Archive of Our Own

“That seat’s taken,” Jeongguk says when some girl he recognized from one of his classes tries to sit next to him. He doesn’t remember her name, Eun maybe, or Sook… or maybe Dae. He really can’t say for sure, and that’s fine, he has no interest in remembering anyway.

“But alpha , where else am I going to sit?” Eun-Sook-Dae looks at him with wide, sad eyes, her cloying vanilla scent becoming stronger as though it would do anything to attract him. He doesn’t like overly sweet scents, and he certainly doesn’t like being called alpha by some random student he can’t even recall the name of.

“Literally anywhere else,” Jeongguk replies, “the options are nearly endless, but a good one would be over there,’ he points to the opposite half of the study hall, far away from him, “I’d start on that side, if I were you.”

The omega, who is small and lithe and pretty, pouts in a way that would probably get her what she wanted if she was talking to any other alpha on campus, but it gets her absolutely nowhere with Jeongguk, who just stares, nonplussed, until she stands with a huff and sashays away, her vanilla scent bitter with rejection. Jeongguk just rolls his eyes and goes back to his notes, only for his nostrils to flare a moment later when he catches a faint whiff of magnolia blossoms.

Immediately his whole demeanor changes, something his other alpha friends have teased him for in the past, “Man, you and Jimin aren’t even dating, but you’re so whipped for him,” or, “He’s not even putting out for you, why do you simp so hard for him?” The first statement hadn’t been worth acknowledging, since Jeongguk knows and is happy with being whipped for his best friend, the second one, however, had earned his friend a growl, because how dare they reduce their relationship down to potential fuck buddies?

His friends stopped teasing him as much after that, but it hasn’t stopped them completely.

Jeongguk really doesn’t care though.

He and Jimin are close, and they have been since he’d first met the younger omega on his orientation day, looking cute and lost but determined to figure out the sprawling campus despite having wandered away from his tour guide. His ashy blond hair was windswept, his lips were pink and glossy, and when Jeongguk had asked him if he was lost, he’d glared, then pouted, then gave a meek little nod.

Jeongguk had been a sophomore at that point, and despite living off campus, he had the layout memorized, so he introduced himself and offered to show Jimin around, and after a moment's hesitation, the omega had nodded, and they had spent the next couple of hours wandering halls and breezeways, talking about nothing in particular all the while.

And when those two hours were drawing to a close and Jimin said he felt comfortable enough to (probably) not get lost, Jeongguk had found himself scrambling to not let the contact dwindle, feeling certain that this was someone he wanted to keep in his life.

“Why don’t we exchange numbers?” He’d asked, “That way if something happens, or even if you just have a question, you can ask me for help?”

Jimin’s eyes had lit up at the offer, and he’d eagerly pulled out his phone, his scent blossoming as he looked up at Jeongguk through his dark lashes, fingers poised over his screen.

He hadn’t truly expected anything special to come of it, but he was hopeful. Then Jimin had reached out on more than one occasion, and Jeongguk had responded each and every time, happy to be of help. A series of chance encounters turned into planned meetups which turned casual acquaintances into fast friends, and the rest, as they say, is history.

“Jeongguk!” Jimin’s voice carries across the hall, earning him a few glares from the scattering of people who are actually trying to work and not just quietly socializing, but he just flashes them a bright, disarming smile and bounces across the room, cheeks a little flushed from the cold November air.

“Where is your jacket?” Jeongguk asks immediately, eyeing the goosebumps that are evident now that Jimin stands in front of him.

“Oh, I forgot it,” Jimin says, ducking his head to hide his embarrassed smile, “I overslept this morning and just ran out the door.”

Jeongguk huffs out a sigh, acting annoyed to cover his (very fond and indulgent) smile, and tugs off his own jacket to drape over Jimin’s shoulders, “Thank you,” Jimin says softly, as he drops his bag and places it on the floor beside their table, wrinkling his nose a little as he sinks into the seat, “wow, whoever sat here last wasn’t having a good day, were they?”

Jeongguk just hums in agreement, he sees no reason to tell Jimin what had happened only moments ago. He has honestly half-forgotten it already, and instead hooks an ankle around Jimin’s chair to tug him closer, until their thighs are pressed together and their shoulders brush as he leans in, “So, what have you got to work on today?” He asks quietly, before filling his lungs with Jimin’s scent, so pleasant and soothing, and waits while Jimin pulls a binder out of his bag.

“Nothing too annoying,” he says as he lays out his work, “aside from an essay on The Cloud Dream of the Nine, and studying for an upcoming test in Contemporary Lit.”

“Hmm,” Jeongguk says, eyeing the battered copy of the novel in question as Jimin sets it on the table, “how did you feel about Scott’s interpretation of its meaning?”

Jimin rolls his eyes, “You mean his opinions about polagamy? I listened to Professor Lee talk about it and have been doing my best to eject it from my brain ever since, who even listens to a man whose name is Elspet, anyway?”

Jeongguk laughs and leans a little closer, needing but not really thinking about how he adores being this close to Jimin, “I think it was a pretty common name in English-speaking countries for a while.”

“Yeah, that might be the case but that doesn’t mean it’s good .” Jimin quips, “Am I still invited back to your place tonight? Tae wants to hang out but I told him I have plans.”

“I can’t get through all those leftovers by myself,” Jeongguk replies, “my mom knows I’m pretty much feeding both of us now, she loaded me down with enough japchae for an army.”

Jimin flashes him a happy grin, “Well, I don’t want her cooking to go to waste, so I guess you’re stuck with me tonight.”

“Oh no,” Jeongguk groans, feigning despair, “what a burden, whatever shall I do?”

Jimin's only response is to laugh and tuck himself a little closer into Jeongguk’s side, the faintest of purrs rumbling out of him as he settles in, “You like taking care of me,” he says, “don’t try to deny it.”

Jeongguk smiles down at Jimin, even though he isn’t looking, “You’re right, I do.”

*✷.*✵*.✷*

That night, they’re curled up on the sofa, some drama that neither of them are paying attention to is playing, and Jimin is mindlessly scenting Jeongguk, half-asleep already and curled up against the alpha, who lets him do as he pleases. He gets like this sometimes—needy and tired and a little whiny, but Jeongguk finds it more endearing than annoying. He has one arm wrapped around his friend, holding him steady as Jimin brushes his nose over his scent gland, but it’s not long before Jimin’s movements grow slow, then stop completely, his face still tucked into the curve of Jeongguk’s neck.

It’s how his roommate, Hoseok, finds them when he comes home.

“Cute,” he says softly, ruffling Jeongguk’s hair as he passes them by, “don’t let him stay like that for too long though, you know how his shoulder is.”

“I know,” Jeongguk says, just as softly, one hand cradling the back of Jimin’s head carefully, “he only just fell asleep.”

“M’not asleep,” Jimin protests, sounding very much out of it, and every word makes his lips brush against Jeongguk’s scent gland, making his wolf stir awake with each touch, “M’ not ,” he says again, even though no one else has said a word.

“Of course you aren’t,” Jeongguk soothes, pressing a kiss to his hair without thinking, and ignoring the raised eyebrow that Hoseok shoots at him, “little prince, should you head home?”

“No,” Jimin whines, pressing himself closer to Jeongguk, even though they’re touching almost everywhere, “don’t wanna.”

Jeongguk chuckles, “Okay, but you still have to wake up enough to get ready for bed,” he waves silently to Hoseok, who waves back and slips past them to pad down the short hallway to his room, then nudges Jimin’s cheek with his nose, only to get a soft groan in response. “ Now , Jimin,” he says a bit more firmly but still so fond, and it’s enough to get a response out of the omega, who goes very still, then heaves himself up after a moment to blink at Jeongguk tiredly.

“There you go,” Jeongguk says encouragingly. “C’mon, I’ll help you get cleaned up.”

A few minutes later and Jimin is curled up in his bed, wearing nothing but his boxers and one of Jeongguk’s shirts, far too big for his frame, and he’s watching as Jeongguk pads around the room and prepares to sleep himself before he grabs Jimin’s phone, “What time do you have to wake up tomorrow?” He asks the omega, who pouts in thought for a moment before replying softly. 

“Seven, first class starts at eight thirty, but I’ll need some time to get back to campus.”

“I’ll give you a ride,” Jeongguk says.

“That helps, but I still won’t have time to go back to the dorm and change, I didn’t bring any clothes with me,” Jimin protests.

“Just wear mine,” Jeongguk sets the alarm on Jimin’s phone for seven anyway, well aware that it will take the omega at least fifteen minutes to get out of bed, then he places it within arms reach and climbs under the covers.

“Your clothes are all so big on me,” Jimin protests sleepily, blinking at Jeongguk as he settles down beside him.

“You’ll look cute,” Jeongguk says, smiling when Jimin yawns, his little hands coming up to hide his mouth, “you always look cute, but you look especially cute in my clothes.”

Jimin blushes all pretty and Jeongguk laughs and then that’s that. Jeongguk turns off the light and slips into bed and lays there in the darkness, tired but content, and after a moment's hesitation, he reaches out and pulls Jimin closer. The omega goes easy, just like he always does, pliant in his arms, the softest of whimpers falling past his lips as he curls up against Jeongguk and falls also into the soft arms of slumber.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jimin wakes slowly, blinking tired eyes at the smooth expanse of tan skin in front of him, the splash of colors that are tattoos, the sweet smell of rain and summer on his tongue and flooding his senses. His wolf is whining, pawing and whimpering for something more than what they already have, but Jimin is sleep-soft and tired, a little lost feeling in the warmth of Jeongguk and very overwhelmed by his scent.

He is quietly, desperately in love with the alpha; he doesn’t let himself dwell on it often, because he knows Jeongguk does not return his feelings, but here, when he is weary and unguarded, his heart and wolf remind him with fierce certainty that there is no other person who could compare or replace Jeongguk.

He lays there, staring and full of longing until he is awake enough to reach for his phone, sees it's not quite seven and that an alarm is set, and slides it back onto the nightstand with a tired smile, determined to spend these last few minutes in his own little slice of heaven.

He's going to smell so strongly of Jeongguk after spending all night like this, but he can smell himself on Jeongguk as well, and that is enough to get his omega to calm down, ceasing its whining now that he and it recalls that they had scented the alpha the night before.

Sadly his time in bed with Jeongguk is coming to an end, and he knows he needs to get up now if he wants to be at class on time, even if there's a good chance his professor won't actually be in the lecture hall on time.

He goes to slide out of bed, but before he can, he feels a large hand curl around his wrist, and Jeongguk's low, rumbling, post-sleep voice asks, "Where are you going, omega?"

Jimin swallows back the whine that wants to slip out of him as soon as Jeongguk speaks, biting his lip and going very still as tired, dark eyes blink up at him, and for a moment he thinks he doesn't see Jeongguk at all, but a wolf looking back at him from the mound of blankets and pillows they'd become buried in over night.

"I have to go to class, Kookie," he whispers, wetting his lips a little because suddenly he feels a little shy and... lost, almost, though that doesn't feel like quite the right word either. Jeongguk's eyes track the movement of his tongue and his grip on Jimin's wrist is so warm and firm and distracting , there's a part of him that wants to let the alpha back down into the covers, class be damned. He could spend all day here, wrapped up in Jeongguk’s embrace, or just waiting, laying about and keeping himself entertained until the alpha returns. The idea alone sends a little shiver down his spine, tempting, enticing, his omega likes the idea more than it should, thinking about how lovely it would be to have Jeongguk come home and find him here, right where he left him that morning.

But then Jeongguk releases him, and he hears the sound of Hoseok's door opening and closing, and the spell is broken, everything coming back into sudden, sharp, disappointing focus.

"Go to class then," Jeongguk says sleepily, the roughness gone, replaced by Jimin's soft, gentle alpha, "I'll see you later."

"Yeah," Jimin whispers, feeling adrift and overwhelmed and in need of something he can’t name, "later."

He pads around the room as quietly as he can, resigned to wearing the same pants he wore yesterday but foregoing the shirt he wore, dropping it in Jeongguk's hamper and going to the closet to pull out one of the massive, cotton tees that the alpha prefers. He'll be drowning in it, but he doesn't mind, and then, because he’d forgotten to grab a jacket yesterday, he also snatches up the same letterman Jeongguk had draped over his shoulders the day before.

“Morning, Min,” Hoseok says quietly as Jimin walks into the kitchen, “coffee if you want it, and feel free to use anything in the bathroom if you need it to get ready, that bed head is spectacular though, maybe submit yourself to a museum, because that’s a work of art.”

“Politely, fuck you,” Jimin replies softly, but he’s still smiling a little because Hoseok is sweet and gentle with his humor, one of the kindest people he’s ever met, and like Jeongguk, he’s not overbearing with his alpha behavior. He pours himself a cup of coffee and takes it with him into the bathroom, sipping it as he goes about his morning routine. He’s crashed here enough to have most of what he needs to get ready, and anything he’s missing he borrows from Hoseok. Once he’s done, he washes his empty coffee cup, brushes his teeth, and slips back into Jeongguk’s room to say goodbye.

The alpha is sprawled on his back, taking up the vast majority of the bed now that he’s alone, but he has the pillow Jimin was using hugged to his chest and he’s frowning in his sleep, like he’s missing something but doesn’t quite know what it is. Jimin watches him fondly for a moment before tip-toeing close enough to bend down and press a kiss to Jeongguk’s cheek, before scenting him lightly, only a few moments worth of touch, but enough to leave the lingering scent of magnolia on Jeongguk’s skin. He pulls away with a smile and a final gentle brush of his fingers over Jeongguk’s scent gland. The frown melts away to be replaced by calm, and Jimin lets out the softest of laughs, too enamored with his friend then could possibly be good for him, but right now it’s fine, right now it doesn’t hurt.

“Have a good day, Kookie,” he whispers, before slipping out the door to face the world.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

“You absolutely reek,” is the first thing Taehyung says to him.

“Mmhmm,” Jimin replies around a mouthful of muffin.

“Like, positively stink,” Tae continues, “of big, stupid, alpha.”

Jimin swallows his bite and flashes his friend a peace sign, “I know.”

“And it’s gross,” Taehyung concludes, “I hate it and I hate you.”

“You love me,” Jimin replies as he tears off another piece of muffin with delicate fingers, “I’m small and cute and precious.”

“That may be true, but what I don’t get,” Taehyung says as he slouches into his seat and drinks his tea and scowls, “is that you two aren’t even dating… but you are ? But also you aren’t , and it’s weird, why not just date?”

Jimin’s smile fades and he sighs, because he’s been waiting for Jeongguk to do something… more than what he has for over a year now, but the alpha is nothing if not consistent in his behavior. Soft, yes, caring, absolutely, but there’s never anything more to it, “I think…” he says carefully, doing his best to keep his tone carefree and light, “that Jeongguk sees me as his cute little dongsaeng who he needs to protect and cherish and that’s it… there is nothing else.”

Taehyung stares at him, a dusting of cinnamon sugar on his lips from his own muffin and a look of disbelief in his eyes, “You actually believe that, don’t you?” He asks.

Jimin vindictively shoves another piece of muffin in his mouth and glares at his friend, “Got anything to prove me wrong?”

Tae shakes his head, “I mean, he does everything he can for you, no matter how inconvenient it is, up to and including that one time he drove to Busan to bring you home because your car broke down, never mind that you could have taken the train. Not to mention how he’s chronically single despite absolutely being hot enough to pull anyone he wants.” 

Jimin ignores his wolf, which snarls (albeit sleepily) at Taehyung’s comment and says instead, “I’m sure he will, once someone catches his eye,” he sinks a little deeper into Jeongguk’s jacket and noses the collar, letting the alphas sweet rain and summer smell comfort him. He might not be able to have all of Jeongguk, but he has more of him than anyone else, and Jimin doesn’t let himself want more than that. He knows in Jeongguk’s eyes he’s probably just his sweet, innocent omega best friend, and while it’s not what Jimin wants , it’s what he has, and he’s not about to throw it away out of a desire for more.

“So, you going to the party this Friday? I thought I’d change the subject so that I don’t have to listen to your weird lack of confidence and self-awareness about how attractive you are,” Taehyung continues around a mouthful of muffin. “It’s not supposed to be anything too crazy, I think Joon is throwing it? And you know how he likes to keep his parties low key.”

"If it's at his house then, yeah, I'll probably go," Jimin says. He likes smaller, quieter parties than some of the ones people throw around campus.

"You gonna invite Jeongguk?" Tae asks.

"I mean, it's not really my place to..." Jimin replies, "but he's come to all the other ones, so I imagine he'll be at this one too."

"That's good," Taehyung says, "wouldn't want you to go unchaperoned to one of these things, who knows—another alpha might see you and decide you're the omega for him."

Jimin rolls his eyes, but for the rest of the day he can't get his friend's words out of his head. He knows he and Jeongguk have been teetering on the edge of... something for quite awhile. They aren't boyfriends, yet the skinship they share goes far past platonic. But it never goes beyond that, and Jimin isn't sure how much more obvious he has to be if he wants Jeongguk to make a move.

He's resigned himself to their friendship never becoming a relationship, and while it's not enough, it's better than nothing.

Maybe someday, he soothes his tired and dejected wolf, maybe someday our alpha will finally see us as something more than a friend.

But maybe Jimin should stop holding his breath, because living on maybes is not truly living at all.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

His last class ends early, which leaves Jimin at loose ends before his next one. He wanders out to the soccer field and settles in the bleachers, not too far from a pile of abandoned jerseys and water bottles. Jeongguk is practicing with his teammates, racing across the field at top speed. The star forward, Jeongguk has already been scouted by various minor league teams, but his true passion is with his major, which is film and cinematography.

