There was a part of Jungkook that hated Jimin's apartment. It was beautiful, housed in one of the tallest skyscrapers in Seoul that only the height of Korean society or celebrities could reach. Jimin lived in a penthouse with windows that bled in both the morning and setting sun as if the light was specially made to blanket his foyer. His furniture was tasteful, a mix of whites and pinks and gold with colorful paintings covering the walls.

But Jimin had been in a relationship on and off for over six years. While two months had passed since Jimin had finally ended it with Seokjin and the man seemed to be giving the couple space back in Seoul, there were still ghosts of him scattered around. A pink plush pillow Seokjin had undoubtedly bought. A pair of mugs that matched in a vine and flower theme. A coffee machine Jimin never touched but it was too expensive to toss away.

Jungkook sat now, staring at the pink pillow Jimin had shoved into his living room corner, with his hands draped around the back of a white couch. How many nights had he spent here now, watching movies or drinking wine with Jimin? Did he leave any traces of himself? Did Jimin notice?

"Jungkook." Jimin's voice said as he walked out of his room, the sheets of the bed still disheveled from their morning together. Jungkook smirked then. Jimin blushed.

"You're thinking something dirty, aren't you?"

"Always." Jungkook said grinning as he leaned forward, eyes tracing Jimin from head to toe. He wore a suit, black like the night sky and that fit his frame like water flowing down it. He wore no shirt under it. Instead, a long silver necklace reached past his collar bones.

"Do you think this is too much for the premier?" Jimin asked, his hands making small fists by his sides. "I mean it's what my stylist thinks I should go with but it's a wholesome romantic movie about baking. I'm not sure if this is too ... sexy?"

Jungkook breath stuck in his throat, drinking Jimin in like wine. He walked up to him then, loving how Jimin looked up at him through his thick lashes as he approached. Jimin blinked and Jungkook's hand cupped the side of his cheek before tracing down his shoulder, the fabric of the suit jacket was rich under his fingertips.

"It's because the media still believes we're rivals." Jungkook said, kissing the top of Jimin's head. "They're pulling no stops on the outfit for me either. But I could never beat you, Jimin. No one could rival you."

Jimin laughed, pushing Jungkook on the chest slightly. "Jungkook, be serious."

"I am." Jungkook said, grinning at the hickey's on Jimin's neck. "We're still pitted against each other out there."

Jimin ran a hand through his hair, looking out towards the Seoul Skyline.

"Jin's going to be there. At the premier." Jimin said and the air dulled in the room. "Taehyung called me today too. He wants to meet up sometime."

Jungkook frowned. "What did you say to him?"

Jimin shrugged. "I don't know, the premier isn't for another couple of months so there's time on the Jin thing. But, doesn't it feel off? That he's leaving us alone? He hasn't even come to pick up his things. It makes me nervous."

Jungkook threaded his fingers with Jimin's, giving them a squeeze.

"And Taehyung?"

"I told him I needed time."

Jungkook nodded, pulling Jimin into his chest and holding him. Jimin's hands went to Jungkook's waist and lingered there as Jungkook began to stroke his hair.

"You look beautiful, by the way." Jungkook finally said, his voice low and gravelly. "I'm not sure I pointed that out yet."

Jimin smiled against Jungkook's chest. "You didn't say the words, exactly."

"Well, you're usually the one to say that to me. Especially when I'm tied up."

Jimin laughed and the room filled back up with life. "Yes, well, you do look the best when you're underneath me."

Jungkook grinned. He pinched Jimin's waist as he pulled back.

"Jimin I-" Jungkook started and then stopped. His blood was rushing, his hands threatening to shake despite all the self-control he could muster. It'd been two months of bliss since they came to Seoul. A sneaky part of him knew that even when he was with Namjoon Jungkook couldn't say he lived as euphorically as he did now. And yet it could all crash at any moment. Some reality slicing them apart. Jungkook looked over to Jimin's room again, wondering if any of Jin's clothes were still left in a box somewhere. "I want to go public with you. At the premier."

Jimin blinked, taking a full step back. He didn't look shocked. Surprised wasn't the right word either. Concerned, maybe. Happy and sad too, but it was mostly concern that caused creases to appear in his skin.

"Why? We're happy in the dark. No one bothers us. Not the media, not Jin or Namjoon or anyone. Why risk that?"

"I feel like we're hiding. The whole rival thing, the fake hate, I can't take it. I don't want to have to act like I don't feel something for you each time we walk out outside. I don't like that people still whisper and post articles about you and Jin either, as if you two are still together or destined to be."

"This is about Jin?"

"Jimin. You have to see the way people still talk about you guys."

"But you know the truth. Why isn't that enough?"

"Why are you so against it? Do the articles not bother you at all? The interview questions about him you get constantly while we're literally fucking an hour after them?"

Jimin frowned. "No." He said, "it doesn't bother me that no one knows about us. It's safer that way, people can't get between what we're building. We'd never have any privacy again, Jungkook. You're Korea's rising star and I'm, well, whatever I am to the media."

"They'd get bored of it in a couple months."

