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Jimin only surrounded himself with the prettiest of things.
One of the perks of being unemployed and having access to a relatively large amount of disposable income was he could fulfill his insatiable need for the finer things in life. After all, he prided himself upon his impeccable taste in everything from cuisine to clothes to the people he surrounded himself with.
As such, it wasn't uncommon to see Jimin decked out in the finest of pink silks, ears decorated with fine gold, and the most delicate of tiger lilies tucked in his perfectly styled hair. He would prance around town, almost always accompanied by a harem of ladies that would make any man blush, as he explored elegant tea houses and bought miscellaneous gifts.
Jimin was a man who prioritized taste above almost all else in every aspect of life. He was aware he was a pretty little thing, nice to look at with skin as smooth as paper and lips shaped like rose petals, and in his own unselfish way, he believed surrounding himself with things of equal beauty was only fitting.
And, of course, that sentiment extended to his personal life in the form of his six incredible lovers.
Jimin wasn't the only one with a harem of admirers, not by a long shot. Namjoon, as the magistrate of the village, had ladies fretting over him left and right, always asking if he needed any favors or a shoulder to lean on while upholding his duties as one of the town's central authorities. He was a beautiful, strong man with piercing eyes and a lovely voice that made Jimin swoon, and there was nothing he loved more than their precious head-of-household ignoring the numerous women fawning over him in favor of doing mundane tasks such as picking Jimin up from one of his tea dates.
Seokjin, his handsome physiognomist, was not only the best in his profession in South Korea, but Jimin suspected that most of his local house calls were just so old ladies and young women alike could sit there and ogle at his perfect face. After all, the man had cheekbones for days and smoldering eyes to match, and Jimin would be hard-pressed to deny that his hyung wasn't one of the most handsome people he'd ever had the pleasure of laying his eyes on.
Then there was Yoongi, a drop-dead gorgeous schoolteacher who Jimin wholeheartedly believed should get a raise for the amount of business and publicity he brought to their local elementary school. The man was a joy to look at (a fact Jimin knew all too well), and it was no secret that the dashing young moms of small students would linger around the classroom occasionally to get a glimpse of the cat-eyed man with the perfect skin. Jimin occasionally joined them under the pretense of simply wanting to spend more time with his lady friends, but in reality, he was there to gaze upon his boyfriend with everyone else.
Hoseok was a treasure in his own right. As a royal inspector, women (and men, Jimin thought idly to himself, specifically six men in particular) were attracted to his overwhelming political power and soft, gentle smile. It wasn't uncommon for the man to be seen engaging in conversation with some beautiful bachelorette or another as he attempted to do his work, and Jimin found he often felt a sick sense of satisfaction coil in his gut at the way his hyung never paid them any mind at all.
Then there was Taehyung, who had all the sex appeal in the world and the swordsmanship to back it up. Though Jimin found the danger of his lover's job rather anxiety-inducing, he had it on good authority that many found the prospect of dating a warrior absolutely thrilling. Taehyung had domineering eyes and stunning hair that only served to compliment his ever-poised expression, which elicited squeals from any number of his fan girls whenever he got back from one mission or another.
And then came Jungkook.
Jimin wasn't a fool. He could recognize quality goods and thus respected people who could appreciate good craftsmanship. As such, though there would always be the ever-present tinge of jealousy twisting in Jimin's gut at the way his lovers' admirers could express their affections so publicly and freely, the attention his hyungs garnered never really bothered him all too much.
After all, why would it? There was no word for their attraction to each other, at least not one that Jimin knew of, but courting the opposite gender was of no immediate interest to them. Plus, he could hardly fault the women of their town for absolutely falling over each other to get a glimpse of such handsome faces.
Jungkook, though...
Jungkook was a bit of a recluse. It wasn't bad; Jimin would never utter a bad thing when it came to his maknae, but it was the reality of the situation. Jungkook had come to the town purely by chance. He had been practically delivered to their doorstep, pale and sweaty and bleeding but still so mind-numbingly beautiful in his own wretched way, and since then, he'd never really had a reason to leave.
It wasn't like Jungkook was their precious little secret, but the man was introverted enough that he rarely attended annual festivals or local markets for more than a few hours. Plus, his job as a painter afforded him the luxury of working on a majority of his commissions in the privacy of his own home.