Jimin props his chin on his palm and watches the alpha as he tears across the field, his oversized tank top doing almost nothing to hide his sweaty, flexing muscles. Jimin flushes a little at the sight, unable to keep his thoughts from straying towards what it would feel like to run his hands down that chest, those abs, to lick the sweat as it drips from the hollows of his collarbones, to run his tongue up the strong column of his neck, to have those hands grab him, touch him, push him down on the bed and…

Just as he begins to truly lose himself in those fantasies, Jeongguk looks up and spots him. He's breathing hard, an intense look in his eyes when he sees Jimin, and the omega feels pinned in place, barely able to breathe himself as he stares back. It’s like he’s trapped, held in place as Jeongguk shakes his black curls from his eyes and flashes him a cocky grin.

Jimin has to bite his lip to hold back his whimper, the wolf in him wanting nothing more than to bare its neck and submit, but this is neither the time, nor the place, and at the end of the day Jeongguk is not truly his alpha.

Jimin can't handle this, can't handle the way his whole body flushes with want, the way his wolf whines and cries inside him, nor can he stop the way his scent spikes or the way he begins to leak slick.

He tears his gaze away from Jeongguk, so mortified that he doesn't even notice the concerned look in his eyes or how he starts walking towards the bleachers, apparently worried. Jimin can't stay here, can't deal with his friend getting any closer, reeking of sweat and pheromones and alpha, so he does what any sane person would do.

He gets up and he runs, deaf to the sound of Jeongguk calling after him, and blind to the confused looks the rest of the team send his way.

He needs to get out of here before he embarrasses himself.

He needs to get away from Jeongguk.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jeongguk frowns as he watches Jimin flee the bleachers, practically sprinting as he flies in the opposite direction. His wolf snarls and growls inside of him, egging him on to give chase, to run after the omega, to pursue him, to hunt him, to bit and to cla—

"Oh man, never thought I'd live to see the day an omega runs away from you ," his friend, Mingyu interrupts the silent urges the alpha is fighting, "especially that one. He's typically falling all over himself when he sees you." He slaps Jeongguk on the back and grins, "Why'd you have to scare him off like that, anyway? I didn't even get a chance to flirt with him before he was running."

"Flirt?" Jeongguk's wolf is immediately on alert, like Jimin is his omega and no one else is allowed anywhere near him, but that’s not the case, is it? Sure, Jimin is his friend, and he cares about him a great deal, but that doesn’t mean he thinks of him as his, that doesn’t mean he has any reason to be jealous or possessive… right?

“Yeah, flirt… you know, that thing you do when you’re interested in someone?” Mingyu raises an eyebrow and goes to snatch up his water bottle, “That thing omegas do to you before you shut them down because you’re way too wrapped up in whatever platonic thing you have going on with Jimin,” Mingyu winks and takes a drink of water before finishing, “there’s a lot of alphas out there who would kill to have what you have… and more… just saying.”

He jogs back onto the field without another word, leaving Jeongguk standing there with an annoyed wolf and still no understanding as to why Jimin fled at the sight of him. His coach calls him back to the field a moment later, but he’s distracted for the rest of practice, thinking about how the omega was surely there to watch him, so what made him run away as soon as Jeongguk approached? His wolf still wants to track him down, and Jeongguk agrees, if only to make sure Jimin is okay, but practice runs late and he has a class to attend not too long after and before he knows it, it’s night and he’s exhausted and hungry, and all he wants to do is go home.

Instead he texts Jimin.

Or at least he sits down with his phone with the intention of texting him, then spends fifteen minutes debating on what to even type. Part of him wants to be blunt and ask why Jimin ran away from him, another part wants to take a more passive approach and just ask if he’s okay. Eventually his own indecisiveness annoys him so much that he tosses his phone aside and sinks into bed, groaning and covering his eyes with one arm.

He really doesn't understand what's going on, can't imagine a reason for Jimin to run from him, and the more he thinks about it, the more it bothers him.

He gets out of bed with a sigh and grabs his keys, phone, and jacket, too restless to sleep or do anything except head back to campus and search for Jimin. He thinks he should be alone tonight, familiar enough with his friend to know his schedule, so he'll have the omega all to himself to figure out whatever it was that happened.

He gets to the dorm in record time, but when he gets to the door, the lights are off, no lamp light visible in the cracks of the frame, and when he knocks he gets no reply.

With a resigned sigh he gets up and grabs his phone to text Jimin a quick, "Hey Jimin, where are you?"

It takes a couple minutes for him to get a response, but after what feels like an eternity, three little dots appear, disappear, then reappear again.

[Little Prince👑]:

I'm at Tae's

That's it, that's the text, nothing else for a whole minute before he gets a follow up.

[Little Prince👑]:

Why?

He scowls a little at that, but it's not as though Jimin is a mind reader, so he replies, "I was worried after you ran away earlier, are you feeling okay?"

Another long wait then—

[Little Prince👑]:

Hiii Kookie! I was in the kitchen, that was Tae replying

I'm OK, I promise, I just forgot something in my last class and had to run back to get it

Thank you for checking in on me though!

That feels more like Jimin, and the tension Jeongguk didn’t even realize he was carrying bleeds out of him, and he leans a shoulder against the door, smiling unconsciously at his phone as he replies.

[Me]:

Oh OK

That makes me feel better

The way Tae was responding made me think you were angry at me

[Little Prince👑]:

I’m not, don’t worry

He’s just really bad at tone in his texts 🙄

Are you okay? I didn’t think we were supposed to meet up tonight?

Oh wait, did I forget!? I’m so sorry! 😬

Jeongguk grimaces, a little embarrassed by his impulsive choice to just… show up at Jimin’s dorm. He’s getting a few curious glances as he stands there, but it’s not like he isn’t allowed, the dorms have an open door policy to any attending students or designated visitors, and there’s no curfew that says he has to leave at a specific time, so he hunches his shoulders and turns his attention back to his phone after shooting a glare at an omega who lingers a little too close for his liking. He scurries away with a sheepish smile a moment later, and Jeongguk returns his attention to his phone.

[Me]:

We weren’t, I was just worried so I thought I’d come check on you

[Little Prince👑]:

That’s really sweet Kookie, but I promise I’m fine 🥰

[Me]:

Good

That’s good

Well I guess I better go

I’ll see you tomorrow? Do you want to meet up for coffee somewhere?

There’s a long pause before Jimin actually responds, and it’s taking all of Jeongguk’s self-control not to start asking random passersby which room belongs to Taehyung, because surely it’s the other omegas fault that he isn’t getting quick replies, and it’s absolutely Tae’s fault that he isn’t getting to spend the rest of the night with Jimin like he had wanted.

[Little Prince👑]:

I’m sorry but I’ve got plans already 😟

But are you thinking about going to Namjoon’s party?

Jeongguk doesn’t acknowledge the disappointment he feels about being turned down and instead focuses on the second text, typing out a quick response.

[Me]:

If you’re going I’ll be there

[Little Prince👑]:

Cool! I’ll see you then!

Though honestly probably before

Haha

Have a good night! 🥰

[Me]:

You too

[Little Prince👑]:

💗💖💗💗💖💗

Jeongguk smiles at the array of hearts and locks his phone after that, determined to end the conversation and the strange feeling of need he has when he thinks about Jimin, somewhere in the building, and yet still out of reach.

He’ll see him soon and they can talk, and maybe Jeongguk will understand why Jimin ran away.

And why his wolf wanted him to give chase.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jimin sighs as he sets his things down on a corner table of an on campus coffee shop, blinking a little at the glaring reflection of sunlight as it shines through the window in front of him. He sinks down with his back to the light and pulls out one of his assignments, intending to go over it a final time while waiting for Eunwoo to arrive.

He doesn’t really know his classmate all that well, but they’ve been assigned as partners for a project and agreed to meet up today to divide the workload and figure out a schedule that would work for them both. They’d exchanged numbers after being assigned as partners and agreed to meet up here at nine AM sharp.

It’s a few minutes past nine and he’s just getting into his reading when the sound of a chair being pulled out alerts him to the arrival of his partner, he looks up, and is completely caught off guard. He thought he’d remembered Eunwoo’s face, but apparently he was wrong, because there is a literal god standing in front of him right now, one of those heavenly beings that are described in danmei novels, or an elf straight from Middle Earth here to bestow upon Jimin several strands of his hair before disappearing across the sea forever.

He blinks and subconsciously shakes himself, cutting off the stream of analogies before they can get any stranger.

“Hi, Jimin?” Eunwoo says with a little bow as Jimin rises and returns it, “Sorry I’m late.”

He smiles and it’s honestly adorable, a little shy and soft, and his coffee scent mingles well with their surroundings. Jimin glances at his phone and offers a smile of his own, “Not too late, honestly, six minutes is nothing.”

“Ah, maybe,” Eunwoo says as he ducks his head in an embarrassed bow, “but I was hoping to make a better impression than that, since it’s our first time officially meeting up.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Jimin says honestly, “I’m pretty bad about being punctual too.”

He’s actually not, as evidenced by how he’d shown up to the cafe earlier than he needed to, but that’s not important, and he doesn’t want Eunwoo to think he’s an asshole who’s going to be hard to work with. So he waves away the lateness and instead pulls out the syllabus their professor had handed out the day before, detailing all the steps of the projects and outlining what the final result needed to contain. They spend an easy hour going over it, drinking coffee and trading ideas. Eunwoo is kind and funny and obviously intelligent, and whatever nerves Jimin had about working with him slowly fade away to nothing, and he finds himself actually enjoying the others company, which is why he doesn’t protest when the alpha asks if Jimin wants to stay for another hour, just to study and get to know each other a little better.

“Sure, I don’t have anywhere to be this morning,” Jimin says, and can’t help but smile back at Eunwoo when he gives Jimin a delighted grin and hops up excitedly.

“Okay! Let me get us some food then, I didn’t mention it but the reason I was late was because I overslept and I haven’t actually eaten yet.” Jimin goes to protest, but Eunwoo cuts him off, “Please allow me to, hyung!”

Jimin blinks, “Oh, am I your hyung?” He points towards himself like Eunwoo could be talking to someone else, but the alpha just laughs and nods.

“Yes, is it okay if I call you that?”

“Yeah, yes—of course it’s fine,” Jimin says, feeling more than a little flustered by the others' enthusiasm.

“Okay, what would you like, then?” Eunwoo stands and grabs Jimin and his empty cups, “Nothing here is too expensive, so please feel free to pick out anything.”

Jimin thinks for a moment then gives Eunwoo his order, watching with a little smile as the other man rushes over the counter, his scent giving away how happy he is, and Jimin can’t help but think that he’s very, very cute, adorable even.

“Jimin?” He’s pulled out of his thoughts by a quiet, deep voice and looks up in surprise to find Jeongguk standing next to him, looking confused but happy.

“Oh! Hi Kookie!” Jimin smiles before the joy at seeing his best friend is replaced by mortification as he recalls the day before. His brain short circuits for a moment as he struggles with something to say, embarrassment doubling when Jeongguk pulls out a chair and sits down.

“What are you up to?” The alpha asks as he leans into Jimin’s space, apparently oblivious to the mess of papers on the table, which isn’t surprising, considering he hasn’t looked away for even a moment. His wide eyes are so dark and bottomless, a well Jimin feels like he could happily fall into, but before he can become lost in those depths, he’s pulled from the shadows by Eunwoo.

“Okay I’m back! They only had two left of the cinnamon twists, so I went ahead and got you both, I hope that’s okay—oh, hi! Jeongguk, right?” Eunwoo is all puppy-like enthusiasm as he sets Jimin’s order down in front of him and then his own. He sinks back into his seat with a grin, apparently oblivious to the faint souring of the other alpha’s scent.

“I couldn’t decide what to get for myself,” he continues, “so I got a few different things—do you like strawberries, hyung?” He holds up a little cookie, all dusted with sugar and with a dollop of bright red jam on top. Jeongguk makes a faint, strangled sound when Eunwoo says the word “hyung”, like it pains him to hear it, and Jimin has a fleeting, wild thought of what it would be like to be Jeongguk’s hyung, but he disregards it immediately.

He likes being younger than Jeongguk, it makes him feel safer, somehow, smaller in a way that he enjoys. He can’t really imagine a world where he doesn’t call Jeongguk his hyung, where he is the older one having to take responsibility for everything. He likes it when Jeongguk is in control, it makes him feel protected, secure, quiet.

He blinks out of his thoughts to realize that Eunwoo is offering him a cookie, holding it in front of Jimin’s lips, and he’s just about to mindlessly take a bite when he hears a low, warning growl. It’s barely there, so quiet that were Jimin a little bit further away, he wouldn’t have heard a thing.

But he did , and when he glances at Jeongguk, he sees just the faintest hint of scarlet buried deep in their honey-brown depths, and it gives him pause, but then he remembers what he’d talked about with Taehyung, how he needed to move on from his crush on his best friend, how he needed to give other alphas a chance.

But his omega is inside of him, alert and on edge, telling him to not accept food from anyone who isn’t their alpha, as if they have an alpha at all. His hand twitches a little where it rests on his lap, because the thing is that he doesn’t want to give other alphas a chance, and he also feels like if he takes food from Eunwoo like he is offering, he will end up hurting Jeongguk, and he never wants to hurt Jeongguk, ever.

So he reaches over and takes the cookie by hand, biting into it with a little laugh as crumbs scatter across the table.

“Is it good?” Eunwoo asks, and he looks so eager and oblivious to Jeongguk’s annoyance that Jimin can’t help but smile and nod.

“Yes, it’s very good, thank you,” he replies after he swallows his bite.

“Take the rest then,” Eunwoo offers, “like I said, I got a bunch of things, since I didn’t know what I wanted.”

Jeongguk snorts quietly and leans forward, invading Jimin’s space and partially blocking him from Eunwoo’s line of sight, “Are you still planning to go to the party?” He asks, and Jimin blinks, caught off guard by the randomness of it. Hadn’t they spoken about it the night before, why would he have changed his mind already?

“Yes,” he says after he swallows, “I think if I backed out now, Taehyung would disown me,” he laughs lightly but then Jeongguk’s eyes darken slightly.

“He doesn’t own you,” he murmurs, and what the hell is going on with him today? Or with Jimin for that matter, why is his wolf and body reacting so strongly to Jeongguk, his omega whining a little and telling him to bare his neck, even though there’s no reason for him to submit.

“Oh, do you mean Namjoon’s party?” Eunwoo asks, still oblivious to whatever it is that’s happening on the other side of the table, “I got invited too, are they really as good as everyone says?”

Jimin takes his unwitting offer of escape, leaning around Jeongguk to get a better look at the other alpha when he replies, “It depends on what you want out of a college party, it’s not some frat boy-fueled kegger where everyone pours their liquor into a giant bowl and you hope you don’t wake up the next day in jail or the hospital. Joon’s parties are quieter, usually less than thirty people, and the only alcohol that gets mixed is for cocktails.”

“Ah, that sounds really nice, actually,” Eunwoo says, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, “I haven’t been to any of the crazier parties yet, I guess I was a little too intimidated?” He chuckles shyly and nods to himself, “But if it’s really like what you described, then maybe I’ll go to this one, especially now that I’ll have someone I know there.”

Jimin smiles, “I don’t think you’ll regret it, Joon is really nice and he’s strict about the invite list, so no one will crash his place or anything.”

“Do you need a ride?” Eunwoo offers, “I’m just asking because I heard you mention earlier that you don’t have a car and I do, so may—”

“I’m giving him a ride,” Jeongguk interrupts, and both Jimin and Eunwoo blink in surprise, Jimin because this is the first he’s heard of it, and Eunwoo because he seems to finally be noticing that Jeongguk looks annoyed.

“Oh, that’s cool then,” the alpha says carefully, “I’ll see you guys there, I guess.” His phone buzzes suddenly, and he glances down at it, only for his eyes to widen, “I guess I’m cursed to be late all day today,” he groans as he starts shoving his things into his bag. “I’m really sorry hyung, I have to get going.”

“It’s fine,” Jimin says, only for Jeongguk to say the same thing at the exact same time, though he sounds much less friendly about it than Jimin. The omega throws his friend a confused look and is met with a blank stare, so he looks back at Eunwoo and offers him a smile, “we’d planned to only meet for an hour or so, after all, and that was…” he checks his own phone, “almost three hours ago.”

Eunwoo laughs, and it’s a silly, pretty sound, “Yeah, I guess time got away from us. Do you want to meet up here again in a couple days, and we’ll compare where we are?”

Jimin nods, and Eunwoo grins, “Okay, hyung, it was really nice getting to know you, I’m glad the professor paired us together. I’ll see you around!” He waves and bows and then seems to remember that Jeongguk is there as well, “Nice to meet you, too, Jeongguk. I guess I’ll see you at Namjoon’s?”

Jeongguk nods but doesn’t say a word, and Eunwoo is left to awkwardly wave and bow again before taking off through the cafe door.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jeongguk decides as the clattering of the bell that hangs above the cafe door fades, that he does not like Cha Eunwoo.

His wolf is in complete agreement with him, having found the other alpha uppity, over eager, and annoyingly chipper, like a pup trying to play at being an adult. He found his scent aggravating and his familiarity with Jimin even more so. How is it that they just met today, but he’s already calling Jimin “hyung” and offering to give him rides to parties, never mind buying him food and hand-feeding him cookies, isn’t that rude? Audacious even, to assume such familiarity after spending only three (three?) hours together.

No, he does not like Cha Eunwoo at all.

“Oh, he was in such a rush he didn’t take any of the things he’d bought,” Jimin’s quiet observation pulls Jeongguk out of his brooding, and he watches as the omega stands and walks over to the counter to ask for a to-go container. He looks pretty and soft today, wearing a burnt orange sweater and skinny jeans, a pair of hightops on his feet that have seen better days, but are cute on him regardless. Jeongguk watches, distracted by his internal tirade against uppity young alphas by the way Jimin’s fingers brush the hair from his eyes, from the way he glances in Jeongguk’s direction and bites his plush lower lip, the way his little pink tongue darts over it to leave it shining and wet.

Jeongguk straightens up abruptly, caught off guard by his train of thought, because since when does he notice these things about Jimin? Not once has he thought of him as more than a friend, so why is he starting to notice these things now ?

