Chapter Text
From the doorway, his foot tapping rhythmically against the cheap wood frame, Taehyung watches Jeongguk throw clothes into his suitcase. Jeongguk knows he's pissed—he can feel Taehyung's gaze burning holes into his back.
The tension between them is palpable, pulling at Jeongguk's shoulders like a heavy jacket. He refuses to stop, though. He won't let Taehyung make him feel guilty, because he has nothing to feel guilty about. He's done nothing wrong.
Taehyung breaks the silence, finally, but Jeongguk wonders if this isn't worse. "You know what you're doing?"
Jeongguk jerks his fingers in Taehyung's direction, brushing the question aside. "You worry too much."
“No,” Taehyung practically growls as he uncoils from his perch and approaches Jeongguk with heavy footsteps. “I worry the right amount. After what happened—”
“How long are you going to hold that against me?"
Taehyung holds up his hands placatingly. "You know I don't mean it like that. I just want to make sure you know what you're doing."
Jeongguk meets Taehyung’s heated gaze head-on. He doesn't appreciate the insinuation, but he knows Taehyung's heart is in the right place. He’s worried someone is going to wind up hurt again. The sentiment is appreciated but unfounded—nothing is going to happen. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Alright, then,” Taehyung says, but he doesn't look convinced.
-----
Jimin’s excited and it shows. He’s literally vibrating next to Jeongguk as they wait for their flight.
“I can’t believe it,” Jimin says for maybe the fifth time in as many minutes.
Jeongguk nudges him gently. “Was this a mistake? Should I have brought someone else?”
Jimin nudges him back, harder, and Jeongguk stumbles a little. Somehow, he always forgets just how strong Jimin is, despite his smaller stature. "Brat. Who else could you bring but your favorite hyung?"
Jeongguk smiles. It's a soft thing, the one he reserves only for Jimin, the one he'll only show when it's just the two of them. "Yeah, you're right."
Jimin answers his smile with one of his own, coy and flirtatious at the same time, and it steals Jeongguk’s breath away. Jimin is always doing that—has been doing that since they first met, long before Jeongguk even knew what it meant.
He wonders how he's managed to survive all these years with his lungs working at minimum capacity.
Their flight is called. They grab their carry-ons and head for the gangway, Jimin leading the way with a bounce in his step. The giddy look on his face when he turns to look at Jeongguk burns brighter than any sun he's ever felt, and he feels a rush of pride that he was able to put it there.
They settle in their seats, legs touching at the knees, and their hands resting scant centimeters apart on the armrest. Jeongguk stares at Jimin's hand, his own itching to close the gap, to shift a little and run his fingers along Jimin's. He could pretend it was an accident, or he could say he's feeling nervous—it's not a lie. He's never liked planes. Jimin would understand and hold his hand, lock their fingers together like two puzzle pieces, would offer Jeongguk another of those sunny smiles.
Jeongguk’s fingers twitch, pinky brushing against Jimin’s, and Jeongguk’s mind screams at him to just do the thing, to take the chance. He resists, pulling his hand away to rest it on his knee instead. He'd told Taehyung he could behave himself, that he wouldn't do anything stupid, and he's going to keep his promise.
If only to prove Taehyung wrong.
-----
The first thing Jeongguk does when they enter their hotel room is drop his luggage to the floor. The second thing he does is trip over it and face-plant onto one of the beds with an exhausted groan, limbs protesting and a migraine brewing in his temples.
He hears Jimin shuffling around behind him and turns his head to watch. Jimin is somehow still thrumming with energy, flitting here and there, unpacking his luggage and checking out the mini-fridge. He goes into the bathroom, trailing laughter behind him as he notices the see-through wall. Jimin presses himself against it, knocking on the glass to get Jeongguk’s full attention. He’s smiling.
“If you wanted to see me naked, there are less expensive ways to do it,” Jimin says, his voice distorted through the glass.
