Like Crazy

by ot7mikrokosm

Summary:

When Jimin finds out his fiancé cheated on him--in the middle of their wedding--his cousin Taehyung whisks him, his little brother, and their best friend on an impromptu trip to The Bahamas to help him forget. Little did he know he would run into someone he had done his best to forget already.

 

based on a choices story

Chapter 1

Jimin took a deep breath to control the butterflies in his stomach as Seokjin zipped his dress up for him. "You look-"

"Gorgeous?" Jungkook cut in. "Smashing? Hot af?"

"Well, I feel like my stomach's about to all out of my ass." Jimin said, clutching his stomach. "Which is ridiculous, because there's no real reason to be nervous. Everything is on track with Sungho's promotion, we're in escrow on the house…" He took another deep breath, smiling a bit. "Once we've said our I Dos, we check the last box on the five-year plan!"

A loud snort sounded through the room, causing Jimin to turn and see his cousin, Taehyung, waltzing in while whipping off his designer shades. "Please don't tell me you're still going on and on about that dusty old 'Five Year Plan' of yours."

"Taehyung, what are you doing here?" Jimin asked in surprise.

"Don't you mean V?" Jungkook asked teasingly. "The most sought-after supermodel in the world?"

Taehyung rolled his eyes playfully before smiling brightly at Jimin. "Did you think I'd miss the biggest day of my favorite cousin's life?"

Jimin nodded hesitantly. "Just remember, this is my day. Not another episode of the Kim Taehyung-" Taehyung narrowed his eyes, causing Jimin to scoff. "The V Show."

"I have tact." Taehyung deadpanned. "Something that Aunt Hyeyoung and Uncle Hyunwoo clearly forgot to teach you."

Before Jimin could throw down like he used to--and wanted to--his parents walked in. "Jimin, talk to this caterer. I already spent my whole pension on those canapés."

Jimin's mother shushed him, smacking him on the arm. "Jimin, you look beautiful! Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be." Jimin nodded, looking at himself in the mirror one more time to make sure he looked perfect. "To the first and last wedding I'll ever have."

The guests rose as Jimin entered the hall, but Jimin didn't pay them any attention as he only had eyes for Choi Sungho, his soon to be husband. He took the first step down the aisle, feeling like he was walking on air.

And then the guests' phones began to go off followed by whispers. "Do you think he knows about…"

Jimin tried his best to remain composed, smiling softly as he walked down the aisle with his father, although he desperately wanted to know what everyone was whispering about. He learned as he reached the end of the aisle and spotted one of Sungho's coworkers’ phones, his fiancé’s nudes displayed on the screen. Jimin stopped abruptly and snatched the phone from him, accidentally swiping to the next picture which happened to be screenshots of emails between Sungho and his boss.

Sat, May 27, 6:23 pm

[email protected]

Still thinking about that thing you do with your tongue… Round two tonight?

 

Reply from:

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Two nights in a row? Won't your 'bride' be suspicious?

 

Reply from:

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He's so busy planning my every move, he stopped seeing ME a long time ago.

 

Reply from:

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But a promotion might explain the long nights. And I would do anything for it…

 

Reply from:

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…Anything??

"You cheated on me?" Jimin glared at Sungho. "With your boss? Fuck you, Sungho!" He turned to head back down the aisle.

"Jimin, baby, wait!" Sungho called after him. "Let me explain!"

Jimin whirled on him. "Explain? You want to explain? The time for that was before our wedding! Not after you let your side bitch embarrass me in front of everybody and their moms!" He turned around again, storming down the aisle. He paused briefly in front of Sungho's boss, who was perched primly in the back row. "I hope the two of you are very happy together." He spat before running out of the hall.

Outside, he flopped down on the ledge of a fountain, arms resting on his thighs and his head down as he tried to breathe, not wanting to shed a tear for that dick. Just as he'd broken, a sob escaping him, three pairs of shoes appeared in his view. "You know I can't let you be out like this." Seokjin said softly, tugging at Jimin's arm to get him to stand up.

"Quickly." Jungkook said. "Unless you want Sungho and his whole family to see you ugly crying on their way to the valet."

"I should consider this karma for how you talked to me earlier…" Seokjin and Jungkook glared at Taehyung while Jimin was too much of a mess to care. "But since we're family, how about I charter a private plane for a proper getaway?"

Jimin stared at Taehyung in disbelief. "You're kidding." He sniffled.

"Of course not." Taehyung gave him a soft smile. "Having a famous cousin does have its perks. But first, we need to get outta these clothes."

Taehyung led them down the street from the wedding hall and into a designer boutique. Jungkook instantly picked up a crop top. "This is cute!"

"You know damn well you don't have any money." Seokjin scolded him. "Let's go see what's on the sales rack."

Jimin stood off to the side, wiping his face as his best friend, his brother, and his cousin searched through the clothes and disappeared into the dressing rooms to change into their finds. Taehyung came out in a midnight blue crop top and denim shorts, tapping away at his phone. Seokjin found a red and blue near tie dye style wrap shirt and jeans. And Jungkook came out in a purple and blue version of Seokjin's outfit, not seeming very happy about it. "I appreciate you covering me and all, but do we have to wear the same shirt?"

"Alright." Taehyung glanced up from his phone. "I just scored us a three-week reservation at the most lit resort in the Bahamas…Sancian Cove!"

Jimin's eyes widened, sniffling again. "I've heard of that place. It's supposed to have the most beautiful view on the island. I…" He felt tears forming again. "I looked at it for my honeymoon."

Before he could start full on sobbing again, Taehyung put his hands on his shoulders. "None of that. We need to get you out of that cursed white dress and into something that shows off that body of yours." He dragged a barely put together Jimin around the store and shoved him into the dressing room, wrestling him into an olive pair of skinny pants, lacey ivory crop top, and a bomber jacket on top. When Taehyung brought him back out, Jungkook and Seokjin instantly began wolf whistling and cat calling him. "That's what I'm talking about!"

"From sad bitch to bad bitch in zero to a hundred!"

Once Taehyung purchased Jimin's clothes for him, Jimin found himself being dragged towards the door. "Prepare for the vacation of a lifetime!" Taehyung exclaimed as he pushed the door open with a flourish.

Jimin paused for just a second, looking at the balled-up wedding gown in his hands. Another moment passed before he shoved it into the trashcan by the door, hurrying outside to catch up to the others.

🐥

Merely 18 hours after his disaster of a wedding, Jimin found himself in a strobe lit club in the Bahamas, teetering across the bar top. He whooped and received an answering cheer from Jungkook, who was towering over the crowd atop some alpha's shoulders while pointing at Jimin excitedly. "That's my brother!"

"Jimin, get down from there right now!"

Jimin looked around in confusion, not knowing where the voice had come from. "…God?"

Seokjin squeezed through the crowd below him with Taehyung at his shoulder, tapping away on his phone as usual. "Not yet, but keep teetering around like Bambi up there, and you will be in His waiting room." He glared up at Jimin. "Down. Now."

Taehyung elbowed Seokjin. "Let him have his moment. Lord knows he needs it. Jimin's so uptight, he gives the wedgie a run for its money."

Jabs like that had been common when they were kids, but they weren't kids anymore. Hadn't been for a long time. It was about time Taehyung caught onto that. "I think you may have a point, V."

"I…I do?" Taehyung blinked, obviously not having expected Jimin to agree.

"Yeah." Jimin nodded, gyrating his hips to the music once more as he spoke. "Being uptight is what got me here, a near mis divorcee giving this whole club a crotch level view. Trust that I am not under any illusion that my life is going great right now, so go ahead and pile it on!"

Taehyung frowned. "You know I didn't mean it like that."

"Jimin-"

Seokjin went ignored. "I'm really glad that after years of barely speaking, you feel comfortable having input in my life."

Taehyung scoffed quietly. "You know what? Fall, bitch. See if I care." He turned to walk away. "Seokjin, find me in VIP when you're done dealing with…" He gestured towards Jimin before flipping him off as he disappeared into the crowd.

Seokjin rolled his eyes as he turned back to Jimin. "I know you're hurting, but this? You're acting like you don't have home training in mixed company!"

"I'm just having fun!" Jimin exclaimed. "So much fun I forget, right? Well, here's to forgetting Sungho and all the time we spent together." He downed his glass and raised his arms in triumph.

Cheers erupted from below Jimin as Seokjin shook his head. "Fine. Just don't get kicked out, because I am not trying to hear Taehyung's whining about how we're ruining his brand."

As Seokjin stormed off, Jimin continued swaying his hips, letting his hands travel along his thighs and up his sides. "Show us how you twerk!" One drunk alpha called out as if Jimin wasn't already dropping it low thanks to all the alcohol he'd already consumed. He was so into it that he didn't even notice when he lost his footing until he was tumbling off the bar. He let out a scream, bracing himself for impact when-

"I got you!" A familiar voice called out followed by a familiar scent that Jimin never thought he'd smell again enveloping him. He opened his eyes to find Kim Namjoon smiling down at him. "Never thought I'd find the Park Jimin on a bar top, but it's nice to see you let loose."

Jimin's heart squeezed as he stared at the dimples that had him falling in love from even the first moment he had seen them, all the memories rushing to him in that moment. From the first time they met…

 

Jimin was sitting in the quad before classes when an alpha approached him. "Hey." He greeted him. "I noticed you noticing me, and I thought I would put you on notice that I noticed you too."

"Quoting Fresh Prince at 8:00 am on a Monday?" Jimin raised an eyebrow. "You're bold, I'll give you that."

 

To the first time they'd kissed…

 

Namjoon pressed Jimin against a shelf in the library as the omega hummed happily against his lips. "People are studying." Namjoon shushed him with a chuckle. "Which is what you should be doing if-"

"Nope." Jimin shook his head and giggled. "Just one more." He pulled Namjoon into another deep kiss, flicking his tongue into the alpha’s mouth.

 

To the first time they'd made love…

 

Jimin gripped Namjoon's back, body trembling as the alpha thrusted gently into him. "I want to make you feel just like this forever." Namjoon whispered to him before pressing their lips together.

 

To the way Namjoon had left the night of graduation and never came back.

 

"You gotta understand, I need this!" Namjoon exclaimed. "I gotta figure out who I am."

"But I can't wait on you to start living." Jimin argued. "We had a plan!"

Namjoon sighed. "You deserve a beautiful life, Jimin. Even if it doesn't include me."

 

It had been five years, but Namjoon still looked just as amazing as ever. And smelled just as good. "N-namjoon?"

"Hey, baby chick." Namjoon said, Jimin's chest fluttering at his old nickname. "Long time, no see."

Chapter 2

🐻

Taehyung threw himself onto one of the plus VIP sofas and angrily swiped through twitter notifications without reading them. "I can't believe Jimin." He grumbled to himself. "Acting like I'm the one that's been icing him out." His phone buzzed with a new notification that had him frowning. "Not another one…" He tapped the notification which took him to a wall of comments all saying the same thing.

ally_sun
This blatant cash grab is DISGUSTING
seriously i don't know how these corps
get away with it!!!

eman
bought this swimsuit as a gift for my
g-ma's 75th. I have seen things no
person should see #SEETHRUSCANDAL

soojung.timmy
im so hurt honesstly i never thought it
would be V. Unstan I guess?

landof.gyuri
#SEETHRUSCANDAL

Seokjin joined him and leaned over his shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of his screen. "Not another one of what?"

"Another one of nothing, nosy." Taehyung snapped as his phone buzzed with another new comment.

"Don't think I don't see you, Mr. 'V'." Seokjin narrowed his eyes. "Chartering us a private plane, renting us a beaucoup expensive suite…you're up to something. Only question is, what is it, and how long do you think it's gonna take me to figure it out?" He looked him up and down, the intense gaze of his 'JinDar' scanning for any little clue he could use against Taehyung in the court of his nosy ass opinion. "Whatever this is, it's a big deal…but you haven't called your publicist, so it's a known issue."

"Nothing's wrong." Taehyung insisted. "It's just some trolls looking for clout."

Seokjin raised an eyebrow. "So you're gonna give it to them by feeding them all of your attention? How generous of you."

"First off, attention is my life blood." Taehyung stated. "And secondly…mind your business."

In the blink of an eye, Seokjin reached over and snatched his phone before scrolling through the comments. "What the fuck?" His eyes widened. "They're still all over you about that swimsuit nip slip?"

"It wasn't a nip slip!" Taehyung exclaimed. "How would I know the fabric goes sheer when it reacts with chlorine?"

"I don't know, maybe you could've actually tried the product before you promoted it, dumbass?" Seokjin lightly smacked the back of his head. "So internet scandal plus impromptu omegas' trip equals fake ass family photos for the internet. Bet that crackpot publicist put you up to this."

Taehyung shot him a look. "So? You got a free trip out of it! You should be thanking Aeri instead of cracking jokes."

Seokjin crossed his arms over his chest. "Don't get me wrong, a check is a check, and I respect the hustle, but taking cute pictures isn't a job job."

"It pays me job job money, doesn't it?" Taehyung shot back. "As a matter of fact, I could buy drinks for this entire club." He looked around and spotted a waiter carrying two drinks to a table. He snapped in his direction, whipping out his credit card. "Hey you! Drinks are on me! Go get a round for everyone--hell, make it two!"

The waiter stared as if in shock to be talking to The V. Then he finally seemed to remember his manners and smiled. "On behalf of any waiter who has ever had the pleasure of serving you, let me just say…" Taehyung smirked at Seokjin as he waited for the fanboy moment only for the waiter to empty his drinks right into his lap. "Don't you ever snap at someone. I'm not a dog, Princess. Or a waiter, not that it matters."

"What the hell?" Taehyung gaped at him in disbelief. "Do you have any idea how much this outfit cost?"

The waiter leaned in, giving Taehyung a very clear view of his soft features. "You're not the only one with money. You're just the only one gauche enough to throw it around." He walked off, leaving Taehyung staring after him in a daze.

Seokjin wasted no time bursting into squeaky laughter. "You should see your face!"

"Oh, laugh it up, goofy ass." Taehyung glared at him. "See how funny it is when you're sleeping outside because I've got the suite key." He left Seokjin laughing as he stormed to the restroom to dry off and cry in private.

With a sigh, Taehyung balanced himself over the hand dryer, and of course that was when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Aren't you V?"

Taehyung's stomach sank but he whipped around with the practiced smile he'd been rehearsing since he'd been casted. "In the flesh. Lemme guess…you're a fan?"

"The biggest!" The omega smiled brightly. "Seeing your photos is what inspired me to start modeling. But I haven't had much luck. The designers all say they have someone with 'my look' but I never see those omegas." She gasped, covering her mouth. "You think maybe it's my gap? I've been considering getting braces or something so my career can finally take off." She pointed to the tiny slit between her front teeth.

Despite Aeri's voice in his head telling him to bail, he just had to say something. "Take it from me, this is a them problem, not a you problem. Models should be adaptable and compelling, yes, but not cookie cutter. Your…gap is perfect as is. Don't let them force you to change. Any of these designers would be lucky to have you on their roster." He then smiled and held out his hand. "Give me your phone. I'll put you in touch with Youngah at Vante models. She'll know what to do with your look."

The omega's eyes widened. "Holy shit, Vante? You think I could be a Vante model? V-ssi, I don't know what to say!"

Taehyung could almost hear Aeri screaming to end the conversation right then, but it's not like his image could get any worse. "How about 'cheese'?" He held her phone up at the perfect flattering angle and pulled her in for a selfie, wet crotch and all.

"You have no idea what this means to me!" She squealed. "Thank you so much! You're the best!" She posted the photo and tagged Taehyung in it, the sound of the notification on his own phone not giving him any anxiety for the first time all night.

🐥

Jimin blinked away the haze of alcohol as he stared into the face of his first love. "What-you-huh?"

Namjoon's gaze traveled the length of Jimin's body, smiling so his dimples that Jimin just wanted to kiss again were on display. "You look just like you did back in college. What's it been, five years or five minutes?"

Jimin felt his cheeks heat up at the compliment. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for work." Namjoon said. "Creating a travel guide for the island. Sampling the nightlife is part of the job."

Jimin felt a tinge of disappointment when his drunken brain realized he wasn't there to sweep him off his feet. "I'm glad you finally found yourself, but my friends are in VIP so I'm…I'm just gonna…" As he turned to leave, the room started to spin.

Namjoon quickly looped his arm around Jimin's waist, steadying him as he stumbled. "How about we get you some fresh air first? And some water. And maybe a trash bag just in case."

Just as Jimin was starting to enjoy the familiar feeling of Namjoon's hand on his hip as the alpha guided him outside, the memory of how things ended between them sobered him quickly. "You know what, I got it!" He pulled away from Namjoon outside the club. "Three minutes out here and I should be fine."

"Still timing your life down to the second, huh?" Namjoon mused, his lips quirked in that infuriating smile with those stupid dimples.

"Don't shoot me that little grin," Jimin narrowed his eyes at the alpha, "acting like you know me. I'm not gonna go swooning into your sexy arms." Okay maybe he wasn't quite as sober as he thought just yet as words spilled out of him with no filter. "They might be all strong and warm and soft and-" The sight of Namjoon's dimple had Jimin stopping abruptly.

"Oh no, don't stop now." Namjoon said in amusement. "Tell me more about my arms and how badly you want to be in them."

Jimin crossed his arms over his chest. "You think you're real cute."

"Hey, you used to love how cute I thought I was." Namjoon retorted.

"Yeah, I did." Jimin glared at him. "And then you up and left. It stopped being cute after that."

Namjoon winced a little, which made Jimin happy. Finally, something got through that insufferably adorable nonchalance. "Jimin, I need you to know that I've spent every waking minute since then kicking myself for letting you get away. But I had to go while I could. And maybe you're in that kind of rut now. Maybe you need to do something a little wild. Something like…that." He pointed and Jimin turned to see an alpha leaning against the handlebars of a worn pedicab.

"Oh yeah, real grand adventure." Jimin snorted. "Those things are a total tourist trap."

"You've got the best guide anyone could as for." Namjoon spread his arms out. "And it sounds like you need to shake things up. Let me show you the Bahamas the way the locals see it."

Jimin bit his lip. Namjoon had hurt him already…but not quite as much as the dick who was the reason he was even in the Bahamas in the first place. Maybe it was fate, Jimin's still tipsy brain told him. Maybe this was the universe's way of saying he had a second chance to be with who he had once thought was the love of his life…maybe Namjoon still was. "You know what? Let's go."

"Yes!" Namjoon cheered, walking backwards towards the pedicab. "Wait right here." He rushed over to the operator, and, in moments, the alpha cleared out. Namjoon then gestured to the cab with a flourish. "Your chariot awaits."

Jimin raised an eyebrow as he approached Namjoon. "What did you say to him?"

Namjoon shrugged. "Slipped him a hundred and convinced him to take an extended bathroom break. Told him I'd watch his cab for a while. Now let's take her out for a spin."

"We don't have a license for this." Jimin pointed out. "And if anything goes wrong, we won't be covered by his insurance-"

Namjoon cut him off by clucking like a chicken, even going as far as to tuck his arms in and stomp around, bobbing his neck without a care in the world for the people watching. "Sounds like you're just chicken to me."

Jimin cocked his head. "Keep playing with me and I'll show you 'chicken'."

With a laugh, Namjoon threw his leg over the seat. Jimin was still weighing the pros and cons when the alpha held a hand out to him. "I got you, okay? Just trust me." Despite everything in Jimin screaming that he shouldn't…he did. He took Namjoon's hand climbed on. "Hold on!" He leaned into the pedals, and then they were breezing down the boardwalk, balmy wind in their faces. Jimin couldn't help but let out a cheer, throwing his hands in the air. "If you listen carefully, you'll hear the sounds of the Korean chicken, whooping to show joy."

Jimin smacked him on the chest. "Being cautious doesn't make me a chicken. It means I was born with common sense."

"What was it your halmeoni used to say?" Namjoon asked. "'I guess common sense isn't all that common'?"

"Right after she finished saying, 'that poor boy Namjoon wasn't born with the good sense the lord gave him'." Namjoon burst into laughter, and Jimin realized that he was the lightest he'd felt since he was standing at the altar with Sungho. But still… "Is this legal? I am not going to jail in a foreign country just so you can live your Tour de France dreams."

"It is." Namjoon assured him. "Listen, tonight, all worrying is my responsibility. Your only job is to sit back and enjoy the ride."

As Namjoon glided around a corner, a beach appeared on Jimin's left. To his right, restaurants filled the night air with sweet and savory smells. "This is a completely different route than we went on earlier."

"This neighborhood is more off the beaten track." Namjoon explained. "None of the resort guests bother coming out here."

Jimin hummed. "Alright, tour guide. Tell me about the food. Everything smells incredible out here."

Namjoon smiled. "Maybe soon we'll take a trip east on the island. There's this vendor who has the best pineapple and tamarind popsicles you'll ever taste. His only advertisement? Word of mouth. They're that good."

"You can stop selling me on the place." Jimin giggled. "I'm already here."

"I'm just saying, this place is full of adventure." Namjoon said. "There's an underwater sculpture garden, a plane wreck from some Bond flick, and look…" He pointed to a lush copse of trees. Jimin squinted into the distance until he spotted a group of flamingos. "The national bird of the Bahamas. I got to do a shoot at a preserve for them nearby a couple of days ago."

"Okay, I'm actually kinda jealous now." Jimin admitted, relaxing into his seat as Namjoon continued driving around, pointing out more fauna and landmarks along the way.

Chapter 3

After a while of driving around, Jimin sighed in content. "Who knew I'd get my own chauffeur and tour guide on this trip? I'm impressed…" He looked at the back of Namjoon's head curiously. "How do you know all this stuff?'

Namjoon shrugged. "When I’m somewhere new, I imagine what ever type of traveler would like to do here and search for those places. The honeymooners want romance, the retirees want relaxation, and the spring breakers don't wanna remember a thing."

"What type of traveler am I?" Jimin inquired.

The alpha took a moment to look at Jimin over his shoulder before answering. "I call your type 'treasure hunters'. You're not sure what you're looking for, but you'll know it when you see it."

"That can't make your job easy." Jimin mused. "Looking for other people's treasure when you could be chilling on the beach."

"My job isn't just flying off to enjoy exotic locales." Namjoon said. "It's about becoming part of the community. Meeting the locals, finding the places, those are the things that make up the real beauty of a place like this."

Jimin couldn't help but look at Namjoon in awe. "That's really poetic."

Namjoon shrugged. "I think so too. And now for the pitstop portion of Namjoon's Pedicab Night Tours." He pulled the cab to a stop in front of a nightclub in a section of downtown that was still humming despite the late hour.

"Please don't tell me we're here for drinks." Jimin said.

"No, if we're already going down for illegal biking, we probably shouldn't add tipsy pedaling to the list." Namjoon chuckled, wrapping an arm around Jimin's waist to lead him away from the nightclub's entrance, the warmth of his hand putting a smile on Jimin's face. They walked around the corner to a food truck with a massive line. The smells wafting from the truck set Jimin's stomach grumbling. "This is what we're here for."

"Oh my god, it smells incredible!" Jimin practically moaned.

Namjoon smiled down at him. "There's no better way to sober up than some late-night BBQ with a side of rice and peas."

Jimin's stomach roared in agreement. "How did you find out about this spot? Or is there an entry for 3:00 am nightclub grub in your guide?"

"You'd be surprised." Namjoon answered vaguely. "If there's one thing I've learned doing this, it's that you never really get to know a place without knowing its people."

"And you do that by sampling the local cuisine?" Jimin guessed.

"Hell yeah." Namjoon laughed. As they shuffled even closer in line to the incredible smell coming from the truck, Jimin could see the appeal. "The way to an alpha's heart--or anyone's heart for that matter--is through their stomach."

Jimin rolled his eyes. "Not you going overseas and coming back full of cliches."

"Hey, that old adage exists for a reason." Namjoon defended himself. "When you break bread, it's not just sustenance. Food can be hospitality, connection, love, community…it's a tentpole of any culture, and it can bring you closer to people." He seemed to catch himself being earnest and cracked a grin. "And if the person you're eating with is rude to service staff, then food just helped you dodge a bullet." He snaked around the line and rapped on the side of the truck. Shortly after, he came back with two plates loaded with rice, peas, and some of the most delicious BBQ Jimin had ever seen. "Bon appétit."

Jimin inhaled deeply before digging in. He caught Namjoon staring at him and couldn’t help but smile. "Don't look at me like that. You've seen me at family cookouts. You know I like to eat."

Namjoon shook his head. "It's not that. It's just…" As he trailed off, Jimin knew exactly what he meant.

It was surreal, having once been so close and then immediately so far away. He had scars Jimin didn't remember, and stories he hadn't heard. As Namjoon cleared his throat and looked away, Jimin turned back to his food. Gathering up a forkful of rice, peas, and smoky chicken, he held it out towards Namjoon. "I don't normally share my food…"

"A trait I remember all too well." Namjoon smiled. "Pretty sure I still have the bite mark you gave me when I tried to steal a fry…"

Jimin elbowed him. "Just this one time, here. As a thank you."

"I'm honored." Namjoon opened his mouth to allow Jimin to feed him, the omega's eyes locked on the fullness of his lips as they closed around the fork. Jimin couldn't help but remember how they felt against his. The softness, how Namjoon would bite his lower lip when he- Jimin shook his head to rid himself of the image, stuffing his mouth with food. Before he knew it, the hot and succulent dish was gone. "You know I've always loved an omega who knows how to eat." Namjoon mused.

"Shut up." Jimin elbowed again.

"Hold on, you got a little…" Namjoon grabbed a napkin and leaned closer, gently dabbing the corner of Jimin's mouth. Then he sat back to admire his work with a smile. "Ready to head back?"

Jimin cleared his throat, lips burning as he managed to squeak out, "Don't expect me to pedal. Asking me to do any kind of exercise after a meal that big is just unreasonable."

"I ate the same thing as you, you know." Namjoon pointed out only for Jimin to shush him.

"Less talky, more pedaly."

As they climbed back on the pedicab and headed back towards the resort, Namjoon called over his shoulder, "The least you can do is entertain me this time."

"With what?" Jimin snorted. "I don't know anything about the Bahamas. I didn't even know I'd be here when I woke up today."

"Then catch me up on what happened with you and your friends after I left." Namjoon said. "The only 'tea' I've had for years is sencha."

Jimin bit his lip. "Not much happened. Just…life." He ran a hand through his hair. "Seokjin got into law school, aced the bar, and went into business with an older soror. Jungkook decided he wasn't going to college."

Namjoon hummed. "Sounds about par for the course for both of them. What about the one I never met?"

"Taehyung's…a long story." Jimin sighed. "He's the whole reason we're here. I kinda owe this night to him."

"You don't sound thrilled." Namjoon pointed out as they pulled up in front of the resort, quickly climbing off the back to help Jimin out of the seat.

"We're not on great terms." Jimin admitted. "Half the time I don't know whether to shake him or hug him."

"Easy." Namjoon shrugged. "Hug him."

Jimin raised an eyebrow. "Just like that?"

Namjoon nodded. "Yup. Because without him, we wouldn’t be here, together, after five years, and an incredible pedicab tour."

"I wouldn't go that far." Jimin snorted, giving the alpha a teasing smile.

Within seconds, the pedicab driver appeared, tipping his hat to Namjoon. "Thanks for being my partner in crime." Namjoon smiled at Jimin.

"We make a good team." Jimin returned the smile. "We always have." He playfully nudged Namjoon, the alpha quickly grabbing his hand to hold it in place.

"Jimin, I just want to say that-"

Of course, Jimin's phone would choose to go off in that exact moment, the obnoxious ring practically throwing ice water over the moment. "Sorry, I-"

Namjoon released Jimin's hand, the spell broken. "No worries. It's probably Seokjin wondering where you've been for the last hour."

Jimin glanced at 'Appa' flashing across the screen for what had to be the 50th time since they'd landed in the Bahamas. Rather than get into it, he silenced the ringer and shoved his phone back in his pocket. "I'm sure Seokjin would love to see you." He smiled at Namjoon. "Come inside with me."

"Actually, there's someone I want to introduce you to too…"

🐻

Jimin and Seokjin were speaking quietly when Taehyung returned from the bathroom, clearly spreading gossip about Taehyung in his absence. "Are you talking about me while sitting in the VIP booth I paid for?"

"Have you ever stopped to think that not everything is about you?" Jimin rolled his eyes.

"Watch the tone, Jimin." Seokjin scolded before turning to Taehyung. "And you stop being so paranoid. Jimin's old boyfriend is back!"

Jimin elbowed Seokjin. "That's personal!"

Seokjin shot him a look. "You rode on a damn pedicab and got some food to sober up. You didn't fuck him in the backseat."

"It was bigger than that and you know it!"

Jungkook suddenly appeared with a bright smile and sweating buckets. "Whose what is bigger, and what are we comparing it to?"

Taehyung flinched away as Jungkook slid into the booth next to him. "Jimin met an alpha. Don’t touch me until you dry off."

"Not an alpha." Jimin shook his head. "The alpha. Actually, that alpha."

Jimin's mystery alpha sauntered over with two glasses and a familiar looking omega in tow. "Oh hell no!" Taehyung exclaimed, glaring at the guy who'd dumped his drinks in Taehyung's lap. "Couldn't stay away, huh? Don't tell me you've got a little crush?"

The omega scoffed. "Please. Diva isn't my type."

The alpha blinked. "Uh, this is Yoongi, I'm Namjoon, and clearly I'm missing something."

"Taehyung's our cousin." Seokjin said. "And Yoongi poured a drink all over him. Think that about catches you up." He smiled warmly at Namjoon. "Good to see you again, Joon!"

"Yoongi and I work together." Namjoon said a bit nervously. "He's the photographer for my travel guides. Can we talk about that? Please?"

"A photographer, huh?" Taehyung propped his chin on his fist. "What a coincidence. I'm a model. If you want, I can get you in front of the camera. Objectively speaking, with a little touch up, you could really work it."

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. "Is that right?"

Seokjin then gasped. "You're Min Yoongi, aren't you? You shot IU's new concept photos!"

Sensing a network opportunity, Taehyung fixed Yoongi with his most photogenic smile. "Why don't you sit down and we can get to know each other? I think we got off on the wrong foot."

"I don't." Yoongi deadpanned. "You might not know me, but I know all about you, Princess. Still peddling those diet suppressant lollipops?"

"They're MFDS approved!" Taehyung exclaimed.

"Please." Yoongi scoffed. "That pretty little head of yours is so far up your own ass you can't see how out of touch you really are."

Taehyung tilted his head. "So you think I'm pretty?" His comment caught Yoongi off guard, the other omega laughing a little. Then he met Taehyung's gaze again. "You don't know a damn thing about me. I handle my business."

"Yeah, newcomer." Jungkook nodded. "So Taehyung has to play the game a little. That's icon status, and it's why his fans love him."

"They only know Iconic V." Jimin deadpanned. "Show them Taehyung, Queen of the Castle, and it'd be a completely different story."

Yoongi tilted his head in curiosity. "Queen of the Castle?"

"It's a drinking game we made up for Taehyung's 18th birthday." Seokjin explained. "It had him cartwheeling down his apartment's hallway buck naked!"

"The princess in flagrante?" Yoongi seemed highly intrigued. "Now that's something I'd like to see. Letting loose and having fun as opposed to this uptight diva." Yoongi gestured at him.

Taehyung narrowed his eyes. "I am a lot of fun, thank you very much!"

Jimin shook his head. "No, you used to be a lot of fun. Then you got a case of the big head and that was that."

"Excuse him, he's bitter because of the last time he lost to me." Taehyung waved his hand dismissively.

Yoongi smirked. "Then I say it's time we play a round of this game and bring His Majesty the Queen out of retirement." He held his hand out for Taehyung's phone. Taehyung hesitated, heart thundering for some reason Taehyung didn't quite understand. "I'm sure your fans would love to see that Taehyung."

After a moment, Taehyung shrugged. 'You know what? Call me La Reina because the queen is back!" He handed his phone over and willed himself to forget that his phone was streaming each and every second. "You may think I've gone full celebrity, but I'm still the reigning champ."

"I'm shaking." Yoongi said flatly.

"You're crazy confident for someone who hasn't even heard the rules yet." Taehyung retorted, flagging down an actual waiter. "We're going to need cans of beer, top shelf tequila shots, lime wedges, a bowl of maraschino cherries-"

"And rum punch!" Jimin declared.

"Hold the umbrellas." Seokjin requested.

"And you're going to need a couple of extra waiters to help." Taehyung warned her. "Because I'm talking rounds for the six of us." Thank god they were no longer bound by their old college struggle budgets.

"Enough prep chat." Jungkook clapped his hands together. "It's team up time!"

Jimin giggled as he bumped Namjoon with his shoulder. "Teammates? We're already sitting together."

"You know it." Namjoon bumped him back. "I've never been so glad to have eaten before going out for drinks."

"You're telling me." Jimin agreed.

Taehyung stifled a groan at their flirting, but Seokjin seemed to be inspired by it, as he shot Taehyung a knowing look before, "Dibs on Jungkook!"

"Guess that just leaves me and the 'Queen' himself." Yoongi rolled his eyes. "Oh goody."

"It's Taehyung." He snapped. "And you better get ready because there are no losers on my team and being new isn't an excuse."

Yoongi's brow furrowed but the corner of his lips quirked upward. "Charming."

Chapter 4

Once their order arrived, Taehyung arranged a line of beers in front of each team that led back to an empty shot glass. "Alright, how do we do this?" Namjoon asked, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

"The biggest rule is the only rules that count are the ones we make up." Seokjin said.

"Your body is your game piece." Jungkook continued. "So move around the room, steal other team's beers, and down the shot in the middle to win the game."

"I think that's it." Jimin clapped his hands together. "Ready, set-"

"Wait." Yoongi stopped him. "When do we move? How do we move? And weren't we supposed to make up rules?"

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "The first two questions are easy. You move when I tell you and how I tell you and not a second sooner. As for the rules…anybody to the left of that stool has to confess an embarrassing secret. No trades for dares, no take backsies, and it better be something juicy."

Immediately the others started making rules of their own. "Anyone who addresses me has to take a shot as a reminder to keep my name out your mouth." Seokjin declared.

"The bar is the troll's bridge and you've gotta land a trick shot to pay the troll." Jimin said.

"I dub you all Knights of the Booth!" Jungkook dramatically announced. "Throw cherries at anyone near it and protect our queen!"

Namjoon looked around, seeming terrified. "This is chaos…"

"I'm gonna be hella hungover tomorrow, aren't I?" Yoongi asked.

Taehyung turned to him with a smile. "Yep. Oh, and the floor is lava. Now everyone grab a beer and shotgun it to determine play order!"

Jungkook began counting down. "One…two…three…go!"

Taehyung did not agree to Queen of the castle just to lose, so he pulled the tab and guzzled like a pro. It wasn't long before he was slamming the empty can down and yanking Yoongi out of the booth. "Wait, does a garnish stunt count as a trick shot?" Yoongi asked. Namjoon hummed thoughtfully in response.

"What do you mean 'hmmm'?" Taehyung scoffed. "Technically we're doing a trick, and it involves a shot."

"He means 'hmmm'!" Jimin jumped to the alpha's defense. "You know, the universal sound for thinking?"

"We could settle this the old school way." Taehyung shrugged. "To the death?"

Jimin smiled. "You're going down." Without warning, they both hopped on a barstool and grabbed each other by the shoulders, trying to wrestle each other to the floor. "Ready to quit, Celebrity? Barre and SpinCycle have you feeling a little weak!"

"The only thing weak around here is your game!" With a final surge, Taehyung shoved Jimin to the floor and smirked down at him. "Could the queen of England do that?" He extended his hand to help Jimin up.

Jimin hesitated for a moment before accepting it, allowing Taehyung to yank him to his feet. "Maybe, but I guess we'll never get to find out."

Seokjin turned to Yoongi. "Jimin lost the challenge, so your garnish stunt counts. Go for it."

Taehyung wasn't sure if it was the drinks or the fact that they were in the lead that had Yoongi warming up to him. But he pressed in close to Taehyung's side, leaning in conspiratorially. "Alright, I've got a couple of tricks up my sleeve. Cherry stem not or a flamed citrus peel?"

"Gotta go with the cherry stem knot." Taehyung said.

Yoongi nodded in agreement. "It's a classic for a reason." He placed his hands neatly on his lap with a flourish. "Cherry stem if you please."

Sure, Taehyung could just pinch a stem loose, but where was the teamwork in that? He fished out a maraschino and bit the cherry between his teeth to pluck the stem off, holding Yoongi's gaze the whole time. "For you." Yoongi slipped the stem into his mouth, never breaking eye contact as he put his tongue to work.

"I'm gonna be mad if he does it." Jungkook crossed his arms. "I could never get it in one try."

Jimin raised an eyebrow at him. "Is that why you started tying them under the table first?"

Yoongi ignored them, working on the stem until, finally, he pulled it from his mouth looped into a perfectly even bow. "Boom!" The others continued to jeer playfully and, as Jimin began lining up his next shot, Yoongi quirked an eyebrow at Taehyung. "Let the records show that I completely carried that round."

"Please." Taehyung scoffed before tossing back the shot and making the moves Yoongi had earned, choosing the most daring path over, under, and around obstacles in VIP.

Including other patrons…

"Make way on the catwalk!" Taehyung climbed up the back end of a booth, balancing himself on the wooden partition with a tipsy kind of grace. "In fact, could you hold up your martini glass? I'm about to pull a bomb ricochet shot."

…the packed bar…

"Coming through!" Yoongi called out, swinging a cocktail straw like he was playing softball to bat an olive clean into the waiting shot. "What's that? Skill!"

"Okay, he's on my team next." Seokjin called dibs.

…and even using a drink tray as a sled.

"Feel the rhythm! Feel the whine-MOVE YOUR DRINKS AND ELBOWS OUTTA MY WAY BECAUSE IT'S BOBSLED TIME!"

All the while, Taehyung's fans ate it up online.

aprilsooyeon
AYYYYE!!!

O-jiyoung
LOLLLLL lmfaoooo

baboohyojung
Go V!!!!

aprilsooyeon
Queen of Bar-sledding and Queen of
the Castle!!

pure.unso
💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

ziggy.taeyoung
did anyone catch the rules???? gotta
play this with the alphas

JK_hyoju
THE KIND OF THING YOYI ONLY SEE
ON TMI

hyejin_brittany
drink! drink! drink! drink!

seungeun_willow
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

On their next turn, they landed in Seokjin and Jungkook's kingdom. "We challenge you to Categories!" Yoongi exclaimed.

Seokjin raised an eyebrow. "Bring it on!"

"Name something that you can order at this bar." Taehyung stated.

"Alcohol!"

Taehyung narrowed his eyes. "That's too vague! Be specific!"

"An appletini!" Jungkook yelled. "An Incredible Hulk! Bayberry Breeze! Astronaut Sunrise! Amalas on the rocks! Mai Tais! Mojitos…Absinthe, if you know a guy!"

Taehyung and Yoongi stared at him in surprise. "Well damn…"

Jimin reached out to pat Jungkook's shoulder. "Okay, no one's doubting you."

Namjoon went next, his shot landing in Yoongi and Taehyung's territory. "Oooh, the stakes are high now. If y'all miss it's over for you."

Yoongi gestured to Taehyung. "This one's all you, Princess. Make me proud."

Taehyung's heart fluttered a little at the nickname. Or maybe it was the way Yoongi's eyes lingered on him when he said it. Either way, Taehyung had to shake his head to bring his focus back to the game. "The only way to snatch the game is to land a trick beer pong shot to steal a soldier from Jimin and Namjoon."

"Then do what needs to be done." Yoongi nodded.

Taehyung started to aim then paused. "Little help, partner?" Yoongi smirked as if he knew that Taehyung could land the shot in his sleep. Somehow that just made it more thrilling when Yoongi scooted closer and helped him line up his shot. Taehyung tossed the ball and cheered as it landed directly in the glass. "Bullseye! That's the game, bitches! How you like me now?"

"We, the sore losers, hate your fucking guts." Jungkook laughed. "Your fans on the other hand are going crazy."

Jimin gestured to Taehyung's phone. "Go ahead. Talk to your adoring audience."

Seokjin nodded encouragingly. "You know you want to."

Yoongi handed him his phone, and, for a moment, Taehyung just watched the comments roll in. Then he ended the live and set his phone down. "They'll be there when I get back, but the opportunity to rub my win in all your faces? That's fleeting."

"I've created a monster." Yoongi shook his head.

"Nah, that was here the whole time." Taehyung snorted. "You just brought it out." He poured his drink into the empty shot glass and raised it high in a toast. "To still being Queen of the Castle on and offline!"

Yoongi shook his head at Taehyung's declaration, but there was a hint of a smile playing at his lips. "Congratulations are in order. Even though you obviously haven't learned a thing." With that, he headed out of the booth and sauntered away, making Taehyung's victory--and his chest--feel suddenly hollow.

Jungkook also stood up. "If the game's over, I'm gonna go get another drink. I am thirsty."

As he disappeared, Taehyung quietly checked his phone while the others chatted away around him. Before he could dwell on the comments, he overheard some kind of commotion coming from the main bar. "Watch it, wouldja?!"

"Sir, no--NO!"

Jimin and Seokjin looked at each other then at Taehyung with wide eyes. "Where's Jungkook?" Seokjin asked.

"Oh no…" Jimin swallowed thickly.

"Would y'all chill?" Taehyung rolled his eyes. "He went to get a drink. But I guess I'll go find him since y'all are paranoid as fuck."

He easily found Jungkook…cornered by a beefy bartender as he tried to wrangle him out from behind the bar. "You can't be back here!"

"I'm just trying to help-"

"Well I’m about to help you check out of this hotel!"

Jungkook locked eyes with Taehyung, and his stomach sank. He could almost hear the words before the younger omega even said them. "That's where you're wrong. You can't kick me out. I'm here with the V!"

All at once, every eye on the place was on Taehyung. A second later, a hand clamped down on Taehyung's shoulder. "Please don't let us get kicked out of here before our vacation even begins." Taehyung mumbled under his breath.

🐰

Being in the Bahamas with all three of his best friends where they were all getting along for the first time in forever was like a dream come true for Jungkook…

Except for the part where he'd found his way onto the wrong side of the bar and was being escorted out by the waitstaff.

The bartender pulled his arm, but Jungkook yanked out of his grasp and slipped behind him, leaving him to grab nothing but air. "Look, you were busy, so I was just trying to help out and get my own drink! I mean, look at this place! It's packed!"

"That doesn't mean you can just do that!" The bartender glared at him. "This is a place of business!"

"But it's also a place to have fun!" Jungkook argued. "And no one's having fun if they're waiting for drinks all night!"

"Thank you!" One of the patrons exclaimed. "I've been waiting a month of Sundays just for a vodka soda!"

Jungkook smiled at her. "No worries, I got you!" He leapt on top of the bar and poured a shot of vodka before grabbing the soda gun.

Another patron waved wildly at him. "Think you can hook me up with a double whiskey?"

He shot the alpha a look. "You know that's gonna cost you extra." As he clicked the button for club soda, another bartender joined the first and they stalked towards him. Jungkook slid the glass down the bar and ran alongside it, filling it up to the brim just as it slid in the first patron's hand. "He shoots, he scores! That'll be $6.50!" He didn't get to enjoy that movie caliber move for long as one of the bartenders made a swipe for him. "Come on guys, can't we talk about this?" The patrons screamed with laughter as Jungkook tossed the soda hose at the other bartender, throwing him off enough to duck around him. "I know I'm all in your space, but only having two bartenders is bad for you too!"

"Okay, but please get down!" The bartender exclaimed. "Otherwise, I'll have to call hotel security. Somebody already went to get our boss."

Jungkook started to climb down and the two bartenders visibly relaxed. "Right, of course. But I still think we should talk about how to maximize the experience for every-"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Taehyung yelled, glaring at Jungkook. "Get! Your ass! On this side of the bar! Now!"

"I couldn't have said it better myself." An alpha in a well-tailored suit loomed over Jungkook. He shot the bartenders a look that made them scrambled.

And that was when Jungkook realized.

"You must be the boss." He smiled sheepishly.

"I'm the bar manager." The alpha crossed his arms. "A word, please." He looked between Jungkook and Taehyung before perp walking them out of the growing crowd of bar patrons. "I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave."

Taehyung flashed the alpha an award-winning smile. "Listen, my cousin caused a little ruckus, but no one got hurt, and I'm happy to pay for any damages." He put his hand on Jungkook's shoulder, digging his nails into his skin so that it was impossible to believe he was anything but pissed.

Jungkook smiled at the alpha. "If you think about it, having us here is better for business. Speedy service, live entertainment…you should be paying me! Just kidding! I mean unless…" He trailed off as Taehyung dug his nails in deeper.

"Whatever the intention, please allow me to escort your party out." The alpha said.

"There's no need for that." Taehyung said. "I said I'd cover the cost of the damages."

The alpha glared at him. "The potential damages aren't the issue. Leave."

Taehyung blinked. "Excuse me? Who do you think you're talking to?"

"Wait, Taehyung, don't-"

Jungkook went ignored. "International fashion model V, that's who! I could own this dump if I wanted to!"

The alpha crossed his arms over his chest. "Be that as it may, this is the second time tonight someone in your party has stood on the bar…not even counting the fact that you personally slid around the VIP area on a drink tray. If you refuse to leave, I'll call the hotel owner and have you removed from the premises."

Taehyung refused to move. "Call his ass then. Now I wanna talk to him."

The bar manager started to speak into his walkie talkie, and Jungkook knew he had to do something fast before his free vacation was cut short. "Hey, that's our bad, man. We were acting a fool. I mean, standing on the bar? What would our mothers say? Right, Taehyung?" He nudged Taehyung, widening his eyes meaningfully.

"Yes, Aunt Hyeyoung would be so ashamed." Taehyung deadpanned.

Jungkook smiled at the bar manager. "This is the first time we've all been together in years. And you know how rowdy things get around family…"

The alpha cleared his throat. "I may have gotten into some things with my cousins when I was in my 20s too."

"Exactly!" Jungkook exclaimed. "You wouldn't throw us out for the same mistake, right? I mean, it'd make you a hypocrite."

Another alpha joined them. "Mr. Chu, I just walked by on my way to clock in, and I saw the whole thing. The omega was clearin' the line andkeeping folks entertained. It was quite the sight." The stranger winked at Jungkook. He didn't know the alpha, but right at that moment, Jungkook knew he was about to be his guardian angel.

Mr. Chu cleared his throat. "Okay, if Tilton agrees, you…might be right."

"No, I am right." Jungkook clarified. "But I’m willing to be a professional about it as long as you get some help for my friends there.' He gestured back to the bar, ignoring Taehyung's silent fuming at his side.

"Tell you what…" Mr. Chu started. "You stay on the right side of the bar and keep your feet on the floor, and you have a deal."

"Gravity has never had such a firm hold on me." Jungkook promised.

Mr. Chu nodded. "I'll have to call the owner down to take a look and bill the room for damages. Tilton, you mind helping at the bar?"

"Happy to."

They went their separate ways, and Jungkook and Taehyung let out the breaths they'd been holding. "I thought we were out on our ass when you pull that 'Do you know who I am' bit!" Jungkook laughed. "You're lucky I-"

"Lucky?!" Taehyung whirled on him. "We shouldn't have even been in that mess! Jungkook, your name is not 'Bozo', and this is not the big top! If you wanna act like your red nose and clown shoes are arriving next day delivery, that's on you! But all of this…" He gestured to the grandeur of the club and the adjourning hotel where he'd booked them all a suite. For the first time, Jungkook got the feeling that the time they'd spent apart may have changed things between them. "It's a reflection of me! And I have no intention of letting the world think I'm Boo-Boo the Fool! I hate to say it, but Jimin was right. You need to grow up, Jungkook. Quick."

Chapter 5

🐹

As Seokjin typed out an email to finish some work from before he'd helped Jimin flee the country, Taehyung flopped down in the booth. "Well, I got Jungkook out of trouble by the skin of my teeth." Taehyung grumbled. "I swear, I'm gonna murder your cousin."

"My cousin, huh?" Seokjin raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you're going as far as homicide, he must've really screwed the pooch." He rested his arms on the table. "Let me guess, he acted out? Embarrassed you? Caused a bunch of damage? Owes you money? Stop me when I'm close."

Taehyung stared at him in disbelief. "Why are you acting like this is normal? He's a fucking terror!"

"No duh." Seokjin snorted. "But that's not new. You just used to think it was cute before."

"Well not anymore!" Taehyung groaned. "He's ruining my rep and messing with my money!"

Seokjin gave him a meaningful look. "This is not about your money. It's about losing your bestie. The two of you used to be so close, Jungkook thought you were his brother instead of Jimin."

Taehyung pouted. "We're still close! But you should've seen him behind that bar, Seokjin. People were laughing and recording…I'm supposed to be rehabbing my image, and stuff like that isn't gonna make the twitter trolls let up anytime soon."

"Ah…" Seokjin sat back. "This is about you not being liked by your adoring fans, not about how close you think you and Koo are."

Taehyung plugged his ears. "If I wanted to be psychoanalyzed, I'd go see my therapist. Don't you have some business of your own to be in?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Seokjin said. "The judge in my newest case just granted an injunction to-"

"I meant personal business." Taehyung interrupted. "Up close and personal business. Because if you don't have any, that alpha would be more than happy to give you some."

Seokjin turned to see where Taehyung was pointing and accidentally made eye contact with the alpha in question. "Oh, please, no." He instantly rejected the notion.

"Yes!" Taehyung exclaimed. "I'm gay, and even I can see that alpha is hot! How long has it been since you had your back cracked like a glow stick?"

"I work 18-hour days." Seokjin deadpanned. "The only person cracking my back is the office chiropractor."

Taehyung smiled. "Then I say it's time we change that." He waved the alpha over, making room for him in the booth.

Seokjin looked the alpha up and down as he slid in, leaning much too close for the omega's comfort. "Hey, pup, how you doing?"

"Let me stop you right there." Seokjin held up a hand. "I'm a grown adult, not a 'pup'. My name is Seokjin Kim, now how can I help you?"

"Well, I saw you sitting over here and-"

Seokjin interrupted. "And you thought you'd come over where with some half assed, stepped on, used up game and try to get with me?"

The alpha blinked. "Damn, I was just trying-"

That time Seokjin held up a single finger to cut him off before twisting his wrist until he was pointing back to where the alpha had come from. "Thank you, next."

As he slipped out of the booth and shuffled away discouraged, Taehyung shook his head. "What is wrong with you? So his pick-up lines were a little dated. Did you have to do him like that?"

"I don't know if you noticed but, first of all, he was white and American." Seokjin said. "And second of all, he had mommy issues written all over him."

"Where?" Taehyung snorted. "In invisible ink?"

Seokjin narrowed his eyes. "More like in neon lights. It doesn't matter how attractive an alpha is, I am not about to be in a relationship with them and their mother."

"You are way too picky."

"See, no one every says that to alphas." Seokjin pointed out. "Alphas can go through life just as choosy as they please and call it a preference, but I'm picky? I should just be happy to have an alpha, any alpha at all?" He let out a sharp laugh. "Not me. I deserve the alpha of my dreams, and I won't settle for less."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow. "And you honestly think you can tell whether an alpha is wrong for you with just one glance? Under all this fluorescent lighting?"

Seokjin shrugged. "My JinDar hasn't failed me yet."

Obviously taking that as a challenge, Taehyung scanned the club. A mischievous grin appeared on his face as he pointed out a handsome, Korean alpha sitting at the bar. "Okay, what's wrong with him?"

Tilting his head. Seokjin took in the perfectly maintained hairstyle, the way his suit fit his body perfectly, the quiet power in the way he carried himself. "He…well, he…" Then the alpha glanced over and met his eye, a magnetizing heart shaped smile appearing on his face as he lifted his glass in acknowledgement. "Are alphas even allowed to be that attractive?'

Taehyung laughed brightly. "Gotcha! Mr. Sexy Flexy, meet Mr. Single!"

Seokjin turned back to Taehyung. "He might be sexy, but that's not all I'm looking for. I want an alpha who's my equal. Has their own accomplishments., keeps it real, can hold their own in a family as nuts as this-"

"And knocks it out of the park in the bedroom?" Taehyung added on.

"That would be a plus." Seokjin didn't deny it. "But I’m more concerned with how he would treat me." Seokjin nodded toward the alpha. "Anyone that attractive is used to being the prize."

Taehyung shook his head. "Nope. I'm calling it. That's your future mate. I bet you won't be able to find anything wrong with him-"

Seokjin scoffed. "Please, I'll take that bet, easy. Nobody's perfect."

"I'm not done." Taehyung tilted his head challengingly. "You've only got as long as it takes you to finish a drink. If you can't find a flaw before then, I win. And if you lose, you have to kiss him."

Seokjin looked the alpha over again. Whatever flaws he might have, Seokjin knew that was one bet he wouldn't necessarily mind losing… not that he would. Blaming his competitive nature, he offered Taehyung his hand to shake, sealing the bet. "You're on. But if I win, you have to give me your Versace bathrobe."

Taehyung's eyes widened. "What? There are complimentary bathrobes back in the suite!"

"Maybe." Seokjin shrugged. "But they aren't Versace. And they damn sure aren't yours."

"That's how you're gonna be?" Taehyung glared at him. "I help you find an alpha, and this is the thanks I get?"

Seokjin smiled. "Are you in or not, V?"

"In." Taehyung said without hesitation. "Now get over there before the bitch int eh hot pink crop top makes her move."

After downing a shot of liquid courage, Seokjin made his way to the target. The alpha's eyes landed on Seokjin as he approached, sweeping from head to toe and filling Seokjin with a warmth he hadn't experienced in years. Still, he sat down next to the alpha as he turned to fae the bar, a hint of a smile at his lips. "I was wondering when you'd come over and say hello." His boldness and the richness of his voice took Seokjin by surprise, but he steadied his breathing.

"I had to." Seokjin said "We did lock eyes in a crowded room, after all. It was either come over and introduce myself or wait for fate to bring us together." He did his best not to cringe at himself. "Patience isn't my strong suit."

"Good to know the time spent perfecting my 'come hither' look wasn't wasted." The alpha mused. "But had I known that was all I'd need to get you over here, I'd have done it a lot sooner." He turned to Seokjin and extended a hand to him, his grip firm and warm in the omega's palm "I'm Hoseok. It's a pleasure to meet you…" He trailed off, giving Seokjin the opening to introduce himself.

"Seokjin. But a lot of people call me Jin."

Hoseok repeated his name back softly in a low, warm tone, giving each syllable time to breathe. "A beautiful name for a beautiful omega. But if you don't mind, I think I'll stick to the full name."

Seokjin raised an eyebrow. "Why do I get the impression omegas don't usually mind what you call them as long as you're the one doing the calling?"

"Are we talking about omegas in general or are we talking about you?" Hoseok retorted, his fingers brushing Seokjin's knuckles in a reminder that they were still holding hands.

Seokjin quickly pulled his hand away, reminding himself that he was on a mission. "Offer me a drink."

Hoseok tilted his head. "Is that a request or a demand?"

"Does it matter?" Hoseok turned to the bartender and held up two fingers. In seconds, a glass slid across the bar and into Seokjin's waiting hand. "Bourbon? That feels like a judgment."

"If you don't like it, I can get you something else." Hoseok offered. "You just struck me as a bourbon omega. Classic, straightforward, no nonsense…and best taken in slowly to savor the taste." He met Seokjin's eye as they clinked their glasses together.

Seokjin wasn't sure whether it was his assessment or his gaze, but he felt exposed. As a lawyer, he was used to reading body language and making judgments, but having that energy returned was new and thrilling. "You can tell all of that in just the first few seconds?"

Hoseok nodded. "What can I say? I'm a pretty good judge of character."

"Sounds like you're projecting." Seokjin propped his chin on his hand. "Is that really how you see me or is that just how you want me to see you?"

"Two things can be true." Hoseok said. "But my first impression's usually never too far off."

Under Hoseok's watchful gaze, Seokjin put the rim of his glass to his lips and sipped, the subtle burn warming him from the inside out. "I guess we'll just have to find out. Are you here for business or pleasure?"

Hoseok smiled. "Those two things aren't always opposites, you know. You can always find pleasure in taking care of business."

The answer nudged the needle on his JinDar, so he pushed. "Pleasure as in 'the dopamine of the deal', or 'hot damn, check out my secretary'?"

"Neither." Hoseok shook his head. "Wheeling and dealing get old, and workplace harassment has never been my vibe. It's the small things. Working in a beautiful locale, a drink at the end of the day, a run in with an interesting omega…"

Seokjin raised an eyebrow. "And just how often do these 'run ins' happen?"

Hoseok smirked as he brought his glass to his lips. "Seokjin, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were insinuating-"

"That's exactly what I'm insinuating." Seokjin stated. After all, if he was the type to balk at an omega challenging him, it was the perfect bait.

Instead, Hoseok leaned in close, lowering his voice. "There's no shortage of beautiful omegas on the islands, but connections are few and far in between. And without a connection…what's the point?"

Seokjin was far less disappointed in that answer than he thought he would be, and that time, he clinked his glass against Hoseok's. "Well said."

"Then I assume I passed whatever test this was?" Hoseok chuckled.

"It wasn't a test, it was a bet." Seokjin admitted. "One that I…" He looked down at his glass to see he only had one sip left. "…seem to have lost." He looked over Hoseok's shoulder at Taehyung who was making kissy faces at him.

"A bet?" Hoseok raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you tell me all about it over another drink?"

As Hoseok motioned to the bartender, Seokjin waved him off. "Some other time. For now…this'll have to do." He leaned in and was surprised when Hoseok met him halfway, their lips meeting in a soft, seeking kiss. After a moment, Seokjin forced himself to pull away, unable to stop the smile from spreading across his face.

"That'll do me plenty." Hoseok assured him.

Seokjin stood up from his stool. "See you around?"

"God, I hope so." That sent a bubbling heat through Seokjin's stomach, prompting the omega to quickly hurry back to his booth.

As soon as he sat down, Taehyung was in his face. "I'm sorry, were you looking for his flaws or his tonsils?"

"You are so extra." Seokjin shoved him away.

"Be honest, was it as good as it looked?" Taehyung asked. "Because y'all looked cute."

Seokjin smiled innocently. "A proper omega never kisses and tells." He grabbed his phone and got back to his email, fighting the urge to sneak another peek at the bar as the minutes ticked by. When he did finally give in, Hoseok was gone, the tingle on his lips the only sign he was ever there at all.

Chapter 6

🐰

Following the shame of Taehyung's exit, Jungkook was sitting at the bar to think over his actions. His impromptu mixology escapade had just been another Friday to him, but Taehyung telling him off was a new, unpleasant addition. "One Long Island iced tea, please." He ordered from the bartender. "And keep them coming."

As he wallowed in his self-pity, Tilton came to stand in front of him, wiping his hands with a dishrag. "We meet again." The alpha chuckled. "I owe you one, I make double the tips over here."

Jungkook smiled at him and shook his head. "Nah, it's cool. Anybody who knows anything about a good party could've seen the bar was understaffed."

"Maybe." Tilton hummed. "But you were the only one who did anything about it in your own very special way."

"I don't think we got properly introduced." Jungkook sat up straighter. "I'm Jungkook by the way."

Tilton nodded. "I woulda thought you'd be riding high about now but you're looking pretty down, pup. What's the trouble?"

Jungkook sighed, tapping his fingers against his glass. "A family thing. My brother, Jimin, and my cousin, Seokjin, don't really get me. To them I'm just the baby, always goofing up. That never mattered, because my other cousin, Taehyung always had my back, but tonight he went crazy on me. Yelling, screaming…we've been apart for a while but it's like he completely changed." He glanced over to where Seokjin and Taehyung were sitting, thinking back to the Taehyung he used to know…

 

Jungkook wiped the snot from his nose and looked up at the older omegas chowing down on the snacks Eomma packed just for him. "Leave me alone!"

"Leave me alone!" The bully mimicked him with a laugh. Then she pushed him into the dirt.

He landed hard, his ponytail his Eomma had fixed for him coming loose in the process. "Ow, that hurt…" He pouted.

The other bully rolled her eyes. "Stop whining, you baby."

Jungkook glared at them as he pulled himself to his feet. "If you don’t quit it, I'm gonna tell on you! Ms. Eunkyung said we should all be playing nice!"

"Well I say snitches get stitches." Jungkook didn't know what stitches were, but he was pretty sure he didn't them. He stomped his foot in frustration.

As the bullies burst into mean laughter, Taehyung came out of nowhere, blocking out the sun as he stood taller than all of them. "You like picking on omegas littler than you?" He asked. "Maybe I should try it." He shoved the bigger of the two bullies and all laughter stopped abruptly.

"Hey! We're just playing!"

"Then let's play!" Taehyung said. "Try and knock me down and see how that goes." He shoved the omega again, and the two bullies scrambled away. As they left, Taehyung turned back to Jungkook with a smile. "If anyone ever tries to mess with you again, you come and find me. I always got your back."

 

Taehyung might have his two front teeth now, but Jungkook had always felt like the offer still stood. Until today, that was. "How can one person have changed so much?" He pouted.

"Did he change, or did he just grow up?" Tilton asked.

Jungkook pouted even more. "But so did I!"

Tilton set a new drink on the counter in front of Jungkook. The omega sighed and reached into his pocket to pay only to find I empty. "Let me guess, no money?"

"Uh…" Jungkook smiled sheepishly. "Good thing there's a very grateful bartender making double tips who wants to spot me one teensy drink?"

"Ain't it funny how things get an adjective when you want 'em free of charge?" Tilton raised an eyebrow.

Jungkook continued to smile at him, playing up how adorable he knew he was. "Have I ever told you that you remind me of one of my uncles? A real stand-up guy, always happy to help an omega out of a jam."

Tilton sighed and shook his head with a smile as he pushed the glass closer to Jungkook. "Take the damn drink, you hustler."

"And maybe I can get a Lemon drop for Tae too?" Jungkook asked. "Something sweet and sour just like his mean ass."

"Just make sure you leave that part out when you give it to him."

Jungkook nodded. "Don't worry. I know exactly how to play it. Winning people over is my specialty."

Tilton chuckled. "I've noticed. You're all anyone's talking about tonight. 'Entertaining in ways I've never seen', they say." He slid the Lemon Drop over. As Jungkook picked it up, he noticed a flyer instead of the usual drink napkin. "Maybe it's time you use that gift for something other than scoring free drinks."

"Bahamas' Biggest Party Animal?" Jungkook read off, furrowing his eyebrows. "What is this?"

"Exactly what it says." Tilton gestured to the flyer. "It's a contest held here at the resort by GCF radio. Open to anyone-"

Jungkook cut him off as he continued reading the flyer. "Who thinks they have what it takes to keep the party going all summer long? Interesting."

"Trust me, you'd be perfect for this, yeah?" Tilton chuckled.

"Well duh." Jungkook snorted. "The resort's not talking about me for nothing. I keep people laughing, spending, and happy. And anyone who goes out with me knows it's a one-of-a-kind experience. No two nights are ever the same."

Tilton smiled. "Then why not get recognition for something you're probably going to do anyway?"

Jungkook tilted his head. "On the one hand, a competition like this sounds like it would be a breeze. I'm more fun asleep than most people are awake…" He grew more serious. "But on the other hand, this sounds like a lot of work, and I'm on vacation. If it was a one-day kinda thing, maybe." He handed the flyer back.

"I see." Tilton shrugged. "Well, in that case, the contest would probably be too much for you."

"Not what I said." Jungkook corrected. "But you got the spirit-"

"Sure, you can drink with the best of them, but being a class clown isn't a skill. Nothing like what you'd have to do."

Jungkook rolled his eyes. "Hey, I could get this whole club poppin'. Y'all thought my bar antics were entertaining? That was nothing! Five minutes of free rein, and I could have this place wall to wall lit."

Tilton tilted his head challengingly. "Prove it then."

"I can and I will." Jungkook narrowed his eyes before stumbling off of his stool, searching for a way to land himself at the center of attention again. Then his gaze landed on the DJ booth. He tucked Taehyung's drink under the counter to keep it safe before launching himself into the crowded dance floor. "Excuse me!" He pushed through the partiers, using the nimbleness that came with a lifetime of sneaking into EDM shows until he made it to the DJ booth where security promptly blocked him.

"I thought you might try to get up here." The alpha glared down at Jungkook.

Jungkook smiled. "And you came to help me? That's so sweet of-"

"Not a chance." The alpha crossed his arms. "Back it up, omega."

"Oh, see, I get how this is confusing…" Jungkook pushed down his annoyance of being referred to as 'omega'. "You can let me through, I'm next up to spin. And he was due for a break like five minutes ago so…" He made a walking motion with his fingers and pointed behind the guard. "Unless y'all plan to force the poor dude to hold it in or you wanna have him go in a bottle or something…" He let his grossed-out expression do the talking from there.

The guard's eyes widened. "Okay, okay, go relieve the guy…not relieve like relieve-you know what, just go."

Jungkook slipped behind the ropes and tapped the DJ's shoulder. He popped a headphone off his ear as he turned to Jungkook, confusion written all over his face. "Hi! Jungkook. I know this is random, but can I get a turn at the tables?"

The DJ blinked. "Uh…hi, Jungkook. Are you…are you supposed to get a turn at the tables?"

"I mean, no." Jungkook smiled. "But only technically. I need a few minutes to prove Tilton the bartender wrong, and for the low price of scooting over, you can help!"

"Look, I get you need to prove yourself," The DJ said. "But I can't let you come up here and misrepresent. You got any experience?"

Jungkook snorted. "I spent six months roaming southeast Asia with DJ Soda, I think I've picked up a thing or two." He held his hand out. "Give me the headphones and see for yourself." The DJ still seemed hesitant. "Come on, dude, just go with it! I'm an expert at letting the music move me!" He did a little shoulder shimmy to prove he at least had rhythm.