Except that’s not the case, his wolf tells him so, he’s always known Jimin was beautiful, just like he always knew that he was an omega. He’d just been so busy taking care of Jimin that he hadn’t let himself dwell on anything else about the other man. Now it seems to be all he can think about, and it makes him feel odd.

Jimin comes back with his box and begins to gather all of Eunwoo’s food, carefully picking up each piece with a napkin covered hand, “What are you doing after this?” Jeongguk asks, “I know you said you weren’t free this morning…”

“But you found me anyway,” Jimin replies, looking up through his dark lashes to smile at Jeongguk.

The look alone makes his wolf take notice, but Jeongguk isn’t used to these feelings, so he does his best to ignore them and his wolf, “I was walking by and saw you,” he says, “you looked like you were alone, so I came in to say hi.”

“You wouldn’t have if I’d been with someone?” Jimin asks, cocking his head to the side cutely.

Jeongguk shrugs, because he doesn’t want to say what he was thinking—that if he’d seen Jimin in here with Eunwoo he would have absolutely come inside to check on the omega, but if he’d been here with someone like Taehyung, he probably would have left the two alone and texted Jimin about it later, “It doesn’t matter,” he says gruffly, deciding to change the subject because he’s at a loss for how to deal with everything he’s feeling. “What time do you want me to pick you up for the party?”

Jimin closes the lid of the to-go container and sets it aside, but he keeps his eyes trained on the table as he replies, “I don’t want to be a burden,” and he’s talking so quietly, almost whispering and it’s hard for Jeongguk to hear him over the chatter and clatter of the busy cafe, “If you want I can text Eunwoo back and tell hi—”

“Jimin,” Jeongguk interrupts firmly, and though Jimin doesn’t look up, he notices the way his eyes widen slightly, the way his scent seems to grow faintly sweeter just at the sound of Jeongguk saying his name, and that pleases him and his wolf a great deal, so he says it again, just to see if it works a second time, “Jimin,” voice deeper, quieter, but he’s closer now so he knows that the omega hears him, “if you are a burden, it’s one I’ll always accept, happily, so don’t worry about it, okay?” Jimin doesn’t respond right away, so Jeongguk reaches out without thinking and rests a gentle hand on the omega’s cheek, turning him so they are eye to eye. “Okay?” he asks again, more firmly this time.

Jimin’s wide eyes grow a little heavy-lidded, and he seems to relax slightly as they stare at each other, “Okay,” he whispers.

“Now, say thank you, hyung,” Jeongguk says quietly, not at all sure what is happening.

“Thank you, hyung,” Jimin replies obediently.

And it does things to Jeongguk, things he doesn’t have time to dwell on because his phone dings with a reminder that his next class is in ten minutes and he needs to get going. Slowly, reluctantly, he lets his hand fall away from Jimin’s cheek, but as it does, the tips of his fingers brush over his lips and he can’t seem to stop himself from whispering, “Good boy,” before he’s standing up and leaving.

“Text me when you get back to your dorm tonight,” he says as he grabs his bag, “let me know you got home safe, okay?”

Jimin nods, still looking a little lost, but Jeongguk doesn’t have time to linger on the dazed look in his eyes or the way his alpha is standing tall and alert within him.

He has a class to get to, after all.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

“Jeongguk… Do you think that you have a crush on Jimin?” Hoseok asks later that night. They’re sprawled on opposite ends of the sofa, some sitcom on that neither of them are paying attention to, and Jeongguk has just spent the last few minutes going into excessive detail about his morning, the insufferable alpha that is Cha Eunwoo, and the perfect omega that is his best friend.

“A crush?” He asks incredulously, “What are we, twelve?”

“Shut up, crushes can happen at any age, you absolute ass,” Hoseok fishes the remote out from the couch cushions and throws it at Jeongguk’s head, but the other alpha just catches it easily and sets it aside, his thoughts spiraling a little as he considers Hobi’s words, does he have a crush on Jimin? Had the change come on so gradually that he hadn’t noticed when his fondness for the omega had begun to shift into something more? And if that was the case, what was he supposed to do with that information?

He goes to bed shortly after, too caught up in his thoughts to pay attention to the television or listen to Hoseok ramble about his job and his girlfriend. He strips down to his briefs and sinks into bed, only to have his phone light up a few moments later, the buzz of a notification loud in the otherwise quiet room. He picks it up and sees it’s from Jimin, a simple “Goodnight, Kookie!” That has no reason to make him happy, but it does, and he doesn’t know what to do with that information either, so he sets the phone aside and closes his eyes, desperate to forget everything for a few short hours.

Except that doesn’t sit right with him either, so he grabs the phone and replies, because apparently self control is for other people.

Goodnight Mini

It’s simple, nothing out of the ordinary, but that’s because he’s holding back a dozen sentiments that want to spill out of him like fireworks across the sky— sleep well, sweet dreams, I miss you, I can’t wait to see you again , he says none of those things, but he thinks them as he stares at the glaring white of his screen and imagines Jimin sinking into his bed, soft and warm and sleepy, and wishes he was there to hold him until he finally falls asleep.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

He wakes the next morning to a bright and cloudless sky, the sun glaring down at him through his window like an accusation. He groans and rolls over, face buried in the pillow, which he realizes a moment later smells exactly like Jimin. Of course it does, the omega had slept in his bed only a couple nights ago, small and pretty and delicate, hair arrayed around his head like a crown of gold, cheeks all flush and body sleep-warm. Jeongguk thinks about this and slowly becomes aware of another, growing problem, this time between his legs.

He rolls over and fists himself without really thinking about it, determined to deal with this and get on with his day, but the images his mind starts to conjure are not ones he’s used to, because he keeps thinking of Jimin, beautiful and stretched out in his bed like he has been a hundred times before, but this time he’s naked, giving him that half-lidded stare he did at the coffee shop, the way his voice had changed when Jeongguk had prompted him to speak, the way his scent had spiked and sweetened.

He groans softly, hand moving unconsciously now on his fully erect cock, thumb swiping over the tip to gather the precum pearling there, and thinking about Jimin’s soft, inviting lips wrapped around his length, the way his tongue would be pressed to the underside of it, the way he would whimper and moan as Jeongguk grabbed his hair and fucked into his mouth. He thinks about Jimin getting wet from having cock in his mouth—Jeongguk’s cock in his mouth, how the sweet scent of his slick and arousal would fill the air until it seemed like they were drowning in magnolia blossoms, how the omega’s skin would be just as soft as the flowers he smelled like, how delicate and easy to bruise it would be when Jeongguk got tired of his mouth and decided he wanted something more.

He comes a moment later, head full of images of Jimin on his knees, looking back over his shoulder with his lips all red and swollen from sucking cock, cheeks stained with tears of pleasure, breathless and trembling as Jeongguk fucked him. His orgasm leaves him shaking, and he lays there for a moment lost in the aftershocks of pleasure, all those images of Jimin that his mind had conjured still swimming through his thoughts.

He closes his eyes and heaves a sigh, because he has a feeling he’s not going to stop thinking about Jimin like this any time soon.

His suspicions are confirmed when he is walking across campus later that day, and sees Jimin sitting on a stretch of lawn. There’s a couple of girls with him, people Jeongguk recognizes by sight but doesn’t know by name, and Jeongguk doesn’t intend to walk over to them, but it’s like he’s no longer in control of his body, and before he truly processes it he’s crossing the lawn with the intention to say… something to Jimin, anything, maybe just talking to the omega will get this persistent itch out from under his skin.

But before he’s even half way to his destination, he sees someone else walking over to Jimin, someone tall, handsome, and distinctly Eunwoo.

His wolf bristles inside of him, angry and on alert, and he doesn’t know why—he’s never had a problem with another alpha talking to Jimin, has never been upset or annoyed about Jimin spending time with different people, so what is the deal with Eunwoo, why does it make him and his wolf so territorial and angry? He stands there, unseeing and at war with himself, and in those few seconds of hesitation he misses his chance, when he looks back to the spot on the lawn, Jimin is gone—walking away with Eunwoo by his side.

It takes only a moment for his brain to catch up with what's happening, and then he's off, long legs closing the distance between him and Jimin but his thoughts left behind. He's more driven by instinct than anything, his wolf urging him to get to the omega, to stop this other alpha from claiming him. Which is ridiculous, but apparently that is just where Jeongguk is in his life.

He almost draws even with them but realizes a moment before that he doesn't have any reason to interrupt their conversation, all they're doing is talking about the assignment they've been assigned. Nothing strange, nothing that should make Jeongguk feel so... possessive, but he does, he does.

He's keeping pace a few steps back from them, battling with logic and instinct and trying not to make a fool out of himself while he does it, when Jimin turns around and looks directly at him. He blinks, then smiles, though it falters a little around the edges, and Jeongguk hates it.

But now that Jimin has seen him, he feels like it would be even more awkward to not acknowledge each other, so he surges forward and inserts himself on the opposite side of Jimin, and without asking, gently takes the bag from Jimin's shoulder and puts it on his own.

"Oh! Hi, Jeongguk… thank you!" Jimin says, and it's subtle, achingly so, but his scent gets slightly sweeter, slightly stronger, and makes Jeongguk want to growl with pleasure, no matter how small the shift is. We did that, his wolf says, and Jeongguk wants to roll his eyes, but he also wants to agree.

Eunwoo hadn't thought to take his bag... probably, and even if he had, Jeongguk got to it sooner.

He shouldn’t take as much pleasure from that as he does, but whatever.

"No problem," he says softly, and it's not intentional, but the backs of their hands brush over each other and it sends electric currents through his blood. He wants to reach out, to tangle their hands together, to hold on and never, ever let go.

He really needs to do something about this.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jimin wants to run away, drop out of college, and possibly drop off the face of the universe all together, because surely things could not be any more awkward than they are right now.

On his left is Eunwoo, who is chatty and friendly and seems to be doing his level best to not let the tension from Jeongguk's arrival dampen his spirits. He talks to Jimin about his classes, asks him questions about his professors, and even goes so far as to try and include Jeongguk, but the other alpha is his perfect opposite, silent except for the occasional terse response, walking so close to Jimin that they keep accidentally touching each other, and smelling more than a little annoyed.

Jimin wishes he understood anything that was happening to him right now.

He's always had a little trouble with alphas outside of his friends circle, if only because he's on the shy side and as Taehyung has pointed out in the past, a lot of people assume there was something going on between him and Jeongguk. Since Jimin had wanted something to be going on with him and the alpha, he'd never truly addressed any assumptions, and had instead let people think what they wanted, since it never affected him either way.

But now here he is, literally caught between two alphas—handsome, tall, charming Eunwoo seemingly doing his level best to flirt, and Jeongguk, who is also handsome, tall, and charming when he wants to be—which apparently isn’t right now. Things go from bad to worse once they make it to the library, where Jimin wrongly assumes Jeongguk will take his leave. Instead he follows them right in, waits for Jimin to pick a table, and sits down at it.

“I have to study, I hope you don’t mind,” he says to Jimin, who glances at Eunwoo uncertainly. The other alpha just gives a half-hearted smile and a shrug, so Jimin holds in a sigh and sinks into a seat with Eunwoo across from him and Jeongguk at his side. Things go smoothly enough at first, Jimin goes over what research he’s done and the parts of the project he’s started and then it’s Eunwoo’s turn to share… and that’s when things turn south.

Jeongguk starts making little sounds, sighs and snarky little snorts that are quiet enough for only Jimin to hear, and he really doesn’t know what to do, so like most of his problems, he chooses to ignore it. It’s a painfully slow hour and a half, at least for him, who at one point ends up with Jeongguk’s thigh pressed against his right leg, and Eunwoo’s ankle touching his on his left. He’s not even sure if either alpha realizes what’s happening, but it would make sense if they didn’t.

He doesn’t understand what’s gotten into Jeongguk—who has never had a problem with him spending time with anyone, let alone another alpha. Jimin has long ago accepted that his crush on his friend is unrequited, and he gets that—Jeongguk could have his pick of boyfriends (or girlfriends), if that was what he wanted, so why would he settle for someone like Jimin?

But right now, it certainly seems like Jeongguk is jealous, and Jimin really doesn’t know what to do with that information.

“-min? Jimin? Hello?” He’s pulled out of his thoughts by Eunwoo, who waves a hand in front of his face as he stands on the opposite side of the table, “You okay?”

“What? Oh yeah—sorry, I guess I just spaced out a little,” Jimin blushes and rubs the back of his neck in embarrassment, “what were you saying?”

Eunwoo smiles, and he looks so endeared as he reaches across the table and pokes Jimin gently in the cheek, “Cute,” he says, not sparing a glance in Jeongguk’s direction when the other alpha shifts in his seat and his scent spikes a little with annoyance, “I was saying I’ll see you in a few days, do you want to meet up again here? Same time?”

Jimin nods, his face practically on fire now, “Sure, yes, that sounds good.”

Is Jeongguk growling? He can’t be, surely if he was, Eunwoo would react in some way, Jimin must be hallucinating, that’s it. Either he’s had too much caffeine or not enough sleep or it’s a combo of both and now he’s hearing things, because surely Jeon Jeongguk wouldn’t be sitting there growling like a feral wolf at another alpha, would he?

Eunwoo waves goodbye, finally acknowledging Jeongguk while he does it, which only seems to aggravate him more, and maybe the other alpha had actually noticed Jeongguk’s behavior, and all of that pretending to be oblivious had been a calculated move on his part, but either way, he leaves and Jimin is left to deal with a growling, angry looking best friend whose scent is so bitter with annoyance that people at nearby tables are actually getting up and moving.

“Um… Jeongguk?” Jimin asks, voice laced with uncertainty, because maybe he’s just having a bad day, and in that case, Jimin doesn’t want to say the wrong thing and upset him further.

But then the alpha just looks at him with those big eyes and asks, his voice so quiet, “What is it, Mini?”

He doesn’t sound upset or annoyed at all, his tone is soft and his eye contact is steady and Jimin can’t seem to make himself look away but he does ask, “Are you okay?”

Jeongguk turns so he’s sideways in his seat, his entire body facing Jimin, legs spread wide to accommodate for the chair the omega sits in, and effectively making him feel a little caged in, but not in a bad way, more like he’s secure and safe within the alpha’s presence. Jeongguk’s scent has already shifted, the annoyance fading away to nothing, and all Jimin can smell is sweet rain and summer. He wants to lean into it, not realizing that he already has, too busy looking into Jeongguk’s eyes and getting a little lost in them, “Are you okay?” He asks again, quieter, so distracted by how good the alpha smells that he can only half remember why he’s asking at all.

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” Jeongguk asks, leaning forward slightly, unblinking as he reaches over to rest a hand on Jimin’s shoulder, his thumb just barely brushing over his neck, making the omega shiver at the whisper of contact.

Jimin blinks and forces himself to focus, “I mean, it’s pretty obvious you were annoyed about something, I feel like every time Eunwoo spoke you got angrier, I’m honestly surprised he didn’t say anything.”

Jeongguk shrugs and his thumb presses a little harder into Jimin’s scent gland, unconsciously scenting him as he studies Jimin’s face, “He just… gets on my nerves, I guess.”

“But why?” Jimin asks, ignoring his omega as best he’s able, because it’s whimpering inside of him, urging him to get closer to the alpha, to tilt his neck to the side and grant him easier access to touch, to claim…

Jeongguk sighs and his hand drops, “He’s just annoying.”

Jimin frowns, because Eunwoo isn’t, at all, at least in his opinion, but before he can say anything his stomach growls angrily, and Jeongguk glances down with a little smile, “Hungry?” He asks, tone still soft and gentle, maybe a little teasing, but in a way that makes Jimin blush, not in a way that annoys him.

“Yes,” Jimin whispers.

“Let’s get baby some food then,” Jeongguk stands up and starts packing their things, oblivious to the way Jimin’s entire world realigns itself at being called “baby” by Jeon Jeongguk.

They’re walking across campus, crossing the very same lawn that this entire debacle had started on, and Jimin is so distracted by the sudden shift in Jeongguk’s behavior that he’s not really paying attention to his surroundings, so he doesn’t notice when someone shouts a warning, nor does he notice the frisbee flying directly towards him, but he does notice Jeongguk suddenly stepping in front of him, one large hand coming up to not only block it, but to catch it in one hand, stopping its flight only inches away from Jimin’s face.

“Oh!” He gasps, startled and staring at the projectile, had it actually made contact it would have hurt, maybe even left him with a bloody nose or a split lip, but Jeongguk had stopped it easily, and was now glaring daggers at the sheepish beta jogging in their direction.

“I’m really sorry,” he says sheepishly with a bow, “my friend threw it too high and I couldn’t reach it,” he gestures back towards another student, who waves sheepishly from where he stands several yards away, “good catch though, man,” he says to Jeongguk, obviously trying to break the ice.

“You’re lucky I did catch it,” Jeongguk says, and his scent is thick with anger, “if it had hit him you’d have a problem on your hands.”

Jimin stares up at Jeongguk, he’s never heard him this angry before, annoyed, yes—maybe even upset, but never furious, and all because Jimin almost got hit, accidentally, in a way that wouldn’t have caused serious damage. The beta looks a bit terrified now, nodding and apologizing some more as he takes the frisbee that Jeongguk shoves at him, backing away with a bow before practically running back to his friend in fear.

Jeongguk stands there for a moment, glaring after them, so Jimin reaches out and gently tugs on the alphas pinkie, his little hand holding it tight as he gets his attention, “Kookie?” He asks, “Are you okay?”

The alpha blinks down at him and Jimin gets that feeling again, the one where it seems like he’s looking into the eyes of a wolf, of the alpha within Jeongguk, instead of the man who stands behind him, and his omega wants to whine, to submit, even though there’s no call for that. It’s over almost as soon as it starts, but it leaves Jimin feeling odd, and he doesn’t let go of Jeongguk even as the other man starts to walk again without a word.