Jeongguk grabs a pillow and throws it at the window. Jimin shrieks and shrinks back, laughter petering out into a sort of squeaky breathlessness that Jeongguk lives for. He continues to watch as Jimin dances his fingers around the frame, yelling a cute AHA! when he finds what he’s looking for: a switch that activates the modesty blinds. He plays with it for a few seconds, the blinds falling and rising, Jimin making various faces at Jeongguk as he disappears and reappears.
Jeongguk watches the show with a little smile on his face, glad that Jimin already seems to be having a good time. He also watches with something that feels like dread brewing in the pit of his stomach. He's already having a hard time controlling himself and Jimin isn't making it any easier for him.
If Jeongguk didn't know better, he'd think Jimin was doing it on purpose.
When Jimin tires of his game, he comes back out into the room proper and flops down next to Jeongguk, the bed bouncing a little under the added weight which does nothing to soothe Jeongguk’s headache. He lets Jimin know with a little whine.
Jimin turns onto his stomach, face mere inches from Jeongguk’s. He reaches out with one hand, pressing two fingers to Jeongguk’s temple and rubbing in gentle circles. Jeongguk’s whine turns into a quiet groan of appreciation. Jimin giggles and reaches out a second hand, rubbing the other temple.
Jeongguk turns into the caress. "Feels good," he murmurs, feeling soft and sleepy and content.
"It's the least I can do," Jimin coos. "The hotel is perfect."
Jeongguk scoffs. "Naturally. I chose it."
Jimin rolls his eyes and swats Jeongguk’s shoulder. Jeongguk can't even be mad, though, especially not when Jimin snuggles into him, resting his cheek on the same spot he'd abused, his lips pressed in a barely-there kiss to the crown of Jeongguk’s head.
"Thank you," he says softly, his warm breath ruffling Jeongguk’s hair.
Jeongguk closes his eyes and counts to ten before he can respond without emasculating himself. "Happy birthday, hyung."
-----
Jeongguk feels much better in the morning, after a full night of rest and a shower to wash off the grime of travel. He quickly dries off and dresses in a pair of jeans and an oversized t-shirt before rejoining Jimin in the main room, where he's pouring over guidebooks and tourist pamphlets.
"Japan is really beautiful, you know?" Jimin says by way of greeting, pushing a particularly colorful pamphlet across the bed so Jeongguk can take it. It's Disney—of course, it is. Jimin has only been talking about it for days. "We've been here before but for the first time, I feel like we're really going to be able to experience it."
Jeongguk sets the pamphlet aside. "What would you like to experience first?"
A smile slowly crawls across Jimin’s mouth. Jeongguk looks away before he gives in to the urge to press a kiss there. "Let's get some shoes!"
Jeongguk rolls his eyes and mutters, "I hate you."
-----
The mall is loud and crowded, strangers pressing in on both sides of Jeongguk. More than one person has stepped on him and his feet are starting to hurt. It smells, too, like food and linoleum and stale chemicals. Jeongguk is, not for the first time, thankful for the mask tugging at his ears—it helps, a little.
Truthfully, Jeongguk hates malls—hates most large crowds, really—and he would much rather do his shopping online and not have to deal with all of this. However, Jimin loves shopping and Jeongguk loves...well.
Today, shopping has its perks. Because of the crowd, Jimin and Jeongguk are forced to walk close together. Sometimes their hands touch and it's nice. They also have to lean on each other if they want to hear each other talk, Jimin’s breath warm on Jeongguk’s neck and his hand even warmer on Jeongguk’s shoulder.
It’s not so bad. He’s enjoying himself, honestly. Jeongguk gets to watch Jimin try on various outfits that, frankly, look amazing on him, and Jeongguk’s not above sneaking glances at Jimin’s ass in skin-tight jeans when he isn't looking. Nor does he mind holding Jimin’s bags for him while he runs off to look at something that caught his eye, because a happy Jimin makes Jeongguk happy.
This, though, he refuses to do.