The DJ finally let a little smile slip. "Okay, I'll bite. If anything, it'll make for a fun story. Show me whatcha got, DJ Jungkook."

"Watch and be amazed." Jungkook took the DJ's headset from him and scanned his mental backlog of unpaid internship as a roadie knowledge. He was able to find his way around the console and he started spinning like he'd been doing it his whole life. "See? I got this!"

It wasn't long before most of the club was packed onto the dance floor, but there were still some stragglers on the edges of the party. "Not bad." The DJ nodded. "But what about them?"

Jungkook grabbed the adjustable mic and leaned in to spit some adlibs to get the crowd hyped. "What's good, y'all? You're listening to DJ JK who knows how to slay on the ones and twos! If you like what you hear, somebody scream!" Cheers erupted from the crowd. "Say, 'GO DJ! THAT'S MY DJ!!'"

"GO DJ! THAT'S MY DJ!!"

Soon even the wallflowers were into it, and behind the bar, Jungkook could see Tilton giving him an approving smile and a thumbs up. "Being up here is amazing!" Jungkook laughed.

"Who are you telling?" The DJ laughed. "I always feel like I'm on top of the world. Entertaining is the best gig. You can move people with your music choices. I mean…look at 'em." Jungkook looked out over the crowd, and from that vantage point, his family looked like little ants. "Their whole night rests in the palms of your hands. Good, bad, or otherwise, you're in control. You set the vibe."

Jungkook smiled. "In that case, just call me Geppetto, baby, because I'm about to jiggle these puppet strings." He looked over the crowd again and noticed that Seokjin looked highly unimpressed with every aspect of the atmosphere. He leaned into the microphone again. "This song goes out to my cousin, Seokjin, and his 5:00 am kickboxing routine!" Seokjin snapped out of his bored haze, his expression morphing into one of mortification as Jungkook transitioned from a dance track to a club mix of his goofy pump-up gym jam. "I have no idea how you wake up early enough to get a workout in to begin with but…there has got to be a better way to get your cardio in."

"Has he tried getting laid?!" One clubgoer called out over the noise.

"I don't know." Jungkook actually responded. "Seokjin, have you?"

Seokjin glowered up at him. "You are dead! Dead, dead, dead!"

Jungkook winced and shook his head. "Sorry, I can't hear you!" He cranked up the volume but could still see the string of curses Seokjin let out as alpha after alpha flocked to his table. Finally, he waved them all off, grabbed Taehyung, and made his way to the dance floor. Despite the initial annoyance, Jungkook's song selection did exactly what it was meant to do, and Jungkook could deal with the consequences later. "And now for my final trick…" He put on a throwback that they used to dance around the living room to before handing the headphones back to the DJ. "Thanks! I'd say that was a success, yeah?"

"Hell yeah!" The DJ high fived him. "Well done…DJ JK who knows how to slay."

Smiling, Jungkook slipped out of the booth and got out on the dance floor, pushing through the crowd to get to his family. Jimin and Seokjin were halfway through the routine they'd created as kids and Taehyung was singing into his phone like he was closing the MMAs. "What do you think?" He asked them. "Should I switch career paths?"

Jimin hummed as if he were seriously considering it. "I think you'd have to start with a career to switch. Still, I can't fault you for the song choice."

"Y'all remember when we used to sneak into Halmeoni's closet and try on all her old costume jewelry?" Taehyung asked.

Seokjin let out a laugh. "And fight over who got to be Taeyeon?"

"Y'all always made me be Sunny!" Jungkook exclaimed. "I couldn't even be Tiffany!"

"When all along we shoulda been casting you as Hyoyeon." Jimin said. "I didn't know you knew how to work a turntable!"

Jungkook sidled closer to Seokjin with a shimmy, and Seokjin rolled his eyes despite the grin on his face. "I was gonna punch you but you're lucky I like this song."

"Thank you for not giving in to violence." Jungkook bowed playfully. "Now this is how you do a vacation!"

After dancing with his brother and cousins, he headed back to the bar to rub his success in Tilton's face. "Hey, barkeep!" He called out to him. "I think I've earned another freebie!"

Tilton chuckled. "Don't tell me you did all that just for a free shot."

"Of course not." Jungkook smiled. "I did it to prove what I already know. That I could rock the club without breaking a sweat. The free shot is because I did, in fact, blow the roof off this motherfucker."

Shaking his head, Tilton slid Jungkook a shot of vodka, which the omega happily downed. "At least think about entering, would you? A hundred K and a sponsorship with Bacardi Liquors is nothing to scoff at.

Jungkook blinked. "Yeah sure." He grabbed Taehyung's Lemon Drop from its hiding place to finally take it to him, only to overhear them arguing about him.

"He can't keep pulling these kinds of stunts, Seokjin!"

"Jungkook's gonna be Jungkook. Who else could take over a DJ booth with no notice and pull that off? And don't act like you didn't enjoy yourself. I saw you moving them bony shoulders."

"Don't get me wrong, Jungkook is a force and I love that for him…but he doesn't think! You know I'm right."

"The bar thing was a little out of pocket…"

"It would be whatever if it didn't affect me! He name dropped me and almost got us kicked out of the hotel!"

Seokjin ran a hand over his face, and, for the first time, he looked exhausted. "Look, this is what we were trying to tell you. I love Jungkook, but being around him is like herding cats."

Jungkook bristled while Taehyung laughed. "I swear I gotta laugh to keep from crying. It's like having a two-year-old! Except even they can keep a handle on their piggy bank."

"He just needs some direction. He'll figure it out one day."

Jungkook didn't bother listening anymore as he stormed back to the bar. Sure, he didn't have any money, and sure it was debatable whether or not he still had an apartment…but that was his charm! He went wherever the wind blew him, leading a wild but fulfilling life that other people would kill for! It's not like he didn't have dreams! Not that they would ever take them seriously. With their comments swirling around his head--and a brand-new Lemon Drop in his tummy--he picked up the contest flyer again. "You said a hundred thousand dollars?"

Tilton chuckled, swiping at the bar top with a cleaning rag. "Decided the prize money is worth a little effort?"

"Nope." Jungkook shook his head. "But it's a hell of a lot better than a job. Probably won't even have to pay taxes."

Tilton stared at him. "You'll definitely have to pay taxes. You know that right? Please say yes."

All Jungkook could think was, 'I'll show them' as he skimmed through the fine print with hazy eyes. "This is it. I'll win this, and I'll show them that I do have talents and passions and…and stuff!"

Tilton tipped his cap to Jungkook, and Jungkook raised his glass. "To 'and stuff' then."

"To 'and stuff'!" Jungkook gulped down the rest of his drink. Tomorrow, it was game time, and that competition wouldn't know what hit it.

Chapter 7

🐹

Near the end of the night, Namjoon dropped Jimin off at the table, the omega' sleepy head slumping over onto Taehyung's shoulder. "There we go, safe and sound."

"Gee, thanks." Taehyung grimaced. "Now how do I make it stop drooling on me?"

"You're on your own with that one." Namjoon chuckled.

"Thank you for looking after him, Namjoon." Seokjin said stiffly. "Wouldn't want anything to happen to him. He's had a rough week."

Namjoon nodded slightly. "He mentioned. But I think this was a good reset." He shot Seokjin a smile, but it faltered when Seokjin didn't return it. He awkwardly cleared his throat. "Um…that's it, I guess. Have a good night. I'll…see y'all around the resort."

Seokjin stared after Namjoon as the alpha headed off in the direction of the bathroom. Then he stood up to follow him. Seconds after the bathroom door swung closed, Seokjin shoved it open wide with a bang, causing Namjoon to jump. "Jesus, Seokjin! What the fuck?"

"My question exactly." Seokjin marched over to him, poking a finger into the alpha chest. "What the fuck, Namjoon? If you thought I was about to let you off easy, you've got me messed up. I can't believe you're here. You've got some nerve. Materializing like some bad dream when Jimin's supposed to be out here getting his groove back."

Namjoon shook his head, his eyes wide with fear. "It's nothing like that Seokjin, I-"

Seokjin cut him off. "The last thing Jimin needs is your Where in the World is Namjoon San Diego ass! He's been through enough."

"You're-"

"I'm not done." Seokjin glared at him. "And before you even start, you can save that 'aw shucks' grin you like to pull out! Maybe Jimin forgot how you left him high and dry before he could even turn his tassel, but it won't work on me!"

Namjoon's face fell. "You're 100% right, Namjoon. I know that. Jimin and I talked about it earlier."

Seokjin blinked. "Oh." He cleared his throat and stepped back from Namjoon.

"What I did back then…" Namjoon ran a hand through his hair. "I don't regret choosing to travel. I learned a lot about myself as a result of it…but the way I went about it, leaving as I did…"

"Was fucked up." Seokjin finished for him.

Namjoon nodded. "Completely. I shouldn't have abandoned Jimin like that. I flaked out, and I was wrong. I'm alpha enough to say I didn't treat him like a priority, and I should have. I take full responsibility for that, Seokjin."

As much as Seokjin wanted to hate him, he could feel his sincerity. And his JinDar alarms weren't ringing either. So he sighed. "I've always liked you, so I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, but that still doesn't erase what happened. I will never get the image of my heartbroken best friend out of my head. He was devastated, Namjoon."

"I know." Namjoon said quietly, guilt shining in his eyes. "I know I hurt him, and that I have no right to ask…but I've never stopped caring about Jimin. So I was hoping…" He paused as an alpha poked their head in the bathroom door, took in the scene, and closed it again.

"Sometime today, please, Namjoon?" Seokjin urged him. "I'm sure someone else would like to use this bathroom."

Namjoon squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. "I was hoping you'd help me win him back."

🐰

It was another beautiful day in the Bahamas. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and best of all, the room service was on someone else's tab! "A very good morning to you, oh lovely brother of mine!" Jungkook slid into the seat next to Jimin while he rubbed his temples and stared into his breakfast, the chair legs dragging across the hardwood with an echoing screech.

Jimin groaned in response. "I think you mean, 'Good afternoon'." Seokjin chuckled.

"You might wanna go easy." Taehyung said. "Jimin's not feeling like much of a 'party person' right now."

"You don't know how exponentially worse hangovers get the closer you get to thirty…" Jimin mumbled.

Jungkook shrugged. "Maybe not but what I do know is you'll have plenty of time to recover. This is the only free day on your itinerary, you can sleep until dinner if you want to." He looked around at all of them. "Come on! We're on vacation, bitches! Start acting like it!" He threw back the rest of his mimosa, dancing in his chair as the bubbles tickled a trail down his throat.

Seokjin shook his head. "You just make sure you keep that same energy now that you're in this competition. I want my money back."

Jungkook stared at him. "I'm gonna be honest…I have no idea what you're talking about. Deadass."

"I knew it." Seokjin rolled his eyes. "Taehyung, didn't I tell you this would happen?"

"Would you mind telling me?" Jungkook asked. "Because I'm still in the dark over here."

Seokjin furrowed his eyebrows and crossed his arms, his back straightening as he got into full 'recounting the events, your honor' mode. "Let's see if I can jog your memory, shall we? You ran up to me in the club mumbling something about 'sticking it to your so-called cousins'-"

Taehyung interrupted. "Don't forget he called us a couple of Judases."

"True." Seokjin nodded. "So I say, 'You wanna try that again before I put my foot in your ass?' And you said…

 

"Behold!" Jungkook slammed the flyer down on the table.

Seokjin stared at it. "What is this?"

"Oh, nothing." Jungkook smiled innocently. "Just the beginning of the end for you hoes."

"Alright, so foot in your ass it is-"

Jungkook cut Seokjin off. "This is the beginning of a new era for poor, broke Jungkook. I'm gonna win this thing, win the hundred grand, and then none of y'all will be able to tell me nothin'!"

 

"…and then I Kakao Paid you the money, and you signed the waiver without so much as looking at the terms and conditions." Seokjin finished.

Jungkook smiled. "Well thanks for having my back, Seokjin, but there's no way I'm actually gonna-"

"Oh no you don't." Seokjin held a finger up. "I came prepared this time." He slammed the Party Animal flyer down on the table like it was the big Joker in a game of Spades. The other three leaned in to read the sloppily written print. "I, Jungkook, of sound body and mind, do hereby sear to do my best in the Party Animal Contest should Seokjin loan me the $50 entrance fee." Seokjin read off.

Jungkook stared at him. "What are you gonna do? Sue me?"

Seokjin gave him a look. "Nobody's taking anybody to court but, Jungkook, if you back out, this will be the first thing I reference next time you ask me for money."

"It's probably for the best, Seokjin." Jimin said. "I mean, what would you even do with all that cash, Jungkook?"

"He should use it to buy an apartment building so he can stop couch surfing." Taehyung said.

"Plus a car." Seokjin added on. "Because the number of rideshare apps on your home screen is unhealthy. What even is 'HytchHyker'?"

Jungkook clenched his fists. "Thanks for the judgments about my life disguised as suggestions but I already know what I'd use that money on." He'd dreamed about owning his own club for years, but it wasn't until that moment that he realized he'd never said it out loud. "My dream for a while has been to open my own club. I know the target demo and I have tons of party experience. I even have a folder of the permits and licenses I'd need. I didn't actually file for them, but you know…they're there."

Jimin stared at him. "And is there where they're going to stay? Or are you actually going to file them?"

Jungkook hit the table. "Y'all never take me seriously!"

"We're just a little apprehensive." Seokjin said. "You're really telling me that you can leave Messy Jungkook behind and become Manager Jungkook?"

"You think I can't?" Jungkook stood up from the table. "Watch me. I'm gonna prove once and for all that I, Jeon Jungkook, can handle myself. I got me. When's the first challenge?"

Seokjin smiled. "Tomorrow at 8:00 am."

Immediately all of Jungkook's fire went out. He gingerly sat back down, lacing his fingers on the table in front of him. "And that was 8:00 am in the morning you said?"

Jimin threw an arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry. I'll get you up even if I have to drag you out of bed kicking and screaming."

"Ah, just like the earthquake of '05." Jungkook sighed nostalgically. "I had the best dream that night."

Seokjin snorted. "I'm glad it was nice for you. I just remember the three of us dragging your heavy ass under the kitchen table."

"While you snored like that pitbull from Tom and Jerry." Taehyung added on.

Jungkook laughed at the memory, feeling just a little bit lighter. The challenge was gonna be a cakewalk as long as he had his backup.

"How about we use today to relax so you'll be ready to go for tomorrow?" Jimin suggested. "I could use a break anyway."

"I can book us some cabanas by the pool." Taehyung offered. "And you can have the butler bring you whatever you want."

"Fine." Jungkook agreed. "Today, we rest. But tomorrow, we conquer!"

After brunch, Jungkook headed into his room to change into his swimsuit. "Now, I just need to find my sunglasses and-"

"Nope, no way." Jungkook turned to see Taehyung looking at him in horror. "What is that?"

"I'm so glad you asked." Jungkook giggled, posing to show off his purple one piece. "This is a new to me original. I thrifted it! Cute, no?"

Taehyung blinked. "For Busan maybe. But this is the Bahamas! And most importantly, you're here with me." He briefly disappeared, returning with four brand new swimsuits and Jimin and Seokjin in tow. "If we're rolling together, we should be doing it in style. Put em on, wanna take a selfie when we get to the cabana."

Jimin's eyes widened as he picked up the swimsuit in his size. "Taehyung, are you serious? I saw this swimsuit in Vogue last month!"

"of course." Taehyung smiled. "I wouldn't put you in something from last season."

"As long as it's not gonna disappear while it's supposed to be covering the goods, I'm in." Seokjin grabbed his swimsuit.

As much as Jungkook loved his thrifted pieces, even he couldn't pass up the opportunity to wear designer. He grabbed the final swimsuit to change into.

By the time they got down to their poolside cabana, the party was in full swing. Music blared from the speakers, guests splashed around in the pool, and at the shallow end, bartenders doled out drinks at the swim up bar. "I was thinking we'd order something to sip on, lounge a little, then hit the pool and play some chicken?" Jimin suggested.

"We haven't done that since we were kids!" Seokjin laughed.

"I call dibs on being on top!" Jungkook declared. "My new suit is way too cute not to show off."

"If we're showing off, I saw we do it the right way." Taehyung pulled out his phone and held it high above his head to capture all four of them. "With a selfie! Remember those angles!"

"Everybody say kimchi!" Jungkook exclaimed, smiling for the picture.

They all wrapped their arms around each other, and even Taehyung looked like he was genuinely smiling for once. "Perfect!"

Seokjin tilted his head. "Are you talking about all of us or just you?"

"Let me see." They all huddled around Taehyung's phone, bickering over which photo to post until they all found one they agreed on. With that settled, Taehyung flounced off to get some more pictures for instagram while Jungkook, Seokjin, and Jimin found some lounge chairs to settle into.

Jimin quickly snuck off to take a call, which had Jungkook's drama radar going off. Of course he had to follow his brother and listen in on the call. "Hi, Appa." Jimin said into the phone, and their father's voice was loud enough that even Jungkook could hear it.

"Park Jimin, have you lost your ever-loving mind? You ditch your wedding, leave me and your eomma to deal with the fallout, ignore my calls, and all you've got to say to me is 'hi'?"

"I'm sorry." Jimin said. "I never meant for y'all to have to deal with that. I just…had to get out of there."

"I…understand. But running away isn't going to solve anything. You made a commitment to Sungho. He needs you."

Jimin's face hardened. "What about Sungho's commitment to me? What about what I need?"

And that was a little too much emotion for Jungkook's taste, so he scooted away to give Jimin some privacy. "Seokjin, I'm hitting the bar. Want something?"

"And by that you mean 'am I paying'?" Seokjin retorted without looking up from his book. "I'm just about to find out what the Black Stallion's chaps look like from the back. I'm fine right where I am."

"But fine is not fun." Jungkook argued. "And how do we inject fun into any situation? With a good old-fashioned cannonball!" He raced to the edge of the pool and leaped, sending a wave of water outward as he broke the surface. "Judges, say…"

"Outstanding, ten out of ten on the dismount." Seokjin said flatly. "Now can I read my book please?"

Suddenly a shriek erupted from the other side of the pool. Jungkook spun around and saw a gaggle of young omegas mumbling and grumbling and oddly pointing his way. "What the hell, bitch? You got me wet!"

"It was an accident!" Jungkook exclaimed. "I was like 89% sure I cleared the splash zone of civilians."

"What?" Another one rolled her eyes. "Why are you messing around in the pool at your big age anyway?"

"We're trying to have a nice day and here you are lurking in the depths like Jaws." The last of the group steepled her hands together over her head like a shark's fin and proceeded to sing the Jaws theme.

Before Jungkook could even begin to process that sad attempt at a drag, a voice rang out from behind him. "Who the fuck do you think you're talking to?" Jimin glared at the group, Seokjin and Taehyung sliding in to flank him as if from out of thin air.

"You go the wrong one today, baby." Taehyung said.

"He's with us." Seokjin finished out.

The guy who was upset over getting wet laughed condescendingly. "Aw, look. He called on the ancestors for backup."

"Look, I'm sorry I got you wet but you do realize you're in a pool, right?" Jungkook blinked. "You know, the big rectangle full of water that you're standing in right now?"

"Go easy on him, Jungkook." Seokjin said. "He's obviously one of the kids that got left behind."

"Damn, Cayson." His friend said. "You gonna let them talk to you like that?"

Cayson looked at his friends and Jungkook could almost see the moment he realized he needed to stand his ground to save face. Immediately he looked Jungkook up and down. "Hell no. Ain't nobody afraid of the Golden Omegas."

Jimin scoffed. "You've got a big bark for such a scrawny bitch, but I guarantee, my bite is worse than yours."

Cayson cocked his head. "You wanna say that to my face?"

As Cayson and his friends climbed out of the pool, Jungkook climbed out himself, pulling his brother and cousins into a huddle. "Jimin, first of all, very stoked that you're standing up for me. Secondly, what the fuck are you doing?"

"Yeah, we're adults." Seokjin said. "With real life responsibilities."

"Standing up for my brother is my responsibility." Jimin argued.

"And you really think that's what you're doing right now?" Jungkook asked. "By picking a fight with some kids? What has gotten into you? You're standing on bars, drinking until you pass out…now this? Are you…maybe misplacing some anger? All love, no judgment, but this feels like maybe you trying to use my situation to work through your stuff. Which I totally get! It's just…well…" His voice dropped to a whisper. "Jimin, you're scaring me."

The fire in Jimin's eyes dimmed and then puttered out as he let out a tense exhale. "I'm just tired of outside circumstances dictating my life. I'm normally in control but lately…"

Seokjin rubbed his arm. "I get it, I really do. But that doesn't mean you get to go all WWE on some smart mouth kids."

"They shouldn't get away with it though." Taehyung pointed out. "Look how they treated Jungkook."

Cayson called out to them at that moment. "Are we doing this or what?"

Jungkook looked over his shoulder at their smug faces as Jimin turned to respond to them. "We're adults, so let's settle this like adults. Let's have a race. Losers leave the pool." He pointed to a sign on the beach advertising jet ski rentals on the cheap.

"I'll kick your ass any way I can get it." Cayson shrugged. "Just as long as the grandma squad isn't afraid of losing their dentures."

Jungook scoffed quietly. "They don't know who they're messing with."

Chapter 8

As Jungkook, Jimin, Taehyung, and Seokjin strapped on their life jackets, Jungkook waved over the alpha running the jet ski rental stand. "Any chance we can get a quick tutorial?" Jimin asked before Jungkook could say anything. "Y'know, for safety's sake?"

Cayson snorted. "If you're scared, you can just say that.

"We won't go any easier on you." One of Cayson's friends shrugged. "But it'll be good to get it off your chest."

Seokjin narrowed his eyes at them. "You're still young enough to think you're invincible. If you wanna get old enough to know better, shut up and listen."

"No worries, omegas." The jet ski guy smiled. "You'll find that these are pretty straightforward machines. Just plant your feet firmly in the footrests, keep your hands on the handlebars, and try to center your weight."

"Duh." Another of Cayson's friends rolled her eyes. "What next, the brakes stop it, and the throttle makes it go?"

"Well…yes." The alpha nodded. "But before that, you'll need the key." He held up a handful of bright keys, each attached to a lanyard bracelet. "Even when the machine is in use, this bracelet should be attached to your wrist at all times."

Cayson sighed in exasperation. "We all understood those kindergarten ass instructions. Are we good now? Is that it?"

The alpha blinked at her. "One last thing…give yourself time and space to react. When it comes to obstacles, it's always a good idea to give them some leeway."

"Noted." Jungkook nodded, holding his hand out. "Now hand over those keys. I'm ready to go!" He shot the younger omegas a look. "You bitches are gonna eat my waves when I'm speeding by you at 145 kilometers an hour!"

The alpha cleared his throat awkwardly. "The skis only go up to 110."

"When I'm speeding by you at 110 kilometers an hour." Jungkook amended.

Cayson crossed his arms over his chest and smirked. "If y'all are afraid to break a rule or two, you've got no chance against us."

"Your dusty ass won't even see the finish line, asshole." Taehyung glared at him.

Despite the queasiness settling in Jungkook's stomach, he was read to give it his all. Jimin pulled them in for a life jacket inflated huddle. "These omegas messed with the wrong ones." Jimin said before glancing at Jungkook. "What's the game plan?"

"Win." Jungkook said simply.

Seokjin stared at him. "Anything else?"

Jungkook blinked. "Win at all costs?"

"Please tell me you're joking?" Taehyung pleaded. "That you have more and are just waiting for dramatic effect?"

Jungkook frowned. "I'm the big ideas one. Jimin's the one with the details. You know this!" Despite that, they continued to look at Jungkook expectantly, and before he knew it, a plan started to form. "Since none of us has ridden before, we should make it clear that only one of us needs to cross the finish line."

Jimin nodded. "That way if the rest of us fall off, we still have a shot."

"Uh, if I fall into the water, I'm out." Taehyung said. "I signed up for vacation, not a triathlon."

"Let the record show I just wanted to read my book." Seokjin muttered.

"Come on guys, this is a matter of pride!" Jungkook exclaimed. "A chance to grow closer!" He gestured to Jimin. "He needs this just as badly as I do if not more. And that's why we're all here right? To support my brother?"

Taehyung sighed. "He's right. Even if it means losing my earrings in the ocean, I've got your back Jimin."

"Me too." Seokjin smiled a bit. "I'll just imagine Sungho's face on all of their bodies and finally give him the ass whoopin he's had coming to him for weeks."

Jimin looked around at all of them. He looked a little teary eyed, but his jaw was set with that familial determination. "Thanks, guys."

"So let's do this." Jungkook said. "For all of us."

"Let's make sure their bodies are never found." Jimin said with a scary serious expression.

Seokjin held his hand up. "Let's take one step back."

Jungkook jostled the others' shoulders, grinning at each of them in turn as his excitement became contagious. "Come on, y'all. What's better than a bunny?"

"A chick with him!" Jimin grabbed Jungkook's hand and gave it a squeeze.

Jungkook locked eyes with Taehyung and held out his other hand. "And better still?"

With a smile, Taehyung took his hand, tucking them into his side. "A bear."

"And what are we to do without a hamster?"

Jimin and Taehyung each held their hand out to Seokjin, who shook his head before grabbing them both. "Not a damn thing."

Jungkook smiled. "That's what I'm talking about! Let's hurry up and wash these omegas so we can get back to our cabana."

The four of them lined up their jet skis next to Cayson and his friends, and Jimin gathered everyone's attention to set the rules. "Alright, the first team to get a member down to that islet wins, but above all, follow the safety rules."

"Agreed?" Jungkook looked over to Cayson.

Cayson heaved a heavy sigh. "Whatever. Just get on so we can go."

They all prepared to go. "On your marks…get set…"

"Go!" With a laugh, Cayson hit the throttle early, taking off in a spray of droplets. Without hesitation, his friends zoomed off behind him.

"That cheating bitch!" Taehyung gasped.

"Worry about it later!" Seokjin called out. "For now just drive!"

The four of them flew over the waves, jet skis roaring as everyone vied for the lead, and it wasn't long until they caught up to Cayson's minions. "Eat my dust! Uh, mist!" The friend stood and used the force of her full body weight to rock the jet ski, sending a spray of water surging up towards Jungkook and Taehyung. Taehyung drove right through it while Jungkook threw his weight to the left, narrowly managing to stay on the jet ski as he created a huge swell of his own. "Shit!"

Jungkook surged forward, leaving the girl in his wake as Seokjin zoomed up on his right. "Jimin needs help!" Jungkook's eye lined followed where he was pointing to where one of Cayson's friends raced dangerously close to Jimin.

"What's the matter?" The friend taunted Jimin. "Feeling a little wobbly?"

"Stop! I'm serious!"

"He's trying to knock Jimin off his jet ski." Jungkook narrowed his eyes.

"Go." Seokjin urged him. "I'll cover you from the other side."

The two of them split and Jungkook raced up alongside the other omega and Jimin while Seokjin edged closer on his far side. "Jimin, swerve right!" Jungkook called out. Without a second's hesitation, Jimin did so and Jungkook hit his gas, wedging his way in. "He said stop!" He glared at the omega.

"Now what part of that don't you understand?" Seokjin asked, pushing in close to keep him from swerving away.

Jungkook took the opportunity to swipe at the guy's wrist, catching the bracelet that held the key. Almost immediately, the safety function kicked in, halting the jet ski. "Hey!"

As the three of them sped by, Jimin called over his shoulder. "And that's how our family does it!"

Taehyung pulled up alongside them, edging out the last of Cayson's goons. "Don’t let the smooth taste fool you, baby! I did a photoshoot on one of these for Sand, Surf, Sun magazine!"

Together, the four of them bore down on Cayson, and as they neared the islet, Jungkook pulled into a narrow lead. He looked out ahead and as he gunned it toward the islet, Jungkook noticed a sandbar just below the surface, but Cayson didn't. Remembering the jet ski guy's warning, he started to drift out to give it a wide berth. "Cayson, stop!"

"You wish!"

"No really! Look!" He looked out where Jungkook was pointing and finally noticed the sandbar. He swerved to miss it, twisting the brakes for dear life. Far enough out, Jungkook and his family hooked the turn through nothing but clear blue water, reaching the islet and overtaking Cayson.

They all cheered in celebration, high fiving each other. "Okay so that might've been better than my book." Seokjin admitted with a laugh.

"Guess who didn't fall off!" Taehyung smiled brightly.

The other crew pulled up, faces tight with anger as they celebrated. "To hell with y'all!" Cayson called out. "Enjoy your little victory because this ain't over! Not even close!" He shot them one final glare before speeding off with his friends.

Jungkook flipped them off as they went. "Goodbye and good riddance!"

🐹

The four of them returned to the cabanas just as the sun set. Seokjin put a hand to his ear. "Y'all hear that? It's the sound of peace and quiet."

"That's because Cayson and his crew are outta here!" Jungkook cheered. "Can't you feel a brand-new day?"

Taehyung rolled his eyes playfully. "You'd better hope there's a decent salon on this island. Look at my hair!"

"Shut up." Jimin laughed. "You know you still look cute."

Jungkook turned to all of them. "I'm sorry I got us all into that mess, but can I just say…I'm actually not sorry at all?"

"It was pretty fun." Seokjin admitted. "Even though I'm pretty sure I stretched muscles I forgot I had."

Taehyung nudged him. "Jet ski the only think you've straddled in a minute?"

Seokjin narrowed his eyes at him before changing the subject. "I'm beat. All I want to do right now is sip a Piña Colada and read my book." He settled into his beach chair, but as soon as he opened his book, he caught Jimin, Taehyung, and Jungkook shooting each other a look. His JinDar went on high alert. "What? What's that look for?"

"Nothing!" Jimin's voice was squeaky. "It' just we were thinking…what if instead of reading, you took a shower and changed instead?"

"Are you trying to tell me I stink?" Seokjin asked. Jimin looked everywhere but at Seokjin as if the lie was written all over the cabana. The second he made eye contact, the words caught in his mouth, just like they would when they were kids.

Taehyung sighed in exasperation. "The resort has a Singles' Night they're trying out and we signed you up."

Seokjin's eyes widened in disbelief while Jungkook smiled and clapped his hands. "So put down the book and pick up your mascara because there are eligible bachelors in your area waiting to meet you!"

"Y'all better unsign me up!" Seokjin exclaimed. "For future reference, that's called fraud. And I don't need help with my love life, thank you."

"Let you tell it, you don't need help period." Jimin said. "But if that were true, you wouldn't be in the Bahamas trying to join some book club."

"He's not wrong." Taehyung agreed. "I just knew you were going home with Mr. Kiss-At-The-Bar last night." He smirked. "Especially after the two of you practically consummated things right then and there."

"That's not-"

Taehyung talked over Seokjin. "But you. Just walked away as you please. Admit it, you got cobwebs growing down there, don't you?"

The three of them burst into laughter as Seokjin gritted his teeth. "Y'all need to mind the business that pays you, because last I checked, Jimin's alpha and his community giblets are the reason we're here. And Taehyung, didn't your last girlfriend steal your jewelry and try to Lisa Left Eye your house?"

"It was a grease fire!" Taehyung exclaimed. "That article on Soompi was bullshit!"

"Alright, you made your point." Jimin wrapped his arms around himself. "And damn near scalped us in the process."

Jungkook moved to sit on Seokjin's chair. "Now, I don't do that whole romance, sex thing, but you…" He frowned at Seokjin. "You love that kind of thing. The romance, the wooing, the seduction…and you deserve it." As Jungkook wrapped his arms around Seokjin, Seokjin was instantly reminded of when Jungkook was little and both of his tiny hands could barely fit in one of his own. Jungkook was the first baby he'd ever seen, and he'd been putty in his hands ever since. Unfortunately for Seokjin, Jungkook knew it. "Can you just go? Please?"

Seokjin glared at them, but he had to admit that it was kinda nice having them all looking out for him. Or trying to at least. "Fine." He sighed. "What have I got to lose?"

Taehyung looped an arm around his shoulders and rested his head against his. "Just your dignity and time."

"Thanks."

"Come on." Jimin tugged Seokjin to his feet. "Let's get you ready to meet Prince Charming!" With one last longing glance at his book, Seokjin packed up his things and let his family lead him to the suite to get dressed.

Chapter 9

Dread filled Seokjin as he entered a windowless room full of numbered tables and the smell of desperation. "Oh hell no…"

Nearby, a group of alphas were huddled together. "I just know I'm gonna pull tonight. I mean, look at me. Who wouldn't want this?"

"You're peak alpha bro."

"Hey, you guys think they take looks into account with the matches? I don't want to end up with an uggo…"

Seokjin was just about to sneak out and spend the time coming up with a convincing lie instead when an event volunteer spotted him and came over with a wide smile. "Welcome to Singles' Night at Sancian Cove. You must be Mr. Kim. Champagne?" She offered him a glass.

"Afraid I won't be able to suffer through this nightmare sober?" Seokjin asked.

"Quite the opposite." The volunteer said. "We want to ensure you're comfortable as you meet the love of your life."

Seokjin blinked. "No offense but if it hasn't already happened, what makes you so sure tonight's the night?"

The volunteer's smile never faltered. "Our in-depth application allows us to make the best matches. Not to mention, our hotelier, Mr. Jung, is a bit of a cupid. He curates every aspect of the guest experience. Your dates and even that drink were hand selected for you personally." Seokjin was skeptical as he took a sip of the champagne. "As you can see, Mr. Jung is an alpha of great taste. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful evening." She gestured across the room.

As Seokjin made his way to his table, he could feel his hopes rising despite himself. He mentally scolded himself almost instantly. Just because the alpha picked a decent bottle didn't mean he knew Seokjin's type from a hole in the ground. Especially considering Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dumb, and Tweedle Don't You Have a Life of Your Own did the application.

Before he could worry over it anymore, a handsome alpha in a blaze sauntered over to his table. "Hi, I'm Leonard. Is this seat taken?"

Seokjin put a polite smile on his face. "Not at all."

The alpha slid into the chair across from Seokjin, and the omega quickly appraised him. Well groomed, great looking, age appropriate. The watch on his wrist was designer, so he knew how to dress, but he hadn't looked at it, so he was accustomed to nice things. When he leaned in, his scent wafted across Seokjin's nose, crisp and clean. "So, Leonard, what are you looking for in an omega?" He asked, as he knew that was the biggest telltale for how an alpha truly was. "Personally, I'd like to meet my equal. Someone who values hard work, has their own accomplishments, is honest, and gets along with my family."

"As you should." Leonard nodded. "For better or worse, a person's mate can change the trajectory of their life. Which is why I'd like an omega who knows what they want and isn't afraid to demand it. Strong omegas rule the world." He was off to a good start, not to mention the upfront communication style. Seokjin was smitten as he leaned across the table, mentally drafting his thank you note to Mr. Jung. "If you don't mind, I'd like to be honest about something."

"Please." Seokjin nodded.

Leonard sent him a dazzling smile before leaning in, his lips brushing Seokjin's ear and sending a tingle down his spine. "I've never been with an Asian omega before."

Seokjin immediately tensed and pulled away, not so subtly wiping his ear. "Please leave."

For the rest of the night, a parade of alphas sauntered over and quickly left as Seokjin's JinDar dissected them in moments. With a sigh, Seokjin turned to flag down a waiter for another glass of wine. When he looked back, the alpha from the night before was sitting across from him. "Hoseok?"

"Seokjin." Hoseok steepled his fingers beneath his chin as he regarded Seokjin. The omega couldn't help but think back to the way they'd grazed his cheek and gripped the back of his head as the alpha's lips pressed firmly against his own. But unlike the night before, Hoseok's jaw was set, and something clearly had him agitated.

Seokjin leaned in with a coy smile. "Lemme guess, your night's not going the way you thought?"

"Not even close." Hoseok shook his head. "I'm the hotelier here and this event was my idea. I billed it as, 'The Love Solution for Any Lonely Heart'. I'm very proud of it…so imagine my surprise when I get a call saying the event is going up in flames all because one omega is shooting down every alpha they meet."

"So you're the Mr. Jung I have to thank for the horrible evening." Seokjin tilted his head. "Shouldn't I be the one with the attitude?"

Hoseok raised an eyebrow. "I don't have an attitude. But I would appreciate you giving the alphas here a fair shake."

Seokjin bit his lip as he leaned closer. "Let me put it this way, Mr. Jung…I was waiting for someone more up to my standards." He gave the alpha a brazen look up and down.

Hoseok smiled, his tongue skimming across his lower lip, drawing Seokjin's gaze to his mouth. "And did you find that someone?"

"Jury's still out." Seokjin smiled a bit. "Since this is your life's work and all, I feel the need to be honest. I'm only here because my friends forced me to come. Apparently, I'm in a drought." The words flew out of his mouth before he could think.

As Hoseok ran a hand across his mouth, clearly trying to hide the beginnings of a smile, Seokjin's ears burned with embarrassment. "That explains so many of the answers on your paperwork."

Seokjin narrowed his eyes at the alpha. "Glad my loneliness is a source of amusement for you. Goodnight, Hoseok."

"Wait!" Hoseok quickly caught Seokjin's hand as he rose to his feet. He stood to meet the omega's gaze, making him dizzy with warmth. "I'm sorry. That was incredibly rude of me."

"I'm glad you have the tact to realize it." Seokjin said. "If you'll excuse me-"

Hoseok cut him off almost frantically. "For what it's worth, I wasn't judging you. I'm hoping I can help you. An omega as beautiful as you shouldn't be alone."

Seokjin searched his face for any sign of dishonesty, but he looked genuinely apologetic. He realized Hoseok's hand was still in his, so he pulled away. "Well, thank you, but between you and me, this event of yours isn't my idea of prime hunting grounds."

"So I gathered." Hoseok nodded. 'But I've got investors making sure I'm crossing my t's and dotting my i's. I won't stop you from leaving but…if this concept doesn't prove profitable, it could make or break my business so if you see something, please say so."

Everything in Seokjin screamed that it wasn't his problem, but staring into Hoseok's eyes, he couldn't help but sigh and turn to scan the room. "Fine, let's take the date matching process."

Hoseok winced. "To be fair, your pack threw off my groove. I'm usually a lot more accurate."

Seokjin raised an eyebrow. "Sure, but if you want to charge the big bucks, you should know your client's type so well, not even they can get in their own way. If I was investing here, I'd want to see in person interview. That way, user error can't sideline a happily ever after."

"That's really insightful." Hoseok hummed.

"I have an eye for noticing the little things." Seokjin said. "You'd be surprised how often they make the difference between good and great. My friends call it my JinDar."

Hoseok smiled. "The same friends who forced you here, I'm guessing?"

Seokjin sighed. "Those very ones. They're gonna be disappointed I didn't find someone…I hate disappointing them." The thought of going back to the suite with no news filled him with dread. Seokjin slumped back in his seat, hoping to stave off the moment a while longer.

"Then let's not tell them you didn't." Hoseok said, resting his arms on the table.

"What on earth are you talking about?" Seokjin asked warily.

"Think about it…" Hoseok's smile grew even more. "You need a believable fling to get your friends off your back and I need your eye for detail to impress my investors."

"The operative word being believable." Seokjin deadpanned. "It's taken alphas years to learn all my quirks! There's no way you can fake it."

"Who said anything about faking?" Hoseok chuckled. "Like I said last night, I'm a pretty good judge of character. Just try me."

Seokjin pursed his lips as he considered the challenge. "Fair warning, I'm not gonna go easy on you."

"I'd be insulted if you did."

"I'm serious." Seokjin said. "My pack may not have a JinDar, but they know bullshit when they smell it. If something's off, they're gonna be on you like kimchi on the table so you’ve gotta be flawless."

Hoseok fought back a smirk as he leaned even closer, his expression suddenly cocky. "Seokjin, I’m an Asian man who owns a Fortune 500 business and is consistently at the mercy of investors. I'm not stranger to the need to be unimpeachable."

Seokjin met his gaze and the sheer confidence that reflected back was intoxicating. He cleared his throat. "Alright, show off. If you're gonna be my fake alpha, you should know I need an alpha who's on my level. Since I was a teenager, I've always imagined myself as one half of the world's greatest power couple and my pack knows it. They're gonna grill you hard so if there's any aspect in which you're lacking, now's the time to say so."

"As far as I can tell, you and I are pretty evenly yoked." Hoseok mused. "Both intelligent, driven, high achievers who are fine as hell so…no. I wouldn't say I'm lacking a thing."

"Except maybe humility." Seokjin quipped.

"To be fair, I was technically paying you a string of compliments." Hoseok pointed out. "Besides, I don't believe in false humility. I learned the hard way that life has a way of humbling people so if you don't build yourself up, who will?" He said it so blatantly that it inspired a bit of truth of Seokjin's own.

As Seokjin spoke, he realized he'd never actually admitted it out loud. "If I'm honest, the entire reason I'm so set on being with someone successful is because society keeps telling me I can't. As an omega in Korea, daring to say, 'I deserve the best' is an act of defiance all by itself."

"I say, do it anyway." Hoseok said. "You'll never hear me try to stop you. Any other questions?"

Seokjin nodded, sitting up a bit straighter. "Let's say we're on our first dinner date. My cousin Jimin is nosy as fuck so assuming he doesn't get a reservation and watch us the whole night, what can I expect to tell him?"

Hoseok chuckled while thinking thoughtfully. Then he stood, buttoned his suit jacket, and held a hand out to Seokjin. "Tell him I showed up early with flowers, a fresh haircut, and a new suit I bought especially for the occasion." As Seokjin took his hand, the alpha pulled him to his feet and led him across the room, taking care to walk between the omega and the jostling crowds. "That I walked on the outside of the sidewalk, got all the doors for you…" With a cursory look around, he led Seokjin to an emergency exit, disabled the alarm with a pin number, and pushed open the heavy metal door, gesturing for Seokjin to go ahead of him.

Outside sat a small table perfectly set for two, and Hoseok pulled out Seokjin's chair with a flourish. "And that I took you somewhere nice where we could dine out in the open air."

"What a proper alpha." Seokjin hummed.

"On our first date and every moment after." Hoseok promised. "My eomma wouldn't accept anything less."

Seokjin slipped into the seat and Hoseok pushed him up to the table before sitting across from him. "Off to a good start but let's up the ante with some food and drink. I liked to be wined and dined."

Hoseok smiled. "An omega after my own heart." He picked up two stray speed dating flyers from the middle of the table and handed one to Seokjin. "Your menu. I'd recommend the roasted chicken as a first entrée."

"There's more than one?" Seokjin raised an eyebrow.

"A nice meal should be an experience." Hoseok said. "Not a one stop shop. Order to your heart's content. It's on me."

Seokjin let out a small laugh. "Considering the last alpha who invited me on a date 'forgot his wallet', that's nice to hear."

Hoseok chuckled but continued his example. "Let's see…this is a special occasion, so we'll have to start with a good champagne…perhaps a 2008 Renee Chambert?" A smile played at his lips as Seokjin remembered the waiter from earlier.

"How'd you know that's my favorite drink?" Seokjin asked.

"Let's call it a lucky guess." Hoseok said but everything about him, from the husky timbre of his voice to his intent gaze suggested it was anything but. That he was really putting effort into figuring Seokjin out. Seokjin pretended to exam his 'menu' to distract himself from the terrifying ordeal of being read. "How am I doing?"

"Not feeling a reason to fake an emergency and leave so far…" In fact, Hoseok was doing so well, Seokjin's mind had gone blank. Every alpha he'd dated before had simply faded away in comparison.

It irked Seokjin.

Desperate to get a handle on things, Seokjin switched tactics all while keeping his JinDar at the ready. "Enough about me. If they ask, which they will, I should be able to answer almost any question about you that comes up. So tell me your biggest flaw."

Hoseok paused, clearly shocked, and for a moment, Seokjin wondered if he'd lost him. Then the alpha laughed. "That's a little personal to be telling your pack, don't you think?"

"My cousin Taehyung is a model and he has contacts all over the world." Seokjin said. "The way I see it, either you can tell me now, or he can tell me in 15 minutes after he's insta-stalked your exes."

"Fair enough." Hoseok cleared his throat. "Try not to judge me too hard but…I'm very slow to trust and I have a hard time with forgiveness." The bluntness of his answer caught Seokjin off guard, and it must have shown on his face because Hoseok held his hands up defensively. "Before you get up and walk away, will you give me just one minute to explain?"

"T minus 60 seconds and counting."

"Long story short…I'm human." Hoseok said. "I could've lied but the truth is I'm not perfect. I've been hurt and the recovery was long and tedious and humbling. And the thought of it happening again is just too much. If that's a dealbreaker for you, then I'll have to understand."

Seokjin frowned. "I don't mean to make it sound like I'm looking for perfection. Or even that I'm perfect myself because I know I'm not. I just need to know that I did my due diligence and whatever's lurking under the surface won't blow back on me."

Hoseok nodded. "I'm not over it but I am working on it." He glanced at his watch. "And I'm guessing since my minute is up and you're still here, that means we're still on this date?"

"For now." Seokjin's lips quirked slightly. Under the table, Seokjin felt Hoseok's foot brush against his. He wasn't sure if I was intentional or casual, but Hoseok shot him a genuine smile that he couldn't help but return.

"In that case, is there anything else you want to ask me about?" Hoseok inquired.

Seokjin paused, taking the moment to remind himself that despite certain embarrassing admissions prior, he was still the one running that little exercise. "Sex." He let the word linger, hanging in the air between them, and watched to see his reaction.

Hoseok didn't flinch. "I'm intimately aware of the concept but I'm afraid I'll need a little more than that if you want a decent answer."

"A nice dinner is a good first date but a great first date doesn't end at the restaurant." Seokjin stated.

"I agree." Hoseok nodded. "But that' still not a question, Seokjin."

That wasn't the point. Seokjin felt his ears burning but he played it off, scoffing playfully. "I'm getting to it, Hoseok." He cleared his throat. "As we both know, I've been…out of the saddle for a while. If we went on a date and ended up leaving together…how would you expect to spend the evening?" He swallowed thickly as Hoseok met his eyes.

"A wise alpha expects nothing and is grateful for everything." Hoseok said vaguely. "Whether you'd been out of the saddle for 10 years or 10 minutes, anything that we'd do is optional. And entirely private." Deep inside, his words soothed a worry Seokjin didn't even know he had, and he breathed out a small sigh of relief at the lack of pressure. "So is that everything? Or should I roll up my sleeves for the blood sample?"

Seokjin bit his lip slightly. "I have to admit, as far as a fake boyfriend goes, my friends would probably find us an extremely believable match but…"

Hoseok raised an eyebrow. "But what?"

But what exactly? Sitting in front of Seokjin was a fine alpha practically begging to fake date him, and he was stalling. Because plenty of people in real relationships with him had made it plain his pickiness was a problem. "There's one last thing I need to know…" Seokjin leaned closer. "Will you be able to handle me? I can't demand honesty without giving it in return and the truth is…most people can't. If we do this, I'm going to tell you exactly what I think at all times, and it might not always be what you want to hear. Can you take that?" He gave Hoseok a hard stare, knowing that most people cracked under its pressure.

Hoseok didn't even break a sweat. "Seokjin, I've been getting news I don't want to hear my whole life. You don't need to be handled for not feeding my ego. You're an omega with standards looking for an alpha who cares enough to try to meet them. And if you'll have me, I'd like to be that alpha." He boldly held a hand out to Seokjin, staring straight into his eyes. "Because if I'm being honest, I think you are exactly what my business needs." Right. His business. Seokjin met his gaze and his stomach tensed. The entire situation felt insane…but was it really? "Besides, it'll get your friends off your back, right? Let you enjoy your vacation the way you want to?"

Seokjin hesitated one second longer before sliding his hand into Hoseok's. "When you put it like that, how's an omega supposed to say no?"

Chapter 10

It was late when Seokjin finally returned to the suite. He gently eased open the door, hoping the others were sleeping. "Don't come creeping in here like a teenager out past curfew!" Of course they weren't, Seokjin sighed as they all looked at him eagerly.

"Tell us everything!" Jimin demanded.

"You met someone, right?" Jungkook vibrated on the couch. "You totally did!"

"I…" Seokjin cleared his throat. "I did."

Just as he was about to tell them all about how he'd 'met someone', there was a knock on the door. Seokjin reached back to open it and found Namjoon in the hallway. "Good evening." Namjoon nodded at him before peering past him at Jimin, smiling widely.

"Hi." Jimin said quietly, waving at Namjoon.

Everything inside Seokjin melted away as he took in the way they looked at each other. The tenderness in Namjoon's eyes, the shy smile on Jimin's face. Seokjin cleared his throat. "What are you doing here, Joon? It's late."

Jimin shot Seokjin a look in response to his mothering, but Namjoon just flashed that mischievous smirk he liked so much and pulled out a blindfold. "I was actually hoping to steal Jimin for a bit. There's something he has to see."

🐥

Jimin blinked at Namjoon. "There's something I need to see? Joon, what-"

"Come on, there's no time to waste." Namjoon said anxiously.

With his heart hammering in his chest, Jimin grabbed a jacket and threw a wide-eyed look to the others as he stepped out into the hall with the alpha. "Namjoon, you have to tell me what's going on because my mind is going to all the worst places."

"Oh no, it's nothing like that." Namjoon smiled. "I mean I need to show you something. Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. It only happens on nights like tonight so if we don't hurry-"

Jimin stopped in his tracks, looking at Namjoon. "This isn't a booty call, is it?"

Namjoon tilted his head. "Not my initial intention but I'm certainly not going to complain if that's where the night leads us." Jimin felt his cheeks flush. "Now come on! We don't have time to waste! Here." He held out the blindfold again. "For the record, the guy at the store told me this blindfold was giving 'secret, mystery' vibes. Which I'm now seeing is giving more of a-"

"Look, I'm glad I got to see you again." Jimin blurted out. "But I think I gave you the wrong impression."

Namjoon furrowed his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

Jimin wrapped his arms around himself. "Dancing on the bar…falling off the bar…the impromptu pedicab ride…that's not me. I was going through some things yesterday."

"Some things?" Namjoon frowned. "What happened? Are you okay? Are your parents alright?"

Jimin hesitated, debating if he should give him the why. He decided maybe it wasn't the time to dig into that can of worms. "I'm fine. Everything's great. And more importantly, I've got things back under control so the last thing I need is to throw everything out of whack again with some mysterious night excursion. Not for nothing but…we don't even really know each anymore."

Namjoon bit his lip and nodded. "Right…" He slipped the blindfold into his pocket and backed away.

As Namjoon turned the corner, Jimin sighed and opened the suite door. "Ow!" Jimin frowned as he looked at Jungkook rubbing his forehead.

"I can't believe you just did that!" Seokjin exclaimed.

Taehyung nodded. "'We don't even know each other anymore'? I don't even know him, and I'd have let him down easier!"

"That was brutal."

"No it was personal." Jimin glared at them. "Does no one in this family mind their own fucking business?"

Seokjin crossed his arms. "We're each other's business. Why else do you think I spent the last two hours as a hostage at speed dating?"

"I'd expect you of all people to be with me on this!" Jimin exclaimed. "You saw what it did to me when he left!"

"Yeah, but I also saw how happy, free, and in love you were when you were with Namjoon." Seokjin said gently. "All of the things you weren't with Sungho. Namjoon's not perfect but we talked and he's serious about trying again."

Jimin bit his lip, wrapping his arms tighter around himself. "How am I supposed to trust him? We had a whole life planned and he just flaked on me. What happens if we get close and it happens again? I can't invest time into someone who's not going to stick around. There's too much risk involved."

Before anyone could respond, there was another knock on the door. Jimin slowly opened it to reveal Namjoon again, the alpha extending his hand out. "I know you said we don't know each other anymore but that doesn't mean that we can't get to know each other so…Hi. I'm Kim Namjoon. It's nice to meet you."

"Namjoon-"

"Do you remember the road trip we took third year?" Namjoon asked. "I rented a car for the weekend, we were supposed to go to a concert, but it stormed so bad the concert got rained out. All the hotels were booked so we had to sleep in the car. You remember?"

Jimin softened a bit as memories flashed through his mind. "We stayed up half the night talking about everything. And when it was all over you said…" Aware of the others, he lowered his voice. "You said 'I never want to not know you'."

Namjoon smiled at him. "We can take things as slow as you want and if you tell me to go, we'll stick to seeing each other around the resort and I'll never bring it up again. But I want to know every version of you. I want to hear about this whole other life." He offered Jimin his hand again and Jimin couldn't help the smile inching across his face. "Starting now, if you'll let me."

Jimin bit his lip before slowly accepting Namjoon's hand, skin instantly warming at the familiar touch. "I'm not making any promises."

"I don’t need any." Namjoon assured him.

"Then I guess it's nice meeting you too." Jimin said. "Let's go."

They headed out into the warm night air, Namjoon leading Jimin away from the street and down a plank path. Jimin looked around, taking in their surroundings. "Where exactly are you taking me?"

"It wouldn't be much of a surprise if I told you." Namjoon chuckled. "I know I missed a lot so…what've you been up to these last few years?"

"Well, I jumped right into risk analysis after graduation." Jimin said. "Then worked my way up to be an insurance actuary. I closed on a house two years ago…"

"Is Jungkook still crashing on your couch part time?" Namjoon asked.

Jimin giggled. "You know he uses his key more than I use mine. He swears it's because he misses me but he's not fooling anybody."

Namjoon nodded. "So that's the degree, the house, the career…you're almost done with your five-year plan, aren't you?"

Jimin looked at him in surprise. "You remember that?"

"Please." Namjoon snorted. "Between you and your five-year plan, and Seokjin and his alpha must haves, it's a wonder I learned anything else in college. By my count, the only thing you're missing is-" He stopped abruptly as his eyes landed on Jimin's hand. Jimin looked down, feeling his heart squeeze at the sight of the engagement ring he still hadn't taken off. "Maybe I've misjudged the situation. I'm not trying to be anyone's sneaky link-"

Jimin quickly took Namjoon's hand to cut him off, but he couldn't meet his gaze. "I haven't been able to bring myself to take it off yet." Namjoon made a small noise of understanding. "Looks like I'll have to extend the project schedule on the five-year plan."

"You wanna talk about it?" Namjoon asked.

"I'd rather talk about literally anything else." Jimin snorted. "Tell me about your travels. I know you taught English in Japan when we broke up but where else did you go?"

"I was lucky enough to go all over." Namjoon answered. "Brazil, Iceland, Croatia…but I have to say my favorite was Indonesia." He suddenly stopped and pulled out the blindfold again. "Now don't make me waste this." Jimin bit his lip and hesitated as Namjoon smiled at him. Then he sighed and allowed the alpha to cover his eyes. "I think this qualifies as character growth."

"Just take me wherever you're gonna take me before I rip this off." Jimin grumbled. He heard the rustle of branches before feeling Namjoon take his hand to guide him.

After what felt like an eternity, Jimin felt the ground shift to sandy beach beneath his feet. When Namjoon removed the blindfold, Jimin was met with the ocean alight with luminous night algae that casted a soft ethereal glow over the surface of the water. As the waves crested and crashed against the shore, the algae decorated the sand in radiant constellations, their beauty echoed by the stars above. "Nice, right?" Namjoon smiled at Jimin's awestruck expression. "This kind of thing only happens once every few years, and even then, only when the conditions are just right."

Jimin glanced at him. "One of those things in life that doesn't follow a set plan? You can be so corn sometimes."

"I'm a writer." Namjoon deadpanned. "Sue me for liking a good metaphor. But if one thing's for sure, then two things are for certain…we didn't come all this way just to look. Lemme show you what happens when you finally look up from The Almighty Plan." Namjoon shot Jimin a playful smile and headed down the beach, stripping his shirt as Jimin trailed behind him.

Jimin raised an eyebrow as he took in the alpha's muscular back. "Is this your way of shooting your shot? You think you can just flash me some ass and I'll fall head over heels for you?"

"You fell into my arms off the strength of your own weak ankles, baby." Namjoon retorted, sending a tingle through Jimin's stomach at the use of the pet name. "I don't think you're ready for all this cake." Jimin let out a laugh at that. "I'm just trying to get you out of your head but if you happen to look over and see something you like…well, I won't stop you from taking it all in."

Jimin's eyes ran down Namjoon's broad shoulders, his well-built chest, his toned abs, all the parts he hadn't seen since college, and bit his lip. "I'll keep that in mind."

Namjoon laughed as he waded in, gleaming algae swirling around his chest and casting the angles of his face in an alluring glow. "I can see your 'oh hell no' wheels turning but it feels amazing and it's completely safe."

"Are you sure?" Jimin asked. "We're not about to get eaten by a kaiju or get radioactive algae powers or something?"

"Are you saying you don't trust me?" Namjoon smiled.

Jimin stared at him for a moment before scoffing out a laugh. "Well that's a loaded question if I've ever heard one."

Namjoon laughed. "Get in the damn water, Jimin." Biting his lip to hide his smile, Jimin started stripping out of his clothes, earning a whoop from the alpha. He flinched when he stepped into the surf, but the water was warm and glassy clear, the algae reflecting like diamonds as he waded over to Namjoon. "Look at that, you made it." Jimin splashed a handful of water at him with a laugh. "I'm glad I could convince you to come along. I miss our little adventures."

Under Namjoon's tender smile, Jimin forced himself to look away, swirling his hand through the algae and watching the colors flash and change. "So what is this anyway? Some kind of plant?"

"Common misconception." Namjoon said. "It's actually the microscopic living organisms among the algae that causes glow effect."

Jimin's eyes widened. "Like tiny worms or something? Oh fuck no, Joon, I swear to God-"

"Calm down, Jimin." Namjoon chuckled. "They're about as harmful to us as the little mites that live in our eyebrows."

"The what?!"

Before Jimin could run back to shore, Namjoon put a hand on his shoulder. "Relax. I might walk on the wild side from time to time, but I'd never put you in harm's way." His hand slid down Jimin's arm to grip his hand. "Come on, close your eyes and hold your breath. We're going under in three, two, one…"

Although he wasn't sure, Jimin took a huge breath, squeezed his eyes shut, and let Namjoon pull him under. A moment or two passed before he opened his eyes and saw Namjoon, the alpha's face lit up from all angles by the algae that swirled around the both of them with every kick of their legs. Namjoon pulled Jimin closer, the warmth of his body reaching Jimin even through the water. His other hand went up to caress the side of Jimin's face.

Then the last of Jimin's air was gone so he started kicking toward the surface, Namjoon following. Just before they broke through, something caught Jimin's eye. A crack in the rocky outcropping that looked like he could swim through it. Well, he could if he were more like Namjoon. "Did you see that?" Jimin asked as soon as he'd taken a huge gulp of air.

"I certainly saw…something." Namjoon blinked. "But specifically in this context?"

Jimin smiled. "Follow me." He led Namjoon toward the rocky outcropping nearer the shore. When he peered a little closer, he showed the alpha a deep crack in the rocks. "There's a narrow passageway between these rocks. I'm not sure where it leads but there's enough space to come up for air…"

"And you're telling me that you want to take a risk and see where it leads?" Namjoon asked. "Is that my Jimin speaking?"

Jimin rolled his eyes to cover up the little shiver that shot through him at the possessive language. "I just thought you'd find it interesting. Could be something for your travel guide."

"Or maybe we could find hidden treasure." Namjoon said. "Or evidence of a lost civilization. Or at the very least a secret place. Somewhere that's just ours." There went that twinkle in his eye again, the little fire that lit every time he had some crazy plan hatching. "Should we find out?"

Jimin hesitated for only a second before nodding. "I'm following your lead tonight." Namjoon grinned and took Jimin's head, leading him toward the opening.

Chapter 11

With a grin, Jimin and Namjoon swam deep into the cave, the gentle blue light of the algae growing richer the deeper they went. "Wow…" Jimin breathed out as they treaded water in a small, enclosed cove. Geodes sparkled in the rocky walls, lit up with the reflective glow of the algae. "This is pretty romantic." He admitted.

"It is." Namjoon mused. "You'd be surprised how many romantic hideaways like this you can find when you're willing to take a chance and go off the beaten path." He gave Jimin a cheeky grin. "There really is something special about discovering instead of planning all the time. Which is what I've been trying to convince someone to try firsthand."

Jimin sent a splash of water towards Namjoon. "Alright, alright, point made." Rolling his eyes, Jimin allowed himself a small smile.

"It was pulling teeth getting you out tonight." Namjoon said. "But look at this. I never would have spotted this place on my own, Jimin."

"Ooh, the ever-paranoid gaze of risk management outdid the self-proclaimed adventurer's eye for once?" Jimin asked, doing a happy dance as best he could in the water.

Namjoon chuckled. "A loss I'm happy to take, if it means I get to experience this with you instead of by myself."

Jimin twirled in the water, trying to get a 360 view of the cavern. "This really is cool. Are you going to include it in your travel guide?"

"Nah…" Namjoon shook his head. "This can be our spot. Somewhere that only the two of us know about."

Jimin glanced at the alpha and burst into laughter as he caught sight of discarded bikini bottoms on the nearby rocks over his shoulder. "I think someone already beat us to it." He pointed to the bottoms. "Looks like someone got lucky." Namjoon laughed as he turned back to Jimin. "I get it though. This is just the right amount of beautiful and secluded."

"Could be us, but you playing." Namjoon joked.

"Shut up!" Jimin laughed as he splashed Namjoon again.

Namjoon bit his lip. "They did have the right idea…" Jimin blinked at him as he chuckled. "You know what I mean! Leaving something behind."

Jimin smiled. "You're right. We're partial owners of this place now. We should leave our own personal touch. As long as you don't expect me to swim outta here in my birthday suit like the last omega."

"Not what I had in mind." Namjoon assured Jimin that he would not have to strip out of his underwear. "But an alpha can dream."

Jimin splashed him in the face again. "Let's do this respectfully. I'm not down for littering or messing with the island's history or anything."

After a pensive moment, Namjoon pulled himself out of the water and came back with a couple of handfuls of loose pebbles. "How about a little eco-friendly art project then? We can arrange these and spell something out maybe."

"We can spell out our initials." Jimin suggested as he climbed out of the pool to help Namjoon.

After they'd arranged the rocks, Namjoon pursed his lips. "I still feel like it's missing something…"

"I think I see the problem." Jimin took the unused pebbles and arranged them into a heart surrounding their initials. "There. Without that, ti just looks like we're a lending company or a law firm. Instead of two people who…" The words stuck in his throat.

Namjoon smiled softly. "Instead of two people who care about each other."

Jimin nodded slightly. "Exactly."

"Wait right here." Namjoon suddenly said. "Don't move." Jimin furrowed his eyebrows. "Two seconds!" He dove back into the water and disappeared under the surface. He returned after a minute and swam to the edge of the water, waving Jimin over. "Come here. Open your palm."

"It's not going to be something gross, is it?" Despite the question, Jimin presented his hand without hesitation. When he did, Namjoon pressed a creamy, pink seashell into his palm. "It's so pretty!" Jimin gasped. "And it's kind of shaped like a heart if you tilt it this way!"

Namjoon smiled. "Keep it. A souvenir from me to you. If you listen closely, you can hear the ocean in it even though it's so small." He cupped his hand around Jimin's and brought them to his ear. Jimin leaned in to hear it too, very away of how their cheeks brushed as the alpha tilted his head. "Hear that? It sounds like…a trap!"

Jimin screamed as Namjoon pulled him back into the water. The omega broke into laughter at the surprise of it as Namjoon pulled back to look in his eyes. "What?"

"I've missed your laugh, Jimin." Namjoon said softly. "Actually, there's a lot that I've missed about you over the years."

Jimin's heart was racing in his chest. "Does that include my skills in the bedroom?"

"Without a doubt." Namjoon answered immediately, sidling closer to Jimin in the water. "Though I'm sure those skills could be utilized elsewhere too. Who needs a bedroom?" Jimin raised an eyebrow as a tingle started in the pit of his stomach. "I've always been a fan of versatility."

Jimin found himself drawing closer, the easy flowing banter between them feeling like old times. He lost himself in the rapport until he realized he'd never quite torn himself out of Namjoon's hold. Namjoon's hands were heavy at Jimin's waist, the water swirling as one of them slid up his side, forming goosebumps along the trail. As though his body had a mind of its own, Jimin closed the distance between them. His eyes fluttered shut as he wrapped his arms around Namjoon, pulling him in for a kiss as the familiarity of their connection flooded through him. Blaming it on the years since he'd last felt Namjoon's lips on his, Jimin pressed harder against the alpha, parting his lips to deepen the kiss. Every moment of longing from the past hit Jimin at once, and he ran a hand up Namjoon's chest and over his shoulder, up to the nape of his neck where they curled into the ends of the alpha's hair.

With a moan that sent sweet, greedy shivers through every part of Jimin, Namjoon met his energy, one hand going to the omega's hip to lock him in place against him. Something about the reciprocity deepened Jimin's own need, and he moved to trail kisses at the corner of Namjoon's mouth, down his jaw, his neck, then back to his mouth. Fueled by the giddy realization that Namjoon wanted him just as badly as he did the alpha, that Namjoon had gone out of his way to do all of that for him…

Water lapped at them as Jimin leaned into Namjoon, tasting the sea salt on his soft lips, the hardness of the alpha's body flush against his. Smirking against Namjoon's lips, he wrapped both legs around the alpha, groaning as he felt the alpha's hardening cock brush against him through their underwear. He felt weightless as Namjoon captured his mouth again, tongue grazing against his. Being lavished with kiss after kiss, it would be all too easy to lose himself in Namjoon.

But eventually, Jimin slowed to a stop and pulled away. Eyes hooded, Namjoon looked every bit like the cat who just caught the canary. "Old Jimin would not have been that bold." He whispered.

"No, he wouldn't have." Jimin agreed. Then again, old Jimin had his head on straight, unlike whatever mess the new model was. And if memory served, at the end of things, old Namjoon wasn't exactly deserving of anything approaching a five star make out. Even with the feel of Namjoon lips still ghosting across his mouth, Jimin couldn't stop thinking of the people they both had been before and how it all fell apart. "It's probably time to head back, yeah? Better to leave on a high note, right?"