Jimin stays close the entire way to Jeongguk’s car, not speaking until the alpha is opening the passenger door for him, “Where are we going?” he asks, even as he slides into the seat.

“You’re hungry, right?” Jeongguk asks, “I’m taking you out.”

They park a few blocks away from the barbeque place that is unofficially "theirs", Jimin bouncing down the sidewalk for a few steps before turning around and seeing Jeongguk watching him with a fond smile on his lips and a certain... something in his eyes. Hunger, his wolf tells him, alpha is hungry, but not for food, stay close, stay close.

Jimin runs back to Jeongguk's side, and without a word, Jeongguk shifts him from the outside of the sidewalk to the inside, keeping himself between the road and Jimin. It reminds him of the moment where he'd covered the corner of his desk, like it's second nature to keep Jimin out of trouble, like it's instinctual.

God, Jimin thinks, how can someone be so... perfect?

He tucks himself up against Jeongguk and the alpha puts his arm around his shoulder and draws him in tight to his side and everything is right with the world.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

“God, it sounds like you had an eventful day,” Taehyung says from underneath Jimin, it’s late and the two omegas are sprawled out on Jimin’s bed, catching up on how things had gone since this morning, “two alphas warring for your attention, almost getting to see Kook kill a beta—”

“He wouldn’t have killed him!” Jimin protests.

“Yeah, sure,” Taehyung snorts, “have you really never noticed how protective he is of you?”

“I mean, I guess… I’m his cute dongsaeng, so it makes sense that he would look out for me.”

Taehyung grabs Jimin by the cheeks and makes him meet his eyes, “Why do you insist in friend zoning yourself with that hot piece of alpha ass, you sexy little bastard—you already have Jeongguk wrapped around your finger, now use it to beckon him to bed!”

“I hate you,” Jimin replies, but the force of his response is lost because of the way Tae is holding his face, making his lips poke out like a little beak, “leave me alone.”

“I cannot!” Taehyung says dramatically, sitting up enough to kiss him on the forehead before falling back into the pillows, “So how did lunch go?”

“Good?” Jimin says as he rests his head on Tae’s chest, “I guess good.”

“Did he hand feed you?” Tae asks, “Was he a good alpha who provided for his little omega?”

Jimin can feel the blush on his cheeks spreading, so he refuses to raise his head and look at his friend, instead nodding without a word. Jeongguk had fed him, a lot, with a look of pure determination in his eyes as he did, like it was his job, a duty he took very seriously, and Jimin had been helpless to resist, which he admits to himself now (not to Tae) that he hadn’t wanted to anyway. He’d enjoyed every moment of it, even though he’d felt a little helpless at the time too, pinned under Jeongguk’s fierce gaze and unable to protest as the alpha fed him.

“I really do think he likes you, Min,” Taehyung says softly, one hand reaching up to pet his blond hair, “I think he just hasn’t quite figured it out yet, or maybe he’s like you, and is afraid to ruin your friendship. But for what it’s worth, I don’t think there’s a chance of that happening, I think you two would be really happy together.”

Jimin sighs, because he wants to believe Taehyung, but he’s afraid to push for anything more from Jeongguk. He already takes so much, it doesn’t feel right to assume he can have more, “I’m scared, Tae… losing him would be worse than anything. My wolf and I are both so attached, sometimes I think I might have imprinted on him, just a little.”

Tae wraps his arms around Jimin’s waist and holds him close, scenting him lightly until Jimin begins to purr and melt, the air drenched with their combined scents, “Don’t worry, Min—it’ll be okay, we’ll get this figured out.”

“How?” Jimin asks, “How can I figure out if Jeongguk likes me without talking to him and risking everything?”

He can’t see it, but Taehyung has a smile on his face and mischief in his eyes, “Do you trust me?”

Jimin, sleepy and innocent and unaware, nods, “Of course I trust you.”

“Okay, well, I’ve got a plan that I think we can enact soon, but you have to do exactly what I say when the time comes.”

Jimin yawns, “When will that be?”

Taehyung’s smile turns downright devilish, “At Namjoon’s party.”

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jeongguk shoves aside the last of his homework and stretches out across the kitchen table, groaning a little as he closes his tired eyes.

“All done?” Hoseok asks as he slides two plates onto the table and sits down across from him.

“Finally,” Jeongguk says, “I thought final year was supposed to be easy?”

“That’s high school,” Hoseok replies, “nothing is easy in college… well… except finding cheap alcohol or a meaningless one night stand.”

Jeongguk snorts, “Like you would know anything about either, you barely drink and have been practically mated to Jieun since you were twenty,” he says as he digs into the massive pile of food in front of him, “god this is good, thank you.”

“I’ll have you know that I found plenty of cheap alcohol while attending classes,” he says primly, “and just because I didn’t sleep around doesn’t mean I wasn’t aware that most everyone else was, also you’re welcome, it’s been awhile since I got a chance to feed my obnoxious baby brother.”

“Not your brother,” Jeongguk points out, “your friend, and don’t try and act like feeding people isn’t your love language, I caught on years ago.”

“Details,” Hoseok waves his comment away, “So, can I ask how things are going?”

Jeongguk frowns, not at all sure what the other alpha is talking about, “What things?” He asks around a second mouthful of food.

“Things with your delightful little omega of course!” Hoseok says as he waves his chopsticks in the air, “The last time I saw you two you were being all cuddly and domestic on the couch, have you finally confessed? I’ve been waiting since the start of time for you to tell Jiminie how you feel!”

Jeongguk stares down at his food, not expecting his roommate to come at him with the only thing he’d been actively trying to avoid thinking about all week. Things with Jimin were different, that much he realized, how they were different and why they had become that way, he wasn’t sure, but he couldn’t deny the growing tension between them, or the way his alpha reacted to everything Jimin did. It made him a little crazy, the feeling that he needed to be close to the omega at all times, the way he wanted to drown Jimin in his scent so that everyone knew exactly where he belonged…

Right by Jeongguk’s side.

Maybe it has something to do with Eunwoo, maybe his wolf was feeling threatened by the sudden appearance of another alpha in Jimin’s life. Not that Jeongguuk was the only alpha by any means, Jimin knew plenty of alphas, was probably friends with a few of them, but Eunwoo was different, his wolf was sure of it, it seemed to think of the other man as a rival, which was ridiculous, a rival for what? Jimin’s time? His attention?

His… affection?

“Hello, earth to Jeongguk?” Hoseok flaps a hand at him, “You okay there, buddy? You disappeared for a second.”

Jeongguk shakes his head, “Yeah, no… I’m fine,” he says, “I was just thinking… do you really feel like there is something between Jimin and I?”

Hobi stares at him for a solid ten seconds before he bursts into laughter, placing his chopsticks down so he can clap as he throws himself backward, the front two legs of his chair actually coming off the floor in his unbridled delight, “Do I?” He wheezes, “Jeon Jeongguk! Do I?” He keeps laughing for a few moments longer, wiping the tears from his eyes because apparently Jeongguk is hilarious, even though he’s not in on the joke.

After a while Hoseok manages to calm down enough to give him a serious reply, “Yes, Jeongguk, I think there is something between you. I think that Jimin likes you as more than a friend. And I think you should do something about that before someone else steps up and whisks him away, because that man? Is an absolute catch, and he’s been unwavering in his devotion to you since day one, so don’t let him get away.”

Jeongguk lays in bed that night and thinks about what Hobi had said, thinks about Jimin and all the time they’ve spent together, and he realizes something. He’s been attracted to Jimin for awhile, that much he knew, but he never let himself move past that because he was scared of losing what they had, and the thought of living without Jimin was terrifying; it makes his chest tighten and his heart race and makes his alpha frantic, the wolf ready to chase the omega down at the mere thought of losing him.

He grabs his phone from the nightstand and unlocks it. He hasn’t checked his messages for awhile and he sees a few missed texts, most of them are unimportant—one from a coworker reminding him of a shift he agreed to switch, another from his brother complaining about their parents, and a couple more in the group chat he has with his teammates.

But there’s one text that matters, one that is very important, and it’s only two words and one emoji, followed by a selfie.

[Little Prince👑]:

Goodnight hyung 💗

And Jeongguk knows he’s a doomed man.

It makes his wolf sing.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

It’s the end of another long day, and Jimin sighs from where he's nestled into the covers of Jeongguk's bed, his book forgotten as he watches the alpha work. He's focused, brow furrowed, tongue playing with his lip rings, and Jimin has long since given up on reading. He's so warm and comfortable, surrounded by Jeongguk's scent and tired after hours of work and classes, but he shouldn't fall asleep here, he's been doing that a lot lately, and it's starting to feel like an imposition.

He heaves himself out of bed with a sigh and accidentally sends his book tumbling to the ground. Without thinking he bends down to grab it and when he comes up, the back of his head comes into contact with the corner of the desk.

Or it would have, if Jeongguk hadn't covered it with his hand.

Jimin looks from the alpha to the corner and back again, because it doesn't even seem like Jeongguk is fully aware of what he did, he just subconsciously protected Jimin from injury like it was second nature.

It makes him melt a little, makes his wolf purr inside of him. It’s the smallest of gestures and yet it means so much, and the fact that it seemed to just be… instinct makes it mean even more.

Jeongguk and his wolf are looking out for him.

Jeongguk and his wolf want to take care of him.

Jimin smiles softly as he sets his book aside, then wraps his arms around Jeongguk’s shoulders in a back hug, “Thank you, hyung,” he whispers.

“Hmm? For what?” That alpha murmurs, voice a little rough from disuse.

“For all of it, everything,” Jimin replies before grabbing his bag and heading out the door, leaving a very confused but fond alpha in his wake.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jimin regrets his agreement with Taehyung a couple of nights later as he stands in front of a pile of clothes his friend has made him try on in an attempt to craft the perfect outfit. The other omega stands in front of his half of their tiny closet, glaring at the rapidly dwindling options, “You know…” he says slowly, “maybe I’m overthinking this, you wouldn’t dress up a Monet with some gaudy frame, would you?”

“Are you comparing me to a Monet?” Jimin asks, already worn out and the night hasn’t even begun.

“Hmm… Well, you’re a combination of Starry Night and The Water Lily Pond, so yes—I am.”

“Starry Night is not Monet, Tae… aren’t you majoring in art history?”

“Western artists! Whatever!” Tae replies as he snatches a simple black tank top from its hanger, followed by a pair of dark, relaxed fit skinny jeans, “Okay—now for the accessories—”

“Tae.”

“I think something simple would work best for this too—”

“Tae.”

“You are the main attraction after all, and oh! Let’s not forget makeup, a smokey eyelid look would be perfect—”

“Kim Taehyung!” Jimin interrupts, “Jeongguk will be here in less than twenty minutes and you are still wearing your pajamas!”

“Oh my god!” Tae looks down at his outfit, which consists of a pair of oversized joggers and a shirt he only wears at home because of the kimchi stains, “Oh my god I was so invested in you I forgot about myself!” He dashes across their dorm and begins to rifle through his clothes, “Oh my god, I haven’t even washed my face, hold on!”

Then he’s out the door and down the hall, and Jimin is alone. He gets dressed quickly, does his make up with an expert hand, puts in some mismatched earrings, and is just about to choose a necklace when there’s a knock on the door. He freezes, then realizes a moment later that it’s probably just Taehyung coming back because he forgot his key and probably seventeen other things, “Tae, you need to hurry, I don’t—”

Except it’s not Tae, it’s Jeongguk.

Looking offensively good in a white shirt, ripped jeans, and a black leather jacket. His undercut is fresh and sharp, his piercings winking with silver and black metal, and black kohl rings his eyes. He looms over Jimin, dark gaze sweeping over every inch of his body before he grins wolfishly and asks, “Can I come in?”

Jimin swallows and nods, stepping away from the doorway to let the alpha pass, but instead of walking into the dorm like he has countless times before, he pauses right beside Jimin, nostrils flaring like he’s scenting in the wind, but before Jimin can ask him what’s wrong, he continues into the dorm, kicking his shoes off and falling onto Jimin’s bed, “You almost ready?” He asks, “I know I’m a little early.”

“It’s fine,” Jimin says, “I’m pretty close, but Tae got so wrapped up in picking out my outfit that he forgot to get himself ready,” he returns to rifling through his jewelry, hand hesitating over a little black choker that would look amazing, but for some reason having Jeongguk here makes him feel shy.

He hears the alpha stand, the bed creaking as he rises and walks over to stand behind Jimin, “Having trouble choosing?” He asks, breath warm against the back of Jimin’s neck. He does his best to hide the way his body reacts, to will away the shiver of delight and trepidation, to not let the chills make him visibly shudder when Jeongguk stands so close. He fails, he knows he does, and he holds his breath a little when Jeongguk chuckles and reaches around him, fingertips brushing the back of his hand before tracing the same choker that Jimin had been considering moments before.

“What’s this, a collar?” Jeongguk wonders, “Have I ever seen you in this before?”

“Um… it’s a choker,” Jimin swallows harshly, his mouth suddenly dry, “and no… you haven’t.”

“Mmm…” Jeongguk hums, his voice low and soft, and his chest warm as he leans a little closer, “Were you going to wear this tonight?” His voice might be quiet, but it’s all Jimin can hear, it almost feels like Jeongguk is speaking directly into his thoughts, replacing them entirely.

“I was… I was thinking about it,” Jimin whispers, cheeks aflame.

“I think you should,” Jeongguk murmurs, “think it’d look good on you.”

Okay, maybe Tae was right, maybe Jeongguk is attracted to him. He glances in the little mirror and sees that Jeongguk is staring at his neck like he’s already picturing the choker on him, the black satin of it just high enough to not cover his scent gland, and Jimin has to admit it would probably look really good on him, but for some reason he’s still hesitant, or maybe he just wants to be told.

And Jeongguk seems to sense that when he says, “Wear the collar, Jimin,” his voice so low it’s barely audible.

Jimin forgets to correct him this time, Jeongguk can call it whatever he wants if he keeps talking like that, Jimin doesn’t even have any real thoughts of his own as he reaches for the choker, but his fingers tremble so much that he can’t get the clasp open, let alone get it to latch onto the chain.

“Let me,” Jeongguk says, and Jimin is in no state to protest, instead he just hands the necklace over and waits, breath catching a little when Jeongguk pushes his head downward with his fingertips, not harshly, but firmly, like he knows Jimin will not resist his touch. A wave of heat rolls through him when he does it, and he bows his head and waits as the alpha’s warm fingers dance across his neck before clasping the choker into place.

Neither of them move as Jimin slowly raises his head and meets Jeongguk’s eyes in the mirror, and what he sees there makes him stare. The alpha’s gaze is heavy-lidded and dark, and though he isn’t certain, there are whispers of scarlet laced through them, faint enough to miss if those eyes weren’t staring directly into Jimin's own, pinning him in place like prey. Jeongguk’s hands still linger on his back, and Jimin watches, entranced as he reaches around, rests his fingertips on the side of his neck, a whisper of touch, nothing more, but it burns like hot embers on his skin, heat lancing from every point of contact to spread through his body like a wildfire in midsummer, consuming, consuming, consuming. He leans into the touch, eyelashes fluttering and pulse quickening, he doesn’t know what’s happening, but he knows he doesn’t want it to stop.

He can feel Jeongguk leaning into him, bending inexorably closer, breath as hot as his touch, and for a moment Jimin thinks that he’s going to start kissing his neck, but before he can get close enough to, the door slams open and Taehyung bursts inside, breathless and still dripping from the shower, “Oh god you’re already here! Sorry, sorry!” He yells as he rushes past Jeongguk and Jimin, oblivious to their proximity and the tension in the room, “I can’t believe I got so into dressing you up that I forgot about myself!” He whines as he digs through his own closet, he pulls out a satiny red button down and a pair of black jeans, “What do you think? Oh! The choker?! Good job, Jiminie, it looks good, also a bit like a collar, but whatever.”

“I’ll wait down in the car,” Jeongguk says softly, one large hand brushing over Jimin’s hip as he steps back, “don’t take too long, okay?”

“Okay,” Jimin whispers, helpless to stop staring as the alpha turns on his heel and walks towards the door.

“Sorry I left you two alone for so long,” Taehyung says as he grabs his eyeliner, “I hope it wasn’t too terrible being all by yourself with him.”

Jimin shakes his head, a bewildered little smile on his lips, “No, it wasn’t, but Tae—”

“Tell me later!” Taehyung tosses his eyeliner aside and grabs Jimin by the hand, “We have a party to get to!”

*✷.*✵*.✷*

“Shotgun!” Tae yells, abandoning Jimin to sprint across the parking lot, only to be met with the cold-eyed stare of a very unimpressed Jeongguk, who is leaning against the car and ignoring a group of giggling omegas a few spots over.

“Jimin rides up front or this car goes nowhere.” He says it so nonchalantly, as though he was commenting on the weather, and not at all like he was making Jimin want to melt into the cracks of the pavement and never be seen again. Taehyung throws a glance in his direction, both eyebrows wiggling as he leers at the other omega before giving Jeongguk a smart salute, “Okay, big scary alpha, will do!”

Jeongguk snorts and Taehyung laughs and Jimin blushes and wishes for an actual chasm to open up beneath him so he can become a strange subterranean creature that never faces embarrassment again. But it doesn’t and he is forced to cross the remaining distance, feeling terribly exposed as Jeongguk watches his every step, arms crossed over his chest. But then he’s giving Jimin a gentle smile, opening the door for him, and helping him sit, and Jimin is pretty sure he’s melting from the attention. He watches as Jeongguk walks around the hood of the car and from the backseat Taehyung quietly says, “Oh, this is going to be one hell of a night.”

Jimin doesn’t have time to ask him what he means before Jeongguk is sliding into the driver's seat and handing him his phone, “Pick out some music for us?” The alpha prompts, and Jimin complies without protest, wondering as he scrolls just what the rest of his night will entail.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jimin is quiet beside him, humming along to the music or chatting with Taehyung when the other omega strikes up conversation, but for the most part he seems to be in his own world, staring out the window at the late autumn city sights, fingers tapping out a steady rhythm on the car door as he leans against it. Jeongguk can’t stop stealing glances, soaking up the sight of Jimin with his blond hair pushed away from his face, his lips plush and shining with gloss and that damn collar.