"I’m not getting into that thing." Jimin pouts. Jeongguk hates when he does that because it's distracting and, frankly, rude. “Don't look at me like that. I said no."
"But, Gukie," Jimin wheedles. "Shouldn't we have some way to commemorate our trip?"
Jeongguk holds up his camera, his very expensive camera, and gives it a little shake under Jimin’s nose. Still, Jimin is persistent.
"Those photos will be doctored up. This," he pats the photo booth, the dull thud echoing in Jeongguk’s ears, "will give us photos in real-time. No filters, just us."
Jeongguk wavers. Jimin sees this and dials the charm up to ten, clasping his hands in front of his chest and mouthing a heartfelt please as he smiles at Jeongguk like the sun rises and sets with him. Jeongguk deflates, knowing he’s lost. “Fine.”
Jimin claps and giggles and then he's clutching Jeongguk’s hand, pulling him into the small and dark booth. Jimin pushes him down onto the bench, his ass practically in Jeongguk’s face and that…Jeongguk isn’t prepared to deal with that, his cock twitching inside his pants and his mouth salivating. He’s grateful when Jimin turns to pull the curtain closed behind them, plunging them into a weird, grey darkness that instantly makes Jeongguk feel uncomfortable in his skin.
Jimin fiddles with the controls then sits down next to him, pressed against Jeongguk so close he can feel Jimin’s hair tickling his cheeks.
"Relax," Jimin says. "This is supposed to be fun. And take off your mask."
Jeongguk doesn't know how Jimin expects him to relax when he's in a small, dark box with Jimin practically sitting in his lap, but okay. He tries, he really does, pulling cute faces and making finger hearts at the camera and giving Jimin bunny ears. Jimin laughs the whole time, leaning into Jeongguk’s shoulder, ruffling his hair, and draping himself across Jeongguk’s lap. It's maddening and Jeongguk is sporting a semi and counting down the moments until the last snap—how many did Jimin buy, anyway, this is ridiculous—before he embarrasses himself.
"We're almost at the end of the film," Jimin says, disappointed, but Jeongguk has never been happier. Just one more picture and he can get out of here. A few more seconds and he'll be home free. It'll be fine. He'll be okay.
Then Jimin leans in, pressing himself into Jeongguk’s side, one arm coming up to wrap around Jeongguk’s shoulders while the other hand clutches his waist. All that would be bad enough but Jimin goes the extra mile and presses a feather-light kiss to Jeongguk’s cheek right as the flash goes off, the barest hint of teeth dimpling is skin.
The kiss lasts only a second but it feels like a lifetime, Jeongguk’s whole world spinning out of control then coming to a shuddering stop. He thinks he says something or makes some sort of noise, but he's not sure. He can't hear anything over the pounding of his heart.
Jimin pulls away and reaches over to rip off the strip of pictures. He smiles at Jeongguk and steps out of the booth all nonchalant-like, as if he hadn't just ruined Jeongguk in the best way. Jeongguk takes a moment to gather his bearings and arrange his jacket so it hides the front of his jeans, then follows him out, feeling a little dazed and light on his feet.
"Look how cute you are!" Jimin gushes as Jeongguk steps out from behind the curtain, waving the pictures in his face. Jeongguk goes crossed-eyed looking at them. Immediately, he searches out the bottom picture, zeroing in on the point of contact between Jimin’s lips and his cheek, and the bright, red blush he's sporting.
Jeongguk groans and buries his face in his hands, elbowing Jimin in the side to make him stop giggling.
Jimin, surprisingly, takes mercy on him. "Let's go get some dinner."
-----
The restaurant is not what Jeongguk would’ve preferred. It’s too small, too bright, too out-in-the-open. He wants Jimin to himself, and wishes he could take Jimin to a romantic dinner at a romantic restaurant, where they could share a corner booth. Jeongguk fantasizes about pushing Jimin against the wall and kissing him senseless without anybody seeing. Instead, they're bumping elbows with the patrons on either side of them, but what Jimin wants, Jimin gets.
