Jimin sat in an oversized hoodie with his feet kicked up on the coffee table in front of his couch. Some trashy dating show was playing on the tv, and he had a spoon of ice-cream half in his mouth as he was gaping at the absolute mess that was Netflix's Queer Love Ultimatum.

It was the night before the gala and over a week since his Park kills. The week had gone by strangely quiet. Yoongi didn't talk much on his patrols with Jimin and gave him the days off after them. Jungkook hadn't made much of an appearance either and Seokjin had simply thanked Jimin for taking care of Jungkook that night, but hadn't reached a handout further than that, which meant Jimin found himself with an incredible amount of time on his hands.

He could have kept going to the training gym, but with the rouse up that he didn't actually need to practice any combat skills, Jimin felt less of a pull to go. Additionally, the new curdle of anxiety in his stomach helped him hermit in his apartment. If it wasn't thoughts of Jungkook keeping him up then it was worry that Yoongi didn't want Jimin around either and that Seokjin, who he hadn't had the chance yet to get that close to, also was against him. More than Jimin would like to admit, it really bothered him.

They're discarding you. Screamed a voice in the back of his head. Why did you expect anything more than that? Did you really think Seoul would be any different? Funny how the Jeons were just starting to make Jimin feel human and Jimin had to go and fuck it all up in one night.

With nothing else to do, Jimin wallowed sitting in his apartment and watched trashy TV. He could lie and say it was to distract from the anxiety or to gloss over the fact that any of it frustrated him, but the truth was Jimin just wanted to sit with that feeling of loss. Yoongi had become a friend. Jungkook - Jungkook something more complicated than that. Even Seokjin had warmed to Jimin before The Park kills. Maybe Jimin liked the knot in his stomach because it felt foreign to sit with a feeling that was so complicated. Loss and pride, grief and joy. The grey scale felt like a luxury in contrast to the black and white of his life before in Busan.

Jimin was happy to gloss over any thought of Busan, eating another scoop of ice-cream as the next episode started to load. Somehow the relationships on the dating show were in a much worse spot than Jimin's own, which was crazy considering he was stuck between a Mafia leader and a Don's Son. It made Jimin feel slimy in a way, knowing that his dreams rarely had Taehyung in them and instead were filled with Jungkook. Jungkook's grin, his tattoo sleeve, his messy hair, his warmth.

Jimin blushed, shaking his head when he heard a knock on his door. His brows furrowed. It wasn't that late, maybe only ten, but even so it was a strange time for anyone to show up. The last time someone knocked on his door ended with Jimin getting a combat suit thrown at him and killing four people.

He paused his show, annoyed because the craziest contestant was getting a reality-check from dad on her toxicity towards her partner, and opened the door to find an envelope on the ground. It was about the size of Jimin's palm and over-all unassuming. Picking it up, he glanced around a perfectly empty hallway. He was about to close the door when he heard an elevator ring and watched as no one other than Min Yoongi came walking towards him.

Jimin slipped the envelope into the waistband of his boxers above his hip, covered by his hoodie. It wasn't the most covert hiding spot, but it was the best he could do on short notice.

"You normally stand with the door open?" Yoongi asked as he waved a small plastic bag at his side.

Jimin grinned. "I like to freak out the locals."

Yoongi snorted, letting himself into Jimin's apartment just like he had the week before. He opened Jimin's fridge and sighed when he found it completely empty. "I thought you probably haven't been taking care of yourself this week." He said as he pulled out a take-out box from the bag and put it out on Jimin's kitchen table. Yoongi looked over at Jimin and then back to the box. "Eat."

Jimin flushed, his hands itching to tear apart the envelope. From the look on Yoongi's face, it was pretty clear the older had nothing to do with whatever was dropped off at Jimin's apartment. It was more of a move Seokjin would have made if anything and if Seokjin had a message for Jimin, he highly doubted the older wouldn't have just talked to Jimin directly. Which left only one other option of who it could be from. The Kims.

Yoongi flicked his brows up and Jimin nodded, sitting down and opened the box to find black-bean noodles waiting for him. He almost cried at the smell of them, his stomach screaming for him to eat something that wasn't ice-cream or half-assed meals. The anxiety had cut off his appetite, making even a couple bites of anything difficult to keep down, but the noodles smelled so homey and comforting that Jimin couldn't help but dive in. They tasted like something his dad would have made.

"You have Netflix?" Yoongi said, looking at Jimin's TV. Jimin shrugged.