The point was that Jungkook wasn't out and about enough to attract the hoard of pining girls the rest of his boyfriends did. And frankly? Jimin would've (selfishly) liked to keep it that way.
Jungkook was his maknae, and even more than that, he was technically Jimin's only real dongsaeng. Sure, Taehyung existed, but he hardly counted since they were born in the same year.
Jungkook, though...
His maknae was beautiful in ways that Jimin had never seen. In the months after Taehyung had brought Jungkook to their home, before their relationship had been established, seeing such a pretty face eating breakfast in their kitchen, sipping on tea, or painting flawless, delicate strokes with those fabulous hands of his had been torture knowing that there was a possibility that his sweet dongsaeng didn't return Jimin's affections.
Really, it was a mercy that Jungkook had not only been open to the prospect of multiple men dating each other but even interested in exploring it. Had Jimin not been allowed to card his hand through his maknae's hair whenever he pleased, kiss those perfect pouty lips at his leisure, and wake up to those galaxy eyes that always looked at him as if he held the stars in his hands, he would be living in a cruel, cruel world indeed.
In Jimin's opinion, the painter's beauty was rivaled only by his housemates and the masterpieces he created with his brush and oils.
Really, it was a miracle that Jungkook didn't already have a hoard of admirers knocking on their front door asking to be painted in sheer robes and undergarments.
And, selfishly, Jimin wanted to keep it that way. His possessive streak was far from a secret within their little group, which was ironic given that he was the one who went out and flirted with girls all over town every day, but it had never been directed at Jungkook because there was simply no need.
Really, Jimin should've known better than to think that his gorgeous, talented painter boy would stay his hidden gem forever.
After all, such breathtaking beauty hardly ever stays secret for very long.
xxx
"Good morning, hyungie," Jungkook yawned as he stumbled sleepily to the kitchen. He ran a hand through his hair as he forced himself to slump down to sit on one of the seven cushions surrounding their table, trying and failing to blink the sleep out of his eyes. "What's for breakfast?"
"You're looking at it," Hoseok replied from across the counter. He seemed equally exhausted if his eyebags were any indication, but he managed a small smile nonetheless. "There's rice and dried pork for you, baby. I made sure Namjoonie saved some for you."
"I wasn't going to eat all of it," Namjoon mumbled begrudgingly, walking over and gently leaning down to steal a kiss from Jungkook's lips. He stood next to the table, decked out in his usual black, red, blue, and gold robes. He looked far more awake than Jungkook felt, no doubt having been up for at least an hour, and as regal as ever. "I was going to save some."
"Sure you were," Taehyung snorted from the corner of the room. He was lounging lazily against one of the walls of the common space, legs splayed over each other and fingers tracing his sword absentmindedly. He offered his maknae a wink and a flying kiss, which Jungkook grabbed with bleary eyes and much difficulty. "Don't listen to him, Kookie. He was ready to let you starve if it meant he got the last few pieces of dried pork."
"Yah! I was not," Namjoon huffed, but his words held no real heat. "But I am glad you're awake, baby. I'm not sure I would've been able to resist your breakfast for much longer."
"See?" Hoseok grinned cheekily, an action so utterly domestic it made Jungkook's teeth ache. "An animal, this one. I should thank my lucky stars my position with the king is so favorable, or else Monnie here would have me slaving away in the kitchen all day!"
"That doesn't sound too bad," Jungkook offered, mouth twisting into a smile as his hyung began to sputter. He rubbed his eyes once more, fatigue finally leaving him bit by bit. "Are you leaving right now, Namjoonie-hyung?"
"Guilty." Namjoon brought his hands up in apology. "I'd like to stay longer, but...you know. Duty calls. Now more than ever, with everything going on..."
He trailed off, the kitchen's atmosphere suddenly becoming unimaginably thick. Taehyung and Jungkook's encounter with Azrail had been over a month ago, but terrorist activity had only seemed to increase ever since then. Hoseok's fellow royal inspectors stationed in nearby towns had begun to go radio silent at a rather alarming rate, and a good number of Taehyung's war buddies had been showing up in pieces all over the country.
In short, the rebels' objective of eliminating every last individual with any sort of royal accolades had only grown in strength, which was incredibly worrisome.
Plus, along with Azrail and his group of bandits, who were obviously targeting Jung Hoseok and Kim Taehyung due to their obvious ties to the monarchy, the man now knew the name Jeon Jungkook.