"What are we going to do after this?" Jimin asks as he shovels meat into his mouth.
Jeongguk pulls a face. "That's gross." He hands a napkin over. "You've got sauce on your chin."
Jimin wipes it away, smiling at Jeongguk sheepishly. "I’m just excited."
Jeongguk hums. "What if I told you we were going home?"
Jimin gives Jeongguk the most unimpressed look he can manage. "You didn't bring me to Japan for shopping and a meal."
Jeongguk hides his smile behind his spoon. "I did not." He falters at the look on Jimin’s face, somehow curious and suspicious all at the same time. "What?"
"Why did you bring me to Japan?"
Jeongguk chokes on his rice. He coughs and taps his chest, trying to clear his airway as Jimin looks on with an amused smile. "Uh, you said you wanted to go."
Jimin shakes his head. "Yeah, but I didn't think it would actually happen. You're not known for gift-giving."
Jeongguk clutches his chest, trying to act hurt. "Wow. I came out here to have a good time and I’m honestly feeling so attacked right now."
Jimin laughs and tries to kick him under the table. Jeongguk twists his body to the side, avoiding it. "I’m just saying, you've been acting kind of weird today."
Jeongguk gives a little shrug, hiding his nervousness with a smirk. "Anybody ever told you to never look a gift horse in the mouth?"
Jimin throws a handful of napkins at him.
-----
Truthfully, Jeongguk hadn't made many plans for this trip. He's kind of just winging it or letting Jimin decide where they go and what they do, figured it’d be the easiest way to ensure Jimin has a good time. So, after they drop their purchases off at the hotel and freshen up, he asks Jimin what he'd like to do next.
"I want to go dancing," Jimin says immediately.
Anything but that, Jeongguk almost says. Don't they do enough of that on the regular? Also, he doesn't know if he can survive a gussied-up Jimin mixed with dark lighting and alcohol. The temptation might be too great to resist. But Jimin looks so excited, and how could he say no to that face?
He lets Jimin dress him then sits still while Jimin fluffs his hair and painstakingly lines his eyes with kohl. Then, Jimin disappears into the bathroom for a good hour, wicked smile disappearing behind the modesty blinds. When he reemerges, Jeongguk almost chokes on his tongue and can't stop himself from giving Jimin the once-over, dragging his eyes down Jimin’s torso and legs and then back up.
"Wow," is all he can say because wow. All he’s going to be able to think about for the rest of the night is Jimin’s fuck-me eyes and the tantalizing peak of his thighs through the rips in the denim of his jeans.
They leave the hotel, Jimin flagging down a taxi in record time, and pile into the backseat. Jimin whispers rapid-fire Japanese into the driver’s ear and sits back, looking at Jeongguk with satisfaction in his eyes. He understands why when they pull up in front of the VIP entrance to one of Tokyo’s most popular nightclubs. Jeongguk groans and sinks back into the seat, questioning his life choices because seriously?
Jimin pays the cabbie and then he's holding Jeongguk’s hand, pulling him out of the taxi and onto the sidewalk. Jeongguk is glad that, like this, they’re not easily recognizable, because even here at the VIP entrance, the line is long. He’s not eager to be caught entering a nightclub, or looking forward to the PR shitstorm that would follow.
"Think we can get in?" Jeongguk asks, mostly hoping Jimin says no and finds them something else to do. But Jimin squares his shoulders and pulls himself to his full height. He marches them to the front of the line, flashing his I.D. and a killer smile faster than Jeongguk can keep up with.
The bouncer looks them over appraisingly then waves them forward, pulling back the velvet rope for them to pass. Jimin walks inside like he owns the place, Jeongguk dragging his feet behind him.