Though it looked like it took some mustering, Namjoon smiled at Jimin. "Right. I can't think of a better ending for the night." He glanced at the abandoned bikini bottoms one more time. "Maybe that's not totally true…" Jimin splashed Namjoon once more.

🐥

Jimin and Namjoon's knuckles brushed as the alpha escorted him to his suite. Biting his lip, Jimin took Namjoon's hand in his and laced their fingers together. While tugging the alpha to his bed and finishing what he'd started did come to mind, he couldn't escape the heavy metal buzzkill that was his engagement ring. So instead, as they reached the door, Jimin sighed. "I should get inside before Seokjin tries to ground me."

"We should do this again." Namjoon said. "I've got plenty of little hideaways we could visit."

"Uh oh." Jimin giggled. "Did I just become your travel guide guinea pig? Should I expect to read all about tonight in one of your brochures?"

Namjoon shook his head. "This is one memory I won't be sharing." He shot Jimin a wink.

As the alpha turned to head down the hallway, Jimin couldn't help but call after him. "Namjoon!" He caught up to Namjoon just as he turned around. Before he could lose his nerve, leaned in and pressed his lips to the alpha's, tasting the warmth, the lingering hint of sea salt. Namjoon pulled him close, letting out a soft hum. It was difficult to let go, and Jimin had a brief flicker of fear that it might be a theme with Namjoon. But he pulled away just enough to whisper in his ear. "Thanks again."

"If you liked it that much, you should let me show you how much fun a life of following your heart can be." Namjoon murmured. "Just say the word."

Just the thought of spending more time together put a grin on Jimin's face. He opened his mouth to agree but was cut off by Taehyung bursting out of the suite, shoving both of them aside with his phone in the air. "Out of the way! Seoul is calling!"

🐻

Taehyung could not believe it had come to that. Running down the hallway of a five-star hotel in his pajamas. If only his fans could see him now. But if there was one call he never missed, it was Aeri's. He hoisted his phone up higher. "Why do I pay so much for such an expensive piece of-oh! One bar!"

He backtracked to nail down the source of the signal then rushed into the ice room. Stretching as far as he could, he hit the accept call button before smoothing his hair and laying his professional voice on thick. "Aeri, darling!"

"V! How's my favorite golden goose?"

Taehyung smiled at the phone. "You tell me. Last I heard, my ass was cooked."

"Language! It's probably that potty mouth that's driving your fans away, you know."

"I never use that language with the fans." Taehyung pointed out.

Aeri hummed in disappointment. "I saw an insta live video that would beg to differ. Some juvenile drinking game?"

Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows. "I saw the engagement numbers. The fans seemed to eat that up."

"Which is why I forgive you for deviating from our preapproved content." Aeri said.

"But it's my personal acc-"

Aeri was already droning on, talking over Taehyung about the next item of business. "In any case, the pictures you sent of the four of you by the pool in Celine? Gold! People are really responding to it! But…what's this I hear about a squabble at the pool?"

Taehyung held back an eye roll. "These college kids were harassing my-"

"The troublemaking one, right?" Aeri asked. "Yeah, I think it's time to rethink your relationship with him. He's a TMI goldmine."

"Rethink my relationship?" Taehyung repeated. "He's my cousin! We share DNA. What else is there to think about?"

"Don't get sassy with me!" Aeri scolded him. "You are the company you keep, V. You know that."

Taehyung took a deep breath, centering himself and releasing the negative energy before trying again. "Aeri, I can't control other people's actions. And I don't really need a lecture either. What I could use is something that's going to get the public's eye off of all of this mess entirely." That or a new agent. Immediately, Taehyung put the disloyal thought out of his mind. Aeri practically birthed V. There was no way he could leave her.

"I’m trying to book work for you while you're in the Bahamas, which could definitely help. Something sexy. Another swimsuit maybe."

"Really?" Taehyung asked. "Because I don't think-"

"V. Baby. You chose me to be the brains of this operation so that you can focus on being the face of it!" Aeri exclaimed. "You don't have to think about what I'm doing. I promise, I've got it all handled."

"But-"

Aeri talked over him. "I've gotta run, doll. Make smart choices. Ciao!"

The line was dead before Taehyung could say anything. He sighed, the exhaustion he always got from one of Aeri's calls creeping over him. "Well, wasn't that something."

Taehyung jumped and whipped around as the ice machine roared to life, finding Yoongi filling his canister. "When did you get here?"

"Somewhere between 'darling' and 'ciao'." Yoongi shrugged. "But there's no need to put on your act for little old me. I'm just getting ice."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" Taehyung asked.

Yoongi hummed. "Let's see. You didn't talk like Malibu Barbie yesterday. And you're not talking like her now. Do you just throw on that accent for fun or-"

"That's my business voice." Taehyung said. "It makes me sound more professional."

"And what part of business does pet names and false niceties fall under?" Yoongi tilted his head. "Because those were all up and through your call. You may not have had plastic surgery, but you're all fake."

Taehyung scoffed. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I got a pretty good idea." He started walking towards Taehyung, forcing him to walk backwards. "Acting one way for work, another for home, and a mix of the two in the club. I'm guessing this is just the first time you've been called out on it." Taehyung's back hit the cool glass window. "Aren't you tired of living a double life, Princess?"

"What is your problem with me?" Taehyung glared at him.

"I already told you." Yoongi stepped back. "I don't like fake people."

"And I told you, V may be a lot of things, but he is not fake." Taehyung retorted.

Yoongi snorted. "Right, so real that 'he' is talking about himself in the third person."

The room was warm with the ice machine exhaust and definitely not Taehyung's own roiling clash of emotions as he glared at Yoongi, immensely frustrated by his stony expression. "Go to hell."

"You first." As Taehyung's jaw hit the ground, Yoongi simply grabbed his ice bucket and headed back to his room, leaving Taehyung's blood boiling and his chest heaving.

Chapter 12

Taehyung tossed and turned in bed, replaying his conversation with Yoongi in his head. Only that time as Yoongi backed him against the window, his hands found Taehyung's waist, his ass, his chest. Yoongi's lips grazed the sensitive skin of his neck. Taehyung's pajamas slipped off his body, the silk fabric brushing his curves before decorating the floor. Yoongi turned his attention to Taehyung's newly bared skin, moving against him just right until Taehyung felt himself nearing the edge.

Then Taehyung was jolted awake by yelling in the suite. "I know you're fucking lying." Taehyung grumbled as he sat up. "There's no way this is happening to me right now." He laid back down and forced his eyes closed, trying to return to his dream.

When the yelling intensified, Taehyung had no choice but to get up and follow the commotion to Jungkook's room. "If you don't get your ass out of this bed!" Seokjin was the main source of the yelling.

"I don't want to go!" Jungkook whined.

"Get up or you're gonna miss the competition!" Jimin exclaimed. "Don't you want your money? To be independent?"

"What the fuck is going on in here?" Taehyung asked. "I was trying to sleep!"

Seokjin groaned. "We're trying to get Jungkook up and ready for the first competition, but he won't move his ass!" He gestured to Jungkook, who was burrowing under the blankets once more, risking heat stroke to preserve his own laziness.

Taehyung sighed in exasperation. "Let me try." He sat on the edge of the bed and patted Jungkook's back through the blankets. "What's really going on, honey? There's no way you're doing all of this over a silly competition."

Jungkook poked his head out from under the blanket, lip poked out and pouting. "What if I try my hardest and I just can't do it?"

"It's a drinking competition." Jimin deadpanned. "Who's better at that than you?"

"And on top of that, we'll be right there on the sidelines cheering you on." Seokjin assured him.

Taehyung thought back to his confrontation with Yoongi the night before and just how frustrating it could be to feel the need to live up to others' expectations. Even if those expectations weren't exactly high. "Jungkook, my love, the only thing you can do is try. Go out there, project some confidence, and you'll kill it!"

Jimin shot him a look. "You would say something like that, V. But he's going to have to put in some hard work too."

Taehyung glared at Jimin. "But it's supposed to be fun. Jungkook, don't go listening to your idiot brother unless you want to lose."

"Both of you, over there. Now." Taehyung noticed for the first time that Jungkook was in full lip wobble mode as Seokjin dragged both him and Jimin to a corner. "Jungkook needs his support system so you two are gonna need to get along for more than a few minutes at a time."

"But he-"

"I only-"

Seokjin cut them both off with a hiss. "I don't care who started it! All I care about is making Jungkook feel like we've got his back. Can you handle that?"

Taehyung took a deep breath and put a smile on his face. "Clearly we all have wisdom to impart on Jungkook. Some of it more relevant than others."

Jimin glared at him. "It's been 10 seconds, Taehyung."

"No, Taehyung's rightish." Seokjin admitted. "Though he could have kept the shade to himself." He broke out of the circle and marched toward Jungkook with a purpose. "Get that ass up, baby boy. You might be doing this competition alone, but you've got the power of the ancestors on your side."

"Very pack like of you." Jungkook sat up. "You had my attention but now you have my interest."

Taehyung walked over. "Listen, we may not always get along but there's one thing we all agree that we have in common."

Jimin nodded and smiled. "We love the shit out of you."

Jungkook rolled out of bed and leaped to his feet. "Would you look at that." Seokjin clapped. "Halmeoni can walk after all!"

"I may not know how this competition's gonna go but I feel better about it with a bunch of winners coaching me." Jungkook clasped his hands together. "What's first?"

"First, confidence is key." Taehyung instructed. "In order to feel good, you've got to start your day off right."

The four of them headed for the kitchen. While Jungkook, Jimin, and Seokjin sat at the bar, Taehyung whipped out the blender, a dozen eggs, and a smattering of fruits and vegetables. "Allow me to introduce you to The Breakfast of Champions. Whenever I have a big shoot coming up, this is how I start my day. Never fails."

"To what?" Jimin snorted. "Give you the runs?"

Taehyung ignored him and poured some of the noxious concoction into three more glasses and handed them out to the group before lifting his own. "This smoothie is a patented blend of vitamins and minerals to kick your day in the ass. But first, a toast to kicking ass!"

"And taking names!" Jungkook held his glass up.

The others joined in, and they all clinked their smoothies together. Taehyung pinched his nose and choked down the drink as fast as possible before shuddering. "That never gets any easier."

Luckily Jungkook was too busy throwing his back like a champ to even notice the queasy moment Taehyung was powering through. He slammed his cup down like a shot and expectantly looked at the others. "Oh, I put a little liquor in mine while y'all were evangelizing. What's next?"

"Don't worry, I've got an idea." Seokjin smiled.

They headed down to the hotel gym and surveyed the area. "You need to get in a good kickboxing session!" Seokjin exclaimed. "Whenever I get one in before I head into court, I feel ready to take on anything."

Jungkook nodded. "Alright, lay it on me. Which one of you is ready to get this two-piece spicy?"

"Not us." Seokjin shook his head and pointed right past the lounge section and towards a hulking body builder doing chin up on the far wall. "Him."

Jungkook's jaw dropped. "What does he have to do with me?"

Jimin tossed an arm over his shoulders. "He could be your sparring partner!"

"And get my ass kickboxed through the earth's core?" Jungkook shook his head frantically. "Oh hell no-"

Taehyung blocked Jungkook from escaping. "Not so fast. Sure he looks scary but think about how it'll feel to beat him."

Jungkook blinked. "Impossible?"

"No." Taehyung shook his head. "Amazing. It'd feel amazing to know you set your mind to defeating him and then did it!"

"Come on, Jungkook." Seokjin smiled. "You're not getting out of this."

The alpha towered over all of them as they approached, somehow managing to seem even buffer up close. "Hi." Jimin greeted him politely. "Can we ask you something?"

"Ask away." He nodded.

"My cousin here is trying to get some training in." Seokjin said, wrapping an arm around Jungkook's shoulders. "And we were wondering if you would be willing to spar with him?"

"Please say no, please say no-"

The bodybuilder blinked at them all then smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, no can do. I'd love to help you out, really, but I'm actually a pacifist."

Jungkook breathed out in relief. "Oh thank god."

"I'm not asking you to actually go MMA on him." Seokjin said. "Just help him get a few punches in."

The bodybuilder pursed his lips. "Would landing some hits against my rock-hard abs help?"

Jimin nodded eagerly. "It would."

"Would it?" Jungkook asked.

"Then go for it." The bodybuilder shrugged. "And don't worry about putting some oomph into it, kid. I can take it."

Jungkook squared up and as the alpha clenched, he pulled back and threw a weak wristed tap that wouldn't even take out a fly. "Is that it?" Taehyung asked.

"I'm a lover not a fighter!" Jungkook pouted.

"This isn't about hurting him." Seokjin said. "It's about getting that rush of adrenaline you'll need to take down your opponents."

Jungkook blinked. "It is?"

"Yes!" Seokjin sighed. "Back when I was a baby lawyer at my first firm, I would second guess myself every time I entered the courtroom. It wasn't until I started kickboxing that I started to build up the strength, mental and physical, that I take with me into the courtroom. And I haven't lost a case since, thank you very much."

The bodybuilder started tearing up. "That's beautiful."

Seokjin ignored him. "Plus it doesn't hurt to imagine the punching bag as my rival attorney's face."

"That's right, Jungkook." Taehyung nodded. "Just imagine this eight pack is your landlord."

Jungkook scrunched his face. "Stop raising my rent!" He punched a little harder, but the bodybuilder shook his head.

"Again." Taehyung instructed.

"Your cousin isn't a good maintenance man just because he has a rewards card to a home improvement store." Jungkook started wailing punches against the alpha's stomach. "Air conditioning should be mandatory in all units! It's 2023 already!" He threw a left hook, catching the alpha right in the ribs.

"Hey, I felt that one!"

After a few more jabs and hooks, they thanked the ripped as fuck stranger and left the gym for one last move to get Jungkook amped up.

Jungkook was practically vibrating as they reached the beach. "Alright, here we go! Fired up! What are we doing now?"

"Now we run!" Jimin smiled. "Go!"

The four of them hightailed it down the beach, whooping, jumping, and yelling before settling into their paces. "Why are we running?" Jungkook finally asked.

"Because building stamina is the first step to any training regimen." Jimin said. "But especially mine."

"And how…" Jungkook panted. "How long…have I…been running?"

Jimin glanced at his watch. "In about seven seconds it'll have been a minute."

Jungkook gaped at him. "Stop lying!" He stumbled and began to slow.

"How do you plan to survive the party to after party transition without any energy?" Taehyung asked.

Seokjin nodded. "Tired bitches can't raise a roof!"

"This tired…bitch is…about to give…all the way up…" Jungkook said.

Taehyung glared at him. "No he isn't! Don't quit on yourself, Jungkook!"

"But-"

"No buts!" Taehyung cut him off. "You can do this! Trust me! Just pretend you're running for the bar at last call! They're ringing the bell! They're cutting the lights off and on!"

Seokjin feigned a gasp. "You only got five minutes left and there's a line!"

"Wait, I need to re up my sunrise!" Jungkook took off a ta sprint, hair flailing in the wind as he quickened his pace. They all cheered as Jungkook pumped his arms, running through the sand like he was an Olympian. When he was finished, he looked more hyped than ever. As he threw his arms around Jimin, Taehyung couldn't help but smile. Then Jimin flung his other arm out to the side for Taehyung and Seokjin to join in. "Thanks for all this y'all. I feel ready for anything this challenge is gonna throw at me."

"You know we got you." Taehyung assured him.

Seokjin nodded. "Now let's go get ready so you can actually get there on time."

Jungkook pulled out of the hug. "But first, emergency slushie break. I am so down to have something cooling after all that hard work-"

Seokjin cut him off. "Sign in first, slushies second."

He grabbed onto Jungkook's shoulders and forcefully steered him in the direction of the hotel where vibrant signs led toward the private event space reserved for the first challenge.

"Wait!" Taehyung called out as he and Jimin hurried to catch up to them. "Don't leave me with-" But it was too late, as Seokjin and Jungkook were already gone, leaving him awkwardly with Jimin. He plastered on a smile. "So how was your date with Namjoon? And why were you soaking wet? Were y'all getting some high intensity high impact cardio in?"

Jimin crossed his arms. "I'm not sure how that's any of your business."

Taehyung scoffed. "What is your problem? You've been taking shots all day! I'm trying to be the bigger person here but-"

"You're being the bigger person?" Jimin barked out a sharp laugh.

Before they could really get into it, they finally caught up to Seokjin and Jungkook, who apparently won the slushie battle judging by the four styrofoam cups he was juggling. "Are you sure you should be pregaming a drinking competition?" Taehyung asked.

"I'm getting into party mode!" Jungkook smiled. "This competition's gonna be nothing but pounding back shots and I can't do that on an empty stomach. Plus I got two for you three to share!" He handed out two cups and double fisted the last two, drinking from both straws simultaneously.

Chapter 13

The competition space was nothing like Taehyung had imagined. The room was packed with people and a professional bar lined the back wall. "I didn't realize this would be so well…spectated."

"I know that ain't who I think it is!" They all looked in the direction of the voice and spotted Cayson with his little pack of cronies.

Taehyung gave the other omega a cool once over, wrinkling his nose. "And you are?"

Cayson rolled his eyes. "Don't play like you can't remember."

"Do we have to do this right now?" Jungkook asked. "We're just here for the competition."

"You're my competitor?" Cayson laughed. "Well, there's one down."

Taehyung crossed his arms. "Oh, please, Jungkook could drink any of you skinny bitches under the table. Trust me, I've seen this boy outdrink an entire house full of alphas. You don't stand a chance."

"One problem." Cayson smirked. "The Biggest Party Animal competition isn't a drinking game. It requires skill."

Suddenly, an omega climbed onto the stage and grabbed the microphone to address the crowd. "Welcome party people! Get your drinks and grab your friends because the flair bartending challenge is about to begin!"

"Flair bartending?" Taehyung repeated. "What the hell is that?"

At the bar, a professional bartender flipped his bottle with expert precision, pour flaming shots, and even spun his bottle on a fingertip like a basketball. Taehyung, Seokjin, and Jimin turned to Jungkook as he slurped the last of his tequila slushies out of both cups, tongue stained an unnatural blue. "I'm fucked."

🐰

Judging by the pro looking bartenders doing bottle tricks, Jungkook decided the competition might be in deep. All the more reason for him to make a break for it. "Abort! We have got to get out of here!"

"What?" Jimin asked in confusion.

"Jungkook-" As the alcohol he downed hit his bloodstream, Jungkook whipped around, scoping the room like a wild cat looking for freedom. He sank down to his hands and knees, hoping to make a quiet exit as he skittered across the gritty, sticky bar floor. But he'd barely shuffled away when a pair of sandals appeared before him. "And where exactly do you think you're going?" Seokjin asked, hands on hips.

"I just don't think I'm ready!" Jungkook pouted. "I got this really bad feeling plus I'm half buzzed! What if-"

Seokjin cut him off. "What if what, Jungkook? You can't let this phase you."

Taehyung nodded. "Seokjin's right. That's why we spent the entire morning running around this resort like chickens with our heads cut off."

"To prove that you can do anything you set your mind to." Jimin smiled reassuringly.

"There isn't a drink under the sun you haven't heard of." Seokjin reminded him. "So it's not like they can hit you with that kind of curveball."

"And 'flair bartending' just means 'bartending with style'." Jimin pointed out. "Which is something you've got in spades."

"Hell, even when you're acting like a menace to society, you never lack entertainment value." Taehyung laughed.

As Jungkook continued to protest, Jimin grabbed the check in sheet and signed his name with a flourish. "Now, I don't want to hear any more about it. We came all this way out here for you to do this so you're doing it. Period."

Jungkook wasn't sure who died and made Jimin queen of the vacation, but he didn't need a babysitter. He was a grown adult. As the fire that encouraged him to sign up for the competition in the first place reignited, two omegas and an alpha took the stage. "Welcome, everyone! I'm Aaliyah Richards from Bravado Rum."

"I'm Silvestre Salazar, and I'm sure you know me from ZTN Radio." He passed the mic off to a well-built alpha and Seokjin sucked in a breath beside Jungkook.

"And I'm Hoseok Jung, hotelier here at Sancian Cove Resort and Spa."

The mic was passed back to Aaliyah. "We're the proud hosts of the Bahamas' Biggest Party Animal competition! Now who wants to win 100k?" The crowd burst into cheers and Jungkook found himself riding the wave of excitement with them, his pissiness slowly fading away as he slipped into his element.

"We'll be testing whether our competitors can bring the party to life." Hoseok said. "Not as participants but as planners!"

"To find out, once and for all, who is the Bahamas' Biggest Party Animal!"

"For this challenge, we'll call out the names of classic cocktails and our contestants will have to make them!"

"There's points for flair but hurry. You'll all have the same ingredient pool. If you don't complete a cocktail, you're out."

"Any questions, contestants?"

Jungkook raised his hand. "How do I cash my check?" Next to him, Cayson appeared like a curse and sucked his teeth at his question. "Because this is gonna be too easy."

"I wouldn't get a case of the big head yet if I were you." Cayson grumbled.

Hoseok chuckled on the stage. "Looks like we've already got a budding rivalry. Let's get this thing started!"

"Clock's on!" Aaliyah exclaimed. "Let's kick things off with a round of Amaretto Sours!"

"I know this!" Jungkook clapped.

Cayson rolled his eyes. "Good one. Not like the main ingredients in the name or anything."

Jungkook rushed around the bar, jostling elbow with the other competitors as he ran through the recipe in his head. Simple syrup, amaretto, lemon juice. Grinning, he tipped the bottle of amaretto into his shaker, adding the simple syrup, a shot of lemon juice, and an egg to create a nice, frothy finish. He poured the mix into a waiting cocktail glass then popped a speared cherry and a tangy orange slice onto the rim before his time ran out.

"Yo who took all the amaretto!" All around Jungkook, contestants dropped like flies, freeing up some room at the bar.

"Those were delicious but it's not enough to make a killer drink." Silvestre said. "You have to dazzle your audience!"

"Your next drink is rum and coke!" Hoseok announced.

Cayson gaped at the hosts. "How am I supposed to get fancy with rum and coke? It's the simplest drink there is!" Right as he said that, an alpha flipped a dispenser bott of rum in the air, caught the bottom, and poured out a perfect rum and coke.

"So y'all are trying to get fancy in this bitch." Jungkook nodded. "I can do fancy." He grabbed his highball glass and a can of cola, flipping them into the air from one hand to the other. "I'm gonna make this entire drink as I juggle. Ma'am, do me the honors of tossing me that bottle of rum?"

"If you're sure but I’m not paying any medical bills." She tossed it high in the air.

Jungkook snatched his glass and filled it with ice before grabbing the bottle and filling it with rum. A second later, the coke can was in his hand, and he was topping the drink off. "Boom!"

"Now it's time for a new twist on a throwback. Let's see some French 75s!"

"That's Appa's go to drink!" Jungkook said excitedly. "I've made this for him a million times!" He quickly added the gin, lemon juice, ice, and simple syrup into a shaker, shaking the container and his hips in time to the beat. Just as he was about to add the lemon garnish, a hand zipped out from his right and wiped his last one. "Hey!"

"Poor grandma." Cayson smirked. "It would be a shame if you had to drop out because you didn't have some lemon. Maybe I could share…" He added the pilfered twist to his drink and smiled triumphantly at Jungkook before dropping the rest of the lemon in the trash.

Jungkook looked over the remaining ingredients and grabbed a lime, figuring it was close enough to a lemon. He sliced the lime, rimming the glass with it, then dressed the cocktail with a corkscrew of lime rind before presenting it to the judges.

"And for our final round, a classic."

"The last cocktail is a simple glass of champagne."

"How am I supposed to get creative with just champagne?" Jungkook asked himself.

On his left, Jimin and his cousins frantically waved him over. "You and Cayson seem to be neck and neck with the audience's approval." Taehyung said.

"There's gotta be some way to pull ahead." Jungkook said. "What about a champagne tower? They've gotta be easy, right?"

"Not exactly." Seokjin said before smiling. "But when have you ever let 'you can't do that' stop you?"

"It'll be easier with help." Jimin said. "We'll back you however we can if you wanna attempt it."

"Let's do this!" Jungkook exclaimed.

Taehyung let out a cheer. "I went to a networking event with a five-tier champagne tower, and it was easily the event of the year."

"But five tiers is gonna mean a lot of glasses." Seokjin pointed out.

Jimin did a round of math in his head. "55 to be exact."

Jungkook smiled. "Leave that to me." He darted back to the bar where the other competitors were working and scouted out potential glasses. "Spare glasses anyone? Let your fellow party animal hold something?"

"You can have these if you want." An alpha handed some glasses to Jungkook.

"I really appreciate it!" Jungkook said gratefully.

Next to that alpha, one of the other competitors looked over. "You're over by that smug, snotty omega, yeah?"

Jungkook nodded. "Unfortunately."

"Then take mine too." He offered Jungkook even more empty glasses. "He's bad for the vibes."

"I heard that." Jungkook laughed as he ferried the glasses back to his table. His collection grew bigger with each return trip.

"I'll trade you five glasses for your strawberries!"

Most participants let Jungkook use their extras without incident, happy to see Cayson get what he deserved but not everyone was feeling the island spirit. "No."

"But why?" Jungkook whined. "I mean you've already turned in your drink!"

The alpha crossed his arms over his chest. "Because why should I help out a competitor? I'm here to win and I can't do that if I'm helping you."

"Because I'll leave you alone if you do!" Jungkook promised. "I'll stop pestering you and you'll be able to wind down from such a stressful competition in peace! But if not, I guess I'll just have to stay here…figuring out ways to get you to hand them over. Intruding on your-"

"Fine!" The guy shoved the glasses at him. "Go on, take them! Just leave me alone!"

Jungkook smiled. "Thank you!" He ran back to his table with minutes to spare, carefully setting down the last armful of glasses. "Time to start building!" As carefully as he could, he built out the base then the second level.

"Time is running out!" Hoseok announced.

Going as quickly as his hand eye coordination would allow, Jungkook filled out the next tier. As he reached the very last tier, he needed some extra height. With the final glass in hand, he backed up ten paces from his station. Then, with a battle cry, he launched himself towards the table. Just short of bowling into his marvelous creation, he hit his best Air Bud, converting his speed into sheer, court ready hops as he leaped upwards, miraculously managing to plink the champagne glass at the center of the tier beneath it. "I cannot believe that worked." Jungkook said to himself just as his already precariously balanced tower wobbled from one side to the other, threatening to crumble completely. Barely daring to breathe, Jungkook gently nudged the champagne glasses towards the center of the formation so that each of the glasses touched with no gaps between them. It felt like it took forever but eventually the tower stopped swaying and stood tall.

He couldn't celebrate just yet though. He had seconds to spare before the final bell and one little problem. The tower didn't have any champagne in it. "Shit!" Jungkook climbed a nearby pile of supply crates he hadn't noticed before, grabbed a bottle of Dom, took a sip for luck, and poured.

Over the cascading beauty of his tower, he spotted Cayson scrambling from table to table, trying to find stray glasses. "Are you telling me not one of y'all has some extra glasses left?"

Jungkook smirked down at him. "Looking for these?" Watching Cayson take in his flowing tower was almost sweeter than the champagne. "If it makes you feel better, I have some extra swizzle straws. Maybe you can use them to build a bridge and get over yourself."

Cayson shot him a glare as he settled for pouring a single glass of sparkling rose with a basic raspberry settled at the bottom before stomping his way over to the presenting table. "Here." He slammed his drink down on the presenting table, chipping the bottom of the glass.

The judges sipped and deliberated before returning to the stage with their decisions. "It was a very close race." Hoseok said. "But if we don't call your name, you weren't selected as part of the Top 15 who will move on." He rattled off name after name, calling Cayson's almost immediately, and as the spots got fewer and fewer, Jungkook's stomach sank. "And in first place…Jungkook Jeon!"

Jungkook's eyes widened. "Me? Are you messing with me?"

"Congratulations to all who made it!" Aaliyah beamed. "We look forward to seeing you in a few days for the next competition."

"In the meantime, let's catch this groove!"

As the losing participants who didn't make top 15 slinked away, Jungkook stood in the center of the dance floor, bathing in his success. The others quickly surrounded him. "Congratulations, baby boy!" Seokjin hugged him.

"You kicked some serious ass up there!" Taehyung laughed.

As Jimin leaned in to give his own celebratory hug, he whispered in Jungkook's ear, "Remember when I said you could thank me later? It's later.

Jungkook rolled his eyes playfully, waving his hand dismissively. "Let's dance, bitches!" With the music pumping, they took over the dance floor, laughing and grooving until long after the crowds were gone.

Chapter 14

🐥

The four omegas hiked through a Bahamian national park as part of an expedition Jimin had booked. Jimin took a deep breath and paused to enjoy the scenery. It was so relaxing out there…at least, it should have been. "I could break an ankle on this uneven terrain!" Taehyung whined. "Or cut myself on these branches! And we're looking at flowers?"

"You are so stuck up." Seokjin rolled his eyes.

"National flower of the Bahamas…" Jungkook laughed. "More like National flower of souvenirs for Jungkook."

Jimin smacked the younger omega's hand. "Look with your eyes, not your hands. That was, like, rule number one."

Jungkook pouted. "What are rules two and three? Don't do anything fun and be bored to death?"

"Come on, this is fun!" Jimin exclaimed.

"This way, please!" The tour guide urged them forward.

Jimin stomped through the flora, enjoying the sights while trying his hardest to ignore the whining, instigating, and rule breaking behind him. With a sigh, he thought about if he'd brought Namjoon on the hike instead. At least the alpha would have appreciated it. Surprise hit Jimin as he realized what he was thinking. Then a warmth spread through his stomach as continued to think about the alpha. His laugh, his inquisitiveness, his-

"OH MY GOD, IT TOUCHED ME!"

"Sorry, I couldn't resist."

"Hey, quick question, does poison ivy grow in the Bahamas?"

Jimin whirled around to the other three. "Can we please not do this today?" He begged. "I've been looking forward to this tour since we got on the plane! Can we please just do the fucking tour?"

Taehyung crossed his arms. "While you're busy playing 'jungle explorer', some of us have been risking our careers! Do you have any idea how much a skinned knee would set me back?"

Seokjin cleared his throat and sent Taehyung a sharp look that shut him up instantly. "I think we can handle not being a gaggle of pups for the next couple of hours. Can't we?"

"…of course." Taehyung said through gritted teeth, forcing a smile on his face.

Jungkook's jaw dropped. "Did you say hours?"

The tour guide cleared her throat. "I don't mean to interrupt but we're reaching a quiet zone. There's a film shoot happening nearby."

Jimin could practically feel the V spirit reinfect Taehyung as he nudged him aside, hastening to the tour guide's side. "Film shoot? They make movies here?"

"Plenty of movies!" The tour guide smiled. "If we're lucky, we may even be able to see a little of the set." She led the group over to a sectioned off portion of the forest where everyone but Jimin hung on the actors' every word.

"Jewel, the android dinosaur hybrid eggs have been stolen…by their parents!"

"You mean…they're completely alive and sentient?"

"If we wanna live, we've gotta run for our lives…through the park."

"Cut!"

Jungkook turned to the others excitedly. "They're filming the new Jurassic Park movie? That's my favorite franchise!"

"Wow, so cool." Jimin said flatly. "So if we could just continue the-"

Taehyung cut him off by calling out to the actress playing 'Jewel'. "Brynnie, I know you're not gonna leave me on this side of the barricade like a commoner!"

"Well if it isn't V!" Bryn smiled brightly at him. "Get over here, bitch!" She waved all four of them through the barricade.

Taehyung strode up to Bryn like he was on a catwalk. "Kisses! It's been absolutely too long."

Jimin gaped at Taehyung "You know Bryn Seaver? Maybe you are a big deal."

"Of course he is!" Bryn said seriously. "If it weren't for V, I might not have a career at all."

"Ignore him, Brynnie." Taehyung waved a dismissive hand towards Jimin. "He's bitter because nobody wants to be on his dusty little tour."

Jimin glared at him. "It's a very cool and informative-"

Taehyung talked over him. "Let me introduce you. This is Jimin, Seokjin, and-"

"Jungkook!" Seokjin exclaimed. "Dammit, he was just here!"

Knowing his brother all too well, Jimin ducked onto a nearby set, Seokjin and Taehyung following, and found the younger omega cowering under a rover, holding a mysterious ray gun. "Oh, please don't step on me, Mr. Bionic Dinosaur. I want to live!"

"Jungkook, get up." Jimin said sternly. "Now."

Seokjin shook his head. "On our perp walk out of here, I swear to god I'm pretending like I don't know y'all."

"It's fine." Taehyung said. "No one's spotted us yet. Let's just put everything back and-"

"This is the je ne sais quoi the seventh film has been missing!" The director gushed as he stood behind them. "You have given me the inspiration I needed. The vision, the SFX potential, the relatable family bond…I must capture this."

Jimin blinked. "I'm sorry, are you asking us to be in the movie?"

"Asking? No, I am begging!" The director exclaimed. "I need to keep this energy on set. Just a small part?"

Jungkook stood up straight with an excited smile. "A cameo in one of my favorite franchises? Oh come on, we have to! It's for art!"

Taehyung tilted his head. "It's not really enough time to put together my onset rider but Aeri has been pushing me to branch out…"

"I'm happy to be anywhere that has fans and AC." Seokjin deadpanned, glancing at Jimin. "What about you? Or is this 'not that cool' either?"

Jimin bit his lip. The movie deviated from both his plan and his schedule, but looking at the excitement on Jungkook's face…how could he pass up the opportunity? "Why not? Let's do it." Jungkook cheered and threw his arms around Jimin.

One quick trip to hair and makeup later, the four of them were back on set with the camera's ready to roll on them. "Beautiful! Now for this scene, I want you four playing a family vacationing at the new Jurassic Park-"

"My dream." Jungkook squealed.

"But the robotic dinosaurs have gained sentience and are on their rampage!"

Jungkook blinked. "Still technically dream worthy." Seokjin shook his head at him.

"See, that's what I love!" The director gushed. "That chemistry. Go with what feels right. But don't forget, you're running for your lives!" He stepped out of frame and behind a camera rig. "And…action!"

Jungkook turned to the others with a bright smile. "This is the best trip we've ever booked!"

"The best?" Jimin raised an eyebrow. "Don't forget about our singles' cruise!"

Taehyung nodded. "Yeah, that was a blast! Nothing but blue skies and open ocean."

"I couldn't walk straight for a week!" Jimin wiggled his eyebrows.

Seokjin tilted his legs, feigning confusion. "Sea legs?"

Jimin patted his shoulder. "Something like that."

Jungkook looked around, furrowing his eyebrows a bit. "Still kind of weird how empty the park is, isn't it?"

"Cut!" The director called out. "You omegas were perfection! Where are our dinos?"

A PA got the four of them settled on set as the CGI stand in actors entered the frame. "Hey, I'm Silke, and this is Furiosa." One of them introduced themselves. "We're your dinosaurs today!"

Seokjin blinked. "Hi Silke…Furiosa."

The director clapped his hands together. "Okay, new talent, easy as can be. You've been cowering behind the fallen tree and the dinos have just spotted you."

"Dinosaurs, 'roar', you all scream, exit left at a run. Everything else, we'll take care of in post. Got it?" A producer asked.

The director barely gave them a chance to prepare before yelling. "And…action!"

The stand ins began screeching like dinosaurs and Jungkook let out a blood curdling scream. "We've got to move!" Jimin yelled and the four turned to run off stage left as the 'dinosaurs' chased them. Jimin wasn't sure if it was his fight or flight kicking in or the power of his 15 minutes of fame, but he knew how he'd really react in that scenario. He sprang into action, shoving Jungkook out of the fake dinosaur's reach. As Jungkook stumbled back, the nearest stand in captured Jimin in her arms instead. "Jungkook, run!" With that, Jungkook took off at a sprint, hair blowing in the wind as he left Jimin to fend for himself. "Well shit, fuck you too then!" The one time Jungkook listened, and it was when Jimin was about to get fake eaten by a dinosaur. "Where was that obedient energy when you were touching all the 'do not touch' plants earlier?!" He pretended to struggle in the fake dino's grip, flailing his legs and tossing his head until he was released. Then he took off at a sprint toward his mark next to the main actors of the film.

"And cut!"

The producer glared at Jimin. "You were supposed to turn and run! Everyone reset!"

"Absolutely not!" The director exclaimed. "That was one take gold! This is the kind of realness the scene was lacking! Congratulations, you've been updated to 'survivors'. Set places for the next scene!" He drifted away while the harried producer let out a shrill but quiet scream from between her teeth.

The producer turned to the four of them with a tight smile. "Okay, scene 36. Follow me please."

They were led to a cliff overlooking the ocean. "In this scene, the two groups of survivors meet up at a dead end. Everyone know their lines?"

"Kind of." Jungkook smiled, obviously just happy to be there.

"Ready…action!"

The four of them met up with the other survivors only to find themselves trapped in a dead end. "There's no choice. We'll have to go up if we want any chance of surviving."

"No time!" Seokjin shook his head. "They're coming!"

Jimin whipped his head around and Seokjin clapped a hand over his mouth to muffle his scream. The 'dinosaurs' were right behind them and gaining ground quickly. "We need to hide!" Jungkook exclaimed.

In a flurry of motion, the group streaked off in different directions. Jimin ran for the trees with Taehyung, clambering up one. His foot slipped on one of the branches, leaving him dangling. "I got you!" Taehyung grabbed Jimin's arm and tugged him up into the safety of the canopy.

Jimin smiled. "You do care."

Taehyung shot him a look. "Your hanging pinata ass was gonna attract the dinosaurs. Now shush." Jimin followed his advice, falling silent.

Soon, one of the dino stand ins came into view, eerily surveying the area as she searched for prey. Safe in their hiding place, Jimin remained silent and frozen, trying not to even breathe as the 'dinosaurs' crept past. Only when one of the robo raptors stalked out of the shot did they all emerge, huddling back up with the main actors. "I think we're in the clear."

"I wasn't so sure we'd get out of that one." Jimin breathed out.

"What do we do now?" Taehyung asked.

"We can't just wait for them to come back!" Seokjin exclaimed.

"If you want a chance at getting out of Jurassic Park alive, you four need to call for backup!"

Jungkook nodded. "We'll do our best."

Bryn pointed off camera, pretending to give directions. "There's a distant radio tower whose distress signal should be able to reach the mainland."

"Good luck, and godspeed."

Suddenly a branch snapped. The other dino stand in emerged from the bushes with an angry. Time for Jimin's big final line before he became dino food. "Get out of here! Make it to that tower! We'll hold them as long as we can. Just tell my family I love them." Jimin watched the main actors dash away as the dinos descended, devouring him, Jungkook, Taehyung, and Seokjin as they shrieked in simulated pain.

"And cut! Great work, everyone!"

The four omegas grinned at each other, sending high fives all around. "Not bad for our first debut." Seokjin chuckled.

"We killed it!" Jungkook cheered.

"Now that was fun." Taehyung laughed.

Jimin sighed. "I'll admit, definitely worth the schedule deviation."

They hung out on set for the rest of the day as the director's guests, weighing in on scenes and watching their silver screen debut come to life.

Chapter 15

They weren't two steps into the hotel lobby when a thumping bass line and a volley of cheers from the hotel's auditorium caught Jimin's attention. "Quick, get Jungkook upstairs before-"

Seokjin cut him off. "You know he's already gone. He Wil-E Coyote'd over there at the first whisper of a 'can I get a hell yeah'?"

They all followed Jungkook into the auditorium and found two groups of friends on the stage, dancing and going head-to-head in a cheesy game show game. "Alright, this next one decides the champ!" The host pointed offstage to the DJ controlling the music and the room was suddenly flooded with the sounds of a familiar song.

Jimin and the others started dancing and shouting the lyrics until the music cut off, catching Jimin off guard. He had to bite his tongue to keep from shouting out the lyrics as the team on stage struggled. "This is brutal to watch." Seokjin mumbled.

"And that's time! Team Cake By the Pound takes the L! That's another win for Team Gold Dust! Anyone dare take them on? How about you, sweetheart?" The host pointed to Taehyung.

Taehyung scoffed. "I wouldn't be caught dead throwing it back on this off-brand version of 'Don't Forget the Lyrics'."

Jimin rolled his eyes so hard he could practically see his brain. His mouth opened before he had time to filter himself. "Tough break. You picked the only person in the room who won't do anything unless it benefits him."

"Big talk from the omega dragging his family through the jungle to escape your own problems." Taehyung retorted.

"I've had enough of your complete and utter bullshit." Jimin crossed his arms. "Hide behind that plastic ass smile of yours but we all see it. You are absolutely full of it."

Taehyung glared at him. "What the fuck ever, Jimin! You aren't perfect either, Mr. Know It All!" He stepped right into Jimin's face.

Before things could escalate further, an alpha stepped between them, holding his arms up. "Perhaps this conversation is best left in private?" His words reminded Jimin that they weren't alone. In fact, every eye in the room was on them.

Taehyung straightened immediately, relaxing like he wasn't about to tear Jimin throat out just then. Seokjin ushered all of them over to a corner of the room. "What on god's green earth is wrong with you two?" He hissed. Before he could truly rip them apart, his attention drifted to the alpha standing behind them.

"These two belong to you, I suppose." The alpha mused. "Why am I not surprised?"

🐹

Seokjin was certain he'd never been so embarrassed in his life until he saw Hoseok. They'd reached new lows that day. "Yes." He cleared his throat a bit. "These are my cousins, Seokjin and Taehyung. Not by blood, I am pleased for the first time ever to say."

Hoseok shot Seokjin a lazy smile, and the omega could tell he was fighting back a grin. "You run with quite a crew, Seokjin."

"Boss man!" Jungkook exclaimed, holding his hand up for a high five. "How are they hanging?" Seokjin shot him a look. "What? I'm just glad he's here. I've been meaning to ask…to get the free drinks from the Party Animal competition, is there a, like, wristband or a secret code word-"

"Jungkook!" Jimin hissed, grabbing his arm. "Stop trying to bribe the judge." Jimin turned to Hoseok with a sheepish expression. "Sorry about him, he's taking the competition seriously."

"Wait a minute…" Taehyung tilted his head. "Weren't you at the club the other night?"

Seokjin rubbed his temples, staving off the headache that was brewing. Hoseok gently took his hands. "Can't say this is how I imagined meeting your family but now's as good a time as any, right?" He pulled Seokjin to his side.

All at once, the three omegas stopped their chattering, reminding Seokjin why he'd made the deal with Hoseok in the first place. "This is Hoseok." Seokjin smiled. "The alpha I was telling y'all about. We hit it off at the single's event." He reached behind Hoseok and pinched his ass cheek with a sly grin. Hoseok started and the other three looked at Seokjin like he'd lost his mind. Hoseok then grinned at Seokjin despite his initial shock and Seokjin wasn't sure how much of it was just playing along. "But he's very busy so I'm sure he can't stay to chat. So many important things to-"

Taehyung cut him off. "Now let's just wait a second. Even a tycoon like Hoseok has to eat."

Jimin nodded. "And we haven't eaten yet. Care to join us?"

"And perhaps foot the bill?" Jungkook gave an exaggerated wink, earning a glare from Seokjin.

"I thought the two of you were fighting." Seokjin stared at Jimin and Taehyung. "What happened to that?"

Jimin turned to Taehyung with a shrug. "Truce?"

"For now." Taehyung nodded. "We've got bigger fish to grill. And I do mean grill."

"Knowing Seokjin, he's already got his 401k, ROI, and TMI index but the value of-"

Hoseok cut Jimin off with a chuckle. "I'm an open book. I'll answer any question y'all might have. If you provide them one at a time." He glanced at Seokjin. "Provided Seokjin doesn't mind me joining you all. He's worth having my feet put to the fire."

"What the hell?" Seokjin said, making the other three omegas squeal in excitement. "Have at him."

They immediately dragged Hoseok to a nearby booth and started their interrogation. "How old are you?" Taehyung asked. "And you should know, by answering that question, you're agreeing to a thorough background check."

"I'll be 30 in February." Hoseok answered. "And do your worst. You won't find anything that'll count me out." He grinned charmingly, ghosting a hand down his chin. "But I'm sure you'll find plenty that makes me an even stronger candidate."

"You're the hotelier here?" Jimin asked.

Hoseok nodded. "Though I prefer to think of myself as a businessman and an entrepreneur more than any one title."

"You have other businesses?"

"I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit." Hoseok said. "Starting from my very first lemonade stand all the way to my startups post college."

Eager to play the role of the proud boyfriend, and also slightly curious himself, Seokjin rested his hand on Hoseok's forearm. "Why don't you tell them about your post college gig?"

Hoseok grinned wide and Seokjin rolled his eyes playfully at the alpha's silent bragging. "Which one?"

"You tell us." Taehyung said. "For all we know, you're out here leaving a string of failed startups in your wake and inherited this gig or something." Leave it to Taehyung to go for the jugular. Though, he wasn't wrong.

Seokjin fixed Hoseok with a gaze. "Well?"

"I created an app for people who wanted to go to events but didn't want to go alone." Hoseok explained. "Sporting events, concerts, that sort of thing. Then I sold it and moved on to a few other ventures until I discovered how much I love providing quality customer service. No one handed me anything. I bought this building and built it up and now I own one of the best resorts in the Bahamas."

Jungkook smiled. "I see why Seokjin likes you. You're both very…worky."

"And technically I have y'all to thank." Seokjin said. "So thanks."

Taehyung laughed. "We told your stubborn ass!" His gaze skimmed over them both, seemingly impressed, but Seokjin knew that his eye for PDA was almost as shrewd as his own JinDar.

As Hoseok turned his attention to the latest volley of questions, Seokjin slowly took his hand in his, lightly tracing his nail around his knuckles in lazy figure eights. For someone with a cushy job, he had calluses, as if he wasn't afraid to take off the suit and put in a little work. Seokjin could respect that. "Having fun?" Hoseok raised an eyebrow at him.

"Just tracing your love line." Seokjin said. "Good news, it's strong." He drew a finger across Hoseok's palm. Without missing a beat, Hoseok caught Seokjin's hand in his and lifted it to his mouth, his warm lips pressing a soft, feather light kiss to the omega's knuckles.

"Y'all certainly look comfortable enough." Taehyung mused.

Hoseok smiled. "What can I say? Our connection was immediate."

High praise coming from Seokjin, and he would take it. Jimin and Jungkook were far less discreet, nudging each other like high schoolers. "Are y'all done interrogating my alpha yet?"

"Not even close." Jungkook beamed.

Jimin nodded. "The business background checks out. But what I wanna know is how often do you wind up in bed with the omegas you meet in your resort?" And appropriateness was right out the window just like that."

"A little subtlety?" Seokjin stared at Jimin incredulously.

"No, he's got a point." Jungkook said. "You allosexuals will do anything for a nut."

Seokjin turned to Hoseok with flaming cheeks. "I am so sorry." He was sure Hoseok was going to call the whole thing off right then.

Instead, the alpha was genuinely laughing at their antics. "It's fine. And I don't use the hotel or its events as my personal Tinder, if that's what you mean. Seokjin just caught my eye in the bar the other night. Seeing him the next day was a surprise, but I don't believe in missing opportunities twice." Seokjin grinned despite himself. He reminded himself that Hoseok was just playing his answers by ear to sell the relationship. Still, the way Hoseok was looking at him like he was starving, and Seokjin was a three-course meal…it wasn't helping.

"Gotta admit, I'm impressed." Taehyung sat back.

Jimin nodded in agreement. "It's not often we come across someone whose achievements stack up to Seokjin's."

Jungkook smiled. "You two sound kind of perfect for each other."

"No one is that perfect, Jungkook." Seokjin said.

Hoseok tilted his head. "Why not give me a chance to prove it? You give me a question, Seokjin. Anything you want, no holds barred. We'll see how compatible we really are."

"Are you sure?" Jungkook asked. "Kim 'Make a Grown Alpha Cry' Seokjin isn't known for pulling punches."

"He knows I can take it." Hoseok said without pulling his gaze from Seokjin.

Seokjin's heart fluttered. He felt almost hypnotized by Hoseok as he wracked his brain for the perfect question. He bit his lip, eyes trailing over the alpha until an idea finally came to him. "What kind of heat are you packing downstairs?"

Taehyung barked out a laugh. "And we're being inappropriate?"

Seokjin ignored him and watched Hoseok's face. The question was fully intended to throw him off his game, but he didn't even break a sweat. A slow smile split the alpha's face as he thought it over, never breaking eye contact with Seokjin. "I don't believe it's polite for an alpha to brag. That being said…I haven't had a complaint yet."

Jungkook nudged Seokjin under the table. "That sounded like a 'you'll find out soon enough Seokjin-ssi' to me!"

Hoseok's answer was enough to leave Seokjin a centimeter short of swooning. Thankfully Jimin and co were too invested in their Sherlock Holmes routine to notice. "So how did you win Seokjin over?" Jimin asked.

"Yeah, Hoseok." Seokjin propped his chin on his hand. "Tell them how you wooed me."

"I wouldn't say that." Hoseok said. "I just made him an offer he couldn't refuse." Seokjin froze, the alpha's answer toeing a little close to the actual terms and conditions of their deal for his liking. Seokjin kept his face composed but beneath the booth's table, he gripped Hoseok's thigh in warning.

"An offer?" Jimin raised an eyebrow.

Hoseok flexed his thigh beneath Seokjin's fingers, stretching the muscle taut. He turned to look at the omega, his gaze unwavering. "All of his dates that night were awful so I offered to whisk him away."

"And now here we are." Seokjin said. "Each exactly what the other needs." His heart pounded against his chest as the adrenaline coursed through him. Under the table, his hand lingered on Hoseok's thigh, and he toyed with the idea of how to show him exactly what it felt like to be toyed with. Discreetly, he slid his grip up Hoseok's thigh, the fabric of his pants growing steadily taut as he drew a thumb over the length of the alpha. "I've got to say, I'm impressed with your commitment to…growth."

Hoseok cleared his throat with a disbelieving cough, sitting up a little straighter in the booth. "Trust me when I say you haven't seen anything yet, Seokjin." They locked eyes, Seokjin's blood boiling as it raced through his veins. But when he finally drew his eyes away, he remembered they were surrounded by his friends, all of them eyeing him with knowing glances. "Well, as nice as it's been getting to know you all, you'll have to excuse us. Seokjin and I have some business to attend to."

"After that little display?" Taehyung wiggled his eyebrows. "I'll bet you do."

"I didn't realize we were calling sex 'business' these days." The rest of them cackled as Seokjin and Hoseok extricated themselves from the table.

Hoseok took Seokjin's hand before beckoning over a waiter. "Hopefully this parting gift will help you excuse our absence." The waiter returned with a chilled bottle of champagne and three frosted glasses for the omegas.

"Now that's what I'm talking about!" Jungkook cheered. "Way to come through, Boss Man!"

Chapter 16

The cool night air was refreshing against Seokjin's hot skin as Hoseok guided him outside, the alpha's hand firmly on his waist. "Now that was smooth, Mr. Jung." Seokjin mused.

"Let's hope you like my next moves just as much." Hoseok smiled. "You have no idea how much I need you right now."

Seokjin's breath hitched in his chest, feeling giddy for the first time in a long time as Hoseok took his hand. "Where are you taking me?"

In response, Hoseok led Seokjin down to the beach and right up to a beautiful dance floor lit by the sunset. As Seokjin looked around in wonder, Hoseok drew him closer, his scent mixing with the soft coastal air. He trailed this thumb down Seokjin's spin, stopping just above where the curve of Seokjin's ass began. Hoseok dipped his head towards Seokjin's, lips moving against the omega's ear, painting goosebumps along his skin as he spoke. "I need-"

While Seokjin felt Hoseok's lips moving, the sentence itself was drowned out by a slew of voices getting increasingly closer. He pulled back, looking around to find tourists descending on them in droves. "What?" He blinked away the rose-colored haze and took in the buffet tables, the live band, and a sign advertising 'Salsa Night on the Beach'.

"I need your help." Hoseok repeated. "My instructor dropped out at the last minute and my investor is on his way down. Know anything about salsa dancing?"

"All of this for an event?" Seokjin asked incredulously.

Hoseok winced. "It's couples' tango night." As much as Seokjin wanted to rest the blame for all the ways he'd misconstrued that on Hoseok's shoulders, mentally he couldn't help but kick himself. That was exactly what he got for letting himself get so caught up in the whole fake boyfriend thing. It was a business deal and nothing more. Hoseok's expression turned apologetic as a wave of embarrassment washed over Seokjin. "I didn't mean to imply…I mean, did you think-"

Seokjin quickly threw on his fake nice smile and interrupted. "Did I think that you would give me more notice before asking me to help out? Yes, but I can make this work." Desperate to free himself from the alpha's knowing gaze, Seokjin turned away to take in the scene. "Well, to start, we're on a beach at sunset, so that's already way more romantic than the speed dating event. Not to mention everyone seems attractive, interested in each other, and like they're having a good time." As he scanned the crowd, his eyes caught on a stern looking alpha studying the dance floor, notebook in hand. His JinDar instantly sounded as he watched the alpha test her weight on the dance floor and nod begrudgingly before jotting something down. "She is completely swag jacking you right now."

Hoseok pulled Seokjin over to the edge of the event space and away from the incoming guests. "She is Sonam Chaudhari. The investor I told you about." Hoseok clarified. "Consistently one of the richest alphas in the Caribbean and a pain in my ass."

Seokjin raised his eyebrows as a slow smile crept across his face. "Not Mr. Perfect complaining! Tell me how you really feel, why don't you?"

"The alpha's just so damn picky!" Hoseok exclaimed.

Seokjin was glad Hoseok felt comfortable enough to vent. Unfortunately he was still going while Sonam was heading right for them. "Hoseok-"

"And if she mentions needing to see a 'proper return on her investment' one more time, I swear to god-"

"Hoseok!" With Sonam bearing down on the two of them, Seokjin grabbed Hoseok by the lapels and pressed their lips together. Hoseok's lips were full and pillowy, and his tongue eased into Seokjin's mouth so deliciously, he nearly forgot why he'd kissed him.

Sonam cleared her throat. "I see I'm interrupting."

"Sonam!" Hoseok exclaimed in surprise as he pulled away from Seokjin. "I didn't see you there."

Seokjin smiled politely at the female alpha. "Please excuse us, Ms. Chaudhari. We got so swept up in the ambiance, we couldn't help ourselves."

"And who are you?" Sonam asked.

"I'm Seokjin Kim, Hoseok's date." Seokjin said. "He needed a partner for tango night, and I couldn't say no."

Sonam hummed. "I wasn't aware Hoseok had time for dating, given this ambitious series of his."

"I don't." Hoseok said. "That's the beauty of it. Seokjin and I met during the first event." His hand found Seokjin's waist, holding the omega to his side. As he looked down at Seokjin, his gaze was tender. "Everything else came together pretty spontaneously after that."

"Let's hope this event isn't one of those things." Sonam said. "I haven't seen the instructor yet."

Seokjin jumped in. "We've got that handled. She's well on her way, and even if she wasn't, he's always got a contingency plan waiting in the wings. Isn't that right, Hoseok?"

Hoseok nodded. "Never get caught without one. My eomma always said, failure to plan is planning to fail."

Sonam raised an eyebrow. "Yes, well, I'm sure we'll see soon enough. Break a leg."

As Sonam headed across the dance floor to observe, Seokjin turned to face Hoseok. "Nothing to it. How long do we have to stall until the instructor gets here?"

"She dropped out." Hoseok said. "She called 20 minutes ago to say she can't make it. And I have no idea how to tango."

Seokjin's eyes widened. "Well I'm not sure how much help I'll be. But fortunately for you, I know a tango requires confidence, and that I've got." With a sharp clap of his hands and his go getter smile, Seokjin raised his voice above the din of chatter and addressed the attendees. "Hello, and on behalf of the resort, thank you for joining us! Tonight, my handsome co-host and I will walk you through the basics of one of the most passion dance forms…the tango."

"Just how passionate can we get if all we're learning are the basics?" An alpha in the crowd asked.

"You'd be surprised." Seokjin said. "It's not just about the moves. Watch." He beckoned Hoseok over with a finger.

Hoseok loosened up his button down as he sauntered across the floor, his gaze never leaving the omega. He was inches away when he lowered his voice, his teasing tone only meant for Seokjin. "No tutorial or anything first? Just diving right in?"

"Headfirst." Seokjin murmured, earning a smug smile from the alpha. Shaking his head slightly, he addressed the class once more. "Tango begins in the eyes. So give them something good to look at." He met Hoseok's eyes before sinking his gaze brazenly to the alpha's half buttoned shirt, the well-built muscles of his chest peeking through.

Hoseok chuckled. "Aren't you in the middle of a lesson?"

"Only after establishing that personal connection should you embrace your partner." Seokjin continued. "One hand in theirs, the other holding them close."

Hoseok took Seokjin's hand and pulled him against his body. Gently, his other hand pressed between Seokjin's shoulder blades, bringing them chest to chest. With a tilt of his head, he whispered in Seokjin's ear with a husky voice. "How's this?"

Seokjin smiled. "Perfect." He cleared his throat and resumed his instructor voice. "Which is great because maintaining this frame is going to be really crucial for whoever's leading." He barely pushed against Hoseok, but the alpha followed his guide, moving into the first few steps. "Traditionally, alphas lead, but my partner is learning as well so you don't have to worry about being embarrassed or-" Before he could finish the sentence, Hoseok took over, guiding Seokjin across the floor. Hesitant couples swept out after them. Hoseok spun Seokjin, sending him whirling out in a flurry of steps, then softly tugging him back for another eight-count basic. "See folks, it's nothing to pick up." Seokjin said a bit breathlessly. "That didn't take long!"

"It helps when you've got an incredible teacher." Hoseok smirked.

The alpha's cockiness sent a wave of heat through Seokjin, and a mischievous urge to throw him a curveball. "Outside of the basic eight count, it's all about flair." Seokjin instructed. He followed Hoseok's nimble pasadas until there was a natural pause. Then he hooked his leg over the alpha's, slowly dragging it up his calf to his thigh.

Eyes never leaving Seokjin's, Hoseok held the underside of the omega's leg, running his fingers along the length as Seokjin extended the limb out. "How's that for flair?" Somehow, he managed to draw Seokjin closer still, lifting the omega's straightened leg until it rested on his shoulder. Seokjin didn't even know he was that flexible, hot damn.

"They make it look easy! Let me have a go!"

As everyone paired off, Hoseok met Seokjin's gaze, his arms still holding him firmly. "So how'd I do?"

"Color me impressed if a little suspicious." Seokjin said. "What happened to 'I have no idea how to tango'?"

Hoseok chuckled. "I swear to you, it's my first time. I'm just a fast learner, with a good teacher, and a very good partner."

"Well it all paid off." Seokjin smiled, using his head to gesture to Sonam who was enthusiastically taking more notes.

"For now." Hoseok sighed. "Tomorrow, there'll be some other fire to put out. But if I've learned anything, it's that you've gotta celebrate the wins. I think the newbies have enough to get started. What about one more dance? One just for us."

As much as Seokjin wanted to, it was getting harder to keep things professional with Hoseok's body pressed against his like that. On the other hand, he was already there, so why not indulge? "I actually saved the last dance for you."

"Wonderful." Hoseok smiled. "Give me your shoes."

Seokjin blinked. "Uh uh, nope. No shade on your foot fetish but I-"

"Stop looking for flags for one second and trust me." Hoseok said softly. After a moment's hesitation, Seokjin slipped his shoes off. Hoseok set them on the edge of the dance floor and the next thing Seokjin knew, the alpha was whirling him out toward the sand. Seokjin was giddy once again, giggling as Hoseok pulled him into his arms, leaving him warm except for the chill of sand on his feet. "Told you to trust me."

"But your investor-"

Hoseok cut him off. "I saw her eyeing a dance partner of her own, don't worry about her. Besides, didn't I say this one was just for us?" Heart pounding, Seokjin settled into Hoseok's embrace, enjoying the feel of the alpha's body pressed against his, consequences be damned. "I can't thank you enough for your help with all this, Seokjin."

"Please." Seokjin snorted. "After the impression you made on my friends, it was the least I can do. Especially considering how nosy they were with their little questions."

"Yeah, I've had physicals that were less invasive." Hoseok chuckled.

Seokjin smiled. "They seem to like you though. Their little cheshire grins, the teasing…all a good sign."

"Then I guess the extra prep work paid off." Hoseok mused. "You can admit I was right whenever you're ready."

"Not in this lifetime." Seokjin shook his head.

Hoseok smiled. "There's something that wasn't part of your file. You're stubborn." The two of them changed direction and the last of the glint of the moonlight off the water bathed Hoseok's face in light. "So does that mean I'm beyond the awkward questions phase?"

"I don't know if that moment very comes when my friends are involved." Seokjin admitted. "Or me for that matter. But while we're on the subject…Jimin's inappropriate question." Hoseok raised his eyebrows. "You know you gave a non-answer when Jimin asked how often you end up sleeping with the omegas you meet here, right?" He shrugged like he didn't even care about the answer.

Hoseok laughed. "Maybe because my alleged resort body count wasn't something I expected to be put on the spot for during a first introduction? But now that it's the two of us, the answer is none."

Seokjin's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh."

"That said, while I'm not using the hotel like some kinda dating app honeypot, I do have my own penthouse suite." Hoseok informed him.

Seokjin raised an eyebrow, giving Hoseok a smirk that hopefully didn't belie how that suggestive statement had the omega close to blushing. "I do love interior design."

"Now, Mr. Seokjin, I do believe it's time that you answered a few questions of mine." Hoseok said.

And there went Seokjin's JinDar. "Feeling the heat so quickly?"

Hoseok shook his head in amusement. "Is it so shocking to hear that I might actually want to get to know you?" Seokjin stumbled over his step, but Hoseok helped him recover. "Who's feeling what heat now?"

Seokjin squared his shoulders, pressing Hoseok back across the cool sand as he shifted to lead. Hoseok didn't even hesitate to switch roles. "Fine, I've got nothing to hide. Shoot."

"I better make it something good." Hoseok hummed. "Okay, tell me about your love life."

Seokjin shrugged. "There's really nothing to talk about. I'll be the first to admit it hasn't been great lately. It's not my fault alphas find me intimidating." Hoseok burst out with another laugh, making the omega feel a little indignant. "Something funny about that?"

"No, I just find it hard to imagine an alpha not taking his shot with you." Hoseok said. "No matter how you try to scare him off."

"The short version is, in my line of work, you don't trust what someone's telling you, you trust what your gut's telling you." Seokjin said. "Trust is something I keep to a very limited group, I suppose."

Hoseok nodded. "That's something I can understand." Now his steps faltered, and it was the first time all night he wouldn't meet Seokjin's eyes. Clearly, he was hiding something.

Seokjin decided to do something crazy and try asking him instead of just assuming the worst. "And that's from personal experience?"

"It really isn't much of a story." Hoseok shook his head. "Before the resort, I was the Chief Financial Officer of a very successful startup that I launched with my college best friend. It was great up until we had a public falling out. Very public. Business Insider public."

"I'm sorry, Hoseok." Seokjin said softly.

"That kind of betrayal…" Hoseok sighed. "We came up together, you know? So to have him do me dirty like that…it…" Wincing at the hurt in the alpha's tone and the way his shoulders dipped, Seokjin allowed himself to rub the smallest of circles over Hoseok's back. "Well, it was a learning experience. Got me where I am now and taught me to put a premium on trust since then."

Seokjin nodded slightly. "Trust has to be earned. It's one of the most critical elements of any relationship, makes sense to prioritize it."

Hoseok sat with Seokjin's words, quiet for a moment, until he raised an eyebrow at the omega. "I don't disagree, which is why I wonder how you're so cavalier about pulling one over on your friends when it comes to your pretend dating life." Seokjin wanted to say it was different or that it wasn't that deep, but he couldn't. Instead he stayed silent. "Penny for your thoughts?" Seokjin blinked at him. "I just happened to notice you withdraw just now and from the way your eyebrows are furrowed and the position of the moon, I can surmise that-"

Seokjin laughed as Hoseok rambled on, clearly poking fun at Seokjin's earlier line of observations. "See, now you can mind your business just like you were suggesting I do not too long ago."

He was joking but Hoseok pulled him closer, letting his hand languidly slide Seokjin's back down to his hips, never losing the beat. "Until this is over with, you are my business."

Seokjin's breath caught at the thought and the husky way he'd just said it. It sounded less like a businesslike affirmation of their mutual agreement and everything like a promise of very unbusinesslike conduct to come. "Well, if there's one thing I've learned about you, it's that you give business your all. I trust I'm in good hands?"

"The best." Hoseok assured him. With his hand already on the back of Hoseok's neck, Seokjin drew the alpha close, caught up in the pounding bass and gentle breeze. Hoseok didn't hesitate to close the gap, touching his lips to the omega's, tenderly at first but slowly building in pressure. "Sweeter than anything I've ever tasted." He murmured.

Seokjin snorted. "Like that line's ever worked." It was definitely working on him though. Especially when Hoseok's firm hands guided Seokjin's hips closer, Hoseok's knee sliding between Seokjin's legs.

"It's not a line." Hoseok said.

Chatter started to rise up over the sand and Seokjin realized the music had stopped. "And just like that, our tanda draws to an end."

"But not my event series, thanks to you." Hoseok smiled. Slowly, reluctantly, Seokjin pulled himself out of the alpha's arms. "I just hope this agreement turns out as beneficial for your situation as it is for mine."

"That's on you." Seokjin said. "I expect nothing less than commensurate effort from the likes of Jung Hoseok."

"Yes, sir." Hoseok nodded. "I'm here to deliver." He reached out to give Seokjin's hand a parting kiss and the omega tamped down the giddiness that swelled in his stomach. "Goodnight, Seokjin. I look forward to seeing you next shift." As they went their separate ways for the night, Seokjin had to admit he was kinda looking forward to it too.

Chapter 17

🐰

Jungkook and Taehyung were closing down the resort club when the unthinkable happened. "Last call!"

