"Are you working on any auditions?" Jimin asked after they finished a rather okay meal of pesto pasta for the promised post aquarium meal. The noodles were cooked well and the chicken strips weren't dry, but the glass of white wine really helped make the dish more impressive than it was. 

Jimin blushed over it - he did warn Jungkook that he wasn't much of a cook - but Jungkook didn't seem to mind. In fact, he finished the whole plate and smiled. Jungkook found it charming that he finally found something Jimin wasn't a God at. 

"We can practice your scenes if you want?" Jimin offered.

"You'd do that?" Jungkook answered, eyes wide as he leaned back in his chair, pushing against Jimin's table to make it tip slightly. It'd gotten dark outside as they talked over dinner but neither boy seemed to notice the time pass.

Jimin blushed before running a hand through his hair. Was Jungkook always this cute?  He watched Jungkook furrow his brows, lips parting to reveal a little surprised grin like a bunny. Jimin kinda wondered if he should feed Jungkook carrots with how much he resembled the little creatures.

"Okay," Jungkook said, looking through his phone for audition scripts emailed to him. "Alright so this one if for an action drama. I got past their initial audition and now they're doing chemistry checks between the leads. Would you be okay reading a bit of a cheesy actiony romance scene with me? I've done romcoms and romance dramas before, but action is a new genre for me."

"Sure thing, email it to me while I clean up." Jimin said as he got up and started to pick up the dishes from the table. Jungkook immediately bounced up, almost shocking Jimin with the sudden spark of energy, before helping him pick the dishes up and carry them into the kitchen. Jimin snorted slightly, eyeing where Jungkook could possibly have such energy stored when Jimin could only think of curling up under a blanket for the night. It was...cute.

Jimin poured them some more wine before gesturing for Jungkook to follow him back into the living room where the fireplace sparked in front of a lush, fuzzy white carpet and grey couch.

Jimin sat down on the ground, putting the wine on a low coffee table, before pulling up the script. Jungkook sat down across from Jimin so that their knees were touching. Jungkook's hands were shaking slightly. He huffed a breath, rubbing his hand through his hair.

"Hey," Jimin said, "I'm here to help. Don't be nervous."

Jungkook fumbled a smile.

Jimin looked back down at the emailed script, suddenly serious as he took it in with a specialist's care. "Wow, this script is really a turn from A Sprinkle of Love. They should call it A Sprinkle of Sad from this synopsis."

Jungkook laughed a little too loud which caused Jimin to blush and Jungkook reached for the wine to grab a swig of his glass. It tasted light on his lips and the sweetness helped cut through the nerves rushing down his chest. He was about to workshop an audition script with his favorite actor. And now friend. And also crush.

Jimin cleared his throat and Jungkook blinked before realizing he had the first line in the audition. Jimin gave him a little reassuring nod as he put down his phone. The subtle action made the white sweater he'd changed into slip slightly from his shoulder and Jungkook had to shake his head to focus.

"Just take a deep breath, I'm here to support you." Jimin said kindly, putting a palm on Jungkook's knee intending to comfort Jungkook.

The gesture had the complete opposite effect.

"Right." Jungkook said, a quick nod and one last sip of the wine. "Okay, okay I'll start."

Jimin took his hand away and settled into character. His entire posture changed, one more intense and focused on Jungkook, ready to play ball with any line Jungkook would throw his way.

"They're close. Here, come with me." Jungkook said, the two of them pretending Jungkook had pulled them into an alleyway in the depths of New York's streets.

Jungkook was reading the character of a New York gang boss, Ash, who's whole underground world was currently turning upside down due to a new mind control drug loose on the streets. Jimin read for Jungkook's screen partner: the character Eiji, a photographer's assistant who happened to get caught up in the middle of both a brewing gang war and a growing care for Ash.

"I think we lost them." Jimin huffed, mimicking the state the characters would have been in after running away from the onslaught of rival gang members hot on their tail. He read: "but we can't outrun them forever."

"No. We can't." Jungkook said, looking at Jimin and trying to get his facial expressions to go from intense to soft as naturally as he could. It felt awkward on his face. 

Jimin shook his head, closing the script.

"Jungkook, this is the moment the casting directors are looking for. It's not the line, but the feel of Ash's struggle and fear over the loss of Eiji who he brought into the dangerous world of gang rivals. You need to say your line, the No, We Can't, and then really look at your screen partner and let the fear show. It's why the moment is so big, I'm guessing, because up until this point Ash probably never considered that his skills or status wouldn't be enough not to protect Eiji. And here he is, realizing someone he loves might actually get hurt because of him. That realization also can be the moment he confirms holy shit, I'm in love with him. Take a moment and add layers in the silence before the next part. I'm guessing that's why they're auditioning with this piece of the script. They want to see what you pull from it."

