"Why did you fly here Jin? Why LA? Why come to my shoot, my movie?" Jimin said as he opened the back room for actors. He waited for Jin to walk inside, hand lingering on the doorknob before stepping inside after him.

Jungkook's chest hammered as he lingered by the wall. The door was left open enough for him to easily overhear and see the conversation between the two men. His head told him to run, but his body refused.

He's playing with you; Taehyung's voice rang. Jungkook tried to shrug it off, counter that he was just making sure Jimin was okay, but ... how well did he really know Jimin? He trusted him, wanted to trust his word and his actions, but Jungkook wasn't new to being blind sighted by those he chose to trust.

He maneuvered to peak through the slightly opened door to see Jin resting his elbows on his knees, leaning forward, eyes intent as he sat on a red couch in the middle of the room.

Jungkook felt stupid, like he was some James Bond spy listening in on a conversation. He couldn't even imagine how he got himself in the situation in the first place. There was only one week between Jimin looking like he'd stab him in the side, laughing while he did it, and now leaning on Jungkook for support. One week difference!

He's playing with you. Taehyung's voice repeated.

Jungkook watched as Jin outstretched a hand and wrapped it softly around Jimin's own, like Jimin's fingers in his was something delicate, something important. Jungkook frowned, a cold sensation rushed down his spine as he watched Jin hold Jimin's hand like that.

"Jimin, my love. My beautiful, beautiful partner. What choice did I have? You showed up to my house a couple weeks ago - while I'm still on contract to film in South Korea - telling me we're breaking up. Then you leave for LA before I even had a chance to speak." Jin raised Jimin's palm to his lips and pressed a kiss into it. Jimin's face paled. "You didn't pick up and of my calls," he gave another small kiss, "ignored my plea from Taehyung - who thank God was in LA for fashion week to reach out to you - but you wouldn't even listen to him. Then the article comes out as Super Tuna wrapped and - Jimin how could I not fly to LA? I love you, you've been a part of me for years and then just disappeared. I can recognize a plea when I see one."

Jungkook suddenly found the hallway too quiet. Something in his stomach dropped and Taehyung's voice finally stopped ringing in his head. The silent replacement was much worse. What am I doing here?

A part of him wished to push the door closed or walk away, but either movement would bring too much attention. Jin's voice was so raw even Jungkook hurt for him. I'm gonna be sick, he thought. His heart knotted and a weight dropped onto his shoulders. There was a second this week, just a moment, where he thought he'd broken through Jimin's crazy walls only for it to be...a lie? an act? The way Jin held Jimin's hand, the way he looked at him like Jimin was the entire world and he rotated around him, it felt like a knife slicing down Jungkook's back.

"What article? Everyone keeps talking about this article." Jimin said, taking his hand out of Jin's grasp.

Jin frowned. "Baby. The one of you out with Jungkook."

This time Jimin frowned.

"With Jungkook? That's why you came to LA? I knew it. I knew there was something."

"Baby." Jin hushed dismissively, reaching to cup Jimin's cheek but Jimin maneuvered out of the touch.

"And Tae didn't just 'talk' to me. I thought he invited me over as a friend and - he was only working for you. I went there thinking I could have a fun night only for everything I said to be dismissed as my 'confusion.' The whole night was about you! I'm not confused, Jin. How dare you weaponize my friends against me."

"Jimin." Jin said more forcefully, his eyes darkening with a slight shadow as he sat straighter up on the couch. "Careful. You're emotional right now, I understand that you're processing a lot, but don't let out hurtful words you don't mean."

Jimin laughed. Actually laughed at that as he started to pace. "I'm not done. Jin, Jungkook and I are friends, but even if we weren't, even if I was dating him, I'm allowed to. We - you and me - we aren't together."

Friends. Instant guilt rushed down Jungkook's face as he leaned back against the wall. What was he doing here? This was obviously a very personal conversation he had no right listening in on.

He could still be lying, you know. A different memory said, the sound of someone Jungkook had worked very, very hard to forget. He'll use you like I did. Careful of getting your hopes up, Kookie.