"Technically, no. I watched someone log in on their phone while I was on the subway and memorized their info. I give it a couple more days before they realize."

Yoongi laughed. Neither of them mentioned the meal, but Jimin was grateful for it.

"Look, Jimin. You're a smart kid so I know you have to be freaking out a bit by all the silence from our end." Jimin paused his eating. "But I just wanted to thank you for what you did last week. I know Jin and Jungkook were freaked out by it, but you have to understand Seoul hasn't seen a gang war since Jungkook's parents had gotten married. The kid grew up under a really peaceful environment - or as peaceful as you can get for a mob, I guess. Skills like you have, attacks like what The Parks tried, I mean we haven't seen something like that since I was a kid, you know? I heard Busan's way more hostile than here, so you're more used to it than all of us."

Jimin sat up straighter, the envelope burning into his skin. He tried to keep his expression neutral as his eyes started to dart everywhere on Yoongi's face, trying to find any hint that Yoongi knew the truth of who Jimin was. If Yoongi was here to take care of his junior in a different way than brotherly concern.

Yoongi's eyes flashed with sympathy at the mask that took over Jimin's face, pity in his expression instead of anger. "Jimin, I'm sorry I never asked about your life before coming here."

Jimin's heart started to race. His knives were all the way in his room, could he use the chopsticks instead if Yoongi attacked?

"I just - I want you to know from me, that you're safe here. I know you're hiding secrets; we know that you were with The Kims for longer than you told Jungkook. But I don't blame you for running from them. You have a home here and I have your back as your senior. So don't hole up in this apartment anymore and don't stress that we're kicking you out of The Jeons just because you have some dark past you're running from."

Jimin stopped moving entirely. Was his face wet? Jimin put the chopsticks down and touched his cheek.

"I know it's not my place either, but I like you for Jungkook." Yoongi grinned. "I said I wouldn't pry but I can tell there's something between you too, even if both of you won't admit it. I mean last week the kid couldn't take his eyes off of you and ever since you guys first talked he brings you up in nearly every conversation I have with him. So, try being a little warmer to him, yeah? Entertain the crush a bit. I know you have something complicated going on with that Kim kid - don't look so betrayed Jimin, I told you Seokjin did some digging - but Jungkook is a good guy and he cares about you. Just give him a chance, okay?"

"What do you know about Taehyung?" Jimin said, mind darting a million different directions. Jungkook asked about him? He likes him? Likes him as what - a person, a tool, a friend? Likes him as something more?

Yoongi swallowed, running a hand through his hair awkwardly. "Like I said, Seokjin did some digging in Busan. We know you worked for Taehyung as a - that you worked to -" Yoongi laughed uncomfortabley. "Funny I was making fun of Seokjin for not being able to say the word."

"Whore?" Jimin said, the envelope screaming to be opened. They know. They know. They know. "What else?" He added carefully.

"Just that we think you were in love with him and - Jimin I know what it's like to be caught up in a relationship that hurts you. I dated someone before who I thought I was in love with but after we broke up, I realized how much older he was than me, how much more experienced, and how I hadn't stood a chance to see that I was being used. He's the guy who got me caught up in my original gang and threw me into the fighting rings there. It can take a lot to trust anyone after going through something like that. But Jungkook really likes you and I know you can protect him better than anyone else, so just give it a chance."

"Why do you think I was used?" Jimin said and Yoongi blinked.

"Well, because of Hoseok and Taehyung."

That genuinely caught Jimin off guard. "What about them?" What was Yoongi alluding to? Was he just trying to mess with him?

Yoongi blinked. "Oh." He said. "I thought - never mind." The older grabbed a glass of water, filled it up, and placed it in front of Jimin. "Conversation for another day. Unless you're going to try and stab me with that chopstick you're holding onto so tightly, but I think I've dropped enough on you. Look Jimin, I just came to thank you and let you know you have friends here. Take care of Jungkook tomorrow at the gala, okay? Be kind to him too, he's got a softer heart than you think. And whenever you're ready to talk about Busan, just find me, okay?"

Yoongi ruffled Jimin's hair then and Jimin bit down his instinct to stab the chopstick through Yoongi's hand. "Eat up, yea?" The older said as he left Jimin's apartment and Jimin started shaking the second the door swung close.

Without really being able to explain why, maybe it was the food or Yoongi's kindness, maybe it was being taken care of like a younger brother or the fact that Jungkook equally thought of Jimin as much as he thought of him, or maybe it was the fact that Yoongi said out loud Jimin's greatest fear, that he was used and not loved, that Jimin broke down and started sobbing.