Choker, he amends to himself, it’s a choker.

Whatever it is, it’s driving Jeongguk crazy.

Namjoon’s house parties are quietly legendary—he comes from a lot of money, and his parents leave the country often enough for him to throw a few a year. They are never your typical college bangers though, the guest list is exclusive and relatively short, and since Namjoon’s house is located in a gated community, the only way to get in is if you have explicitly been given permission. Jeongguk gives his name and those of his passengers then waits a few seconds for the guard to give him the all clear and open the gate.

“God, I never get over how much money he has,” Taehyung says from the backseat, “just living in one of these places is so expensive— there are like, monthly fees and shit, on top of the millions you’d have to throw down to live in a literal mansion.” He leans forward and tries to grab Jeongguk’s phone, only for the alpha to bat his hand away.

“Stop messing with things, we’re almost there,” Jeongguk says.

Out of curiosity Jimin grabs the phone and Jeongguk does nothing to stop him, he shoots a look at Tae in the rearview mirror and is met with a wicked grin and a wink, which he responds to with a roll of his eyes. So maybe Jeongguk favors Jimin a bit, it makes sense, they’re friends after all, and way closer than Taehyung and Jeongguk.

Is it anything more than that, though?

The long driveway leading up to Namjoon’s house is lined with a dozen or so cars when they arrive, but it’s quiet otherwise, a few lights shining from open windows, the sound of music coming from the backyard, and when they get to the front door Namjoon is already there to greet them, grinning and clapping them on the shoulders as they kick off their shoes and shuffle in. “Glad you guys could make it!” He says cheerfully, “There’s the usual gang hanging out, plus Jin invited a couple of new ones, but don’t worry, I vetted them beforehand!” He laughs as his boyfriend throws a pillow at him from where he’s sprawled on the sofa, catching it easily with one hand while not spilling his nearly full cocktail, “Yoongi’s in the kitchen mixing drinks if you want something specific, let me know if you need anything, okay? I’m glad you guys could make it.”

The kitchen is considerably quieter than the living room, not that it had been truly loud, but considering the only person in the room aside from their trio was Yoongi, sitting on a high stool surrounded by bottles of expensive liquor, it was peaceful and serene, a bastion of alcohol and polished marble countertops, more throne room than a place to prepare food.

“’Sup,” Yoongi says, shattering the illusion with a single word, “You guys want me to make you something?”

Tae bounces forward excitedly, draping himself over the beta with a laugh, “Yoongi hyung, it’s been ages! Decades! Centuries! Millennia!” He begins to do the over-eager puppy version of scenting, rubbing his cheeks and the top of his head all over Yoongi’s face, who tolerates it all with the patience of a saint.

“Did you start drinking before you got here?” He asks in the midst of the assault.

“No, he’s just excited to see you,” Jimin says as he studies the various options, “I don’t really know what I want… something flowery but not too sweet, I trust you.”

“I want whiskey,” Jeongguk says, bypassing the various options and going for a cabinet off to the side, where Namjoon hides the “really good stuff” for a select few that are in the know to raid. He selects a bottle and pours it over a single, massive ice cube while Yoongi manages to disentangle himself from Taehyung and begin to mix a drink for Jimin.

“What do you want?” He asks the other omega as he works.

“A rum and coke?” Taehyung replies, blinking in confusion when Yoongi groans in dismay, “What?”

“That is a drink for children, for babies , next thing you’re going to want is a strawberry daiquiri.”

“I don’t know what that is,” Taehyung replies, “also I am a baby so please give me my baby drink and keep your old man opinions to yourself.”

“Make the drink yourself, I’m sure there’s some goddamn Malibu in there somewhere, you heathen.”

“I think he likes me,” Tae declares a few minutes later as they leave the kitchen behind and wander back into the living room, “what do you guys think?”

Jimin goes to respond but before he can say a word, someone is shouting Jeongguk’s name. It’s one of his teammates surrounded by a handful that Namjoon invited, clustered around a television playing some sort of fighting game. Jeongguk wanders off without a word, but he does run his fingertips over the small of Jimin’s back as he walks away, and the touch burns brightly on his skin like signal flares in the night.

He doesn’t want to let him leave, but at least he won’t be far.

He finds himself on the sofa not too long after, sandwiched between Taehyung and Namjoon’s boyfriend, Jin, a sweet, gregarious omega who matches Taehyung’s energy and smells exactly like chocolate chip cookies. The three of them giggle and laugh, talking about classes and complaining about their constant exhaustion until Namjoon interrupts them, crouching down in front of the trio with a happy smile, “You guys doing okay?” He asks, ever the considerate host.

“Kim Namjoon!” Jin yells as he flings himself forward, wrapping both arms around Namjoon in an over-enthusiastic display of affection that has the alpha laughing with delight as he wraps his arms around his omega. Jimin watches the two fondly, and makes a silent wish to have that as well, someday. He takes a sip of his drink and throws what he hopes is a casual glance towards Jeongguk, who is still surrounded by the rest of the soccer team, but it’s like the alpha has a sixth sense specifically attuned to Jimin, because a moment after he looks the alpha looks as well, and their eyes lock with enough intensity that Jimin feels a little weak in the knees from it alone.

But then one of his teammates yells and throws himself on top of Jeongguk, and the moment is gone.

Jimin finishes his cocktail and goes to get another one. Yoongi is no longer in the kitchen, though there are few others Jimin recognizes but doesn’t personally know. He nods to them and goes about making his drink, and when he comes back to the living room, he can tell Taehyung is up to something. He’s got a group of people surrounding him, nodding along to whatever he’s talking about, and there’s a glint of mischief in his eyes that Jimin is all too familiar with.

“Jimin!” He says as soon as he catches sight of the other omega. He pulls him back down onto the sofa, already far tipsier than Jimin is, and giggles when Jimin curses him for almost spilling his drink, “Do you remember what we talked about?” He leans in to whisper in his ear, “You have to go along with this, because it’s what’s going to get Jeongguk’s attention.”

“About that,” Jimin replies, “I think we don’t need to—”

“Nope! You can’t chicken out now!” Tae claps his hands and gestures for everyone gathered to pay attention, “It’s time to play truth or dare!”

Jimin sighs, not at all in the mood, but Taehyung is right, he did agree to go along with whatever his friends plan is, and he knows from experience that trying to argue with or dissuade Tae when he’s been drinking is a practice in futility. So he nods along and half-listens as people agree to the rules.

“Hi, Jimin hyung," a quiet voice says from behind the sofa. Jimin looks up to see Eunwoo resting his elbows on the back of the couch, a smile on his face and a half-empty drink held delicately in his long, elegant fingers, “how’s your night going?”

Jimin grins, he’d forgotten all about Eunwoo being here tonight, and can easily admit to himself that he’s happy to see him here, mingling and getting to know new people. He’s apparently down to play truth or dare as well, and after a moment moves from behind the couch to sit in one of the armchairs across from Jimin, downing the rest of his drink and setting the glass aside as he waits for it to begin.

Tae starts it off, because of course he does, and they go around the circle picking truth or dares, as it gets closer to being Jimin’s turns, Taehyung leans over and whispers, “I’m taking a chance here, but I think I’ve got a plan— first, get the attention needed, second exploit the attention once gained, make sure you choose dare, okay?”

Jimin wants to ask him what the hell he’s talking about, but he doesn’t get a chance because the next thing he knows it’s his turn and Tae is pinching his thigh with a serious look in his eyes, so Jimin picks “dare” and holds his breath, mortified as he waits for Taehyung to announce his doom, except it’s not anything he was expecting.

“You have to do a sexy dance for us,” Tae says with a grin, “what was that one you did for a showcase last year? The one with the body rolls? Do that.”

Jimin blinks in surprise, not sure how or why his dancing factors into Taehyung’s plan, but at least the dare isn’t something he is against. He loves to dance and knows he’s good at it, so he sets his drink aside and stands, “I’m not dressed right for this, so some of my movement might be limited,” he cautions as a few people clear a space for him, “but I’ll do my best.”

He grabs his phone and puts on the song he’d performed to, it’s not terribly loud, but it’s loud enough to draw a few glances from outside the truth or dare group, including Jeongguk, who watches with interest as Jimin does a few quick warm ups before launching into the choreography. At three minutes and twenty eight seconds, it’s not long, but it’s enough to get everyone in the room watching, a few woops and teasing cat calls happening during the body rolls, the room almost exploding with screams when he drops to the floor and practically humps it, back arched in fake ecstasy, lips parted as he breathes hard. He catches a glimpse of Jeongguk watching through half-lidded eyes, and it occurs to him that the alpha has never seen this particular dance.

He goes a little harder after that, letting his gaze linger on Jeongguk with every opportunity, made bold by the alcohol in his system, but not drunk enough to be clumsy or uncoordinated; instead he feels like liquid gold, molten as he moves, and maybe the entire room is watching him right now, but he only has eyes for one person, one man, one alpha.

But then the song ends and the game continues, and whilst Jimin feels an emotional pull towards Jeongguk, he is instead physically pulled back down onto the sofa, where a grinning Taehyung congratulates him, “Step one was a success,” he whispers, “now for step two!”

Before Jimin can say a word he turns to Eunwoo and asks, “Truth or dare?”

“Dare,” Eunwoo says immediately, grinning when a few people cheer him on.

“Excellent!” Taehyung claps, “Alright, I dare you to…” he taps his lower lip, eyes on the ceiling as he thinks, but Jimin knows him, and can see right through his actions. He feels nervous all of a sudden, uncertain as to what Tae has planned, but before he can excuse himself or interrupt, the other omega is pointing at him and yelling, “You have to kiss Jimin!”

“Kim Taehyung, what the fuck?” Jimin whispers, “What are you talking about?” Everyone around them is laughing and cheering, egging Eunwoo on as the other alpha grins and shakes his head, though he looks far from unwilling.

“You agreed to play,” Tae sings, a wicked smile on his lips, “so now you have to abide by the rules.”

“I hate you,” Jimin says, cheeks bright red from embarrassment, “you are the worst person I’ve ever met.”

Taehyung leans forward and whispers in his ear, “Jimin, remember I told you to trust me? Well, trust me, this will get a rise out of Jeongguk.”

“But I don’t need to get a—”

“Stop stalling!” Taehyung claps his hands, stands up from the sofa, and pulls Jimin along with him, “The faster you do it, the faster it will be over with!”

Eunwoo stands there with a patient smile on his lips, and Jimin appreciates his silence, because if he was also egging him on like Taehyung, Jimin thinks he probably would have a melt down.

“Just a quick kiss,” Jimin says to Eunwoo quietly, he throws another look in Jeongguk’s direction and sees the alpha is occupied with his game once more, long, dexterous fingers flying over the controls. He looks back at Eunwoo, who is smiling and nodding encouragingly, though he looks pretty drunk and Jimin can’t be certain his words were really heard. Still, he promised Tae that he’d play along with whatever scheme he has, so he leans forward with every intention of giving Eunwoo a swift kiss on the cheek, trying his best to not dwell on how awkward every time they see each other will be after this.

It should have been over in a second, maybe less, and it would have, had Eunwoo not turned his face at the last moment—connecting his lips to Jimin’s and wrapping one arm around his waist to pull him in against his body, deepening the kiss a moment later. Jimin froze, mortified, as people all around them began to cheer and howl, egging Eunwoo on even as Jimin’s omega recoiled at the kiss of an alpha that wasn’t Jeongguk. Jimin unfroze a moment later, small hands coming up to push against Eunwoo, hard, hard enough to send the unsuspecting alpha stumbling backwards and for Jimin, slightly tipsy and shaking from surprise to take an unsteady step backwards as well, his progress stopped by a familiar presence.

Alpha , his wolf immediately reacts, in distress over the stolen kiss and the angry pheromones that are coming off of the other man. He turns and buries his face against Jeongguk’s chest, whimpering a little as he trembles, desperately seeking reassurance that he understands Jimin was not a willing participant in the kiss. He can feel Jeongguk growling, low enough that he doesn’t think anyone else can hear, and one arm wraps around his shoulders and holds him close.

“What the fuck was that?” Jeongguk asks, low and dangerous, a little hint of his wolf bleeding out into his tone, and it makes Jimin’s omega melt, makes him want to bare his neck in apology, he didn’t mean for the kiss to happen, hadn’t expected Eunwoo to do that, he thought the other alpha would respect him, thought it would be a quick, innocent moment for them to laugh about later.

“It’s my fault,” Taehyung says from somewhere behind him, “I dared Jimin to do it.”

“Yeah, except Eunwoo took it too far,” Jin adds, “I heard Jimin, he said that it would quick, but then Eunwoo turned and—”

“I’m sorry, okay!” Eunwoo holds up both hands in apology, “I had to take a chance, can you blame me!” He’s laughing like this is all some kind of joke, but Jimin’s not sure it is, “I mean, when would I ever get the opportunity to kiss the Park Jimin again?”

Fucking never , Jimin thinks as he keeps his face hidden, too embarrassed and angry to say anything. It’s not really that he had trusted Eunwoo so much as he’d never really given any real thought to Eunwoo liking him because aside from a superficial understanding that he was handsome, he just wasn’t Jeongguk. That was literally every other alpha in the world's problem, to Jimin, no one else stood a chance.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jeongguk clenches his jaw as he listens to Eunwoo defend himself, the laughter and catcalls of a few others ringing too loudly in the living room. He keeps one arm around Jimin, who has his face buried in Jeongguk’s chest and both small hands clinging to his shirt. He can feel him shaking, and that alone is enough to have his alpha on edge, not helped by the faint scent of distress the omega is giving off. He releases a little of his own pheromones, just a hint, trying to get him to calm down, and he knows showing his anger will only frighten Jimin more.

“Jimin, look at me,” Jeongguk says after a moment, deciding to ignore the drunk idiots around them to keep his focus where it matters. When Jimin doesn’t lift his head away from where it’s pressed against his shirt, Jeongguk leans closer and says softly but firmly, “omega, look at me.”

That gets a reaction, Jimin lifts his face up, rests his chin on Jeongguk’s sternum and peers up at him with eyes that have the faintest sheen of tears to them, “Do you want to go home, baby?” He asks gently, Jimin blinks and it’s like he didn’t quite hear him, so he repeats the question, “Do you want to go home? Answer me.”

Jimin shakes his head, but he doesn’t seem inclined to speak, so Jeongguk continues, bent down and close enough to Jimin's ear that he practically kisses it with each word, “Okay, but if you think I’m letting you out of my arms for the rest of the night, you’re wrong.”

Jimin’s eyes widen slightly, but then his lids lower to that half open state Jeongguk has seen a few times over the last week, and his little pink tongue darts out to wet his lips and Jeongguk growls again, less threatening this time, more like a… reminder, like his wolf needs this omega to know that they belong to him, and no one else. Jimin goes a little boneless at the sound, sagging against him as his eyelashes flutter.

Jeongguk has no idea how much Jimin has had to drink, but he thinks it very unlikely that the omega is drunk. He has a high tolerance for alcohol despite his tiny frame, and is well versed in pacing himself over the course of a long night. But still, he’s not about to let Jimin go—not because he doesn’t trust him, but because he clearly can’t trust anyone else. He looks up and sees Eunwoo looking at them with a bitter and sad smile, hands shoved into his pockets as he shrugs, “I had to try, man,” he says, like Jimin is some sort of prize to be won.

“You didn’t,” Jeongguk says, and that’s it, that’s all he says, because it’s true. Jeongguk isn’t the kind of alpha to posture and pose, pretending to be someone he’s not. He doesn’t want things to escalate, even though his wolf snarls and snaps within him, itching for a fight. We have better things to worry about , he tells it sternly, our omega needs us.

That gets it to shut up.

“Come on,” he says, and gently tugs Jimin with him back to the TV, where his teammates are still crowded around, egging each other on as they pair off for different rounds. They throw him a few suggestive looks when Jeongguk sits and pulls Jimin down into his lap, but he’s in no mood to be teased, so he glares back at them until the wiggling eyebrows and smirks stop and their focus returns to the game.

Jimin goes easy as ever, slipping down small and soft into his lap, curled up against his chest with his face pressed into the curve of his neck and shoulder, plush lips just barely ghosting over Jeongguk’s scent gland with each breath. His trembling subsides shortly after, the distress fading from his scent until it’s gone completely, but Jimin doesn’t pull away or try to leave, not even when Tae comes over to check on him.

“You can get up if you want to,” Jeongguk whispers to him, long fingers playing with the hair at the base of Jimin’s neck, “I won’t be mad.”

But Jimin shakes his head and presses a little closer, “Alpha told me to stay.”

“Mmm… alpha did tell you to stay,” Jeongguk agrees, unable to hold back the pleased, rumbling growl that comes out of him, “and you’re so good for alpha, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Jimin whispers, “like being good for alpha.”

The rest of the room feels distant, it’s late enough now that quite a few people have gone home. His teammates have all drifted to different parts of the living room, the game over and the television off, and it feels like he’s in his own little world with Jimin, surrounded by the sweet smell of magnolias and rain. The omega has his nose pressed to Jeongguk’s scent gland now, his little hands clutching the sides of his shirt like he’s afraid to let go. Jeongguk has one arm wrapped around his waist, his fingertips under his shirt and pressing into warm skin.

Both Jeongguk and his wolf like Jimin like this, they like him pliant and soft, willing and needy. It does things to him, to them, that no other fling or partner has ever done. It makes him want to protect Jimin, but there’s something else there too…

The need to command him.

