—

"So, you learn how to use it yet?"

Kim Namjoon was like a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of Jungkook's shoe. A nuisance that seemed to stick to him wherever he went, and was extremely hard to shake off. At this point in his life he couldn't even say that he truly hated Namjoon though, just found him incredibly annoying.

Why was it though, that he just kept running into him so often?

"Nice to see you too, Namjoon." Jungkook laughed softly, pushing himself off of the wall that he was leaning up against. "Also, I don't think you've learned what kind of conversations are appropriate for public spaces." This time, they were met in a gas station. It wasn't too far from Jungkook's house, but he was only here to accompany Jimin when the older male asked Yoongi to stop the car for the bathroom.

The absolute last thing he had expected was to run into Namjoon of all people in the short time he was planning on being there. What made the whole situation even worse, was that there was now a silent countdown ticking down to when Jimin would walk back out of the bathroom, and he would have to meet Namjoon.

Jungkook did not want Jimin to meet Namjoon.

He didn't want Namjoon to know anything about what he was doing now, knowing that the older male would just try to wiggle his way back into his life again to offer connections. Jungkook didn't want that. He knew that whatever he was working towards, he could do it without Namjoon's help.

"I was just wondering, we haven't spoken since I gave it to you, after all." Namjoon shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's almost like you don't want to talk to me."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow and laughed softly.

"I've told you multiple times that I don't." He answered, the smirk on his face only growing when Namjoon rolled his eyes in response. "But you're like, following me around or something, so I just keep being forced to." His eyes darted to the hallway of the bathroom, silently panicking as he visualized Jimin opening the door.

What would he even say? Jimin already knew who Namjoon was to him, for the most part, but how was he going to introduce Jimin? Namjoon could pick out a lie with ears covered, Jungkook knew that he was going to fold.

He was really relying on Jimin to hold his own, for this one.

"We live in the same neighborhood, I think you forget that." Namjoon laughed, tucking his hands into his pockets. "Besides, if you really didn't want to talk to me, you could just turn around and walk away."

Jungkook scoffed, looking back to Namjoon and scowling at the cocky expression that had taken over the older male's face so well. Out of all emotions, he wore this one the most often.

"As if you would let that happen." He countered, before his attention was immediately averted to the sound of the bathroom door opening. Normally, seeing Jimin walk into a room would bring him nothing but warm feelings in his chest, but this time it brought him dread.

He watched Jimin carefully as the other male brushed his hands off on his black jeans, before looking up to meet Jungkook's gaze. The older male's eyes flitted between Jungkook and Jimin for a moment, confusion flashing across his features for a split second.

Quickly though, Jimin composed himself and stuck his hands in his pockets before approaching the two of them.

"Sorry I took so long, Kook." Jimin smiled warmly at the younger male, gently snaking his arm around his waist. "Who's this?"

Jungkook gulped, but he couldn't help but lean into the older male's touch, appreciative at the comfort it brought.

"My old friend, Namjoon." Jungkook introduced, watching as Namjoon stared Jimin up and down. "I've told you about him, haven't it?"

"A little." Jimin shrugged, meeting Namjoon's gaze and smiling softly. "I'm Park Jimin, Jungkook's boyfriend."

The words sounded so beautiful coming from Jimin's lips, Jungkook nearly went weak in the knees. They hadn't discussed what their relationship truly was, but for Jimin to say what he hoped they were out loud had Jungkook beaming.

Namjoon, on the other hand, was completely taken aback. His face was coated in surprise as he processed the words that had left Jimin's mouth, standing in silence for a few moments before he could even respond. Jungkook hadn't mentioned him once, why was he only learning of this so suddenly?

"How long have you two been dating?" He asked, looking down to where Jimin's fingers curled around Jungkook's waist.

"Oh, only a few months now." Jimin answered, reaching to brush a few pieces of hair out of Jungkook's eyes.

And his words made Jungkook's smile immediately drop, because once again he couldn't differentiate between the truth and the lies when it came to what Jimin told him.

-

"How do you do it so easily?"

Now at Jimin's house, Jungkook was sat in the chair at Jimin's desk as he watched the older male rustle through his closet.

Jimin halted his actions at Jungkook's words, turning around with a raised eyebrow. He carried a black backpack that he had pulled out of the depths of his closet, dropping it onto his floor with a loud thump.

"Do what?" He asked. Jimin pushed a few pieces of hair out of his eyes, before crossing his arms over his chest and waiting for Jungkook to answer.

"Lie." Jungkook replied softly, meeting Jimin's gaze as scanning the emotions that flashed through his eyes. "How do you lie so easily?

Jimin was speechless for a moment, unable to form an answer as he just stood and stared at Jungkook wordlessly. It was a simple question, but the way that the younger male had asked it told him that it was probably not as easy as it seemed.

"I..." Jimin struggled to reply, reaching up and scratching the back of his neck. "I'm going to need some context here Jungkook, it's different from situation to situation."

Jungkook frowned, resting his head on his hand.

"Today." He answered. "When you met Namjoon, I honestly couldn't tell where lies started and ended. You don't make any indication that you might not be telling the truth." Jungkook watched as Jimin's lips turned down into a frown, the older male taking a few steps forwards to bring himself closer to Jungkook.

"The only lie I told today, was how long you've been my boyfriend." Jimin whispered, leaning down to make himself eye level where Jungkook was sitting. "I suppose we've never put a label on it, so I guess the truth would be that we started dating today."

"You said that you can't be my boyfriend." Jungkook countered, shivering under Jimin's touch as the older male brushed his fingers against his cheek.

"I say stupid things, sometimes." Jimin replied, cupping Jungkook's face and smoothing his thumb against the younger male's cheek. "I think, I was just scared that I'm not the right person for you. That you could do better."

Jungkook leaned into Jimin's palm, the warmth radiating from it bringing a sense of calmness to his mind. "But I've realized, that even if I think you could do better, you still chose me. And so I should be grateful, if anything."

"You don't have to be grateful, Jimin." Jungkook laughed, bringing his hand up to place on top of Jimin's. "I'm not doing charity work, by wanting to be with you."

Jimin couldn't help but chuckle at Jungkook's words, becoming so fond of the joy that the younger male brought him.

"I just can't help but feel like I'm holding you back from a better life." Jimin spoke, looking down and breaking eye contact with Jungkook. "I'm not going to make life easy for you Jungkook, I'll probably make it harder if I'm going to be completely honest."

Jungkook brought one of his hands up, using his finger to tilt Jimin's head back up so that they could meet eyes again.

"How many times do I have to tell you I don't mind?" He asked, his eyes brimming with sincerity as he stared into Jimin's. "I couldn't go back to a normal life after you if I tried. I don't care if it's harder, it's better if it's with you."

He leaned forwards, curling his fingers around Jimin's as their lips softly made contact.

Jungkook knew that Jimin was a gateway to dangers that he would have never encountered beforehand. He also knew, that accepting Jimin's lifestyle was also accepting that they may lose each other one day.

These were both things he had come to terms with.

Because loving Jimin, with a target on his back, was still better than not knowing him at all.

—
a/n:

update update update!! I said I was only gonna post this if I finished editing but I can tell u I did not! in fact finish editing but I honestly don't think it's too bad hehe

- Charlie :)