* * *

Jungkook felt like an absolute idiot as he stood outside Jimin's apartment front door. It was almost midnight and he should be home sleeping for The Gala next week, but the meeting behind Jimin's back felt slimy. He'd been standing outside the door for the better part of fifteen minutes while he debated knocking on the door. Finally, with all the courage he had, he lifted his tattooed hand and knocked.

Jungkook was about to turn around, worried Jimin was probably asleep, when the door opened. Jimin looked - well, he looked exhausted. His face was pale and his eyes puffy, his expression sunked too. Slowly, he blinked as he realized Jungkook was actually at his door and he wasn't making it up.

"Uh, I realized with everything going on we haven't had a chance to touch base about next week yet so -" Jungkook started rambling. Jimin's head seemed entirely somewhere else. In fact, Jungkook couldn't say he's ever seen him look so lifeless. Thoughtful, maybe, or calculative in his expressionless, but never like this, never defeated.

Jimin opened his door for Jungkook to follow him inside, heading over to his couch and sitting down. "You're right." Jimin said, turning the TV on as extremely toxic couples started arguing in a reality show over whether or not a dog sleeping in their bed was a deal breaker. "We should probably figure that out." Jimin said, speaking almost absentmindedly but not dismissively.

Jungkook was about to make a joke about Jimin watching reality shows when he noticed how red Jimin's cheeks were. His eyes were heavy as he curled his knees up on the couch. Jungkook awkwardly took off his shoes, heading over to the couch and sitting a whole foot away from Jimin. Had Jimin been crying?

"Are you - are you okay?" Jungkook asked, dropping the topic of The Gala. His entire body was radiating with nerves, wanting to reach out and comfort him, but wasn't sure if Jimin would want that or if it would help.

"Yea, just a lot of visitors today." Jimin said, his voice strained. Jungkook watched Jimin glance from the TV to a closed white envelope on the coffee table then back to the show.

"Visitors?" Jungkook asked. Jimin ran a hand through his hair and Jungkook couldn't help but flush. The hoodie Jimin was in absolutely swallowed him. There was an eaten bowl of ice cream next to him and an empty box of take out. His hair was an absolute mess too. Jungkook was taken aback by the contrast to Jimin when he was in his element, all suited up and guarded.

"Yoongi stopped by a couple hours ago." Jimin said. Jungkook blinked, clenching his jaw, and finally Jimin cracked a smile. He looked over at Jungkook and despite the heaviness of his movements, Jimin's eyes lit up playfully. "Don't worry, it wasn't to hit on me. He was just dropping some food off."

Jungkook coughed, embarrassed that the instant envy had shown on his face. Jimin went back to watching his show and Jungkook tried to pay attention to it, but his mind went numb attempting to. Now a couple was talking about boundaries after both having both slept with other people on the show behind the other's back. Jimin though seemed fascinated by it and so Jungkook spent his time watching Jimin instead. The poorly dried tears on his cheek, the slump of his shoulders, the slow way he breathed. Risking it, Jungkook shifted slightly closer to Jimin on the couch. Jimin glanced at the movement, but didn't lean away.

When Jimin's mind seemed to wonder again and his breathing became even more controlled, like he was trying to keep himself from falling apart, Jungkook thought back to the night he'd frozen in front of the runners. Slowly, Jungkook shifted his hand into Jimin's own, looking only at the TV and not at Jimin. After what felt like an eternity, Jimin's hand relaxed in Jungkook's and Jungkook heard him let out an audible breath. Like air had gotten lodged in his throat and Jungkook managed to knock it out.

They sat like that, Jimin silently watching his show and Jungkook watching him. As time went on, Jimin's entire body started to relax, leaning slightly into Jungkook who didn't dare to even raise his hand in case it scared Jimin off.

"I uh, where'd you get a Netflix subscription?" Jungkook said, trying to fill the silence that was taking the room. More than anything, it was his nerves pushing him to speak. He felt like he was being electrocuted, sitting so close to Jimin, holding his hand, and doing something as casual as watching TV together. He wanted to get Jimin talking, too. He didn't know what had rattled him so much, but watching him fall further and further into his own head didn't seem like a good thing. Whatever it was, Jungkook didn't want Jimin to go through it alone.

