The slow beat of music in the fitness studio lulls like a synth wave behind Hoseok's crying. Thea hangs on to Hobi's arm, gently rubbing the skin up and down in a comforting motion. Jimin and Jungkook sit hip-to-hip on their shared exercise mat, casting worried glances at Hoseok.

"Hobi..." Jimin starts, his own eyes sprouting moist pinpricks of their own. "I'll come back to visit frequently. I p-promise. And I'll call to check in, it's not like I'm abandoning you. I'm always one call away."

"I...I know, it's just..." A sad smile rises on Hoseok's sweaty face. Their last Pilates class together finished successfully, with Jimin helping Jungkook get into as many poses as he possible could with his legs. It was more of a goof-off session for the Pluto Rooms couple than Pilates, but Thea didn't scold them even when their laughing got out of control. She knew it was their last day in Seoul and was empathetic because of it. "...I'm really going to miss seeing you everyday, Thick Stuff. You're like my little brother...a-and...ugh! Why am I crying!"

The biochemist sniffles, wiping his nose on the corner of his shoulder. Thea rubs his back, giggling a little at her boyfriend's behavior. 

"We'll visit a lot." Jungkook peeps up, following Thea's example in rubbing his boyfriend's back. His hand circles behind Jimin's crop top and the elder leans into the touch. "I promise, Hobi. Junghyun is staying here in Seoul with his friend now, so we can make double visits to Seoul for my brother and you two."

"R-right..." Jimin chimes, trying to stay positive. "We'll be back."

Inside, his heart is hurting at Hoseok so torn to see them go. Him and Hoseok have been living as roommates for such a long time. Hoseok not constantly being there is going to take a lot of getting used to. Soon Jimin won't have his sunshine friend screaming 'YOUR SAVIOR IS HOME!' whenever he returns to the duplex. He won't get victory dances to cheer him up, sad dances to sympathize with his troubles, and horny dances to make fun of Jimin whenever he thirsts over actors in dramas. He won't get to sit at the kitchen table over a cup of coffee in the morning to discuss the university's gossip or to make fun of what happened at Radon the night prior. I'm going to miss him to death.

"Enough talk. Give me a hug, both of you." Hoseok blubbers, extending his arms out as he moves towards them.

Jungkook allows Jimin to get hugged first, colliding harshly with the crying university student. Hoseok buries his face into Jimin's shoulder, patting him multiple times on the back as the tears come out. Jimin does likewise, trying to push the lump out of his throat. This shouldn't be a sad goodbye but a happy one, he knows that...but everything is all happening too fast. 

In only a few weeks, him and Jungkook will be officially launching the finalized version of Pluto Rooms to the public, announcing their CEO positions, and working to expand gameplay around the globe. 

They've already been working hard on the game's art direction and getting to plan out the basics of Pluto Rooms. So far, development has been fun and easy for the duo, who work on it during their free time--that is, when they aren't in publicity interviews, photoshoots, and meeting with the head game maker of Perilation for advice.

"Hobiiii...I'll miss you."

"Thick Stuff...I'll miss you more. But at least I won't have to deal with your sugar addiction anymore! Our candy cabinet was getting out of control!"

Jimin laughs thickly, breaking apart their hug and pushing jokingly at Hoseok's shoulder. "Your vegetable cabinet was out of control!"

Hoseok sniffs, wiping at eyes with an amused glint in them. "Is that supposed to be an insult, Jiminie? It's not. I maintain a healthy diet." Hoseok suddenly turns to Jungkook, crushing the younger boy in an affectionate hug.

Jungkook rests his head solemnly on Hobi's shoulder. "I'll miss you, Hoseok-"

"I trust that you will take exemplary care of Park Jimin and all of his divine thickness...and I trust that you'll make him happy and love him 'til the end. If you break his heart, you're dead meat, Pluto97."

The younger blinks, staring wordlessly at Jimin. Thea couldn't hear the words from her spot on the far mat, but the purple-haired male definitely did. A bit of color rises in his cheeks and he places his hands on his hips.

"Hobi! That's not a nice way to talk to my boy! You know he wouldn't hurt me-"

"He's just protecting you, Melonboy." Jungkook breaks the hug, now grinning at Hoseok in wonder. "I can't blame the guy. He's an awesome friend to threaten me like that."

"I know I am." Hoseok high-fives Pluto's outstretched hand with vigor. "And I knew Jungkook would understand. He's perfect for you, Jimin. You got lucky with this guy. You two are going to be the best matchmakers in the modern world."

Jimin sidles next to Jungkook, nudging their knees together. "Aw, Hobi. I'm so happy you think so. But isn't it super ironic how you met Thea around the same time that I met Kook? Kinda funny..."

