"You can't also be the coffee guy." Jimin said as he ran into Jungkook by the studio door. Jungkook grinned and Jungkook could have sworn Jimin's eyes lit up.

"So are we gonna trade or what." Jimin asked, shrugging as he undid the iced black coffee with sugar from his tray of four coffees and Jungkook took out the vanilla latte from the two he carried. One for Jimin and another he'd picked up for Hoseok who was already on the set.

"Well how was I supposed to know you'd grab coffee again? I was trying to repay the favor. It was supposed to be nice."

"I do this every day you moron." Jimin said, shoving Jungkook with his shoulder playfully as he reached for the studio door, using his foot to somehow press down on the handle to get it to open before then kicking the rest of it open.

"I could have helped." Jungkook said.

Jimin laughed. "Well next time offer before you see me lifting my foot."

"Next time give me a chance! Wiggle your foot or something as a signal."

"You? A chance? Never." This time Jimin was fully grinning and Jungkook laughed as he took a sip of his iced coffee, holding the door open so it didn't slam on his friend as the two boys walked inside the studio.

Today the set was for the baking competition scenes between Jimin and his rival character that was meant to play the "love triangle love interest everyone knows the main character isn't going to end up with" trope.

"I wonder who's going to replace him." Jimin said, glancing at the set. "I heard the actor had a health emergency and had to step away from the movie."

"Maybe the green suit guy from yesterday? You know, the wow look at me I'm so sexy, guy."

Jimin furrowed his brows before blinking. "Oh, right. That was a model, not an actor though." Jimin said. "So I don't think it'd be him."

"Wait so you do know him? - is that caramel?" Jungkook asked suddenly as he tasted an extra layer of sweetness in the coffee Jimin gave him. Jungkook caught Hoseok talking with Yoongi over in the corner, drawing something on the Director's palm and it was the only time Jungkook had seen the imposing man soften. Maybe there wouldn't be any director chairs thrown today.

"Yea, I felt I missed the mark yesterday so I replace the sugar with flavoring instead." Was Jimin blushing? No, that'd be ridiculous. Jimin didn't get nervous. "Unless you prefer black coffee."

"Caramel's my regular order, actually."

Jimin smirked then and that nervousness blinked away as if Jungkook had made it up being there in the first place. But the look quickly flushed back as Jimin caught sight of the newcomer from yesterday across the studio. The stranger wore a dark red tailored suit with the jacket hung over his forearm, a soft grey vest displaced over his broad shoulders. Even from so far his eyes pierced their way, golden against his sun kissed skin.

"You said this dude's a model?"

"Successful one too. He closed for Gucci during LA's fashion week:" Jimin answered, suddenly shifting his feet. He turned to hand his manager his coffee as the man passed by, leaving the lemonade for his makeup artist and black coffee for his hair stylist on his tray. Jimin swallowed, looking around the studio.

"Do you think they're ready for hair and make-up?"

"I doubt it, we're pretty early."

"Maybe I should go and check just in case-"

"Jimin!" The model said, finally having made his way across the studio. His smile was boxed, revealing more gums than teeth but it was charming in its own way. He was tall and smelled expensive, those bright eyes focused on Jimin who had jumped at the voice. Jimin glanced at Jungkook and a quick flicker of nerves once again rushed down his features before washing completely away.

Jungkook frowned.

"Tae." Jimin said a little flatly, biting the inside of his cheek.

"Jiminie." The stranger - Tae - said with a large, warm smile. His voice was lower than Jungkook expected and the air around him light as looked down on his friend.

Jungkook's frown deepened.

"I looked for you after talking with Yoongi yesterday about Jin stepping in for some sick actor you guys have on set." The model waved his hand, an expensive watch on his wrist.

Jungkook perked up at that. Jin. Kim Seokjin.

Jimin's....boyfriend.

Jimin tried to hide the shock that was on his own face, but he was too slow to mask it. "Apparently," the model continued, "You ran out the studio before I could find you yesterday to tell you! You're not still mad about last week, are you? I forget sometimes how much you can take things to heart." The model said with a dismissing wave of his hand. The gold watch glistened with the movement.

"Why are you here Taehyung?" Jimin asked, rubbing the back of his neck, a small pout on his lips. Jungkook took a small step closer to him, their arms just brushing and Jungkook watched Jimin stand a little taller. "You're not even in this industry."