Jimin huffed. It was a small, tired laugh, but Jungkook nearly shot to his feet and started celebrating at the sound of it. "Why is it so strange that I watch TV?" Jimin said. "First everyone keeps throwing clothes at me, second I'm getting attacked for having hobbies."

Jungkook gave Jimin a look.

"I watched someone log into their account on the subway."

"When were you on the subway?"

"Don't point out plot holes, Jungkook." Jimin said and this time Jimin fully grinned.

Jungkook couldn't help but smile back. Despite how tired he looked, Jimin radiated when he smiled. His walls were down when he did it and his eyes disappeared into little crescent moons. The TV flashed as the next episode started to play, the second the dark screen changed to the opening scene Jimin's face was illuminated in colorful lights. It felt so cozy, here on the couch with the lights turned off and the TV playing. Jimin was still grinning, turning back to his show, and Jungkook, in a move risking more than he ever had in his entire career as a gang-boss, slipped his hand out from Jimin's, lifted it over his head, and draped it around Jimin's shoulders.

"Yoongi told me about the background check." Jimin said, his body first stiff under Jungkook's arm and then relaxed into it once he decided it wasn't a threat. Jimin didn't move away, but didn't look at Jungkook either as he leaned into the comforting hold. As if mentioning the touch would cause everything to crumble around them.

"Oh." Jungkook said. He really had come here to touch base about The Gala tomorrow, his dad's event was a rare neutral ground since it was an extremely public one, but with the way Jimin looked it felt unimportant in comparison. "Is that what made you so upset?"

Jimin glanced at the envelope on the table again, curling his knees more into his chest which also meant he curled further into Jungkook. Jungkook repeatedly counted down from ten, trying to calm his heart rate in case Jimin picked up on how fucking fast it was beating. Was this what people with cats felt like when they sat on their laps? Not that Jimin was a cat, obviously. Fuck, why won't his heart act normal? Confidence, Jungkook. Just be cool. What did mom always say? Never let them see you sweat?

Jimin nodded. He was gnawing on the edge of his thumb, drilling holes into that envelope. "What do you think of it?" He asked, shifting his gaze to finally look at Jungkook. There was no challenge in them, no fight like Jungkook expected. He looked almost soft and Jungkook swallowed under the vulnerability of it. "About what you found out. About Busan."

Jungkook frowned. His initial reaction to everything Seokjin had presented was shock. Jimin's lies blended so well with his truths. His second reaction though, was empathy.

"Was the story about your dad true?" Jungkook said, looking at the TV instead of Jimin. It was the only part that had really bothered him. Everyone ran from something, who cares if Jimin was a whore for The Kims. At least he was out of that city now. A protective instinct flooded over him and Jungkook couldn't help but pull Jimin closer to him.

Jimin, doing something that completely threw Jungkook off guard which by now he should be used to Jimin doing, cuddled into Jungkook. "Yes and no. My dad wasn't a knife collector, he worked for the Kims. But, he did teach me to throw and I did lose him six years ago. When he - when he died, that's when I was changed from the son of a member of The Kims into something else."

Jungkook nodded. "And Taehyung? Are you two - do you love him?"

Jimin furrowed his brows then, conflict racing across them, and his eyes started to tear up. "I'm figuring out if it was love or if I was just-" Jimin's gaze went distant. "Surviving."

"Then I don't care what you did in Busan or who with." Jungkook said, his voice surprisingly calm. Jimin leaned back, looking up at Jungkook with a strange expression on his face. Something warm and confused and desperate to understand. "I care that whatever happened there obviously hurt you and I'm sorry it wasn't safe enough for you to share that truth with us earlier. But none of it changes how I think of you."

"And how do you think of me, Jungkook?" Jimin said, his voice low. The TV lights again flickered across his face. Jungkook didn't know what made him do it, maybe it was the cozy atmosphere, maybe it was the fact that he couldn't stand seeing Jimin cry, maybe it was the idea that this night, this room, this openness, would be his one and only chance, but he realized that words would feel much too big to answer that question. So instead of speaking, Jungkook put a hand on the back of the couch and Jimin's eyes widened. Slowly, he brought his other hand, the ink of his skin dancing in the flashing light hitting it, and cupped Jimin's cheek.

"I think you're a Jeon." Jungkook said. "I think you're one of us."

Then Jungkook leaned in, bridging the distance between them, saying fuck it to caution or doubt or terror, and kissed him.

_______
A/N:
Excited for the semester to start!! Also, I watched XO Kitty and I gotta say, I genuinely enjoyed it. Started as a hate watch, was invested by the end

- Violette