"Oh, no, no, wait!" Jungkook exclaimed. "I still have room for shots!"

Taehyung frowned. "Do you really need-"

Jungkook held up a finger, stopping him in the middle of his sentence as he chugged the remainder of his Bahama Mama and raced to the bar. "Tilton! My bro! My A-1 since day one! My-"

Tilton cut him off. "Save it. We both know you hit the per diem for our free drinks hours ago."

"Luckily, I'm here with the best cousin in the world!" Jungkook smiled. "Anything I want, I just have to ask, and Taehyung will say-"

"No."

Jungkook whirled around to find Taehyung glaring at him, his arms crossed over his chest. "Damn, Tae. I ain't even ask you yet!"

"And somehow, the answer is still 'no'." Taehyung said. "Besides, it's time for us to go back to the suite anyway."

"Come on!" Jungkook whined. "Seokjin already ran off to get spicy with the boss alpha and Jimin tapped out hours ago! Can't you just hang out with me a little longer?"

Taehyung shot him a look. "I have a photoshoot in the morning. You know, for the job that lets me buy you 'anything you want'?"

"You know I didn't mean it like that." Jungkook said. "You've just been so stressed about your image that I wanted to spend time with you. I can have you back by morning. Pinky swear!" He held out his pinky and for a moment, Taehyung looked like he might take it."

"As sweet as that is, I need my beauty rest." Taehyung said. "You know the rule, Kook. We came together, we leave together. Now let's go."

As Taehyung stepped toward the door, Jungkook crossed his arms. "Is it really a rule if it only applies to me? Jimin and Seokjin both left and you didn't bat an eye! I know you're just looking out for me but I'm an adult. All I'm asking for is a little independence…and some cash. Whoever found my debit card overdrew my account.'

Taehyung sighed and Jungkook could practically see his internal struggle. "Fine. All I've got is $50 in cash. When it runs out, bring your ass back to the room." Jungkook let out a cheer and made a grab for the money, but Taehyung pulled it back, his face serious. "And don't tell Jimin. The last thing I need is him trying to scold me like he's somebody's eomma."

"Oh, I know." Jungkook nodded. "He won't hear it from me."

Taehyung turned over the money and Jungkook held the bill at its ends, snapping the middle. "And be careful, okay? Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Jungkook raised an eyebrow. "That's not as short a list as you think it is. Or did you forget the time you snuck out to go to a concert in Seoul?"

"No but I was hoping you did." Taehyung said.

"Not a chance." Jungkook laughed. "The ass whooping Bora imo gave you was legendaric! As a matter of fact, I think she had that slipper bronzed."

Taehyung snorted. "Then allow me to rephrase. Goodnight, Jungkook. Be good."

Well that was a party ruiner if Jungkook had ever heard one. But as soon as Taehyung headed for the suite, Jungkook turned back to Tilton, finally ready for his shots. "Oh, Tilton! Look what I got!"

"Well done…" Tilton chuckled. "But you just missed the cut off. I already closed out the cash register."

Jungkook fought the urge to drop to his knees and scream 'why'. Instead, he flopped onto a stool and pressed his face to the bar's sticky surface. "If it's not one thing, it's another."

Before Tilton got the chance to give Jungkook one of his world class pep talks, the omega's whining was drowned out by a voice behind him. "Tilton, come on!"

Behind Jungkook was an omega dressed in jewels and feathers followed by an alpha he vaguely recognized from the resort. "Yeah, man. You keep messing around and we gon' miss all of it."

"I'm not 'messing around', Tanya." Tilton said. "While you're talking, did you and Mia wipe down the tables?"

"Done and done." Tanya smiled. "Now can we go? Cause I'm tryna wukup on somebody's fine ass omega child!" In answer, Mia started throwing ti back as Tanya rolled her hips up behind her.

Jungkook perked up at the first whiff of a rager. "Is something going on?"

"Only one of the biggest all year." Tilton said. "Tonight's the last night of Carnival! There's dancing, music, food…"

"And a parade!" Mia exclaimed, giving a little twirl. Her jewels caught the light and her feathers floated through the air.

"I've always wanted to go to Carnival!" Jungkook said. "The costumes alone are gorgeous!"

Tilton chuckled. "Playing mas has a rich history beyond just 'wearing a costume'. It stared as formerly enslaved people mocking the masquerade parties of their wealthy oppressors."

"And as it spread across the diaspora, it picked up influences from everywhere." Tanya added on.

Mia nodded. "Traditions from Africa, religious aspects from Europe, dances from South America, all meshed into one global celebration.!"

"Sounds like my kind of vibe." Jungkook smiled. "I'm Jungkook, by the way."

"That's right, this is Jungkook." Tilton rested a hand on his shoulder. "Somehow my best and worst customer. Jungkook, this is Tanya and Mia."

Tanya nodded towards Jungkook. "If you wanna see what Carnival is all about, you're more than welcome to come with."

Mia smiled brightly. "An omega in my mas band dropped out last minute so her frontline costume is available. Wearing that, we could even sneak you past my section leader and into the parade." She disappeared behind the bar and pulled out a shimmering mas costume, complete with feather backpack and arm and leg pieces.

One quick to the bathroom later and Jungkook was dressed and ready to go. "I feel like the world's thickest peacock."

"Nah." Tilton shook his head. "You're a phoenix come to burn us all up!"

"You look absolutely fabulous!" Mia gushed. "Get ready for the experience of your life!"

Tanya tossed an arm over Jungkook's shoulders. "And you'll fit right in. So now that everybody's dressed, please can we go?"

"You bet your ass." Jungkook let out a cheer. "Carnival, here we come!"

They stepped onto the pulsing streets of downtown Nassau. The music was loud, the costumes were shimmery, and the smell of food filled the air. "This. Is. Heaven."

Tilton, Mia, and Tanya followed behind Jungkook, surveying the streets. "More like heaven's waiting room." Tilton said. "With all these people, it's gonna take forever to do anything!"

"That's the price of being at the hottest spot on the island." Jungkook shrugged. "But tonight's gonna be a movie!"

With an impressed laugh, Tanya threw an arm around his shoulders. "Don't mind Tilton. Stick with me and we'll do Carnival right!"

"You guys have fun." Mia waved at them. "I have some last-minute band errands, but I'll see you on the road!" She grabbed Jungkook's hands and gave them an excited squeeze. "You're gonna love being front and center!"

Jungkook took it all in, the festivities stretching as far as he could see in any direction. "Okay, locals! Where do we start?"

"Up to you." Tilton said. "There are plenty of vendors with crafts and games-"

Tanya cut him off. "But you can do those anywhere! I say we get a drink. It's time to turn up!"

"Let's get some drinks!" Jungkook declared. "I never did get those shots."

"I got something better." Tanya led the way over to a cluster of busy stalls and seconds later he handed them each a cup. "Scotch and coconut water. Perfect to keep the heat off while we party!"

Jungkook took a sip of the drink and made a happy noise. "Normally, I avoid coconut water like the plague, but this is delicious! Who knew all it needed was alcohol?"

"Everybody back home in Trinidad." Tanya chuckled.

Tilton shook his head. "You two are gonna be so wasted, you'll think you're back there if you don't get something in you."

"Speak for yourself!" Tanya exclaimed. "I could drink these all day!" She turned up her cup.

At the mention of food, Jungkook's stomach grumbled, and he spotted a conch fritter vendor two stalls down. "Let's not be too hasty. I hardly ever get to say this but dinner's on me!" He placed and order and soon he and Tilton were snacking on the warm croquettes, dunking each in a little vat of dipping sauce. He took a bite of the crispy fritter, the minced veggies, goat peppers, and well-seasoned conch exploding on his taste buds. "Tanya, are you sure you don't want one of these? They're like little lumps of love and happiness!"

Tanya shook her head. "You have your happiness and I have mine." She toasted them with another cup of scotch and Jungkook shrugged.

Tilton wiped his hands on a napkin. "Alright, Jungkook. See anything else that catch your eye?"

"Let's see…" Jungkook looked around. "What else can we get into?" A little further down the road, he spotted one of the Party Animal competition judges. Quickly he excused himself and headed over. "Hi, Silvestre! I can't believe it. Everyone on the island really is here for the festival!"

Silvestre looked at him in confusion. "Hey…you!"

"It's me! Jungkook Jeon?" Jungkook reminded him. "From the Biggest Party Animal Competition? I was the one who won the bartending challenge! I was actually hoping I could talk to you about my plans for the prize money-"

"Whoa!" Silvestre cut him off. "I appreciate the enthusiasm but today was just the first round. If you want to talk prize money, you've got a long road ahead of you. And it starts with being memorable."

"I'm memorable!" Jungkook insisted. "I've been doing standout things, like, all night!"

Silvestre took a sip of his drink before noticing his outfit. "Wait, you're going to be frontline on the road with a band? That's actually pretty impressive for a tourist."

Jungkook smiled. "That's me! Impressive and always making things happen."

"Look, Jungkook, it's not enough to be memorable once or twice." Silvestre said. "A true party animal is unforgettable. Get there and we'll talk." With that dismissal, the judge headed off and Jungkook made his way back to Tilton and Tanya, distraught.

"What's got your lip hanging low?" Tilton asked.

"That was one of the Bahamas' Biggest Party Animal Competition judges." Jungkook sighed. "He said I need to work on standing out. But how do I do that when there's a jillion other things people can be looking at right now?"

Tanya smirked. "I know one thing everybody's watching." She was unsteady on her feet as she pointed down the street at the parade rounding the corner in the distance. As the baby of the family, Jungkook was literally born to be the center of attention, and the parade was his chance. "Get in there and show that judge you're unforgettable!"

As the paraders got closer, Jungkook spotted Mia's band and joined in, his mas costume colors matching perfectly. "There you are!" Mia smiled at him. "You're supposed to be in the front! Hurry! We're almost at the judging point!"

Jungkook wriggled his way to the front just as they rounded the judges’ tables. He let loose in time to the music, making a point to find Silvestre in the crowd. Just as he was thinking about a way to make the moment huge, his eyes landed on a horse drawn carriage in front of him towing some politician or another. He dipped and glided through the crowd toward his literal ride to success. He kept pace alongside the horse, waiting for a pause to climb over. But just as he was trying to figure out how to hop up, there was a tap on his shoulder. "Need a hand?" A dancer offered and, like a knight in multicolored feathers, she gave him a boost up into the saddle.

"Now we're talking!" Jungkook cheered. "Let me hear you scream Nassau!" He danced as much as the saddle allowed, enjoying the hell out of his detour without a care in the world for how he was gonna get back down.

Chapter 18

When the parade finally came to a stop, Jungkook shimmied down from his perch. As he surveyed the street, he quickly realized he had no idea where he was. "Okay, no sweat." He said out loud to himself. "Call Taehyung or Seokjin or…worst case, Jimin and everything will be totally…" He trailed off as he checked his phone and found it to be dead. Of course it was dead. If Seokjin were there, he wouldn't hear the end of it.

"Jungkook!" He turned to see Tanya stumbling towards him. "That parade was lit! We should do shots!"

"Oh thank god." Jungkook breathed out in relief. "I was starting to think that-" He cut off as Tanya threw her arm around him, causing him to nearly collapse under her weight…or the smell of alcohol seeping out of her pores, either one really. "Tanya, we need to get home. I don't know where I'm going. You know what, let me just use your phone." He straightened Tanya up to reach into her pockets but all he produced was a flask.

"My phone is…my phone's in the-" Tanya suddenly flailed away from Jungkook, falling to her knees as the drinks from the night made their return.

With Jungkook's hairs beginning to stand on end, he hustled over to rub Tanya's back, desperate for some help. "Tanya, I know you're not feeling well but you gotta give me something. Where are we?"

Tanya coughed and spluttered before finally heaving a sigh and looking up at Jungkook with bleary eyes. "The bands split up back at the end of the parade route to take supplies back to their camps."

"Okay!" Jungkook nodded. "That’s a start! Which camp are we at? How do we get back? Which way is Sancian Cove?" And Tanya was already puking again. Jungkook wondered vaguely if that was how his cousin and sister felt when he was on one. He pushed the guilt down and hauled Tanya up instead, careful to avoid getting her vomit all over him. "Nothing left to do but find my way back." He muttered to himself. "I can do that. Lost dogs do it all the time. It's time to be the responsible adult that gets us both back home safe."

The main streets were dead ends and most of the side streets too. Jungkook spotted an alleyway he hadn't tried and slowly but steadily inched toward it. It had to lead them back to the hotel obviously. But as they started down the passage, the turn led into a dark alley and just like that, Jungkook's confidence was shattered. "We are totally and completely lost." He sighed.

🐻

Taehyung crept out of the suite early in the morning and into a waiting limo, passing Jungkook's empty room on the way. He couldn't believe he'd given Jungkook that cash knowing good and well that his stubborn ass wouldn't be back before daybreak. Now he was gonna have to hear Jimin's whiny scolding. As always.

The longer Taehyung stewed in his annoyance, the more he realized his cousins weren't the cause. Deep down, the truth was simple. He wished he could have gone with Jungkook. But the media would talk, Aeri would have a conniption. It was exhausting living up to so many expectations but if the price for Taehyung's life was minding his business, how could he afford not to pay it?

Intent on washing the haterade out of his mouth, Taehyung stepped onto the set and rattled off his drink order to the nearest assistant. "I'll take a hot chocolate made with low fat soy milk, add a quarter pump of caramel, no whip."

"I, uh-"

"Today." Taehyung snapped, clapping his hands together.

As the assistant scurried off, a familiar voice called out to Taehyung. "Wow. Salty as ever, huh?" Yoongi's voice was enough to bring flickers of Taehyung's dream to mind, and he turned expectantly to find the other omega nearby, fiddling with his camera. "How many times am I gonna have to dump a drink in your lap for you to stop treating people like the help?"

Taehyung crossed his arms over his chest. "In my defense, you're not the first omega who's gotten me wet to teach me a lesson. And you probably won't be the last."

Yoongi's lips quirked. "You know what they say. A hard head will make a soft ass."

"Don't threaten me with a good time." Taehyung replied. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought you were a nature photographer."

"Your manager roped me into doing an 'au naturale' themed photoshoot so you can 'steer into the skid' of your little scandal." Yoongi explained.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow. "Well, looking around, I can clearly see Aeri didn't tell you how this is supposed to work." He reached into his Birkin and supplied Yoongi with a copy of his typical list of demands.

Yoongi blinked as he skimmed over the stack of papers. "Floor to ceiling mirrors in your private dressing room? A panini press? We don't have this stuff!"

"So you see my dilemma." Taehyung shrugged his shoulders. "Why don't you take a moment to familiarize yourself with my requirements and then we'll-"

Before the words were even out of Taehyung's mouth, Yoongi gripped the booklet by its pages and, with a flex of his biceps, ripped it in half. The move would have been sexy if Taehyung weren't contemplating shoving the tatters down his throat. "Now that you're back from la la land, here's how this is actually gonna go." Yoongi moved to stand nearly chest to chest. As Taehyung's eyes drifted to his lips, flickers of his dream came to mind, warming him. "Nobody's going to be waiting on you hand and foot. You need something? You ask, and when you get it, you say thank you. Now get dressed, get to Hair and Makeup, and be out by the pool by your call time. Or that's your ass." Without a single look back, Yoongi grabbed his camera and set off, leaving Taehyung to pick his jaw up off of the floor.

An hour later, Taehyung pushed through Yoongi's temper tantrum and posed for the camera like a true professional. Not that Yoongi was treating him like one. "Chin up." Yoongi instructed.

"This is as up as it goes unless you want to make my nostrils look like a pair of tunnels." Taehyung deadpanned.

"Roll your shoulders back more then." Yoongi countered.

Taehyung glared at him. "Like I've been doing?"

Yoongi narrowed his eyes in irritation. "Aim for anything but what you've been doing actually. Then we might accidentally hit what we're looking for."

"You know what? Fine!" Taehyung groaned in frustration. "You want 'something'? I got your 'something'." He sank into a crotch bearing squat and propped his hands on his knees. "How's this?"

Yoongi's finger hovered over the shutter, his gaze hot and intrigued. Then he took the shot and studied it. "It's definitely 'something'. But I don't think 'sexy' is what the client's looking for."

Taehyung threw his hands up in surrender. "I don't know what you want from me!"

"That much is clear." Yoongi said. "Just sit down. I'll take some shots from above."

"Sit down…in the dirt?" Taehyung gaped at him. "Have you lost your mind? No!"

Yoongi shot him a look. "The theme is au naturale, V. That means earthy. Real. But of course, you don’t know anything about that."

Taehyung rolled his eyes. "Sneak diss all you want but I know plenty about modeling. And rule number one is 'don't get the garment filthy playing in the dirt'."

"I don’t know why I agreed to this." Yoongi shook his head. "You clearly have your own way of doing things."

"Who says I'm the problem?" Taehyung retorted. "Maybe you need to go back to taking pictures of the birds and the trees. All in favor?" He threw his hand up and looked around to see a hundred production people doing their damndest not to meet his gaze.

"You know, maybe that's not such a bad idea." Yoongi surprisingly agreed. "I mean, what's 'au naturale' about any of this?" He gestured to the artificial lighting, the breeze machine, and Ford from Hair and Makeup standing by to make sure Taehyung was always glowing.

Taehyung stared at him. "So what? You're just gonna quit?"

Yoongi smiled. "No. I'm gonna relocate and you're coming with me." He sent everyone home then grabbed Taehyung's hand and led him away from the glitz and glamor of the set and into the who knew where.

"Why are we in the woods?" Taehyung asked. "Is this a sneaky link? The tension finally got the best of you and now you want to work it out animal style?"

Yoongi rolled his eyes. "You got spooked at a little dirt. You couldn't handle the nastiness I like in bed." It was only by sheer willpower that Taehyung kept walking. What Yoongi said almost stopped him dead in his tracks.

They trekked farther. Bit by bit, nature seemed intent on stealing Taehyung's shine. His heels were quickly caked in mud, tree branches snagged and pulled at his hair, and horror of all horrors, he started to sweat. "You know, you didn't have to go all Bear Grylls on me. I could've had a driver pull up instead."

"It's a short walk and hired cars are expensive." Yoongi said. "Besides, it's nature. You would've had to step foot on the ground at some point."

"Not necessarily." Taehyung said. "I have a helicopter guy."

Yoongi glanced back at him incredulously. "There are people who don't know where their next meal is coming from and you're blowing thousands so you don't have to walk? That's a little ridiculous even for you."

"What's money for if not to make life easier?" Taehyung pointed out. "Hell, I'd pay an arm and a leg to get somebody to scratch this itch on my back." He reached behind himself and swiped at the spot only for the 'itch' to skitter up his back and into his hair. He shrieked, doing a weird dance to try to get the assumed spider off of him. "Yoongi help! Get it off!"

"You've gotta hold still." Yoongi said calmly, grabbing Taehyung's waist to still him. As he slipped a hand into Taehyung's hair, Taehyung couldn't help but imagine pushing forward the extra inch to feel his lips against his own. Then Yoongi pulled away with Satan's disciple in his palm. "Got it."

"Thank you." Taehyung let out a breath of relief. "Please tell me we're almost there."

Yoongi smiled. "I'll do you one better. We're here."

They stepped into a clearing, the vibrant grass at their feet and lush foliage overhead giving way to a breathtaking waterfall. "Oh wow…"

"I remembered this place from a shoot for Namjoon's guide." Yoongi said. "And since you suggested I 'go back to shooting birds and trees'…" He shrugged. "I thought this might be perfect to capture some real nature. What do you think?"

"I think we left all the stuff to make this work back on set." Taehyung said. "Lights, a breeze machine, the Hair and Makeup team-"

Yoongi cut him off. "We don't need any of that. We'll use natural light and real breezes to showcase you…'au naturale'." He set his things down and tugged off his clothes, stripping down to his swimsuit underneath. He eased the leaves out of Taehyung's hair before guiding him into the water at the waterfall's base and snapping a shot.

"Hey!" Taehyung exclaimed. "I wasn't ready! I didn't do my smize or anything!"

"Good." Yoongi smiled. "Don't 'smize', don't give me model, don't even think. Just do."

Taehyung blinked. "How am I supposed to do that? It's not like I can just turn my brain off."

"Do something else to distract you." Yoongi suggested. "Tell me why you got into modeling." Immediately he snapped another photo.

For the first time in his career, Taehyung tried not to focus on what he looked like for the camera. "I wanted to be a model because…I mean, look at me." He gestured to himself. The spray from the falls misted over his shoulders and as he felt the humidity setting to work on his hair, he paused. "Wait, my hair-"

"Doesn't matter." Yoongi said. "Keep going."

"Right…" Taehyung cleared his throat. "You know how it is. Pretty omega strolls through the mall one day-"

Yoongi cut him off. "Don't bullshit me, Princess."

Taehyung sighed. "Okay fine. College wasn't for me, but I didn't want to go back to living with Eomma and Appa, so I answered a go see ad. I'd never worked so hard for anything in my life, but it paid off. And look at me now."

"Self-made omega, huh?" Yoongi mused. "That's pretty cool actually." He sank into the foliage, rattling off question after question as he took his shots. Taehyung took in the way Yoongi lost himself in every shot, the intensity behind his eyes, the soft way the light framed him as he glanced up from his camera. "I think we got it." His voice pulled Taehyung out of his daydream. "But to really go all out, I think we should get you in the water. Some shots of you popping up and flinging your hair back would-"

"You mean get wet? On purpose?" Taehyung asked incredulously. "My makeup and hair product are already being sweated off-"

Yoongi gave him a look. "Would you stop thinking about what you look like? The second you did that, you took much better photos!"

"But clients book me because of my look." Taehyung pointed out.

"Then these pictures can be just for you." Yoongi retorted. "You deserve to see how beautiful you look naturally."

Taehyung bit his lip, his stomach fluttering. "Only if you'll do it with me." Before Yoongi had a chance to react, Taehyung pulled him directly into the waterfall's stream, soaking his hair, his clothes, and his camera. "Oh my god, it's not broken, is it?"

Yoongi snorted. "We both know you're more worried about your pictures than my camera's well-being."

"Two things can be true." Taehyung giggled. His laughter turned to a shriek as Yoongi splashed him back, the barrage of cool water hitting him right in the face. "Oh, it's like that?" A well-aimed double scoop of water doused Yoongi, and he retaliated with a wave of his own that nearly bowled Taehyung over. "Water fight!" He squealed, wading quickly through the water while Yoongi backed away, fighting off laughter.

"No, don't! Taehyung!"

"Bye Yoongi!" Taehyung grabbed Yoongi by the shoulder and pushed until he was fully under the water.

Yoongi popped up in a spray, laughing as he shook water in Taehyung's direction. Taehyung's fingers still tingled from the warmth of his shoulders. "Okay, okay, truce! I think we're wet enough." He raised the camera to his eye and Taehyung resisted the urge to go full model.

The second the shutter clicked, Taehyung hurried over to see the shot and his face fell. "My hair is weird, my shoulders look like a linebacker's-"

"Damn." Yoongi shook his head. "If that's what you think about yourself, I'd hate to hear what you think about me."

"That's not me!" Taehyung exclaimed. "It's the industry…but unfortunately, they're the ones who control my bag. At any given moment, I could be too fat, too country, or too outspoken to book any work."

Yoongi stared at him. "At the risk of inflating your ego even more, you're easily one of the most beautiful omegas I've ever met. Why do you want to work with companies that have a problem with you being yourself?"

"Because when I don't, I don't get any jobs." Taehyung deadpanned. Yoongi snapped another picture. "Seriously? Now?"

"Sorry." Yoongi smiled. "These are good shots. And since you care so much about what everyone else has to say, I'm gonna tell you what I see."

"This should be good." Taehyung muttered.

Before speaking, Yoongi began to take a few pictures. As he slipped into his intense gaze, Taehyung got the feeling that Yoongi was really seeing him. "Anybody can be beautiful on camera after makeup and retouches, but you? You're beautiful in real life." He lowered his voice to nearly a whisper and suddenly Taehyung realized Yoongi was standing right in front of him, his eyes pinned to Taehyung's lips.

"Is this why you keep picking fights?" Taehyung asked quietly. "Just had to come and yank on my hair?"

Yoongi shook his head. "I'm not picking anything. You're aggravating in real life too."

Taehyung shrugged. "Then I guess it all evens out."

"Hold that pose." Yoongi brought the camera halfway to his eye when Taehyung splashed him.

"Don't try to use photography to change the subject!" Taehyung scolded. "You're interested in me, aren't you?"

Yoongi smirked, and for all his teasing, the look sent Taehyung's pulse into a flurry. "And if I was?"

"Then maybe I'm interested back." Taehyung floated closer, gliding through the water toward Yoongi with a playful glint in his eyes.

"Let's not play games, Princess." Yoongi whispered, looking almost shy as he brought a hand to Taehyung's chin and pulled him closer. "Do you want me or not?"

"Is this straightforward enough for you?" Taehyung asked before pressing his lips to Yoongi's, nipping gently on his bottom lip until his lips parted. Yoongi's mouth was soft and warm as he leaned into Taehyung. The kiss was enthusiastic and tender all at once. When Yoongi broke the kiss, Taehyung crossed his arms and pouted. "So that's it? I've absolutely bared my soul and all I get out of it is a teensy kiss?"

"Always expecting to be spoiled…" Yoongi chuckled, cupping Taehyung's face. He traced his thumb across Taehyung's bottom lip and sent a new wave of butterflies swirling through his stomach. "What more do you want from me, Princess?"

"Kiss me again." Taehyung requested.

Yoongi slipped a hand behind Taehyung's head and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth before lowering his lips to his neck. His teeth grazed over the skin in a faint bite that nearly left Taehyung gasping. Taehyung pulled him closer, his body wet and warm against his own. Taehyung's hands gripped Yoongi's ass as Yoongi kissed him again, pressing their hips together, caressing and kneading him as Yoongi's tongue parted his lips and curled into his mouth. Just as quickly, Yoongi pulled away and snapped one last picture of Taehyung. "There he is. Hello Kim Taehyung."

Taehyung slipped out of the haze of their brief, very brief, romantic moment at his words. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"That you finally gave me something real." Yoongi said. "Not that V mess. It's a compliment."

"V is as much a part of me as Kim Taehyung." Taehyung said.

Yoongi raised his eyebrows. "How? It's a stage name. You and your agent made it up, along with your on-camera persona. If you were just real with your audience-"

Taehyung cut him off with a glare. "This again? You think you're so much better than me because you don't hide anything about yourself, but the truth is you don't have to because no one cares who you are. But access to my life is a privilege. One that I'm revoking from you." Yoongi flinched a little, hurt flashing across his face. Guilt struck Taehyung like a bolt of lightning for just one second. Then Taehyung marched out of the water and stormed off back in the direction of the set and back to the fabulous life of V. What a life it was.

Chapter 19

🐥

When Jimin woke up, he peeked in on Jungkook's room only to find it empty. Taehyung's was too. Seokjin, however, wandered out of his room with a yawn. "Did you hear Taehyung and Jungkook come back last night?" Jimin asked him. "Or leave this morning?"

"Relax." Seokjin said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "They're probably up somewhere enabling each other's worst behavior. You know those two stay attached at the hip."

Back home, Jimin would have been blowing up everyone's phone by that point. But trying to control everything was what had gotten him into that whole mess in the first place. So he was going to let Vacation Jimin take the wheel. "Then I say we do a little family bonding of our own." Jimin smiled. "Come on!"

After packing a bag full of sunscreen and snacks, Seokjin and Jimin headed out to the pool, snagging a couple of lounge chairs. Jimin sighed contently. "Can you believe it? A day at the pool without being hit up for cash or asked to 'take a candid'."

"Someone's excited to be a party of two." Seokjin chuckled.

"Honestly, I'm just glad to be away from Taehyung after our little falling out yesterday." Jimin admitted.

Seokjin looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Uh, little where? Y'all showed your asses in the most public way you could. And all over some beef that's damn near old enough to start kindergarten. Don't you think it's time to squash this?"

Jimin frowned. "I can honestly say I want my cousin back." Jimin said quietly. "It's not like I don't miss him. The way we used to be…but I deserve an apology! What does it say about me if I just welcome him back with open arms after doing me dirty?"

"That you care more about your relationship than winning an argument." Seokjin deadpanned. Jimin, at the end of the day, family's all any of us have."

"Frankly, you should be thanking me for getting in his face." Jimin grumbled. "Considering it landed you some time away with Hoseok. When were you planning to bring Mr. Hotel around? He's hot!"

Seokjin rolled his eyes. "Don't you worry about my belated boyfriend reveal. You've got some throwback hotness of your own to tend to."

As if summoned, the alpha in question blocked out Jimin's sun with an impish grin. Meaning he was in full mischief mode. "Go get dressed." Namjoon instructed without even greeting him. "I've got a new adventure for us."

Jimin raised his eyebrows. "Another Namjoon adventure? Can I at least have a hint this time?"

"Wear something you won't mind getting sweaty." Namjoon said. "We're going to be doing a lot of activity."

His tone made Jimin's heart race, and for the first time in a long time, the omega realized he had butterflies. "But our pool day!" Jimin exclaimed, suddenly scared of the way he was feeling. "Tell him, Seokjin, we-" He cut off as he realized Seokjin had already slipped on his sunglasses and dove into his book, tuning Jimin out completely. "I guess our pool day is over apparently. Sweaty surprise it is."

Jimin left Namjoon waiting at the hotel entrance as he headed back upstairs to his room to rifle through his clothes. Knowing Namjoon, he meant the hint literally. Luckily Jimin never went anywhere without a pair of leggings. He slipped into a pair with a matching sports bra and grabbed a fanny pack to hold his suite key, phone, and money. Then he headed back down to Namjoon. "How do I look?" He asked the alpha, doing a little twirl and feeling a pair of eyes lingering on his ass.

"Thicker than a jar of cold peanut butter." Namjoon said with an appreciative tone. "Now let's go."

Namjoon led Jimin into the trees and to the base of a cliff. "I should have known 'activity' was code for 'climbing something'." Jimin shook his head slightly.

"The real surprise is at the top." Namjoon smiled.

"Let's hope I make it there." Jimin sighed.

"You got this!" Namjoon encouraged him. 'Look at you, you're not sweating, you're glistening. Besides, I'll be right beside you the whole time." Though the cliff was steep, Namjoon set a slow pace. Together, they climbed higher and higher, taking in the view as they went until they reached the top.

While Jimin took the baby-est baby steps ever, Namjoon edge closer and closer to the cliff. "What are you doing?"

"Getting ready for the jump." Namjoon said, throwing his arms out. "Surprise!"

"The what now?" Jimin's eyes widened. "Isn't there something else we can do instead? A nature walk? Bird watching?" Kissing. The thought occurred to Jimin unbidden, but as his eyes flickered to the alpha's lips, it was suddenly all he could think of. The feel of Namjoon's lips on his, of the alpha's arms wrapped tight around him…Jimin looked up to find Namjoon staring right at him with a knowing smile.

"How about we do my thing first then yours?" Namjoon suggested.

"No!" Jimin shook his head. "A million times no."

Namjoon made a noise of disappointment. "What happened to adding some spontaneity to your life?"

Jimin scoffed quietly. "I was thinking of a trauma induced self hair cut but accordioning against a rocky outcropping is basically the same thing."

"I'm not going to let you get hurt." Namjoon said sincerely. "We can even do it together." He slid his hand into Jimin's.

Even with his stomach doing backflips, Jimin knew in his heart that he was safe with the alpha. But still… "If this kills me, I'm going to haunt you for the rest of your life."

Namjoon chuckled. "I'd expect nothing less."

Jimin poised his toes just over the edge, taking deep belly breaths. "One…two…" Namjoon jumped, puling Jimin off the cliff with him, and the omega's feet pedaled in the air as they fell toward the crystal blue waters below. "WHY DO I LET YOU TALK ME INTO THESE THINGS?" They landed with a splash. When Jimin resurfaced and began treading water, he was awash in a sea of euphoria. "That was incredible!"

Namjoon grinned. "OH really? Weren't you the one up there screaming bloody murder?"

"Shut up and let me have my moment!" Jimin whined, splashing Namjoon. "What a rush! It felt like-"

"You were flying, right?" Namjoon guessed.

Jimin nodded. "Then again, I always feel like that when I'm with you."

A soft smile appeared on Namjoon's face. "Being with me is like learning to fly?"

Biting his lip, Jimin swam closer to the alpha. "I could show you better than I could tell you."

Jimin's heart thumped against his chest as Namjoon also moved closer. "Please do."

Reaching out to run his hands along Namjoon's shoulders, Jimin began to lean in. His lips just barely brushed against Namjoon's when he felt something nosing against his hip. He yelped and flinched back. "Did you see that? I told you we're not alone in here. We're gonna die!"

Namjoon laughed. "What is this fear of the ocean you-wait! Look…" He pointed to a pig enjoying the cool water.

Jimin furrowed his eyebrows. "What is it doing out here? Do you think it's lost? Do we have to rescue this pig?"

"Don't worry, pigs are strong swimmers." Namjoon said. "I think this big fella is right where he wants to be--bothering tourists for snacks." The pig squealed happily. "These waters are full of swimming pigs. There's even a little island where they gather not too far from here." After some very expectant snout investigating, the pig realized they weren't offering any food and turned tail to swim toward a nearby islet. "He's probably headed there now. What do you think? Should we follow him?"

"In for a piggy, in for a pound." Jimin smiled.

They followed after the pig and soon found themselves surrounded by many adorable little oinkers. "Whoa there little guys!"

"Pigs eat anything right?" Jimin asked with sudden anxiety. "Even people?" He slipped behind Namjoon and gripped the alpha' bicep as a particularly large pig snuffled closer.

"I don't know where you got this idea that ever creature on the island is out to get you but…" Namjoon took Jimin's hand from his arm, guiding him to open his palm in front of the nearest pig's snout.

"But what if-" Jimin cut off with a giggle. "That tickles!"

Namjoon smiled. "They're just looking for some snacks. Once they see we don't have any, they'll leave us alone."

Jimin rifled through his pockets and fanny pack but everything he found worth feeding the pigs was soaked and disintegrating. "Nothing in here that counts as edible even for a pig-" He stopped abruptly as he realized Namjoon had stripped out of his clothes and was laying them out flat on a rock. "What's with the exhibitionist act?"

"Clothes dry faster when they don't have us in them." Namjoon said. " You should take yours off too."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Jimin teased him as he shrugged out of his clothes, laying them out next to Namjoon's. When he glanced back up, the alpha was gone. "Namjoon?"

"Come here! I found their secret stash." Jimin followed Namjoon's voice and found him next to a pile of plantains.

Jimin put his hands on his hips and shook his head in disbelief. "These little con artists."

"Just wait, that's not all I found…" Namjoon took Jimin's hand and tugged him along to a cavern.

"Wow…" Jimin breathed out as they wandered around the hushed and cramped cavern, passing his hand over the rough rock. They came to a stretch of wall covered in etchings. "Are these real?"

Namjoon hummed. "Folks from here do tell stories of castaways out on the smaller isles. People that got shipwrecked in these waters and stranded without any means of communication. They were able to survive for years on islands like these away from the rest of civilization." He stepped up behind Jimin, running his finger over one of the deep scratches.

Even though they weren't touching, his heat flooded through Jimin's body, the omega's awareness of the alpha crystal clear. "All alone, huh? That sounds nice…with the right person." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Can you imagine? No one else around for miles. You could do whatever you wanted…whenever you wanted. No thoughts and no plans."

"I can actually." Namjoon said softly. "Just you and me out in nature…not needing anything but each other."

Jimin bit his lip at the image going through his head. "Is that right?" He turned to face Namjoon, realizing they were so close they were breathing the same air. The heat of the alpha' gaze turned Jimin's insides to mush. Namjoon's eyes roved over Jimin's face, and he gave the omega a gentle smile before stepping back. "Namjoon?"

"We should get out of this cave before the tide rolls in." Namjoon said.

Back on the beach, Jimin checked on their clothes, bending over the rock to grab Namjoon's shirt threatening to slip over the edge. "They're still pretty damp. If we wait for them to fully dry, we could be here all day."

Namjoon shrugged. "I don't see that as a bad thing." His voice sent a zip of electricity down Jimin's spine. Jimin looked back at Namjoon over his shoulder, seeing a wolfish but restrained grin on the alpha's face. "You're killing me here."

"Oh, come on." Jimin scoffed. "We both know it's nothing you haven't seen before."

"That doesn't make it any easier." Namjoon retorted. "You look good, Jimin." The praise pooled in Jimin's belly, warm and exhilarating. When he met Namjoon's gaze, the alpha's eyes were dark and hot, his desire matching the omega's own. Namjoon sidled a little closer, the warmth of his skin buzzing just out of reach from Jimin's. "Good enough to eat, actually…" His throat bobbed. "I don't want to push for anything here, not when I know what you've been through. But Jimin, being so close to you…"

Jimin knew the feeling. It was the one buzzing through his veins, threatening to take control. All the thoughts and what ifs started to swirl but Jimin closed his eyes to them. He was there now and that's what mattered. What did he want in that moment? He didn't have to think about that too long before having his answer. "I've waited to long for this. I'm not waiting another damn minute."

Namjoon smiled, leaning closer until his lips brushed against Jimin's. "Then we better make up for lost time." The way he murmured those words into Jimin's mouth, hot and breathy and devoted, sent chills down the omega's spine, and Jimin let every single thought slip away. The two of them sank into the sun warmed sand, the heat nothing compared to the familiar feeling of Namjoon's body. "Jimin, the sand…"

Jimin barely heard Namjoon, too wrapped up in the moment. Jimin nipped at Namjoon's lip, beneath his jaw, his neck…all the parts of the alpha he was beginning to remember as his favorite. "Sand's the last thing on my mind right now."

"Then I guess it's my turn to be the responsible one for once." Namjoon chuckled.

Breathing hard, Jimin pulled away, his lips already plump and tender. "Then let's use the clothes." He snatched up the pile of drying clothes and tossed them into the sand. "Would you look at that, an instant picnic blanket." He reclined back on the makeshift blanket, propping himself on his elbows and cocking his head at Namjoon with a smirk. "Still worried about sand?"

Namjoon shook his head. "Not in the slightest." He pounced on Jimin, his mouth hungrily and greedily claiming the omega's. Slick began to leak out of Jimin in a steady stream already as Namjoon settled between his legs, the alpha licking and nipping at Jimin's scent gland as the steady pace he set pushed Jimin further into the sand. "I could never forget the taste of you…" He murmured against Jimin's skin. He dipped his head down brush his lips over one of Jimin's already hardened nipples, causing the omega to flinch.

"I'm sensitive…" Jimin whispered.

"You are, are you?" Namjoon murmured as he circled a thumb over the nub. Jimin threw his head back against the sand with a groan. "What if I do something like…" He brought his lips to Jimin's nipple again, that time opening his mouth to take it between his teeth.

"Oh god~" Jimin moaned out, arching up against the alpha.

Namjoon hummed appreciatively. "How sensitive are you here…" He moved one hand between their bodies, pulling a gasp from Jimin as he began circling a finger around Jimin's hole, gathering up slick. "Am I remembering correctly that this is how you like it?"

Jimin nodded eagerly. "But I want to feel you inside me."

The alpha toyed at Jimin's entrance for a moment longer before slowly slipping two fingers inside, curling them in a way that elicited a delicious ache. Jimin's legs fell open wider, drawing Namjoon's fingers in deeper as he pulled the alpha into another kiss. Namjoon seemed intent on bringing Jimin to his peak just like that, and as Jimin a coil tightening in his stomach, it took all his strength to push Namjoon's hand away. He then gently wrapped his hand around Namjoon's dick, feeling how hard and ready the alpha was for him. "I want this to be good for both of us." He whispered as he slowly stroked the alpha before guiding the tip to his hole.

Namjoon tugged at Jimin's earlobe with his teeth before whispering, "Tell me what you want."

"I want it just like this." Jimin grinned, wrapping his arms around Namjoon's neck. "I’m going with the flow." He relished in the weight of Namjoon leaning down onto him as the alpha captured his lips again.

"Good choice." Namjoon murmured into the kiss before nuzzling at Jimin's neck as he prepared to push inside Jimin.

"You once told me you wanted to make me feel good forever." Jimin whispered. "Did you mean it?"

Namjoon nodded and lifted his head to look down at Jimin. "I sure did."

Jimin bit his lip as he looked into Namjoon's eyes. "Prove it."

The alpha shifted his hips forward, carefully pressing inside of Jimin, pulling a gasp from the omega at the delicious stretch. Namjoon ducked down to trail fiery kisses along Jimin's neck, his groan as he bottomed out nearly enough to make Jimin come undone right then. Jimin tightened his arms around Namjoon, bucking his hips up to meet the alpha's thrusts. The world around them disappeared, the only thing that mattered being the way they felt against each other and the scent of their arousal mixing together around them, until ecstatic release hit Jimin. His head dug into the sand as stars exploded behind his eyelids, his toes curling as wave after wave of bliss overtook him. He felt Namjoon pull out of him as he started to come down, something wet and warm hitting his inner thigh. Panting, Namjoon shifted to lay beside Jimin, resting an arm over the omega's waist.

Once he'd caught his breath, Jimin relished the sun on his buzzing skin. He moved to rest his head on Namjoon's chest, tracing absentminded spirals into the alpha's abdomen. "What's that?" Namjoon murmured.

"What running into you has thrown my five-year plan into." Jimin said. "A spiral."

Namjoon chuckled. "Can't say I'm sorry for it." He traced his own shape into Jimin's back.

Jimin paused, trying to decipher the shape but he couldn't quite make it out. "You know how my five-year plan originated?" He asked instead.

"Let me guess…version one was issued to you at birth?"

"No." Jimin snorted. "With a dream. My parents asked me to imagine the life I wanted in five years. Nothing was too big or small. And then every five years, we'd see what came true, what was still in the works, and make a new one."

Namjoon frowned. "I get that for adults, but kids aren't supposed to know what life they want. They just got here."

Jimin shrugged. "It's never too early to start planning for your future. That's what Eomma and Appa say, at least."

"For me, I was more like the castaways." Namjoon said. "Left to my own devices. And because the future seemed like one big scary unknown. I avoided planning for I until one day I couldn't run from it anymore."

"My plan might be stressful but at least there was structure." Jimin mused. "I couldn't have done things your way."

Namjoon was quiet for a moment before responding. "Jimin, you've got enough strength on your own to survive no matter the circumstance. I've always known that about you." He pulled Jimin close.

As Jimin snuggled into the alpha's side, he realized he was unplagued by his plans for the first time in years. But as he thought about Namjoon's path, he couldn't help but wonder if maybe there was some kind of middle ground.

Chapter 20

Just as Jimin and Namjoon got back to the resort, Jimin's phone rang, and his dad's contact picture popped up. "Ah, my daily guilt trip." Jimin sighed. "Right on time."

"I'll let you take that." Namjoon said. "But if you want to decompress, you know where to find me."

Jimin watched Namjoon head inside and focused all his energy on the siphoning the resignation from his voice before he picked up. "Hi, Appa. Before you say anything, I'm sorry I've been dodging you. You know I love you, I'm just trying to get some space from the whole Sungho debacle. If I could just go one day without thinking of his stupid face…" Jimin took a deep breath to dispel the anger bubbling in his chest. "Anyway, what were you calling about?"

"Right so…" His dad cleared his throat. "Sungho called."

"Appa!"

"He called crying, Jimin! He regrets what happened-"

Jimin cut his dad off. "Appa, please don't do this. I know you want us together but there's literally no reason I should entertain him at this point."

"Well what if I could give you one?"

Jimin furrowed his eyebrows. "Appa, what's going on?"

"Do you remember the dream venue you wanted?" His dad asked. "The one you made me the point person for? They just had a cancellation. Honey, you can have the wedding you've always dreamed of!"

"To an alpha who humiliated me in front of my family and his?" Jimin asked incredulously.

"To an alpha who is trying to make amends." His dad corrected. "Think about it."

His dad's words surrounded Jimin in a vision of what the day could be like. The gorgeous dress, the beautiful venue, his smiling friends and family…and then he heard Namjoon's voice in his ear. You've got enough strength on your own to survive, no matter the circumstance. "Appa, I'll let you know but right now, I've gotta go." Jimin ended the call, his thoughts buzzing with wedding bells, Sungho, Namjoon…at that point, all he wanted was a hot bath, a good sleep-

"I'm telling you, Seokjin, he wasn't with me!" Taehyung's voice suddenly captured Jimin's attention. "I've been in the jungle all day!"

"Then where the hell is he? Because he's not answering his phone!"

Jimin rushed over to Taehyung and Seokjin. "What's going on?"

Taehyung looked at him with wide eyes. "Jimin, I'm so sorry-"

"Sorry for what?" Jimin's heart was already starting to pound in his chest as Seokjin and Taehyung's eyes met in a panicked glance. He had never seen the two of them so perfectly in sync.

"We lost Jungkook." Seokjin finally said.

Tendrils of dread crawled over Jimin's skin as Seokjin's words sank in. "Please tell me this is one of those cruel TikTok trends. You know 'Jeon Jungkook, kidnapped in the Bahamas'? He wheeled around, looking for the asshole with a smartphone who would pop out and tell him it was just a prank.

Instead, Seokjin raised his hands defensively. "I know this is a lot to take in, but we'll find him."

Taehyung nodded. "He can't have gone too far. I'm sure he's fine."

"Well the sooner we find him, the sooner we'll know for sure." Jimin said. "My baby brother could be out there scared and hurt. I'm not taking any chances."

"Agreed." Seokjin said. "I'll run point with the Korean Embassy. Jimin, you call all the hospitals."

"Whoa, aren't we taking this a little far?" Taehyung asked. "I mean, it's Jungkook. How do we know he's not just sleeping it off somewhere?"

Jimin stared at him. "Because even Jungkook knows better than to disappear into the night without telling anyone. Unless you know something we don't."

A look of regret flitted across Taehyung's face and suddenly he looked guilty. "Last night< Jungkook wanted to stay out after last call, but I had to get to work early so…I gave him some cash and went to bed." Jimin's eyes widened in disbelief. "But I swear to god I thought he'd grab a few more shots and take his little ass to sleep, not go run the streets!"

"How could you let this happen?" Jimin asked in exasperation.

"Let?" Taehyung repeated with an incredulous tone. "Not sure if you've noticed but your brother is grown. And we haven't exactly been practicing the buddy system."

"Enough!" Seokjin's command washed over both Jimin and Taehyung, leaving them seething but silent. "There's enough blame to go around but our top priority needs to be finding Jungkook not arguing. So either be quiet or be helpful."

For a moment Taehyung did nothing but stare Jimin down. Then he sighed. "I'll check with reception and see if they have cameras in the bar. Maybe we can see where he went and who with." He was barely gone before Jimin set off in the opposite direction.

Seokjin followed Jimin, hot on his heels. "Where are you going? We don't even know what Taehyung's found out yet!"

"Like Taehyung's gonna be any real help." Jimin scoffed. "He just wants to play Captain Save a Ho to make himself look good." He looked back through the glass window to find Taehyung shooting a cheese eating grin at the desk staff, and he couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Jungkook deserves to have our full attention and all Taehyung ever thinks about is himself."

"Look, I get it." Seokjin said. "Y'all are beefing. But Jungkook's out there somewhere and he needs our help. All of our help. So we need to come together for Jungkook's sake. And who knows, maybe joining forces might help you and Taehyung find some common ground."

Jimin bit his lip, not wanting to admit Seokjin had a point. Eventually he gave in with a sigh. "Fine. If having him along means we can find Jungkook faster, then I guess the more the merrier."

Seokjin smiled. "My thoughts exactly." He waved Taehyung over and as he joined them outside the air immediately dropped about 10 degrees. Taehyung and Jimin stared each other down in silence. "Well? Does either of you have something you'd like to say, or should I break out the Get Along Shirt?"

The thought of Seokjin stuffing the two of them into the same shirt like Jimin's mom did when they were little inspired a reluctant smile and Jimin sighed again. "I'll go first. Taehyung, I'm sorry for blaming you. I'm just really scared. Jungkook left here all alone, drunk, and in the dark. What if something happened?"

"You don’t think I'm scared too?" Taehyung asked. "He's my cousin, Jimin! I never meant for anything bad to happen to him." He frowned and hugged himself. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry too. I should've made him come back to the suite with me."

Jimin shook his head slightly. "Even if you'd tried, everybody and their mom knows Jungkook's hardheaded. Something tells me we'd have ended up here regardless."

"We can 'should I, could I, would I' all day but all that matters is getting him back." Taehyung said. "So let's put aside our thing and find him. Deal?" He held his hand out for Jimin to shake.

Though the move struck Jimin as oddly formal, he took Taehyung's hand in his. "Deal."

"Good." Seokjin clapped his hands together. "Now that that's settled, what did they say at the desk? Was Jungkook on the camera? Has anyone in the bar seen him?"

"Turns out he left with the bartender and some of the waitstaff in a cab." Taehyung said. "One of them's at work right now."

"Then that's where we start." Jimin determined.

They hurried into the hotel bar and found it already bustling with vacationing day drinkers. Unfortunately, Jungkook wasn't one of them. "Okay, once we find the bartender, what's our game plan?" Jimin asked.

"We have no idea what he knows so let's not spook him." Seokjin said. "Why don't you ask some questions while I make sure he's telling us the truth?"

Jimin smiled. "Don't tell me you're setting the JinDar to stun?"

Seokjin's expression hardened the tiniest bit. "If he's got anything to do with Jungkook going missing, he'll be lucky if I don't drag his ass through this bar."

"There he is!" Taehyung exclaimed, pointing to the bar. "That's the guy from the video footage!"

As the bartender finished with a customer, Jimin weaved his way through the crowd, Seokjin and Taehyung keeping an eye from a distance. "Afternoon." The older alpha greeted Jimin with a warm smile. "The name's Tilton and I'll be serving you today. What can I get you?"

Jimin leaned over the bartender, trying to seem relaxed. "A little information would be nice. Specifically where an omega can go to let loose. The hotel is a vibe but it's all tourists. I want the real deal island party experience."

"You just missed the biggest party of the year." Tilton informed him. "Carnival wrapped up last night."

"Must've been crazy." Jimin mused. "You look exhausted."

Tilton nodded. "It was great until my friends joined the parade and never came back. I walked Bay Street all night. No sign of 'em."

As the alpha hung his head, Jimin appraised him before calling over his shoulder. "What do we think? Believable or bullshit?"

"I don't know!" Taehyung called back. "But choosing a parade to be his main character moment has Jungkook written all over it!"

Seokjin nodded. "He's telling the truth."

The two omegas swooped into flank Jimin on either side and the bartender's eyes went wide. "What's going on?"

"The omega you were with last night. Jungkook." Jimin said. "He's my brother and he's missing. We're trying to find him."

Tilton sighed. "I'd help you look but we're short staffed. Jungkook and I went out to Carnival with my coworker, Tanya, and now she's missing too."

"I'd bet they're together." Jimin said. "But where is the question."

Taehyung smiled. "Lucky for you, I know just who to ask." He opened instagram and went live. In an instant, millions of his followers flooded in to hear what he had to say. "Hi, Baby Bears! I'm in the Bahamas for a special omegas' trip with my family and my cousin Jungkook got lost. Anyone know where he might be?" He rattled off a few details and the comments flooded in.

Seokjin's eyes widened. "Someone says they can see him in the background of one of their pictures from last night. He was at a food stall!"

"There were some food stalls at the end of the parade route." Tilton said. "They usually do business down the road from here."

"Then it looks like we've got our next stop!" Jimin exclaimed. As Taehyung thanked his fans and began to sign off, Jimin eyed his phone. "If your following is as big as you say, is there a chance Jungkook might see this?"

Taehyung shrugged. "Depends on where he's at but maybe. Did you want to say something to him?"

Jimin nodded. "Jungkook, if you're watching this, call home. I know you probably haven't because you're worried we'll be mad, but we won't. We just want to know you're safe."

"Speak for yourself." Seokjin snorted. "Because I am entirely capable of wringing his neck and hugging him at the same damn time."

"Don't worry, Kook." Taehyung said. "I'll keep these old broads in check."

Tilton cleared his throat. "Just make sure and let me know when there's any news. You kids have got me worried sick."

Jimin nodded. "Will do, Tilton. Thanks for the tip."

The three of them hurried toward the food carts, bypassing the lengthy lines. One by one they all denied seeing Jungkook until there was just one left. "Excuse me. Have you seen-"

"No cutting the line."

Seokjin blinked at the vendor. "We're not here to order."

The vendor shrugged. "Then we don't have nothing to talk about. Time is money and I have literal mouths to feed."

As the alpha gestured for the next guest, Jimin slammed his hands down on the cart's wooden surface, rattling the utensils and dispensers. "Look, dude, I will knock all of this over! My brother went missing after Carnival yesterday and unless you want your condiments to follow his lead, you should at least pretend to care."

The vendor scowled. "I'm sorry about your brother but I have a business to run. So either buy something or beat it."

Before the words were fully out of his mouth, Taehyung stepped up and slapped his black card on the counter. "We'll take everything you've got but before you spend a dime, you're gonna tell me whether you remember seeing an omega last night."

"He's about 177 centimeters with a tattoo sleeve and a lip ring and kinda long wavy hair." Seokjin described. "He would have been a little wild and possibly drunk."

Taehyung showed the alpha a picture of Jungkook, and recognition immediately flashed across his face. "I remember him, but his friend was the drunk one. He tried to convince me to give him a free ginger ale to settle her stomach. I sent him down to the beach club instead. Figured one of the lifeguards should look her over. She was down pretty bad."

"This club have a name?" Jimin asked.

"The Green Coconut."

With a grin, Taehyung slid the vendor his card. "Tell everyone in line that lunch is on me and make it fast. We've got a club to hit."

Chapter 21

The beach was overrun when Jimin, Taehyung, and Seokjin arrived. Nearby, a flash of wavy hair that looked just like Jungkook's peeked out from under a towel being used to black out the sun. "Finally!" Jimin marched over and whipped the towel off with a flick of his wrist. "There you-" But as the sun hit the omega's face, Jimin immediately recognized his mistake. "Aren't?"

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Oops." Jimin said sheepishly. "that's my bad."

A lifeguard rushed over to them. "Is there a problem over here?"

Before Jimin could say anything, Taehyung stepped in with a smile. "Just a misunderstanding. Our bad!"

The omega's eyes widened. "Whoa! You're-"

"V!" The lifeguard exclaimed. "Me and my boyfriend love you!"

Taehyung put a hand to his chest. "Aw, I love you guys too!" He shot Jimin and Seokjin a look that let them know he had them right where he wanted them.

Seokjin cleared his throat. "We're actually looking for our cousin. You wouldn't happen to have seen this omega, would you?" He showed both of them a picture.

While the omega shook her head, the lifeguard did a double take. "That's your cousin?"

Jimin's eyes widened. "So you know him?"

"Well…" The lifeguard bit his lip. "I'm not really supposed to give out information on my patients."

"Patient?" Jimin's voice rose in both volume and pitch as he stepped closer to the lifeguard. "Talk. Now. You met him? You treatedhim?"

"No!" The lifeguard shook his head. "I mean, yes, technically, but…"

As he trailed off, Taehyung draped an arm over his shoulder. "Relax. No one's gonna tell on you. We just want to find him."

The lifeguard's throat bobbed. "Well…the alpha he was with needed to get her stomach pumped but he didn't want to leave her on his own. So he convinced me to make up a reason for him to go to the hospital too. He's probably still there."

Jimin's jaw dropped in disbelief. "You mean all this time we were worried, and he was eating pudding? Classic Jungkook."

Seokjin ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Well since he's not dying and we've been running all over high heaven, I'm gonna need a shower first. Let's get back to the hotel."

Back at the hotel, Jimin could finally breathe again. As the three of them laughed and cracked jokes, Jimin imagined the feeling was mutual. "Taehyung, I can't believe you bought everything from that food cart!" Jimin exclaimed. "Can you even eat any of that?"

"Hell no!" Taehyung laughed. "I haven't had fried food in years. But I'll admit that doesn't stop me from craving some good Korean fried chicken."

"If y'all are hungry, then I guess it's a good thing the snack of the family just arrived."

They all looked up to see Jungkook climbing out of a nearby cab, and they collapsed onto him, pulling him in for a giant group hug. "Jungkook, thank god you're okay!"

"You damn near gave us a three-way heart attack!"

"Speak for yourself." Taehyung snorted. "I knew he was fine the whole time." At that, a laugh bubbled up inside Jimin. When he caught Taehyung's eye, Taehyung gave him a squeeze, letting the embrace say everything the two of them couldn't.

But as the vice grip of worry around Jimin's heart loosened, the annoyance set in. "Dammit, Jungkook, what the hell?! Since when is it okay for you to go all Without a Trace on our asses? I almost called Eomma and Appa! And now you're just here? No 'hey I'm alive' text, no apology, just vibes?" As Jimin spoke, Jungkook's feathers fluttered in the breeze. "And what are you even wearing?""

Taehyung put up a hand. "Not too much on the costume because it's giving me everything Carnival was supposed to."

Seokjin lightly nudged Jimin. "As much as I hate to encourage him when he's like this, your baby brother is a whole mood."

Jungkook grinned. "Thank you. But…" He sighed in exasperation. "Y'all are missing the whole point! I was lost in a foreign country with nothing but a belly full of rum and a soul that needed me! And not only did I get her help, I found my way back all alone with no money! Are you not entertained?!"

Jimin crossed his arms over his chest. "I'd have been more impressed if it didn't take you 12 hours."

"Well I'd have been home hours ago but I forgot the hotel's name." Jungkook admitted. "The cabbie's been driving me to all the hotels he can think of. Speaking of which, can somebody pay him? Like I mentioned earlier, I have no money."

"I know you're lying-"

Seokjin cut Jimin off. "Why don't we table this until after Jungkook's Party Animal Competition? It starts in five minutes."

Jungkook frowned. "But I'm tired!"

"Maybe you'll think of that next time you decide to stay out all night." Seokjin said. "Now let's get you upstairs to change."

"I guess I'll tip the driver." Taehyung sighed. "What am I, a walking ATM today?"

🐰

Thanks to Seokjin, Jungkook made it to the competition with seconds to spare. People spilled out from the pool to the surrounding beach, and though Jungkook was dead tired, he couldn't help but draw energy from the gathering crowd. "Check it out! They brought in extra DJ booths!"

"Fascinating…" Taehyung's voice sounded far away. When Jungkook turned to see what had his attention, he noticed Yoongi snapping pictures of the crowd. But the second Yoongi turned in their direction, Taehyung looked away, feigning disinterest.

Jungkook blinked at Taehyung. "What the fuck was that?"

Taehyung smiled innocently. "That was me winning this little cold war Yoongi started. Now tell me, does he look ready to apologize yet?"

"He literally hasn't looked over here so…no." Jungkook furrowed his eyebrows. "Why are you two at war anyway?"

Before Taehyung could respond, a microphone squealed, and Hoseok and the other judges stepped front and center. "Welcome back, everyone, and let's give a warm welcome to our Top 15!"

"Tonight, our contestants will be going head-to-head in a DJ challenge we're calling, 'Who You Got?'!"

"You'll try to one up your opponents' song selections to create a set that keeps the energy high and gets the crowd hyped! After three rounds, we'll ask the crowd 'who they got' and they'll decide who wins and who's gotta take the L."

"The more matches you win, the more likely you'll join the top 10 competitors continuing on the quest for 100,000 dollars!"

"So now more than ever, it's time to secure the bag. What do you say we get things started?" Jungkook waved goodbye to his family and hurried into his booth, his excitement building. "DJs, start your turntables, and may the best emcee win!"

Jungkook gave the controls a quick once over and a wave of relief washed over him as he realized they weren't too different from the setup in the hotel. "Sancian Cove, make some noise!" He slapped one side of the headset into place, his mind already stringing together tracks that could build into one another. He bobbed his head as the opening notes of his first selection blasted out of his speakers.

From the other side of the crowd, his competitor popped on a mid-tempo throwback that got the aunties busting a move. The audience flowed into the new groove seamlessly but the beats per minute rate was way too fast to blend into the track Jungkook had planned next. As his rival's song tapered off, Jungkook rearranged his lineup, throwing on a track he'd originally set aside.

"Final round, everybody! Don't hold back!"

Jungkook studied the controls around him and noticed a switch to turn on the strobe lights and sound effect buttons. He waited until the song's climax, then flipped the switch, bathing the pool area in flashes of color. "Now this is what I call a party! Y'all having a good time tonight?" The crowd cheered. "I said, are y'all having a good time tonight?!" The crowd screamed even louder. The enthusiastic response had Jungkook floating and everywhere he looked, his family was rallying the people around them. But rallying support wasn't all they were doing. AS Jungkook put in work on the tables, he looked out over the crowd and spotted Seokjin chatting it up with Hoseok, Taehyung passive aggressively ignoring a very smug Yoongi, and Jimin and Namjoon dirty dancing in a secluded area. Interesting…if only Jungkook could be a fly on the wall for each of them.

🐥

As Jimin and Namjoon danced nearly chest to chest, Jimin couldn't help but feel like they'd gone back in time. "This takes me back to all those parties we went to in college." he informed the alpha.

Namjoon grinned. "You and me, bumping and grinding in seedy clubs will always be some of my favorite memories. Right up there with you trying to take control of the dance floor freshman year."

"Hey, I was just trying to put myself out there!" Jimin defended himself. "And I may have had one too many shots of soju at that point." He then admitted with a giggle.

Chuckling, Namjoon gripped Jimin's hips. As Jimin turned in the alpha's hold so his back was to his chest, Namjoon nuzzled into the crook of his neck, whispering against his skin. "I've always liked your dancing."

Jimin was hot, sweaty, and sticky in the humidity, but the feeling of Namjoon's hands on him just made him want the alpha closer. "Always?" Jimin smirked. "That's a big word for Elmo. You sure you're not letting your mouth write checks my heart can't cash?" He took Namjoon's hands and pulled them around his waist, leaving no space between them as he grinded his ass back against the alpha. "Because I've already been with an alpha who thinks with his knot, and I don't need a repeat."

Namjoon's hips moved in perfect sync with Jimin's, his body heat melting into Jimin's back as the two of them became one. 'You're right." Namjoon murmured. "But you also have a tendency to overcorrect. You don't need someone who never has an off-color thought." Jimin could feel Namjoon's breathing change, the thud of the alphas' heart racing against his back. "You just need someone who only thinks that way about you."

Jimin bit his lip tingles erupted in his stomach. "And you think you're that someone?"

"Jimin, I think about you with every party of me, knot included." Namjoon confessed. "But I would never play with your heart." His hands wandered and Jimin timed his movement to the squeezing grasp of the alpha's hands on the swell of his ass.

"I missed this." Jimin admitted quietly.

Namjoon glanced at Jimin. "Missed what exactly?"

"I don't know." Jimin shook his head slightly. "I want to say 'this' or maybe 'us' but…"

"But both of those are entirely too vague for someone who likes to think five moves ahead?" Namjoon asked cheekily.

Jimin let out a small laugh. "To be honest, I'm not exactly sure they fit the swirl of emotions I've been wrestling with since you popped back into my life. But I do know I miss when life was as simple as seedy club parties and getting drunk off our asses."

Namjoon hummed. "And when nothing made as much sense as you being in my arms."

Jimin turned to face Namjoon again, the music all but forgotten as he pressed his forehead to the alpha's. "So I guess I'll just say, "I missed you'. Is that a good enough answer?"

"I'll take it." Namjoon smiled. "And for the record, I missed you too. But I also like figuring out where we are now."

"The only thing I know for certain is that I want you to kiss me right now." Jimin said.

"I can work with that." Namjoon lowered his lips to Jimin's, hands running down the omega's back as he tugged him closer. The two of them continued their languid dance, the crowd of people blurring as they focused only on each other.

Chapter 22

🐻

As Taehyung stretched luxuriously on a lounge chair, hoping to catch Yoongi's attention with nothing but his general proximity and killer body, he had one singular thought--thank God he wasn't ugly. He had no idea how regular people did it. Not bothering to reach out after the shoot from Hell was one thing, but fully acting like Taehyung didn't exist was another and Yoongi would pay. But as hard as Taehyung stared, Yoongi didn't even glance in his direction. Yoongi insulted him, ignored him all night, and didn't even have the decency to apologize? Who did he think he was?

While Taehyung stewed, an alpha double fisting Jack and Cokes took the seat next to him and waggled his eyebrows. "Hey, you're-"

"Gay? Yes." Taehyung said. "Not interested in whatever this is? Very. Now move away, please. You're drawing too much attention."

Instead of moving, he followed Taehyung's gaze until he spotted Yoongi. Yoongi was animated as he chatted with some rando who wasn't half as cute as Taehyung. "He won't give you the time of day, huh?" The alpha guessed. "I guess celebrities really are just like us."

Taehyung forced out a scoff. "I absolutely am not! I am V! The Beyonce of supermodels!"

"Is he doing that old song and dance again?"

Taehyung yelped and looked up to see Yoongi towering over his chair with a smug expression. Great. Now Yoongi had the upper hand. "I was just-it doesn't matter. Yoongi, meet one of your adoring fans."

The alpha smiled. "It's a pleasure. We were just talking about you." Taehyung snapped his eyes to the alpha, glaring so violently that he had no choice but to tuck tail and run.

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. "Talking about me, huh?"

"Only in the vaguest sense." Taehyung tried to play it off. "He was going on and on about how impressive you are or whatever. I had to let him know the truth about you."

Yoongi suddenly leaned close, propping a hand on the lounger next to Taehyung's thigh to meet him at eye level. "And what's the truth about me, Princess?"

"I…" Taehyung's words caught in his throat. Yoongi pinned Taehyung with a heated stare before quickly turning, lifting his camera to his eye. "Hey! At least let me answer!" Taehyung huffed. "See, this is exactly your problem. You're rude."