-----
Jeongguk is supposed to be having a good time, is supposed to be relaxing after their hectic and, honestly, hellish comeback promotions. But the club is loud and smells like sweat and alcohol, and the bass is pounding through Jeongguk’s body, and the lights are throwing rainbows in Jimin’s blonde hair, and how is he supposed to relax when Jimin looks like that? Moves like that?
He's also a little pissed off. He didn't pay for this vacation so he could watch Jimin flit and flirt his way through a nightclub. Didn't pay to watch a horde of sweaty bodies rub up against Jimin’s. Didn't pay so strangers could touch Jimin in places only Jeongguk should be allowed to.
He jumps when Jimin appears next to him, plopping down on the stool next to his. "Hi, Gukie!" Jimin crows, clearly drunk already.
"Hi. Having fun?" Jeongguk asks in a way he hopes doesn't sound childish.
"Yes," Jimin says brightly. Then he turns serious, frowning at Jeongguk. "Why aren't you?"
"I am!"
Jimin scoffs. "Bullshit. You're pouting in the corner like a loser." He knocks back the rest of his drink and slams the glass down on the counter. He takes Jeongguk’s hand—he’s been doing that a lot today, and Jeongguk wishes he would stop. It's hard to resist when Jimin’s hand feels so right in his. "Come dance with me."
Jeongguk’s stomach swoops and his heart, the stupid thing, screams yes while his brain, the more rational of the two, comes up with every reason why that's a terrible idea. "That's crazy. Someone will see us."
“It's dark, Gukie. And nobody will care."
"It'll be weird."
"You've slept in my bed almost every night since we moved in together and you're worried about things being weird now?"
"No, hyung." Jeongguk digs his heels in, tries to hold onto the edge of the counter to stop their forward progress, but Jimin is strong and determined and drunk, and he yanks on Jeongguk’s arm, propelling him across the club and into the swarming mass of bodies. They’re shoved together by the press of bodies on either side of theirs, hips brushing hips, and Jeongguk’s heart stops then explodes, every cell in his body suddenly attuned to Jimin and wanting.
He stands there awkwardly as Jimin starts to move, hands hovering above Jimin’s shoulders, itching to touch, but this is so much, too much all at once. and so suddenly, and he thinks he’s going to die.
Jimin leans into him, standing on his toes to whisper into Jeongguk’s ear. "Relax. It's just a little bit of fun."
Jeongguk experiences déjà vu—hadn’t Jimin said that to him earlier? Is he really being that big a stick in the mud? Jimin’s right. It’s just a bit of fun. They're here to have fun. Jeongguk should have fun.
He closes his eyes and breathes out slowly, willing the tension to drain from his muscles. He drops his hands to Jimin’s shoulders, curling them around the bone, thumbs falling to rest on the slopes of Jimin’s clavicles. He caresses Jimin’s skin, just one swipe of his thumb, but it's enough to make Jimin tilt his head back with an appreciative groan, looking up at Jeongguk with something like hunger in his eyes.
Something inside Jeongguk snaps. Maybe it's the alcohol, or the atmosphere, or Jimin himself—whatever it is, it’s heady and hard to resist. He crushes Jimin against him, his thigh slipping between Jimin’s legs. Jimin laughs, his mouth parting around the sound, lips wet and shiny, and Jeongguk almost, almost dips down to kiss him. He stops himself at the last second, lips grazing across Jimin’s temple instead.
Jeongguk picks up the beat easily and grinds with it, working his hips in time with Jimin’s. Jimin winds his arms underneath Jeongguk’s, hooking them around his back to clutch at his shoulder blades, his fingers spasming in time with the music and Jeongguk’s thrusts against him.
It's addicting. The smell of sweat, the feeling of Jimin’s skin underneath his hands, the little breathy moans that slip past Jimin’s lips every time Jeongguk pushes against him. It's filthy and intimate and everything Jeongguk has wanted for a long time. The little voice yelling at him that this is a stupid idea is now only a distant echo, washed away by the waves of want and need and more crashing over Jeongguk.