"And Jin I didn't show up to your house telling you we broke up, we argued for hours! Hours! I was at your house till the sun went down! We cried together till my lungs broke. See, look this is the exact problem. You're twisting things, again." Jimin stopped pacing and finally looked up back at Jin causing Jungkook's heart to drop. There were tears spooling down his cheeks.

Jin only frowned, leaning back into the couch and running a hand down his face. His frame suddenly seemed larger. His shoulders looked broader; the muscle evident under there. The softness of his face looked sharper as he furrowed his brows in thought.

"Jimin, baby, we had a disagreement. Couples can work through small arguments, it's what makes us stronger. We will be stronger. Running away doesn't make things better. You'll never find a relationship that doesn't encounter obstacles and no one will be willing to stay with you if you can't put in the effort to try."

"A disagreement? Jin, I wouldn't call it just a -"

"I'm sorry, you're right, I worded that wrong. But it doesn't change the fact that I still love you."

Jin leaned forward again. He brought the back of his hand to gently trail down Jimin's forearm. His eyes followed his movements and Jungkook watched Jimin's body melt into the touch enough that Jin's gaze flicked back up to him, bright again. Jungkook couldn't breathe - he shouldn't be here, watching this. Jin's gaze was strong on Jimin, looking up through his dark lashes with both passion and victory.

"Baby, I know you're confused. We've had small disagreements, of course, and I could have handled that better, but that's not enough to break up for, is it? Every couple goes through this. It's scary, I know. Trust me." Jin said, standing up now, his hand still brushing Jimin's arm. He held onto Jimin allowing barely any space between their frames as Jimin began to sob. "Remember how good it was when we were together? How safe that was? You were happy then. Don't push away a good thing because you're afraid of it."

"Stop-" Jimin said, shaking his head. "Stop that. Please, Jin, please don't. I'm begging you. Stop." Jimin sobbed again, leaning into Jin's chest as a hand went into his own hair, pulling slightly as he curled his body inward as if the pain in his lungs was unbearable. Jungkook reached for the door, wanting to run and -

- and what? Admit he was listening in? But Jimin looked so miserable. It could be fake. That old voice repeated from his past and this time Jungkook shut it down. It looked anything but. In fact, Jungkook felt awful for ever questioning Jimin in the first place. Maybe it was guilt stopping him from running inside.

Jin tilted his head, smiling slightly. He brushed his hand possessively up and down Jimin's back, allowing him to cry into his chest as if he wasn't the source of his tears.

"Remember your birthday last year? We missed that dinner reservation and you were so worked up over it that instead of trying a different place we just ordered pizza instead. We watch a movie - God what was the title? I can't remember. But we cuddled together on my bed while my laptop sounded like it was dry heaving" Jin smiled, trying to get Jimin to look up at him. "That was a happy memory. We were happy. You focus so much on the negatives, Jimin. You always have. But you were happy with me. Some things could have been better, but you can also make situations out to be worse than they are - and then get confused. You're confused now. But it's okay, I'm here and I forgive you."

Jin's hand went to Jimin's waist, and he used his other to wipe the tears from Jimin's cheeks.

Jimin's shaking. Jungkook thought, ignoring the sirens in his head telling him to run away instead of run inside that room. Apparently, his shift in movement made a loud enough noise that Jimin finally looked up, his eyes wide and he blinked away the tears as he looked hopefully towards the door. Color rushed back into his cheeks and energy revived itself in his frame as he arched his neck to see who was behind it.

"Please." Jimin croaked, sniffing a sob, though his voice was hopeful.

"I'll pick you up tonight, okay baby? We'll go on a real date just like we used." Jin promised.

"Please," Jimin said again, and it finally clicked that Jimin wasn't pleading for Jin - but for Jungkook to rush in.

_________

A/N:

This was....really hard to write. Not in a writer's block way but just in the content. I've written angsty scenes or trauma scenes in the past but this one...yeah this one was hard.

Only keep those who push you, motivate you, and cheer you on in your circle.

I'm sorry for anyone who this chapter hit too close to home, I know from personal experience how hard that can be and you are all strong, wonderful, beautiful people that can and will always heal.

- Vio