Yoongi let out a short laugh, glancing over his shoulder at Taehyung with a raised eyebrow before turning back. "Pot? Meet kettle. Besides, I didn't come over here to chitchat." He took a moment to set up his tripod before setting his camera on it, studying the angle. He snapped a few photos, each click of the shutter ratcheting up Taehyung's simmering anger. Just when he was about to unleash it, Yoongi suddenly smiled. "Come here, let me show you something."

Part of Taehyung wanted to refuse just to piss Yoongi off. But the more curious half of him got him to his feet. "What is it?"

"Will you stop acting like everyone's out to get you?" Yoongi laughed as he gently grabbed Taehyung's shoulders, his hands warm and a little rough, and steered him in front of the camera. "Look through the finder and let me know what you see."

Taehyung gave an exasperated sigh but leaned in to peer through. "I don't know. People? People dancing, talking, eating…so?" He pulled back to look at Yoongi, surprised at the tender expression on his face.

"What youre' seeing is people relaxing and enjoying themselves." Yoongi said. "Not posing in a lounge chair on the beach." He tilted his head to the side, his eyes traveling over Taehyung as he smirked. "Yes, I was paying attention."

Taehyung's skin flushed hot then cold, the air between the two of them buzzing. As badly as Taehyung might want Yoongi, there was still one thing on his mind. "About the shoot…" Yoongi looked at him expectantly. "I'll forgive you if you kiss me." Yoongi's hand found the back of Taehyung's neck, lingering there as he lazily drifted a finger up and down his nape. Their lips almost touched but not yet. Yoongi surrounded Taehyung on all sides and Taehyung's breath caught in gasps at the anticipation. "Yoongi-"

Yoongi's lips connected with Taehyung's, swallowing his words. His hold on Taehyung tightened as the kiss deepened, Yoongi's tongue exploring and patient. They pulled away to catch their breath, foreheads pressed together. "Now the only question is, what do I get in return for forgiving you?" Yoongi asked.

"What do you mean?" Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows.

Yoongi pulled back. "You said a kiss was my apology. What's yours?"

Taehyung's eyes widened in disbelief. "Apologize? Me?"

"Yes you!" Yoongi exclaimed. "You're the one who stormed off set so you're the one who owes me an apology!"

Taehyung crossed his arms and glared at Yoongi. "That shoot was over when you insulted my whole career. Or do you not remember that part?"

"What I remember is you being so attached to the concept of V that you lost sight of exactly who you really are." Yoongi argued. "It's an uncomfortable truth but the truth nonetheless. Deal with it."

"What is it that makes you think you know me?" Taehyung asked.

Yoongi scoffed quietly. "I keep asking myself the same thing." Just like that, the magnetic pull between them reversed and Yoongi stormed off, leaving Taehyung more frustrated than before.

🐹

As Seokjin watched Jungkook's set, Hoseok joined him at the bar. He flashed the alpha coy smile. "Excellent stage presence out there. Very authoritative."

Hoseok grinned. "You liked that, did you?"

The flirtation in Hoseok's voice sent a flutter through Seokjin that he checked with a sip of his drink. "You could tell me what to do any day."

"Really?" Hoseok raised an eyebrow. "You don't strike me as an omega who likes doing what he's told."

"That's because there are very few alphas who've ever earned that privilege." Seokjin said. "And far too many who thought it was theirs by right. But with the right alpha, I could see myself being very accommodating."

Hoseok turned to face Seokjin, meeting his eyes with the full warmth of his gaze. Seokjin couldn't help but melt in ways he hadn't for countless real boyfriends. "Then considered me honored."

The song ended and Jungkook called out to the crowd, his voice barely audible over their screams. "So what do you think?" Seokjin asked.

"I don't know if I’m allowed to weigh in on such a biased question considering I'm technically on the clock." Hoseok chuckled.

"Off the record then." Seokjin grinned.

Hoseok nodded along to the next song's intro as he took in Jungkook's showy DJing and the crowd's energy. "He's pretty damn good at getting people hyped. A few years and I could see him DJing here as the headliner."

"Years?" Seokjin repeated. "I was thinking by the end of the week."

"Oh, it's like that?" Hoseok laughed.

Seokjin shrugged. "What can I say? Ambition and good looks run in the family."

Hoseok's eyes wandered Seokjin's body and Seokjin felt as warm as if the alpha were trailing his fingertips over him in that moment. "Yes, they do." His knee brushed Seokjin's beneath the bar.

Seokjin couldn't remember the last time he'd felt that pursued, that courted, that…stimulated. One look at Hoseok said that he saw it too. Seokjin cleared his throat, desperate to regain some semblance of control. "So did you come all the way over here just to talk to me or should I consider myself on duty?"

"There is actually a problem I could use your help with." Hoseok admitted.

"What's up?" Seokjin asked.

"A large part of my job is keeping an eye out for trouble." Hoseok said. "And I'm not entirely convinced that doesn't include you." He tipped Seokjin's chin towards him with a finger and Seokjin's breath caught.

"The others aren't here, Hoseok." Seokjin pointed out. "You don't have to do this."

Hoseok grinned. "Seokjin-"

"Working hard or hardly working, Hoseok?" Sonam appeared next to them.

Hoseok began to move away but Seokjin tugged him back into place, trying to come up with a professional way to explain their proximity. "Babe, wait, I'm not done with your collar." He pulled Hoseok close and brushed his hands along the lapel of the alpha's jacket as if he'd been making adjustments all along. His fingers grazed the back of Hoseok's neck, and the alpha breathed a sigh that ghosted across Seokjin's cheek.

"Thank you, Seokjin." Hoseok shot him a grateful look rife with dual meaning and Seokjin returned it with a nod.

"We wouldn't want anyone to think you're not taking this seriously." Seokjin smiled.

"Such teamwork." Sonam mused. "If you two are anything to go by then the dating series really must be a success."

"I thought that much was obvious after the tango event." Seokjin said. "But if you need more proof, just look around."

Hoseok grinned. "We're not the only couple in the crowd that met their match at the resort."

Sonam raised his eyebrows. "I guess there's no denying there's love in the air. I'm just hoping you'll be able to continue translating that to profit." He glanced between them, his nose scrunched as if he wasn't quite sure if he was smelling bullshit.

Seokjin quickly slapped on another smile. "Absolutely! The idea isn't just to be a couple's hot spot. We want to be the setting where their entire love story unfolds."

"Right! Um…" Seokjin shot Hoseok a look and the alpha took it from there, the two of them unspooling the thread of ideas seconds before they were sewn into plans. "Couples will meet here in the series, vacation here for anniversaries…"

"Get married on the beaches, honeymoon in the presidential suites-"

"Maybe even conceive a child or two."

The low timbre of Hoseok's voice stole Seokjin's attention and as his gaze snapped to the alpha's, a whole life flashed before his eyes. Himself standing before Hoseok at an altar…Hoseok's lips pressed first to Seokjin's lips then to the omega's swollen belly…the two of them, hot, sweaty, and tangled in the sheets…Seokjin cleared his throat. "The point is, Sancian Cove is the beginning of their happily ever after."

Sonam lit up as dollar signs sprung up behind his eyes. "I think we just found our new tagline! 'The beginning of happily ever after'…now that's something that'll sell. I'd like a mockup of those plans and the potential figures in time for our nightly debrief, Hoseok." He waited for the alpha to respond but got nothing. "Hoseok?"

Seokjin nudged Hoseok's arm and the alpha tore his gaze from Seokjin's and back to Sonam, his eyes slightly dreamy. "Of course. I'll get started now. Seokjin, if you'll excuse me."

"Of course." Hoseok stood and buttoned his jacket. Then he and Sonam were gone, leaving Seokjin with a need that begged to be sated and the feeling that the line between business and pleasure just got a lot murkier.

🐰

Jungkook tore his eyes away from his family and focused on garnering the cheers of the crowd. "Hey, Sancian Cove, who you got?!" The response was overwhelming as they chanted Jungkook's name, their outstretched hands reaching for him. Without a second thought, he leaped into the crowd, throwing up the 'rock on' symbol as his fans passed him around like a cheese platter.

"Sounds like DJ Jungkook's taking this one but let's see if he can keep the crowd on his side in his next face off against Cayson!"

Jungkook's fans rerouted him back to the turntables, and sure enough, that time it was Cayson staring at him over the crowd. "Boo!" Cayson gave him a thumbs down.

"Did you not just see how I did the last guy?" Jungkook laughed. "Respectfully, I'm on your ass."

"Alright, I wanna see you come out with nothing but heat this round." One of the judges instructed them.

Cayson cocked an eyebrow. "How's this for heat?" Without waiting for the go ahead, Cayson dropped his first track.

An omega near Jungkook's booth squealed. "I love this song!"

Unfortunately, Jungkook did too but he'd be damned if he let Cayson know that. Two songs came to mind as strong rebuttals. A rock song that could take the right crowd to an eleven or a heartbreak anthem that was more universal. In the end he went for the rock track, letting Cayson's track build to just the right height before swapping in his pick. "Let's rage!"

In seconds, the crowd had turned into a mosh pit. As Jungkook headbanged along to the beat, he threw his middle finger up towards Cayson. Rather than the seething, foot stomping tantrum Jungkook was expecting, Cayson just smiled. And that was when he heard it. "Hurry! You grab those and I'll get these!"

He turned around to find two of Cayson's goons ripping wires from his DJ setup like wrapping paper from presents on Christmas morning. "Wait! You're gonna-" Before he could finish, there was a high-pitched whine, a static pop, and then nothing. The party grinded to a halt. "Do…that."

"Hey, what happened to the music?!"

"Uh…technical difficulties!" Jungkook gave a nervous laugh. "Just give me one second to figure al this out and DJ Jungkook will be right back!" He scrambled to fix the wires but was barely able to reconnect the mic before Cayson took to his.

"While grandma over there fumbles through his cassettes, why don't y'all listen to this?" He dropped the song of the summer, and the audience lost their minds.

Jungkook's family fought their way to him through the crowd. "Jungkook, you've gotta get this back on!" Jimin exclaimed. "He's stealing your fans!"

"My IT knowledge stops at 'turn it off and then back on again'!" Jungkook said. "I can't fix this!"

"Okay, we're on it." Taehyung assured him. "But what are you gonna do in the meantime, Kookie? You've got nothing but dead air!"

"Uh…" As Jungkook flailed for an idea, his voice reverberated through his microphone in his hand and some members of the crowd turned to face him.

"Yo, shut up, he's gonna rap!"

Jungkook's eyes widened. "What? No, I'm not! I-"

"Just go with it, Jungkook!" Seokjin hissed. "You can freestyle over Cayson's music until we get this fixed."

Jungkook took a deep breath and raised the mic to his lips, letting his thoughts ping pong around until he had a solid rhyme scheme. "You tried to pull a fast one and unplug my set? I see you, bet. But first, we gone get one thing straight…your motive is hate. And all 'cause you can't rhyme like me. Can't look this fine like me. Can't ditch the booth and shoot tequila with a lime like me. You're a hater through and through, so gone and bump your track. But like every trend from the 90s, baby, I'll be back." The crowd went crazy as Cayson glared at him. "Hey, they said bring the heat. What you got?" He held the mic out to Cayson and the crowd looked to him expectantly.

"You can't let that go unanswered! Spit something back!"

"It's not a rapping challenge." Cayson said. "It's a DJ challenge and my speakers work just fine. See?" He switched to his final song, but the crowd wasn't having it.

"We want bars! Not your basic ass fitness playlist!"

While Jungkook watched the chaos ensue, Jimin, Taehyung, and Seokjin got to work setting his machine back where it was. "You fixed it!" He cheered.

"More like I told Hoseok what happened, and he got his house DJ to fix it." Seokjin said. "But yeah, same thing."

"There." Cayson rolled his eyes. "You've got your stupid machine back. Can we go back to normal now?"

Jungkook shrugged. "Don't dish it if you can't take it. Because what the audience wants, the audience gets." HE dropped his last track before grabbing the mic and bringing it to his mouth. "I change my flow like these other hos change their clothes. I'm nice with it so if you're thinking of trying me, don't. Cayson learned the hard way and now he's having a cow. He's begging me, 'Jungkook stop the raps' but it's above me now." The minute his set was over, he ran offstage to his family. "Thank you so much for having my back! Having all eyes on me when things hit the fan up there was not the move! Thank god you all were there."

Jimin smiled. "We'll always be there for you, Kook, but that save was all you!"

Taehyung nodded. "And now if I ever need to rebrand myself as a rapper, I know exactly who I’m hiring to be my ghost writer."

"You should be proud of yourself." Seokjin said. "You did that."

Jungkook beamed at their praise and their reassurance got him to thinking. That was the second time in 24 hours where trusting himself really came through. Maybe he did have what it took. But before he got too responsible, a Jello shot omega in a bikini wandered by and Jungkook flagged her down to get the party started the right way. "Thank you, thank you. Now let's make tonight a movie!"

Chapter 23

After the last of the battles, the judge tallied up the wins as Jungkook and the other competitors took the stage. "That was a helluva round, everyone!"

"But unfortunately, we only have 10 spots." Hoseok said. "If your name appears on this leaderboard, you've received one."

Jungkook quickly sent up a prayer and peeked one eye open long enough to check out the results. "I came in first?" He gasped in disbelief. "I CAME IN FIRST!"

"Congratulations to all of the winners but just know the competition is about to get harder than ever."

Hoseok smiled. "The next round will be a decorating competition, and the winner will get to see their theme come to life in the hotel ballroom all while hosting a very special VIP guest."

"Until then, happy trails, party animals!"

As the judges dispersed, Jungkook bounced from excitement, nervousness, or pure exhaustion. Either way, the chips were finally falling the way he needed them to and nothing and no one could tear him down.

"Well, if it isn't the Bahamas' Most Ancient Party Animal."

Except Cayson. "Not this again." Jungkook groaned. "Cayson, don't you ever get tired? You're like the Energizer bunny from hell."

Cayson smirked. "Consider it me applying pressure. That's the only reason you won today so you might as well say 'thank you'."

Jungkook gave him an innocent smile. "Thank you for sucking so badly. If it weren't for your trash taste in music, I might not be on my way to winning a 100k. So thanks, I couldn't do it without you." He raised a Jello shot in his honor before sucking it down with a slurp.

"Don’t get it twisted." Cayson glared at him. "Your bars were trash and so are you. And me and my friends won't stop until we're sure you got the message."

Rolling his eyes, Jungkook tried to walk away but one of Cayson's friends shoved him from behind, sending his tipsy ass sprawling. "Oops!"

Jimin appeared seemingly out of nowhere, Taehyung and Seokjin right behind him. "That's exactly what I'm gonna say when I go upside your head."

As Cayson closed the gap between himself and Jungkook, his friends did the same. "Am I supposed to be afraid? Go ahead. Swing."

"Bet." Before Jungkook could smack the shit out of Cayson, Seokjin held him back, his lawyer face all the way on.

"I've got some words for you. Arrested. Deported. Banned from ever coming back to the Bahamas."

Taehyung nodded in agreement. "Don't forget tabloids, blackballed, and the one people will be quick to label us if we throw down out here--psycho. Plus, I'm pretty sure Aeri would have a heart attack when the story gets picked up by JTBC."

"Y'all can do whatever you want." Jimin said. "But nobody's touching my brother without hearing about it from me."

Jungkook held his hands up to stop everyone, his head spinning. "Okay, wait, I need to make sure I got the count right. Taehyung, you were a no. Jimin, I put you down for yes. Seokjin? Still deciding?"

Seokjin glared at him. "I was very clearly no on this one, Jungkook."

Cayson laughed. "After all of this voting and democracy, are we gonna get down to it? Or are y'all old bitches gonna do the most for nothing?"

"I'd show us 'old bitches' some respect if I were you." Jungkook spat. "We are responsible adults. My brother owns a house and everything! Do you have any idea how much paperwork that is?" He reached back and smacked Jimin's arm. "Tell him about the paperwork!"

"My mortgage application alone was 30 pages." Jimin said.

Jungkook smiled. "Trust me, somebody who has the patience to fill out a 30-page application is not someone you want smoke with."

Nearby a group of onlookers chuckled at Jungkook's antics and Cayson looked over his shoulder at them in annoyance. "Fine, I guess that just leaves you then. Square up."

"What's really good?" Jungkook scoffed. "Because there's nothing stopping me from dog walking you through this resort." He stepped forward until he and Cayson were inches away, the minions on either side of Cayson tense and ready to spring.

"Jungkook, think this through." Taehyung said. "Do you really want to go from a penthouse suite to the Bahamian big house?"

Jimin shrugged. "There's enough money in my 'Jungkook's In Jail' account to bail us out. Seokjin knows the pin."

Seokjin's eyes widened. "Bail you out? I don't even know if they have cash bail here! And how's Jungkook going to pay you back? He can't compete in the competition from jail! No competition, no prize money, remember?"

That stopped Jungkook in his tracks. As he gritted his teeth, he made a decision. "Fine. Y'all can relax, I'm not gonna hit him." Not physically at least. But he was absolutely going to strike him where it would hurt the most--his pride. Jungkook backed down, tutting and shaking his head sympathetically as he played to the small crowd of people watching. "He's not worth it anyway. I mean, not only does it take a special kind of dud to try to sabotage someone and fail twice but imagine booking the cheapest flight you could find all the way to the Bahamas just to split a queen-sized bed with three friends. I think that's tragic enough, don't y'all?"

"Damn!" An onlooker exclaimed. "I know times are hard but y'all are paying luxury prices to sleep head to foot? In 2024? That's crazy."

"Hold up." One of Cayson's friends scoffed in disbelief. "Did he just call us broke? In front of all these people?"

Cayson cocked his head. "If anybody's on a fixed budget, it's you, grandma."

"Grandma?" Jungkook laughed. "Is that really the best you can do? I mean, first, I'm clearly Gen Z--shout out to all the 97 babies!"

A hoot went up in the crowd and an omega in the audience nodded intently. "We been knowing you was rocking with us! They tried it!"

"Secondly, I've been wearing my cousin's hand me downs all week and you don't have one joke about it?" Jungkook asked incredulously. "Did you even notice?" Cayson gave Jungkook and Seokjin a quick onceover and the look of realization on his face made Jungkook realize that no he very much did not. "Either our generation really is as self-absorbed as they say or y'all's clapback game is just lazy. And I'm gonna be honest, I think it's you."

"Cayson, can't we just stomp him out already?"

"Yeah! I'm tired of him and his commentary!"

Cayson charged up to Jungkook, bringing his nose to his, and a hush fell over the now abundant crowd. "I see what you're doing but it won't work. I don't care how many people you get to come over here. They can't save you."

Jungkook gave her a fake smile. "Sweetie, I do my own saving. You're the one who needs an audience to see how big and bad you are. Well now you've got one. So if you're feeling froggy…jump."

Cayson searched Jungkook's eyes, looking for fear and finding none. Then he looked behind Jungkook at the crowd waiting anxiously to see what he would do before reaching up and striking the side of Jungkook's head. The force of the blow sent Jungkook stumbling back. "You okay?" Jimin asked.

Jungkook looked at them with wide eyes. "You all saw that right? He hit me first! Time to rock his world!"

"I wish the fuck you-" He didn't even get to finish before Jungkook popped him dead in the eye just the way Taehyung taught him all those years ago.

"Wish granted." Jungkook smiled innocently. His fans from the earlier DJ challenge joined in, some throwing punches while others were trying to break up the squabble. Before Jungkook knew it, his supporters clashed with Cayson's fans, the fight rippling out from the epicenter that was him and Cayson.

Meanwhile, Jimin started scrapping with one of Cayson's lackeys. "I have damn near 30 years of eldest child rage built up, pup. This ain't what you want."

And while Seokjin couldn't openly help, Jungkook did spy him doing a quick internet search for 'five minute law degrees in the Bahamas'. "Come on! I have got to talk to Hoseok about the Wi-Fi in this place."

"Good looking out!" Jungkook exclaimed. "Teamwork makes the dream-" A hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him, and he came face to face with another minion, her fist drawn back. He flinched but the hit never came.

"Hands off the baby cousin!" Taehyung grabbed a fistful of the omega's hair and pulled her into a grapple--and, Jungkook assumed, the optimal trash talking position.

"That's what I’m talking about, Taehyung!" Jungkook cheered. "I knew you still had it in-"

"Don't you dare cosign me right now!" Taehyung glared at him. "Do you have any idea how bad a brawl is gonna look to my sponsors?"

"Not as bad as this bald spot is gonna look to my hairdresser, bitch!" The minion struggled to get out of Taehyung's grip. "Let go!"

Taehyung turned his glare on her. "Oh, no, honey, if I'm going down, I'm getting my money's worth."

As Taehyung took his frustrations out on the minion, Jungkook winced and backed away slowly, narrowly missing a flurry of punches aimed his way from Cayson. "You were gonna sneak me from behind?"

"This is a street fight!" Cayson exclaimed. "It's not like there are rules!"

Jungkook shook his head. "You're never gonna learn, are you? I was gonna give you this out, but now?" He took a step forward and Cayson instinctively moved back, inching toward the pool. The crowd parted for them, and as more people looked to see what was happening, the fight slowed. "Look around, Cayson. We're only fighting because you decided you wanna be some Regina George. Well guess what?"

Cayson raised his eyebrows. "You're Cady Heron?"

"No, bitch, I'm the bus." Jungkook planted both hands on Cayson's shoulders and shoved, and his arms pinwheeled as he tried to find his balance and failed. He tumbled backward into the pool before popping up, soaked and spluttering. Jungkook turned to face Cayson's lackeys in disgust. "Is this your queen?"

They wordlessly fished Cayson out until he was standing before Jungkook, dripping wet. "This isn't over." He scoffed.

"It is for tonight." Jungkook turned his back on Cayson. "Shots for everybody!" A roar went up from the crowd, and seeing his support was all but gone, Cayson stormed his way back to the resort.

Jimin shook his head as he walked over to Jungkook. "I'd keep an eye out if I were you. That one's trouble."

Jungkook shrugged. "I'm not worried. Because y'all had my back out there. Physically, defensively…legally."

"You know we always got you." Seokjin smiled. "Even if that means cramming two years of Bahamian law school into five minutes."

"Or sweating off my makeup wrestling with your archnemesis' lackeys." Taehyung added on.

Jungkook grinned. "I don't know about y'all but after all that, I need a drink. And I did kind of promise everybody shots."

"Shots it is then." Seokjin chuckled. "I'll be back."

The second Seokjin disappeared into the crowd, an omega's screams broke through the noise. "Security's coming!" The crowd immediately turned to chaos with people running everywhere, desperate to leave before security arrived.

"We already almost got kicked out." Taehyung reminded them. "We cannot be here when security comes through."

"We can't go without Seokjin." Jimin said. "He wasn't even fighting."

"You two go." Jungkook pushed them. "I'll find Seokjin and we'll all meet back at the suite." The three of them split off in different directions, fighting their way through the dysfunction. "Seokjin! Seokjin!" When he finally spotted the older omega, a hand reached through the cluster of bodies and grabbed Seokjin's shoulder, pulling him back and out of view. “Oh shit.” Jungkook said, running a hand through his hair in distress.

Chapter 24

🐹

Seokjin was fleeing--walking--away from the remnants of a skirmish that broke out next to him when a hand reached out and caught his shoulder. He whirled around with wide eyes only to spot a familiar face, one that he wasn't actually sure was a good thing in the current situation. "Hoseok! Hi!"

"Seokjin." Hoseok raised an eyebrow. "Now why am I not surprised?"

"Because bumping into me at an event you already know I was attending isn't that surprising?" Seokjin asked innocently.

"Or maybe because I got a description from security about a group of omegas who sounded suspiciously like you and your friends." Hoseok mused.

Seokjin feigned confusion. "My friends…nope, sorry, I'm drawing a blank. Besides, you'd never be able to prove-" Before he could finish, Hoseok pulled out his phone and played a video of Jungkook very clearly getting ready to throw down with Cayson.

Hoseok smirked as Seokjin's eyes widened. "You were saying?"

Batting his eyelashes, Seokjin stepped closer to the alpha. "You wouldn't lock up your fake boyfriend…would you?" He let his hand rest against Hoseok's arm, subtly squeezing the firm bicep beneath his sleeve.

With a smug smile, Hoseok flexed back. "Oh, I've got plenty of ideas on what to do with you but none of them involve the big house." He offered Seokjin his arm and the omega cautiously took it, letting Hoseok lead him back up the sandy path toward the hotel. "Seokjin, I consider myself a pretty straight shooter so I'm just going to lay it all out there…I want to see where this goes. For real. What would you say to you, me, a fancy new restaurant, and unlimited access to their tasting menu?"

Seokjin raised his eyebrows. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were asking me on a date."

"You're beautiful and intelligent." Hoseok grinned. "Not to mention you and your friends already got to know me pretty well. Why wouldn't I want to get to know you more?"

"Because in my experience, getting to know someone--I mean really knowing them--hardly ever ends well." Seokjin said.

"I can't say how it'll end." Hoseok said honestly. "I just know I want to really know you. Up close and personal."

Seokjin blinked. "We did that already. Tango class wasn't enough?"

Hoseok pulled to a stop in front of the hotel entrance and took Seokjin's hands in his, meeting the omega's gaze full on. "I'm serious, Seokjin."

Any minute, Seokjin was sure his JinDar would be blaring, warning him to step away from the sexy alpha in front of him. But instead, Seokjin's trusted safety alarm was traitorously silent, leaving only the sound of his pounding heart as his mind raced. "What about the singles' series? Our deal was for me to help you-"

"I think we can manage both." Hoseok smiled. "Plus, if getting to know you over a candlelit dinner helps someone else's love story…that's what good business owners and sensible attorneys like to call a win win."

There was a voice screaming at Seokjin that none of it was real, but there was no doubt that the way Hoseok was looking at him was. "Okay." Seokjin gave in. "We'll give it a try this once. But you'd better show me a good time. Don't think you can slack off now that you've got me. Bring your A game."

"For you?" Hoseok chuckled. "Always." Seokjin held his hand out for Hoseok to shake but instead the alpha brought it to his lips for a tender kiss. "I'll send a car for you at 6:00." Then he walked inside, leaving Seokjin rooted to the spot, waiting for his heartbeat to fall back into a normal rhythm.

Once he was back in his room, Seokjin swiped viciously through his closet for a date night appropriate outfit. "Leave it to me to only bring loungewear, pajamas, and court clothes for Jungkook's hypothetical trial." Seokjin grumbled to himself.

"To be fair, that last one's a pretty safe bet." Seokjin looked up to find Taehyung waltzing in and flopping onto the bed, right onto the lingerie set he'd laid out. In seconds, Seokjin's good corset was in Taehyung's grubby little hands. "Look at you, dressing up the goods!"

Seokjin glared at him. "Look at you, all in my business." He reached out to snatch the corset back, but Taehyung scrambled out of the way with a smirk.

"Here we were designing our #FreeJin shirts and Hoseok's more interested in locking you down than locking you up." Taehyung mused.

"Maybe I can wear one of those then." Seokjin sighed. "Because it's not like I have anything else to wear on this date."

Taehyung raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you let an alpha ruffle you?"

"Since that alpha is intelligence, kindness, and ambition all rolled up into one fine ass package." Seokjin said as if it were obvious. "Tae, I still haven't found anything wrong with him."

"Damn, still?" Taehyung seemed genuinely surprised. Then a thoughtful expression crossed his face. "You know what…give me a sec." He held up a finger and disappeared out into the suite. Minutes later, he paraded back through the door with a gorgeous red, sparkly, flowy shirt in hand. "It was a custom gift from Baek Hyejin, but her assistant mixed up the sizes. I was gonna get it taken in but if Hoseok's as special as you say…it's yours."

"Of course I want it!" Seokjin exclaimed, carefully taking the shirt from Taehyung. "Thank you!" Before he could stop himself, he pulled Taehyung into a hug.

Taehyung melted into Seokjin's embrace. "Of course. If you finally cleaning the cobwebs out your downstairs isn't a worthy enough cause, I don't know what is."

After showering and getting dressed, Seokjin took one last look at himself in the mirror before leaving the suite while giving himself an internal pep talk. There was no need for first date nerves. Hoseok was just an alpha. As long as he remembered to take things slowly, he could definitely handle anything.

But the second he arrived at their date location, he realized he definitely couldn't handle it. "You booked us a table on the beach?" He asked Hoseok incredulously.

Hoseok smiled. "I thought you might like the view. That's not a problem…is it?"

Oh, it was a problem. Because from the moment Hoseok met Seokjin in a freshly pressed suit, smelling good and looking better, Seokjin had done nothing but enjoy the view. Now, as the waves lapped the shore meters from the Bahamian restaurant around them, Hoseok shot Seokjin a grin that only magnified how good looking he was, and Seokjin felt his resolve start to crumble. If he didn't find a way to distract himself, the date was going to be over before it started. "Not at all." Seokjin said. "In fact, if the meal's good, this place would be the perfect setting for a singles' series event. Don't you think?"

"I think…" As Hoseok pulled out his chair, Seokjin caught the alpha's eyes wandering his body, setting the omega's skin on fire everywhere they touched. "You look incredible."

They settled in and as a waiter approached, Seokjin breathed a sigh of relief, thankful for a third party to ease the sexual tension. "Welcome to Bev's. As a heads up, your meal tonight includes our aphrodisiac appetizers and some suggestively named cocktails. Is that okay?"

Seokjin's eyes widened. "You mean like a Sex on the Beach or a Flirtini?" The waiter shook his head as he passed them each a cocktail menu. Rim Job…Right in Front of My Salad…Gobble Me Swallow Me? Oh god, Seokjin wasn't going to make it. "What exactly is the Gobble Me Swallow Me?"

"It's covered in whipped cream, so this one can make a mess, but you're supposed to take it like a shot." The waiter explained.

"Then that's exactly what I'll do." Hoseok grinned, handing back his menu. When the waiter returned with the drink, Hoseok took the shot, his tongue darting out to lick his lips and catch the missed cream. "Tell me more about those aphrodisiac appetizers."

The waiter smiled. "We'll be starting with a medley of watermelon and strawberries before moving to raw oysters and conch and an asparagus amuse bouche. All of which are known to heighten the libido, increase blood flow, and get things moving in the bedroom-"

"I don't have sex on the first date!" The words left Seokjin's mouth before he had time to fully vet them, and what was supposed to be a cool assertion came out in a blurt.

"I'll…" The waiter slowly backed away. "I'll just give you two a minute to decide." As he scurried away, everything fell silent.

Heat flooded Seokjin's body and Hoseok broke out in a grin. "What was that about?"

"Don't give me that!" Seokjin exclaimed. "Seductive cocktails? Aphrodisiac appetizers? The bedroom eyes you've been giving me since you picked me up? I see what you're doing."

Hoseok raised an eyebrow. "Being attracted to my date? Oh, the horror." Seokjin rolled his eyes slightly. "And as for the food…I happen to believe the menu here's more of a gimmick than anything."

Seokjin blinked. "But the waiter said…"

Hoseok leaned across the table to stroke Hoseok's hand, his fingertips barely grazing his skin. Still, it stoked a fire slowly building deep in Seokjin's belly. "Seokjin, I don't need sexy foods to manufacture a connection with you. This…feeling between us has been there since I first saw you. But whether you choose to act on it is entirely up to you." Seokjin stared in disbelief as Hoseok pulled back. He let out a shaky breath as the alpha waved the waiter back over with a smile. "I think we're ready to start now."

The waiter laid a tray of dishes in front of them. Hoseok politely tucked in, offering Seokjin a little of each dish. "You certainly have a healthy appetite." Seokjin mused.

"I come by it honestly." Hoseok said. "My family's full of foodies so there's always someone cooking something and it's always good."

Seokjin smiled a bit. "My family's the same. Before my parents divorced, we moved around a lot for my dad's job. I'd been to seven different schools by the time I was 12. But a place never felt like home until the three of us sat down and ate something my eomma had made in the new house. And you can ask any of my friends, she's a damn good cook."

"About your friends…" Hoseok tilted his head. "What's the story there?"

"Jimin's mom and mine go way back." Seokjin said. "And he and I just kind of inherited their friendship. Taehyung was his annoying cousin that lived just down the block and by the time baby boy was born, we were inseparable. I never had siblings, so our little group made me feel a lot less alone, both then and now. Even if I do have to act like somebody's eomma half the time." The words were barely out before Seokjin realized he'd never been quite that open with an alpha he'd dated. In a burst of confidence, he leaned into it.

Before Seokjin knew it, the night was slipping away. When the waiter came to clear the plates, the omega finally noticed the time. "Whoa, I didn't realize we'd been here this long."

Hoseok grinned. "My halmeoni used to say, 'Time gets tricky around good food and good company'."

"Smart omega." Seokjin said.

"Should we go thank the chef?" Hoseok asked.

Seokjin's eyes widened. "Can we do that?"

Hoseok stood and buttoned his suit jacket before offering Seokjin his hand. "The way you look tonight, the sky's the limit." He led Seokjin into the kitchen. "Chef Bev, good evening! I hope we're not interrupting. My date and I wanted to offer our compliments."

"Everything was magnificent." Seokjin said. "Thank you for having us."

The older omega smiled warmly. "You're not planning to leave without dessert, are you?" She strode over to a steel cooling rack laden with cored pear halves, each a deeply saturated mauve. As they watched, she placed the pear halves on tartlets and finished the dishes right in front of their eyes.

"I've never seen a chef work up close before." Seokjin whispered to Hoseok. "Look at the intensity." He glanced at Hoseok to make sure he was watching but the alpha's eyes never left Seokjin's face.

"I'm more interested in the way you light up like that watching her." Hoseok murmured.

"And there we are." Chef Bev grinned. "Wine poached pears. I planned to serve this to your table but since you're here now…" She handed them a couple of dessert spoons.

Seokjin didn't miss a beat, gliding his spoon through the tart for a well-rounded bite. "Oh my god, that's perfection." He moaned out as the flavors danced along his tongue.

"My summer dessert option and the perfect dish for lovers." Chef Bev said. "Now I've got to close but let me know if you need anything." She bustled out of the kitchen, calling for the staff, while Seokjin turned his attention and spoon back to that little plate of heaven.

Hoseok reached out to stop him. "Damn, I haven't even gotten a taste yet!"

Seokjin gave him a playful smirk. "I don't know, it's almost too good to share…but since you did go all out tonight…" He scooped a bite onto his spoon and lifted it toward Hoseok's lips. Hoseok grinned as he stepped closer. But at the last moment, before those delicious lips closed around the spoon, Seokjin jerked it away. "I never said I'd make it easy on you."

Hoseok got close, wrapping his arms around Seokjin to hold him still as he went in for a bite of dessert. "That's incredible." He moaned happily.

"Right?" Seokjin smiled. "You think she'd sell me the recipe?"

"Probably not." Hoseok chuckled. "But we can certainly ask on the way out."

Chapter 25

Rather than head back to the hotel, Seokjin and Hoseok made their way down the pier. The breeze blew over them while the sun started to set on the horizon. "I can't remember the last time I saw a sunset." Seokjin admitted. "I'm usually tied down with briefs and depositions."

"The grind never stops when you're the hottest thing in law." Hoseok smiled. "What made you get into that anyway?"

"My mentor." Seokjin said. "In high school, an omega came to my class to give a presentation. I'm talking fierce designer suit, Louboutins, the works. The moment she stepped into the room, even the rowdiest kids clammed up and that was the day I knew, whatever she had, I wanted it."

Hoseok hummed. "Sounds like a job well done. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were describing yourself."

Seokjin let out a tiny laugh. "She took me under her wing, gave me advice through college and law school, and eventually gave me her practice when she retired."

"Wow." Hoseok said. "They say every kid needs a village and yours came through in a major way."

"People need villages, not just kids." Seokjin corrected him. "Which is part of why I want to help you succeed with singles' series."

Hoseok's fingers brushed Seokjin's as they walked, and Seokjin couldn't help the shiver that shot down his spine. "Speaking of…have you given any thought to what comes next after you secure the bag?"

"I'm content building this resort up into the best thing it can be." Hoseok said. "After that, who knows? Maybe someday I'll retire early. Finally get to enjoy the natural beauty of the island."

Seokjin surveyed the rows of luxury boats lining the pier and shrugged. "Well, that might still be tough. With these garish ass yachts blocking the view, you can't actually see anything. It's honestly sad. I can tell you exactly who these people are, I don't even need to lay eyes on the owners."

Hoseok smirked. "Okay, tell me about the owner of that one."

"Oh, you mean the one that screams, 'I'm overcompensating for something'?" Seokjin asked. "Easy. That person has never worked a day in their life. Just sails the seven seas, leaving islands full of disappointed lovers in their wake."

"Yeah that one's actually mine." Hoseok said.

Seokjin blinked. "Oh…well…I said what I said. The 'never worked a day' was clearly a stretch but I stand by everything else." Hoseok laughed as Seokjin smiled at him. "Though you're welcome to try to prove me wrong."

Hoseok caught Seokjin's eye and slowed before looking back at the gangway. "In that case, how about we watch the sunset from the deck of my 'garish ass' yacht? I can show you the views I accidentally blocked. And we can hold off on ending the night a little longer?" The hope in his voice mirrored the feeling building in Seokjin's chest.

Without even really thinking about it, Seokjin smiled. "Lead the way, Captain."

A comfortable breeze blew across the deck of the ship, but Seokjin couldn't help crossing to the edge of the boat to admire the view. "Well?" Hoseok smiled. "What's the verdict? You love it, don't you?"

"The view's much better, I'll give you that." Seokjin said. "But it's still a monstrosity..." He turned to face Hoseok and found the alpha bathed in the sun's glow, arms lax against the metal railing. The words died on his lips and Seokjin swallowed hard as he took Hoseok in, the picture of an alpha perfectly at ease.

"Look, I admit I don't love being part of the problem." Hoseok said. "But you can't deny the solace is worth it. That's why this boat is my sanctuary. This is where I can come home after a long day of making other people's dreams come true. This is where I take some time for myself. And if it's a little bougie, so be it. There's nothing wrong with working hard and playing harder." He propped his elbows on his knees and steepled his hands, eyes catching Seokjin's over their tips. In that moment, Seokjin realized just how different Hoseok was from any alpha he'd ever dated. With a sigh, he joined Hoseok at the rail, looking out over the water. "Did I say something wrong?"

Seokjin shook his head. "No, it's just…" He wasn't sure if it was the sunset or the safety of Hoseok's warmth beside him, but Seokjin wanted Hoseok to know him. Really know him. "I'm used to pups desperate to trivialize my achievements to 'put me in my place'. Or mindless freeloaders only willing to cut the cord with their mothers long enough to attach themselves to me. And when I do find someone who checks all the boxes, they're mated, a compulsive liar, only interested in sex…" Or if one had angered the ancestors in a past life and ended up cursed like Jimin, some horrifying combination of all three.

"Seokjin, I’m not-"

"I know." Seokjin said. "I know that but…I've always been glad I decided to focus on my career and tonight is the first night in a while where I was with an alpha who…" He trailed off.

Hoseok leaned closer. "Who what?"

Seokjin swallowed thickly as he met Hoseok's gaze. "Who makes me feel like I'm missing something." Understanding dawned in Hoseok's eyes, and a breath later, Seokjin felt it warm on his lips. The kiss was sweet with liquor and salted with sea air. Their tongues danced as Hoseok softly brushed his fingers beneath Seokjin's chin.

When Seokjin pulled away, Hoseok cracked a cocky smile. "Ready to take back what you said earlier?"

Seokjin rolled his eyes, nevertheless grateful for a break from all the heaviness. "This boat is definitely worth all the hype. As for the overcompensating…well, I've yet to see any evidence to the contrary."

Hoseok quirked an eyebrow, looking at Seokjin with that alluringly familiar combination of challenge and open invitation. "Do you want to?"

"That depends." Seokjin smiled. "What exactly are you offering?"

"Just a tour of my lower deck." Hoseok offered.

Seokjin bit his lip. "Where should we start?"

"Well, since there are only three rooms down there, why don't I let you pick where you'd like to start." Hoseok said. His eyes met Seokjin's, the tension nearly palpable. In Seokjin's chest, his heart started to race. "There's the kitchen…the bathroom…and my bedroom."

"Why don't we start in your bedroom and see where the night takes us?" Seokjin asked.

Hoseok smiled. "It's like you read my mind. If you'll follow me…"

The bedroom was more spacious than Seokjin had thought, though still cozy enough to feel Hoseok's warmth radiating beside him. "Thoughts?" Hoseok asked expectantly.

"My thoughts?" Seokjin tilted his head, pretending to study every inch of the room before turning to Hoseok. "Why aren't you undressing me right now?"

"I didn't want to presume that was an option." Hoseok said.

"Then let me make things perfectly clear…" He hooked his finger in Hoseok's belt loop and tugged the alpha's hips towards his. His free hand traveled up Hoseok's thigh in search of his zipper. "I'm much less interested in seeing the boat than I am in seeing how you rock it."

Hoseok grinned. "Good. Fuck the tour." His hand slipped behind Seokjin's neck, cradling the omega's head as he kissed him.

Seokjin's feet shuffled backward toward the bed, pulling Hoseok along. Hoseok sealed one final kiss to Seokjin's lips before spinning Seokjin around so his back was to his chest. He trailed kisses along Seokjin's neck as his fingers worked on the buttons of Seokjin's shirt, Seokjin pushing his ass into Hoseok's crotch. "Maybe you're not just a big talker." Seokjin mused.

"Actions always speak louder than words, Seokjin." Once Seokjin's clothes were on the floor, leaving him only in the lingerie he'd picked out, Hoseok stepped back to take him in. Then he tipped Seokjin's chin towards him to steal a heated kiss. "You are so beautiful." He punctuated each word with a kiss, each one lower still as his hands sank past Seokjin's stomach and lower still.

Before Hoseok's fingers reached their destination, Seokjin stepped away. "Hold on, I am not about to be the only one naked."

"You're my guest." Hoseok reminded him. "Which makes you the only one who needs to be naked. For now."

Seokjin raised an eyebrow. "Well, your 'guest' wants to strip you himself."

Hoseok smirked. "Then what are you waiting for?'

Planting his hands on Hoseok's chest, Seokjin pushed the alpha's jacket off of his shoulders and onto the floor painstakingly slowly. "It's called savoring the moment. It prolongs the experience…heightens anticipation."

"You don't have to worry about a short experience." Hoseok assured him. "You've got me all night long. And as for the anticipation…" Seokjin pressed himself to Hoseok as he undid the buttons of his shirt and felt the alpha's dick press back against him, twitching at the inattention. "I think I've got that covered."

"So I see." That didn't stop Seokjin from slowly kissing a path down Hoseok's chest. At the final button, he traced a languid loop around the alpha's nipple with his tongue. Hoseok's breath quickened as Seokjin moved to his belt buckle, eyes locked on the alpha's as he slid the leather from its catch. "You know I have been curious…" He tugged Hoseok's pants down his hips then eased his underwear inch by inch until he sprang free. Seokjin's breath hitched at the sight. Curiosity might just kill his cat. "Wow."

"Yeah, I thought so." Hoseok backed Seokjin down to the bed. As Seokjin fell onto the mattress, Hoseok gripped his ankles. In one sharp tug, he'd pulled the omega's ass to the edge of the bed. A groan escaped Seokjin as Hoseok slowly removed his panties, the omega's knees falling open to expose the throbbing need at the apex of his thighs. Hoseok sank to his knees, his gaze wandering every inch of Seokjin's slick soaked hole. "You take care of everyone. Your friends, your clients, your employees…now it's my turn to take care of you. I just need you to tell me how you want it."

"I need you to taste me." Seokjin whispered.

Hoseok grinned. "It would be my pleasure." He pressed a searing kiss to each of Seokjin's thighs, lapping at the slick staining them, before running his fingers through the source of the slick. His breath ghosted over Seokjin's most sensitive skin, then he felt the wet warmth of Hoseok's tongue running over his entrance.

Seokjin cried out as Hoseok dove right in, kissing and sucking. He pulled Seokjin's leg over his shoulder, spreading the omega wider as he plunged his tongue deep inside him. Seokjin bucked his hips as he rode wave after wave of ecstasy, and Hoseok's hands curled up the side of Seokjin's thighs to grip his ass. "Please don't stop…" Seokjin whimpered, throwing his head back against the mattress in pleasure. He gripped the sheets tightly in his fists, meeting Hoseok move for move, chasing the crest of his release until it finally hit.

As Seokjin fell over the edge, he heard Hoseok's voice through the haze. "Look at me." It took a minute for Seokjin's brain to comprehend the simple instruction. Then his passion glazed eyes met Hoseok's, clear and focused. "You look damn good when you come for me. But I need to know…do you want to go again?"

At the prospect of another round, another rush of slick leaked out of Seokjin. His gaze fell to Hoseok's erect cock. "I do." Seokjin nodded. "But first, what do you need?"

Hoseok shook his head slightly. "Seokjin, I just need you." He crawled onto the bed. As he leaned in to steal a hot kiss, exploring Seokjin's mouth with his tongue, Seokjin reached between them to stroke the alpha's dick. At Hoseok's moan, Seokjin tightened his grip, flicking his wrist when he came to the tip. Just that was enough to send both of them into shaky breaths.

As Hoseok dropped his head into the crook of Seokjin's neck, the omega didn't hold back. "I need you, Hoseok." He whispered.

"Tell me how." Hoseok said.

"I need to be on top of you." Without hesitation, Hoseok laid flat on his back, helping Seokjin climb on top of him. Once Seokjin was situated, he reached down to hold Hoseok's dick steady before sinking down onto him. Gloriously full, Seokjin rested his hands on the alpha's chest to steady himself as he rocked his hips. Hoseok thrusted up to meet him, hitting that spot inside of Seokjin that sent waves of bliss straight to his core. "Oh god, Hoseok~" He moaned out.

Hoseok gripped Seokjin's hips tightly. "Say it again." He groaned. "Say my name."

"Hoseok!"

Hoseok sped his thrusts up and Seokjin met his pace, growing hot and desperate for another release. "Come with me…Seokjin!" His name came out as a rasp, all the warning Seokjin got before the alpha was spilling inside him. Seconds later, Seokjin followed him right over the edge.

Chapter 26

As Seokjin and Hoseok lay tangled in the sheets of the alpha's bed, Seokjin blinked over at him, a wry smile playing at his lips. "So I guess I can admit you're probably not traveling continent to continent, leaving the omegas unsatisfied."

"I'm just glad we can both agree I'm not overcompensating for a damn thing." Hoseok smirked.

"No, you're most definitely not." Seokjin bit his lip. "That was fun."

Hoseok raised an eyebrow. "Was? Who said we were done?" He pressed a kiss to Seokjin's lips and the omega was amazed at the way his body responded to the alpha's touch. Hoseok's kiss fell to Seokjin's neck, and as his eyes sank closed, Seokjin realized he wasn't used to being seen like Hoseok saw him, let alone heard or touched. Far as the temporary nature of their deal went, that might present a problem.

🐥

Jimin and his friends wandered around an open-air flea market, but all Jimin wanted to be doing was giving Seokjin the third degree about his date. "Isn't this place great?" Jimin asked. "I'm having such a good time! Especially when we looked at the shell bracelets…" He not so subtly looked at Seokjin. "Would anybody else like to talk about a good time they had?"

"Or a bad time." Jungkook said, also staring openly at Seokjin. "We'd totally be supportive of either."

Seokjin groaned. "What is wrong with y'all?"

"Do we really have to spell it out for you?" Taehyung asked. "We wanna know what happened with hotel bae!"

Jimin nodded. "Not to be all up in your business but we need to be all up in your business. Desperately. I'm surprised we lasted the past 20 minutes, let alone the car ride here."

Seokjin rolled his eyes, a smile playing at his lips. "Hoseok and I enjoyed each other's company and that's all you nosey bitches are gonna get."

Taehyung scoffed. "That's all, my ass! We all saw you sneak in this morning in the same clothes from last night. And that can only mean one thing."

Jungkook began to sing, "Seokjin and Hoseok sitting in a tree! F-U-C-K-I-N-G!"

"Please, Seokjin?" Jimin pouted. "Can't you just tell us?"

Seokjin paused for a moment, looking between the three of them. "Okay, so Hoseok took me out for dinner and drinks-"

Jimin cut him off. "A two-hour long activity tops. So where else did you go?"

"He will tell you if you let him finish!" Taehyung exclaimed. "Go ahead, Seokjin."

"Neither of us wanted the night to end." Seokjin continued. "So we took a little walk along the pier and the whole time we were really just vibing. I can't remember the last time I had a real conversation with an alpha and it felt like he gave a damn."

Jungkook made a noise of surprise. "Who knew Mr. Moneybags had it like that?"

"He even brought me aboard his yacht-"

Jimin held his hand up. "Pause! Aboard his yacht, or aboard his yacht?"

Seokjin grinned, his cheeks flushing. "I mean…both."

An excited squeal escaped Jimin. "The cobwebs have been cleared!"

"About damn time!" Taehyung cheered.

Seokjin let out a happy sigh. "I didn't even think they still made alphas like Hoseok. I was wined, dined, and dined upon."

Jimin's jaw dropped slightly. "So what I’m hearing is he put it down?"

"Left, right, and sideways." Seokjin nodded.

Jungkook raised his hand. "I've just got one question. Has boss man finally done the unthinkable and checked all the boxes on your checklist?"

"It was just one date!" Seokjin exclaimed. "I like Hoseok, but I don't know him well enough to let my guard down like that. Look at Jimin and Sungho."

"Hey!"

Seokjin gave Jimin a sympathetic frown. "Sorry, honey, but it's true. You were about to marry him and look how that turned out."

Jimin scoffed. "Sungho is no Hoseok. It's not fair to compare my circumstance to yours because they're completely different." He took a deep breath. "But that's all in the past anyway. I'm moving on. I've got Namjoon."

"Does Namjoon know that?" Seokjin asked. "Because five years ago, it seemed like you two were couple goals one second-"

"And the next, he was catching flights, not feelings." Jungkook finished.

Seokjin smacked Jungkook on the arm before turning back to Jimin. "What we're trying to say is…are you sure you're not getting caught up in the whirlwind? You left Sungho, jet setted to the Bahamas, and found Namjoon again in less than 24 hours. It's okay to take a beat and reassess."

Even Taehyung nodded in agreement. "Or at least go over the basics."

Jimin groaned. "I'm not getting caught up in the 'whirlwind', and I can handle myself, thank you very much!" He turned a corner, more to get away from their questions than anything.

Jungkook didn't seem to take the hint, cackling as he clapped a hand on Jimin's shoulder. "Isn't it funny that the problem child is officially no longer the problem? I'm out here killing it in the competition and it's y'all bringing all the issues. I love that for me!"

"How about you show up on time, sober, and without our help before you get a case of the big head?" Jimin snapped.

"That part." Taehyung said. "Because 'y'all' aren't bringing a damn thing. The only issues I got are Vogue."

"Oh, so now we're lying?" Jimin asked.

Taehyung crossed his arms. "Lie where? You're in a love triangle, Seokjin's waiting for the other shoe to drop with his alpha, and just the other day, Yoongi word vomited all his loud and wrong opinions all over me! You wanna talk issues? He's got issues." As Taehyung got worked up, he roughly swiped through a box of costume jewelry, beads clacking as he channeled his upset energy into browsing. "He thinks he's the next Lee Taehoon because he spends hours looking down his camera lens on the rest of the world. When really he's nothing but a fake ass Tablo wannabe!"

As Taehyung tore through the box, Jimin locked eyes with Seokjin and Jungkook, understanding passing between the three of them in an instant. "You got it bad." Jimin snorted.

Taehyung whirled around on him. "Excuse the fuck out of you!"

"Don't deny it." Jimin said. "He is living in your mind rent free for a reason. Be honest, did you kiss him?"

"I wouldn't have if I'd known he was gonna be the devil reincarnate!" Taehyung exclaimed. "You don't get it, okay? He called me fake!"

Seokjin blinked. "And? I call you fake all the time."

"I get it." Jimin said. "It's the principle of the matter."

"Thank you!" Taehyung groaned.

"Yoongi's not exactly wrong but he didn't have to say it like that." Jimin said.

Taehyung opened his mouth to agree with Jimin, then thought better of it. "What did you just say?"

Jimin shrugged. "I mean, you're a model. You can't exactly 'be yourself' with a job like that. The whole point is to be the pretty face they slap on products. It's his fault if he expected anything else."

"You know what?" Taehyung glared at him. "I'm just about sick of you coming for me with those little digs of yours, Jimin."

"They're not digs." Jimin argued. "You just don't like hearing the truth. Not from me and apparently not from your little boyfriend."

"Keep Yoongi's name out of your mouth!"

Jungkook stepped in between them. "Clearly there are some big feelings happening here. Let's channel it positively-"

Seokjin cut him off. "Fuck positive. Just don't come to blows in the middle of the Bahamas. I only brought one clean court suit!"

Taehyung and Jimin ignored both of them. "If modeling's so easy, why don't you hop in front of a camera and try, Jimin? As a matter of fact, why not give it a try against me? The two of us can go head-to-head, picture for picture."

Jimin scoffed out a laugh. "You're kidding, right?"

Seokjin tilted his head. "I mean, if it keeps y'all from scrapping in the streets, I'm all for it."

Taehyung looked at Jimin expectantly. "Well? You wanna talk the talk? Let's walk."

"Hell yeah I'll take you on." Jimin accepted the challenge. "If kicking your ass in a photoshoot is the only way to humble you, then so be it."

"Oh, honey, if you're waiting on me to be humble, you're gonna be waiting a long time." Taehyung said.

Jungkook's hand shot in the air. "I call dibs on photographer!"

Jimin raised an eyebrow at him. "Is your phone even charged?"

"Of course it…" He trailed off as he whipped a thoroughly dead phone out of his pocket. "Isn't."

Seokjin sighed. "Here, borrow mine. I'll play director."

"Don't we need some rules for this thing?" Jimin asked.

"The rules are simple." Taehyung said. "Seokjin will decide the props and the prompt, and it'll be up to us to execute his vision."

Jimin shrugged. "Works for me. What's first, Seokjin?"

Without hesitation, Seokjin tossed them each a pineapple. "You're a fashionable shopper!"

"Taehyung, this is what you mean when you say, 'broken doll pose', right?" Jimin asked before dropping to the ground like a puppet with their strings cut in one of Taehyung's signature poses, causing Taehyung to cringe.

Even Seokjin grimaced. "It's kind of giving 'I've fallen, and I can't get up'."

Jimin pouted. "I was going for high fashion."

"You had the right idea but the wrong execution." Taehyung said. "You want to bend at unnatural angles to give yourself that ethereal look. See?" Jimin straightened up and watched as Taehyung slid his hips into an awkward angle, his arms and legs bent akimbo.

Jungkook snapped the picture. "Yeah, yours didn't look like that at all, Jimin."

"Give me sexy cowboy at a dairy farm!" Seokjin instructed next.

Jimin grabbed a straw cowboy hat from one of the vendors, feeling silly as he plopped it on and tugged the chin strap into place. Jungkook took the picture then grimaced. "He said 'sexy' cowboy, not sad cowboy."

"Yeehaw!" Taehyung exclaimed as he whipped his hat above his head, winding his hips about before plopping down on a vendor's stool like he was ready to get milking.

"How do you not feel silly?" Jimin asked in confusion. "All we've got are hats and you're selling it like you're on the cover of Udders, Udders, Udders!"

Taehyung shrugged. "It doesn't matter how I feel on the inside. On the outside, I've got to deliver."

Jimin pursed his lips as he considered Taehyung's words. "I never thought of it like that."

Their competition began to grow a small crowd, and Taehyung went right into putting on a show, blowing a kiss at the tourists staring and taking pictures. "We love you, V!" Jimin, on the other hand, found his awkwardness more and more pronounced with every new pair of eyes.

"The category is…freestyle!" Seokjin declared. "You can do anything you want, just make it look good!" Having clearly made a mental list of props he could quickly incorporate, Taehyung plucked a spiny conch shell from a vendor and mimed running it through his hair.

"Alright, I can do this." Jimin hyped himself before bending to hoist an embroidered sack of dried rice farmer headed to market style, only to find it weighed, like, 400,000,000 kilograms.

"Uh, Jimin, what are you doing?" Jungkook asked.

Jimin continued trying to hold the sack of rice, grunting in his effort. "Trying…to do something…impressive for…the crowd!"

"More like trying to throw your back out!" Seokjin scolded. "Put that down!"

"I can't!" Just as Jimin thought his knees were about to buckle, a second pair of hands grabbed the bag and helped him set it down.

"Word of advice--clout is a drug and doing whatever it takes to get some will get you hurt." Taehyung said.

Jimin furrowed his eyebrows. "Why are you helping me? Is this a 'can't help but play creative director' thing or a 'sabotage' thing?"

Taehyung frowned. "Neither. It's an 'I don't want to see you hurt or struggling' thing."

"But what about the competition?" Jimin asked.

"I don't care about that." Taehyung said. "What I care about is that you respect me and what I do. Modeling is not just taking pretty pictures. It's being my own worst critic. Putting aside my feelings for the good of the client. Hours in the mirror learning my angles. And knowing that everyone I care about doesn't consider my job actual work. I'm just an ATM, a diva, a joke."

A sinking feeling flooded Jimin's stomach as he looked from Seokjin to Jungkook and back to Taehyung. "I had no idea our teasing made you feel that way. But that's not what I see. When I look at you, I see…" He floundered for the right word. Then, buried deep, an old memory emerged, providing just the one.

 

As the four of them finished up the last run through of the dance routine they came up with to show their parents, Jimin clapped his hands. "Let the showcase commence!"

"Why do you get to announce the showcase?" Taehyung pouted.

"Because it was my idea, and I planned it." Jimin said. "Plus, it's at my house. We all said it was fair."

Taehyung stomped his foot. "I didn't! And it's Jungkook's house too! Why doesn’t announce it?"

"Because!" Jimin insisted. "I'm in the front, Seokjin's in the back, you're in the middle, and Jungkook-"

"Gets to play!" Jungkook cheered.

Seokjin groaned. "Come on! Can't you both announce it?"

"No because I'm the leader!" Jimin exclaimed.

Taehyung paused, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "Fine, you can be the leader. I'll be the star!"

 

"You've always been my bright, shiny star of a cousin." Jimin said sincerely. "And I’m sorry for making you feel like anything less."

Taehyung flashed that very same grin he'd worn as a child--all grown up and still searching for the limelight. "Apology accepted."

Seokjin smiled. "For the last picture, I want you to take a picture together. Like family."

Jimin turned to Taehyung. "What do you say? Can the great V take a picture with a fan?"

"Fine." Taehyung playfully huffed. "But only if you try harder not to pose like a dweeb. Because those shots you took? Trash." Jimin shoved Taehyung while laughing before posing with him.

Jungkook snapped the last picture and together they all crowded around to take a peek over his shoulder. "Oh, this face off was a good one!"

"Especially the last one." Seokjin said. "I'm always saying we don't have enough pictures together."

Taehyung scrunched his nose, eyes scouring the screen. "If I look like that in all of them, I can see why we don't."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Jimin asked incredulously. "Do you hear yourself right now? These pictures are the definition of supermodel!"

Jungkook nodded. "You slayed in every single one of them!"

"Where is all of this coming from?" Seokjin asked.

Taehyung blinked at them, some mix of touched and taken aback. "If Aeri saw these pictures-"

Jimin cut him off. "I don't give a damn what Aeri thinks. We are people who know the real you, love him, and want what's best for both of you." He bit his lip. "Honestly, if Yoongi thinks you're fake, it's only because he hasn't seen the bad bitch version that I know and love."

"You tap dance on my last nerve." Taehyung said. "But I love you too, Jimin."

"If things are ever going to go anywhere between you and Yoongi, then you need to show him who you really are." Jimin said. "Starting by using your trademark fearlessness to score a date." He hastily helped Taehyung remove his photoshoot props and returned them to the tables and kiosks.

"Wait, you mean now?" Taehyung asked in disbelief.

Jimin nodded. "I'm not giving you time to flake or change your mind or talk yourself out of it. Go be real." With a grin, he shoved Taehyung off in the direction of the hotel, leaving Jimin, Jungkook, and Seokjin to finish their shopping.

Chapter 27

🐻

With his family's words of encouragement playing in his head on repeat, Taehyung made a beeline for Yoongi's room, knocked on his door, and waited. And waited. And waited. Then it became crystal clear that no one was going to answer at all. Discouraged, Taehyung made his way back to his own suite only to find Yoongi camped in the hallway sitting outside his door. "What are you doing here?" Taehyung asked in a mixture of shock and confusion.

"Waiting for you, obviously." Yoongi stood up. "I've been doing a lot of thinking and…" He smiled. "I'd like to take you on a date."

Despite being exactly what he wanted, Taehyung couldn't believe what was happening. "I'm sorry…a what?"

"A date." Yoongi repeated. "Two people doing something fun while they get to know each other."

Taehyung shook his head. "I know what a date is. What I'm not understanding is why you're here asking me out on one. I mean, I was supposed to be the one to ask you! I showed up at your door and everything!"

Yoongi blinked. "I’m sorry, I ask you to go out with me and you're mad because I beat you to it?"

"I'm not mad." Taehyung denied. "I'm just confused."

"Look, I like you.' Yoongi said. "You're cute and funny and yeah you get on my last nerve but…" He paused for a moment before taking Taehyung's hand. As Yoongi laced his fingers between Taehyung's, a flurry of butterflies flitted around in Taehyung's stomach. "I can't stop thinking about you. And before I opened my big mouth at the photoshoot, I thought maybe there could be something here."

"I like you too." Taehyung said. "But I'm done trying to prove I'm worthy. You got where you are by being yourself and that's great, but you don't get to look down on me for not being able to do the same. We all have to run our race in this world and our hurdles are different."

Yoongi frowned. "I just don't think being who you are should be a hurdle." Taehyung's heart pounded against his chest as the two of them fell silent, and he couldn't help but feel like a cartoon who had just sprinted over a cliff, too afraid to look down and see he'd run out of road. "You know what? I've had a lot to say about who you are. Can you just give me the night to show you who I am? All I ask is that you meet me with your full self, whatever that looks like for you. Deal?" He gave Taehyung's hand a squeeze, and it was only then that Taehyung noticed, even through their spat, they had never let go.

The realization sealed the deal. "But we're gonna have to talk about the dress code for wherever you're taking me." Taehyung smiled.

After convincing Taehyung not to change, Yoongi pulled him downstairs and into a taxi. Gradually the overly manicured part of the island slipped away, and they arrived in a neighboring town, bustling with activity. The taxi pulled up in front of a home with little kids playing in the front yard. "Yoongi!" One of them waved at him as they climbed out of the cab. "Miss Mary and Mr. John are looking for you!"

Taehyung turned to Yoongi with wide eyes. "I thought we were going on a date. Whose kids are these? And are we at somebody's house?"

"You said you wanted to know me." Yoongi said. "Everybody here knows me better than almost anyone in the world." Yoongi led him through the house and out onto the beach behind it, making a beeline to an alpha in chanclas and an omega pouring sangrias.

"It's about time you got here!" The alpha exclaimed. "Mary, look who it is!"

Mary smiled brightly. "We were just starting to worry you wouldn't make it!" She wrapped Yoongi into a hug then surprised Taehyung by pulling him in too. "Food's not ready yet but you're right on time to help cook."

Yoongi turned to Taehyung with a tiny smile. "John and Mary do cookouts like this whenever I come to town."

"And when the weather's nice, when a distant cousin's latest baby takes their first steps…" John added on.

"We do not need an excuse to throw something on the grill." Mary said. "But we're always happy to see our Yoongi."

Taehyung smiled sheepishly. "Well, if I'd known I'd have RSVP'd or brought a bottle of wine or-"

Mary cut him off. "Please! Anyone Yoongi vouches for is welcome here any time. What did you say your name was again?"

Usually, Taehyung's go to was to introduce himself as his stage name. It had been ingrained in him since he'd first been signed to his agency. But that time, he hesitated. "I'm Taehyung." He said a bit shyly.

Immediately, John and Mary looked at each other with knowing eyes. "Oh, you're the one Yoongi won't shut up about."

Taehyung's chest fluttered. "He's been talking about me?"

"Is it dark at 3:45 am?" Mary laughed. "Taehyung This. Princess that. You might as well get comfortable because I feel like I know you!"

Yoongi cleared his throat, his cheeks flushing pink. "Isn't there some food that needs to be cooked? What happened to that"

John chuckled. "Don’t worry, we're leaving. Wouldn't want to get in the way of you and your boo."

As the pair walked away cackling, Yoongi groaned. "Why didn't you tell me you were bringing me to meet your friends?" Taehyung asked.

"Because John and Mary are super casual." Yoongi said. "You heard them. Just be yourself and it'll be fine." He took Taehyung by the hand and led him to where a group of people helping to prepare the meal.

On instinct, Taehyung summoned up his schmoozing smile. "Eomma would kill me if I showed up emptyhanded and didn't help so what can I do?"

"You tell me." Mary said. "We've got some plantain that needs to go on and the drinks are looking a little low."

Taehyung glanced at Yoongi, smiling a bit as he met his gaze. "Why don't you put me wherever Yoongi's working? I can be his cute little sous chef."

Yoongi snorted. "Then get your cute ass over here." His hands found Taehyung's hips and pulled him in between himself and a spread of freshly washed vegetables laid out on a nearby picnic table.

As Taehyung picked up a knife, Yoongi's hand wrapped around his, Yoongi's chest pressing into Taehyung's back. "What are we making?"

"That would be the salad." Mary said.

"Y'all seem pretty close." Taehyung mused as they began chopping the vegetables. "How did y'all meet?"

"I was getting some shots for a project a few years back and ended up staying here at their bed and breakfast." Yoongi explained. "The rest is history."

John sighed. "And thanks to all the developers coming in like they own the place, the B and B might be history soon too. They come in, buy up all the acres they can get their hands on, drain the island's resources, and leave us locals scrambling to cope."