That alone was enough for Namjoon to work from dawn until dusk, as evidenced by the fact that he was reporting for magistrate duty a few hours before he was expected.
"Ah." Jungkook chuckled awkwardly. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, not expecting such an innocent question to diverge into something so serious so fast. "I should've figured as much. I'm sorry."
Namjoon just smiled. "Not your fault."
"Oh, for god's sake," Taehyung shouted from the corner. He threw his hands up in mock exasperation. "Just kiss him already!"
A pleasant little laugh rumbled in Namjoon's throat as he reached down to thumb Jungkook's cheek, eyes searching for any sign of disproval before kissing his maknae delicately (they were all delicate when it came to Jungkook, their precious, little dongsaeng who'd thought too little of himself for far too long), huffing a laugh as his ministrations were returned with equal fervor.
"Not going to say no to that," Namjoon chuckled as he pulled away, fingers lingering on his dongsaeng's chin as he moved to stand. Jungkook just sighed, regretfully acknowledging that he already missed the feeling of his lover's hands cupping his face, but he knew he couldn't protest. "I'll be back for dinner, I promise."
And with a fleeting kiss to both Taehyung and Hoseok, he was off.
The kitchen lapsed into a comfortable silence, with Jungkook polishing off the rest of his breakfast, Hoseok reading what looked to be some very important scrolls adorned with the royal crest and an absurd amount of packaging, and Taehyung observing the scene with so much fondness that it almost made the painter want to wither under his gaze
"Where is everyone else?" Jungkook asked after a moment, deciding that silence wasn't for him this particular morning. "Are they...already out?"
"Unfortunately, yes," Hoseok replied, eyes not leaving the parchment. "Yoongi-hyung was up before the sun to go to the schoolhouse. Honestly, if I wasn't the one sharing a bed with him this week, I'd doubt that man gets any sleep at all. He's always the last to rest and the first out the door. It's infuriating!"
"Anyway," Taehyung drawled, interrupting Hoseok's rant before it could become too impassioned. "Jin-hyung has a house call across town, and Jiminie apparently has an engagement at a tea house with some of his lady friends."
Jungkook wrinkled his nose. "Ugh, don't remind me." He vaguely remembered his hyung whispering details about breakfast plans with a few of his many admirers as they slept last night, with Jungkook curled into Jimin's chest and the elder's breath hot on his ear. Still, he hadn't actually bothered to really listen. After all, Jungkook had despised hearing about the 'bachelor's' exploits with random women even during his brief stint as a houseguest, and he found that ever since they'd made their courtship official all those years ago, he abhorred those details even more. "Someone please tell me why we don't kick him out for taking his dreadful lady friends on outings more often than us?"
"You know we don't have the luxury of romantic outings together," Hoseok responded airily. Jungkook clicked his tongue at the far too casual approach to such a soul-crushing subject. "Besides. He's helping in his own way. Rumors and gossip about the whereabouts of terrorist groups are better than nothing, right?"
"I suppose," Jungkook muttered if only to let the subject drop.
"Cheer up, baby," Taehyung muttered, crooking his finger as he beckoned his dongsaeng closer. Jungkook complied, of course, until he was close enough to be pulled into Taehyung's lap. The warrior's sword was kicked to the side, forgotten. Ever since their encounter with Azrail, Taehyung always ensured his youngest was never within arms reach of a blade, lest the memories of Jungkook sweaty and crying with his neck scraping the edge of a dagger bubble up to the surface. "Jimin-ah likes to talk, but at the end of the day, he'll always come home to us."
Jungkook just snorted and rolled his eyes. " I just can't believe he calls himself a bachelor."
"I do wonder why we associate with him sometimes." Taehyung stroked his chin in mock thought before his fingers came to rest in Jungkook's hair, tugging absentmindedly. "Are you doing anything today, Kook-ah?"
"Not really." Jungkook peeked up at the elder, who, in turn, dropped a chaste kiss to his nose. "I haven't received the paint I need yet for my most recent batch of commissions, so I guess I'll just sit around all day."
"Sound exhilarating," Taehyung replied flatly, eyes crinkling as Jungkook kicked him in the shins. "What would you say if I asked you to do me a favor?"
"I'd say, why can't you do it yourself, hyung?"
"Ha. ha. You're hilarious."
"I try to be." Jungkook's doe eyes met Taehyung's sharp ones, a laugh escaping his lips as the elder lightly shoved him with his shoulder before immediately giving in and pulling his dongsaeng back into his chest. Sap. "What do you need?"
