"Um, it's not much but..." Jungkook said, turning the key to his rented-out apartment facing the beach side of LA as Jimin followed him. 

Jimin readjusted the small tote bag he carried with him with a change of clothes and a toothbrush. "I wouldn't call having a penthouse suite 'nothing.'"

Jungkook blushed, shrugging. "I don't know, maybe you're used to mansions in outer space."

"Outerspace?"

"You never know with rich people. That's where I would go if I had your type of money."

"Jungkook, you can't just go to space."

"Well no, not yet." Jungkook said, pushing the door open to a large oval shaped living room. Curved glass windows overlooked a setting sun over hills and a shining ocean in the distance. There was a massive TV equipped to the left wall on top of a black glass looking fireplace. The only thing missing to nail Jungkook's own rich boy aesthetic was a piano and -

"What happened to the couch?" Jimin asked, pointing at the empty space in front of the TV where a rectangle indent in a white rug sat.

Jungkook rubbed the back of his neck. He squinted at the indent, giving it a small nod. He was sure that there hadn't been a couch when he'd first rented the apartment, but it did always seem odd to him that the living room had so much space. "No yea. That is definitely strange. Haven't noticed that. Hm. Well would you look at that."

"You didn't notice a missing couch?" Jimin asked, raising his brows. "Jungkook. There's a whole indent!" Jimin laughed, putting his down the tote bag against the wall before finally closing the front door which caused the lights above them to spring to life. They dimmed slightly to create a cool light like the room was one of the stars starting to peek out against the coming night sky. Jimin gaped, sliding off his shoes. 

Jungkook rubbed his chin, staring at the living room before them. "No that's definitely a couch indent. Or a very rectangular shaped body."

"Or both." Jimin teased, clapping Jungkook on the shoulder as he walked past him towards the windows, almost running to see the view from so high up.

Jungkook frowned. "No, both would be ridiculous. Don't be silly." He gave the rectangular dent in the carpet one more good look. "Ridiculous." He repeated, though less sure, before looking back up to find Jimin a step away from the glass.

Jimin lifted a hand, touching the window as if to touch the neighboring buildings. His eyes were wide, soaking in the darkening sky and the waves so far in the distance that he had to squint to see them.

"Uh." Jungkook said and Jimin's cheeks went red. He took a step back and the blush deepened.

"Sorry, I uh - I haven't seen LA from this high."

"You didn't rent a suite?"

"No." Jimin answered. "I live in space, remember? That I paid for with my rich people money. I live right next to that dancing dude from Despicable Me that got stuck on the moon. Can't see much from up there."

"Really?"

Jimin made a face and Jungkook cracked a smile. "I'm kidding." Jungkook said, putting his hands up in defense.

Jimin shrugged. "If there's no couch, where do you want me to crash tonight?"

"Oh." Jungkook hadn't thought that far ahead. Right. "You can sleep on my bed; I'll take the floor."

Jimin paled. "Jungkook, I'm not having you sleep on the floor of your own place. I'll take the floor; you're already doing more for me than you need to."

"No, Jimin seriously I insist. You'd be surprised the places I've managed to sleep-"

"Jungkook. Seriously." Jimin said, taking a step towards Jungkook and Jungkook's chest fluttered. He had to stop reacting that way to Jimin - as if he were still some fan boy meeting his idol and not someone helping out a friend. Which is what they were. Friends.

So his body needed to stop freaking out. That was not a rectangular shaped body indent on his carpet and he did not like Jimin in a way that made his head spin.

"Fine. Let's both sleep on the floor." Jimin said when Jungkook didn't answer.

"It's better to just share my bed then." Jungkook shot back.

"What." Jimin said, blinking and Jungkook eye's widened as he realized what he'd said.

"It's king sized." Jungkook backtracked. "There's a lot of room, we can just make a line of pillows like kids do so there's lots of space. Why? Is that weird?"

This time Jimin blushed, shaking his head. "No - no why would that be weird?

"I don't know, I suggested it and then you made a face-"

"I didn't make a face."

"No you did, I saw it. Like this-" Jungkook said, blinking very hard and pooling as much surprise as he could into his expression.