"And don't get me started on the Pair Airs popping up all over the island." Mary shook her head. "No regard for history, no understanding of the community. It's a mess. John and I are thinking about getting out while we can."

"I'm so sorry." Taehyung frowned. "Is there a petition I could sign or something?"

"No amount of signatures is gonna make them back down because they don’t' see any value in what they're destroying." John said. "And until their pockets are in danger, they could care less about ours."

Mary cleared her throat. "John, I don't think this was the vibe Yoongi had in mind for their first date. Let's talk about something else."

"Don't worry about it." Yoongi said. "I was just about to suggest Taehyung and I head out on the boat and get the snapper for dinner anyway."

Taehyung perked up. "There's a boat? I love that! Where are we picking the fish up from? Some restaurant on the beach?"

Yoongi laughed. "If by restaurant you mean the ocean then sure. Of course we'll have to catch it first."

"But…" Taehyung blinked. "It's still alive!"

"Fresh food tastes better than anything you're gonna find in a Michelin starred kitchen, Princess." Yoongi said. "Come on, I'll prove it to you."

The two of them changed into swimsuits, then Yoongi led Taehyung onboard the fishing boat. Seconds later, the sails fluttered free, carrying them out into deep waters. "So let me get this straight." Taehyung said. "You do photography, you sail, and you fish? How do you know how to do all this stuff?"

Yoongi shrugged. "I've lived a lot of lives. Some good, some not so good. But all of them have made me the ever so slightly jaded person I am today."

"Slightly?" Taehyung snorted.

"Be nice or I'll keep my fish catching tips to myself." Yoongi said.

"They wouldn't help anyway." Taehyung said. "I'm telling you now, if a fish touches me, I will die. Right here, on the spot, dead."

Yoongi laughed. "Okay, Madame Drama. Before you start creating your own eulogy, how about I walk you through the steps?" Yoongi grabbed Taehyung's fishing pole, shoved his hand in a grody looking bucket, and pulled out a worm.

Taehyung quickly shook his head. "Immediately no."

"Come on." Yoongi shot him a look. "How do you expect to catch a fish if you won't even bait the hook?"

"Hear me out." Taehyung smiled innocently. "I was thinking you could do it for me?"

"The hook baiting?" Yoongi raised an eyebrow.

Taehyung blinked. "All of it. I'm serious, Yoongi, this is gross!"

Yoongi slipped the worm onto Taehyung's hook then stepped closer, pinning Taehyung to the railing with his body. "What if I make it worth your while? One kiss for every attempt you make?" His breath ghosted across Taehyung's face.

Though it was just the two of them, Taehyung couldn't help but lower his voice to a whisper. "Are you bribing me?"

"It doesn't count as a bribe if I'm getting something out of it too." Yoongi smirked. He pressed the pole into Taehyung's hands and turned him to face the water, Taehyung's ass grazing Yoongi's hips before he backed off. Taehyung fought to regain his focus. "Make sure you cast out far. The fish won't come too near the boat because of the noise."

Intent on following Yoongi's instructions, Taehyung took a deep breath, reared back, and whipped his arms forward only to flip right over the boat's railing. "Taehyung, are you okay?" Yoongi called down to him.

"I'm fine!" Taehyung called back. "But don't act like this isn't what you wanted with your cast out far nonsense!"

Yoongi smiled. "Hey, I gave you valid fishing tips. You're the one who decided to become one with your inner mermaid." He leaned over the side of the boat and offered Taehyung his hand.

Rather than letting Yoongi pull him up, Taehyung yanked Yoongi down, sending water splashing up around both of them. "And just like that, I feel so much better." Taehyung laughed.

Yoongi shook his head. "You are so petty." He swam closer and Taehyung tensed for the spray of water he knew was coming in retaliation. Instead, Yoongi lifted a hand to brush Taehyung's hair out of his face. "Sorry you got your makeup is getting washed off. I know you hate that."

Taehyung's hand shot to his face, wiping the ocean water from his skin and seeing his makeup rub off on his fingers. As the urge to run back to the hotel to redo his makeup built, Taehyung thought about his cousins, all encouraging him to let Yoongi see the real him, and smiled. "You know, I'm starting to mind it less and less. Now, correct me if I'm wrong but I think that still counts as an attempt, no?"

"It does." Yoongi smiled. "And I’m nothing if not an omega of my word."

Taehyung slipped his arms around Yoongi's neck, pulling him toward him through the water and claiming his lips in a salty kiss. Yoongi's tongue eased into Taehyung's mouth, grazing his own, when suddenly Taehyung felt a fish brush past his ankle. "What the fuck was that?" Taehyung shrieked, taking a moment to look around. He peered through the crystal-clear water down to the reef teeming with vibrant ocean life just below them.

"Oh, I've definitely gotta get my camera for this." Yoongi said.

"You're going down there?" Taehyung asked.

Yoongi nodded. "Hell yeah. It's its own little world, all quiet and immense. Honestly this is the kind of thing that gets me out of bed in the morning." He heaved himself over the side of the boat and, in a flash, was back in the water with his camera and two sets of snorkels. "Nothing I could say would do it justice but maybe you want to come with me? We could even grab some shots for your socials."

For the first time in a long while, Taehyung would rather just enjoy himself than worry about what he looked like. Still for all his eagerness, he couldn't shake the Aeri shaped cloud raining on his parade. "My publicist watches my socials like a hawk. I couldn’t actually post anything like this."

Yoongi scrunched his nose, a puzzled furrow dividing his brows. "Like this? You mean like yourself? Because that's what you look like."

"I thought we established there's a 50/50 on that being a good thing for any given campaign." Taehyung said.

"Don't believe me?" Yoongi quickly raised his camera and snapped a picture before turning the display towards Taehyung. "Remember, no redlining yourself."

For once, Taehyung didn't really want to. His hair was messy, sticking to his skin and doused in salt water. His face was bare, that pimple that had been on his cheek when he woke up that morning on prominent display. But Taehyung was smiling. Really smiling. For the first time that Taehyung could remember. "Yoongi, you're my new favorite collaborator. No one captures my good side like you do."

Yoongi shrugged. "It's not that hard considering you don't have a bad side. Trust me, I've looked."

After Yoongi helped fit the goggle and snorkel to Taehyung's head, Taehyung hesitantly dipped below the water's surface. Under the water, the world around him was quiet, but below, all manner of brightly colored flora and fauna were darting about. He watched schools of fish, noting the lithe way they moved, weaving through the water in long strides and quick flashes, turning on a dime. Next to him, Yoongi raised the camera to his eye for another photo. A grin on his lips, Taehyung swam straight over to Yoongi, playfully inspecting him like one of the underwater marvels. Yoongi snapped a few pictures of him in spectator mode until Taehyung caught him around the waist and pulled him closer. He covered Yoongi's hand, turning the camera to snap a photo of the both of them, their mouthpieces clinked together in a clumsy cute scuba kiss.

Chapter 28

Taehyung and Yoongi sat close together on the deck of the boat, going through the pictures together. The shots were gorgeous but the thought of posting them made Taehyung's stomach flutter. "What if Aeri was right about my socials?" He asked. "What if I wake up tomorrow morning all over Koreaboo or AllKpop or something?"

"You were Aeri's version of 'perfect' for that swimsuit campaign and that still happened." Yoongi pointed out. "The way I see it, no matter what you do, you can't please everyone. Might as well please yourself."

Taehyung bit his lip. "You better be ready to defend my honor." He mumbled. "The internet can be ruthless."

Yoongi smiled. "I know. That's why I don't go there much."

"You do know you have millions of followers on insta, don't you?" Taehyung giggled.

"Despite my best efforts, I assure you." Yoongi said.

Taehyung sighed. "Any chance you'd be willing to brave a comment section or two with a sword, shield, and block ready finger if my fanbase turns on me?"

Yoongi nodded. "I'll hunt down my passwords. But with these pics, I think I'll have to be in the comments with a stick to beat your fans off you." His expression grew a bit more serious. "You ready?"

"…sure." Taehyung said quietly.

'You look like you're going to pass out." Yoongi said. "And as down as I am to give you mouth to mouth, I feel like I gotta ask if you're sure you wanna do this."

"I do!" Taehyung insisted. "I just…"

Yoongi pressed closer to Taehyung, rubbing his hands along his arms to warm them from the water. "If you don't want to, I won't think any less of you. I promise. But I just want to say that I saw something in. you today that I didn't realize I was looking for. You shine, Taehyung. But it's up to you whether you want people to see that shine or not." He gave Taehyung a reassuring smile.

Despite all his teasing and ribbing, Taehyung knew Yoongi was being genuine. And that sent a wave of relief through Taehyung that nearly had him flopping back on the deck. "I want to keep the photos just for us." He said. "I know you want me to become this 'take me as I am' kind of omega but I-"

Yoongi stopped him by taking Taehyung's hands in his. "All I want you to be is yourself. Kim Taehyung, V, I don't care what paint you put on as long as it's you underneath there."

Taehyung took a shuddering breath, Yoongi's hands warm in his, and smiled. "In that case, how about one more for the road?" He held his phone out and pulled Yoongi in for a selfie, pressing a kiss to his tender cheek. After he took the picture, he turned his phone off.

"Already dodging your agent's call?" Yoongi raised an eyebrow. "What, is she psychic or something?"

"No." Taehyung shook his head. "I'm trying to enjoy my date. Now do you mind? I've got a fish to catch."

Yoongi grinned. "For real?"

Taehyung nodded. "I've studied the fish, I've become one with the fish, and now I'm catching that fish." He pushed himself to his feet.

Yoongi whooped with a laugh and caught Taehyung around the waist, giving him a quick spin around the deck. Taehyung was breathless as Yoongi pulled him in close, still laughing, and his breath ghosted over Taehyung's lips. "You know, this is the hottest I've ever seen you." Yoongi said.

"Really?" Taehyung smirked. "I bet I can do better." He snaked his arms around Yoongi's neck, his lips latching onto his in a fervent kiss salted with sea air. "How's that?" He murmured.

"Perfect, Princess." Yoongi suddenly released Taehyung, giving him a little smack on the ass as he pushed him toward the railing. "Now go on and get us a fish."

Newly enlightened, Taehyung climbed over the rail and stood on a sandbar, his fishing pole back on the boat with his snorkeling gear. Instead of casting a lure, he watched the fish, studying them until he could get their patterns down. "That red silver one there is a snapper." Yoongi pointed out. In a flash, Taehyung reached right in, grabbing a huge snapper with his bare hands. Yoongi blinked at him. "My bad, Bear Grylls! Obviously we didn't need to start you off with a fishing pole at all."

Taehyung smiled. "What can I say? I'm a quick study."

Yoongi chuckled as the snapper wriggled in Taehyung's grasp, almost escaping into the waves. "Just make sure you keep it caught. I'll grab you a bucket from the boat."

Later, as everyone piled their plates high with snapper, plantain, peas, and rice, John switched on the radio and pulled Mary into his arms. "I hope y'all don't mind but while y'all fill your bellies, I'm gonna dance with this beauty right here."

Mary giggled. "John, you are a fool!" Still, she glided along to the groove with him, tucking her face into his neck.

Next to Taehyung, Yoongi looked on with a smile, giving Taehyung an idea. "Dance with me." Taehyung said.

Yoongi looked at him with wide eyes. "I do not have the rhythm you think I do."

"If I can catch a fish, you can move your hips." Taehyung insisted, grabbing Yoongi's hand. "C'mon." He led Yoongi out to the open sand, pulling him in close as he slipped his arms around Yoongi's waist. The move reminded him of his parents and how their laughter used to spill out of the kitchen long after he'd gone to bed. The memory put a smile on his face. "It's all in the hips." He slipped his leg between Yoongi's until their hips met. Slowly as he could, he stepped to the side, bring Yoongi along. His hands gripped Yoongi's hips, swaying them in time to the beat.

As Yoongi picked up the movements, he grinded against Taehyung's thigh. "Show me again." With a soft push against the small of Yoongi's back, Taehyung brought him even closer as they moved back the opposite direction.

As the song ended, the two of them transitioned to a simple two step, swaying to the soft melody as the day's burning temperature started to mellow out. "I see why you like it here." Taehyung said. "Who would've thought staying at a bed and breakfast with strangers could feel so much like home?"

"That's the thing." Yoongi smiled. "When you get here, you're a stranger, but John and Mary are really good about making sure you leave as family. They're all about building community. It's what this neighborhood was founded on."

Taehyung bit his lip. "In my line of work, 'community' isn't really a thing because you never know who's gonna snake you and throw you under the bus. The closest I've got to any of this is my cousins."

Yoongi pursed his lips. "I couldn't help but notice that there's a certain vibe going on between y'all. What's that about?"

"The usual." Taehyung sighed. "I'm the bad guy, Jimin's perfect, Seokjin's our glue, and Kookie is just trying to figure it all out."

"You say that like it's a forgone conclusion." Yoongi said. "But there are more than two sides to every story. What's yours?"

It had been so long since anyone had asked him that question that Taehyung couldn't help but pull back to look at Yoongi with a stunned expression. But Yoongi just stared back, his willingness to hear Taehyung out apparent. Taehyung took a deep breath. "I guess it started my freshman year of college. Jimin and Seokjin were crushing it, but I dropped out before summer break which had a pretty big impact on Jungkook…"

 

"What do you mean you want to drop out too?" Taehyung asked in shock as he talked to Jungkook on the phone.

"I mean, I'm filling out the paperwork and searching ways to get Eomma and Appa to sign it." Jungkook said. "Wat, why do you sound so surprised? You dropped out too."

"Of college!" Taehyung exclaimed. "You're in high school! What about your brother? Jimin works so hard to set a good example for you. Are you really going to throw all of that away?"

Jungkook was quiet for a second before responding. "I never asked him to do that."

Taehyung sighed. "You've never had to, Kookie. Jimin doesn't make a move without thinking about all of us. Always."

"Just once, I wanted to be like you." Jungkook said, and Taehyung could practically hear his pout.

 

"He made it sound like fun, but I was struggling." Taehyung said. "My parents helped pay my bills for years while I tried to get discovered. But every time, I heard the same old things."

 

"Sorry, honey, we're going for someone a bit…paler this season."

 

"Too unpolished."

 

"We've already got someone. But if we're ever looking for someone…unique, we'll give you a call."

 

"I left so many go sees absolutely heartbroken until finally my parents gave me an ultimatum. Get enough bookings to support myself or go back to college and get a degree." Taehyung said. "And that's when I met Aeri."

 

"You are stunning!" A tall, gorgeous omega gushed as she stopped Taehyung in the middle of the mall. "Has anyone ever told you that you could be a model?"

Taehyung nodded. "All the time except when it really counts. I can't book a gig to save my life."

The omega produced a business card and held it out to Taehyung. "I can help you with that. Why don't you give me a call and we'll do lunch?"

 

"It was a match made in heaven." A sad smile tugged at Taehyung's lips as he thought back to the beginning of his career. "Aeri had this way of spinning things to make people listen to her."

 

"Honey, I'm telling you, people are getting bored of the 'perfect beauty standards' trend. He really brings something spicy to the catwalk! Your house can only benefit from booking my client."

 

"When she convinced me to go from Kim Taehyung to V, she wasn't 'erasing me', she was 'giving me an air of mystery'." Taehyung said. "When she told me to tone down my personality, she wasn't casting judgment on me. She was 'making me more desirable to a wider demographic'. And I couldn't even call her out because it was working. For the first time in my life, I was booked and busy. I flew out to Paris for a last-minute shoot that first weekend but when I called home and told Jimin, he was pissed.

 

"Jimin, I’m in Paris!" Taehyung squealed. "Can you believe it?"

Jimin scoffed. "You know what, 'V'? I kinda can."

Taehyung frowned. "You could at least pretend to be happy for me. You know, instead of slurping down haterade nonstop."

"Really?" Jimin asked incredulously. "Wow. If that's all you have to say to me right now, then you can lose my number, V. I'm done."

 

"After that, my career took off and I buried myself in being V." Taehyung finished. "This is the first time I've been just Taehyung since."

"Believe it or not, he's never too far away." Yoongi said softly, brushing a stray piece of hair out of Taehyung's face. Taehyung took a steadying breath, blinking away the tears threatening to fall. "Come on, there's something I wanna show you."

The two of them slipped away and Taehyung followed Yoongi into a cozy workspace. Red lighting flooded the room as developing shots hung from crisscrossed wires. "Ireland, Indonesia, Venezuela…" Taehyung murmured as he studied the pictures. "You don't sit down much, do you?" As if making his point, he turned to catch Yoongi in motion, clipping a new batch of photos to the line as he removed the dried ones.

"Not really." Yoongi shrugged. "I've been pretty much on the go since I was a kid so staying in one place as an adult just feels…wrong, I guess."

Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows. "Don't you want something to come back to at the end of the day? Something that's all yours?"

Yoongi paused. Though his back was turned to Taehyung, Taehyung could practically feel him tense up. "I, uh, grew up in foster care so having something that's 'all mine' isn't really a prerequisite for me."

"I'm sorry." Taehyung said. "I didn't mean-"

"It's okay." Yoongi said quietly. "I'm just grateful that now, when I go from place to place, I don’t have to do it with all my stuff in a trash bag. But that's not why I brought you here." He gathered a handful of photos.

As Taehyung squeezed into the space next to him and looked over his shoulder, he recognized his own face. "I've never seen myself look so beautiful." He admitted.

"That's because when you look at yourself, you look for things to fix." Yoongi turned to look at Taehyung over his shoulder. The energy in the room shifted as Taehyung realized how close Yoongi's lips were to his. "But in reality, you were never broken."

Heart pounding in his chest, Taehyung leaned forward and pressed his lips to Yoongi's, ducking beneath a line of photos. "I'll bet this is where you take all the models you shoot your shot with." He murmured teasingly.

"Nope." Yoongi shook his head as he turned to fully face Taehyung. "No other models, no other omegas, just us." He pressed against Taehyung with a definitive and urgent kiss, sending Taehyung stumbling back into the developing table. "Just you."

In the darkness of the room, Taehyung felt Yoongi more than he saw him. Yoongi's hands gripping his back before sinking to his ass. Yoongi's chest soft against his own. Yoongi's lips hot with need as they sucked just under his ear. "Touch me." Taehyung whispered. "I want to feel you."

"Tell me where." Yoongi whispered back.

Taehyung took Yoongi's hands in his and skimmed his fingers up his exposed stomach, pushing higher until they disappeared under his shirt. "Everywhere."

In seconds, Yoongi had Taehyung's shirt pushed up to expose his chest, working his thumbs over Taehyung's nipples in teasing circles. Yoongi swallowed Taehyung's moan with a heady kiss before rolling the pert nubs between his thumbs and forefingers, leaving Taehyung gasping into his mouth. "Is that code for 'you're doing such a good job'?" Yoongi smirked.

Taehyung nodded. "And then some." He leaned forward to bridge the gap between their lips in a greedy kiss, backing Yoongi into a row of expensive machinery. Yoongi's chest heaved as Taehyung took in his lithe frame cloaked in a baggy t-shirt and jeans. "Take those off. I want to see you. All of you."

"This isn't a peep show, Princess." Yoongi chuckled. "You want something, you give something."

"Fine." He tugged his shirt fully over his head, dropping it on the floor under Yoongi's watchful gaze. "Your turn."

In one fluid movement, Yoongi gripped the back of his shirt and pulled it over his head, depositing it at Taehyung's feet. Taehyung bowed his head, lips parting as he took one of Yoongi's nipples into his mouth, then the other, swirling his tongue. "That feels incredible." Yoongi moaned softly. He dragged his fingertips up toward the apex of Taehyung's, causing his center to throb as slick leaked out of him. "You're gonna need to hold on." He whispered before gripping Taehyung by the hips and swapping places with him, easing him back onto the machinery table. In a fit of blind desire, they wriggled out of the remainder of their clothes, scattering them across the floor before landing on them in a heap of arms and legs. "You're so beautiful." The praise rocked through Taehyung, filling him, coiling in the pit of his belly as Yoongi pressed his fingertips into Taehyung's entrance. Taehyung whined, writhing under Yoongi's touch as he curled his fingers inside of Taehyung with a confident smirk. "That's right. Purr for me, Princess."

Taehyung reached down between them, pressing his own fingers inside of Yoongi, working an unhurried rhythm as Yoongi clenched around him. Yoongi stroked Taehyung everywhere, but he still needed more. With a groan, Taehyung tried to shift his hips. "I'm so close." He panted out. Yoongi pressed a third finger inside, pulling a gasp from Taehyung as hot shivers cascaded over him. Yoongi locked a hand around the back of Taehyung's neck, bringing their foreheads together as he breathed him in, exhaling curses and praises in turn. Yoongi pistoned his fingers into Taehyung, each motion sending him into bucks of satisfaction. "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to make you cum on my fingers." Yoongi groaned.

"Waiting?" Taehyung let out a breathless laugh. "I've been dreaming about this exact moment." Taehyung could feel Yoongi grin against his jaw as he thrusted his own fingers into him, his movements as hot and hurried as Yoongi's as they both chased the pleasure building inside them.

"Cum for me." Yoongi mumbled lowly, and Taehyung instantly lost all control, fingers stretching and pumping as Yoongi's body grew taut against his. Until they were a feedback loop of pleasure and traded breaths, taking each other higher until the darkroom disappeared in a crest of bliss.

Chapter 29

Taehyung and Yoongi laid in each other's arms on the floor of the dark room, Yoongi absentmindedly playing with Taehyung's hair as they snuck kisses in the quiet. "I'd say we know each other pretty well now." Taehyung murmured.

"I don't know." Yoongi said. "I've still got a few secrets up my sleeve." Taehyung looked at Yoongi with wide eyes only to find him grinning. "Don't worry. If you ask nicely, we can go another round, and I'll show them to you." He pressed a kiss to Taehyung's temple and Taehyung's body warmed in his embrace.

Still, Taehyung couldn't help thinking over Yoongi's words. "You know…you asked me for my full self, but I need yours too. This only works if we both show up and accept each other for who we are."

Yoongi's body tensed and Taehyung geared up for him to deflect. Instead, "I play off the foster care thing, but it did mold me into who I am in more than one way." Yoongi said quietly. "I was just a kid, passed off from family to family. None of them were perfect but the wealthy ones sure pretended they were. So I got good at pretending, just trying to fit in, until it was hard to tell what parts of myself were real and what was a front." He closed his eyes and took a breath. For a moment, Taehyung thought he'd pushed too far too fast. But Yoongi leaned into Taehyung's touch and continued. "It took a lot of counseling to realize I was worthy just as I am." His eyes locked onto Taehyung's, brown pools of reassurance and strength, and he plucked at one of Taehyung's curls again, his expression far away. "And I want that for you too, Taehyung. Whenever you're ready for it."

🐥

Jimin finished tallying his purchases for the customs forms and his mind drifted to Namjoon, causing him to sigh. He knew his family thought he was moving too fast with Namjoon but maybe the second time was the charm. Or maybe it was all a fling and none of it meant anything at all. Shaking his head at himself, he peeked into Jungkook and Taehyung's rooms, finding them empty. Then he headed over to Seokjin's. "Hey, Seokjin, you got a second?" He didn't even bother to knock, just pushed open the door to find Seokjin and Hoseok in bed together.

Seokjin squeaked, rushing to cover them up. "Door closed for a reason!"

Smirking, Jimin leaned against the doorframe. "I didn't know you ordered room service. I didn't realize it was that kind of hotel."

"Do you mind?" Seokjin asked.

Jimin and Hoseok looked at each other, trying to figure out who Seokjin was talking to. Then Hoseok leaned over the side of the bed and grabbed his pants. "Rather than ask, I'll save us both a little embarrassment and just go."

Jimin turned away while Hoseok dressed. When he turned back, Hoseok was pressing a kiss to the back of Seokjin's hand before letting himself out. Seokjin slipped into his own clothes. "Now what's got you in here throwing off my groove?"

"First of all, who knew you were in here with a groove to be thrown?" Jimin retorted before growing serious. "Secondly, after what y'all said about me and Namjoon, I realize it might be time to come to terms with it." He took a deep breath before taking the plunge and vocalizing the thought that had been steadily growing. "I'm falling for him all over again, Seokjin. Hard."

Seokjin smiled a bit. "I know the feeling, Jimin. It's wonderful to have those butterflies again but think about it like this--loving Namjoon doesn't mean you'll end up together. There are a lot of factors to consider."

Jimin nodded sadly. "You're right. We're not going to be in the Bahamas forever. What happens when we go home? Where even is his home?"

"All valid questions you should probably get an answer to sooner rather than later." Seokjin said. "Either way, you need to talk to Namjoon. Time to take the leap."

Take the leap. That's all that went through Jimin's mind as he walked through the resort on the hunt for Namjoon. He finally found the alpha out on the hotel's patio, tapping away on his laptop. "Oh, to be the keyboard your hands are all over." Jimin mused. "I wouldn't mind letting my X command me right now."

Namjoon chuckled. "Let me finish typing these work notes and I'll be more than happy to see what I can do." His fingers thundered against the keyboard as he jotted down his final thoughts, then he pulled the screen down with a sigh. "I'm actually really glad you found me. There's something I want to tell you."

Jimin smiled. "Then great minds think alike. Because Namjoon, I…" He inhaled a shaky lungful of warm sea air, heart pounding as he contemplated surging ahead without a plan and pouring his heart out. "I think I’m falling for you again. And I know it's only been a few days but-"

"But they've been incredible days." Namjoon said, his eyes wide.

"Exactly!" Jimin reached for Namjoon's hands over the tabletop, intertwining their fingers as he held on for dear life, something he should've done five years before. "Maybe we didn't work out before for a reason. Maybe it was all so we could meet back up here and learn to love each other all over again."

Namjoon's eyes were still wide, his throat bobbing. "Jimin, I've always thought you were supposed to be my happily ever after. But I need to tell you something and I'm not sure how…" He paused, sending Jimin's heart into overdrive.

Before Jimin exploded from the anticipation, a passing party boat stole both of their attention. "EVERYBODY SCREAM!"

"Is that Jungkook?" Namjoon asked. As the partying guests aboard the boat cheered, Jimin peered closer and, sure enough, there was his baby brother, guzzling beer and sailing out to sea. "Where is he going?"

"I'm not sure if he even knows." Jimin shook his head. "But one thing's for certain--if we're gonna catch him, we need to go. Now." He hurried over to the patio's railing, watching the boat. "I cannot believe him! He's supposed to be decorating his cabana for the competition, not crashing some booze cruise!"

"To be fair, you don't know what he's out there doing." Namjoon said. "Maybe he just needed a break."

"Or maybe he's totally letting this last challenge win go to his head." Jimin argued. "Just because he came first in the last round doesn't mean he should start blowing off the competition!"

"Is it really that big a deal?" Namjoon asked. "You know how Jungkook is. He always lands on his feet."

Jimin shot him a look. "You're right. I do know Jungkook. Which is how I know that I need to go get him before he makes a mistake he's gonna regret for the rest of his life." He headed straight for the patio door, hell bent on getting to his brother.

Namjoon jumped up and caught Jimin's arm. "Jimin, I really need to talk to you."

"I know." Jimin said, pulling Namjoon close. "And I'll make it up to you." He tucked Namjoon's hands around his waist, glancing up at the alpha through his eyelashes. "We can cuddle and talk and do anything else you want to do. Just as soon as I get Jungkook back safe and sound."

Humming, Namjoon tugged Jimin the tiniest bit closer. "One of these days, I'm gonna stop being such a simp for you and this isn't gonna work on me anymore. But if you're that worried then let's go get him."

Jimin looked at him in surprise. "You're coming with me? I thought you said it wasn't that big a deal?"

"If it's a big deal to you then it's a big deal to me." Namjoon said. "But I have no idea how we're gonna get there."

For the first time since the SS Hot Mess sailed by, a smile found its way onto Jimin's face, and he pointed to a familiar rental billboard overhead. "Quickly. We're gonna get there quickly."

In no time at all, the speedboat they'd chartered bore down on the massive party barge and they slowed to a stop as they prepared to climb aboard. "Would you look at the size of this thing?" Jimin asked. "Leave it to Jungkook to find the biggest rager in the Bahamas. Literally."

"Look at it this way." Namjoon chuckled. "At least you know he's not going anywhere. Let's go find him." He scaled the boat's guardrails with a flourish before turning to lend Jimin a hand.

Jimin couldn't help but smile as he reached up to grab on. But then the boat's seaman scurried forward with a clipboard. His stern voice shocked Jimin back into the boat. "What do you think you're doing? Boarding a non-derelict ship without permission is an act of piracy!"

"I'm sorry!" Jimin exclaimed. "It's just that my brother's onboard and he shouldn't be. Once we get him, we'll be out of your hair. I swear."

The seaman glared at him. "I'm afraid I'm required to report this so the boat's owner can pursue charges to the fullest extent of the law."

Before Jimin could panic, Namjoon stepped forward with a calming smile. "That won't be necessary. We're invited guests."

"Name?"

Namjoon leaned forward just a bit, his eyes straining as he tried to scour the list inconspicuously. Recognizing that Namjoon needed a distraction, Jimin called on his barely there acting skills. "Oh, lord, they're gonna make us walk the plank! I knew we shouldn’t have come late! I'm not ready for the pearly gates!"

The seaman looked at him in confusion. "No one's gonna make you walk the plank."

As Jimin sank to the floor of the speedboat in complete hysterics, Namjoon scanned the guest list over the seaman's shoulder, nodding to Jimin once he'd found the names. "You'll have to excuse him, we don't get out much, but we are on the guest list. Charles and James Rolle?"

It took the seaman less than a second to find 'their names' and with sigh, he helped Namjoon pulled Jimin up onto the lower deck. "Next time, you two will need to be on the boat before we cast off. This ship waits for no one."

Jimin nodded. "You have my word. You'll never have this problem out of us again." He and Namjoon wasted no time blending in with the rest of the guests. When the seaman was finally out of sight, Jimin breathed a sigh of relief. "That was close."

"But that performance though!" Namjoon exclaimed. "For a second, I thought you were gonna break out in snot and tears!"

"I had to come up with something!" Jimin shrugged. "You gave me, like, zero time."

"Because I knew you would turn it out." Namjoon smiled. "We're a great team, you and me." The words floated breezily through the air but there was something about his tone that made Jimin's stomach lurch. Seconds later, Namjoon's smile fell. "Which is why I feel kinda weird not telling you-"

Jimin cut him off. "Can we do this later, Namjoon? We still have to find Jungkook and in this crowd it's gonna be an uphill battle."

"But-"

Before Namjoon could finish, Jimin turned back to the mission at hand, scouring the deck. "Luckily, Jungkook makes an impression wherever he goes. We just have to figure out who he may have crossed paths with already." Nearby, a group gathered to watch as an alpha and omega prepared to climb a pyramid made from several columns of stacked milk crates. Each column stood taller than the last with the tallest standing at a height of 10 crates before gradually tapering back down to none. The omega bounded up the crates and back down with ease but behind her, the alpha toppled column after column until he came tumbling down. Near the stairs, an alpha with sunglasses watched it all without saying a word. "Let's ask that dude with the sunglasses. He's clearly keeping an eye out for something. Maybe Jungkook's pinged his radar?"

Namjoon sighed. "That would've been my guess too, but it sounds like you've got this covered. I'll wait here." The disappointment was evident in his tone and the churning in Jimin's stomach got worse as he slipped away, focused on his mission.

Putting whatever burning news Namjoon had out of his mind, Jimin marched over to the alpha, yelling to be heard over the flurry of loud voices. "Excuse me! I'm looking for my brother, Jungkook. Rambunctious. Curly hair. Way too into climbing for his own good?"

"That's your brother?" The alpha smiled. "Man, this whole event wouldn't be the same without him! I'm telling you, he's the life of the party!"

"Yes, we're all very proud." Jimin said quickly. "Is he around?"

The alpha shrugged. "Last time I saw him, he was on the top deck. But if you wanna get up there, you've gotta pay the party toll first." He nodded toward the crate pyramid.

Jimin watched as yet another attemptee landed ass first in a pile of toppled crates. "You've gotta be kidding me."

"Not at all." The alpha shook his head. "We're playing Tower of Power. Win a game and you move onto the next station. The more stations you pass through, the higher up the ship you go, and the closer you are to the party on the top deck."

"You're telling me the only way to advance is to win these games?" Jimin asked in disbelief.

The alpha grinned. "After an attempt, you can take a shot instead, but where's the fun in that?"

"No breaking my back sounds like one hell of a time to me." Jimin said.

"Tell that to your boyfriend."

Jimin turned just as Namjoon started his climb. The crates wobbled unsteadily under him, but he didn't fall. "Namjoon, what are you doing?"

"I told you I'd help you get your brother." Namjoon said. "And that's exactly what I’m gonna do." He balanced precariously on the highest column before taking the next step, easing his way down until he was standing in front of Jimin. "Your turn."

"I'm not doing that!" Jimin exclaimed. "My insurance payments are going up just thinking about it!"

"It's actually kinda fun." Namjoon said. "Besides, I'd never actually let you fall. Just lower your center of gravity and balance."

Easy for Namjoon to say. With a sigh, Jimin shook out his limbs and readied himself. "I love my brother." He mumbled to himself. Cheeks clenched, he climbed the crates, each column wobbling unsteadily beneath his feet. "Namjoon!"

"I got you!" Namjoon assured him. "I'm right here. Trust me."

And Jimin did. Bolstered by Namjoon's support, he bolted down the last four columns of crates and ran into the alpha's arms. "I did it!"

Namjoon grinned. "Correction, you killed it!"

The alpha with sunglasses rubbed his hands together. "And as a reward for your success, the next level awaits."

Chapter 30

A cursory glance around the next level of the ship was all it took to prove Jungkook wasn't there. "Dammit, he must be on the next level." Jimin sighed.

"Then I guess we'd better get to the next station." Namjoon said.

Noticing them and a few other new arrivals, an omega in a black and white striped shirt came over. "Welcome to station two. Here, you'll submerge yourselves in the water, dive for one of the beers at the bottom, and chug! Anyone who gets out without downing a beer loses."

"That doesn't sound so hard." Jimin smiled. He and Namjoon stripped down to their swimsuits only to watch as the omega dumped buckets of ice into the pool. A group of partiers sprung out of the water. "Now it makes more sense."

"We've still got this." Namjoon assured him. "Remember, the faster we get this done, the faster we get to get out. You ready?"

Jimin took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's do it."

After taking a moment to prepare himself, Jimin dove in and immediately recoiled. He gritted his teeth and held his breath, forcing himself all the way under. The bitter cold made it hard to think. As his fingers stiffing, he found himself moving slower and slower. Still, in the distance, he saw Namjoon nearing the bottom of the pool. He couldn't let the alpha down. Jimin kicked hard against the freezing water, drawing nearer and nearer to the bottom as his lungs started to ache. The second his frozen fingers wrapped around an icy bottle of beer, eh used his last burst of energy to get back to the surface, exploding free from the icy depths. "We did it!" He cheered, teeth chattering.

Namjoon smiled, visibly shivering. "Only one thing left to do." As the last of Jimin's body finally went numb, he popped open the beer, clinked it against Namjoon's, and chugged.

"Congrats on making it through! Your next station awaits you at the bar!"

"One step closer." Namjoon said as they climbed out of the pool.

The night air was significantly warmer than the pool but as the wind blows, Jimin noticed Namjoon still shivering. He grabbed a fresh pool towel from around a nearby wrack and wrapped it around himself before pulling Namjoon into his embrace, using their body heat to warm each other. "How's that?" Jimin glanced up just as Namjoon peered down at him. For a moment, their lips were a hair's breadth away.

"Much better." Namjoon smiled. "Thanks."

As the two of them warmed up, Jimin and Namjoon traded glances back and forth until the question Jimin had been dying to ask bubbled to the surface. "Why are you helping me?"

Namjoon shrugged. "I've never been good at saying no to you." Jimin lowered his head, but Namjoon's fingers found his chin, tipping his head up to meet his gaze once more. "But to be fair, I don't think I ever want to be."

Jimin smiled. "Now would be a good time to start. First we risked our lives on those crates and now they're trying to freeze us to death."

"I saw you during those games." Namjoon said. "You may not want to admit it but for someone who 'hates' this, you're doing great."

"How are you always so damn positive?" Jimin asked.

"Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow." Namjoon said. "Try it and watch how your whole perspective shifts." He gestured toward the next station, and they followed the crowd to the bar, gathering around as the bartender explained the rules.

"In this shot roulette wheel, we've got vodka, tequila blanco, sambuca, and water. On their turn, each player will spin it, take a mystery shot, and say 'mmm, water'. Convince us you actually drank water, and you move on to the next level."

"And if we can't?" Jimin asked.

"Then you drink. But be careful. If you guess wrong, you'll have to drink then too."

"We've got next." Namjoon stood behind Jimin, rubbing his shoulders as the omega spun the wheel.

Jimin took a deep breath to calm himself before grabbing the shot glass the arrow was pointing at. He slammed it back and was relieved to feel a cool, refreshing drink slipping down his throat. "Mmm, water."

"You totally got the water shot, didn't you?" A partier asked. "That's too easy!"

Jimin shrugged. "Don't hate the player, hate the game. But as for us…"

Namjoon saluted the crowd. "We're out of here. Next stop, the top deck."

They headed up to the top floor and walked into a raging party. Jimin scanned the crowd and found people dancing on every surface including Jungkook. "And he's all the way on the other ship." Jimin ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "There's no way we can get through all of these people."

"Look out below!" Namjoon quickly grabbed Jimin by the shoulders and they both ducked down just in time for a drunken partier to go whizzing by on a zipline.

Namjoon's eyes followed the alpha's path from directly above them to clear across the ship before looking back at Jimin with a grin. "No." Jimin shook his head.

"Come on!" Namjoon insisted. "We have a problem and there's our solution."

"What is with you and jumping off of things that are perfectly stable?" Jimin asked.

"Hey, sometimes you've gotta think outside the box and take the leap." Namjoon said. At the familiar words, Jimin let the alpha drag him over to the zipline attendant. "Ready to do this?"

Jimin took a deep breath. "Only if we ride tandem. I need a little bit of that Namjoon courage."

Namjoon smiled. "That's something you never have to ask for." He wrapped Jimin in his arms and pressed a tender, very distracting kiss to the omega's lips while the partiers below cheered them on. It was so good, Jimin didn't even realize when Namjoon pushed off from the platform.

On the other side of the zipline shortcut, Jimin released himself from the harness, eyes locking on his target mid twerk. "Jungkook!"

The younger omega looked at them with wide eyes. "Jimin? Joon? What are you guys doing here?"

"A better question is what are you doing here?" Jimin crossed his arms. "You're supposed to be decorating your cabana!"

"I was!" Jungkook insisted. "But-"

Jimin cut him off. "The only 'butt' I care about is yours getting back to work."

Namjoon's eyes suddenly widened. "Uh, Jimin? I think he is working." He gestured to the wrapped electrical cables in Jungkook's hands, the walkie talkie clipped to his shirt, and a party itinerary at his feet.

"I came onboard because I wanted to borrow some décor for my cabana, but the organizer recognized me from around the resort." Jungkook explained. "I guess my reputation preceded itself because he said I could have whatever I needed if I helped living things up a little. So I lent my talents to help make this party the jumping, popping, lit success that you see before you."

Jimin stared at his little brother in shock. "I'm so proud of you! This party is incredible! I can't believe you did all this!"

"Wait, what did you think I was doing?" Jungkook asked.

Jimin and Namjoon exchanged a glance and Namjoon nodded toward the bar with a raise of his eyebrow. "I'll just be over here."

As Namjoon slipped away, Jungkook's face fell and Jimin suddenly felt guilty. "You thought I was blowing it off, didn't you?"

"In my defense, it wouldn't be the first time you've flaked." Jimin said.

"Okay, so I fucked up once or twice." Jungkook said. "That doesn't mean I need you swinging in all, 'I Tarzan, you Jane' every second."

"I was just trying to help." Jimin said.

"No, you were trying to get poor little Jungkook to behave." Jungkook deadpanned. "God, you're just like Appa."

Jimin took a step back. "Excuse me?"

"You're both giant control freaks." Jungkook said. "Anytime something doesn't go exactly the way you scheduled it when you scheduled it, you both lose your goddamn minds."

"I didn't mean to!" Jimin frowned. "Had I known you were out here doing all this, I…" he trailed off.

Jungkook heaved a gargantuan sigh, shrugging hopelessly. "I know. You mean well. You both do. But I can make my own choices for my life, Jimin. I just need you to support me."

Jimin put his hands on Jungkook's shoulders. "I do support you. We all do. And I know I may not always show it in the right way but I'm always gonna be in your corner. You're my baby brother." Jungkook pouted but didn't flip Jimin off or shove him overboard, so that had to count for something. "What can I do to make it up to you? Hell, I've already ran on crates, taken an ice bath, and survived a zipline. Do your worst."

Jungkook smiled. "You climbed the Tower of Power? For me?"

"Of course." Jimin said. "I'd do anything for you."

At that, Jungkook got a devilish look in his eyes, studying Jimin with a grin that could break into a full-blown cackle at any second. "Anything?"

"Within reason." Jimin quickly added on.

"Nope." Jungkook shook his head. "No take backsies because I just thought of something that will make us even. You've spent my whole life telling me what to do. Why don't you give me control over you for once?"

Jimin's eyes widened. "I'm terrified to ask but what do you have in mind?"

Without another word, Jungkook bounded over to the DJ booth and grabbed the microphone, bringing the dancing to a halt. "What's up, Party People! It's time for a little game. It's time to play…Jungkook Says!"

Jimin took a deep breath. "Challenge accepted."

He gathered on the deck with the rest of the drunken patrons. As Namjoon joined his side, Jungkook leaned into the mic. "The rules are simple. Do what I say when I say what I says. But if you don't hear 'Jungkook Says' before you make a move, you're out of here!"

"What do we get if we win?"

"Last one standing gets free drinks for the night!" Jungkook exclaimed. "Am I allowed to do that? Who knows? Let's play!"

Jimin shook his head. "I cannot believe I'm gonna do this."

"I'll be with you the whole time." Namjoon assured him, nudging the omega's hip. "We can look crazy together."

Despite his nervousness, Jimin couldn't help but smile. When he looked up, Jungkook's eyes were lock on him, ready to give his first command. "Jungkook Says…grab your hottest body part!"

Jimin's eyes widened, his cheeks flushing. "I am not doing that!"

Jungkook smirked. "You could ask a neighbor to grab it for you if you want." He eyed Namjoon before winking at Jimin.

Namjoon chuckled. "Your brother has nothing but nerve."

"Yeah, well, he's the baby of the family." Jimin said. "It comes with the territory. When we were growing up, I was jealous that he got to act buck wild while I got in trouble for every little thing."

"Well now's your chance to go a little crazy." Namjoon pointed out.

Jimin looked around at the other players, almost all complete with the task. Then he turned to Namjoon. "I'll grab yours if you'll grab mine."

With a cheeky smile, Namjoon stepped closer, his finger tracing a searing line down Jimin's chest. "I've always been pretty drawn to your amazing heart. But if we're talking physically…" His hands wound around Jimin's waist, grabbing the omega's ass to draw him close and pulling a quiet gasp from Jimin. "It's gotta be that ass."

"Alright then." Jimin laughed a bit as he pressed his hands flat against Namjoon's chest, marveling in the sculpted muscle beneath his fingers. "This has always been my favorite."

Get a room, ya nasties!" Jungkook called out. Around the deck, players who failed the prompt cleared the floor and Jimin and Namjoon took the opportunity to spread out. Now that you're all warmed up, let's throw it back!"

Jimin raised his eyebrows. "Jungkook, if you think you're about to have me twerking on this boat-"

Before he could finish, Jungkook leaned over the DJ booth and turned to a song from their childhood. Instantly it was like Jimin was 13 again. "You were saying?" Jungkook asked innocently.

"This was the song I played before school every day for, like, a year!" Jimin exclaimed.

"I know!" Jungkook smiled. "I used to beg you to turn it off and you never listened to me. And in honor of that…I want everybody to bounce on one leg to the music!"

Jimin crossed his arms, remaining very still. "I see what you're doing."

"You guys don't want the free drinks?" Another player asked them while bouncing.

"Oh, we do." Namjoon nodded.

Jimin grinned. "But he didn't say 'Jungkook says'."

Jungkook laughed. "Glad to know you can hear me now, bro."

More and more players cleared the floor as Jungkook's commands ranged from mischievous…

"Jungkook says lick your elbow!"

"Now you know good and damn well-"

Namjoon cut Jimin off with a snort. "Quitter."

Jimin raised an eyebrow at the alpha. "I'll show you quitter."

…to fun…

"Jungkook says hit the Kid N Play kick step!" Jimin and Namjoon immediately launched into the steps, linking hands as they tapped their feet together, hopping in a circle to the song Jungkook was spinning.

…to downright silly…

"Jungkook says give the person to your left your best pickup line!"

Namjoon turned to Jimin. "I would take you to the movies, but they don't let you bring in your own snacks." Jimin laughed.

…until finally, Jimin and Namjoon were the only ones left on the floor. "Final two! Everybody, let me here you say, 'hell yeah'!"

"Hell yeah!" Namjoon cheered.

"Do you worst!" Jimin called out. "We're ready for anything!"

Jungkook smirked. "Good because this one's a doozy." He stepped down from the DJ's booth and put the mic aside, speaking just to Jimin. "Jungkook says…have some faith in your brother."

Namjoon raised his hands and stepped back. "I know better than to come between y'all so I'm gonna bow out. You guys have something more precious than drinks on the line anyway." He went to sit in a lounge chair, leaving Jimin and Jungkook alone on the floor.

"Well?" Jungkook asked. "Can you do it?"

"Jungkook, I do have faith in you." Jimin said. "I believe you can do anything you put your mind to. But getting you to do that thing consistently is the struggle."

"It's hard to be consistent with something I don't care about." Jungkook said.

"That's life!" Jimin exclaimed. "It can't all be what you want it to be."

Jungkook shrugged. "Why not? Because that's what I want. A life full of things I can't live without. Otherwise, what's the point?" Jimin tried to respond but for once, he couldn't come up with a decent answer. Jungkook grinned at his stunned face. "And I'm never going to find what I love in life if I don't let go of what everybody else thinks I should accept." He sighed. "Look, Jimin, I get how my occasionally reckless behavior can sometimes be a burden for you but I'm your baby brother. Not your clone. I'm never going to do things the way you'd do them because I'm me. I have to do them my way."

Jimin pulled Jungkook into a warm hug, Jungkook's hair tickling his face as he squeezed him. "I wouldn't have it any other way." He pulled back. "Jungkook, I'm sorry. Not just for assuming the worst but for not seeing all the work you've put in to grow since we've been here. You're right. You can make your own choices, and I'll work on learning to sit back and support you through them."

Jungkook smiled. "That's all I ask. Now I've gotta get back to work." With a quick wave, he disappeared into the crowd and Jimin let him.

Namjoon patted the lounge chair next to him. "Well, he's not spiraling, and he isn't in need of a rescue." Jimin mused as he joined Namjoon.

"Which means you've officially been ducking me all night for nothing." Namjoon said.

"I have not been-" Namjoon fixed Jimin with a look, the omega stopping mid-sentence. "Okay maybe I have. Why is everybody calling me out today?"

Namjoon smiled. "Because we know you too well to let you lie to yourself."

It was a shot straight to Jimin's pride, but he knew Namjoon was right. So instead of getting defensive, Jimin geared up for his second apology of the night. "Namjoon, I'm sorry I blew you off earlier. I just knew that whatever you had to say would probably ruin what we've got going on and I wanted to control the situation. Because I'm pretty sure letting you go to Japan without me was the worst mistake of my life."

Namjoon lowered his head with a pained expression. "You have no idea how many times I had that same thought. But you have to know I never wanted to leave you. And I still don't. All I want and all I've ever wanted is you in my arms." He rose to his feet and held out a hand to Jimin. "So can I have this dance?"

Jimin took Namjoon's hand and Namjoon pulled him close, hands caressing the small of the omega's back. But as they swayed to the music, Jimin's mind raced. There were so many things they needed to talk about. Were they together together? What would happen when they went back home? And what did Namjoon have to tell him? Jimin was doing it again.

"Everything okay?" Namjoon asked. "You got kinda quiet on me."

"I'm kinda spiraling." Jimin said honestly. "Being spontaneous with you these last few days has been fun but when it comes to the bigger picture…"

"You're feeling a little antsy?" Namjoon guessed.

Jimin nodded. "Ants, butterflies, I'm the whole damn insect kingdom."

Namjoon's arms tightened around Jimin, pressing the omega protectively against him. Despite the calm music, Jimin noticed Namjoon's heart was racing. "How about you leave the planning up to me?" Namjoon suggested.

"You think you can handle that?" Jimin asked.

"Of course I can." Namjoon smiled. "Watch. We're gonna ride this baby back to shore. Then we're gonna figure out how we're gonna finance a speedboat because it is gone gone-"

Jimin laughed. "And what about right now?"

Namjoon's smile softened. "We dance."

"Just dance?" Jimin asked. "That doesn't sound like the Namjoon I know. Where's the excitement? The risk?"

Namjoon pulled back, his eyes sparking with mischief. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were looking for some."

"We came all this way because I couldn't live and let live." Jimin said. "But Jungkook has his own thing going on. Maybe we should too."

Namjoon paused for just a moment then gave the deck a cursory look before whispering in Jimin's ear. "We could help ourselves to the captain’s suite. Get away from the crowd for a while." Jimin's stomach fluttered as he nodded, letting Namjoon take his hand to lead him off.

Chapter 31

Heading off in the direction of the ship's bridge, Jimin and Namjoon found a pair of double doors that opened to a stateroom with a beautiful view of the water. "This will definitely work." Jimin smiled. "You can see everything from here."

"The only view I'm thinking about is you." Namjoon murmured before claiming Jimin's lips with his own. Jimin quickly deepened the kiss, their tongues dancing as the two of them grew more frenzied. "Take this off." Namjoon mumbled, tugging at Jimin's swimsuit.

Jimin grinned against Namjoon's lips. "You read my mind." Together, they made easy work of each other's clothes. But as Namjoon's fingers grazed against the waistband of Jimin's bikini bottoms, he hesitated. "Waiting for a suggestion?" Jimin asked. "Use your teeth."

Namjoon practically moaned. "I was hoping you'd say that." He knelt in front of Jimin and captured the waistband in a slow sensual bit before dragging it over Jimin's hips and down his thighs. Once the job was done, Namjoon returned to press a string of kisses to Jimin's thighs before rising to his feet and capturing Jimin's lips once more.

Jimin savored the hot and heady kiss, humming around Namjoon's probing tongue before grazing a trail of playful nips down his neck. Namjoon moved to press Jimin against the window, using the leverage to position himself between the omega's thighs. "I can safely say that I did not see this on any iteration of my plans." Jimin whispered, shifting his hips to feel Namjoon's dick pressing against him.

"Always happy to expand your horizons." Namjoon said.

Jimin bit his lip as he spotted a heavy rope on a nearby wall. "Wanna try something kinda wild?"

"With you, always."

"I want you to tie me up." Jimin nodded to the rope. "With that." Namjoon followed Jimin's gaze. As he went to retrieve the rope, Jimin settled into the bed. "Tie me any way you want, just don't let me loose until I beg you to."

"I've got some ideas." Namjoon looped the rope around Jimin's wrists then threaded the thick fibers through a gap in the headboard. With one strong pull of the rope, Namjoon yanked Jimin's chest down to the mattress and secured the knot. "On your knees. I want that gorgeous ass where I can see it."

Jimin shifted his knees under him, presenting his ass to the alpha and waited with anticipation. Almost immediately, he felt the warmth of Namjoon's tongue against his entrance, diving deep, lapping up every drop of slick leaking out of the omega. The pleasure overwhelmed Jimin, but as he tried to squirm away, the rope bit into his wrists, holding him in place. "Please~" Jimin whimpered.

Namjoon released Jimin with a quick yank of the rope before pulling him in for a kiss, the omega's slick coating his lips. Jimin slipped his tongue into Namjoon's mouth, moaning until Namjoon stole his breath away, the alpha dipping his fingers between the both of them. "God, Jimin, you're so wet for me." Namjoon groaned as he circled his fingers around Jimin's entrance. "Tell me what you want." His words were guiding, voice laced with a husky need. But with his fingers teasing Jimin, the omega's thoughts evaporated as soon as they formed.

"This." Jimin moaned. "Just this."

"I can handle that." With a chuckle, Namjoon laid Jimin back, pressing his fingers inside and curling them until the omega's hips bucked. Jimin covered his mouth, biting back a scream. But Namjoon gently pried his fingers away, replacing them with a kiss at the corner of his mouth. "Talk to me. I want to hear you."

"That feels so good…" Jimin panted.

"How good?" Namjoon smirked down at him. "Don't keep it all to yourself." At Namjoon's urging, Jimin fell over the edge, his cries bouncing against the walls one after the other.

Jimin's heart raced as he caught his breath, and he laid next to Namjoon, pressing kisses to the alpha's lips until he built the courage to ask for what he really wanted. He pushed Namjoon to lay on his back and climbed over him, ass positioned over the alpha's face as he kissed a line down from his chest and stomach until he reached Namjoon's dick. Jimin ran his hands over Namjoon's thighs, bending down to take Namjoon into his mouth, but the alpha beat him to it, lifting his head to lick a wide stripe against Jimin. The gasp Jimin let out had Namjoon chuckling. Jimin lowered his hips onto Namjoon's face, the alpha's tongue curling, driving into Jimin, Namjoon nuzzling Jimin's thighs in between licks. Jimin took Namjoon's dick into his hand, stroking him once before running his tongue along his length. Namjoon groaned against Jimin as the omega wrapped his lips around him, the heady feeling of shared pleasure spurring Jimin on. Jimin arched into Namjoon as he bobbed his head along Namjoon's length, Namjoon's tongue pushing him further until he was pulling off of Namjoon to cry out in pleasure. Jimin quickly returned his mouth to Namjoon, bobbing his head as fast as he could until he felt Namjoon twitching against his tongue, the alpha's cum filling his mouth soon after. Jimin pulled off and swallowed it down before resting his head against Namjoon's thigh, moaning incessantly as Namjoon thrusted his tongue as deep inside him as possible, coaxing a second orgasm out of Jimin. Sobs of bliss wracked Jimin's body as he writhed on top of Namjoon before rolling over to flop onto the mattress, satisfied and spent.

As the two of them lounged in the afterglow, nothing could wipe the sated smile from Jimin's face. But Namjoon didn't seem to be in the same headspace. Jimin gently rubbed his hand across Namjoon's chest, waiting for another flash of that dimpled grin he couldn't do without. "Hey, overthinking is my job." He said softly. "And according to you, one I need to retire." He smiled. "I had my doubts but I gotta admit, it just paid off big time."

To Jimin's relief, that did it. Namjoon chuckled, catching Jimin's hand beneath his and pinning it over his heart. "You're right." He turned on his side and pressed a soft kiss to Jimin's forehead, following it up with another on his lips. "We don't have this forever. Let's not let it go to waste."

🐰

Early in the morning, Jungkook was up and at 'em, putting the finishing touches on his cabana. "I have my décor from the booze cruise, the tropical flowers I handpicked, the macramé braids from the outdoor market-"

"And just where did you get actual flamingo feathers?" Jungkook turned and saw his friends all assembled and admiring his handiwork, Seokjin looking around incredulously. "Do I need to brush up on my bird law?

"Of course not, Seokjin." Jimin giggled. "Jungkook knows better than to go around undressing flamingos." He turned to Jungkook, his smile growing a bit strained. "Right?"

Jungkook rolled his eyes. "You can relax. I've got a flamingo guy."

"Of course you do." Taehyung laughed.

Jimin's smile grew as he took in the cabana. "Jungkook, it looks incredible. I'm really feeling good about this one."

"Thanks." Jungkook said. "I put everything I had in it. Blood, sweat, tears. At least until I figured out how to work the nail gun. Forensics would have a field day with this place but I'm good now."

"Do you need any help?" Seokjin offered.

Jungkook shook his head. "Actually, I'm just about done. I kinda modeled the look after the way I'm going to design my nightclub once I win the money with a few Bahamian inspired touches." Jimin pulled Jungkook into a hug and Seokjin and Taehyung quickly joined in, choking Jungkook out with all their love. "Thanks for the support but I've got this. Instead of breathing over my shoulder, you should meet me at the judging area. We can go straight from there to the bar to celebrate because I've got this thing in the bag."

Taehyung smiled. "Then just find us later. We'll be the ones cheering the loudest."

Jungkook busted his ass, polishing his design until the last minute. When he was finally done, he joined the other competitors to wait for the judging. He was proud of himself for the first time in a long time, and as his friends joined him, he let their praise wash over him. "I can see the judges from here." Taehyung said. "And they look impressed."

"Why wouldn't they be?" Jimin asked. "My baby brother's a creative genius."

Seokjin nodded. "I'll bet not one of those cabanas is up to scratch."

"Contestants, we're ready to announce the results! If you could gather around?" Jungkook smiled and ruffled his hair, drawing his shoulders back confidently in preparation for his victory photo.

"You all did an incredible job but there was one that went above and beyond."

"It was a magnificent show of the party animal spirit that lives in us all, managed a few fun nods to the Bahamas-"

"And the use of flamingo feathers was kinda dope!" Jungkook grinned.

"Without any further ado, the winner of this challenge is…Cayson Bouchard!"

Jungkook's smile dropped, his pulse pounding in his ears as Cayson pushed past him to the judges. As Cayson turned to face the crowd, his eyes landed squarely on Jungkook. "I win and you lose."

"What is happening?" Jungkook asked in shock, not sure if the sinking feeling he had was his heart dropping or the sand parting to swallow him whole.

Cayson smirked. "Let me see if I can break it down for you." He held up both hands side by side in front of him, palm side up before raising one hand to hover near his ear. "This is me and my cabana. And this…" He paused to lower the other hand until it hovered near his waist. "This is you and yours."

Jungkook glared at him. "Mine can't have been that far off from yours. We had the same elements."

"But only mine had the vision." Cayson gloated.

One of the judges cleared her throat. "Jungkook, we've chosen our winner, and we'd like to use this time to recognize him please."

As much as Jungkook wanted to throw a tantrum, he'd done too much work on himself to just throw it all away. So as the judges droned on, he sulked in silence. "All of you did exactly what you came to do-"

"But Cayson's personal touches are what took things over the top."

"He displayed all of the traits we hope to see in a champion. Ingenuity of materials, theme cohesion, overall creative vision…"

Jungkook did his best to tune them out until finally Hoseok took the mic. "That concludes our judging today. But I'd like to say well done to all of our finalists."

"Join us for the next challenge in just a few days to see Cayson's décor come alive as we host a secret special guest judge."

As the crowd started to disperse, Jungkook turned around to face his friends. "I put my heart and hopes and dreams into that cabana!" He exclaimed. "How the hell did Cayson's lemon stealing ass pull off something better?"

Jimin frowned. "Cayson may be the least of your worries. Have you seen the scoreboard?"

Jungkook's eyes widened. "The top five list is out?" He pulled himself from the dregs of dejection long enough to check his own position and wished he hadn't even bothered. "I'm in last?"

"It's not great but it's. not the end of the world either." Taehyung tried to assure him. "You can always come back!"

Seokjin nodded. "Taehyung's right. You're always saying how you puke and rally for nights out. Now it's time to do that for the next challenge."

"Easy for you to say." Jungkook scoffed. "Your boyfriend's the one who did this to me. Where is Mr. I'm-Too-Sexy-For-My-Shirt? We need to talk."

"What good would that do?" Jimin asked.

"It'll give me someone to blame!" Jungkook exclaimed.

Seokjin stared at him. "You can't blame the alpha for not handing you a win, Jungkook."

"He could've at least gone to bat for me!" Jungkook insisted. "We're supposed to be cool!" He spotted Hoseok milling about and stormed over, the others on his heels. "What the hell, Boss Alpha?"

Hoseok's eyes widened. "Jungkook, I know what you're gonna say but my hands were tied. You and Cayson had nearly identical cabanas."

Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows. "That would explain why Cayson placed first but not why Kookie got the shaft. He's in dead last!"

"If their ideas were similar, they should've gotten similar scores." Jimin said.

"Except he didn’t' say they were similar." Seokjin pointed out. "He said they were-"

"Nearly identical." Hoseok repeated. "And the other judges weren't so sure it was an accident."

"You're saying they think I cheated?" Jungkook asked in disbelief. "I worked all night!"

Hoseok sighed. "Aaliyah's brand sponsored the booze cruise you were on last night and she doesn't believe you'd have had the time to do both. I had to really fight for them to even keep you in the competition."

As the others squabbled on Jungkook's behalf, it was all Jungkook could do to keep his lunch down. He did the work, and it still wasn't enough. A voice he barely recognized broke through the noise, and it took a minute to realize it was his own. "I need to see it."

"Jungkook, I don't think-"

He cut Jimin off. "You guys don't have to come with me but I literally can't believe it. I've gotta take a look for myself." Without waiting for a reply, he marched over to the cabana campground, checking each one for Cayson's name until he found it. All around him, he was surrounded by the one of a kind, original details he'd been dreaming of executing for his own club.

When the others arrived minutes later, their mouths fell open. "Hoseok wasn't kidding." Jimin mumbled.

"That bitch stole your whole flow!" Taehyung exclaimed. "Word for word, bar for bar!"

Seokjin frowned. "I am so sorry, Jungkook."

"Well, look who it is!" Jungkook turned to find Cayson and his crew filing into the cabana and immediately the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. "Looks like somebody finally grew some class and came to congratulate me."

"You went too far." Jungkook said. "These were my original ideas. Years of dreaming and planning and hoping."

Jimin stepped forward. "All beef aside, I don't know how you can feel good doing this to another omega. This was foul." As Taehyung and Seokjin hopped on the cosign train, Jungkook couldn't help but notice they were attracting attention. A few dwellers even pulled out their phones.

"It's not Cayson's fault you left your cabana unattended last night."

"Yeah, you should be thanking him. If it were up to me, we'd have trashed yours just to be on the safe side."

Cayson cocked his head. "But I decided to leave it because I wanted you to see that when all things are equal, I'm just better than you."

"If that were true, you'd have beaten him with something original." Seokjin said. "You do know intellectual property rights are a thing, right?"

Cayson laughed and the pure maliciousness behind his eyes sucked all the fight right out of Jungkook. "Let's just go. He's not even worth it." He turned his back to leave but Cayson and his friends just wouldn't let up, stalking him through the campground.

"Aww, I think he's gonna cry!"

"Poor baby."

"Sucks, don't it?"

Media training out the window, Taehyung whirled around to face them. "Your momma!"

Heads snapped toward their direction, and as more people turned and looked Cayson for a response, Jungkook knew exactly where it was headed. "Taehyung, don't-"

But Cayson was already snapping back. "At least my momma didn't give birth to a loser crybaby."

"Nope, just a bully and a thief." Seokjin said. "Your momma must be so proud."

"So we're talking about mommas now? Because we can talk about mommas."

As Cayson's crew squared up, a crowd gathered, phones at the ready, and Jimin nudged Jungkook. "Are you really just gonna stand there and take this?"

And with that, Jungkook's fire returned. "Your momma's so old, she walked into an antique store, and they tried to keep her."

Cayson looked shocked that Jungkook had responded but quickly shook it off with a sneer. "Your momma's so ugly, when she walks into a bank, they turn off all the cameras." Cayson stepped closer, brushing his fingers over Jungkook's face. "Looks like you take after her."

"Hey-"

Before Jimin could finish, Jungkook swatted Cayson's hand away. "Your momma's so old, when you brought home your history book, she thought it was her journal."

"Your momma's so stupid, it takes her two hours to watch 60 Minutes!"

Jungkook raised an eyebrow at Cayson's friend. "Cayson, I thought this was between me and you."

"Why?" Cayson cocked his head. "Afraid you'll get washed?"

"Not even close." Jungkook smirked. "But if you're bringing in your friends, so am I." He gestured for Taehyung to proceed.

Taehyung grinned. "Your momma's so dumb, she put lipstick on her forehead to make up her mind."

Cayson narrowed his eyes. "Your momma's so dumb, she sold her car to get gas money."

"Your momma's so ugly, she turned Medusa to stone." Jungkook said.

"Your momma's so stupid, she tripped over a cordless phone."

"Your momma's so ugly, she has to creep up on her makeup."

"Your momma's head's so big, she tripped in Michigan and her forehead hit Florida."

As Cayson stood in front of Jungkook, chest heaving and waiting for his rebuttal, Jungkook wracked his brain for a worthy comeback. "Your momma's so scary, you thought the monsters in your closet were friends."

"Your momma's so loud, she speaks in surround sound." One of Cayson's friends retorted.

Seokjin stepped forward. "Your momma's mouth is so big, she uses redwoods for toothpicks."

Cayson shoved his friend out of the way, ready with his own retort. "Your momma's so greedy, she made an email account just to get the spam."

"Your momma's so clueless, she stared at a cup of orange juice because it said 'concentrate'." Jungkook said.

Seokjin picked up right where he'd left off. "Your momma's got glasses so thick, when she looks on a map, she can see people waving."

"All of y'all's mommas are so ugly, when they look in the mirror, the reflection ducks." Cayson said.

"Your momma's so classless, she's a Marxist utopia." Seokjin said, earning a roar of approval from the crowd.

"Oh, come on!" Cayson exclaimed. "These bitches ain't even funny!"

"You want funny?" Jungkook stepped right up to Cayson. "Your momma's so dirty, she has to wipe her feet before she goes outside. Your momma's so untalented, you're the best thing she ever made. Your momma's so big headed, I could play a full-length motion picture on her forehead and not miss a scene."

With each joke, Cayson's frown grew more surly, his lip jutting out like a toddler. Jimin leaned in to examine Cayson's face. "Aw, are you gonna cry?"

"Who's the loser crybaby now?" Jungkook asked.

