"Hi."

"...hi."

It was a little after 6 p.m. now, and Yoongi was standing at Jimin's doorstep carrying way more stuff than Jimin had been expecting. Not only that, but the mint-haired boy appeared a bit too excited about this. He had on a big smile, eyebrows raised and seemingly fixed in a position that said, c'mon, let me in and let's get started already.

So Jimin took one tentative step to the side, allowing Yoongi to enter the house. And he quietly closed the door behind him.

"Jimin, this is gonna be great, I brought over some of my favorite outfits, you're gonna love 'em—where's your room?"

Clearing his throat, Jimin stepped past Yoongi, leading the boy over to the staircase, then up those stairs, and a little ways down the hall. Then he slowly turned the knob and pushed open the door to his room.

Yoongi made no hesitation to walk over to the bed and drop everything he had been carrying with him. And if Yoongi had lived any farther away than he did, Jimin might have called him both crazy and an idiot for taking so much. But instead, Jimin just stared at it for a while. And Yoongi stared at him.

"You ready?"

Jimin, shyly, looked away from Yoongi's bright expression. "Why do you look so excited..?"

The mint-haired boy sighed with minor disappointment. "Oh, lighten up, Jimin," he said. "This is supposed to be fun. And I am excited. Jungkook's never agreed to anything like this. He might be gay, but in terms of style he's your typical 'famous sports brand' kind of guy. But that doesn't seem like you at all."

"How would you know??"

"Because I'm not like that. And you're a lot like me."

Not satisfied with that response, Jimin pouted and shifted his gaze to the side, a little frustrated that Yoongi could see through him so well without even trying. Then again, by this point he was used to it.

"So are you ready for your makeover?"

He couldn't bring himself to say no now. So with a casual nod from Jimin, it began.

And it began with Yoongi first removing from his bags all the clothing items and accessories he had brought. Sweaters, pastel shirts with cute designs, jeans, jackets, even beanies and a beret.

"Holy crap, there's so much here..."

"I got carried away." The boy offered an innocent shrug, then proceeded to carefully observe everything he had set out, eyes sweeping over each individual item, and he hummed thoughtfully. "I think..." He picked up a soft white cotton shirt. "This, I usually wear with..." He picked up an open-front, dandelion-yellow sweater with buttons down the left side. "...this. And most jeans should go with it. Faded or dark blue?"

Jimin tensed up upon realizing Yoongi was looking at him again, waiting for an answer. "U-uhm, I guess...faded?"

"Faded it is."

To finish off the selection, Yoongi took one of his beanies, cream in color, between his fingers and added it to the clothes he now had in his arms. And with a smile on his face he handed them over to Jimin.

"All yours. Ah, well-" He paused. "-not to keep. Just to try. But you knew that."

"Right."

It was a bit much to process. Even just thinking about wearing these. Again, he didn't hate the idea, not in the slightest, it's just that there were a few things that made this situation embarrassing to him.

First of all, Yoongi was in his room.

Secondly, they were alone. But he was a bit more used to that now than he had been before.

Thirdly, just the thought of wearing Yoongi's clothes made him feel shy.

Lastly, Yoongi was still looking at him.

"Do...do you mind?"

"Hm?"

"Turn your back or something..." Jimin said softly. "I don't want you watching me change."

"We're both guys, though," Yoongi pointed out.

"We're also both gay," the other countered. Yoongi nodded slowly.

"Okay, okay, I get it." He cracked a smile and got to his feet, then walked around to the other side of the bed and sat down. "There. Better?"

"Better..."

It still took some time for Jimin to get himself moving. Slipping out of his current outfit, those tight black jeans and charcoal grey t-shirt, and into Yoongi's pair of faded blue jeans, soft cotton shirt and the sweater and beanie to go with it.

Everything fit perfectly. And comfortably.

And it all smelled like Yoongi.

Catching himself softly smelling the sleeves of the sweater, Jimin felt a blush surfacing on his cheeks, but he didn't care. Yoongi's clothes. He was actually wearing Yoongi's clothes.

"What's taking so long? Need help pulling up the zipper or something?"

Caught off guard and mortified by Yoongi's question, Jimin almost swore at him, but caught himself and instead snapped, "What the heck is wrong with you?!" —which in turn triggered a hearty laugh from the mint-haired boy, who waved his hand in the air as if to say, just kidding, just kidding...

Still, Jimin had to take a moment to regather his composure. It wasn't only because of what Yoongi said. He was also just a little nervous for Yoongi to see him like this.

In an attempt to relax himself, Jimin kept in mind the possibility that he didn't even look good in these clothes, or that they didn't look like "him." Maybe Yoongi would change his mind about continuing the makeover.

Without saying anything, he made his way over to the other side of his bed where Yoongi had been sitting with his back turned to him. Upon seeing the boy approaching out of the corner of his eye, Yoongi turned to face him.

"...wow."

He wasn't even trying to hide it. The red on his cheeks. And he was staring. Blushing, and staring at Jimin with an awestruck expression.