Jungkook nodded, running a hand through his hair. Jimin was right, he had to focus on the beat after and not the words of the line itself.

"It's easier when you picture someone. Look at me, my eyes, my face, my lips, and take the time to allow Ash to break in that moment. Imagine we're running away from Seokjin or Namjoon. That we're out of breath trying to avoid them and then they corner us on every end. No matter what, you and I would have to walk separate ways to talk to them. Take something small like that, I know it's friendship but that feeling of freedom and then reality of obligation, and transform it into the fear and love this character feels. It can help to root some truth in fantasy when you're struggling to find the best way to emote a scene."

"Okay. Okay let me try again."

"You can also think of us running away from Yoongi's director chair he likes to throw at bad takes if that helps more."

Jungkook snorted and Jimin smiled. 

He then nodded, readjusting again before that light flicked on in his eyes as a stage light only could to single the start of the scene. 

Jimin was always beautiful when in his element, his passion and love for acting poured out of him as easily as wine poured from their shared bottle. He breathed his craft and getting to experience it up close - Jimin had never looked more beautiful than in that moment. The wine felt warm down Jungkook's throat.

Jungkook tried to take Jimin's advice. How would he feel if Namjoon reentered his life? If Seokjin succeeded in changing Jimin's mind? Was he really that close with Jimin in the first place to even have an opinion on that?

Jungkook tilted his head, letting out a small sigh as his brows furrowed tight. Jimin was looking up at him now too, his lashes thick and brushing the top of his lid. Slowly, Jungkook's hand went to Jimin's cheek and he was surprised to find how warm he was. Jimin leaned into Jungkook's touch the slightest bit, lips parting in surprise. Jungkook could swear he felt Jimin's pulse quicken.

Could he stop now? Walk away from Jimin? Jungkook's eyes searched Jimin's face: the freckles near his eyes, the bridge of his nose, the shape of his lips, and wondered how it'd feel if Seokjin were to swoop in tomorrow and steal Jimin away. Jungkook swallowed, his lips thinning. Would he hurt Jimin in the end as Seokjin had, or Namjoon hurt Jungkook? Were they capable of creating such scars when they were still only friends?

Jungkook brushed his thumb on Jimin's cheek, swallowing. But it could be worth it, to try again. To feel that care for someone. To invite someone back in. Even if they hurt each other in the end, it could be worth it to believe in something good again.

"You're safe with me." Jungkook said, both his line in the script and a truth.

Jimin's brows pinched together as something melted in his expression. When had they leaned into each other? Jungkook could smell Jimin's lavender perfume scent from so close.

Jimin's gaze flicked down to the curve of Jungkook's lips then back up, his own breathes slow and warm.

"Do you mean that?" Jimin, not Eiji's character, asked, suddenly off script.

Jungkook could feel the rise and fall of Jimin's chest, listening to the slight shudder in his breath. The phone clutched in Jimin's hands and Jungkook closed his eyes as he tilted his head.

"Yes, I do." He said before closing the distance between their lips in a kiss.

Jungkook moved his hand from Jimin's cheek to the back of his neck, pulling him in closer. Jimin gasped, his lips parting as Jungkook deepened the kiss. Jimin closed his eyes and reciprocated, slipping in his tongue as he put his hand over the one Jungkook held behind his neck. Fire crackled behind them and the heat of it pressed against their backs, their reflections caught against the wine glasses on the floor.

Jungkook never felt such a rush down his system before - not even with Namjoon. Something in his chest exposed, like a cage of fireworks set free with each push and pull of their lips. He wanted to never stop kissing Jimin -

He was kissing Jimin.

Kissing.

Jimin.

With his lips.

In a kissing motion.

Jungkook pulled back and Jimin's eyes were still closed before he realized Jungkook had stopped. Jimin jumped back, his cheeks pale and expression flustered as he almost knocked the glasses of wine over.

"I uh - great job with the character notes. I think you got it. Great job." Jimin stuttered out, getting up. He fixed his sweater, putting the back of his hand to his swollen lips before charging towards his bathroom.

"Jimin! Jimin, wait!" Jungkook yelled after, but he heard the door close and wondered if Jimin was going to lock himself away from more than just the living room.

_____________
A/N
Banana Fish Anyone?? 🍌 🐠
- Vio