Remember to vote and comment if you giggle and kick your feet whenever you think about Jimin's tattoos, or if you like narwhals.

---

Y/n

It was the final challenge. Well, as a "team," anyway.

Y/n let out a sharp breath as she stood in front of Chef Ramsay with Jungkook and Jimin by her side. She was sandwiched between the two, the camera crew rushing around to capture every shot. No one uttered a word, but she imagined the editing team would make sure there was never a moment without sound. In her mind, she could imagine all the violins and dramatic sound effects.

"The final three," Gordon said with a smile. "Exciting, nerve-racking, I'll let you decide. It's time for the last challenge before finals, and that will determine who gets into the final two."

There were two giant screens behind Gordon. Y/n had the inkling that the final two were already selected, and the challenge was a formality to give them a false sense of drama. But that didn't change that she would give her all.

"For today's challenge, we're doing something simple, but it won't be easy. I've challenged you with dishes and ingredients from all around the world, I've made you sweat with the blind taste test, and I've had you recreate my dishes with the taste it now make it challenge, but today, we are doing a classic: Southern cuisine."

Oh. Y/n wasn't from the South. Uh oh.

"You will have forty minutes to create any dish of your choosing, as long as it's Southern. Are you ready to fight for the final two?"

"Yes, chef," the final three said in sync, though Y/n's was a bit quieter than usual. How the hell was she supposed to cook something Southern when she didn't- oh, wait. Hanger steak, collard greens, mac and cheese. Rub it with brown sugar. A classic with some comfort food to go with it, and she'd get the opportunity to plate it all nice and pretty.

Problem solved, crisis averted.

"Good because your time starts... now!"

The three chefs rushed off to their kitchen, and Y/n grabbed her ingredients from the pantry. It wasn't a complicated dish, but if she fucked it up, it'd be a nightmare. Who fucked up comfort food? That was like an insult to food.

"What are you doing, Y/n?" Jimin asked as he slid by her in the pantry to grab, much to her amazement, a piece of catfish.

"Hanger steak with some collard greens and mac and cheese. You?"

"Ooh, good choice. A classic. I'm doing spicy fried catfish and some bacon pepper gravy." Jimin paused to think, and then, he grinned. "And some sauteed kale with red potatoes."

"Damn. You're more adventurous than I am."

Jimin glanced to make sure Jungkook wasn't behind them, and then, he kissed her cheek. "But you're the better chef."

"Like hell I am."

"Lalala, can't hear you. Happy wife, happy life, and I like living, thanks." Jimin walked off without another word, and Y/n giggled to herself like a high schooler, kicked at the ground also like a high schooler, and then locked in and did her job.

She used her forty minutes to make her steak perfect. Of course, she tasted everything, and she didn't focus on her two teammates who she supposed were her direct competitors by that point. Time was up in what felt like ten minutes instead of forty. Still, Y/n managed to get everything done on time, and her plate was pretty with a capital p.

"Southern cuisine," Gordon said, playing it up for the cameras. "Something familiar and comforting. Something everyone loves. You three are fighting for a spot in the top two using this iconic cuisine, so let's see what you've got. Jungkook, please bring me your dish."

Jungkook stepped forward and placed the dish in front of Gordon. Y/n figured one of the three of them would make a fried chicken dish, and it was Jungkook.

"Describe your dish, please."

"Chef, today I made you a classic fried chicken dish with creamy white cheddar grits and sauteed Swiss chard."

Wow. That sounded amazing. Y/n should have thought of grits, but oh well, too late.

Gordon tasted it and nodded. "Wow. Very good as always, Jungkook. Chicken is cooked nicely, and the seasoning is balanced. Presentation could use some work since it looks a bit soupy, but it's a strong effort."

"Thank you, chef."

Jungkook returned to his spot in line, and it was Jimin's turn to present his catfish. It was an ambitious dish, and Gordon stared at it with a raised brow.

"Instead of combining your Korean heritage with Southern food, you chose this. Why?"

"You already know I can cook Korean food, chef. Korean spices do mix well with Southern cuisine, sure, but I've never served you catfish before."