"...I can't even come up with a joke right now. I'm gay, and you look absolutely adorable, Jimin. Just...wow."

His brutal honesty only made the state of Jimin's heart worse. He honestly wanted to take the coward's way out and cancel the makeover himself, say 'no' to trying on any more outfits or being here with Yoongi any longer, but the innocent, romantic feelings he harbored for the boy convinced him to stay. Nevertheless, he was still a bit overwhelmed right now.

"S-...should I try on something else now-?"

"In a minute," Yoongi answered in a quiet voice. "Just..." Biting the inside of his cheek, he stood up, then looked at Jimin from head to toe one more time. And a small smile took form on his lips. "Since I'm encouraging you to be more open and honest with yourself," he began, "I'm doing the same. You're really cute. Really, really cute, Jimin. And...and in my honest opinion, I love how that looks on you. It looks more like what the real Park Jimin is like. Sorry if that sounds grossly cheesy...but you get what I'm saying."

Jimin gave a hesitant nod. As his heart hammered against his chest, he tried his best not to tear up at Yoongi's words. They were nothing short of sweet. Heartfelt.

"Are you okay, Jimin?" –came the mint-haired boy's gentle voice of concern. "Do you...wanna try something else on now? Or should we skip right to the makeup?"

"Makeup??" Jimin made a face, at which Yoongi couldn't resisting laughing.

"Yeah, I brought some," he said, gesturing at a small box on the bed. "Not much, and honestly I don't wear it too often but sometimes...I dunno, it's kinda fun. Nail polish, too. Is that okay?"

"Whatever is fine..."

"How about you try on a couple more things, then we'll get out the makeup?"

"...that's fine."

With Jimin's approval, Yoongi happily returned to the array of clothes not yet tried on, and picked out another outfit: this time, a long-sleeved black and white striped shirt, a baby-blue fuzzy sweater, and a pair of jeans mid-calf in length.

Jimin accepted them and changed, a little more quickly this time. And once he was finished, he again made his way over to the other side of the bed to present himself to Yoongi.

"...do you like it?" Yoongi asked.

"Hm?"

"The clothes, Jimin." He chuckled. "Do you like the style or would you prefer something a little gayer?"

In confusion, Jimin tilted his head to one side, which only made Yoongi laugh even more. And without waiting for Jimin to ask what he meant, he got up again and went to retrieve his rainbow sweater which he had kept in one of his bags rather than taking it out. Jimin's mouth fell open a little.

"It's okay if you don't want to," Yoongi spoke softly, gazing at the sweater he seemed to hold with great care. "I just brought it in case you would be interested. This sweater means a lot to me, you know. I mean, I already told you the story. I'll spare you from having to hear it again, but-"

"I'll try it."

It drew a tender smile from him. And for that reason, Jimin was glad he agreed.

So one more time they went through the process of Yoongi turning his back as Jimin changed, into that rainbow striped sweater, but he kept on the jeans he was already wearing.

Then he stood in front of Yoongi for the third time.

A look of fondness radiated from Yoongi's eyes. "Looks good on you."

"Does it...?" Jimin looked down at himself, smoothing out the wrinkles in the sweater and pulling it down a bit. "I'm not really sure how I feel about it..."

"You don't like it?"

"N-no, I do, I just meant...it looks a lot better on you."

Yoongi pursed his lips, trying not to laugh or smile but the latter peeked through. "Are you flirting with me, Jimin?"

"I could ask the same of you..."

Yeah, well I was, kinda. "No matter, sit down, then." Yoongi patted the floor in front of him. "Makeup time."

Jimin gradually lowered himself to sit on the floor with Yoongi. And so began the process. The mint-haired boy took out the small box containing basic makeup supplies: foundation, eyeliner, brushes, and suchlike. In that box he also had stored the nail polish he mentioned a little earlier. Just two bottles, one silver and the other blue.

"Just a heads up, I'm no makeup professional," he said, taking in one hand a bottle of liquid foundation, and in the other a brush. "Like I said before, I hardly even do this, and I'm too lazy to watch tutorials so I apologize in advance if I do a mediocre job."

With that, Yoongi started to apply the foundation, carefully, as smoothly and evenly as possible over Jimin's face, and all the while Jimin had to remain still, but he didn't mind.

This atmosphere. Sitting here quietly, closely with Yoongi. It felt peaceful. Ideal. The only thing that could have made it more ideal was if at this time, they could have been...closer.

But Jimin couldn't. Whatever this lingering guilt was in his heart, this aching feeling of self-doubt, the lack of feeling that he deserved to be in love with Yoongi.

Yoongi deserved better, he thought. So much better.

At the same time, he really did not want to push Yoongi away. Doing so in the past pained him. So. Badly.

It was such a terribly conflicting feeling. But right now, Jimin didn't want to think about how much it would hurt for Yoongi to be with someone else. He was happy being next to him right now. He wanted to take advantage of that.