Thea overhears, snickering quietly to herself. "Uh, he met me a whole year ago actually. I used to be in his Pilates class before I took over and became the instructor. We saw each other every week in our class, but I only knew basic Korean then. We barely talked."

"Oh." Jimin turns to Hoseok with mild confusion. "I didn't know that. Why didn't you go after her sooner, Hobister?"

His roommate brushes off the nickname with a swipe of the hand. "Well...I was convinced that studying was more important than getting a girlfriend, but Thea eventually caught me staring too long at her a couple times...ever since she became the instructor I could tell she paid me extra attention. One day I got the courage to talk to her in the spring and...yeah. Coincidentally around the same time you met him online."

Jungkook tilts his head endearingly at them. "That's super sweet. When we visit, we'll have to go on double dates."

"Yes!" Jimin squeezes Jungkook's thigh, which moves slightly to the side under his touch. Jungkook did pretty well in Pilates today despite his limitations, and seeing the muscle tone in his legs improving makes Jimin extremely proud. "The next time we come back, I'll treat you all to an overnight luxury spa! Or we could plan a trip to Jeju Island for the weekend. Or have a scary movie night, or go out for dinner somewhere nice, or just do Pilates, cuz I'm fine with that-"

"Don't make me start crying again, Thick Stuff." Hoseok leans into Thea's side. The short girl's ponytail smushes against his armpit as he cradles her like a large teddy bear for comfort. "Leave us! Before I break down again."

"Alright...alright." Jimin stands up, helping Jungkook to his feet. Thea and Hoseok watch them the entire time with a distant look in their eyes. The younger says nothing but offers a small wave and smile before grabbing onto his walker. Hoseok waves back less energetically, swaying his arm around in a depressed arc. 

"Goodbye, Hobi. Bye, Thea! Until later!"

"Goodbye Thick Stuff..." Hoseok murmurs after the studio door shuts. The tears for him come fresh, full of candied memories and cropped adventures, drenching Thea's activewear tank as the two CEOs exit the building.

.

The door to this level opens up with a slight groan, admitting the gentlemen into their seats after a closely-anticipated stroll. In their padded leather seats, one of the men tugs uncomfortably at his suit tie while the other rolls a pen around thoughtfully between his index finger and thumb. Their free hands are connected underneath the black meeting table, clammy with nerves and shaking with excitement.

The board of individuals supporting them--full of vagabond creatives and unique thinkers--stare at their new bosses in amazement. A few even gape, probably dissecting the businessmen's youthful complexions and inexperienced body language, wondering how these men are their bosses.

A few seconds later, the final guest enters the door, shutting it quietly behind her. A projector whirs to life overhead, casting colorful beams of light onto the white wall at the end of the spacious room. Some people clear their throats, shuffling stacks of paper against the table.

"Welcome to Pluto Rooms!" 

The woman speaks, tearing the nervous silence apart that hovers around everyone in the meeting room. Some employees cough. Some can't remove their gaze from the purple-haired male who doesn't wear a suit but a silk black crop top above his dress pants. Some of their attention is stuck on the walker placed neatly by one of the CEO's chairs, leaning up and ready to grab at any moment.

"Everyone. Let's welcome in the new CEOs of Pluto Rooms: Matchmaking for All. On your left here, we have Park Jimin, Busan native and head of planning, in charge of affirming board decisions and finalizing the narrative structure of the game. You may have already seen him on the cover of Dazed magazine!"

Jimin stands up from his chair, now a bit embarrassed as the people place their recognition of his face. He bows low, forcing a grateful smile onto his lips. A few people around the table clap. "Hello everyone. It's a pleasure and honor to be in this position working with all of you fine people, and I hope that Pluto Rooms can make its impact on the world. Thank you for having me."

Behind him, the lead game maker of Perilation claps the loudest. She's here to make sure the transition into executive office runs smoothly for the couple and to give them the run down of things. Since meeting her at the Winner's Circle celebration through the red door (to Jimin's delight there were cupcake towers and disco lights and an entire Mariachi band to serenade him and Jungkook through the doorway) he feels way more comfortable around her. Even if she did design such a creepy and rude game, it was to more to test their competence as lovers than to hurt their feelings.

The applause brings color into his cheeks, and he sits back down in his chair. His hand falls naturally into Jungkook's as he recrosses his legs. People now stare at him in awe, a stark difference from their curious suspicion when he'd first entered.

"On your right..." The woman steps next to Jungkook's chair, beholding the boy in his neatly-pressed suit and blazing yellow tie. "Is Mr. Jeon Jungkook, the creative prodigy behind all of the digital sketching, design, and storyboarding of Pluto Rooms. He'll lead the art and graphics team here, as well as the finance board and HR board."