"I need a few things from the market. It's my turn to cook dinner this week, and it's come to my attention that Namjoonie-hyung has eaten us out of the house and home."
"That does seem like a problem," Jungkook mused, though he wasn't the least bit surprised. When living in a house with seven very active, very busy people, it wasn't often that they had food to spare at the end of any given week. Though they were far from starving (despite Jimin's whiny insistence that he was constantly dying of hunger and Yoongi's disapproving scowl every time someone swiped from his fruit bowl), with everything going on, it was getting harder and harder to make things such as domestic trips to the market or supply runs a regular occurrence.
Jungkook flopped to the side, his legs still tangled with Taehyung's, but his upper half was leaning sideways at what had to be an uncomfortable angle. He stared up at his hyung cheekily.
"And why don't you run this errand, Taehyungie-hyung? Is the king's favorite warrior too scared to venture into the market alone?"
"Oh, yes," Taehyung responded with equal theatrics, voice long and drawn out as he put the back of his hand on his forehead and threw his head back. "Just the mere thought of shopping for produce terrifies me. Please, dear, brave Jungkookie, will you brave the market for me and share your spoils?"
"Spoils?" Jungkook wrinkled his nose, laughter bubbling up in his throat. "Who are you, a pirate?"
"Just go to the market, Jungkookie-ah," Hoseok cut in. He tore his eyes away from the parchment to wave exasperatedly at the duo, lips pursed into a thin line. "Taehyung's on perpetual house arrest. King's orders."
He gazed upon the painter wearily, who, in turn, offered a gentle smile. Ah. He got the message.
In light of the rebels amping up their attacks, Hoseok's workload had nearly doubled. Though his words weren't unkind, it was clear he was willing to kick both of them out for some peace and quiet if he'd been allowed.
"Okay, hyungie." Jungkook, not one to refuse a stressed hyung anything, regretfully tore himself from Taehyungs lap and trudged over to the royal inspector, who'd taken the maknae's agreement as permission to go back to whatever scroll he'd engrossed himself in. "I love you."
"I love you too," Hoseok mumbled after a beat, because no matter how exhausted he was he'd never refuse his dongsaeng that, not after what happened with Azrail. He looked up from the parchment just long enough to see Jungkook's departing backside as he glided toward his dressing room where his hanbok undoubtedly lay.
"You're no fun," Taehyung flicked a stray grain of rice at Hoseok's head, sticking his tongue out when the elder turned to glare daggers at him. "Lighten up a little!" He wiggled his eyebrows. "You could brave the market and fetch me some produce, too, you know."
"God," Hoseok groaned, putting his head in his hands and eyes nearly rolling to the back of his head. "It's a wonder anyone gets anything done here with all this flirting."
xxx
So that's how Jungkook ended up standing in front of a collection of wooden shops and abandoned clay houses, adorned in a white and blue hanbok with scarves draped all over his body and doe eyes flitting from left to right because he was utterly, utterly lost.
"I could've sworn it was right here.." Jungkook chewed on his bottom lip, glancing helplessly around the part of town that was decidedly not where the market was. God, he really should get out more. The last time he'd gone to get produce...well, he was a little embarrassed to say that he couldn't remember. Maybe it came from a place of privilege, or perhaps it was just a result of him getting spoiled rotten by his elders, who made every effort in the world to show him how valued and cared for he was after so many years of abuse, but food had always just kind of...appeared in front of him when he needed it.
"Left?" Jungkook continued muttering to himself, fingers fiddling with the edge of his sleeves. He groaned internally at the lack of signage, lack of maps, lack of something to point him in the right direction. If he got lost going to the market of all places, Taehyung would never let him live it down. "Or...right? Do I go straight? Is straight even an option...?"
He trailed off and sighed, resigning himself to the inevitable teasing he'd receive from his hyungs and the incredulous scolding he'd undoubtedly get from Jin because, honestly, this display of navigational failure was shocking even to him, before his eyes landed on a very distinctive pink hanbok.
A glimmer of hope sparked in Jungkook's chest as he started forward at the sight of a familiar face. It was a wonder he hadn't noticed it before.
His hyung was sitting with his back to him outside a quaint little tea house, surrounded by four different ladies who seemed utterly transfixed by whatever he was saying. Jungkook wrinkled his nose. Honestly, it was ridiculous how these women had so obviously dressed up in their finest silks and most luxurious robes for this little outing.