Cayson pushed past Jimin and walked right up to Jungkook until his breath coated Jungkook's face. "I still stole your idea and won the top spot. And there's nothing you can do about it."

"Tell your story walking, bitch." Taehyung waved him off.

But as Cayson and his friends left, Jungkook realized he was right. No matter how loud the crowd cheered or how hard his friends praised him, he was still clinging to the bottom of the scoreboard by his fingernails. He shoved his way through the crowd and back to the hotel, tears beginning to build. "Jungkook!" Jimin called after him. "I know it hurts but you'll get him back on the next one!"

"No, I won't." Jungkook said. "This is what I get for thinking I could do this stupid contest in the first place."

"So what, you're just gonna quit?" Jimin asked.

Jungkook shook his head. "Of course you don't get it. You never fail at anything."

Seokjin reached out and grabbed Jungkook's arm, pulling him to a stop. "Everybody has setbacks. It's what you do after that counts." He tried to meet Jungkook's gaze but the doting look in his eyes was too painful.

Burning with shame, Jungkook yanked his arm back and stared at the ground. "Thank you for the after school special, Seokjin, but in case you didn't notice, this is real life. And my real-life dreams just got crushed in front of a crowd of people, so I don't really want to hear it."

"Jungkook's right." Taehyung said. "Rejection hits different for us creative types. If you need a break, you can just quit, Jungkook. Nobody's gonna think any less of you."

Jungkook knew Taehyung's soothing tone was supposed to make him feel better but all it did was make him feel pitied. Anger bubbled to the surface. "Why? Because none of you expected me to finish anyway? After all, I am just poor, little directionless Kookie."

They all froze, their faces falling. "You heard that." Seokjin said quietly.

"I know that's what you all think of me." Jungkook let out a sad laugh. "I leaned on you guys for a long time, and I should've learned to stand on my own two feet before now so that's on me. But dammit, I thought that's what family's for! To help when you're down and out."

"That is what we're for!" Jimin assured him. "Jungkook, we love you!"

Taehyung nodded. "Nothing we have ever done for you has been out of obligation."

"If you don't believe anything else, you've got to know that much is true." Seokjin said.

And Jungkook did. That trip alone had shown him that no matter how far apart they got or how long it had been, they still had his back. But when they did, they were always going to see the baby of the family and not the grown omega he'd grown into. "Seokjin can you stop talking to me like I'm a baby? I am an adult." He didn't give Seokjin a chance to respond. "And Jimin, Taehyung, it's real rich hearing you two talk about love and family when you can barely stand being in the same room." Taehyung opened his mouth to argue but Jungkook stopped him. "Save it. From here on out, what you do in your personal life is none of my business and what I do in mine is none of yours." That time, there was no one stopping Jungkook as he ran away. As he let his mind wander, his feet knew exactly where to carry him.

Chapter 32

🐥

The walk back to the hotel was silent. When Jimin, Seokjin, and Taehyung finally got there, Jimin sighed. "Well, I'm going back to the suite. Y'all coming?"

"The suite?" Seokjin asked incredulously. "We need to be going after Jungkook. We've gotta fix this!" Seokjin started to move to find Jungkook.

Jimin caught Seokjin by the elbow, holding him back. "He's made it pretty clear he's had enough of us for one day."

"Maybe several days." Taehyung said. "That shade was icy."

"What?" Seokjin asked.

"Look, I kinda lost it yesterday." Jimin told them. "And it took Jungkook reminding me to let go and focus on my own thing to get me back on track. This just felt like more of the same. We should respect his wishes, leave him alone, and stop babying him."

An offended expression crossed Taehyung's face. "I do not baby him. That's Seokjin's deal."

Seokjin scoffed. "Oh, so now it's babying to make him an authorized user on my account to fix his credit? Or calling to make sure he's made it home from his night out when I'm on my way to work?"

"Yes!" Taehyung exclaimed. "Why don't you just strap him in one of those toddler leashes while you're at it?"

Jimin cut in. "I think we're all guilty of babying Jungkook. After all, Taehyung, you cosign every decision he makes, good or bad. But Jungkook deserves to find his own way. We complained about having to take care of him, but our meddling is probably the reason he took so long to find himself in the first place. All I'm saying is maybe it's time to let him deal with things on his own and let the chips fall where they may."

Seokjin frowned. "But what if Jungkook needs us?"

"He's an adult and you're not his mother." Jimin reminded him.

"Uh, Jimin."

Jimin ignored Taehyung. "You're not his brother."

"Jimin!"

"Technically you're not even actually our cousin-" He cut himself off as he realized the implication, but the damage was already done.

Seokjin's face fell. "Right. I almost forgot. Since I've clearly overstepped, I guess I'll just leave you to do what's best for your family."

"Wait, that's not what I-" But Seokjin was already storming away. Guilt churned in his stomach. "I didn't mean it like that."

Taehyung let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Damn, when you put your foot in your mouth, you really go for it. I tried to stop you but-"

Jimin whirled around to face him. "Would you just shut up? I don't need your play by play, I was there!"

"I was just trying to-"

"I don't know if you can tell but I'm not really in the mood to get into any more drama." Jimin flopped down on the curb, putting his head in his hands.

It was silent for a moment. Then Taehyung scoffed. "Because that's all I do? Look around you, Jimin! I'm all you've got left! Your constant picking at me is the entire reason we're even beefing!" He crossed his arms in a huff.

As it dawned on Jimin, he slowly picked his head up, stunned. "You honestly have no idea why I'm even mad, do you?"

"Do you even know?" Taehyung retorted. "What could I possibly have done to piss you off this much?"

Rising to his feet, Jimin gestured toward the hotel patio and Taehyung followed him. With a sigh, Jimin kicked off his shoes and sat on the edge of the pool, sinking his feet into the cool water as the memory played through his mind as if it had just happened the day before. "We were supposed to pick you up from our flight, spend the day getting dolled up, and then head straight to the ceremony. But when your plane landed, you were nowhere to be found."

 

"Eomma, we're gonna be late for our nail appointment!" Jimin looked around in a panic. "Where is he?"

His mom shrugged. "You're talking to me like I lost him personally, Jimin. Your aunt's calling him now so I'm sure he's on his way."

A few steps away, Jimin's aunt spoke angrily and rapidly into her phone. "Kim Taehyung, I can't with you! Did you really choose today of all days to pull this shit? Call me back, now!" She ended the call with a jab to the screen and turned to Jimin with sympathy in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, angel. He's not answering."

Jimin took a deep breath to try to calm his anxiety. "It's okay. I'm sure he'll be here soon, and we'll do everything else."

They spent hours waiting for Taehyung, missing every appointment that was scheduled, but Taehyung never showed. "Honey, at this rate, we're barely going to make the ceremony." Jimin's mom said gently. "Your aunt's gonna look for him but we've got to go."

Taehyung ended up missing the ceremony and the grad part. But most importantly, that was the night Jimin thought Namjoon was going to propose to him. "Babe, I have something to ask you." Namjoon said.

Jimin tried not to look too in the know, and thanks to missing his nail, hair, and wax appointments, he did a good job. But his excitement still bubbled over. "Yes, Namjoon?"

"I've been doing some thinking and…" Namjoon smiled. "I'm going to skip med school. I’m going to Japan to teach English instead."

Jimin's stomach dropped, his smile falling as his heart started racing for a completely different reason. "What? What happened to the five-year plan? Namjoon, I didn't plan for any of this!"

"That's half the excitement though!" Namjoon exclaimed.

"How?" Jimin asked incredulously. "I told you what my goals are, and everything was in alignment and now this is careening all the way left!"

Namjoon frowned. "You gotta understand, I need this. I gotta figure out who I am."

"I can't wait on you to start living!" Jimin exclaimed. "We had a plan! Namjoon, what am I supposed to do while you're in Japan?"

"Come with me." Namjoon said, taking Jimin's hand in his. "Ditch the plan for once and let's just see what life has to offer."

Jimin stared at him in disbelief. "Ditch the plan? Namjoon, I'm not you! I can't just switch up on my whole life on a whim and fly to a different country! I've got a job lined up and I put down first and last on an apartment with Seokjin-"

Namjoon interrupted him. "We'll get you another job and another apartment!"

"You can't just change your life in a split second and expect me to tag along like some carry-on bag you can stash in the overhead!" Jimin pulled his hand away from Namjoon's. "Namjoon, everything I have is here!"

"Everything but me." Namjoon said softly. The two of them froze, clearly at a crossroads. Finally, Namjoon sighed and deep down Jimin knew what was coming. "You deserve a beautiful life, Jimin. Even if it doesn't include me.”

 

"So we broke up and the heartbreak damn near broke me." Jimin said. "And then you called to brag about the shoot from Paris."

Taehyung frowned. "Except I wasn't trying to brag. When I first started modeling, Eomma and Appa had to keep my lights on and make sure I had food in the fridge."

Jimin furrowed his eyebrows. "Then why were you always calling home with these stories about flying first class around the world?"

"Because you and Seokjin were killing it in school, and I didn't want the family to know I was a failure." Taehyung said.

"You weren't a failure." Jimin said. "You were human. For once in his life, V wasn't perfect. That's not a crime." He sighed. "I just can't get over how we were both out there taking major L's without even talking to each other about it."

"Believe it." Taehyung mumbled. "I was struggling then and I'm still struggling now. 'V' has given me a lot, but he's taken so much from me too. My peace, my family…"

Jimin smiled. "Well one thing's for sure, V didn't take me." He nudged Taehyung with his shoulder and Taehyung gave him a playful nudge back. "I'm right here for you the way I should've been the first time."

Taehyung looked at him with wide eyes. "You mean it?"

"Of course." Jimin nodded. "You're family."

"I'm sorry I wasn't there for you." Taehyung said. "You deserved better."

"Thank you." Jimin said. "I'm sorry too. I was hurt but I should've just said so. We lost five years for nothing."

Taehyung smiled. "Yeah but today, we gained a lifetime, so I say we charge that to the game and keep it pushing. But at least you and Namjoon found each other again. It looks like you two were able to pick up right where you left off."

Jimin bit his lip as he thought back to the night before. "Something like that." He sighed. "Honestly, Namjoon was being a little weird. I don't know, it's probably nothing but…" He shook his head. "I'm just not sure I'd be able to survive another heartbreak like that again. The only reason I got through it the first time was…"

"Seokjin." Taehyung said quietly.

"Yeah, you were right." Jimin groaned. "I really stepped in it with that one."

"Well, if there's one thing I know, it's that you should never let things fester between you and someone you love." Taehyung said. "We missed out on years of each other's lives over a single phone call. Do you really want to do the same thing with Seokjin?"

The answer was a no brainer and Jimin knew he needed to go apologize ASAP. But first he smiled at Taehyung. "Thanks for working this out with me. We're cool, right?"

Taehyung nodded. "Like the other side of the pillow."

Laughing, the two of them shared a hug, back and better than ever. "Now come on." Jimin said. "Let's go make things right with Seokjin too."

🐰

It was straight out of those said noir-y shows. Some poor dejected sulked atop their barstool while their favorite bartender poured up a long island iced tea. Only in that case, Jungkook's bartender friend was a little chattier than convention dictated. "Didn't expect to see you in here until was time for a celebratory round." Tilton mused. "How'd the judging go?"

"It went." Jungkook grumbled. "And the judge's decided my design was a winner but I'm not."

Tilton frowned. "Now how's that work?"

It started as a morose sniffle, then a wibble, and next thing Jungkook knew, he was in tears, choking his way through the story and using cocktail napkins to dab at his eyes. "Cayson snuck over the night before and stole my concept! And the judges think I'm the cheater."

"Tough break." Tilton hummed.

Jungkook stared at him incredulously. "That's it? Isn't this usually when the wise old person gives priceless advice to the young person that helps them change their life and circumstances? That's, like, the plot of all the great movies and half of modern-day TV!"

"Boy, who do you think I am, Iyanla?" Tilton asked. "I don't have the power to fix your life. Only you can do that. If you want to let that omega steal your shine, then that's on you. If you want to crawl in a hole and never try anything hard again, that's on you too. It's your life, Jungkook. Do something with it."

"Wow, Tilton…" Jungkook blinked. "That was…completely useless. Hell, I'd have been better off listening to my family!"

Tilton raised an eyebrow. "How do you figure?"

"Because they're the ones who stuck behind me when I was a hot mess who didn't take myself or anything else seriously!" Jungkook exclaimed. "They hyped me up, believed in me when I couldn't manage to believe in myself. Hell, they even funded this whole adventure! My brother and my cousins may always, always find their way up into my business but they're the only ones who really care." He smiled. "Did you know I was Seokjin's first client? He hadn't even graduated yet, but my first landlord tried to evict me, and he lawyered him so hard, I was able to stay the rest of my lease rent free."

"What were you being evicted for?" Tilton asked.

"Being negligent on the rent, if you can believe it." Jungkook shook his head. "They're my support system, Tilton. And I just took a massive dump on them for it."

Tilton raised his eyebrows, slinging his towel over his shoulder. "Sounds like you owe them a big apology then."

Jungkook looked at him. "Oh, now you wanna give advice? Your timing is trash, you know that, right?"

"You gonna finish that?" Tilton gestured to Jungkook's untouched drink.

Jungkook slid the glass back across the bar before booking it to the door. "You can take that one off my tab. I need to make things right with my family."

"What? No!" Tilton called after him. "You still need to pay for this, Jungkook! Jungkook!"

Chapter 33

🐹

With Jungkook's words ringing in his ears and Jimin's rejection weighing heavy on his heart, there was only one person Seokjin wanted to turn to. He raised his fist to knock on Hoseok's office door only to hear another voice coming from inside. "…are going to need to impress me, you know that right?" Seokjin's stomach sank, his feet rooted to the spot, barely able to catch snatches of conversation over his own haggard breathing. But what he could catch made his JinDar roar to life.

"I'm not worried about that in the least." Hoseok said to whoever was in there with him. "You wouldn't be the first visitor at this resort I've charmed the pants off of." There was a giggle inside and before he knew it, Seokjin was turning the handle and stepping inside. Hoseok was seated at his desk, an omega with a perfectly sculpted ass perched on the corner of it. "Seokjin?" Hoseok asked in shock.

"I thought you said this would be discreet!" The omega exclaimed.

Seokjin crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at Hoseok. "He says a lot of things. The problem is most of it's just bullshit he knows you want to hear."

Hoseok jumped to his feet. "Seokjin, no-"

"I thought we were on the same page." Seokjin said. "I thought we were both…I thought you wanted…"

The omega looked between them in confusion. "What is going on here?"

"Samuel, it's a misunderstanding." Hoseok assured the other omega before sending Seokjin a meaningful look. "Seokjin, if I could just talk to you outside-"

"Save it." Seokjin shook his head. "Sorry to interrupt. I can see you're busy." To his dismay, his lips trembled but he managed to pull himself together, fighting back the tears that threatened to flow freely as he turned around and stormed off.

🐻

After clearing the air, Taehyung and Jimin headed back to the suite in hope of making things right with Jungkook and Seokjin. Taehyung wasted no time, calling out as soon as the door was open. "Seokjin? We're sorry!"

"I'm sorry!" Jimin corrected. "I never meant to make it sound like you aren't family."

"Damn." Jungkook shook his head. "And I thought I said some fucked up stuff." He then stood sheepishly from the couch, looking every bit of 'I don't know what to do with my arms' awkward.

"Turns out it runs in the family." Taehyung said, opening his arms. Jungkook rushed into them, pulling Jimin along with him. Forgiveness flowed through Taehyung, freely given. "Where's Seokjin?"

Jungkook shrugged. "I don't know. I came back to apologize to all of you but when I got here, it was empty."

"Seokjin's gotta be somewhere." Jimin pulled out his phone and tried Seokjin, placing the call on speakerphone, but it just rang and rang and rang before going to voicemail.

"You've reached Kim Seokjin. Please leave a detailed message and I'll return your call at my earliest convenience." The beep sounded and Jimin gripped the phone in both hands, his eyes closing.

"Seokjin, it's us." Jimin said desperately. "Please come back to the suite so we can talk this out."

"I was just freaking out!" Jungkook exclaimed. "You can baby me as much as you want!"

Taehyung leaned in to speak but before he could say a word, his own phone rang. He pulled it out to see his Aeri's name flashing on the screen. He swiped the call away without a second thought. Seconds later a text came through instead, but he ignored that too. "Seokjin, we love you, and we've spent too much time beefing as it is. We want to come together. As a family. And we can't do it without your annoying ass so call us back!"

As they ended the call, Taehyung's phone rang again. "Tae, if she's blowing your phone up like this, it's gotta be for something big." Jimin said. "Don't you think you should answer it?"

"Nothing is bigger than family." Taehyung said. "I learned my lesson."

Jungkook smiled. "That's real cute but money is literally calling. Pick it up or I will."

With their combined blessing, Taehyung hit 'accept' and pressed the phone to his ear. "Aeri, hey, now's not really a good-"

Aeri spoke over him. "I see you're ducking my calls now. Luckily for you, I have such great news, I'm too excited to dwell on that. A developer called Nile Inc saw you, loved you, and wants to use Yoongi's photos to promote their upcoming high rises in the Bahamas!" Something about that felt familiar but Taehyung couldn't place the name. As Aeri droned on, he stewed over where he might have heard of Nile before. "They're looking for an omega of color, so it doesn't give white colonialization, but they still want to elevate the area. You know, sell the dream. And most importantly, they want to buy the exclusive rights to your pics for double what we were originally asking!"

"Wait, did you say developer?" Taehyung asked as if he finally realized why it all sounded so familiar.

 

John sighed. "And thanks to all the developers coming in like they own the place, the B and B might be history soon too. They come in, buy up all the acres they can get their hands on, drain the island's resources, and leave us locals scrambling to cope."

"And don't get me started on the Pair Airs popping up all over the island." Mary shook her head. "No regard for history, no understanding of the community. It's a mess. John and I are thinking about getting out while we can."

 

"Aeri, I can't work with these people." Taehyung said, shaking his head even though she couldn't see him. "The locals hate the developers! They've been buying up land all over the island. Forcing out the families and businesses that have been here for generations, leveling the current infrastructure, paving over anything that isn't federally protected and slapping down tacky chains to make a quick buck! I can't support that! That's not who I am!"

"Well, of course not!" Aeri exclaimed. "That's hardly who they are either. At least not publicly. According to their site, they're an eco-conscious brand for the modern globetrotter. No one pays attention to that other unfortunateness. If anyone asks, you just have to tell them the new businesses help provide jobs and stimulate the economy."

"You mean lie?" Taehyung asked incredulously. "Aeri, they're ruining communities and lining their CEO's pockets!"

"And ours! Look, V, I don't know what's gotten into you, but I appreciate your reservations. Really, doll, I do. But you just need to trust me. I've never steered you wrong before."

Before Taehyung could respond, he heard a click. He stared at his blank phone screen in shock. "Oh hell no." He mumbled as he checked his service, seeing that he had full bars.

"You okay?" Jimin asked.

"Aeri has lost her rabbit ass mind!" Taehyung exclaimed. "That bitch just hung up on me!"

Jungkook's eyes widened. "Damn, Tae. I haven't seen you this mad since Dispatch claimed you were dating that one lazy idol."

Taehyung shook his head. "Aeri wants to sell my pictures to some money hungry, people displacing developer actively jacking up the island as we speak!"

Jimin crossed his arms. "The question isn't 'what does Aeri want'. It's 'what are you gonna do'?"

Taehyung paused. Aeri had always been the steward of his career, guiding it from its fledgling stage until he was big enough to spread his wings. To go against her would be like turning his back on V. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. "She may not hear me, but I know some people she won't be able to ignore. Call me if you hear from Seokjin."

He raced through the hallways until he was at Yoongi's door, banging just a little harder than necessary. Yoongi opened it with a confused expression. "Taehyung? What's-"

"I have an idea." Taehyung said. "It's not well planned and I don’t know Bahamian law so it might be illegal, but I need your help."

For a moment, Yoongi stood in his doorway staring at Taehyung. Then he nodded. "Yes."

Taehyung breathed out in relief. "I could kiss you!"

Yoongi smiled and raised an eyebrow. "Could?"

Taehyung slipped his fingers into Yoongi's belt loops, pulling him forward to press their lips together. Yoongi immediately deepened the kiss, and Taehyung savored the taste of him on his tongue before pulling away. "And did."

"Now you're definitely gonna have to tell me what's up." Yoongi said.

"You know how John and Mary were talking about being priced out and forced to close their business?" Taehyung asked. "I want to help them plan a demonstration against one of the culprits. Nile Inc." He explained everything from his call with Aeri.

Yoongi blew out a breath as he leaned against the doorframe. "John and Mary have been trying to fight back against the developers for a minute but they can't get anyone to care."

"My whole job is getting eyes on things!" Taehyung exclaimed. "They can use my name to signal boost their message. Whatever they need, I'm their guy."

"Taehyung, that's cool of you and all but I feel like I need to be clear about something." Yoongi said. "These developers are about that life. They'll use the same money they wanted to give you to destroy you. Nile could ruin your career over this."

"I don't have to be the face of the movement." Taehyung insisted. "I don't even want to be. I just can't sit by, do nothing, and collect a check. Not again. Not for this."

Yoongi paused for a moment, studying Taehyung's face. Then he nodded again, the corner of his lips curling. "Then I'll give Mary a call."

While Yoongi confirmed the details with his people, Taehyung opened his socials and rattled off a few messages to his followers before he lost his nerve.

@thv
Hey, loves! 😘 V checking in from the oh-
so-beautiful Bahamas. 🌊🌴🌞

But #DidYouKnow that @NileInc, (and
some other shady corps) are displacing
families that have been on the island
for generations?

Join my live to learn more, and be sure
to use hashtag #StopNileInc! -V

Taehyung's heart was practically in triple time as he signed the last message and pressed 'POST' but there was a sense of pride there too. "Mary and John are on board." Yoongi said as he put his own phone away. "We just need to meet them in town, they'll handle everything else."

"Then there's no point standing here patting ourselves on the back." Taehyung smiled. "We've got work to do. Let's go."

When they arrived, it was immediately clear that the neighborhood had been waiting for the chance to be heard. John used a bullhorn to call out to the crowd. "We cannot let our neighborhood, our livelihoods, and our communities continue to be ripped apart for the almighty dollar!"

"John is right!" A supporter exclaimed. "Companies like Nile are uprooting families and wrecking the island!"

Taehyung raised his eyebrows. "Wow he really knows how to connect with an audience."

Yoongi nodded. "He's been at it a long time."

"Too long." Mary said as she approached them with a tired but determined expression. "Hopefully one of these days we won't have to do this anymore."

"Until then, we're here for whatever you need." Taehyung assured her.

"Our biggest issue has been getting the word out." Mary said. "Companies like Nile have huge budgets and can pay to silence complaints."

Yoongi scowled. "And if that doesn't work, they file phony lawsuits and tie you up in court so long you can't afford to fight."

Taehyung shook his head. "That explains why no one really knows how awful they are. But I'm more than willing to talk to a few of the locals and livestream it on my insta. You know, get the stories heard?"

John sighed. "I appreciate you stepping up, Taehyung, but I'm not sure that's such a good idea. As far as they know, you could very well be just another star looking to profit off their struggle. It wouldn't be the first time."

"John's right." Yoongi said. "We know you're good people but most of these folks don't know you from Eve, Princess."

"They'll trust me if you guys do." Taehyung insisted. "John, Mary, let me interview you first and Yoongi can film. Then people will see I'm really here to help."

"Okay but you've gotta remember this isn't a party." Mary said. "These are people's livelihoods at risk."

Taehyung nodded. "Got it. Serious vibes only."

"Don’t worry." Yoongi assured him. "Just keep your eyes on me and I'll make sure you stay on the right track."

Taehyung handed his phone off to Yoongi and took a deep breath, schooling his face into a suitable expression as Yoongi cued him to speak. "Hi, loves. I know you're expecting bikini thirst traps and TBH I'll probably post some later. But something more important came up. Land developer Nile Inc has plans to pave over the homes and lives of everyone standing around me. So I'm choosing to stand with the locals in opposition." Behind the camera, Yoongi shot him a thumbs up then gestured for him to put the focus where it belonged. "As a guest of the country, I thought it was only right to hear the struggles firsthand, starting with John and Mary Rolle."

Yoongi shifted the phone to get them in the frame as John began speaking. "My wife and I own and operate the Rolle Family Bed and Breakfast down by the beach. It was my father's and his father's before him."

"But it's more than that." Mary said. "It's where we met, where we fell in love, where we said yes to spending forever together. And we're not the only ones. Half of the couples in this community were married there with huge receptions on the beach afterward."

John smiled. "And everyone was always welcome. But that was the case no matter the occasion. Happy or sad."

"We've given shelter during hurricanes and watched families grow." Mary continued. "The B and B is as much a member of this neighborhood as any of us."

"And what can you tell us about how the new developments will affect the neighborhood?" Taehyung asked.

John's expression grew solemn. "Life on the island as good once upon a time. Then the developers came in."

Mary nodded. "They built up the areas so much the government raised the taxes. There were old folks who had owned their homes for years losing everything because they couldn't afford the hike."

Taehyung frowned. "I can't imagine planting roots just for them to be ripped out."

"Well, I don't have to imagine it!" A protestor called out and Yoongi pivoted to get the omega and his family in the shot. "I lived it!" She looked into the camera. "My name is Charles Johnson. This is my husband, James, and our children, William and Michael."

Their work done, John and Mary stepped aside, and Taehyung beckoned the Johnsons closer. "We used to live a few blocks over." James said. "Until we were forced by Nile Inc to move out of our home."

"We didn't want to." William pouted. "But we had to go."

Michael looked like he was about to cry. "I miss our real house."

Without thinking, Taehyung stooped down so he was at eye level with the boys. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Can you tell me more about your old house?"

"We had to leave the tall wall." Michael said.

"And the veggies." William added on.

"And the tire swing." Michael finished.

"Tell me more about the tall wall." Taehyung requested. "What exactly is that?"

A wistful smile appeared on James' face. "It was a doorway where we would keep track of how tall the boys were getting."

"I was winning!" William cheered.

Michael's face fell even more. "But now we only have a picture of the tall wall. It's not even the same."

The Johnsons swapped places with the Smiths, then the Knowles, the Pinders, and the Thompsons. Taehyung captured as many stories as he could, sometimes pushing, but mostly giving them room to say what they needed. After the last one, Yoongi turned the camera back on him. "We've heard from a lot of people but what do you have to say to this?" Yoongi asked.

Taehyung's eyes widened. "Uh, I'm just here to signal boost. Not take up the mantle."

"You're in the thick of it now." Yoongi pointed out. "Why not add your two cents?"

Taehyung quickly muffled the phone's speakers and lowered the camera to point at the ground. "Because the plan was to expose Nile, not give Aeri a heart attack!" He hissed.

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. "I thought we were firmly aboard the fuck Aeri train?"

"I am!" Taehyung nodded. "But-"

"Only so long as he's not really risking anything!" Someone called out from the crowd.

As Taehyung turned to face them, someone else sneered. "Oh, come on, David. Who doesn't do a little light activism for insta?"

"What?" Taehyung shook his head. "No! I-"

Yoongi jumped in. "Y'all act like John and Mary didn't both vouch for him."

David sucked his teeth, sending a very clear message--Fuck what John and Mary said. "Please. See through swimsuit guy doesn't care about anything but getting attention and selling people cheap clothes."

"Just another celebrity trying to get a gold star."

"If that's all I wanted, I could've reposted some of the wack ass videos y'all posted instead of coming all the way down here-"

The second person cut Taehyung off. "To what? Talk to people? You don't think we've told these same stories a million times? Nobody cares."

"It's all fine, well, and good that you came. But nothing ever changes unless somebody with some juice stands up and speaks out." He eyed Taehyung pointedly.

Faced with the thought of really airing Nile out, Taehyung felt the strength of the bad bitch strip away. "I didn't come here for that. It would just steal the moment."

Yoongi glanced at him. "Something moved you to risk it all and come out here. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to tell your fans why you care. At the very least, it would give them a reason why they should."

Taehyung bit his lip before nodding. "If it'll build support, I'll do it."

"Good." David said. "We'll gather everybody. You focus on meeting us out on the beach in 15."

As they set off, Taehyung turned to Yoongi. "See what you did!"

"Don't blame me, Princess." Yoongi said. "All of this was your idea."

"But I specifically didn't want to speak out." Taehyung argued. "This was just supposed to be a good deed. A boost to the community!"

Yoongi shook his head. "You can't have one foot in on activism, Taehyung. Either you're 10 toes down or you're on the sidelines."

"Then maybe I should sit this one out." Taehyung said. "You're famous! You could do it!"

"What the hell as gotten into you?" Yoongi asked incredulously. "And don't say stage fright because we both know how much of a lie that would be."

Taehyung looked out at the gathered crowd. As he thought of all the people affected by his words, his gaze dropped to his feet. "What if there's a reason Aeri handles everything? What if I get out there and fuck up? I could destroy my career and make things worse for everybody." He fell silent.

For a moment, all there was were the distant calls from the demonstrators. Then Yoongi said, "'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.' The only reason Aeri handles everything is because you gave her that power. And you're not gonna fuck up. You're gonna kill it." He slipped a finger under Taehyung's chin, bringing his eyes up to meet his own. A fire burned in Yoongi's gaze that warmed Taehyung more than the Caribbean sun. "Now pick your head up and tell me what made you come out here."

"I came because it seemed wrong to take the money and go." Taehyung said. "I've taken a lot of shit gigs without doing my due diligence, but I've never intentionally taken one I knew would hurt people. And I don't plan to start now."

Yoongi smiled. "Then go tell them that."

"You honestly think that's gonna cut it?" Taehyung asked.

"No one's expecting you to be perfect." Yoongi assured him. "They just want to hear the conviction. Prove to them you're on their side."

Taehyung nodded slowly. "Okay, I can do that. Let me run a few more points by you…"

Chapter 34

Once Taehyung was prepared and the crowd was ready for him, he climbed up onto the lifeguard shack to address them all. "Hi, everybody. My name is V…" He trailed off at the blank faces staring up at him. "But you probably knew that. Or maybe you didn't! I'm trying this new thing where I’m more humble-"

"Are you gonna talk about yourself all day or what?"

The crowd chuckled and Taehyung's eyes flashed to where Yoongi stood in the crowd, filming for his livestream. Taehyung cleared his throat. "Right. I'm speaking today because…" He took a deep breath and spoke from his heart. "I came here for the first time earlier this week and already this neighborhood has a special place in my heart. The people are kind and welcoming and have been to everyone that comes through, new or old."

"So you're only here because you don't want to lose your personal amusement park."

Taehyung's eyes widened and he shook his head. "I'm here because if I can feel this way about it in one day, the love you all must have for it has got to be unmatched!"

One protestor stepped forward. "I've lived here my whole life, and this neighborhood is everything you say it is. Always has been."

"And people deserve to see that!" Taehyung exclaimed. "This takeover has already affected dozens of families. Each acquisition rippling out to hundreds, thousands of people. Which is why I want to get more people invested in the cause!"

"In conjunction with the work we've been doing, you mean." John said with an amused tone. "Right?"

"Look, I'm not here to discount everything that's been done." Taehyung said. "You all have been doing the hard part for years. I just want to be a small part of the efforts that put Nile Inc. and all the companies like them on blast."

"They've been asking for this cancelling for a while." A protestor said. "I think it's time we came through!"

Taehyung nodded. "And hashtag StopNileInc has the power to do it!" The crowd cheered and Taehyung turned to face Yoongi and his livestream, addressing his online audience directly. "Nile will try to spin this as 'improvement' to convince everyone this town is dilapidated and uncared for. That's not true. Just look around and you'll see communities and the people who power them!" He nodded at Yoongi to pan his phone, giving Taehyung's fans a true glimpse of the town and its surroundings. "Communities like the one Nile Inc. is trying to disrupt and bulldoze are what make this town special."

"I know I've felt powerless like I let down my community by closing the B and B." An islander said.

"But this community stands up for each other." Mary continued. "And that's exactly why we can't let Nile Inc. win this day."

Taehyung picked back up. "And this is just a small sample of what could be lost if we don't stop Nile and all the slick businesses like them!" As Yoongi panned the camera back, Taehyung felt himself hitting his stride. "That's why I need y'all at home to join us out here in solidarity! Hashtag your pasts with StopNileInc, and let's get this done!"

"Alright, Princess!" Yoongi cheered as the crowd erupted into applause.

Taehyung climbed down from the lifeguard shack and nervously headed over to Yoongi. "Was that okay?"

Yoongi grinned. "That was great! But there's one last thing you've gotta do."

"And that is?" Taehyung asked.

"Give your audience some takeaways." Yoongi said. "What do you want everyone in this live to remember when they log off?" He pointed Taehyung's phone at his face.

That time, Taehyung didn't shy away. He stared into the camera, feeling the full responsibility of being an influencer for the first time. "Today was as much a learning experience for me as it may have been for some of you. There are people who think that because I'm a model, I should just shut up and take pretty pictures. And for a long time, I was one of them. But my biggest takeaway today is to stop ignoring what's happening elsewhere. This is a normal neighborhood just like yours or mine. And if it can happen here, what's to stop it from happening closer to home? I'll be boosting anyone who shares their personal anecdotes, stories, and protest posts with the hashtag StopNileInc." With that, he signaled for Yoongi to close the stream. "Who knew empathizing was so draining?" He asked with a sigh.

Yoongi chuckled. "Come on, Princess, you look like you could use some decompressing."

The two of them found a quiet spot on the beach to sit and talk but with the camera finally off, there was only one thing left on Taehyung's mind. "Well? Are you gonna tell me what my engagement numbers looked like or am I gonna have to torture them out of you?"

"Like you even could." Yoongi snorted.

"You'd be surprised." Taehyung said. "I'm all bony elbows and knobby knees. Now give me or face my fury." He stole his phone back, devouring the comment section.

@VLuvr423
what a good cause. Something similar
happened to my old neighborhood.
hoping this #stopNileinc thing rly does
work 🙌🏾

@beatandbougie
#STOPNileINC!!!!!!! GREEDY ASSES!

@GlamWithAPlanXOXO
OKAY! We love a talented model
activist! MUAH! 💋💋💋

@drip4real
Honestly? Didn't expect to see @thv
taking such an active stance…
#kindaproudidk

Taehyung beamed as more and more accounts came out in favor of Taehyung standing up for what he believed in. "People are really lighting Nile up over this!"

"Why wouldn't they?" Yoongi shrugged. "You just gave them the business on Beyoncé's internet. Look…"

Trending just beneath the StopNileInc hashtag were posts naming the company in lawsuits that had bullied locals into submission. "Did they come out because of me?" Taehyung asked in shock.

Yoongi nodded. "There's power in numbers." He smiled. "Now tell me, Mr. V. As the world's newest and most prolific model slash activist, what do you plan to do first?" He leaned closer, holding an imaginary microphone to Taehyung's lips.

Taehyung took in the way the sunlight caught Yoongi's eyes. "I'm gonna do this." He took Yoongi's wrist and tugged him closer, slipping Yoongi's hand to the back of his own neck as he gently pressed their lips together. "Thank you for saying yes." Taehyung murmured.

"Keep kissing me like that and there might be a few more things I agree to by the end of the night." Yoongi smirked as he brought Taehyung back in, deepening the kiss and pressing into Taehyung with delicious intent.

Taehyung hummed happily into the kiss. "Save that thought? For right now, I had something a little more wholesome in mind." He tucked two fingers in his mouth and whistled, catching the attention of everyone scattered across the beach after the demonstration. "In celebration of the soul of this neighborhood, and as a thank you to everyone who gave me such a warm welcome, I'm hooking everybody up with an old school beach cookout on me!" Cheers went up, and as the grilling started, Taehyung laced his fingers with Yoongi's, happy to spend the rest of the afternoon with his new community.

🐥

Some days, it was hard to believe Jimin and Jungkook shared DNA. As they waited for Seokjin to come back, Jimin couldn't help but pace the suite. Jungkook on the other hand was cool as a cucumber. Mostly. "Sit down before I tackle you!" Jungkook exclaimed. "All your worrying is ruining the energy in here!"

"How am I supposed to chill while Seokjin's just out there raw dogging life without me?" Jimin asked incredulously.

"I don't know but you can either sit down or get laid down." Jungkook said. "I'm dead serious about that tackle."

Jimin flopped onto the couch and immediately began winding the throw pillow's tassel around his fingers. "Maybe we should call again? What do you think? I don't want to overload his voicemail but maybe-" Before Jimin could finish, Jungkook snatched the pillow from his hands and whacked him with it. "Ow!"

"The fidgeting is worse than the pacing!" Jungkook exclaimed.

"What do you want from me?" Jimin asked in exasperation. "Seokjin's been gone forever and it's not like I can just will him to call one of us!"

Jungkook snorted. "I bet you would if you could, my sweet little control freak."

Jimin pouted. "I don't think it's controlling to want to fix things! I fucked up and Seokjin deserves to hear how sorry I am!"

"Is that what Seokjin deserves or just what you want?" Jungkook asked.

That had Jimin pausing "So what am I supposed to do?" Jimin sighed. "Pray a solution falls into my lap?"

"You're used to taking the bull by the horns and making things happen." Jungkook said. "But sometimes you just gotta trust the universe and wait."

It was weird to be taking advice from Jungkook but at that point, Jimin would try anything. "Fine." He took a deep breath and settled into the couch cushions, letting the silence wash over him, leaving him alone with nothing but his thoughts. "This sucks. What else you got?"

Jungkook shook his head in amusement. "If old fashioned patience isn't your ministry, we could try a distraction? I think I've got a deck of tarot cards in my room. I could read your fortune."

Jimin raised an eyebrow. "Since when are you a shamanistic witchy-woo omega?"

"Since that trip to New Orleans I took last year." Jungkook said as if it were obvious. "Me and the high priestess are tight." Jimin blinked at him. "Come on, a reading will help you turn off that anxious brain of yours and give you a little look see into your future."

"Alright." Jimin sighed, figuring if nothing else it would be a good distraction. "Deal me in."

Jungkook gave him a flat look. "This is tarot, not Texas Hold ‘em."

"Deal me in, spread them wide, whatever." Jimin said dismissively. "It's not like this stuff is real."

"Keep being disrespectful and watch the games the ancestors play with your future." Jungkook warned him.

"I'm not worried." Jimin said. "The ancestors are too busy playing with my present." Jungkook rolled his eyes before heading to his bedroom in the suite, Jimin following behind. As Jungkook dug around in his luggage for his tarot deck, Jimin flopped onto the bed. "So how does this work? You shuffle a few times, and the cards tell you what's in store for me?"

Jungkook shook his head. "The cards are just guides. They get a read on what's transpired and what might come to pass." Jimin snorted and Jungkook settled on the bed across from him, raising his eyebrows smugly. "Try me."

Jimin couldn't help himself. "Fine. Tell me, all knowing Jungkook, what do the cards say I had for lunch?"

Jungkook flipped the top card in the deck, studying it carefully. "Trick question. You didn't have lunch."

The smirk fell from Jimin's face. "Wait, it can't-but that's not-"

"Now if you're done being a smartass, maybe you can be quiet and let me get into my Mystical Jungkook vibe." Jungkook said.

As Jungkook rolled out his shoulders and neck, Jimin peered at the deck. "Be honest. Do you really believe in this stuff?" Jimin asked. "I mean, for real for real."

"Eomma didn't have us eating tteokguk at Seollal for nothing." Jungkook shrugged. "Some of its gotta be real. Why not this?"

"Because so much of it is fable and spooky superstitions you pass down because it's what you learned in your part of the world." Jimin said. "Don't you think if it were real, we'd know it universally? I mean, shamanism back home is constantly adapting to fit how our society changes, a lot of voodoo things in New Orleans nowadays are more tourist traps than actual voodoo. But the Bahamas is all sand and sunshine, I don't think they even really do all this."

Jungkook shot him a look. "Tell me you know nothing about Obeah without telling me you know nothing about Obeah. The Caribbean is very much into the mystics." He thrusted the deck towards Jimin. "Now pick a card."

Jimin took a deep breath as he pulled a card free. "It's the Three of Swords."

"Not surprising." Jungkook nodded. "The first card reveals things about your past and the card you pulled speaks to heartbreak, pain, sorrow, emotional hurt, grief-"

"Okay, I get it." Jimin shifted uncomfortably.

"I don't think you do." Jungkook said, suddenly serious. "That card says, 'I am holding on to the past'."

"No, I’m not!" Jimin denied, his voice rising in pitch. "I am so over the past. Watch!" Before Jungkook could stop him, he pulled a flurry of new cards, slamming them down on top of his old one. "I'll bet one of these proves I’m past the past. Now tell me all about this little dude with the chisel."

"That's the Three of Pentacles." Jungkook said. "It represents teamwork, learning and acting on that knowledge, collaboration, and things like that."

Jimin smiled. "I can get with that."

"But in your case, it's reversed." Jungkook continued. "So the symbolism is more disharmony and working alone. Which, let's face it, isn't too off base."

"Can't you try something else?" Jimin asked.

Jungkook grinned. "I'll pick for you and this time, I'll pull with the intentions of reading your present." He laid out a nine-card spread in some complicated pyramid-horseshoe-tree looking formation. "I see a newly single Jimin, a sudden whirlwind vacation, a rekindled old flame, and time spent with family."

"Wow." Jimin said flatly. "These cards are so totally amazing."

"I'm being serious!" Jungkook exclaimed. "Look, I drew the tower, which is, like, the card for chaos, revelations, and sudden change. That could easily apply to you and Sungho. The Eight of Wands usually indicates swift travel. The Lovers--I mean, come on, need I say more?"

Jimin swallowed thickly as he realized Jungkook had a point. "What about the time spent with family?"

Jungkook held up a card with a group of illustrated omegas dancing and holding their cups in the air. Jimin couldn't deny they were definitely mid party. "The Three of Cups, aka celebration, friendship, and family."

"Okay, what do the rest of them mean?" Jimin asked.

"I fused a couple spreads for a bit more specificity." Jungkook informed him. "With you and Namjoon, the cards are showing that you're open in a new way and in a returned manner."

Jimin blinked. "In Korean?"

Jungkook let out a laugh. "You've got that bounce back factor. The cards and I foresee things could go the distance. But you're apprehensive due to the past. You'll have a big decision to make on that front and soon."

"Well, that's not ominous or anything." Jimin said.

"I'm just calling it like the cards see it." Jungkook said.

Jimin bit his lip as he studied the cards laid out between them. "Is there a 'me' card in that deck?"

Jungkook shook his head. "There's no one to one card to family member assignments but you can pull one now if you want."

Jimin warily reached into the deck and pulled out a single card. "The Two of Pentacles."

"Time management, resourcefulness, balance sought, having multiple priorities, the need for adaptability." Jungkook described.

A laugh escaped Jimin. "These cards sure know how to put you on front street, don't they?" When he checked the spread anew, he spotted the card Jungkook had described was for their family. "So this part is us?"

Jungkook nodded. "And that Five of Swords usually represents beef but-"

"It's reversed here!" Jimin exclaimed, starting to catch on. "That's gotta be because Taehyung and I cleared everything up like you suggested. Thanks for that, by the way."

"The cards aren't the only ones calling people out." Jungkook said. "But I am really sorry. None of that was necessary. I was just mad."

Jimin shook his head. "As someone who wasn't even mad when I said the wrong thing, I get it. Besides, without your epic storm out, I don't know that he and I would have ever gotten there."

"You would've." Jungkook smiled. "Five of Swords reversed means all of this forgiveness, lessening of tension, and making amends is right on schedule."

Jimin nodded along, quietly amazed at the accuracy in terms of Namjoon and his family. Enthralled, Jimin was almost excited for the net pull. "Now what about the future? Do the cards think Seokjin will forgive me?" Jungkook splayed out a new row of cards and Jimin leaned in to examine them. "The Ace of Swords, The Magician, and-" He cut off, dread filling him as he spotted the final card. "Jungkook, is that death? I gotta die before Seokjin will get past this?! I'm not one to talk about holding grudges but damn, that's going a little far, don't you think?"

"It's not, like, death death." Jungkook assured him. "It represents endings, transitions, change, transformation, that kind of thing."

"It better!" Jimin exclaimed.

"It does!" Jungkook reiterated. "And the rest are, like, breakthroughs, mental clarity, opportunities, inspired action and success."

"But how am I supposed to get all that?" Jimin asked.

Jungkook pushed the death card across the duvet. "Death of the ego. Humble yourself, be open and honest, and hope for the best."

Jimin deflated. "So I'm back to waiting? You know I'm not good at that! That's why we're doing this!"

"If there's one thing you can't do, it's plan for someone else's feelings." Jungkook said. "Seokjin's hurt but he'll come back. And when he does, we'll patch things up good as new. It's in the cards."

Jimin took a deep breath. "I guess I have to believe in tarot now because the alternative is that my kid brother is very wise and that will never do."

Jungkook gave a half bow with a flourish. "Jungkook the Mystic knew you would come around to the power of the cards eventually."

"Seriously though." Jimin said. "Thanks for the reading. It actually gave me some things to consider while I wait patiently for Seokjin." There was a sudden knock at the suite door and Jimin bounded out of the room to get it. "Thank god, because I was absolutely bluffing about that patiently part." He flung the door open, nearly ripping it off of the hinges. "Seokjin, I-" He cut off as he realized it was Namjoon standing in the hallway instead. "Joon, I can't do another adventure today. Seokjin's mad at me and-"

Namjoon interrupted him. "I really need to talk to you."

Something in Namjoon's tone stopped Jimin cold and the omega found himself nodding numbly. "Okay, come in. We can talk in my room."

"Actually, can we go for a walk instead?" Namjoon suggested. "I think I need some fresh air."

Chapter 35

Jimin and Namjoon walked side by side, but they might as well have been in different worlds. "What's going on, Namjoon?" Jimin asked. "You're making me nervous."

Namjoon took a deep breath. "Jimin, I need to tell you how completely and totally in love with you I am."

"Okay, that just made it worse." Jimin said, his stomach filling with dread. "What the hell is going on, Joon? Are you dying or something?"

"No!" Namjoon quickly shook his head. "I tried to tell you yesterday, but you were so worried about Jungkook and then you were already so nervous that I chickened out. But it can't wait anymore, and you deserve to know." He pulled Jimin to a stop in the middle of the boardwalk. It finally dawned on Jimin what Namjoon was about to say. "I got an email from work. My editor says we've got enough, and I've been reassigned. I leave for my next destination in a few days."

Jimin felt his heart completely shatter just like it had five years before. Just when he'd finally pieced it back together. "So you're leaving me."

"Jimin-"

"No." Jimin shook his head, stepping back from namjoon. "Just no! You're leaving me again! I can't believe you let me pour my heart out knowing that you were gonna take the next flight out! Should I pencil you in for another five years without seeing me or is the plan to pop in and out of my life more annually?"

"That's not it all!" Namjoon denied. "I don't want to lose you and it's nothing like last time-"

Jimin cut him off. "Oh, you're right about that. Last time was an unforeseeable risk. This time, I should've known better." He pushed past Namjoon, racing back to the hotel.

As soon as he stepped into the lobby, Jimin slammed right into Hoseok. "I am so sorry, I-"

"Have you seen Seokjin?" Hoseok asked frantically. "I really need to talk to him-"

"Jimin!"

Namjoon's voice carried in from outside and Jimin ripped away from Hoseok, bolting for the elevators. "I haven't seen him. I'm sorry but I have to go!"

Before Jimin could make his escape, a familiar voice piped up from the reception desk. "Leaving so soon? I just got here." The voice stopped Jimin dead in his tracks. His heartbeat picked up until he could hear it in his ears. He slowly turned to see Sungho grinning at him. "Hey, baby. Miss me?"

"Nope!" Jimin continued running for the elevators.

Sungho abandoned his luggage to trail after Jimin. "Don't be like that! I came all this way to see you!"

"Then you wasted your frequent flyer miles." Jimin said. "How many times do I have to ignore your calls for you to get the hint?"

Hoseok walked up to them. "Everything alright over here?" His eyes shifted between Jimin and Sungho warily as the elevator doors rushed open.

"Just perfect." Jimin hurried inside and jabbed the 'close door' button but Sungho and Hoseok both boarded after him, sending the doors springing back open.

"Look, I know you said you didn't know before." Hoseok said. "But I really need-"

Before Hoseok could finish, Sungho tucked a wad of cash into Hoseok's suit pocket and gave it a pat. "That should take care of whatever tip you're asking for, bellboy. Now if you don't mind, my fiancée and I need to have a chat."

"Fiancée?" Jimin looked up to see a breathless Namjoon slipping inside the elevator just before the doors closed, trapping the omega in the world's most awkward foursome. "You told me you just hadn't gotten around to taking it off. You're mad at me for keeping things from you and the whole time I've just been some sidepiece?"

Jimin shook his head. "You're not a sidepiece! Sungho and I aren't even together! There was a whole thing at the wedding-"

"And you don't think you could've told me?" In the compact interior of the elevator, Namjoon pushed closer to Jimin, eyes imploring. "Jimin, it's me."

"I just wanted to get away from all the drama." Jimin said desperately.

Sungho smirked. "So far away that you kept my ring on?"

Jimin turned to glare at him. "Excuse you, this is an A and B conversation so why don't you C your way out?"

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere until we talk." Sungho said.

"Fine, then I'll leave." The elevator stopped and Jimin practically pried the doors open to get away.

But that didn't stop his newfound entourage from following him to his room. "Jimin, wait!" Hoseok called out.

"You can't be serious!" Jimin exclaimed in exasperation. "Sungho and Namjoon I get but Hoseok why are you here?"

"Seokjin won't answer my calls or texts." Hoseok said. "And I need to speak with him. Are you sure you don't know where he is?'

As Jimin reached his door, he swiped his keycard aggravatedly. "Yes, Hoseok! When he turns up, you'll be the first one I call, but can you please back off? Because the one place I know he's not is-" Jimin cut off as he opened the door and spotted Seokjin on the couch. "Here."

Seokjin numbly looked up and Hoseok started to rush into the room. But as Seokjin's eyes locked onto him, Hoseok clearly thought better of it, his hands clinging to the doorframe instead. "Seokjin, can we talk? Please?" The desperation in his voice made Jimin shiver.

As Seokjin rose from the couch, Jimin noticed the icy look that passed between them. "No." Seokjin gripped the door and slammed it in Hoseok's face.

"What the hell?" Jimin asked in confusion.

Instead of answering, Seokjin turned way, his shoulders sinking as his voice threatened to break. "I need a drink."

He led the way into the kitchen where Jungkook was pouring a cocktail into four waiting glasses. "Perfect timing!" Jungkook passed around the drinks.

As Jimin took a sip, the warmth scorched its way down his throat, and he fought back a cough. "Damn, Jungkook, what is that? Bourbon with an orange slice?"

"It better be." Seokjin grumbled. "Because that's what I asked for."

As Seokjin settled at the island to chug his drink, Jimin motioned for Jungkook to join him at the fridge. "What the hell happened while I was gone?"

Jungkook shook his head. "Your guess is as good as mine. I asked when he came in, he said something about a reasonable expectation of privacy. And the next thing I know, I'm making drinks to avoid a civil suit."

"It's almost like I don't want to talk." Seokjin said flatly. "Imagine that."

Jimin turned to Seokjin with a frown. "I can tell you're hurting. Snapping on us when we're trying to figure out how to help? Bossing Jungkook around? This isn't like you."

Seokjin bowed his head. "You're right. I'm sorry. I'm just having a rough day."

Jungkook took a deep breath. "If this is about what happened earlier, I think I should kick off the apologies-"

"If you don't mind, Jungkook, I'd rather not get into it." Seokjin said. "Can we just talk about something else?"

Jimin bit his lip. "Well, Sungho's here. WE can talk about that."

Jungkook whipped around to look at him in shock. "Wait, didn’t you leave here with Namjoon? Please tell me he knocked Sungho's no good stank nasty unfaithful ass out on sight!"

"Namjoon was mostly surprised." Jimin said. "I may have forgotten to tell him about Sungho."

"You forgot to mention your ex fiance?" Jungkook asked in disbelief.

Seokjin looked over to Jimin with wide eyes. "Jimin, you didn't 'forget' to tell Namjoon because you're considering going back to Sungho like your dad wants, did you?"

Jimin shook his head. "No!"

"You sure?" Jungkook asked. "Because that no sounded a lot like, 'I don't know, maybe'. And that's gonna be hella awkward because I said some things-"

"I'm not!" Jimin insisted. "I just didn't want to be the omega who got cheated on."

Jungkook raised his eyebrows. "Bro, I hate to break it to you, but you are the omega who got cheated on."

"But Namjoon didn't know that!" Jimin exclaimed. "To him, I was still just Jimin."

"And you still are." Seokjin said with conviction. "Your parents named you Park Jimin. Who the fuck is Choi Sungho to change that?"

Jimin met Seokjin's eyes, seeing the anger burning just under the surface, before looking away. "It doesn't matter. Namjoon's trading me in for greener pastures again anyway. He got a new posting."

"So?" Jungkook shrugged. "It's not like he could stay in the Bahamas forever."

"No but it's exactly like last time." Jimin said. "Worse because he sprung this on me after apologizing for last time!"

"You keep saying last time." Seokjin said. "But Namjoon was pretty sure he'd made the wrong choice then. He wouldn't do it again. What did he say?"

Jimin rolled his eyes. "Blah, blah, 'my job called'. Blah, blah, 'I'm leaving'? I don't know. I was busy being retraumatized."

"Except maybe there was no reason to be." Seokjin said. "Our first night here, Namjoon and I had a conversation…"

 

"I was hoping you'd help me win hm back." Namjoon said.

Seokjin crossed his arms. "How do I know things won't end up just like last time?"

"Because I'm willing to quit." Namjoon said without hesitation.

"Quit?" Seokjin raised his eyebrows. "I thought this was your dream job?'

"It is." Namjoon nodded. "Seokjin, the last five years were everything I wanted out of life. It fulfilled me in ways I couldn't even imagine. But if the world was ending tomorrow, all I'd want is to spend today with Jimin. So yes, if he asked me to, I'd quit."

 

Jimin's breath caught in his throat. "Namjoon said that?"

Seokjin nodded. "I watched the words come out of his mouth with my own two eyes."

"But he never mentioned that to me." Jimin said.

"Did you give him a chance?" Jungkook asked. "Or did you go full runner and track star the second the words came out of his mouth?"

Jimin gave him an offended look. "You act like I make a habit out of running from my problems."

"I mean…" Seokjin gestured to the suite around them.

Jimin sank onto the stool next to Seokjin. "I might have given him time to say that but probably not. Honestly, after I ran into Hoseok, it's all kind of a blur." At the mention of Hoseok's name, Seokjin brought his drink back to his lips. "What happened with you two?"

Seokjin tensed, stoically avoiding Jimin's gaze as he sipped his drink. "I walked into Hoseok's office to find him propositioning another omega." Jimin reached out to rub his back, but Seokjin flinched away. "Don’t, okay? We weren't actually dating to begin with so you can keep your pity."

"Okay, I know he's dead to us now." Jungkook said. "But at least for a minute there, Hoseok was your alpha."

"No, he wasn't." Seokjin sighed. "When we met at th singles' event, we agreed I'd help him get his program off the ground if he pretended to date me. He was supposed to be a safe choice because he never pinged my JinDar but clearly it doesn't work when it comes to him."

"Okay, you need to let that whole JinDar thing go." Jimin said. "It was cute when we were kids but you're in your 30s now."

Seokjin frowned at him. "An omega's intuition is a powerful thing!"

"Not when you rely on it more than what's right in front of your face." Jimin argued. "You clearly have real feelings for Hoseok!"

"Oh, whatever!" Seokjin turned away from Jimin with a huff. "It's not like it matters. We leave soon and I'm gonna be so buried in the facts of my upcoming case, it'll be like none of this happened."

Jungkook blinked. "Because that sounds like a super healthy way of dealing with things."

Seokjin threw his hands up in exasperation. "What do you two want from me?"

"We want you to face some facts of your own." Jimin said. "One, you and Hoseok had insane chemistry." As Seokjin fiddled with the stem of his glass, clearly uncomfortable, Jimin caught his wrist and waited until Seokjin met his eyes again. "Two, you liked him. For real. And three-"

"None of that matters because it didn't work out." Seokjin said. It finally seemed to hit him as he lowered his head to Jimin's shoulder, sobs wracking his body. "And now I’m crying over some alpha!"

"Hey, you are one of the most badass omegas I know." Jimin said sincerely. "That doesn't change just because you shed a few tears."

Jungkook nodded. "It's okay to not be okay."

Before Seokjin could say another word, Taehyung rushed in and threw open the kitchen window, leaning halfway out of it as he pressed his phone to his ear. "Aeri, slow down. You're breaking up."

"Slow down?!" Aeri's voice rang from the speaker loud enough for the others to hear. "V…any idea…much money…little activism just cost…damage control…"

"Hello?" Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows just before the call cut out.

"What was that about?" Jimin asked.

Taehyung grimaced. "I stepped too far out of my box and now Aeri's pissed. I'll deal with her when we get home."

Jimin frowned. "If only we'd known we'd have the same issues here as we do at home, we could've saved some money and stayed there."

"Fuck that!" Jungkook exclaimed. "For as much drama as we have, we've got a lot to celebrate!"

"Like what?" Seokjin asked. "I got dumped. Taehyung got yelled at. Your name is mud to the judges. And Jimin's ex is here. What exactly do we have?"

As Jimin looked around at the other three omegas, the answer dawned on him as bright as day. "Each other. For the first time in a long time, our little family's all together."

Seokjin's face fell even more. "Your family, you mean."

"Seokjin, you are our family." Jimin assured him. "Always have been, always will be. And I never meant to make you feel less than. I am so sorry."

"What we need is a good old fashioned omegas night in." Jungkook decided. "Starting with a claiming ceremony to officially mark Seokjin entry to the Park crew. Who's in?"

Taehyung smiled. "Adult O.N.I. is all the goofing around of being kids plus being able to drink. It's like the best of both worlds!"

"I’m down if you are." Seokjin gave a tiny shrug as he looked to Jimin.

Jimin nodded. "I can't think of a better way to spend a night than with the three of y'all."

Jungkook let out a cheer. "Split for pajamas then everybody meet up on the balcony in five!"

Chapter 36

When Jimin reconvened with the other omegas, he found the balcony decked out with flickering candles, snacks, and Jungkook's special cocktail. "Not gonna say anything about the candles." Jimin said. "Even though it does feel like a fire hazard."

Jungkook smiled. "Seokjin's claiming ceremony is worth the risk of a little open flame."

"You shouldn't have!" Seokjin exclaimed. "You know, legally."

As they all piled onto the wicker furniture, Taehyung took a long look around. "What even goes into a claiming ceremony anyway?"

Jungkook shrugged. "I figure as long as we're welcoming Seokjin into the family, it can be whatever we want it to be."

"In that case, why don't we draw up some documents?" Jimin suggested.

"Leave it to you to wanna get things notarized." Jungkook snorted.

Jimin shot him a look. "What I want is to make this about Seokjin. And can you think of anything more fitting for the attorney extraordinaire than cold hard paperwork?" He leaned against Seokjin, letting the older omega's warmth soak into him as the candlelight flickered across his face. "A notice to the entire world that we are family."

Seokjin smiled. "It's a cute idea but it's not a thing. I don't even think paperwork exists for something like that."

"Then let's make it a thing." Taehyung whipped out his phone and sent Seokjin his usual retainer fee through KakaoPay. "I have officially hired you to draft 'A Notice of Familial Belonging'. When we get back to Korea, you can file it with the courts."

"You're serious?" Seokjin asked.

"As a heart attack." Jimin nodded. "Now get to writing. We want you to be our actual cousin as soon as legally possible."

Together, the four of them created the language for an ironclad document entitling Seokjin to all the rights and responsibilities of being related until there was nothing left to do but sign. "We, the undersigned, now and forevermore, officially recognize Kim Seokjin as a member of the Park family unit." Seokjin read off before looking up at the others. "Are you guys sure about this? I'm not even sure the court is gonna take this seriously."

"Only one way to find out." Jungkook said, quickly signing the document. Taehyung went second with Jimin following close after with a flourish.

Jimin held the pen out to Seokjin. "The last signature's yours."

Seokjin gripped the pen with a shaky hand before adding his name to the dotted line. "Then I guess you're stuck with me…family."

"We've always considered you one of us, Seokjin." Jimin said. "But I could not be happier to make it official right here and right now." He raised his glass, and the others followed suit.

"A toast!" Jungkook declared. "To the omega, the legend, and my newest cousin, Kim-Park Seokjin!"

"I don't know about that hyphenization, but I'll drink to that." Taehyung laughed. "Welcome to the family, cousin."

Seokjin clinked his glass to theirs, his eyes watering slightly. "It's good to be here."

A healthy sip burned its way down Jimin's throat, and he clapped his hands together, ready to reset the mood. "Now that the important stuff is out of the way, what's next for our omegas' night in? Prank calls? Mani pedis?"

Taehyung gasped. "We should play MASH!"

Jimin snorted. "Because we're 12?"

"Hey, don't knock the youths." Seokjin said. "Our parents were onto something when they used to say, 'Stay in a child's place'. No relationship drama…"

"Workplace disputes…" Taehyung added on.

"Or bills." Jungkook shuddered.

With a sigh, Jimin snatched a hotel flyer from the coffee table and flipped it over. "Fine, gimme some dream careers to put on here."

"Social media influencer." Taehyung said without hesitation.

"I'm gonna say zookeeper for mine." Jungkook said.

Seokjin tilted his head. "How about award winning novelist?"

Jimin grabbed a pen and jotted them all down before pausing to consider one of his own. "Alright, I'm going with professional dancer."

"Okay, now it's time for number of kids." Jungkook said. "And I think I'll shock absolutely no one when I say zero."

"I think growing up with two wasn't so bad." Jimin shrugged.

"I want a big family, so I'll say four." Seokjin said.

Taehyung grinned mischievously. "This game is no fun without a little chaos. Put 12."

Jimin wrote the numbers down. "Potential spouse?"

"Brad Pitt." Seokjin said. "Oh, the things that alpha could do to me!"

Taehyung perked up. "Give me the word and I could totally put you on. He follows me on insta."

Jimin snorted. "Worry about yourself, cupid. Who's your pick?"

"The same omega I've been crushing on since forever." Taehyung said. "The beautiful Miss Lee Jieun."

Jungkook shook his head. "You all put too much stock into what they look like. These are your fake marriages, remember? Add some substance!"

"Yeah, Jungkook's right." Jimin said. "I'm trying to get with someone adventurous, kind, and exciting."

Seokjin fixed him with a look of near pity. "Oh, honey."

Before Jimin could ask him what was up, Taehyung said, "You just described Namjoon. That is literally him."

Jimin's eyes widened, his stomach dropping. "Let me just walk that back…" He wrote down Taeyang.

Seokjin eased the pen and paper away from Jimin and started tracing slow methodical circles. "Tell me when to stop, Jimin."

"Why does he get to go first?" Taehyung whined. "This was my idea!"

"Because we're celebrating Seokjin, and he said so." Jimin stuck his tongue out at Taehyung, who sulked as he turned his attention back to the swirl. Jimin let it get a little bigger before stopping Seokjin. "There!"

Jungkook leaned over Seokjin's shoulder, counting out Jimin's fate. "We have our first shack resident!"

Taehyung smirked. "Bet you wish you'd let me go first now, don't you?"

"You're also married to Taeyang." Seokjin said and Jimin pumped his fist.

"But you've got 12 kids." Jungkook informed him.

"Dammit, Taehyung!" Jimin smacked him with a pillow. The four of them cackled and reset the game, drinking and playing long into the night.

As it got later, they were all cozied up on the balcony drinking the last bit of a bottle of rum and talking about life. "We may still have the same issues as at home." Jimin mused. "But at least we're together making strides and meeting the challenges head on."

Seokjin hummed. "I'll drink to that."

"Speaking of challenges, how are you feeling about your next one, Kook?" Taehyung asked.

"You mean the one in a couple of hours where the judges all hate me except Seokjin's cheating ex?" Jungkook asked. "Just great."

Jimin sat up to face Jungkook, swaying slightly. "Fuck that! You've been kicking ass at pulling yourself together and making each and every round on time. That's already a win."

Taehyung nodded. "We're so proud of you, Jungkook."

"Speaking of pride…" He turned to smile at Taehyung. "Our resident model broke the internet with his activism! That was so brave of you!"

"Please, there are people who really do this." Taehyung said. "I just shared some stuff on my socials."

"No!" Jimin shook his head. "I am so over the negativity! We are a family of badass omegas! And to prove it, we're gonna…" He looked around, hoping something bold and daring would pop out at him. Instead, all that caught his eye was the rising sun.

Gradually, Jimin, Taehyung, and Seokjin turned to Jungkook. "What's everybody looking at me for?" Jungkook asked.

"You're the wild and crazy one." Taehyung said. "Tell us what to do."

Jungkook sighed dramatically. "Fine. But you have to promise whatever we do, we do together."

Jimin nodded. "Deal."

Jungkook waited for it to be unanimous before shooting them his classically mischievous grin. "We're flashing the beach."

Seokjin's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

"Come on!" Jungkook exclaimed. "That's the perfect way to end this night!"

"Fuck it, we're flashing." Jimin stood up. "Everybody up!"

Taehyung shook his head. "I cannot believe we're doing this."

"On the count of three." Jimin said. "One…two…three!" Already giggling, they flashed the beach down below.

"Cover your faces!" Seokjin exclaimed. "No face no case!"

"Aeri's gonna kill me!" Taehyung laughed.

As the first light of the sunrise started to touch the water, the four of them rushed inside and piled into Jimin's bed just like they used to when they were little. "Good night. I love you." Jimin said with a yawn. And as they slept the morning away, Jimin knew the feeling was mutual.