He spins Jimin around in his arms, pulling him back by the hips. He crouches a little, bending his knees, and sits Jimin in his lap, ass pressed right against his semi and, goddamn, it feels so good. It's much less dancing and more sex, Jeongguk’s hands manipulating Jimin. He goes with it, moving wherever Jeongguk does, his tinkling laughter echoing in Jeongguk’s ears.
He has Jimin right where he wants him, and this time, he can't resist the lure of Jimin’s skin. He dips his head to press his lips to the column of Jimin’s throat, tasting his sweat. Jimin moans and tilts his head back against Jeongguk’s shoulder, hands sliding back and up Jeongguk’s thighs to clutch at his hips, pulling Jeongguk impossibly closer.
"Jimin," Jeongguk whispers. "Jimin, I—”
And just as quickly as it began, it's over, the last seconds of the song winding down in a denouement that's like a bucket of cold water poured over Jeongguk’s head. He pulls back from Jimin with a gasp, his tongue still tingling with the brine of Jimin’s sweat on it, his hands still branded with the heat of Jimin’s skin, his heart still rabbiting in his chest.
Jimin turns to him with a pout pulling at the corners of his mouth. "Is it over so soon?"
"Yeah," Jeongguk chokes out, turning away from Jimin. "I need another drink."
Jimin catches up to him. He’s panting, his hair mussed from where it rubbed against Jeongguk’s shoulder, his skin sweaty and glistening in the club’s lights. He looks like a hot mess. Jeongguk wants to mess him up more. He looks away and walks faster, trying to outrun the memory of what it felt like to hold Jimin in his arms, how he felt pressed against him.
Jimin calls after him: "But you had fun, right?"
"Lots of fun!" Jeongguk shouts over his shoulder. He needs a lot of drinks.
-----
Jeongguk gets Jimin out of the club in relatively one piece. Somewhere along the way, Jimin had lost his jacket and one shoe, but at least he still has his wallet and phone. Jeongguk counts that as a win.
Jimin falls asleep in the taxi, head lolling against the seat and mouth open wide in a snore. When they stop, the cabbie asks Jeongguk if he needs help carrying Jimin upstairs. Jeongguk shakes his head and tips him extra just for being nice.
He pulls Jimin from the back of the taxi and coaxes him to walk. "There you go, hyung. One foot in front of the other. You got it."
It's slow-going, but they get up to their floor eventually. Jeongguk props Jimin against the wall while he fishes in his wallet for the key card, fumbling because he's not sober himself. He drops it and curses, bending down to pick it up. Jimin giggles and pats his butt, cooing, and Jeongguk nearly falls over in his attempt to get away.
Finally, he gets the door open and Jimin through it, kicking it shut behind them. Jimin clings to Jeongguk’s side, tripping over his feet and falling onto one of the beds, almost pulling Jeongguk down on top of him. Jeongguk panics and pulls away quickly, stepping back to put some space between them. He's can't see Jimin sprawled across a bed and flushed without wanting to do something about it.
"Gukie," Jimin whines, making grabby hands at him. "Come cuddle with hyung."
Jeongguk laughs too loudly, clapping his hands over his cheeks to hide his blush, and shakes his head. "Ah, no. Sorry. I feel gross."
Jeongguk turns on his heel and walks into the bathroom, leaving Jimin still whining behind him. It's hard not to turn around and go back to him, feels like pulling teeth, actually, but Jeongguk can't
Taehyung's words bounce around in his head like ping pong balls, laden with judgment and anger and underneath all of that, concern. Do you know what you're doing? Jeongguk thought he did but, in hindsight, he realizes he was being naïve. He thought it would be okay but it's not because, right now, Jimin is drunk and needy and pliant, and Jeongguk is so desperate for him it feels like fire under his skin, and nothing about this is okay.
Jeongguk steps under the showerhead and lets the hot water beat against his sore muscles as he takes his cock in hand with something like shame bubbling in his gut.