________

Jungkook's eyebrows draw together, and he squints at the person, wanting to open his mouth and say something back, but doesn't quite know what. Thank you? You did well too?

Just as he is about to utter something back, his attention is caught by something in the corner of his eyes that glitters around Star Flame's neck and flings in the air when he opens his jacket. Jungkook recognizes the shape of a silver necklace, though he's not close enough to clearly see what the pendant is, he could swear it looks analogue to the one he was holding in his hands just a few days ago.

The racer literally freezes as the other suddenly makes a move to divest his helmet, completely unprepared for what is to come. His chest doesn't move, and he feels his pulse quicken, lips gaping at the sight of the other. The fleeting vision of silver reflects in Jungkook's eyes, his fingers wrap tighter around the handlebars. Too astonished to speak, he looks at Jimin with wide eyes.

"Cat got your tongue?" Jimin steals a glimpse at Jungkook, the corner of his mouth pulling up in a barely visible grin and brown eyes staring into Jungkook's, before he scans his face.

"You wish," Jungkook answers with a scoff and directs his gaze to the view once again, attempting to play it down. "Do you want to explain to me what that was just now? I didn't know you were a racer. Why didn't you say anything?"

"There are so many things you don't know about me. I could say the same about you. Why didn't you say you were a racer?" Jimin retorts instead with the counter question, nibbling his lip to keep from breaking into a wide grin.

It's now Jungkook's turn for his lips to curl into a soft smile, struck by the sudden flirting and sassiness in Jimin's voice. He gets off the bike and walks to the edge of the viewing platform where he sits down, soon followed by Jimin, only a few inches between them. A thousand questions form in his mind that only want to spill out of his mouth, but he decides to ask them one by one and no matter how long he sits here there is one question that has been on his mind for a long time.

"Why haven't I heard from you so far? Why is this the first time you've raced here?"

The brown-haired man watches as the other shifts in his posture and now rests his hands behind his back, positions himself cross-legged and drops his head into his neck. His brown eyes are fixed on the sky.

"It was not long ago that I started. I've only ridden a few times so far-"

"-and yet you beat me fair and square with sly tactics. Go on, sorry."

Jungkook clears his throat as he realises he has interrupted Jimin and instead wears a mellow smile on his lips as a sign for him to continue.

Jimin chuckles in amusement and agrees with him, sighing. "You're right, but if I had been a tad slower, you would have won. Anyway, I've only raced in Daegu so far whenever I've visited a part of my family. I don't know much about racing, I admit. However, I've picked up a few things and memorised a few tricks. I only found out by chance the other day that there are also races here. Supposedly, things would be wilder here than in Daegu. "

"After today's race, what do you think?" Jungkook asks, intrigued by Jimin's story, folding his hands while sitting cross-legged. Was it vastly different from the races in Daegu?

"I have to say, here everyone is more experienced and with much more determination to win. I can't say I wasn't surprised when I saw you were the one the others were talking about."

"The others are talking about me?" Jungkook asks, somewhat aghast. He wasn't really aware of it as he was mostly just among friends.

"You didn't know?"

Jungkook shakes his head, sure there were the one or two times he heard them talking about him but that was a while ago. "Yeah, I mean they just said you were really good and they wanted to see how Blue Devil would do in this race, but I found out it was you only later... As I linked it together through a few clues."

"Hm... so you already knew it was me when we were at the start line?"

Jimin shrugs and licks his lip, catching Jungkook's attention. "Wouldn't that make things more exciting?"

This elicits a hearty laugh from Jungkook and something warm begins to blossom in his upper body. With each passing minute, he feels more nervous in the silver-haired man's company. He can't say the flirtations are leaving him cold. Jimin is beautiful and his manner only makes him more attractive in his eyes. He wonders what it would be like to go on a date with Jimin. Would it be as exciting as today or would it be quieter?

Either way, he knows he would enjoy it. It would be the perfect opportunity to get to know Jimin better and see what else he hides behind his playful facade. A sudden waft of a rather sweet perfume washes over him and almost automatically Jungkook's eyes close, having the feeling he can taste the wonderful scent on his tongue.

"So sweet," Jungkook mumbles under his breath, lost in thoughts.

"What was that?" The smaller tilts his head, a faint smirk is planted on his lips.