He bites his lip as he looks down at the omega in his arms, thoughts whirling around the sudden realization that he could have Jimin in bed like this, desperate and eager to do what Jeongguk tells him, and he could tell him anything. Images spill into his mind unbidden, similar to the ones he imagined when he’d touched himself while thinking about Jimin. Him kneeling in front of Jeongguk, mouth open and begging for his cock, tears in his eyes and slick dripping down his thighs because he wants Jeongguk so badly, loves having his throat fucked so much, that he’d damn near close to coming from that alone.

He cuts those thoughts off after a few indulgent moments, aware that he’ll get hard if he dwells on those images for too long. Jimin doesn’t need that, not tonight anyway, but in the morning they are going to talk, and then Jeongguk hopes they'll come to an understanding about what these last couple of weeks have meant.

More people are leaving, but Jeongguk just sits there, holding onto his omega as the music grows quieter and one by one people leave. He feels Jimin’s weight grow heavy in his arms, the grip he had on his shirt loosening until it goes slack completely, his cheek cushioned on Jeongguk’s shoulder, lips brushing over his neck with every breath.

Jin stops from where he’s wandering out the living room gathering empty cups as he goes, “Tae fell asleep upstairs, Yoongi says he can drive him home later if you want to head out.”

Jeongguk shifts slightly, Jimin heavy in his arms, “I think I will— tell Tae I took Jimin back to my place.”

“Can do,” Jin says with a smile, “and Kook?”

“Yeah?”

“You did good, staying with Jimin instead of picking a fight, you know?” He throws a glance at Namjoon, who is at the front door, bidding a handful of guests goodbye, “There’s a lot of talk about what we want in our alphas, but at the end of the day, we just want someone who cares” He picks up Jeongguk’s leather jacket from where it’s lying discarded nearby and drapes it over Jimin’s back, “Have a good rest of your night, yeah?”

Jeongguk thinks he gets it, as he stands with Jimin in his arms and the little omega curls in all close and warm. He bids Jin goodnight and heads for the door, where Namjoon gives him a warm smile, “Don’t worry,” he says softly, “Eunwoo has been removed from the invite list, I’m sorry about that, man.”

“It’s not your fault,” Jeongguk replies, “thanks for having us.”

“Until next time,” Namjoon says with a casual salute, “get home safe.”

The night is briskly cold as he walks down the driveway, he never even finished his single glass of whiskey, and had stopped drinking entirely a few hours ago, so the cold bites even fiercer as he approaches his car, and a soft wind makes Jimin whimper and burrow into his chest, “Almost to the car, I’m going to have to put you down,” Jeongguk whispers, “there you go, easy now,” he lowers Jimin to the ground and makes sure he’s steady on his feet before grabbing his car keys and unlocking the door. Once the omega is settled in the passenger seat, he takes his jacket and drapes it over Jimin who grabs at it sleepily and buries his nose in the collar. Y ou still have my letterman , Jeongguk thinks fondly as he brushes Jimin’s golden bangs from his eyes, looks like I might lose another jacket to you soon.

He closes the car door as gently as possible and walks around to the drivers side, pausing a moment before starting the car to just look at Jimin. To take in the sight of his soft lips and his strong jaw and his perfect nose, and then for a single, fleeting and indulgent moment, what it will look like to have him naked and begging in bed.

His anticipation is fierce, he grabs the steering wheel tightly and flexes his grip for a moment. He lets himself think about how easy it will be to maneuver Jimin in bed, then with a harsh sigh, starts the engine and heads for home. Hobi is out of town for a dance showcase, so the apartment is dark and quiet as Jeongguk heads up, Jimin sleepy and quiet as they ride the elevator upstairs, tucked in neatly to Jeongguks side and blinking cutely at the bright lights of the hallway. He’s holding onto one of Jeongguk’s hands with both his own, ducking his head to hide his face as he yawns.

“I don’t want to impose,” he whispers as Jeongguk unlocks the door, “if you want I can wait a little while to wake up then call a cab to take me back to the dorms, I—”

Jeongguk can’t seem to hold back his growls tonight, a soft snarl filling the silence as Jimin cuts himself off and stares at him, wide eyed.

Jeongguk swallows back the sound as best he’s able, “Sorry,” he mutters, “I just… don’t want you out of my sight tonight… my wolf doesn’t either.”

Jimin looks up at him, and he can see the questions in his eyes, so he steps forward and cups his cheek, “I think we should talk in the morning though, hm?” He asks, thumb brushing tenderly over Jimin’s soft skin.

“About what?” Jimin whispers.

Jeongguk leans down and presses a kiss to his friend's forehead, “I think you know, omega.”

Jimin makes a small, strangled sound in the back of his throat, but he nods and follows Jeongguk down the hall, where the two get ready for bed like they have countless times before, moving around each other with the familiarity of friends, of partners. Of mates , his wolf helpfully supplies, and Jeongguk nearly chokes on his toothpaste at that thought, because someone is eager, aren’t they? But then he glances at Jimin, his face freshly scrubbed and his hair damp from the shower and the word doesn’t seem that big or scary anymore.

But still, one thing at a time.

They climb into bed and Jeongguk pulls Jimin close, another routine moment that feels so familiar and yet so wildly different. Everything’s changed now, he thinks as he noses into Jimin’s hair, and he can’t wait to show his omega just how different it is.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jimin wakes the next morning to an empty bed, he whines a little as he noses into the place Jeongguk should be, searching blindly for the alpha because he refuses to open his eyes. Last night returns to him in bits and pieces as he wakes, Eunwoo stealing a kiss, Jimin’s shame and anger, and then Jeongguk’s strong arms and the soft, small way he’d felt when he was safe in his lap, like it was an island far removed from the rest of the world, like nothing could touch him while he was there.

He goes very still thinking about that, face buried in Jeongguk’s pillows and surrounded by his scent. Jeongguk had said they would talk more about it today, whatever it was, and Jimin finds himself both thrilled and a little afraid. But then the sound of something sizzling on a hot pan calls to him through the half-open door, and all his previous thoughts are forgotten as his stomach begins to growl.

A few minutes later he finds Jeongguk, shirtless in the kitchen, his gray sweatpants hanging low on his narrow hips. Jimin wants to touch, wants to ease himself up against the alpha until their bodies are aligned and wants to scatter kisses across the tan expanse of skin with its treasure map of freckles. But he doesn’t know if he’s allowed until he hears a warm, deep laugh and Jeongguk throws a glance over his shoulder, “C’mere, baby,” he coaxes, and Jimin’s halfway across the kitchen before he continues, “take what you need from hyung.”

Jimin bites back another whimper, he’s been doing that a lot lately, something about Jeongguks demeanor leaving him nonverbal and needy, and with anyone else Jimin might be frustrated, but with Jeongguk, it just feels right. So he pads across the kitchen on silent, bare feet and wraps his arms around Jeongguk like he has thought about doing for years, and begins to press kiss after kiss to his skin, nuzzling and hungry for the scent of him, the heat of his alpha body. His omega is a mess inside of him, just as needy as Jimin, and it’s not long before he feels himself growing hard, his scent getting sweeter, and the slick beginning to gather.

Jeongguk groans a little, no doubt smelling Jimin’s arousal, “Okay, that’s enough,” he says firmly, and though Jimin doesn’t want to stop, he does, releasing his hold on Jeongguk and stepping back, toes curling a little when Jeongguk hums and murmurs, “Good boy.”

He’s finding that he really, really likes being called that; he likes the way it sounds coming from Jeongguk’s lips, like the way it makes him feel, like he’s melting, like he’s honey and beeswax gone soft in the sun.

"Baby, I think we need to talk about a few things," Jeongguk says gently, and Jimin can almost feel the blood draining from his face at those words, the weight that they hold going far to negate the softness of his voice when he says baby. This is it, Jimin thinks to himself, this is the moment I find out whether or not our friendship is over.

He takes a step back from the alpha and watches as Jeongguk plates their breakfast, "I made us breakfast," he says, "sit down, Jimin, let's talk."

Jimin nods and retreats to the table, watching silently as Jeongguk sinks into the seat across from him. The pancakes smell divine, but Jimin can barely stomach it, suddenly nervous as he watches Jeongguk take a bite, "Aren't you hungry?" He asks, eyes wide and hopeful as he watches Jimin, and it’s really not fair how cute Jeongguk is at times, and how devastatingly hot it is at others. It’s this insane dichotomy that sometimes gives Jimin whiplash, like how right now, Jeongguk is lifting a piece of kimchijeon up and offering it to Jimin, but the moment he leans forward and opens his mouth, Jeongguk’s gaze darkens and becomes more focused, and all he’s doing is take a bite of food.

He feels a little overwhelmed as he leans back and watches Jeongguk take his own bite, but then he swallows and sighs, “So um…” Jimin reaches for his chopsticks, more to do something with his hands than to really eat, because all the butterflies in his stomach are making him feel ill. “I think it’s fairly obvious that I like you,” he practically whispers the words, his cheeks bright from blushing and his eyes downcast, “I have for a while, but I didn’t want to say anything because I was afraid of ruining our friendship… but I think now, that maybe you like me too?”

He glances up to find Jeongguk watching him, chin propped up on his palm and a look in his eyes like Jimin is a treasure, the final wonder of the world and newly discovered by the alpha, “Jimin,” Jeongguk says, one long finger tracing the rim of his coffee cup as he stares at the omega, “I’d like to court you…” he trails off and leans forward, “and I’d like to fuck you.”

Jimin’s world promptly turns upside down.

But Jeongguk is not done talking, “I want to do this right, because that’s what you deserve. I want us to be exclusive, I want to take you on dates, and I don’t want to have to worry about another alpha stepping in and trying to take you from me.”

Jimin laughs, he can’t help it, because not only is Jeongguk saying everything he’s always wanted to hear, he also seems to think that there are other alphas that stand a chance when compared to him, but to Jimin, there is only ever Jeongguk, “I think,” he says, feeling shy but forcing himself to make eye contact so that Jeongguk knows he’s sincere, “I want those things to. But there’s something else I need to talk to you about, too.”

As busy as their lives are, Jimin hasn’t had as much time as he’d like to read up on why he reacts to Jeongguk the way he does, but he’s gotten a couple chances here and there, and now he gets it, and he knows it’s something they need to discuss, “I um…” he wets his lips, not entirely sure about how to begin, but Jeongguk seems to catch on quickly, because of course he does, and saves Jimin once again.

“Is this about our dynamic? How we react to each other?” Jeongguk asks, “Because I’ve noticed you tend to get very… submissive sometimes.”

The word alone is enough to do something to Jimin, and he knows his scent must shift as well because he sees Jeongguk’s nostrils flare and his chest expand as he breathes it in. He can’t help it, he’s excited, wants to explore what this means for them, wants to understand and to play around with it, and he’s incredibly grateful that Jeongguk seems to be on the same page.

“I do,” he admits quietly, “I’ve done some reading here and there, and I think I’d like to try being in that sort of relationship with you.”

“You mean a dom-sub relationship?”

Jimin nods, “I mean… maybe not all the time? But… most of the time? Like, I’m sure there are going to be occasions where I just want to… where I don’t want to—” he cuts himself off and shakes his head, “this is so hard to talk about!” he laughs at himself a little as he hides his blushing face in his hands, and it gets a smile out of Jeongguk.

“I get it,” Jeongguk says, reaching across the table to take one of Jimin’s hands, “but we’re friends first, remember, so we have to talk about this, I want us to always be open about what we need and want.”

“You’re so mature, hyung,” Jimin teases, “lucky me getting to fall for an older alpha who will take care of his cute little omega.”

A whisper of scarlet runs through Jeongguk's eyes, even though Jimin’s tone was light and his words teasing, “Hmm… I like it when you call yourself mine,” he murmurs, “I’m excited to…” he trails of, wets his lips, lets his eyes dance all over Jimin’s features, “I’m excited to do everything with you,” he says finally, “be with you in every way, I…” he laughs softly and shakes head, “I don’t know why it took me so long to realize it, but… it’s you Jimin, maybe it’s been you since day one, but it certainly is you now.”

“Be mine?” He asks, giving the hand he holds a gentle squeeze.

Jimin smiles until he can’t see, and he knows his scent must be blossoming, the little kitchen becoming a magnolia grove, the air sweet and heavy with his happiness, “Kookie, I already was.”

Another flash of red in the alphas gaze, this time accompanied by the proud little smirk of someone who knows they’ve won, "Come here," Jeongguk pushes his chair back from the table and Jimin rises happily to stand in the space between his legs.

"Hi," he whispers as Jeongguk reaches out and rests his large hands on his waist, his own rainy day scent blooming happily as he looks the omega up and down, laughing a little as he digs his fingers into his hips, tickling him slightly. Jimin leans forward and bumps his nose gently against Jeongguk's, giggling a little as the alpha wrinkles his and gives a soft-mock growl, nipping at the air as he pulls Jimin in closer, and the omega thinks that it will be so good to fall further than this, that being in love with Jeongguk will come as naturally as breathing, and could be just as vital to his survival.

"Hello Jimin," Jeongguk whispers, "may I kiss you now?"

"I would like that so much," Jimin whispers back, "I would like that more than anything."

Jeongguk tugs him a little closer, till their heat pours into each other, his breath ghosts over Jimin's lips for a handful of heartbeats, and though everything in Jimin wants to surge forward to meet him halfway, he holds back, letting Jeongguk take his time, letting him have control. At first the kiss is no more than the barest brush of lips, soft and full of promise, but then he comes back diving in with a confidence that makes Jimin’s toes curl as leans into the kiss. He’s been waiting so long for this moment, never certain it would come at all, and now that he’s here… now that he’s here.

Jeongguk kisses like he does everything else, with a brash surety that this is what he wants, what he deserves. He gently takes hold of Jimin’s chin and angles him sideways, deepening the kiss with a swipe of his tongue across Jimin’s lips that has the omega gasping. The moment his lips part, Jeongguk is there, deepening the kiss, tugging Jimin closer before growling and picking him up.

Jimin squeaks as Jeongguk's large hands lift him up by his thighs, forcing him to wrap both legs around his waist as the alpha turns and walks the short distance to the nearest wall, pinning Jimin against it before hungrily returning for a second kiss. Jimin feels weak already as he wraps his arms around Jeongguk’s neck, moaning into the kiss as Jeongguk’s tongue dances with his, he’s drunker than he was last night, drowning in alpha pheromones, the whole kitchen smelling like a typhoon has swept in, a deluge of rain that Jimin is happy to drown in.

They kiss for who knows how long, and Jimin can feel Jeongguk’s growing hardness against his own, both of them straining against the fabric of their clothing, and it’s not long before Jimin begins to leak slick, whimpering as Jeongguk leaves his lips to nip and bite at his throat and neck, sucking bruises into his skin as he presses his cock forward, the pressure making Jimin stutter and gasp. He throws his head back against the wall, not even noticing the impact as his senses are overwhelmed by the alpha who holds him, and when Jeongguk pulls back to admire his work, Jimin sees more red in his eyes than brown, and it makes him moan.

Jeongguk quiets the sound as he surges forward, connecting their lips in a kiss that is far less calculated, replaced by a ravenous hunger, a desperate need to devour, “I’m going to ruin you, omega,” Jeongguk growls between kisses, “have you begging and weeping in my bed, make you come so hard you can’t even think.”

“Please,” Jimin gasps back, “Want that so bad, alpha, want you, I can’t—I—”

Jeongguk silences his rambling with another kiss, growling low in his chest as he bites at Jimin’s lower lip, licks away the sting of it, eases his tongue back into the omegas mouth. Jimin’s wolf is begging for him to submit, to let the alpha take him, and it’s all Jimin has ever wanted too, to be full of Jeongguk, to have the only thing he can think about be Jeongguk. He thinks about being fucked dumb, how he wouldn’t need words anyway because alpha would give him everything he needs, how he’d tell him he was a good boy, how he’d make him feel so good, but wouldn’t let him come until alpha was ready, how he would use him, his mouth, his ass, every part of him belonging to alpha and no one else.

“God damn—it stinks in here!”

Hoseok’s cheerful voice interrupts his thoughts, but Jeongguk doesn’t seem to hear it, or maybe he just doesn’t care. Jimin’s eyes fly open but Jeongguk is still kissing like he’s going to eat him whole, and it’s not until Hobi is walking into the kitchen that the alpha pulls back. He keeps Jimin pinned but actually turns and snarls at his roommate, his pheromones spiking with aggression.

“Whoa, sorry,” Hobi throws his hands up and stops, “I didn’t know today was the day you acted on your feelings, I’ll just go to my room… but please don’t have sex in the kitchen, it’s so unsanitary.”

Laughing, the alpha turns and leaves the breathless pair behind, “I do have to get going,” Jimin says softly, “I’ve got work in a couple of hours, but maybe later we could…”

“Hmm…” Jeongguk says, understanding flashing in his eyes as he nods, “I’ll make sure Hoseok knows he can’t be home tonight, I don’t want anyone else to hear the pretty noises you’ll make while I take you apart.”

Jimin sighs as Jeongguk dives back in, scenting him heavily, hungrily, until Jimin is delirious with it once more, gasping and arching forward to get some friction on his aching cock. He doesn’t know how he’s going to make it through the entire day in one piece, not when he knows what’s waiting for him at the end of it all.

Maybe I can quit , he thinks dazedly as Jeongguk sucks yet another mark into his skin, maybe I can just spend all day in Jeongguk’s bedroom, waiting for him to use me.

The thought gives him so much pleasure that he can’t help but moan, the anticipation of laying in bed waiting for his alpha to decide it’s time to pleasure himself so delicious that he’d be half hard for hours, desperate to get off but not allowed to until Jeongguk says it’s time.

“So needy, aren’t you? Going to come so hard on my cock later, going to take my knot so well.”

“Yes,” Jimin whispers, “Can’t wait for you to take me, god I want—”

“Shhh, I know,” Jeongguk soothes, “but you have work right?” He leans in and nuzzles softly into Jimin’s cheek. “You’re going to go to work and do your job, but all day you’re going to be thinking about me, about how wet I make you, about how hard you’ll be,” he grinds forward a little, not enough, never enough, but the pressure makes Jimin writhe and gasp. “You’re going to spend hours thinking about me, and only me, and when your shift is done, you’re going to come here, not your dorm, and you’re going to let me make you feel good.”