Still, Jimin, in his regular pink hanbok and delicate gold jewelry, put them all to shame.
Come to think of it, Jungkook had never interrupted any of Jimin's excursions before. On the rare occasion they crossed paths in public, they usually only spared each other nothing but a sidelong glance. After all, it was already suspicious enough that they lived together. No matter how truthful they may be, there was no point in fueling unnecessary rumors.
But Jimin wouldn't mind an interruption just this once...right? Besides, it was an emergency. His dignity was on the line here.
"Hyung!" Jungkook raised his hand to wave before he could second guess himself, and had he not been in dire need of assistance, he would've laughed at the way Jimin's head whipped around at breakneck speed. "Jiminie-hyung!"
"Jungkookie..." Jimin breathed, making no effort to keep the surprise from seeping into his words. After all, it wasn't common for them to address each other so readily in public, especially not with the elder's numerous lady friends present. "What are you doing here?"
"Who's this, oppa?" One of the women purred, tearing her eyes away from where Jimin's nimble fingers had been entangled with her own to rake her eyes up and down Jungkook's form. "One of your friends?"
"Um, yes." To his credit, Jimin recovered quickly, expression smoothing over to one of pleasant surprise as Jungkook came to stand sheepishly by their little table. "Ladies, this is Jeon Jungkook. He's an artist and a very good friend of mine. You may have seen some of his works around town."
"Oh!" One of the ladies in an awfully gaudy dress of yellows and greens squealed, clapping her hands delightedly. "You wouldn't happen to be the very same painter who created the masterpiece that hangs in Magistrate Kim's quarters, are you?"
"Ah, yes." Jungkook smiled softly, a flush creeping up his neck as he was unwittingly thrust back to Namjoon's birthday many years ago.
He had created the piece in the infancy of their relationship when he was still figuring out how to communicate his affections beyond shy compliments and whispered praises. But where words had consistently failed him, he found solace in a blank canvas and the smell of oils stuck to his hair and clothes. The piece was a big one detailing a bouquet of all their birth flowers, a detail unbeknownst to any passers-by but held great significance to the seven of them. Jungkook had given it to his hyung the night of his birthday, head bowed and eyes glued to the floor, and hadn't even had time to breath before he'd been whisked into his magistrate's arms and had his face peppered with kisses and promises that the painting would hang in his quarters for the rest of his days.
Thought it may not be his best work, it was certainly one of his favorites.
"That's me," He said, cheeks heating up as the girlish squeals increased tenfold. "I painted that years ago, though. My pieces have improved significantly since then, I swear it."
"Aigoo, he's a cute one!" One of the ladies gushed, face breaking out into a wide smile. She pointed an accusing finger at Jimin, who just chuckled awkwardly. "Where've you been hiding him, Jiminie? We could've had two handsome bachelors on our arms this whole time!"
She turned toward Jungkook before Jimin could respond, batting her eyes at him shamelessly, finger tracing suggestively over her bottom lip as she looked the man up and down.
"You are a bachelor, right?"
"Oh!" Jungkook squeaked, eyes unceremoniously darting down to meet Jimin's in search of assistance to answer such a dreadfully awful question. The elder, predictably, was no help, simply staring back blankly. Strange. "Uh, yes. I am...not courting anyone at the moment."
Amidst the excited chatter that arose from Jungkook's confession, Jimin managed to tear his eyes away from his maknae and bring his tea to his lips, trying and failing to ignore how his chest constricted at such a declaration.
"Anyway," Jimin started, voice a bit harsher than intended. He smoothed his hanbok with steady hands, suddenly acutely aware of all the rumples and wrinkles it had amassed while sitting down. "What can I do for you, Jungkook-ah?"
"Ah~" Jungkook started, embarrassment suddenly coloring his features. Jimin pursed his lips at the way it made his heartbeat stutter, and he could only hope that his lady friends didn't feel the same. "Well, I was on the way to the market to do some shopping, and I got a little...lost?" He laughed, a bright, cheery sound that usually made Jimin's heart flutter but now only made him choke on his spit as one of the women sitting across from him sighed dreamily. It was all the elder could do not to glare at her, a tidal wave of jealousy suddenly crashing over him for no reason at all. "I know it's silly, but would you mind pointing me in the right direction? I'm very sorry for interrupting your tea, but I wasn't sure what else do to."
