Chapter Text
Jeongukk stepped inside his penthouse, the door closing softly behind him.
Empty and quiet as always.
No one greeted him. No sound followed.
It was always like this, for years. So it should have felt normal. But it didn’t.
He stood there, at near the entrance for a moment. Like something else was supposed to enter with him.
Jeongukk exhaled slowly and walked further in. Peeling his jacket off, placing his phone down.
The ocean came back first to him. The sound of it.
Then, Jimin’s voice layered over it.
Talking. Laughing.
Saying things that didn’t make sense, and yet somehow did.
'You’re allowed to be more.'
The words replayed in his head. Again and again.
Jeongukk walked forward, long strides carrying him to the mini bar tucked against the glass wall of his penthouse.
He reached out for a bottle of The Macallan 18-year-old single malt. The amber liquid catching the city lights.
He poured himself a slow, measured glass.
Neat. No ice.
Then finally exhaled, tilting his head back as the burn settled in, eyes dark and distant.
He stopped by the window. The city's darkness stretching out in front of him.
Nothing like the shore.
Nothing like Jimin.
His free hand lifted unconsciously. Touching his lips.
The memory hitting him, sharp.
That kiss.
He had said, that he liked it. But the truth was, he didn’t just like it.
He wanted more. In the same way, he needed it a week ago.
In quiet of his office.
Jeongukk exhaled slowly, remembering that day. This wasn't normal.
Not for him.
This much attachment, need, want.
Not just the kiss.
But Jimin.
His voice. His presence.
The way he sits next to him like he belongs there.
The way he says things that goes directly, hitting Jeongukk's dark soul. Settling there.
He turned around, eyes landing on the vase. Still there, same as Jimin had left it.
Fixed.
Memory rewinding to the day, he last time saw Jimin standing in his house. The day he told him that he had fixed the vase. And wouldn't be returning back anymore.
To him, or his space.
Jeongukk's hand halted. A thought came in through. Strong.
And something shifted.
Not soft or gentle. Rather sharp and clear.
I want him.
That thought becoming heavier with every passing second.
I want him with me.
His fingers tightened around the glass.
I don’t want to go back to before this.
Before Jimin.
Jungkook exhaled deeply. Making the final decision.
That Jimin is his, to keep forever.
_________________________________________________________
Jimin kicked off his shoes, the second he entered in his apartment.
“Okay.”
The word came out into the empty room.
He ran a hand through his hair. Looking around his house.
Turning the lights on, he dragged his feet. Then dropped himself onto his bed, on his stomach.
“…Okay.”
Jimin pressed his lips together. The memory hit him instantly.
The beach.
The conversation.
And then...
'Jimin.'
His breath hitched. Burying his head into the pillow, he shrieked. High pitched. “He said my name."
Because Jeongukk, never did that. Maybe on their first meeting, but it was so long ago. He was not sure.
Jimin squeezed his eyes shut.
“Why was that so...”
He stopped.
Because he knew the answer. It felt close.
Suddenly, another memory came in.
“I want to kiss you.”
Jimin sat up instantly. Propped on his knees.
“Oh my god!" His face heat up instantly.
Jimin pressed his hands to his face. “And I said yes.”
A beat.
“Ofcourse I said yes.”
He groaned, falling back again.
Because that kiss was...
“Soft.”
And careful, like Jeongukk.
Jimin tucked the pilllow under his chin, feet swinging up in the air. “He asked.”
That part stayed. Because Jeongukk didn’t seem like someone who asks anything.
But he did. To him.
Jimin turned onto his side. Hugging the pillow closer to his chest now. “I liked it too...Mr. Jeon."
He admitted quietly to himself.
He stayed like that for a long time. Eyes glistening with whirlwind of emotions. Then he exhaled slowly.
“What are you doing to me?”
No answer. Just the quiet room.
Jimin pulled the blanket over himself, smiling slightly. Then closing his eyes.
________________________________________________________
And like that, in two different spaces, the same truth settled.
With different intensity, yet still very much unavoidable.
Their feelings slowly turning into something deeper.
Something stronger.
Something that neither of them wanted to deny anymore.