"That's a fair point." Gordon tasted it, and he furrowed his brows. "Have you ever cooked catfish before?"

"Yes, chef. Not often, but a few times."

"Well, it shows. Perfectly-cooked. I think you have a little much with the potatoes, but they're good, so I guess I can't complain too much."

"Thank you, chef."

"Another strong effort. Back in line. It's your wife's turn."

Jimin grinned and returned to his place, mouthing good luck to Y/n as she strolled by and presented her dish to Gordon. It was the simplest-looking of the three, though she felt she had better presentation than Jungkook due to the lack of soupiness.

"Nice presentation. Please describe your dish."

Ever since Gordon had critiqued her presentation during the black jacket challenge, Y/n had stepped up her game to ensure it never happened again.

"Chef, today I made you a hanger steak rubbed in brown sugar with classic mac and cheese and collard greens to support it."

"Good choice." Gordon tasted that, too, and he made an mmm sound. "Perfectly-cooked, well-seasoned, and it feels like I'm eating this straight from the South. Well done."

"Thank you, chef."

"Now fuck off back in line so I can announce the final two."

"Yes, chef."

Y/n fucked off back to her spot and placed her half-eaten dish down, turning to face Gordon, who dabbed his mouth with a napkin and got the producers to take the table away. The two electronic screens behind him were three times his size and had the HK Hell's Kitchen logo on them, surrounded by blackness and flames gushing up.

"It's time to announce who is moving forward to the finals. Only two of you can make it. Who will the two be?" Gordon trailed off and glanced between the three of them. "The first person going to the finals is the person who's dish I enjoyed the most today. That person is..."

Gordon had a remote in his hands, and he didn't press it for a long, long moment. He allowed the suspense to drag on and on to the point where Y/n thought she was going to die from anticipation.

Then, he pressed on the remote, and the screen on the left flickered to show the face of Park Jimin.

Jimin shouted something Y/n couldn't comprehend, though she doubted he could comprehend it, either, and he pumped his fists in the air before crouching and placing his hands over his face. She couldn't tell if he was laughing, crying, or both.

"Congratulations, young man," Gordon said, and Jimin stood and removed his hands. That gave Y/n confirmation: the answer was both. He had tears streaming down his face, and Y/n kissed the top of his head and congratulated him.

"You deserve it, Jimin. I hope you know that," she said, and he hugged her.

"Thank you."

She grinned and ruffled his hair, feeling nothing but pride for her boyfriend. Wow. Calling him boyfriend would never click in her mind. He was far too good for her, yet there she was. What did she do in a past life to deserve him?

"You had the best dish of the challenge. Adventurous and delicious. Throughout this entire competition, you've impressed me time and time again," Gordon said, and Jimin, through his tears, thanked Gordon. "But now, we can't keep leaving everyone in suspense. It's time to announce who the second contestant will be: Jungkook or Y/n."

Y/n was about to shit herself. Jimin was in the finals, so if she made it, she'd have to go up against her boyfriend. That thought didn't sit right with her. At the same time, winning Hell's Kitchen was her dream. It'd be a miracle and an honor to win such a prestigious competition. If she got eliminated, Jimin could pick her for his brigade for the final dinner service, so it wasn't like she'd be gone long if she went "home" that day. But still, she wanted to win, so...

"The second person moving into the finals is..."

Gordon, again, trailed off and didn't add anything for a long moment. Y/n felt numb and faint. Her skin clammed up, her heartrate spiked, and her eyes felt like they kept going in and out of focus. She did her best to stare at the screen, and after a beat, Gordon pressed on the remote, and she found herself staring at her reflection.

"Fuck yeah!" Jimin shouted, grabbing Y/n and picking her up. She yelped as Jimin spun her around and laughed in her ear. "We're going to the finals, baby!"

Y/n didn't know what to do, say, or how to react. The revelation that she had made it to the final round hadn't clicked, and she doubted it would for a while. It probably wouldn't click until after the show concluded. Hell, it might not click until after she watched it on TV several months from that moment.

Jimin set her down and kissed her right away, and the entire world tuned out in that moment in favor of focusing on Jimin's soft lips. It wasn't a long kiss, but it was enough to have her heart skyrocketing between her feet and her throat, and she couldn't find words even when he pulled away.