"Well, Jimin, Jin booked his flight from Seoul last night so there wasn't anyone in LA to talk to the director for him. Besides, I wanted to check if it'd be okay that I visit set when Jin gets here." Taehyung explained, now eyeing Jimin with a puzzled expression. Jimin stiffed as if something finally clicked into place.

Jungkook watched Jimin's hand, the one not holding the coffee cups, inch towards him. It was such a small movement, only a flick of Jimin's pinky as if to reach for Jungkook's before falling.

"Why? Why, is he coming?" Jimin asked and Jungkook was shocked to hear his voice crack.

"Come on Jimin, like that little stunt of yours wasn't going to make Jin come running." Taehyung dismissed, waving his hand again. "Timing it right for when Super Tuna wrapped and everything. Weren't you curious why there wasn't a follow up article for Jin's response to it?"

Jungkook frowned at that, tucking away the idea that Jimin might have deliberately given Dispatch material in some ploy for his boyfriend.

"Don't talk to him like that." Jungkook said, causing Taehyung to finally look at him. He blinked, shocked that there was a third to their conversation. "Like Jimin's some little kid. Don't talk down to him."

"Sorry, who are you?"

"Jeon Jungkook."

"Oh. Right. Yea, from the photos, right?"

"What photos?" Jimin perked and the two men blinked.

"Don't play dumb Jimin." Taehyung said.

"I'm not. What photos?"

Jungkook frowned at that too. Did Jimin really not know? It'd explain why he acted like nothing was weird yesterday. But Taehyung's words echoed in Jungkook's head ...  like that little stunt of yours wasn't going to make Jin come running. Jungkook glared at Taehyung. The newcomer was getting into his head.

"Shoot, they're calling me for makeup. I'll be back." Jimin said, seeing his make artist wave for him from behind their black curtain. They were probably still setting up, but Jimin looked more than happy to run over and get away. He gave a short apology then left.

"You made Jimin cry." Jungkook finally pieced together. "You said you haven't seen him for a week. That you had an argument. You're the asshole friend that made him cry."

Taehyung rose a brow, unfazed. "Jimin using you to get Jin's attention doesn't make you special, JohnKook."

"It's Jungkook."

"Right." Taehyung said, glancing down at a text on his phone. "Look kid-"

"I'm your age."

"Sure."

"Are Jimin and Jin - are they still together?" Jungkook asked, ignoring the heat in his cheeks as he did so. Taehyung's brows flicked up, actually looking at Jungkook for the first time the entire conversation.

"I don't know why that's relevant to you in any way. But yea, essentially. They had a fight and Jimin's just - well he's confused."

"Why does Jimin seem scared of him?"

"Scared? Again, he's confused. They had some argument before Jimin left for LA. Apparently the entire thing came out of nowhere and then Jimin up and left Korea. Look, I've known him my entire life. Jimin pretended to break up so Jin could wake up and start acting more attentive. It was about time."

Jungkook felt time stop. "So, they are broken up then."

"He's confused, John."

Jungkook swallowed. If the actors had broken up - that would explain so much. Jungkook's heart started to race. Why Jimin never mentioned Jin, why he seemed shocked to hear of him.

"Is that what you said to him a week ago?" Jungkook asked. "That he's 'confused?'"

"What I said to Jimin shouldn't interest you. You're his co-worker." Taehyung looked back down on his phone, responding to a text before sliding it into his pocket. "Speaking of Jin, he just parked so I should grab him. Look, Jimin's complicated. I'm telling you now, so you don't get hurt, but he's just using you to get Jin back. You'll see that I'm right. I know him better than he knows himself."

Taehyung patted Jungkook on the shoulder before walking out the studio door.

"I'm not his co-worker." Jungkook mumbled as Taehyung walked away. "I'm his friend."

________
A/N:
Okay so BTS' Insta rn??? Is Taehyung trying to kill us?? Also JK's concert photos too - I can't handle how good they look. The Hyung line too, and the videos of them singing in Seoul makes me so happy cause imagine how good that must feel for them to finally be on stage in their home. Idk, love those boys 😭

Also hope you guys are doing okay!! I know this semester for everyone I've talked to has been really rough, I hope you all are pushing through and finding support in those around you ❤️

- Vio