Jimin nods along, willing to agree to anything Jeongguk says at this point; his mind is quiet aside from the commands the alpha has given him, they seep into the cracks of his subconscious like water into parched earth. Yes, he can do these things, he can be good if it’s for Jeongguk— wants to be good for Jeongguk, wants to hear him whisper “ Good boy ,” in his ear when Jimin comes back tonight and tells him that he did exactly what he’d been told.

Jeongguk is looking at him, his gaze still scarlet-laced and heavy, it makes Jimin feel small, pinned in place by the weight of it, but he also feels good, protected, safe, loved.

“Say yes, hyung,” Jeongguk commands.

“Yes, hyung,” Jimin whispers back.

“I’ll drive you home,” the alpha says with a soft smile and a gentle touch brushing Jimin’s bangs from his eyes, “let's finish breakfast first though.”

A less obedient Jimin might argue, might pout and whine, but right now he’s a good boy, right now he’s here to listen to what alpha says. So if alpha wants him to eat, he’ll eat, if alpha wants him to wait, he’ll wait, “Yes, hyung,” he whispers again, feeling floaty and distant.

Jeongguk chuckles and shakes his head, and it’s almost a little teasing, but there’s adoration there too, like Jeongguk is amazed by Jimin, like everything he does is perfect.

And Jimin wants nothing more than to be perfect for his alpha.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

The rest of the day goes by without Jimin paying it much attention; his clearest memory is of Jeongguk driving him back to the campus, his large hand gripping Jimin’s thigh, broad enough to span it entirely, his touch firm but not harsh, just enough to ground Jimin and remind him that he is exactly where he belongs, right by Jeongguk’s side.

He spends his morning helping Tae nurse his way through a hangover, diligent in his care for his best friend, before going to work and doing exactly what he’s required to do, just like Jeongguk told him. He does his job, and he does it well, but the entire time the back of his mind is occupied, thinking about Jeongguk touching him, making him whimper and whine and beg for his cock, his knot, his cum.

Or maybe Jeongguk won’t let him speak at all.

The thought makes a pleasant shiver run through him, how he’d have to hold back his noises because he’s a good boy, and good boys listen to what they’re told. How maybe a sound or two would slip out and Jeongguk would muffle it with his hand, maybe even gag him, or maybe he'd slip his fingers into his mouth, giving Jimin something to suck on while the alpha takes him apart piece by piece.

He’s tired by the end of his shift, but also buzzing with anticipation as he slips out the front door. He has a fleeting thought that he could go home to shower, but Jeongguk told him to come to his place, told him specifically that he wasn’t supposed to go home, and Jimin isn’t going to break his streak of obedience when he can just as easily listen to his alpha.

His alpha, Jeongguk is his .

And he is Jeongguk’s.

His wolf comes to attention within him, tail thumping as it forces him to turn, something primal in him demanding him to look, to scent the wind, which carries with it the faintest hint of rain. And then he sees him, his alpha, leaning against the side of his car with his arms crossed over his broad chest, watching Jimin like he’s prey, not moving, not making a sound, just waiting.

Prey should run, prey should hide, but that isn’t what Jimin wants to do. He walks without conscious thought toward Jeongguk, drawn in by the sheer magnetism in the alpha's eyes, so dark and so hungry, and Jimin…Jimin wants to be devoured .

“Were you good?” Jeongguk asks softly as Jimin comes to a stop in front of him, he reaches out and cards a hand through Jimin’s hair, nails scratching lightly at his scalp, and it sends a pleasant buzz through Jimin’s body as he grips a handful of it suddenly, not so hard that it hurts, but enough to apply the perfect amount of pressure.

Jimin nods, finding words a little distant right now, but that’s not what Jeongguk wants.

“Tell me you were good, Jimin,” Jeongguk demands, voice still gentle but firm and commanding.

“I was good,” Jimin whispers, “I thought about you all day, alpha.”

“Mmm,” Jeongguk murmurs as the hand that’s not in his hair curls around his hip and pulls him forward, “Knew you’d behave for me,” he whispers as he leans in, a low, pleased growl rumbling out of him. “You still smell like me, even though you showered, and you didn’t try to hide all those marks I gave you.”

Jimin shakes his head, “Wanted everyone to know,” he replies, looking up to meet Jeongguk’s now perpetually red-laced gaze.

“Wanted them to know what?” Jeongguk says.

“That I’m taken,” he says, “that I am alpha’s.”

Jeongguks scent spikes with pleasure, “Yes, you are,” he replies, “I’m going to take you out to eat now, I bet baby is hungry, right? After working so hard,” he waits for Jimin to nod, then continues, “then we’re going home, Hoseok is gone for the night, so you’re going to shower and get yourself all clean for alpha, then you’re going to lie in bed naked and let me do all the things I’ve been thinking about doing to you all day long.”

Jimin nods, eager and willing, and Jeongguk smiles before tugging him into a gentle kiss that soon turns hungry, and he knows somewhere in the back of his hazy thoughts that Jeongguk is just as desperate for him as he is for the alpha, and it makes him feel so good. He’s read that submissives are the true power holders in a healthy relationship, and he thinks he gets it now, knowing that everything Jeongguk is saying and doing is just for him, and no one else.

“Okay,” Jeongguk says after he pulls away a moment later, “let’s go.”

Obedient as ever, Jimin steps back and waits for Jeongguk to open the car door for him before falling boneless into the seat and waiting patiently for Jeongguk to come around the front of the car. They don’t talk much on the drive, but the silence is comforting, like a weighted blanket or the lingering echo of a promise made.

Jeongguk finds them a little sushi place that Jimin’s never been to before, and when they walk in, a server asks if they have a reservation. Jimin is quietly surprised when Jeongguk says yes, and realizes a moment later that this is their first official date. The place is quiet, not terribly fancy, but higher class than the places they usually frequent, and they’re led to a little corner booth that offers a lot of privacy from the rest of the room.

“Can I order for you?” Jeongguk asks earnestly, “I don’t…” he pauses and wets his lips, “I know you can, but right now my alpha wants to do everything for you, and I do too.”

“Of course you can,” Jimin says. “You can do whatever you want, I’ll let you know if I need anything.”

A little tension bleeds from Jeongguk and he sighs, “Okay, thank you,” and there’s a flash of that bunny smile, a hint of his best friend mingling with the dominant alpha, and it’s so perfect that Jimin wonders how he ever considered that he could live without this connection they are forging. It feels so easy, so good and real and meant to be, he tucks himself into Jeongguk’s side and lets himself drift a little as the server returns and takes their order. Everything Jeongguk asks for Jimin agrees with, he knows the omega well enough to not order something they won’t both enjoy, and Jimin feels secure in a way he never thought possible.

Alpha will take care of us, he thinks dazedly, in every possible way.

Once they’re alone again, Jeongguk turns so that they can look each other in the eye, “So, I think we should talk,” he says, “No, wait—I know we should talk, so we’re both on the same page later tonight.”

Jimin blinks and forces himself to become a little more present, because Jeongguk is right, they need to discuss boundaries and aftercare and everything else that comes with the sort of relationship they are building together, “Yes, please,” he whispers.

Jeongguk groans quietly and leans forward to bump his forehead against Jimin’s, “You’re going to be the death of me with how perfect you are,” he whispers before pulling back. “So… obviously we seem to agree about our rolls in bed, but I know and understand you won’t always want to be submissive to me, will you want to be tonight though?”

Jimin nods, but then remembers that clear communication is important, “Yes, I want that, I’ll tell you when I don’t, but tonight I want you to be in control.”

“Okay,” Jeongguk replies, “I can do that, but another thing you have to promise me is that you will always, always tell me when you don’t like what I’m doing in bed, okay? We can use the traffic light system if you want, are you familiar with that?”

“Yes,” Jimin replies, “I told you I did some reading to understand myself better, so I have a grasp of the basics, and some idea of what I want in bed.”

“Good,” Jeongguk says, a little flash of scarlet shining briefly at the mention of Jimin in bed, “and what exactly do you want?”

“Praise,” Jimin says immediately, “I don’t like degradation.”

The alpha smiles softly and touches his cheek with gentle fingertips, “I don’t like that either, can’t imagine calling you names, but is it okay if I talk about fucking you dumb?”

Jimin shivers, “Yes, that’s fine,” he whispers. His entire body feels warm and flushed, and as hungry as he is, what he really wants is for Jeongguk to take him home and use him. Patience , he reminds himself firmly, good boys are patient.

“What else do you want?” Jeongguk asks, the hand that was touching his cheek now curled around the back of his head, fingertips pressing gently into his scalp, and Jimin is reminded of the moments before the party, where Jeongguk had pushed his head down so he could put the choker around his neck.

“I like the idea of wearing a collar for you,” Jimin replies, “I want you to push me around, make me get into positions you want me to be in. I want you to fuck my mouth, I want to lay there like a doll while you use me. I want you to spank me, even though I’m going to be so good for you, and I want you to use your hand when you do it, not anything else.”

“God, okay,” Jeongguk groans, “you’re so fucking perfect, how did it take me this long to realize?”

Jimin smiles, “Maybe I just had to do some growing up.”

Jeongguk chuckles, “It’s not like we were kids when we met, but yeah—maybe we both did.” He crowds into Jimin’s space, “Now I can take care of you the way you deserve,” he murmurs, eyes trained on Jimin’s lips, “now I can make you feel good while I make myself feel good.”

The sound of their server coming to check on them makes the alpha draw back, and Jimin misses his proximity immediately, but he’s still a good boy, still patient. He can be needy later, when he’s naked in bed getting teased by Jeongguk, but for now he has to maintain, has to make alpha proud that his omega is so obedient and good.

They talk for a while longer, lay out some more rules, discuss the things they’d like to try and the things they aren’t interested in. They align in every possible way, and it feels amazing to know that Jeongguk is on the same page as him when it comes to their dynamics. They talk about edging, about restraints and blindfolds and gags, and about how Jimin might become nonverbal during their time together, and what Jeongguk will do when that happens.

It’s not a matter of if, Jimin knows himself well enough to understand he’s going to slip into subspace, welcomes it really, because that means he’s given himself up to Jeongguk completely, and that the alpha is taking care of him in a way that makes him forget everything except how good it feels to obey.

Jeongguk feeds Jimin his portion of dinner, every bite, not letting the omega do a thing for himself except to take an occasional drink of water, and when they’re done he pays the bill without a moment's hesitation, though Jimin does jokingly point out that he wants a dom, not a sugar daddy.

“You can pay for the next date,” Jeongguk replies before pressing a kiss to his cheek.

The word date echoes happily around in Jimin’s head, adding another layer of security to the one he already felt. Their conversation this morning comes back to him, about how Jeongguk wants to be exclusive, how he wants to court him and fuck him and be there for him in every way possible. He wonders as they walk hand in hand back to the car just how he got so lucky as to have found the one alpha who was so perfect for him, and blesses his overwhelmed Freshman-self for having gotten lost that fateful day three years ago.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jeongguk lets Jimin shower first so that he can attend to a few things while the omega cleans up. His wolf is pacing inside of him, ready to take the omega, to knot him and pump him full of their cum, but Jeongguk ignores it, because this is their first time together, and if it thinks he’s not going to make Jimin fall apart for at least an hour beforehand, then it’s wrong.

He grabs a few things that’d he’d bought earlier in the day specifically for tonight; a pair of black lace and silk bindings for restraining Jimins wrists, a matching blindfold that will look sinful on him while Jeongguk fucks his mouth just like Jimin wants, and a little crystal butt plug they hadn’t talked about, but Jeongguk hopes will please Jimin when he brings it up later. He considers changing the sheets, but they smell so deliciously like both of them that he can’t bring himself to do it, so instead he makes the bed knowing full well it’s going to get ruined later, and waits.

There’s one other thing he bought, inspired by their little interaction before the party, and Jeongguk thinks it’s his favorite item of all.

There’s no mistaking it for what it is this time, it’s a collar, black, leather, with a little heart-shaped tag front and center that says “angel”, and on either side of it are two, large metal rings.

Jimin comes from the shower looking all warm and soft, wrapped only in a towel that hangs low on his narrow hips, “Take that off and come here,” Jeongguk commands, and without a word or hint  of shyness, Jimin lets the towel fall and comes to stand between Jeongguk’s legs, “I’m going to put this on you,” Jeongguk says, holding up the collar. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Jimin nods, wide-eyed and pupils blown as he stares at the accessory, “Turn around,” Jeongguk commands, and Jimin does, “kneel,” he says, and Jimin does that as well, dropping gracefully to the floor and bowing his head a little as Jeongguk puts the collar on him, “stay,” he says as he gets up and comes around to stand in front of Jimin, “look at me, omega,” he whispers, and Jimin does.

He looks beautiful, his damp blond hair framing his face, his cheeks already dusted pink and his lips all warm and inviting. The collar looks stunning on him as he sits pretty with his hands clasped on his lap and his eyes trained worshipfully on Jeongguk. It bisects the tanned lines of his throat, looking like pure art with the way it’s complimented by the myriad of marks Jeongguk had given Jimin earlier in the day, and the sight alone makes Jeongguk want to howl , “So fucking beautiful,” he praises, “now stand up.”

Jimin’s eyes already have that soft, hazy look to them, like he’s losing himself to Jeongguk’s control, and it makes his cock twitch in interest at the sight, ready to use the omega to get off while making sure he feels just as perfect and worshiped as he deserves.

“Lay down, on your back, and wait for me,” he commands, and Jimin does without a sound, eyes never leaving Jeongguk as he pushes himself back and stretches out on the bed, so lithe and beautiful, all lean muscle and his half-hard cock resting against his thigh, “I’ll be right back, angel,” he whispers and then takes the quickest shower he’s ever taken in his life. Thorough, yes, but efficient, flying through his routine with images of a naked Jimin waiting for him at the forefront of his thoughts. By the time he’s done he is already getting hard, thoughts full of what he’s about to do, what he’s about to give and receive.

He emerges from the bathroom and is struck immediately by the scent of magnolias, but it’s thicker, sweeter, reminds him of Jimin’s scent when he’d run away from him that day on the bleachers, and suddenly it all clicks into place.

Jimin ran away from him out of embarrassment, he ran away from him because the sight of Jeongguk had made him leak slick, and suddenly the urge he’d felt that day returned, the desire to chase the omega down, to hunt him like prey and devour him whole. But he doesn’t have to hunt—his little omega is waiting for him, and from the sweet smell of flowers that hangs in the air, he is already wet from anticipating Jeongguk’s return.

He walks into the bedroom, fully naked, and stands at the foot of the bed, letting his gaze sweep up and down Jimin’s body. He’s half-lidded and still, lips slightly parted as he stares up at Jeongguk, little pink tongue coming out to wet his lips, “Did you touch yourself, omega?” Jeongguk asks.

Jimin shakes his head.

“Words, baby,” Jeongguk reminds him.

“Alpha didn’t say I could touch myself,” Jimin whispers, and he sounds so far away already, what will it be like when they’re actually fucking? “I was a good boy.”

“Yes, you were, I knew you would be,” Jeongguk praises, “alpha is going to use your mouth now, would my omega like that?”

“Yes,” Jimin says, nodding eagerly, “Please use me, alpha.”

“I will,” Jeongguk promises, “I want you to lay there and take it, you said you wanted me to use you, are you going to be a good little doll for me? Going to suck my cock like you were made for it?”

Jimin moans, “I am, I am made for it,” he writhes a little in the sheets, and the smell of slick grows thicker in the air. “Want to be your doll, want to worship your cock, please.”

Jeongguk hums as he begins to idly stroke himself, watching as Jimin grows even more aroused, his body almost melting into the blankets as he watches, entranced, as Jeongguk runs his hand up and down his cock, thumbing the end of it and gathering the pearls of precum before stepping forward and pressing it to Jimin’s lips, staring as the omega moans and opens wide, letting him smear the little drops across it, until it’s all he can taste, “Like that, don’t you angel?” Jeongguk whispers, “Baby loves the taste of my cum.”

“Yes,” Jimin moans around his thumb, words slurred and this is addictive, this power he has over Jimin, the way he can control him. He likes it, wants it; he and his alpha are almost the same being now, hungry for their omega to pleasure his body while they pleasure his. He pulls his hand back, places it firmly on Jimin’s chest when the omega tries to chase it with his mouth.

“No,” he growls, “you take what is given,” he leans forward and gives a gentle warning bite to Jimin’s scent gland. “Do you understand?” He immediately goes limp beneath Jeongguk, whimpering softly.

“Yes alpha, sorry alpha,” Jimin whispers, “I’ll be good.”

Jeongguk’s cock twitches at the apology, “Hmm, you will be good,” he agrees as he climbs onto the bed and straddles Jimins hips. “Did you look at the toys I got you?” he wonders as he picks up the restraints. Jimin nods eagerly, “Do you want to use them tonight?”

“Yes please, alpha,” Jimin replies.

“So polite,” Jeongguk praises, “put your wrists above your head, angel, let me tie you up all pretty like you deserve.”

Obedient, Jimin does what he’s told without hesitation, lifting up his arms and holding his slender wrists overhead so that Jeongguk can tie them to the headboard, “I was going to blindfold you too,” Jeongguk whispers, “but now I think I want you to watch me as you suck me off, want to see the tears in your eyes when you gag on it,” Jimin moans like he wants it just as bad, and if his own hard cock and the scent of slick in the air is anything to go by, he does.

Jeongguk is more focused than he’s ever been as he shifts up higher on the bed, his erection gripped in one hand as the other comes up to brace his weight against the wall. He drags the head of his cock across Jimin’s plump lips, loving the sight of his precum spread across it. He lets go just long enough to pry Jimin’s mouth further open, then slips his cock inside, pushing forward slowly to let the omega get used to his massive length.

But he doesn’t wait long.