"You and me," he whispered, and she managed to perform a shaky nod.

"Congratulations, Y/n. You and Jimin are two of the strongest chefs I have ever seen," Gordon said, which brought Y/n's attention back to the situation at hand. Gordon nodded to Jungkook. "Unfortunately, this means you are eliminated, but I want you to keep your chin up. You are an excellent chef, and I know you're going places in life. Please give me your jacket."

Jungkook stepped forward and removed his jacket, handing it over to Gordon. "Thank you for the opportunity, chef. It was an honor."

"And it was an honor to have you. Say goodbye to the couple."

"Ew." Jungkook came back over regardless of his words, and Jimin and Y/n pulled him into a group hug, and he grunted, but he actually hugged back. "You two are insufferable, but you deserve this. Don't feel bad about me going home, okay? Celebrate tonight and do well in finals."

"We will," Jimin said, squeezing Jungkook. "Thank you for being our friend."

"Yeah, yeah, don't get all sappy on me. Weirdo." Jungkook scowled and pulled away, but after a beat, he cracked a soft smile. "I'll see you two soon."

"See you soon, Jeon," Y/n said, and he agreed to the sentiment before heading back over and shaking Gordon's hand.

"Goodnight, Jungkook."

"Goodnight, chef. Good luck with the lovebirds."

Gordon sighed. "I'll fucking need it."

Jungkook snickered, waved to the final two, and left Hell's Kitchen. Y/n didn't feel the same as she had when the others had been eliminated. It felt like fate had fallen into place, and Y/n was where she needed to be: with Jimin as a finalist. A finalist. A Hell's Kitchen finalist. She'd get a professional chef jacket, would make her own menu, and would choose a brigade based on the previous competitors (the ones who were at least halfway decent, anyway).

Holy shit.

Y/n laughed to herself and leaned on Jimin, who held her by the waist and kissed the top of her head. Gordon grinned at them, and Y/n returned the expression, same with Jimin.

"You two are now the finalists for Hell's Kitchen. How does it feel?"

"I don't even know, chef," Jimin said with a chuckle. "I can't feel my legs. Or my heart. Or my brain. Though some would say I don't have that to begin with."

"Me included," Gordon said, and Jimin whined like a child.

"Oh, come on, chef, that's mean."

Y/n had no idea why Jimin was expecting Gordon Ramsay of all people to be nice, but meh, whatever. Looked like what he said about not having a brain was true.

Gordon laughed. "Yeah. yeah. Now come on, you two. Go on back to the dorms to celebrate, but don't get too distracted. You have the final challenge tomorrow, and then the final service the day after that. You'll be designing your own menu and teaching it to your brigade over the next two days, so prepare yourselves accordingly. Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, chef," Jimin and Y/n replied in sync, and after that, they were dismissed, and Jimin and Y/n squealed as they rushed off back to the dorms, sprinting down the hall hand-in-hand while making incoherent noises in the process. Y/n didn't know if she said or did anything that made sense, but she didn't care; she was a Hell's Kitchen finalist. With her boyfriend, no less.

"We did it!" Jimin said as soon as they burst into the dorm. He spun her around again, and she giggled like a high schooler and clung to him like her life depended on it. "I knew it'd be us! I knew it!"

"You're biased."

"I know, but it's true. We were always the best ones here." Jimin kissed her head, and then her cheeks, and then her nose. He laughed between kisses. "Can you believe it?"

That question had been warping Y/n's brain since she saw her face appear on that screen. Jimin and Y/n, going into the finals. Could she believe it?

"No. No, I can't."

Jimin snorted. "Okay, yeah, that's natural, but we did it. And now we have all of tonight to celebrate. How about celebrating with some food and sleep... and maybe a shower?"

Y/n couldn't hide her amusement at that. Yeah, that sounded like the perfect celebration. They had had their black jacket drink fest where they had babysat the drunks, but that night, they needed a rest. And that had Y/n grinning.

"That sounds perfect."

---

Remember to vote and comment if you think Jimin is just an awesome human being, or if you think dragons are cool.