Jimin snorted, pointing at Jungkook. "I did not! I don't think it's weird but then you said it was weird and now you're the one making the face!"

"Fine. Then we can sleep together." Jungkook said matter of factly, nodding his head before his words processed. He blinked. "Not like that! You know what I mean."

"Yes I do, you weirdo." Jimin said, his eyes curving up into small half-moons as a soft smile paved its way on his full lips. Jimin's hand went to his stomach, another to his forehead as he let out a laugh. The sound filled the oval room and spiraled up the high ceiling as if filling the apartment with music. "I can't believe I'm even in this situation. If Tae could see this he'd laugh so hard -" Jimin said before his face fell slightly, but still he kept that soft smile on his lips, even if saddened. "Well I'd never hear the end of it."

Jungkook swallowed; his attention was stuck on Jimin. On how his chest caved as he laughed, on the small freckle near his eyes, on the nape of his neck, his lips, his cheek. Jungkook always thought Jimin was beautiful, but at that moment with the dim white light hitting his face, his back against a sky bleeding with starlight and waves crashing in the distance, Jungkook thought Jimin looked extraordinary.

Shit. I'm being weird.

Jimin opened his eyes, looking straight into Jungkook's with a warmth that caused Jungkook's heart to stop beating. It was open, drawing Jungkook into Jimin's world like a rope pulling him in until he drowned. Jungkook wanted to reach for Jimin, to hold his hand in his and dance across the open space where a couch should have been. What am I thinking?? I'm so sorry Jimin - even though you can't hear my thoughts. I promise to stop thinking such weird things. This is the last thing you need right now.

"I like you, Jungkook." Jimin said, turning to Jungkook and walking towards him. The night sky a dark halo against his frame as he walked Jungkook's way. "I haven't had a good friend in a while. I like the feeling." He said, squeezing Jungkook's shoulder in a sure manner, before walking to pick up his bag. 

As he passed, Jungkook's head ran through a rollercoaster of emotions. Jimin liked their friendship. Felt comfortable in it. Which was good and great and well and - why did it bother him so much? 

Jungkook swallowed, pointing out the bathroom for Jimin to shower. He waited till he heard the door close and the sound of water hit the tile floor, echoing into the living room, before he found himself pacing in front of the large windows. His hands were shaking, and he crossed his arms, shifting his large shoulders back as to not cave in entirely on himself. A part of him ached for his teeth to nip at his fingernails, but the death grip his hands had on his biceps was enough.

I know why it bothered me, Jungkook thought, holding onto himself tighter. Jimin was humming in the bathroom, his voice so soft and sweet that Jungkook almost forgot the frightened boy confronting his manipulating ex in the actor's room or the actor Jimin had first been with the cold shoulder. Always, he admired Jimin as a professional. He was talented, had a way of springing characters to life and displaying the truth of them on camera like nothing Jungkook could ever mimic. He was kind in interviews, so caring for staff. Who wouldn't have a celebrity crush on him?

Then Jungkook saw him cry. Had gotten to pull back that idolization curtain he'd created and see Jimin as a human for once. Jimin could laugh and hurt like anyone else. It was the small things, though, that had done Jungkook in. The first coffee Jimin brought, acting like it wasn't a big deal but it was - because Jimin had noticed Jungkook. He watched him and thought of what Jungkook would like then acted on it. Jimin was funny on set, making up for his coldness by including Jungkook in whatever conversations he was having. He even included Jungkook into his gossip sessions with the make up artists, pulling him into his world. And then there was the way he took a step towards Jungkook when Taehyung and Seokjin had taken over the set earlier that day - like he trusted him.

I know why it bothered me - and I'm in deep shit because of it. Jungkook thought, hearing the shower finally shut off and having to come to terms with the very real realization that he was about to share a bed with someone he wished he didn't have to call just a friend.

__________
A/N:
YOU GUYS. THE AMOUNT OF COMMENTS ON THE LAST CHAPTER?!?! DAMN NEAR MADE ME CRY. Thank you thank you thank you for that, it means so much to me that you interact with the story and it really just blew me away the shear amount of comments I got ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

As a thank you, I have a spoiler for a future chapter I have planned that's a little farther ahead and not written yet: 🐧

- Violette