"What if they misunderstand? What if people think I'm taking advantage of you? A new star that I, an experienced actor with connections, am, like you said, fucking."

"Jimin, I didn't mean it that way." Jungkook said, placing a hand on Jimin's forearm.

"It's fine if that's what you want it to be." Jimin said shortly, though his eyes were a storm that said otherwise.

"Jimin, of course that's not what I want to be. I want to be everything with you. But I want people to know about us. Officially."

Jimin took another step back, his mind a world away. "We'll talk about going public some other time, Jungkook. I'm not saying no or shutting you down but give me some time to think about it."

"How long, Jimin?" Jungkook said as Jimin went to his room and started to close the door, the conversation clearly over.

Jungkook sighed, his stomach flipping. He felt a strange rush of energy that made him feel like he was both floating and sinking at the same time. Doubt was pushing at him like poison but he couldn't bring himself to give words to his true fear as to why Jimin wouldn't want to go public. Who he feared Jimin didn't want to know.

"I'll see you tomorrow, I guess." Jungkook called out and heard a small goodbye from the other side of Jimin's door as he walked out of the apartment.

Rage clawed at him, pulling on strings of guilt in his head as he tried to hold onto the trust he worked to put in Jimin and their relationship. Jimin wasn't the one who had cheated on him. Wasn't the one he had been engaged to and then told him that there was another person that made them whole.

But why not go public? What do they have to hide? Why did it matter?

Jungkook swallowed, annoyed that he wasn't as past his damage as he thought. Annoyed at Jimin. Annoyed at Namjoon. Annoyed that he wasn't completely fine and okay and as good with everything as he thought.

Jimin said he loves you, Jungkook reminded himself. Not everyone is going to hurt you.

Jungkook stepped outside onto a busy street where a loud open market was on the other side of it. Venders of all kinds selling street food and flowers brought color to a graying sky above it. The cars honked with the soft drizzle of rain sounded like needles hitting the ground around them.

Jungkook needed to get back to his own apartment. Watch something or shower or anything before-

Jungkook stopped in his tracks. He heard a laugh, a laugh he'd recognize anywhere. It was hardy and short. The sound filled up space like a dam bursting with water only could.

He looked up, past the taxis and the people walking with their black umbrellas. He looked at the nearest flower vendor, the owner an older man showing a beautiful, tall, dark-skinned woman, how to press a flower into a notebook. She clapped, a ring glistening on her finger.

Next to her with a hand on her lower back, facing away from Jungkook, was the tall, broad shouldered frame of Kim Namjoon in a gray coat. He laughed again, the sound like lightning as the old man made some joke. Jungkook watched the vender wink as Kim Namjoon paid for a bouquet of yellow tulips and handed them to the woman.

She turned around then, smiling up at him. Her hair was a gorgeous storm of curls. Her jaw strong and eyes shining like glass. Then, time slowed, and her mouth fell as her eyes locked on Jungkook across the street. The flowers dropped from her hands.

Jungkook instantly recognized her as the woman who'd been following Jimin around in LA, first. And as Namjoon's wife, second.

Namjoon yelled in surprise, lunging for the flowers, and just as he raised his head to look in the direction his wife was gaping, a truck drove past them cutting off both Jungkook's and the couple across the street's vision.

Jungkook couldn't think. Could barely move as he turned on his heel and walked back into Jimin's apartment complex. His head was cloudy. Heavy. Dark. Calm. He pressed the button to Jimin's penthouse robotically, trusting his body to get him somewhere safe while his mind spiraled.

As the doors opened, he saw Jimin pacing in a pair of pajamas biting on his nail.

Jimin's head snapped to Jungkook and he lunged for him, wrapping his hands around Jungkook's frozen body. "I'm sorry," Jimin said, "I'm sorry for making you upset earlier. I'm sorry for making you feel like you had to leave. You never have to leave, even if we fight."

Jungkook shuddered and Jimin pulled back. "Jungkook? Jungkook, you're crying. Holy shit, Jungkook, what's wrong?"

Jungkook shuddered again and fell to his knees, cradling his body as he let out a sob. Jimin stayed with him through each one, as every painful minute went by and Jungkook's cried out. While his chest felt like it'd break, and his throat would give out at any moment. Jimin stayed by him. Holding him. Telling him he was safe and that he'll be okay.

Jimin didn't ask further questions, didn't pry or judge. Something in him simply understood.

Trust, Jungkook thought in his panic, is it even possible? To trust again? 

Jimin held him until the tears stopped and Jungkook's energy finally went out. He lugged his muscular boyfriend all the way into bed, getting him dressed into something cozy, making a tea to put on the bedside table in case Jungkook woke up and needed it, and threw the cover on over him.

When Jungkook was falling asleep, he felt Jimin press his back into Jungkook's own, reaching down between them and hold Jungkook's hand. Wordlessly, he strung his fingers into Jungkook's weak grasp, just as they had the very first time they'd ever shared a bed.

___________

God guy's I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for this fic to get so dramatic. Hope you still enjoy it even if it's a little bit sad! I promise it won't all be sad!

-Vio