A few muffled gasps tarry throughout the air conditioned room. Jimin squeezes Jungkook's hand as a handful of individuals (probably the art team, given their crazy, expressionist outfits and wide eyes) smile at the younger and cheer. Instead of standing, Jungkook remains seated, welcoming the workers sitting around the table with friendly arms.

"Hello everyone!" The enthusiasm in his tone is hard to miss. Behind him, the head game-maker watches him closely, as a mother might watch her son win a match. "I'm Jungkook, but I also go by Pluto, and I'm so happy to be working here! As you can see, I'm not very ambulatory at the moment, but I promise after a few months that will change! Don't be afraid to talk to me because of my limp, I swear I'm not scary."

A few people chuckle good-naturedly. Jungkook beams from his seat, tugging at one of his hoop earrings. Pleased. Confident. Sexy.

"I can attest to that. He's not scary, and I hope you don't think I am either." Jimin speaks up from his spot. "By the way, if you haven't figured it out already, we're a couple."

A few oohs linger in the air, followed by a few subtle sighs of defeat. No signs of homophobia in their crowd, only disappointment that neither male is single. Jimin mentally applauds the human resources department. I think we'll learn to like this group of people.

The Perilation creator clears her throat, stepping up to the projector stand. "Now that introductions are out of the way, I think we can go over the game. Jimin, if you'll start us off."

Jimin nods at the cue, pulling out a sheet of paper from his tye-dye tote bag. He places it on the table, skimming over his notes. He can feel Jungkook's calm and encouraging presence right by his side, which gives him enough confidence to last the week. 

"Okay, to start off, we need to discuss the project launch date. Its coming up in two weeks, and by then we need to finish final rendering touch-ups, register Pluto Rooms accounts in our database, and put our privacy policy into words for legal purposes..."

.

"You were perfect today, MelonCEO."

Jungkook tears his shirt off as they climb into bed that night. His bed, with its thick padding and off-the-chart level of comfort. The one that Jimin loves.

They're going to room and board at Eunmi's home for as long as they need before they decide to move into their own place...closer to the company building in the heart of the city.

"You were better than me." Jimin strips down to his boxers, running a hand through his messy hair. "They all love you."

"Oh please, I could see half of those people drooling over your sexiness and intelligence. Especially since they heard of your Dazed cover shoot." Jungkook reaches for Jimin's bare body, tugging the elder into his chest to spoon. "By the way, when is your next photoshoot for that business insider company?"

"Next Friday." Jimin snuggles his backside into Jungkook. The younger wraps his arm around Jimin's soft body, caressing the skin of his tummy. "A day after I start my acting classes."

"Oooh, yeah! Can't forget about that." Jungkook presses a few tired kisses onto Jimin's bare shoulder blade, humming against the skin there. 

The two just lay like this for awhile, snuggled and contented in each other's arms. Moonlight fills Jungkook's bedroom, casting a soft glow over their features. Even in the dim light, Jimin can still see the details of a certain picture hanging above Jungkook's desk. The one of him spinning with an accentuated backside back in Seoul...in the duplex during their first video call. Jimin grins, staring at the old version of himself there. The naïve version who thought he could please everyone--could avoid every problem in his sight by ignoring it. He sighs.

"Mmm?" Jungkook senses the change in mood, tapping at Jimin's hipbone. "What's wrong?"

Jimin flips around so that they're face to face. Jungkook stares into his eyes intensely, asking questions with his pupils. His brown hair is tossed off to the side just how Jimin likes it, his accentuated collarbones dipping low into a toned body decorated with various love bites. Jimin lazily traces a few fading hickeys on Jungkook's ribcage. The younger breaks out in goosebumps as Jimin's purple fingernail ghosts over his skin, going higher and higher until Jimin's hand is lightly squeezing the younger's chin. Soft as a baby's butt. And with such pouted, kissable lips.

"Are you going to tell me or would you rather just kiss?" Jungkook seems to read Jimin's thoughts, already leaning in. Before he can connect their mouths, Jimin whispers.

"We're...busy all the time now." He breathes, his thumb steady on Jungkook's chin. "It's kind of scary."

Jungkook's eyebrows curl in to each other. He tries to maintain a confident tone, but Jimin can hear a hint of doubt laced within. "We'll get used to it, Melonboy. Just give it time."

"I hope we do..."

"We will. It's scary at first, but we'll make it." Jungkook kisses the elder's cheeks in turn before hovering above his mouth. "As long as we use the ghost version of our buddyship while we work on Pluto Rooms, we should be fine."