"Foundation done. Should I apply the blush now? Or just find some way to make you blush?"

Jimin frowned intensely at him, annoyed at just how easily Yoongi made him do just that. And of course, as it always did, his reaction made the mint-haired boy smile with glee, that cute little gummy smile that made Jimin's heart flutter.

"Blush done." He giggled. "Sorry, Jimin, I'm a terrible person for enjoying teasing you. Uhm...how about..." Looking around him, Yoongi soon reached for the two bottles of nail polish he had earlier set aside. "We'll just skip right to this: blue or silver?"

"I guess...silver-"

In the distance the boys heard a door shut.

Jimin's heart stopped.

Everything stopped.

"Jimin? You home?"

His eyes were fixed in a permanent state of trembling, opened to their widest capacity, flooded with fear. The footsteps from the first floor echoed in his head like reverberating earthquakes.

"Is that your brother?"

"It is."

Yoongi's eyes also widened. "I...I thought you said-"

"I did, and he was," Jimin blurted in a confused panic. "He wasn't supposed to be back till much later. What is he doing here now??"

"Jimin, just calm down-"

"I can't, I can't possibly calm down. I don't have time to change out of this, a-and the makeup, and, and you-"

Jihyun's voice called out again. Jimin broke.

"Yoongi, help me."

He was almost to the point of tears. Yoongi, himself, was shaking a bit, but he couldn't turn Jimin down in his current state. So he took action. "Just put everything under the bed. The clothes, the bags, everything."

He and Jimin both did just that, furiously sweeping up each and every thing of Yoongi's and shoving it under the bed, which was empty because Jimin didn't store anything under there.

They were able to hide all the clothes and accessories and makeup in time. But the issue of Yoongi being here, and Jimin still wearing Yoongi's vibrant rainbow sweater as footsteps started to scale the staircase, was still present. Under the bed was too small and didn't have enough room for the both of them.

But there was still Jimin's closet.

Yoongi took the boy's hand and hurried him over to the closet, pulling them both inside and closing the door as quickly but as quietly as he could.

Seconds later, the door to Jimin's room opened.

"Jimi-...oh, he's not even here? Didn't say he was going anywhere..." A heaving sigh. "Shoulda said something. How am I supposed to know where he keeps his cologne..."

They could hear him searching outside the closet. Rooting around Jimin's dresser, in his drawers.

Meanwhile Jimin was teetering on the edge of a breakdown, breathing heavily, and struggling in desperation to keep that breathing quiet.

He didn't prepare for this. He didn't prepare for this at all.

Yoongi could feel the dread, swore he could hear Jimin's frantic heartbeat...in the sliver of light slipping through the crack in the door, he could see the boy's facial features quivering uncontrollably.

And he was legitimately afraid Jimin would start to hyperventilate.

Yoongi, internally, was panicking for Jimin's sake. He didn't want that to happen. He just wanted the boy to relax and stay calm until Jihyun found what he was looking for and left.

So he acted impulsively.

And pulled Jimin's face closer to kiss him.

It was rushed, obviously, and because Jimin hadn't been expecting it, he tensed up, inhaling sharply through his nose. But thankfully, and to Yoongi's relief, he didn't make a sound.

His plan was working.

He continued to kiss Jimin, slowly moving his lips against Jimin's soft, warm lips, hoping to relax him, ease the boy's nerves even just a little.

He wasn't expecting Jimin to kiss back. But whatever atmosphere had settled over them, they both were stuck in it now. Yoongi dropped one of his hands down to grip Jimin's hand, only to find it still shaking. But it relaxed in his grip.

Their faces burned with each collision of their lips. Their hearts beat wildly in sync.

Outside the closet, Jihyun finally found what he had come here to borrow of Jimin's. And he left. The two heard him make his way again down the stairs, then out the front door.

And they both hastily exited the closet.

Jimin, in exhaustion, collapsed to the floor, as if suddenly the realization of what had just happened hit him like a truck going at full speed. Yoongi, the same. Now that the danger of Jihyun's presence was no longer looming over them, that impulsiveness that had taken over just minutes ago spited him. He could think more rationally now.

Seeing Jimin with his eyes wide again, breathing heavy again. He felt guilty. For a number of reasons.

"J-Jimin, I'm...I'm sorry," he stuttered, already feeling regret. "I was just trying to calm you down, I shouldn't have...w-we can just forget about this, o-okay?"

He saw tears surface in the boy's eyes.

"...no...no, I don't want to just forget about it..."

It was such an obviously torn voice, but Yoongi was a little too dumb and distracted to connect the dots.

"Jimin, w-"

"You need to go, Yoongi," Jimin blurted, just as those tears started to spill over. His foundation gathered with them. "I'll give you your things back tomorrow, just go."

"Jimin, w-"

"Just go."

He couldn't bring himself to argue with the boy. Feeling he had done enough damage, Yoongi did as he was told.

And left.

I can't help but love you
even though I try not to
I can't help but want you
I know that I'd die without you

Ruelle: War of Hearts

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