When Jimin woke up that afternoon, it was surprisingly with no hangover. Though the four of them dogpiling in his bed did leave a familiar crick in his neck. As he looked around, he realized only Taehyung and Seokjin still laid snoozing on either side of him. As he headed out to investigate, the suite phone rang in the living room. He rushed out to answer it. "Hello?"

"Good afternoon." The hotel receptionist greeted him. "Mr. Sungho Choi made a reservation for himself and a Mr. Jimin Park in the hotel restaurant at 2:00 pm. Can I have confirmation of whether Mr. Park will be joining him?"

Sungho clearly wouldn't let up until Jimin saw him, and as fun as it would be to have Seokjin file a restraining order, Jimin knew what he had to do. "I'll be there."

As he hung up the phone, Jimin noticed Taehyung in the doorway clearly listening. "Lunch with Sungho?" He asked incredulously. "Really? Jimin, why do you insist on doing this to yourself?"

"I need to know the why." Jimin said.

"You mean why he cheated?" Taehyung asked.

Jimin shook his head. "No, why couldn't Sungho have just talked to me beforehand?"

Taehyung frowned. "You're grown. You can do whatever you need to. But if you're gonna do it, do it right. Follow."

In Taehyung's room, there were four outfits laid across his bed. "What's all this?" Jimin asked.

"I thought getting Jungkook an outfit for tonight would be a good way to boost his confidence." Taehyung said. "But once I got started, I kept finding things that would look good on all of us." He picked up a low-cut green silk sundress and handed it to Jimin. "I was gonna suggest we all get glammed up and intimidate the hell out of Cayson and his crew but why stop there?"

"This is beautiful!" Jimin gushed as he held the dress up to himself.

"And that's exactly why you should wear it to your lunch." Taehyung insisted. "Let Sungho know just how much he really fucked up."

Jimin took a quick shower before pulling the dress on, modeling it for Taehyung. "What do you think?"

Taehyung applauded him. "Gorgeous! But you know what'll really set the look off? Being late to lunch."

"Sungho hates not being able to make his entrance!" Jimin said excitedly.

"And we hate Sungho." Taehyung said. "So win win! Now sit."

The two of them sat in Taehyung's room, giggling and watching the clock until after the time for Sungho's reservation. Only when the clock struck 10 after did Jimin finally stand up and head for the door. "Ready or not, here I come."

Jimin arrived a full 15 minutes late to find Sungho sitting sullenly at a table by the water. "Hey, stranger." He greeted the alpha.

"It's about time you-" The words died on Sungho's lips as he took Jimin in. Immediately his voice was laced with longing as he stood to greet the omega. "I guess beauty really can't be rushed. You look fine in that dress."

"I look fine out of it too." Jimin said. "Now pick up your jaw before you start to catch flies." He settled in across from Sungho.

Sungho shot Jimin a coy smile. "Thanks for joining me. I thought we could use a one-on-one conversation as requested."

"Requested, demanded, why split hairs?" Jimin retorted.

"As long as it gets us some time alone, does it really matter?" Sungho was his usual charming self but when he leaned in to kiss Jimin's cheek, Jimin flinched, thinking of where the alpha's lips had been.

"Sungho, what do you want?" Jimin asked. "And why are you here at the hotel I very intentionally came to to get away from you?"

Sungho sat back. "Damn, so it's gonna be like that? You know I fucked up, I know I fucked up…"

"I think it's a longer list then that." Jimin deadpanned. "My eomma knows you fucked up. Everybody at your job knows you fucked up. Hell, even the one point seven million people who watched the video on TikTok know you fucked up."

"All I can do is apologize." Sungho said. "Eventually we're gonna have to put it behind us and move on. What do you want me to do? Beg?" He pressed his palms together in classic 2016 douchey prayer hands. "Please, Jimin. Come home." Might have been believable if he wasn't staring at the exposed skin of Jimin's chest while speaking.

Jimin rolled his eyes. "My eyes are up here. I know you're used to omega's throwing themselves at you but you're gonna have to show some respect when you talk to me."

Sungho paused and Jimin took some satisfaction in the way he had to reassess before addressing him again. "Okay fair. But what about this--we've spent years together, Jimin. Not just fucking around but working towards something real. Building. Do you really want to throw all of that away over one teensy tiny indiscretion? And what? Go back to dating?"

"I wanted to be married." Jimin said.

"Then let's be married!" Sungho took Jimin's hand in his, his grip firm as his thumb tapped the engagement ring Jimin was still wearing. "Jimin, you know as well as I do, I'm your best shot at finishing your life goals. Being married. Having kids. Come back with me and we'll put all of this behind us. I'll be a model husband. That's what you want, right?"

Sungho knew Jimin too well. Before Jimin could help himself, he was picturing their wedding, tossing his bouquet and watching it land in Seokjin's hands. Then he was imagining the birth of their first child, Jimin screaming in pain as Sungho let him squeeze his hand while praising him. But the second Jimin pulled Sungho out of the moments, they started to fade away, bit by bit until he was left with nothing. Love, companionship, life. They all existed on a timeline Jimin couldn't control and he suddenly felt untethered, anxious. "Sungho, I-"

"Jimin!"

His name traveled over the noise of the restaurant and when he looked up, Namjoon was making his way over, grabbing a chair from a nearby table. "Namjoon?" Jimin couldn't help but smile.

As Namjoon pulled the chair up next to Jimin, he paused, his gaze sweeping over the omega. "You look beautiful." He said sincerely before coolly unfolding one of the leatherbound menus, standing it in front of Sungho to create a temporary privacy partition. Even with everything going on between them, Jimin couldn't help the giggle that escaped as Namjoon beckoned him to join him behind the impromptu screen. "Hi." Namjoon said quietly.

"Hi." Jimin whispered back. "What are you doing here?"

"Just between you, me, and the menu, it looked like you needed me." Namjoon said. "Everything okay?" He reached for Jimin's hand, intertwining their fingers.

Jimin smiled. "Better now."

With a single finger, Sungho sent the menu toppling. "You think you're being cute, but we all know how this ends. Jimin's coming home with me."

Jimin turned to glare at him. "And I guess you used your little time out to make that decision for me, huh?"

"No, actually, your dad did." Sungho said. "Why else do you think he told me you were here in the first place?"

Jimin stared at Sungho in disbelief. "He wouldn't."

Sungho shrugged. "Wouldn't he?"

He would. Jimin knew he would. He shoved back from the table, desperate to get away. He heard Namjoon calling after him as he slipped through the crowded restaurant and onto the hotel patio where he pulled out his phone to text his dad.

I know what you did, Appa. Sungho told
me everything.

Respectfully, if you ever meddle in my
relationship again, it'll be the last time
you ever hear from me.

Chapter 37

🐰

Downstairs in the ballroom, Jungkook was hard at work setting up decorations for the theme that should have won him the last challenge. That is, until Cayson came through and swept it all onto the floor. "Wrong. Do it again."

Jungkook glared at him. "You really think I need your help recreating my own ideas?"

"You need somebody's help." Cayson cocked his head. "'Cause you're hanging onto the leaderboard by the overgrown hairs on your chinny chin chin. And I'd hate to see you get eliminated."

"I bet you would." Jungkook said. "How else would you impress the judges if you can't steal from me?"

Cayson barked out a laugh. "I'll worry about the judges. You just keep bringing my vision to life."

As Cayson stomped off, Jungkook noticed Hoseok talking on the phone nearby. "Yes, I’m upset…because now Seokjin won't talk to me! I was supposed to have them both-" He turned to see Jungkook staring and stopped, pasting on a fake smile. "Need something, Jungkook?"

"Not from you." Jungkook said. With a nod, Hoseok took his phone call elsewhere and Jungkook was tempted to follow to find out just what Mr. Ho-telier was up to. With a quick look around to make sure no one was watching, Jungkook snuck out behind Hoseok.

Out in the lobby, Hoseok put on a smile for passing guests. "Hi, Hoseok!"

"Good evening, Ms. Taylor!" The second they disappeared, Hoseok lowered his voice, hissing angry whispers into his phone. "You can try to blame me for mixing business with pleasure all you want, Sonam. This mess is your fault. He-" Hoseok pulled ahead and Jungkook lost the rest of the sentence. He paused at the receptionist's desk to fill out some paperwork. Jungkook grabbed a piece of luggage from a bellhop's cart and crept up behind Hoseok, pretending to be a guest in line. "I don’t care how famous he is! You promised my thing with Samuel Harris wouldn't affect what I've got going on with Seokjin." Jungkook sent up a silent prayer that he remembered to charge his phone before pulling it out and typing the name 'Samuel Harris' into the search engine. Almost immediately a video interview came up.

"Honestly so may fans saw my dominatrix movie and want me to, like, step on them or humiliate them in real life! It's like thanks for the support but sometimes I just want to be normal with normal boundaries, you know?"

"What do you wish people would do when they met you?"

"Actually try talking to me instead of trying to act out some fanfic or something! The worst is when it happens in crowds."

"Not a big fan of crowds?"

"I hate crowds. Too many people around me at once is the perfect way to make me want to go home."

Before Jungkook could process anything beyond the fact that the other omega was an actor that Jungkook vaguely recognized, Hoseok signed the last of his documents. As Jungkook knelt to unzip 'his' luggage and hide his face, Hoseok walked away. Jungkook hurried to follow. "Of course I understand that business is business. Everything's all set for the challenge tonight…Yes, both parts. Look, Sonam. This micromanaging isn't going to work for me. Especially in my private life. After the party tonight, I think we need to redefine some expectations. I've got to go." Without waiting for a response, Hoseok ended the call and dipped into an unmarked door with Jungkook hot on his trail.

Jungkook pondered the alleged argument between Hoseok and Sonam as he crawled around the hotel's kitchen, carefully avoiding Hoseok and the chef inside. "Is everything ready for tonight's special guest?" Hoseok asked.

"Almost, Mr. Jung." The chef said. "The garlic fries will be ready and waiting in his suite as soon as the event is over."

"Perfect. We don't want to drop the ball on his special request. Now about the canapés…"

As the chef showed Hoseok a dish in the deep freezer, Jungkook scoured the room for a decent prank to rig up for Hoseok's exit from the kitchen in the name of avenging Seokjin. Ever so carefully, he balanced aioli filled ramekins on the top of the door at just the perfect wobbliness for covering a certain cheating hotelier on the go. "Good luck being the boss with a face full of fancy mayo." Jungkook whispered excitedly.

Satisfied with the mess he was about to cause, Jungkook snuck off to the bar with special instructions for Little Mister Actor's cocktail. "Hey Tilton!"

"Jungkook!" The bartender grinned. "What's going on wit'cha?"

"Hoseok sent me down to make sure the drinks for tonight are ready." Jungkook said.

"Done and done." Tilton said. "Mr. Harris' fuzzy navels are all prepped and ready for when he needs them."

Jungkook tilted his head. "You wouldn't happen to have a taste test available, would you?" Tilton slid an instagram ready fuzzy navel Jungkook's way and he took a sip, relishing in the perfect mix of peach and orange dancing on his tongue. "This is delicious! But it's nothing like what Hoseok told me Samuel likes. He said he likes his with an extra splash of jalapeno and ghost pepper juice. I think the phrase he used was 'the burn your butthole' kinda hot."

Tilton raised his eyebrows. "You're telling me Mr. Jung used the word 'butthole'? You're kidding with me!"

"I know right?" Jungkook laughed. "I said the same thing! But he said something about how Samuel wants to enjoy the flavors of the island in his drink. I guess he likes alcohol with kick."

"This is gonna be some kick alright…" Tilton shook his head while dutifully pouring in a generous splash of pepper juice.

Jungkook could practically see the little skull and crossbones form in a cloud above the drink vintage cartoon style. "He's gonna love it." He slipped away just as Hoseok arrived, smelling faintly of eggs, oil, and spices.

Tilton sniffed at the air unpleasantly. "Before you ask, the smell is me." Hoseok said. "Is Mr. Harris' drink ready for a taste test yet?"

"It sure is." Tilton smiled. "Give this a go." Jungkook watched as Hoseok took an ample swig, the alpha's eyes bugging out as Jungkook's concoction caught him by surprise. He coughed and sputtered and Jungkook quickly took a mental picture to better describe the play by play for Seokjin later before slipping back into the ballroom.

Later, Jungkook and the other competitors gathered at the front of the room as the judges explained the rules. "Getting set up isn't the only reason you're here early. In a surprise twist, we're having a special two-part challenge today!"

Jungkook looked around at the empty ballroom and raised his hand. "Uh, aren't we missing some people? Where's the crowd?"

"The crowd will only join us when we're ready to crown our first winner."

Cayson smirked. "Then you can let them in now because the queen is already here and ready for his crown."

"Let's hope so because great parties mean VIP guests and a true party animal needs to know how to keep them happy."

Hoseok clasped his hands together. "Tonight, you'll all be tasked with managing one special VIP guest. The contestant who shows him the best time will get to serve as the host and emcee for this party, earning a lot of time in the spotlight."

"What about everyone else?" Jungkook asked.

"The rest of the finalists will help staff it. The jobs will be less glamorous but there will still be plenty of opportunities to impress."

Hoseok cleared his throat and smiled. "Now without further ado, our VIP guest is Mr. Samuel Harris!" He gestured to a side door and in walked the omega he'd spent all afternoon preparing for.

Clearly Samuel was grateful because his hand brushed Hoseok's ass as he walked by. "How's everyone doing tonight?" He asked.

"He's mine!" Cayson exclaimed as he and the other competitors swarmed the actor.

Jungkook hung back, watching in horror as the other competitors went at each other, narrowly missing Samuel. "You all do realize he's just a human being, right?"

"Exactly!" Samuel exclaimed, looking at Jungkook gratefully.

From his position outside the crowd, Jungkook saw Taehyung standing in the doorway decked out in a beautiful white dress with blue tropical print. Thrown over his shoulder was a garment bag. "I came to bring you a change of clothes for tonight but what the fuck is happening?"

Jungkook shook his head. "Hoseok's got all sorts of twists. The biggest one is that our challenge has started already, and our surprise guest judge is the actor he's been hooking up with. I'm supposed to be trying to impress him."

Taehyung's eyes widened. "You can't be doing that great a job if you're over here with me. Everyone else is already in ass kissing position!"

"He's got a thing with crowds so they're not doing themselves any favors." Jungkook said. "But to be honest, I'm not sure I want to bother chatting one on one."

"And why the fuck not?" Taehyung asked.

Jungkook looked at him incredulously. "Did you miss the part where I said he's Hoseok's mistress?"

Taehyung shushed him and dragged him away from the others. "We can't just assume he knows about Seokjin. And even if he did, Hoseok is the one who led Seokjin on."

"So I'm just supposed to smile in his face?" Jungkook asked. "That feels fake!"

"It's called being a professional." Taehyung said. "Because at the end of the day, all roads to your prize money go through him." He gestured with his head and Taehyung turned to see Samuel being jostled every which way by the other competitors. "He's obviously bored out of his mind. Why don't you forget the drama and do what you do best--show him a good time!"

Jungkook bit his lip. "You know what, you're right. And I know exactly what will get this VIP on my side." He took the garment bag from Taehyung and quickly headed off to change into a crop top and shorts situation. Now that he had outdressed the competition, it was time to remove his target from the flock of flunkies. With new determination, he made his way over to his competitors. "Hey everybody! Samuel wants y'all to back the fuck up!" He yelled over the noise. "Celebrity or not, no one wants to be standing five centimeters away from someone they just met!"

Samuel exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness you said it."

"Jungkook." He smiled as he introduced himself. "And I don't know how you lasted this long. One of them is seriously musty." As the crowd scattered, throwing up their arms to prove the BO didn't belong to them, Jungkook grabbed Samuel's hand and made a break for it. "Follow me please."

"And we're going where exactly?" Samuel asked.

"Somewhere a lot more interesting than this." Jungkook said vaguely.

Jungkook snuck Samuel into a cab and soon they arrived at a beach. Locals took their place in the sand as a movie started on a projection screen. "I hope movie night at the beach isn't too lowkey for you." Jungkook said.

"Are you kidding?" Samuel grinned. "After all the press tours and hordes of fans, something as simple as watching a movie is all the luxury I need."

"Sancian Cove is usually a great place to relax." Jungkook said. "But nothing brings down the vibe like a swarm of thirsty yes men."

Samuel looked Jungkook up and down. "You look like you'd know from experience. You're not secretly an A lister hiding out or something, are you?"

Jungkook shook his head. "No but when it comes to taking care of my clients and showing them a good time, I don't miss." To make his point, Jungkook led Samuel over to the concession area. "Mr. Samuel Harris would like a fuzzy navel and an order of garlic fries." He paid and when he turned around, Samuel looked impressed.

"How did you know my order?" Samuel asked.

"I've got eyes and ears everywhere." Jungkook said.

Chapter 38

Jungkook led Samuel over to a clear batch of sand and flopped down. Seconds later, a trailer for Samuel's upcoming movie was projected on the screen. "It's too bad my love life isn't really like this." Samuel sighed. "This thing with the alpha I'm seeing now is so fake!"

"Oh my god, don't tell me Hoseok's omeganizing ass pulled the same 'be my fake boyfriend' thing on you too?" Jungkook rolled his eyes.

Samuel frowned at Jungkook. "Hoseok hasn't pulled anything. We have a brand deal. I pretend we met through his singles' thing and his investor cuts a check."

"But Hoseok already met someone through his singles' series." Jungkook said. "My cousin, Seokjin."

"I know." Samuel said. "He made that perfectly clear, but Sonam went full steam ahead anyway. Hoseok's pissed."

Jungkook furrowed his eyebrows. "So you two aren't bumping uglies?" His eyes widened as realization dawned on him. "That means Seokjin left him high and dry for nothing! We've gotta get back and tell him!"

As they returned to the hotel, Jungkook snuck Samuel in a back door and rushed him behind the stage curtain. On the other side, Hoseok's voice boomed over the gathered crowd. "Everyone's here!" Jungkook clapped his hands together. "Now to find Seokjin."

"Hold that thought." Samuel smiled. "I've got something you're going to want to hear."

"…And now to announce the winner of tonight's challenge, please welcome special guest, Mr. Samuel Harris!"

Samuel pushed past the curtain and the crowd went wild, particularly when he looped an arm around Hoseok's waist. "No wonder Sonam wanted to use him." Jungkook mumbled to himself. "This crowd is insane."

"Tonight, I want to give this special nod to the omega who went above and beyond to make my night memorable." Samuel said. "Jungkook, get out here!"

"That's me!" Jungkook put a hand to his chest. "I get the special nod? Suck it, Cayson!" He made his way to the stage but as Samuel pulled him in for a hug, he felt a dark gaze bearing down on him. Before he could stop Seokjin, the older omega turned on his heel and made a mad dash for the door. Jungkook leaped off the stage. "Seokjin, wait!"

🐹

So that's what Seokjin got for showing up to support Jungkook. A knife right between his shoulder blades. As he rushed out into the lobby, Jungkook scurried after him. "Seokjin!"

"Save it, Jungkook." Seokjin spat. "You cozying up to Hoseok's mistress is beyond betrayal. It's bad enough Samuel took my alpha but now he's got you too? What's next, is the bitch gonna raid my underwear drawer?"

"It's not even like that!" Jungkook exclaimed. "Seokjin, I know how you feel about Hoseok. I would never hurt you like that. This is me we're talking about."

Seokjin shook his head. "I guess I just thought you were fetching Samuel cocktails and making sure he had a good time. Not becoming his new best friend." His throat ached from the unreleased tears he was holding back, and he tried to sidestep Jungkook.

Jungkook scurred in front of Seokjin. "So that's it? You're just gonna bum rush me and hightail it back to the suite? I don't get a chance to say my piece?"

"What else is there left to say, Jungkook?" Seokjin asked.

"Uh, how about 'Hoseok and Samuel aren't a thing'?" Seokjin stared at Jungkook in disbelief. "Sonam remixed you and Boss Alpha's meet cute recasting Samuel in your role to get more publicity. It's all fake." He propped open the ballroom door just an inch and gestured for Seokjin to look inside.

As Seokjin peeked in, his gaze went straight to the stage where Samuel was wrapping himself around Hoseok. He focused on the alpha and realized gone was the easy smile ad open body language Seokjin knew. Instead, Hoseok was the picture of professionalism, his hand carefully positioned on Samuel's mid back. "I've never seen him look so uncomfortable." Seokjin said.

Jungkook nodded. "Now what's your JinDar telling you about that?"

Hoseok's eyes found Seokjin's in the crowd as Samuel continued his speech. "And that's what the competition is all about, right, Hobi?"

"Uh, right." Hoseok cleared his throat. "Enjoy the party everyone. We'll be back to get your take on our remaining competitors in just a bit." His eyes never left Seokjin's as he hurried off the stage.

Seokjin promptly closed the ballroom door. "He doesn't like Samuel." He said quietly.

"Duh!" Jungkook exclaimed.

"And now he's on his way over here." Seokjin felt his heart racing.

"Perfect!" Jungkook grinned.

Seokjin shook his head frantically. "Not perfect! I closed a door in his face!"

Jungkook shrugged. "I spied on him and terrorized his business so if that didn't scare him away, nothing will."

"You did what?" Seokjin asked.

"Not important!" Jungkook said a bit too quickly. "Now in we go!" He shoved Seokjin through the ballroom door and right into Hoseok.

Hoseok caught Seokjin around the waist to stabilize him. "Seokjin."

"H-hi." Seokjin swallowed thickly.

As Jungkook brushed past with a grin and a finger flutter wave, Hoseok took Seokjin's hand in his with a distraught expression. "Seokjin, I know what it looks like, but you have to believe me. There is nothing going on with me and Samuel. I promise." He brought Seokjin's hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to the omega's knuckles that flooded him with warmth and reassurance.

Still, Seokjin's JinDar was blaring at max volume. Protect your heart. Seokjin gently pulled his fingers from Hoseok's grasp. "I know. Jungkook explained everything." He took a deep breath. "And I wish that it changed things, but it just proved I never should've put myself out there. The past 24 hours have had me in shambles, and I just can't feel like this. You make me feel too much."

Hoseok frowned. "Look, you're scared, and I get that. But you aren't the only one who put their heart on the line here." He stepped closer, taking Seokjin's hand once more and pressing it to his chest. Inside, Seokjin felt the rapid thump of his heartbeat. "We are so close to something great. You know it and I know it."

Seokjin shook his head and pulled his hand back. "I'm not sure I do. As a matter of fact, I think we need to-"

"Seokjin, don't do this." Hoseok pleaded. "I am not an alpha who begs for anything, but I am begging you. Don't."

The vulnerability in Hoseok's voice knocked the air out of Seokjin's lungs. For a single moment, Seokjin nearly broke. Then his JinDar chimed even louder than before. PROTECT YOUR HEART! Seokjin shook himself off and averted his gaze. "When you get down to brass tacks, this whole thing was never supposed to be real. None of it. And that's a red flag for me. Any alpha that's comfortable letting me live a lie, letting me feel things that aren't real, could never be my alpha. I'm sorry if that hurts you but it is what it is. And I owe you the truth." He waited but the rush of relief he expected never came. Instead, Seokjin's dread deepened the longer he looked at Hoseok's face.

"Seokjin, you are the most beautiful, intelligent, stubborn omega I've ever met." Hoseok said. "But you deal in facts and truths, and I respect that so, if you don't mind, I'd like to give you a little truth of my own." Seokjin braced for the spew of bitterness that usually accompanied his breakups, his shoulders tensing. But Hoseok just sighed. "That JinDar you're so proud of? It's an excuse to keep people at bay because if you let them in, they might hurt you."

"That's an opinion." Seokjin argued. "Not a fact."

Hoseok raised his eyebrows slightly. "Okay, then how's this--you gave me a list of everything you needed in an alpha to fall in love and it was all a lie because here I am, everything you asked for, and you're bending over backwards to make me the bad guy." He took Seokjin's hand again, the same way he had when they'd shaken on the deal that brought them to that moment, and Hoseok's fingers brushed gently against Seokjin's. "But if getting you to feel something for me is my red flag then I guess it's yours too." Before Seokjin could pick his jaw up off the ground, Hoseok dropped Seokjin's hand and walked away.

Jungkook rushed up, his presence reminding Seokjin that they were still very much in the middle of a party. "Now I'm no expert but that didn't look like you two kissed and made up." Jungkook said. "What was that?"

"That was the inevitable conclusion of our deal." Seokjin said.

Jungkook stared at him in disbelief. "So in your perfect plan, your fake dating deal wraps up with both of you looking like someone finger jabbed you in the tear ducts?"

Seokjin glared at him. "I didn't say perfect, I said inevitable."

Before either one of them could say another word, there was a wail from the microphone and across the room, Sonam took the stage. "Tonight's party is a special one. Not only are we challenging our potential party animals…" A flurry of cheers went up.

"The only party animal you need to worry about is right here!" Cayson called up to the stage.

"We're also celebrating all of the happy couples brought together by our singles' series." Sonam continued. "Including the ones yet to come! Because it is with great pleasure that I announce that I have decided to fully invest in the project!"

That time, the room exploded in applause and Seokjin couldn't help but look for Hoseok in the crowd. "He did it!" Seokjin smiled. "Jungkook, he got the funding!"

"Why do you care?" Jungkook asked. "You were never supposed to be together, remember?"

Jungkook's words hit Seokjin like a punch to the gut. "Right…" He squashed down his feelings, but his eyes continued to hunt for Hoseok around the room as Sonam went on.

"Not only is it producing incredible results, it's made lovebirds out of our hotelier and our incredible VIP guest! But don't take my word for it! Samuel? Hoseok? Please come up and say a few words!"

And suddenly, there Hoseok was, climbing on the stage with Samuel on his arm. Seokjin's stomach flipped. "I need to go." Seokjin murmured to Jungkook. "Now."

Jungkook grabbed Seokjin's arm before he could leave. "Why? You broke up with him. If anyone should be running away, it should be Boss Alpha."

"You know why." Seokjin shot him a look. "Now let go, Jungkook."

"No." Jungkook refused. "Seokjin, you deserve love more than anyone I know but you have to believe it too. Now's your chance! Stop them!" He gestured up at the stage where Samuel was spinning the tale of their love story.

"What's funny is Hobi and I might never have met if it weren't for my nosy friends! You see, they signed me up for speed dating…" Hoseok's eyes didn't land on Seokjin once. Instead, he tensed, winding tighter with every word until, "But it wasn't until he took me out for dinner on the beach that I-"

"I'm sorry, I can't do this." Hoseok interrupted. "I am not in love with Samuel Harris."

Seokjin's eyes widened and he stepped closer to the stage as the crowd started to rumble. "What are you doing?" He hissed at Hoseok.

"I'm telling the truth." Hoseok turned his attention back to the mic and addressed the crowd. "I went along with Sonam's lie because the celebrity attention was supposed to be good for business but that's not who I am. I am an alpha who is completely in love with Kim Seokjin." To Seokjin's horror, a spotlight pivoted into the crowd and landed squarely on him. "But I'm also the alpha he dumped a few minutes ago so I'm not in the best place to talk about love. I'm sorry." As Seokjin gaped, Hoseok gave a polite nod to the confused crowd and trotted down the stage steps heading for the door.

Taehyung rushed up to Seokjin. "One second Jungkook's getting an onstage shout out and the next Hoseok's confessing his love for you? What the fuck is going on?"

"I don’t know, okay?" Seokjin said in exasperation. "He just said it and now he's leaving."

"Do you want him to go?" Taehyung asked.

"I said I don’t know!" Seokjin snapped. All around, partygoers stared at him. Seokjin was used to having eyes on him but never when he was that frazzled.

Taehyung turned Seokjin away to block their gaze. "Yes, you do. I know what it's like to fight having feelings for someone you can't stop thinking about."

Seokjin followed Taehyung's gaze to Yoongi. The look the two omegas shared was everything Seokjin had ever wanted and everything he was too afraid he would get. "How do you know if it's worth the risk?"

"You don't." Taehyung smiled. "You hope and pray and then you do it anyway. So if you don't want him to go, take the risk and tell him."

Seokjin looked over to find Hoseok nearly gone. Before he could stop himself, Seokjin raced onto the stage and snatched up the mic. "I love you too."

As Seokjin's voice rang through the ballroom, Hoseok came to a stop and turned back towards the stage. Long gone was the polite smile for the audience's sake. When their eyes met, Seokjin found an alpha barely holding it together. "Don't play games, Seokjin." Hoseok said. "Because I can't-"

"No games." Seokjin assured him. "We're just telling the truth, right?" He gathered his wits and dropped any pretenses, forgetting about the audience so he could lay it all out. "I'm sorry I put up walls and jumped to conclusions and I'm sorry I wasn't ready to admit how much you mean to me. I'm slow to trust but I don't want to dismiss one of the best things that's ever happened to me because of that." He climbed off the stage and started to walk over to Hoseok. Thanks to the stupid lighting guy, the spotlight followed him.

"And what about the next time you push me away?" Hoseok asked.

Seokjin shook his head quickly. "I won't."

"You will." Hoseok said. "You're stubborn like that." As Hoseok stepped closer, the crowd parted, clearing the path between them.

Though Seokjin's JinDar screamed for him to abort, he pushed forward. "Then you'll tap into a little of that overconfidence of yours and win me back."

Hoseok raised an eyebrow. "Overconfidence? That's a new one."

"It really shouldn't be." Seokjin said. "Your ego is huge."

The two of them met in the middle, the way any good love story should, and Hoseok shot Seokjin an easy smile that filled the omega with butterflies. "Well? Are we gonna keep airing out each other's red flags or are you gonna kiss me?"

Seokjin smiled. "For the first time in my life, I say fuck the flags." He dropped the microphone and reached for Hoseok instead, pressing his lips to the alpha's and claiming him for everyone to see. The crowd went wild around them. But when the kiss ended, shyness filled Seokjin. "Don't break my heart." He whispered.

"You love me with everything you've got, and you'll never have to worry about that." Hoseok whispered back. "Deal?" He held his hand out.

Seokjin took it without hesitation. "Deal."

Chapter 39

Jungkook took to the DJ booth, curating a playlist that had every couple swaying to the beat, except for Yoongi and Taehyung who headed for the exit. Seokjin called out to get their attention. "Don't tell me you two are leaving already!"

"We'll be back." Taehyung grinned. "We're just taking a beat."

"Or two." Yoongi smirked as he pressed a tender kiss to the corner of Taehyung's mouth, an unmistakable glint in his eyes.

Seokjin nodded. "Enough said. Have fun."

"Oh, we will." Taehyung giggled as he and Yoongi scurried off.

Hoseok nuzzled into Seokjin's neck, lips brushing over the omega's scent gland. "I wouldn't mind taking a beat or two myself." He murmured. "Care to join me? I've got something I want to show you."

A pleasant shiver ran down Seokjin's spine. "Let's get out of here." Following Taehyung and Yoongi's lead, the two of them slipped out of the ballroom and into an elevator.

Upstairs, Hoseok swiped his keycard on an unmarked door before opening it to reveal a luxurious suite complete with rose petals on every surface. "Wow, you don't mess around when it comes to spoiling an omega." Seokjin smiled.

"When it comes to the omega I love, I aim to please." Hoseok said. "I've got things all planned out. First you'll have a nice massage then some chocolate covered-" Seokjin curled his hand behind Hoseok's neck to pull him into a kiss, the alpha immediately deepening it with a groan.

The two of them shuffled to the bed. As Hoseok climbed onto the mattress, he pulled Seokjin on top of him. Seokjin wrangled the alpha's jacket off of his shoulders and started unbuttoning his shirt. As it opened, Seokjin broke away, gliding his fingers across Hoseok's bare chest. "As wonderful as all of that sounds, I say we skip right to the part when I can have you."

Hoseok raised his eyebrows as he smirked up at Seokjin. "Is this what being your alpha is going to be like? I take the time to plan a date and you only want to get me naked?"

Seokjin shrugged. "What can I say? Patience has never been my strong suit. But you know what has become a talent of mine?" He put a firm hand in the center of Hoseok's chest and eased him back into the mattress before settling between the alpha's legs. Chest heaving, Hoseok watched Seokjin through heavy lidded eyes as the omega lowered his slacks, exposing his dick. "This." Seokjin lowered his lips to brush a light kiss over the tip before opening his mouth and taking Hoseok in fully, all the way to the back of his throat.

A low moan escaped Hoseok as he threw his head back against the pillows. "Fuck, you're good at that." Seokjin hummed around Hoseok as he bobbed his head along his length. Hoseok shuddered and reached down to thread his fingers through Seokjin's hair, pushing it back from his face to have a better view. "You look incredible with me in your mouth. Taking all of me. Swallowing me down." Seokjin managed to take Hoseok in even deeper, his tongue caressing the underside of his hardened length, coaxing him closer to the edge. Hoseok's grip on Seokjin's hair tightened slightly. "Fuck, I’m cumming." Hoseok grew tense but Seokjin didn't stop, increasing the pace of his bobs until he felt Hoseok spilling onto his tongue and down his throat.

Seokjin took his time cleaning Hoseok up, his tongue lapping at every last drop of cum on the alpha's dick, until Hoseok tugged him up to straddle his waist. "That is what it's like to be my alpha." Seokjin smiled down at Hoseok. "Still have a problem with me trying to get you naked?"

Hoseok shook his head. "Never again. But I need to see you too."

"What's stopping you?" Seokjin asked.

"Absolutely nothing." Hoseok slipped Seokjin's jacket off and made short work of his blouse before turning his attention to the omega's shorts. As they joined the rest of their clothes on the floor, Hoseok's eyes roamed Seokjin's body admiringly. "Much better. My omega is so damn fine."

"And what are you gonna do about it?" Seokjin tilted his head, batting his eyes.

"I thought that much was obvious." Hoseok gave a cocky smile, his eyes darkening. "I'm gonna wear you out." He pulled Seokjin into a heated kiss, the omega welcoming the alpha's tongue into his mouth. Hoseok hands slid around to grip Seokjin's ass, his fingers curling up near the omega's entrance in a way that had Seokjin positively burning. "Look up." Hoseok murmured.

As Seokjin craned his neck into the kisses Hoseok brushed along the underside of his jaw, the omega noticed the mirrored ceiling. "Oh, that is so early 2000s faux kinky."

Hoseok chuckled. "You won't think that when I'm done." He hiked Seokjin up until he was straddling his face, then he gripped Seokjin's thighs and yanked his hips down.

He licked over Seokjin viciously and the omega threw his head back in pleasure, catching sight of his reflection in the mirror above. His gaze locked on Hoseok's reflection and the passion he saw stole a low moan of pleasure as he started to slowly grind his hips against the alpha's mouth. "Show me how much you love me." Seokjin demanded.

"Are you sure you can handle that?" Hoseok asked. Without waiting for an answer, he brought his mouth back to Seokjin's entrance, thrusting his tongue just past his rim, and Seokjin's eyes fell closed. "Nope." Hoseok said as he pulled back. "Pay attention." He didn't budge until Seokjin opened his eyes again, focusing once more on the mirror above as his heart pounded in his chest. "You asked for this. And I'm going to give you everything you deserve." Seokjin cried out as Hoseok pulled him even closer, a wave of heat blooming through the omega. Seokjin's head spun as the building pressure suddenly released, filling him with a vague sense of bubbles. Hoseok immediately rolled the two of them over, gasping for air even as he grinned down at Seokjin. "Think you're ready for me now?"

Seokjin smiled breathlessly as he reached out to wrap his arms around the alpha. "Make love to me."

Hoseok pressed his lips to Seokjin's, the omega tasting himself on the alpha's tongue as he pushed inside him. Seokjin moaned into Hoseok's mouth, feeling perfectly full as Hoseok's hips met his ass. "Fuck, you feel so incredible." Hoseok groaned. His hips eased back before pushing into Seokjin again, the rhythm slow and building. Hoseok's hands found Seokjin's, their fingers intertwining against the sheets.

"I love you." Seokjin whispered.

"I love you too." Hoseok whispered back. "But more than that…" He gave a particularly powerful thrust, pressing a kiss to Seokjin's neck as the omega moaned again. "I love your nurturing spirit. I love how you bring out the best in everyone around you." With every statement, his hips met Seokjin's, filling the omega with love from the inside out. Seokjin bucked his hips to meet Hoseok's, moaning the alpha's name. Hoseok's thrusts faltered slightly, his body starting to tense. "I love all the pieces of you." Their simultaneous release found them bit by bit then all at once, leaving the two of them clutching each other tightly as the tumbled over the edge together.

As they recovered, they settled properly into the bed, Seokjin relishing in the plushest sheets he'd ever encountered as Hoseok finally procured the promised chocolate covered strawberries. "Okay, I'll admit." Seokjin mused after allowing Hoseok to feed him a few pieces of fruit. "I might have been a little hasty. These strawberries after a massage would've been sensational."

Hoseok smiled. "Not to say I told you so…"

"But you didn't!" Seokjin exclaimed. "I don't recall a single complaint."

"And there never will be." Hoseok claimed Seokjin's mouth with a kiss.

For a single moment, Seokjin basked in the happiness of being thoroughly and completely satisfied. Then his usual anxiety crept in. "We should probably talk about how this is gonna work." He said as he pulled back. "I mean, with my practice being back in Seoul and your resort being here, we'll be long distance."

Hoseok raised his eyebrows. "Is that a problem?"

Seokjin blinked. "It's not not a problem. I've dumped alphas for far less."

"So you're back to dumping me?" Hoseok dramatically put his hand to his chest. "So much for true love."

Seokjin couldn't help but smile as he rolled his eyes. "Nobody's getting dumped. I'm just saying it's important to have a game plan."

"Seokjin, it took me a long time to find you." Hoseok said. "I'm not gonna let a little distance stand in my way now. Especially not when it's supposed to make the heart grow fonder." Without giving it another thought, Hoseok plucked a strawberry from the tray and held it out for Seokjin to bite.

The chocolate crumbled on impact, sending shards of the casing onto Seokjin chest and Hoseok's tongue quickly dove after them. "If you get any fonder, I won't make it out of this room let alone back home." Seokjin murmured.

"Would that be so bad?" Hoseok murmured against Seokjin's skin. "We'd see each other every day, you'd never know how truly awful my sexting game is, and it would mean more of this…" He abandoned the chocolate, opting to let his tongue circle Seokjin's nipple instead.

Seokjin sighed in pleasure. "As tempting as that is, I'd miss my job and Jimin and Jungkook and Taehyung." He rested his head against the cushioned headboard as Hoseok took his nipple between his teeth, savoring the feeling of the alpha's affections. "When vacation's over, it's back to business as usual for me."

At that, Hoseok looked up, his gentle eyes meeting Seokjin's. "We'll figure it out. I know we will because I can see our future when I look in your eyes. We're meant to be together. Whatever comes, we'll handle it as partners. Together. Deal?"

Seokjin leaned in to steal a kiss, if only so Hoseok didn't see the overjoyed misty sheen in his eyes. "Deal."

🐻

Taehyung giggled as Yoongi led him out of the nearest door. Before he could say a word, Yoongi's lips were on his, and god were they incredible. "Somebody's impatient."

"Speak for yourself, Princess." Yoongi's hands found Taehyung's hips, pulling them flush to his as he murmured in Taehyung's ear. "I can stop whenever I want."

Taehyung shivered as Yoongi trailed his lips down his neck. "And if I don't want you to?"

He felt Yoongi smile against his skin as a low hum rumbled in his throat. "Then we're gonna need to find someplace private pretty quickly."

Taehyung glanced over Yoongi's shoulder, looking around at the empty pool patio. "Looks like it's just you, me, and the hot tub. Let's go skinny dipping."

Yoongi pulled back and raised his eyebrows. "Aeri would kill you if the paps caught anything that risqué."

"And yet somehow I just don't care." Taehyung slid the straps of his dress over his shoulders, exposing his bare skin to the night air. His nipples pebbled under Yoongi's gaze as the fabric slipped down his hips until it pooled at his feet, allowing him to step out of it.

"Oh, I get it." Yoongi chuckled. "This is the part of your fame journey when you do inexplicably wild and reckless stuff, isn't it?"

Taehyung shrugged. "That depends. Would you consider yourself wild and reckless?" He pressed against Yoongi, kissing just beneath his jawline.

Yoongi moaned, his hands wandering over Taehyung's naked form. "You tell me." He trailed a line of lingering kisses over Taehyung's shoulder, his collarbone, and down his chest, flicking his tongue over Taehyung's nipple until he was moaning. "I guess that's a yes." As he turned his attention to Taehyung's other nipple, Taehyung skimmed his fingers over the bare skin of Yoongi's waist under his shirt before dropping to the button of his pants. He guided Yoongi to a lounge chair and sank to his knees, pulling Yoongi's pants down his hips as he went. "You know, if so much as one grainy photo leaks, Aeri's gonna call me a bad influence."

"Weren't you the one who said to hell with other people and what they think?" Taehyung nudged Yoongi's knees apart and teased his tongue up Yoongi's inner thigh before pressing a kiss to his slick soaked underwear.

Yoongi sighed out in pleasure. "Usually yes but this might be a little damning."

"Then I guess you'll just have to join me at the next #cancelparty." Taehyung gripped the waistband of Yoongi's underwear and Yoongi shimmied his hips to help Taehyung remove them.

"Somehow I think I can live with that." Yoongi said as he spread his legs for Taehyung.

"Good." Taehyung smirked. "Because I can't say the same about seeing you this riled up for me and not getting a taste." He buried his face between Yoongi's thighs, lapping at his entrance as a curse escaped Yoongi. "Say my name." Taehyung demanded. "I want to hear it."

As Taehyung pressed his tongue inside of Yoongi, Yoongi threaded his fingers through Taehyung's hair, desperate to hold him in place. "Taehyung…right there…" Taehyung didn't let up until Yoongi was writhing under him, slick gushing out of him in globs as his face contorted in ecstasy.

As Yoongi's breathing leveled out, Taehyung headed to the hot tub, well aware of Yoongi's eyes on him as he submerged himself in the luxuriously warm water. He looked over his shoulder at Yoongi, locking eyes with a coy smile. "I'd ask if you're coming but I think we both know the answer to that one."

Yoongi chuckled. "Bragging before I've had my way with you? Bold move." He stood to strip the rest of his clothes, his eyes never leaving Taehyung's. As he followed Taehyung into the water, the underwater lights washed over his pale skin. "Let's see how it works out for you." he reached for the jet remote. With just a few buttons, they roared to life with a steady hum.

"What's that for?" Taehyung asked.

"Lean your back against my chest and find out." Yoongi raised his eyebrows in challenge.

The second Taehyung did as he was told, Yoongi directed his hips toward the pulsing spray. Taehyung immediately tensed, his thighs clenching together at the intensity. Yoongi brushed his lips against the shell of Taehyung's ear. "Are you gonna open your legs or am I gonna have to help you?"

"I could use a little help." Taehyung said coyly.

Yoongi pulled Taehyung in closer, his chest flush against Taehyung's back as he reached between Taehyung's thighs to hold them open. Taehyung bucked his hips instinctively but Yoongi steadied him. "Don't run from it. Let it wash over you. Breathe." Taehyung sucked in deep breaths, the sensation becoming more intense until it radiated out from his core through his entire body. Yoongi brought his hand to Taehyung's entrance and gently pressed a finger inside, keeping the pace slow and steady, a strong counter to the intensity of the jet. "Cum for me, Taehyung." Taehyung barely even had a chance to scream as the pleasure took him, sweeping him into the most intense orgasm he'd ever experienced. "I'm right here. I’m not going anywhere." Taehyung tilted his head to meet Yoongi in a scorching kiss.

Chapter 40

Taehyung straddled Yoongi's lap on the hot tub bench, head resting against Yoongi's shoulder. "Thank you for coming out here with me." He murmured. "I know you're probably missing some good shots from the party."

Yoongi shrugged a bit. "It was worth it to see you really let loose. Besides…" He palmed Taehyung's ass enthusiastically, giving each cheek a healthy squeeze. "This was definitely a lot more fun."

"Just fun?" Taehyung smirked. "Not, oh, I don’t know…spectacular? Earth shattering? Hot as all hell?"

"I thought you didn’t care what everybody else thinks." Yoongi retorted.

Taehyung bit his lip. "Maybe not everybody. But you?" He nuzzled a path up Yoongi's jaw until their lips were brushing. "Definitely. I'm not done getting to know you yet, and I want to know everything."

"I promised you I'd show you who I really am so fire away." Yoongi said.

"Tell me more about you." Taehyung requested. "Anything you're comfortable sharing. I'll take what I can get." He held his breath, hoping the question wasn't out of bounds.

After a moment of thinking, Yoongi finally smiled. "When I was a kid, one of the last days I spent with my family, my mom scrounged up enough to treat me and my brother. We went to the dollar store and she let us pick any five toys. I remember feeling so lucky…" He trailed off with a smile, lost in the memory, and Taehyung left him to it. When Yoongi returned to the present, he was suddenly more serious. "Looking back, she probably knew we didn't have too much time left together but she gave us the best that she could and that means something."

"There's so much we still don't know about each other." Taehyung said softly.

"But we'll get to it." Yoongi promised him. "I told you, I'm not going anywhere." He intertwined his fingers with Taehyung's, both pruny from the water. Taehyung latched on to Yoongi's hand with everything he had. "But if we're gonna head back soon, we should decide what we're gonna tell anyone who asks where we were."

"That one's easy." Taehyung grinned. "'Mind your damn business' should do the trick." That pulled a laugh out of Yoongi and for a moment, Taehyung marveled at the beautiful omega he'd found in paradise.

"The fashion icon of the moment is gonna show up to an event sopping wet with no explanation?" Yoongi asked. "People are gonna eat that up."

"People can think what they want." Taehyung said. "But for the rest of the night, V has officially clocked out."

After drying off, Taehyung and Yoongi tried to sneak back into the party only to find most of the attendees had migrated out to the pool. From the DJ's booth, Jungkook called out to the crowd as he started the next song in his set. "Sancian Cove, make some noise!"

🐥

From the pool bar, Jimin watched as Seokjin and Taehyung cuddled up on the dance floor with their significant others. Seeing everyone partnered up like that was enough to make Jimin wish he had signed up for the singles' series. As if reading his mind, a familiar voice sounded from next to him. "If you think you're lonely now, just wait until this little vacation of yours is over." Jimin jumped and turned to look at Sungho. "A few nights in our home alone, remembering all the good times we had, and the last thing you're gonna want to be is single."

Jimin glared at him. "Did my dad tell you to say that?"

"He didn't have to." Sungho shook his head. "I know that one from personal experience."

"Grass not greener on the other side?" Jimin asked. "And here I was thinking you and your boss would be enjoying your newfound freedom."

"Jimin, enough, okay?" Sungho said firmly. "I get that you're pissed but you're throwing our future away!" For the first time in years, Jimin felt like he was finally seeing the alpha in front of him instead of the romanticized idea he'd created. "Two years from now, we're supposed to be growing our family, applying to prestigious kindergartens, building our legacy! But you're gonna keep playing and you're gonna end up old, bitter, and alone." As Sungho spoke, Jimin felt himself tensing, the future he'd imagined once again starting to fade. Maybe that was his last chance to get everything he wanted…

Before Jimin gave in, he caught a glimpse of Jungkook floating around the pool deck, flawlessly transitioning from host to DJ, lighting up the space with his sass and charm. He never thought he'd see the day when Jungkook being the life of the party would be a good thing. But maybe that's what happened when one focused on what was best for them. Jimin locked onto Jungkook from across the pool deck, and as he reflected on Jungkook's strength and used it to summon his own, a new future formed--himself, Jungkook, Taehyung, and Seokjin all celebrating life's milestones together, welcoming the next generation of hellraisers to the family, and toasting to each other's successes. It may not have been what he'd always imagined but knowing he had the three of them to lean on fortified him, and suddenly, Jimin knew exactly what to say to Sungho. "That's what you still don't get. It doesn't matter how big of a house we buy or how many future children we plan to fill it with. I will always be more alone with you than I ever would be without you."

Jimin tried to leave but Sungho hurried after him, the alpha visibly a lot less confident. "Jimin, think of your plan!"

"The plan obviously doesn't work." Jimin said. "And neither do we. Go home, Sungho."

"You're being crazy!" Sungho exclaimed. "Just take a second and thing about this clearly-"

Jimin whirled around on Sungho, facing him down in the middle of the dancing couples. "Oh, I have a clear thought for you. Sungho, the two of us are officially over. I'll be keeping the house because, let's face it, Seokjin would chew you up and spit you out if you tried to take it from me. But on the bright side, you can have my dad if you want."

Sungho looked at him incredulously. "So I'm just supposed to go home without you? Cancel the wedding? Move out and never see you again?" He laid it on thick, clearly hoping to reach whatever shreds of sympathy Jimin had left for him.

"Yep." Jimin flashed a peace sign. "Deuces."

Jimin only made it another few steps before Sungho called after him, "Fine. But you're not breaking up with me. I'm breaking up with you! My boss is better in bed anyway."

"Oh, shit!" A spectator from the crowd gasped.

"Did he just say what I think he said?"

As Sungho's meltdown attracted more and more eyes, Jimin stepped closer and lowered his voice. "You are doing way too much right now."

Sungho shrugged. "What can I say? Hurt people hurt people."

Jimin glared at him. "You are not the victim here. But you can be. I have five years’ worth of shit I could tell these people about you."

"Do your worst." Sungho challenged him.

As Jimin strutted up to the DJ booth, Jungkook handed him a mic. "Mic's hot and ready like a Little Caeser's pizza. Light his ass up."

Jimin stepped up onto the bar, waving to ensure he had everyone's attention. "I'm not sure if any of you remember me but on my first night here, I got drunk and fell off a bar. Now, that was mostly because of tequila and bad choices but there is someone else to blame and if you don't mind, I just need a sec to give my ex the sendoff he deserves. He's a mess but at least after this, he'll no longer be my mess. Sungho, where are you?"

He spotted Sungho trying to sneak out but Taehyung slipped through the crowd, throwing an arm over the alpha's shoulder with a shit eating grin. "Oh no you don't. This dragging was tailor made just for you."

"Get off me!"

"With pleasure." Taehyung redirected Sungho back to the center of the pool deck, and as one, the crowd turned to stare. As they did, it hit Jimin just how different that version of Sungho was from the one he'd fallen for all those years ago.

Jimin cleared his throat. "When I first met Choi Sungho, he had just been hired as a junior investment banker. He was smart and ambitious. And also, kind of a math nerd. But something I didn't learn until later is that he's a sneaky little so and so."

"I resent that!"

"The reason I was on that bar in the first place instead of on my honeymoon is that Sungho cheated on me on the day of our wedding." Jimin continued. "And if that wasn't bad enough, he and my dad got together to form their own Junior League of villains so he could sneak back into my life."

As the audience booed, Sungho puffed out his chest. "Oh, come on! You weren't perfect either!"

"Of course not." Jimin agreed. "I cared more about having a house in the suburbs and 2.5 kids than a loving marriage so I overlooked things I shouldn't have. I cried when I should've yelled. I worried more about controlling my life than living it. Which is why today I'm fixing my mistake. I'd love to reclaim my time but I'll settle for my peace instead."

Sungho crossed his arms over his chest. "Assassinate my character all you want. It won't change a thing. There isn't an omega on this pool deck I couldn't pull." To make his point, he sidled up to a random omega, flashed her a smile, and her knees went weak. "Hi, beautiful. What's your name?"

She paused for a moment, looking up at Jimin. "Don't give it to him. He's clearly using you to one up me."

"I know but look at him!"

Jungkook snatched the mic out of Jimin's hand. "Stand up! He might look cute but the vibes are just rancid! You heard it yourself!"

"But I-"

"No buts!" Taehyung cut in, marching up to stand next to Jimin. "Us omegas gotta stick together."

"Wait!" The crowd parted as Seokjin made a beeline for the mic, obviously sensing his chance to drag Sungho slipping away. "Did I miss my chance to say how much Sungho got on my last damn nerve? I saved all my best roasts from the group chat!"

Sungho's eyes widened in disbelief. "There was a group chat about me?"

"Is." Jimin corrected him. "Present tense. We violate your existence every chance we get. As a matter of fact, Seokjin, tell them the one about his 'leg day workout'." He turned to the crowd once more. "Sungho always takes the stairs because 'any day is leg day'. But he squats when he uses them for 'extra gains'."

Seokjin let out a sharp laugh. "The first time I saw it, I damn near died. And then I texted a whole thread to the group chat starting with…" He whipped out his phone and pulled up the dedicated Sungho bashing thread before clearing his throat. "'Why am I walking behind Sungho on the stairs and he looks like he's hovering over a public toilet?'"

"And you followed up with, 'Old trying to shake one loose looking ass'." Jimin laughed.

As the crowd cackled, Sungho grew visibly flustered. "I'm maximizing the number of reps I get done in a day and y'all are making jokes. Who's really the loser here?"

Jimin smiled. "Still you, beloved."

"Take this as a lesson to appreciate the next one that you're with" Seokjin said. "Because you fumbled this time and look where it got you."

"And where would that be, Seokjin?" Sungho asked. "An expensive resort on a beautiful island?" He held his arms up to gesture around him with a smug expression. "Looks like I've got a knack for failing upwards to me."

"No." Jimin hopped down from the bar and stalked closer, the look in his eyes enough to make Sungho's arrogance falter as the alpha inched back. "I'm the one catching flights not feelings. I'm the one here living my best life. You're just an alpha who was begging me to take you back five minutes ago. Now run home to my daddy with your tail between your legs like a good little bitch." Gasps rang out from the crowd.

Sungho scoffed. "Whatever. Good luck fumbling your way through the next five years. Don't come crawling back when this blows up in your face."

"Don't worry." Namjoon appeared next to Jimin, glaring at Sungho. "He won't."

Jimin looked at Namjoon and breathed a sigh of relief that only pissed Sungho off more. "Wel if it isn't How Stella Got Her Groove Back." Sungho scoffed. "He's gonna throw you out soon too, you know."

"That's enough!" Jimin exclaimed. "Sungho, kick rocks. We're done here."

Sungho scowled as he stormed past, heading for the entrance. Jungkook kickstarted the music and soon it was just Jimin and Namjoon standing together in a sea of dancing strangers. With a nod, Namjoon gestured toward the darkened beach. "Come on, let's take a walk."

Chapter 41

Jimin and Namjoon walked in the sand, pausing to slip off their shoes and let the grain sink between their toes. The sound of water meeting the shore filled the lulls between them until finally Namjoon broke their comfortable silence. "So how are you feeling for real?"

"At first, kinda relieved." Jimin said. "Like there's a whole world of possibilities out there that I never considered." His smile faltered. "But also like I just closed the door on who I've been my whole life. I put so much effort into a plan that's falling apart."

"Not all of it." Namjoon shook his head. "You still have your degree."

"In a field that bores me to tears." Jimin admitted.

"What about your house?" Namjoon pointed out.

Jimin scoffed quietly. "You mean the one that's half a world away from your address at any given moment?"

A quiet fell over them again for just a second until Namjoon chimed in a final time. "You have me. And now you also have room to grow. To try something new if you want to." He stopped, grabbing Jimin's hand as the moon loomed largely over them. "Come with me to Greece. I never got to sell you on my next assignment but you'd love the blue rooftops and the donkey rides-"

"I thought you were quitting." Jimin said. "You told Seokjin-"

"That if you asked me to, I would." Namjoon smiled. "But this is perfect! It'll be a fresh start for both of us!" Jimin frowned. "New sighs, new experiences-"

Jimin cut Namjoon off. "Stop."

Namjoon furrowed his eyebrows. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong is that I didn't exactly agree to these plans of yours." Jimin said.

"But you were talking about all the possibilities." Namjoon said. "I thought-"

"That I was going to suddenly be on board with packing my bags and leaving my life behind?" Jimin asked in disbelief. "Just because I"m not going back to Sungho doesn't mean I'm suddenly a completely different person!"

Namjoon deflated a bit. "So you do want me to quit."

"No!" Jimin exclaimed. "I know how much this job means to you and the last thing I want to do is take that from you. I just…" He trailed off and sighed.

"You need time to figure out what you want." Namjoon said in understanding. "Because all of this just happened and me dropping an overseas move on you was the straw that broke the camel's back." Although he was smiling, there was a sad look in his eyes that sent a pang to Jimin's heart.

"I love that you push me to get out of my comfort zone." Jimin said. "But I need to feel steady. And right now, I just don't."

Namjoon nodded slightly. "I get it. Take some time, figure out what you need. I'll be here when the smoke clears."

But even as Namjoon said it, Jimin realized that maybe he wouldn't be. Maybe he would be thousands of kilometers away in Greece. The thought made Jimin want to keep some small piece of Namjoon for himself safely tucked away. Before he could stop himself, Jimin pressed flush against Namjoon, claiming his lips in a passionate kiss. Namjoon matched Jimin's urgency, deepening the kiss as his hands found Jimin's waist, pulling him closer, his every movement sending a clear message.

Please don't let this be goodbye.

Jimin pulled away before he could read more into it. "Goodnight." He whispered.

"Goodnight, Jimin." Namjoon said softly as Jimin turned to return to the party, leaving the alpha alone under the Bahamian moon.

🐰

Fresh off of Seokjin and Hoseok's show stopping love confessional and his brother's epic Sungho send off, a prime partier like Jungkook knew he had to keep the momentum going of he wanted to keep the judges’ eyes on him. "In honor of the couples formed in the singles' series, I want to slow things down a bit. If there's somebody you wanna make some sweet forever music with, allow DJ Jungkook to take you there." With a grin, he dropped the needle and let the hot soulful lyrics float through the pool deck.

"Switching up the music is a great way to keep the mood up."

Jungkook turned to find one of the judges standing in front of his booth with a smile. "What do you care?" He scoffed. "According to you, I'm just a cheater who doesn't even deserve to compete."

"And yet here you are." The judge retorted. "Competing. You can keep that chip on your shoulder as long as you want. But don't let it distract you from your goal. Or do you not want to win?"

With a sigh, Jungkook tried to mentally sage his mind, inhaling good thoughts and exhaling the negative vibes. "Fine. Got any advice for me?"

"Just because you won the first leg of this challenge doesn't mean you've got this leg in the bag." The judge said. "If you wanna clinch this whole thing, you've gotta keep fighting for our attention any way you can get it."

As the judge walked away, Jungkook couldn't help but notice an alpha couple off to the side, all sheepishly anticipant smiles and shy dance moves. "You're a great dancer."

"Thanks. We should, uh, we should go dancing together sometime."

"You mean like we're doing now?"

Jungkook scrunched his nose. The blushing, the barest of grazes. They were practically hotboxing everyone on the pool deck with their chemistry. But as he continued watching, it became clear that they were both too shy to pull the trigger. Somebody needed to facilitate, and if secret matchmaking didn't fall under Jungkook's host duties, he didn’t know what did. He just had to be subtle. He gave a clandestine tug at one of his spare wires from his DJ setup and managed to catch one of the alpha's ankles, sending him stumbling right into his dance partner's arms.

"Are you okay?"

"I am now."

Jungkook smirked and scanned the crowd to see if any of the judges caught his triumph only to find that Cayson had managed to weasel away their attention. "The night's not over yet, y'all! I've got party favors!" Hoisting an inflatable boombox over his head, Cayson danced through the crowd while his devious little minions passed out glow sticks to all the partygoers.

There was no way the judges would go for something as simple as that, Jungkook thought until he saw them practically eating it up. "What a cute idea!"

"Talk about keeping the party going!"

As more and more of the partygoers accepted glowsticks, Cayson led them in a corny TikTok dance, cementing the judges' attention. "They're not even using their legs!" Jungkook called out, scanning the crowd once more until he found his family. Seokjin and Hoseok were trading kisses at the bar, Taehyung and Yoongi were filling their plates at the buffet, and Jimin was trying to find a seat alone away from the noise of the party.

Jungkook first went to the bar and found Seokjin and Hoseok trying to fix their shared dishevelment. "Alright, break it up you two. I need to borrow Seokjin right quick."

"On what grounds?" Seokjin asked.

"Stomping out Cayson business." Jungkook said. "Omega squad duties. Don’t worry, I'll give you right back."

Hoseok smiled and caught Seokjin's hand to press a kiss to the back of it. "I'll be waiting."

Jungkook grabbed Seokjin's arm and dragged him away to the buffet. "Tae, there's a dance battle emergency! I need your long legs to do a split!"

"Same." Yoongi smirked.

"You know I’m not that flexible but I am still at your service." Taehyung passed his food over to Yoongi so he could join Jungkook and Seokjin.

"Me too." Jungkook turned to find Jimin already standing behind him. He was worse for wear but the glint in his eyes was fierce. "Whatever it is, I'm in. I could use the distraction."

"Cayson and his flunkies are stealing the judges' attention." Jungkook explained. "I need you guys to help me."

The four of them huddled together and came up with a plan to get Cayson out of the way. Then they headed to the beach where Cayson and his crew were surrounded by partygoers. "Dance battle!" The crowd parted for Jungkook, Jimin, Taehyung, and Seokjin while Cayson and his cronies stared the four of them down.

"Y'all ready to get served?" Jimin asked.

Cayson scoffed. "Are you?" Without waiting for an answer, he pushed his way to the center of the circle and dropped it low. The rest of his crew joined him, matching him move for move.

Taehyung raised his eyebrows. "We clearly need to bring it so I say we should dance salsa since that is kinda my thing."

Seokjin shook his head. "What we need is something smooth and classic."

"Y'all do realize this song has its own dance, right?" Jimin pointed out.

"Everybody just pick a minion and do your own thing!" Jungkook exclaimed. "It'll confuse them!" He stepped up to Cayson and defended himself with a clean robot, popping and locking his arms and torso like the well-oiled dance machine he was.

Taehyung shook his head fondly. "Jimin, your brother is a damn fool.

"I know." Jimin smiled. "But I love him."

And so did the crowd. As Jimin slid into a mean combo, Seokjin mimed pumping Taehyung's heartbeat as he bounced to the music. "Guys, remember the choreo we made for my high school talent show?" Jungkook asked.

"Barely." Taehyung said. "That was, like, a million years ago, Jungkook."

"But he did win said talent show." Seokjin reminded him.

"I say we try it!" Jimin exclaimed.

In one harmonized wave, the four of them slid into a clean eight count, weekends of creativity, laughs, and muscle memory resurfacing in an instant. Linework immaculate, the four omegas hit every move before ending with an omega squad pose. Grinning at the show he just put on, Jungkook snapped his fingers at Cayson. "Your move."

"Damn right it is." Cayson shoved his crew out of the way and hit about 30,000 pirouettes in a row, smugly using Jungkook as his spotting post for each one, and ended with a high kick that came a little too close.

"That tutu head ass bitch better not kick my brother." Jimin growled. "Get him, Jungkook!"

"Oh, I'll give it to him alright." Jungkook said. "With the throwback of a lifetime." He snatched up a palm tree frond the size of his body and stood it up to mimic a microphone stand. As the crowd got hyped, Jungkook wrapped his leg around his makeshift mic stand, channeling 2006 Ciara, and Jimin grabbed his hand to help him balance. As Jungkook leaned forward into the iconic mic stand dance, Taehyung and Seokjin started to hip roll, clenching their fists and grinding the air, cackling all the while. All three of them supported Jungkook as he arched into the perfect reenactment of the Love Drought lean, gracefully extending his leg and free arm for the aesthetic of it all.

The crowd joined in, letting nostalgia fuel the moment, while Cayson and his crew looked around confused. "What the fuck is happening right now?"

"Somebody wanna fill lil late Gen Z in?" Jungkook asked, earning a round of laughs. "Everyone, this is how the future Bahamas' Biggest Party Animal gets down!" Jungkook had never been a hater, and he felt compelled to give credit where it was due, so he shot Cayson a smile. "Those spins of yours had me on the ropes. That was smooth." He offered his hand, an olive branch after the wash of bad blood between them.

Cayson scoffed. "Stuff it, bitch."

"You know what, Cayson?" Jungkook lowered his hand. "I'll keep you in my thoughts. Because everything about you is giving 'no home training' and that's just sad."

"Excuse you? I have-"

Jimin cut him off. "Thoughts and prayers. Now bounce."

Jungkook flourished his arms toward the gap the onlookers had made in the circle and Cayson's minions edged toward it. "Let's just take the L and go, Cayse…"

"Go if you wanna go!" Cayson snapped. "Ain't nobody keeping y'all here!" His crew dejectedly took his advice and Cayson turned back to Jungkook, leaning in close enough for only him to hear. "Laugh it up all you want tonight. You know I can still swoop in and take this next one just like I did with the cabanas." He walked away, swaying his hips and leaving Jungkook steaming.

Samuel strode over and looped an arm around Jungkook's shoulder. "You have this party rocking!"

Taehyung smiled. "That's the Jungkook magic touch."

As Taehyung wrapped Jungkook in his sweaty arms, Samuel smiled. "And it's good you've got these three to show up for you. Support is a necessity when you've got talent like yours."

"For real?" Jungkook asked.

Samuel nodded. "Absolutely. Just between us, I have no doubts you're going to take this competition all the way."

"From your lips to the judges' ears." Jungkook laughed.

As if conjured, the judges called for everyone's attention. "Tonight was a lot of fun." Hoseok said. "But we can't forget that the second round of our little competition needs a winner."

"After much deliberation with each other and our VIP guest…"

"We've decided that Jungkook has won this leg of the Party Animal race."

Jungkook shrugged as everyone cheered around him. "What can I say? I host one hell of a party!"

"Second place goes to Cayson for his inspired dancing."

"We don't typically announce all of the places." Hoseok continued. "But we thought it would be a fitting change of pace because after tonight…"

"There's just one more challenge standing between you and $100,000."

"Hell yeah!" Jungkook cheered.

The gathered crowd started to grumble and Hoseok raised a hand. "For an added twist, you'll discover the final challenge when you arrive. But in the meantime, start gathering your friends."

"Because the final showdown is going to be a group challenge!"

Notes:

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Series this work belongs to:

• Part 40 of Fics Based on Choices Stories