way to end elimination night.

"I don't care. Show some respect and pick it up."

No cursing. No cursing from Gordon Ramsay. Yeah, that wasn't a good sign, to say the least. If Markus kept it up, he would actually get decked. Cameras or not, Gordon could kick Markus' scrawny ass. Anyone could, but Gordon? Dude had training. Besides, Gordon was buff. Many underestimated his buffness due to him being a bit older and always wearing a chef jacket, but his arms almost popped out of his sleeves, that was how strong they were.

Markus glared for another few seconds before he slowly, very slowly, leaned down and scooped up the bundled mess of fabric on the floor. But only with two fingers. Yes, only two. Then, he shoved it against Gordon's chest, and the security guards were on high alert the entire time.

Security guards hung out off-camera in case there was ever any need for them. Oh boy, looked like they were earning their paycheck that night.

"Now fuck off," Gordon said, and Markus hesitated before he did as he was told. There was a first for everything, Y/n supposed.

The front doors closed behind Markus, and Y/n let out a small breath as the cameras zoomed around and captured every moment. Gordon didn't say anything for a long beat, instead making sure Markus didn't come back. Then, he glanced at the blue team and shook his head.

"There are few times in Hell's Kitchen where I fear for anyone's safety. Our top priority here is to keep you safe. Tonight, I jeopardized everyone by letting Markus stay even one second longer than the signature dish challenge. That is my fault. It wasn't for drama, or for ratings, or any bullshit like that. I did not see how shit he was. Somehow, he's an even worse person than a chef, and that's on me. I'm sorry you had to see that, and that you had to deal with him. Rest tonight. We'll take tomorrow off and move the next challenge back a day."

"Yes, chef," replied the entire dining room, and after that, they retreated to their dorm to get away from the heated scene.

It wasn't Gordon's fault, in Y/n's opinion. Even if he did know about the drama in the dorms (which she doubted the producers showed him), none of it was out of the ordinary for Hell's Kitchen. There was no way for Gordon to know Markus would become that unhinged and defiant. If nothing else, Markus seemed to respect and listen to the head chefs, like Chef Scott, and especially Chef Ramsay. But all of that changed. All because of an elimination.

"I'm shaking," Yuna said when they got inside, and Y/n wrapped her arm around the frail girl.

"It's okay. He's gone now, and if he tries to come back, security will be all over it."

Jimin was the last one in, and he shut the door behind him. "Yeah, but just in case, let's sleep with all the doors locked, okay? Including the balcony. Who knows what that psycho will try."

Thinking ahead would get them ahead. That was Y/n's philosophy, anyway. She didn't think Markus would come back, and even if he did, there was enough security around Ramsay that you'd think he was the president or something, but Jimin was right: just in case. It never hurt to be cautious.

In a world out to get you, paranoia is simply sound thinking.

Y/n collapsed on the couch while the others opted to either go to their rooms or get a quick bite in the kitchen. Y/n covered most of the couch, but Jimin came over and sat anyway, lifting her legs so they rested on his lap instead, and he peered over at her, and her back at him through half-closed eyes.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Markus doesn't bother me," she replied with a shrug, listening to the fumbling of pots and pans in the kitchen. No one spoke other than Jimin and Y/n, though. "But I feel bad for Gordon. He's probably blaming himself for Markus being an idiot."

Jimin agreed and placed his hand on top of her leg, on her shin. "At least he's gone, right?"

"Right." She paused to bring her brows together. "How about you? You doing okay?"

"Yeah. I just need to think."

"Want me to go?"

"No, no," he was quick to say. After a breath, he sighed. "Stay. Just... maybe we think for a little while."

She sat up and scooted over to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. Jimin smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes, and he wrapped his arm around her to bring her closer to him. Y/n ended up with her head against his chest, listening to his gentle heartbeat. She was surprised it wasn't beating faster due to the adrenaline of two minutes ago, but she relished in it nonetheless. She didn't know what was on Jimin's mind and what got him all spooked, but she was there. With him.

Just thinking.

---

Remember to vote, comment, and follow if you think Jimin is probably really warm and gentle, or if you like meatballs.