"Hm? Oh, nothing. You know you're actually quite brazen." Jungkook chuckles, seeing how Jimin's honey-brown eyes widen at the honest confession, clearly having not expected Jungkook to be so honest. "But you're also really cute."

Both tiptoe around dangerous territory. Even though it's been just flirting, Jungkook is sure that this conversation could quickly go in another direction, noticing the rising tension as their eyes meet.

As Jimin leans forward to stretch, the necklace with the silver pendant also falls forward. Jungkook looks at him, puzzled, as the baker's jacket draws up to his shoulders. All he can do is blink. Jimin appears to be a wonder in his own right, but he doesn't seem to mind; rather, Jungkook feels even more drawn to him

"Did you like my presents?"

"What pres- Oh," Jimin mutters as he realises what he is talking about. "I don't know, you tell me." He smirks mischievously.

It is then that Jungkook realises what the other means exactly and squints at the necklace around his neck that has the pendants of a cupcake and a small moon. Now it's perfectly apparent to Jungkook and he can't help but reach out with itching fingers for the necklace, carefully feeling the metal against his skin.

"You're wearing it." Jimin hums happily, falling into a small giggle as he sees another shocked expression on his face. "I guess you like it then."

"Could be."

"Did you like the other gift?" Jungkook asks him with sparkling eyes and elation in his voice.

"I must admit I was surprised when I came to the bakery and saw the gifts in the office, I really didn't expect it. It was a really cute gesture."

"Does that mean I can have your number?"

"Woah, woah there, bunny." The silver haired man rests a hand on Jungkook's chest as if to stop Jungkook from coming closer. Jungkook, however, is not deterred and pulls a little on the necklace, leaving Jimin no choice but to lean to the side, in Jungkook's direction. Within a few seconds, their proximity decreases, only a few inches separating them. Jimin feels Jungkook's warm breath brush along his skin and has to resist the temptation to let his gaze drift down.

His fingers bury themselves in the material of Jungkook's armour and claw a little, affected by the sudden tension between them as Jungkook looks back and forth between his eyes.

"Bunny?" Jungkook breathes between his thin pink lips, amused at the sudden nickname. Scrunching his nose, Jimin's focus drops briefly to this. Long since his wide grin has been replaced by something like admiration.

"Yeah," it comes across as breathier than intended. "Because that's what you look like. Especially up close with your scrunched nose and your sweet smile."

"Then you resemble a chick." A soft emotion plays across his face and Jungkook almost coos at the sight. He unconsciously lets a little loose on the necklace, but Jimin doesn't seem to notice or is bothered by it. He remains frozen in position, so close to Jungkook that the latter is sure if he were to lean forward just three centimetres, their lips would touch. Full and pillowy looking lips that are hard to resist. He would love to put his hand on Jimin's neck and pull his head to press those lips to his own, craving nothing more than to know what it would feel like to kiss him. "Cute."

"Cute?"

"Pretty."

"What does that have to do with a chick?"

"...and small."

"Yah, bunny! Just because you're a few centimetres taller doesn't mean I'm small," Jimin pouts and lightly pushes him away, causing the taller man to grin in victory.

"Alright, alright! Don't punch me. Coming back to my question, have I deserved your number? I'd really like to take you out on a date."

"Stop staring at me like this," Jimin suddenly speaks up, whining at the serious and intense eye contact he holds with him. Jungkook perceives the deepening pink colour in his face, making him chuckle at the obvious blush.

"Why should I?" Jungkook whispers and leans forwards into Jimin's space, close enough that their foreheads touch and they both close their eyes to dwell in the moment. What Jungkook would give to kiss Jimin now, but Jimin may not be the person to kiss before the first date. Understandable from the way he's been stringing him along for his number. "I can't resist when you look at me like this."

He decides instead to take his cheek in his hand and plant a kiss on his forehead, and then on his cheek, hoping he doesn't cross the line.

"I didn't know you had such a soft side to you. I like that. The more you open up to me, the more you show the real you." The racer thus pulls out his mobile phone and holds it out to Jungkook, already anticipating the reaction he will get from the other. "I give you permission to put your number in and take me on a date. You show me that you are not like others who have asked for my numbers. You are the only one I feel comfortable around."

"I won't make you regret it," Jungkook murmurs happily and types in his mobile phone number, electrifying sparks erupting as they touch. "Promise."