Jimin smiles, a lengthy grin that spans his cheeks. Seeing the elder's eyes crinkle in the lovely way that he likes, Jungkook brings their lips in for a gentle kiss. Their mouths barely brush, like soft wisps of breeze pushing against the leaves on a summer night. It's a sweet, sure, and comforting kiss that reassures Jimin that they'll be fine. None of his old anxieties have to resurface unless he allows them to. His fears don't control him, he controls them.

When they detatch from each other, their eyes glow. They're just two boys after their first day of a daunting new job, soaking in what it all means and how it'll impact them. Getting used to the publicity, the titles, the authority, the fast-paced nature of business. Just two boys in love who have battled their fears to get to this point, who have stared into the unforgiving eyes of Satan in his quarters and cut him down with a candy cane sword.

"We'll be fiiiine. We're Busan Warriors afta all." Jimin remarks snottishly, with his satoori in full-swing. 

"It's funny you say that." Jungkook whispers against his cheek, his nose scrunching in humor. "My dad told mentioned Busan Warriors yesterday when I visited him at the psych center."

"Oh...he did?" Jimin didn't go with Jungkook on the first visit with Mr. Jeon since the accident. He figured his boyfriend might want some time alone with his father...to catch up. 

"Yeah...and you wanna know what else he said?" Jungkook's bright eyes are wrought with a childish innocence. "He called me Pluto again. And...a-and...we did some Morse."

"Did you?" Jimin studies the younger as he grows emotional in his fatigue. "What did you say to him in Morse?"

Jungkook laughs sadly. "Well, I tried to say hello, but my nerves got the best of me and I only got as far as hell."

"Goodness." Jimin smiles, massaging Jungkook's bare shoulders. "I'm sure your father understood you, anyway."

"That's the thing." Jungkook bites his lip in some intense, mysterious humor, his body quaking with silent laughter. "He didn't understand."

"Why not?"

"He doesn't know what hell means. He only knows Satan's quarters." Jungkook bursts into a flight of laughter, climbing to insanity in his tired state. He ruffles his hair against Jimin's chest, burying his face into smooth skin. Jimin giggles from how ticklish the younger's nose is above his heartbeat.

Ah, so that's where the Jeon family got that phrase from. "You're crazy, Kook. So is your family. I love it."

Jungkook falls quiet. "Well I love-"

"You better say you."

"Soup." Jungkook snickers.

"I can always take the couch for the night. That couch is calling my name, begging me to lay on its soft surface-"

"I LOVE YOU, JIMIN!"

"Shhhh!" Jimin clamps a hand down on the younger's mouth. Jungkook kisses his palm, waggling his eyebrows. "You'll wake up Eunmi. Now let's go to sleep."

"Saaay...it...back." Jungkook mumbles against the elder's palm.

"Okay. I love soup."

"I hate you." Jungkook glowers. "So much that I'm going to trap you in my arms and never let go of you the whole night so that you can feel my wrath in the morning, Melonboy. And every morning after that."

In that moment, Jimin swears he can hear the warning sound of Perilation in his ear, can feel the timer ticking in the corner of his vision. The final level...to commit to this crazy boy for all mornings, all days, all levels and Pluto Rooms and dodos that they have waiting for them in their future. He can feel Melonaju urging him towards Pluto97, pushing himself into the player's arms vigorously. In real life he scoots closer to Jungkook, pressing his ear against a warm and steady heartbeat. The chime of audial celebration shortly follows his decision of choosing love, and Jungkook crushes his body in a bear hug.

"I'll agree to that. To feeling your wrath everyday." Jimin's squished face against the younger's chest is content, not a wrinkle of stress in his brow. Jungkook lets up, kissing his purple hair with a protective gentleness that always makes Jimin's stomach tingle. "You know why I agree?"

"Why, Melonboy?"

"Because you more than suffice for me, Jeon Jungkook."

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A/N:

Hi.

uM.

So you remember how a few chapters back I said I would "deadass" dress up as Pluto97 and dance to My Time if any one of my readers predicted correctly what would happen?

Well. Hah. Ha. HA. AHAHAHAHAH!

Let's just say you guys should be happy because I love this story and my readers and dancing so much that I actually did it. Dead. Ass.

The Epilogue is coming next and after that the character Q&A and author's note. Then I'll give you my horrible finale dancing blindly to My Time with a SpongeBob face and...well, let's just say I had a crackhead time and I hope all of you will enjoy it as much as I did when freestyling. :)

Thank you all for being the sweetest people to exist btw. I could probably make Jikook a beautiful wedding cake out of your sugary comments and sweet words. It would taste amazing. 

With love,

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izzy!!!!