The sight of his cock in Jimin’s mouth makes him hungry, ravenous, he knows he wanted this before, but want is not a good enough word for what he feels now. He thrusts forward and Jimin takes his cock so well, gagging a little as it presses into the back of his throat, tears gathering in the corner of his eyes as he blinks up at Jeongguk, not looking away, just like he was told.

“You like watching me take you,” Jeongguk says, voice low. It’s not a question, he is telling Jimin what he likes, making sure the omega understands, “You like it when I use you, makes you feel good, being my doll, letting myself get off with your body.”

Jimin whimpers in agreement, unable to say anything because his mouth is full of cock, but he looks so content like this, like he doesn’t want to be anywhere else, “Your slick smells so good, bet it tastes just as sweet as the rest of you,” Jeongguk says, he pulls back, too curious to ignore his desire to taste, and reaches down to trace a finger down the cleft of Jimin’s ass, pulling it back to find it shining and wet. He licks his finger while staring at Jimin, who watches, mouth hanging open as he takes in the sight of Jeongguk tasting his slick.

It’s like nothing he’s ever had before, and he’s tasted plenty of slick in his time, but this—this is different, it drives him crazy with how good it tastes, sweet honey and nectar on his tongue, and he can’t resist the urge to gather more, running two fingers over Jimin’s hole to gather it, licking those fingers before smearing the remainder all over his cock, groaning because he’s so hard that every touch feels like wildfire on his skin. Once his cock is covered in slick, he pushes it past Jimin’s lips again, the omega whining in ecstasy as he tastes them both, his cock leaking pearls of precum onto his flat stomach, red and desperate to be touched.

He wants to fuck him, needs to fuck him, but first, “Clean my cock off with that pretty tongue of yours,” he commands, “then I’m going to fuck you.”

Jimin groans, licking his length with a single-minded focus, cleaning it like he’s hungry for the taste, the weight of it, hollowing out his cheeks as he takes it deep, “So wet for me already,” Jeongguk praises, “Doing so fucking good, I can’t—” he bites back a groan, turns it into a snarl. “Can’t wait to fill you up with my cock, gonna look so goddamn pretty while I fuck you.”

He forces himself to pull back a moment later, because as good as Jimin’s mouth feels, he knows his ass will feel even better, “Gonna untie you,” he says, “what’s your color, baby?”

“Green,” Jimin whispers promptly, though he sounds so hazy and fucked out that Jeongguk makes him repeat himself just to be certain, “Green, alpha, please, feels so good, love being good for you, wanna keep being good for you, please—”

“Shh,” Jeongguk soothes as he undoes Jimin’s wrists and massages them gently, they’re red from Jimin unconsciously straining against them, but it doesn’t seem to be anything severe, so after a moment of gently touching them, he releases his grip and shifts his weight back, “Roll over, omega,” he commands, growling with pleasure as Jimin listens immediately, rolling over onto his stomach to expose his beautiful back. Jeongguk moves further down and grabs him by the hips, lifting his ass up so he’s presenting to Jeongguk perfectly, and without warning, he lands a sharp smack to one cheek, not too hard, but hard enough to sting.

Jimin moans, voice slightly muffled from where his face is half-pressed into the bedding, and pushes his hips back as if asking for more, “Did you like that?” Jeongguk asks as he gently rubs the handprint he left, “Was I too hard?”

“No,” Jimin gasps, “felt good, liked it a lot.”

“Good,” Jeongguk whispers, then smacks the other cheek just as hard. This time Jimin trembles and gasps, his whole body becoming flush with pleasure as Jeongguk soothes away the lingering burn with his hands before he spreads Jimin’s ass cheeks apart and leans down, ghosting his breath over his wet hole. He runs his tongue teasingly over it, moaning as he tastes fresh slick. He feels like he’s drowning in omega pheromones. His entire body focused solely on Jimin and Jimin alone, aware of every sound, every movement the omega makes. He can’t seem to get enough of the taste of him, licking hungrily at his ass, his thighs, getting every drop of slick he can and having it still not be enough. He can tell already that he’s going to become addicted to the taste of Jimin, to every aspect of getting like this entails, and he’s a happy victim to the spell the omega is casting.

He reaches around Jimin’s waist to finally take hold of his neglected cock, and Jimin keens , thrusting into his hand a few stuttering times before he gets control of himself and stops, “That’s right,” Jeongguk growls, “I didn’t tell you that you could get off, you take what is given, don’t you?”

“Yes, sorry, sorry alpha,” Jimin gasps, “your hand feels so good, though.”

“Good boys aren’t greedy, and that felt greedy, didn’t it?” Jeongguk asks, “Good boys don’t get alpha’s cum if they’re greedy.”

“I’ll be good, I’ll be good,” Jimin whines, “’M sorry, alpha, I promise I’ll be good.”

“Hmm…” Jeongguk says, and he knows he sounds like he doesn’t quite believe him, which makes Jimin whimper, his head dropping to hang between his shoulders in dejection, and Jeongguk can’t have that, can’t have his beautiful little omega feel anything except perfect, “I believe you,” he says, “gonna fuck you full of my cum now, gonna give you my knot, because you were such a good boy, but you have to promise you won’t come until I let you.”

Jimin moans and rocks back slightly, “Please, yes please,” he begs, “want your knot so bad alpha, want you to fuck me full of your cum, want it so bad,” Jeongguk starts to touch him as he rambles, slipping a single finger up and down the cleft of his ass, gathering the slick before pressing against his rim, slipping his finger inside, groaning a little at how tight and hot it is, and he hasn’t even gotten his cock in there yet.

“Gonna take me so well, aren’t you?” He growls as he fucks Jimin with his finger, pressing down on his back to hold him still, “don’t move, okay?” He whispers, “Alpha is going to take you just like this,” he keeps stretching him for a bit longer before he straddles his ass, pulling out his fingers so he can rub the head of his cock over Jimin’s hole, getting it covered with slick before slowly, slowly easing inside until his hips are flush with Jimin’s body, his cock fully encased in tight heat and glorious pleasure.

He forces himself to go slowly at first, easing in and out with as much control as he can muster, entranced by the sight of himself sinking into Jimin, by the way the omega is so small and helpless underneath him, unable to escape even if he wanted to, but from the little gasps and moans of pleasure that Jimin makes, Jeongguk is certain he doesn’t want to go anywhere. He leans down, arms braced on either side of the omega and nips at the back of his neck, making him go even more pliant, quiet, almost limp as Jeongguk fucks into him.

“That’s right, can’t even talk when alpha takes you,” Jeongguk says, “can’t even think when you’re full of my cock, can you? All you can think about is how good I make you feel, how only I can make you feel like this, how I’m the only one who’s allowed to have all of you.” He bites at his nape again, teeth grazing the sensitive skin, tongue lathing over it a moment later as his wolf demands more, demands he take and claim and bite hard enough to leave a mark that will let everyone know that Jimin is his. His teeth ache with the need, but he knows now isn’t the time for that.

He pulls back enough to pull Jimin up by the hips, his ass presented once more, and sinks back into him with a single, smooth thrust, reaching around to grab hold of his still hard cock and giving it a firm squeeze before pumping it in time with his own movements, but gaining speed with his hand even as the pace of him fucking into Jimin stays the same. He waits until Jimin is close, so close to coming—writhing and moaning and shuddering with every touch, and then he stops.

“Alpha!” Jimin cries, and he sounds so heartbroken, so hurt, and so, so pretty.

“It’s okay baby, alpha said he wanted to edge you,” he slows his rhythm, “what’s your color, angel?”

There’s a long pause that gives Jeongguk a moment of concern, but then he hears, “Green.”

“Say it again if you’re sure,” he demands, and Jimin does.

“Green.”

Without another word, Jeongguk starts thrusting with abandon, grunting and growling as he pushes into Jimin, urging the omega to grind back against him with every thrust, “You’re doing so good for me baby,” he praises, “making alpha feel so good,” he can feel his knot growing as he nears his climax, and the thought of them being locked together makes him dizzy, euphoric, desperate, “You gonna come when I do?” He growls, biting at Jimin’s shoulder as the omega nods frantically.

He’s been reduced down to nothing, fucked dumb just like Jeongguk said he would be, the only thing that passes his lips are moans and sighs and incoherent noises, his fists twisted in the sheets and holding on for dear life as Jeongguk uses him. His shaking arms give out on him, he props himself up on his elbows, turns his head and Jeongguk can see the tears of pleasure shining in them like sun touched rain and god, he’s so fucking beautiful—

Jeongguk comes hard, his knot catching on the inside of Jimin’s rim and holding him in place as his orgasm crashes through him, his grinding, pulsing cock slamming into Jimin’s prostate as he gives a final stroke to Jimin’s cock and the omega cums with a silent scream, his back arching as his hips stutter and shake and he thrusts into Jeongguk’s hand, pulling deliciously on his knot as he climaxes, until they are both spent and shaking, and Jeongguk is easing them onto their sides, his strong arm tight around Jimin’s chest as he maneuvers them.

“You okay, angel?” He asks, pressing soft kisses to Jimin’s shoulders and back.

It takes Jimin a moment to respond, but eventually he hears a quiet, “Yes, alpha,” and then the omega is pressing back against him, cuddling into his space as best he can, whimpering a little as Jeongguk’s knot gives another pulse and more cum spills into him. Both Jeongguk and his wolf have never felt so sated, so complete, he knows that he’ll never want anyone else, that no one would come close to being as perfect for him as Jimin is. He sighs, and nuzzles into Jimin’s hair, whispering tired praise as they lay there, spent and so, so happy.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

It takes some time for Jimin to come back to himself, returning from a hazy, distant place where he’d felt nothing but pleasure, where he’d known nothing except what his alpha told him.

His alpha. He stretches slowly, feeling the little crystal plug that Jeongguk had slipped into place after his knot had gone down, whispering, “Want to keep my cum in you,” with a sort of casual secrecy that had Jimin turned on almost immediately. He loves being full of alpha’s cum, he realizes lazily, loves getting used because it makes him feel so, so good. He still feels good, loved and cherished as Jeongguk returns to the bed with a damp, warm washcloth and a glass of ice cold water, which he sets aside as he begins to carefully clean Jimin’s body, his touch so reverent and gentle, a far cry from the way he’d pushed Jimin around earlier in the night.

“Was it good for you?” Jeongguk asks, the look he casts up at the omega is almost shy, and there’s a little flash of insecurity that looks so out of place on the alpha that Jimin is quick to reassure him.

“Jeongguk… it was amazing for me,” he says, or attempts to say before realizing how dry his throat is, Jeongguk hurriedly passes him the glass of water and watches, wide-eyed, as Jimin takes a few gulps and tries again, this time successfully, “I can’t even begin to tell you how good that was for me, it was… it was everything.” He sighs happily content, “I’ve never got that dynamic with anyone before, I don’t think I’d want it, it’s just you that brings it out in me, but it was amazing, everything about it was perfect.”

Jeogguk smiles, obviously pleased, “I’m glad, I… I feel like I lost myself a little there too, but the most important thing was that you enjoyed everything I did, I just wanted to make you feel good.”

Jimin melts a little at Jeongguk’s words, because how did he get so lucky to find someone who could be so scary and intimidating, but also be the softest, sweetest alpha in the world? “You did,” he assures him, “I felt so good, still feel good, really,” he smiles, takes another few sips of water, and sets the glass aside. “Lay with me, alpha?” He asks as he falls back into bed, giggling as Jeongguk drapes his naked body over Jimin's, enveloping him completely. The weight is reassuring, and there are little whispers of electric pleasure shooting from where the plug is nestled in him, reminding him that he is still full of Jeongguk’s cum, and the thought makes him feel content, a wave of comforting heat enveloping him much the way Jeongguk presence does.

He and his alpha lay quiet in the aftermath of their passion, all tangled up in each other in every sense of the word. Jeongguk is scenting him gently, seemingly unaware of the calming pheromones he releases as he does, making Jimin feel even more boneless and soft. He matches them with his own, fingers trailing over the scent gland on Jeongguk’s neck, touching gently, magnolia blooming in the charged air between them.

“I forgot to tell you,” Jeongguk says quietly, “but you look amazing in a collar.”

“That’s good,” Jimin smiles, “because I intend to wear it to classes tomorrow.”

Jeongguk growls, “Yeah? And what will you say if someone asks you why you’re wearing it?”

“I’ll say my alpha put it on me, and only he gets to take it off.”

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jimin floats through the next day.

Jeongguk takes him home after a round of shower sex that is pretty straight forward, but still a lot of fun, and then he’s drying off and getting ready, but before he can get dressed, Jeongguk pads naked into the bathroom and holds up his collar, “May I?” he asks.

“Of course, alpha,” Jimin says with a cheeky little smile.

“Omega, don’t start something you don’t have the time to finish,” Jeongguk says as he forces Jimin to turn around, “I might get myself off and leave you high and dry until tomorrow.”

Jimin pouts cutely in the mirror as Jeongguk puts the collar on, but then he’s spinning him around and kissing his cheeks and nose and eyelids until Jimin is a giggling, limp mess, blush high on his cheeks as his alpha scoops him up into his arms and carries him out into the kitchen, “How am I supposed to just let you wander around all day without me?” he growls, “How am I supposed be okay with people looking at you?”

“It’s terrible,” Jimin agrees, little hands braced on Jeongguk’s broad shoulders, “should be illegal.”

“Yes,” Jeongguk agrees, looking up at him with bright adoration and no small amount of possessiveness, then his expression shifts to something more serious, “Do you have a class with Eunwoo today?”

“Oh, shit,” Jimin says, realization washing over him, “Yeah, I do.”

“Promise me that if he tries anything ever again, you will kick his ass,” Jeongguk says with no hint of humor in his tone, though Jimin can’t help but laugh.

“Isn’t that alpha’s job?”

“Not when his omega is a black belt,” Jeongguk says, “I know you can protect yourself if you really want to, but I am going to ask if I can come along when you meet up with Eunwoo to work on that project.”

Jimin nods, “It’s going to be pretty awkward, probably, but then it’ll be over and chances are good we won’t have to work with each other again,” he pauses, “I can talk to the professor about it, just to make sure.”

“You don’t have to cut off all contact with him if you don’t want to,” Jeongguk replies, “I trust you completely, not only to take care of yourself, but to be loyal to us.”

Jimin beams, his heart almost bursting with how happy he is, “I will, alpha, I promise—and I don’t know if I want or even need to cut him out of my life, but I am going to expect a better apology than the one he gave me at the party.”

“Good,” Jeongguk says firmly, “ he should grovel at your feet really, the fact that he stole a kiss from my omega when all of your kisses belong to me is worthy of prison time.”

“You’re ridiculous,” Jimin says.

“And you like it,” Jeongguk counters.

Jimin shakes his head, but he can’t help smiling, because Jeongguk is right, he really, really does.

*✷.*✵*.✷*

Jeongguk sits in the study hall, bent over his assignment with a pair of headphones blocking out the chatter around him. He feels more than sees the chair at his side getting pulled back, then his senses are assaulted a moment later by the strong scent of vanilla. He looks up and sees the same omega from a few weeks back sitting in the seat like she owns it, and Jeongguk bites back a growl. Just because he’s annoyed that she took his omega’s seat doesn’t mean he has to go feral.

“Hi,” she says with feigned sweetness, “how are you, Kookie?”

“It’s Jeongguk,” he replies, “and I’m fine.”

She pouts but it isn’t as cute as Jimin’s pout, and so Jeongguk remains unaffected, watching with growing annoyance as she flounces uselessly in her seat for a moment before asking, “Is it true then?”

“Is what true?” He asks.

“That you’re dating Jimin?”

He rolls his eyes, “What are you? Sixteen?” He asks, “Yes, I’m dating Jimin. Yes, we are incredibly happy together. Yes, he satisfies me in every possible way a partner could ask for. No, I will not give you a chance.” He leans back and crosses his arms over his chest, “There, did I miss anything?”

He hears the sound of a distant laugh and his whole demeanor changes, it’s like the omega in front of him, as well as the rest of the world, disappears completely, and all that’s left is the sound of Jimin’s approach. He stands up and turns in time to see Jimin’s face light up with joy, and isn’t even aware when the girl next to him leaves in a huff, her hopes and dreams of snagging the Jeon Jeongguk dashed to pieces by a blond omega with a pretty smile and a fierce spirit, who is everything Jeongguk could ever hope for, ever wish for, ever love.

When he looks at Jimin he sees forever, and that same light shines back at him from Jimin’s gaze, a bright eternity where they always have each other, and no one can take that away.

“Jeongguk!” Jimin calls to him happily, all wrapped up in a leather jacket that Jeongguk hasn’t gotten to wear in weeks, not since a fateful night where all the pieces of their togetherness had fallen into place. He looks radiant, glowing under the fluorescent lights, more beautiful with every passing day, and he practically runs the remaining distance towards Jeongguk, flinging himself into the alpha’s arms with a happy smile.

“Missed you, Kookie,” he whispers.

“Missed you too, little prince.” Jeongguk says.

Jimin leans in and whispers something else to Jeongguk, something so quiet he has to strain to catch the words, wiggling his hips a little as he does. Jeongguk’s hands tighten reflexively around his waist as he listens, and he can barely contain his low, hungry growl.

“All day?” He asks, just to make sure.

“All day,” Jimin agrees, giggling like the little tease he is.

“Well then a couple more hours won’t hurt,” Jeongguk says, releasing his hold on his boyfriend and laughing when the omega whines softly, “You know I’ll take care of you once we’re back home,” he says, referring to the apartment where Jimin now spends the vast majority of his time, “baby just has to be good. Can you manage that?”

“I can be good, alpha,” Jimin whispers, back to being demure.

“I know you can;—always the best for me.” They sit down and Jimin wrinkles his nose slightly.

“Why is it this seat that always smells like someone just got dumped?” He asks before getting up and switching the chair with one from the other side of the table, but Jeongguk just shrugs.

“I wouldn’t know anything about that,” he says.