"Don't be silly, darling!" The lady with the yellow and green hanbok insisted, gazing up at Jungkook as if he were a sweet little puppy she'd happened upon on the side of the road. Jimin pretended, god he pretended, that he didn't bristle at the easy way the pet name tumbled from her lips. "Your interruption was no trouble at all! My name is Nari. It's a pleasure."
"I'm Haewon," One of the other women butt in before Jungkook could return the pleasantries. "These two next to me are Hana and Bitna. Please, won't you join us?"
"Thank you for the invitation, but I couldn't possibly impose." Jungkook smiled meekly, softly, beautifully, and Jimin was overcome with the sudden urge to lock his maknae in his bedroom and hide him forever. Briefly, he wondered why he hadn't thought of that years ago.
"You're too kind," Bitna purred, nails drumming at the bottom of his chin. She was a pretty thing, nice to look at, but Jimin suddenly couldn't help but notice how she paled compared to his boyfriend's beauty. It was as if all the things he loved about chatting with his lovely lady friends had been soured instantly with Jungkook's arrival. Now, he could only grit his teeth as those sharp eyes trailed over Jungkook's hanbok eagerly, no doubt imagining what was underneath.
Hah. Jimin knew all too well. Not that she ever would.
The elder scolded himself briefly for such visceral thoughts, but as Bitna reached over the table, over Jimin so her fingers could dance across Jungkook's knuckles, he suddenly found he didn't have the strength to care.
"Join us," Hana said coyly, and it was clear now that she was no longer just asking. "The market isn't too far away. You have more than enough time to chat with us and finish your shopping later." She smiled sweetly, peeking up at the maknae through her eyelashes. I'm sure Jiminie won't mind, right?"
"No," Jimin bit out after a moment. After all, he couldn't very well refuse without the four ladies in front of him asking unwanted questions, especially with how persistent they were that they add a sixth to their little outing. "I suppose not."
"Okay," Jungkook said after a moment, eyeing Jimin warily. He caught the elder's eye and smiled softly, which Jimin begrudgingly returned. "I suppose some tea wouldn't hurt."
"Never," Haewon laughed as Jungkook sat next to Jimin.
She reached over the table to touch a thumb to the painter's cheek, shamelessly grazing over the tiny little scar that had been left there from his youth.
Jimin's hands gripped his hanbok under the table, knuckles going white as he zeroed in on the finger grazing his maknae's face. Jealousy coiled in his gut, increasing tenfold as Jungkook neglected to pull away. Exactly how was it fair that he couldn't so much as address his lover of several years in public, but these girls who had just met him were free to touch him however they pleased?
"You've got such great skin, Jungkookie," Jimin heard Haewon murmur, smile sickly sweet. Jimin just pursed his lips. He already knew that. "Are you sure you aren't courting anyone? I find it hard to believe a handsome man like you isn't spoken for."
'He is!' Jimin wanted to scream, wanted to bat the stray hands away and keep Jungkook all to himself. 'He is spoken for! By me!'
There was no end to the number of women constantly throwing themselves at Jimin's other five boyfriends, but seeing such a shameless display of attraction directed toward his maknae of all people stirred something in him, something primal and possessive, as he fought the urge to grip their fingers together under the table lest they be noticed by someone passing by.
Maybe it was because Jungkook was the youngest. Perhaps it was because Jungkook was Jimin's only real dongsaeng. Maybe it was because he was just too damn pretty for his own damn good, but Jimin was positively sick with jealousy as he watched his lady friends speak so flirtatiously and publicly with Jungkook in a way that he'd been yearning to for years.
Jimin was snapped out of his angst by a bright laugh, ever beautiful and soft and full of life. "I assure you, I have no women in my life," Jungkook affirmed, and something in Jimin's stomach relaxed at the declaration. Yes. No women in your life. Only us.
"Well, would you be open to changing that?" Nari asked lightly, a ghost of a smile dancing upon her lips.
Jimin glared at his tea as if it had personally offended him. God. Why.
"You really are a pretty thing to look at. I'm sure none of us would mind another visit to the tea house with you. Right, oppa? Wouldn't it be wonderful if your little friend here could tag along?"
Oh. She was talking to him.
"I'm not sure..." Jimin murmured, his mask of naivety and charm expertly sliding into place. He pouted, jutting his lip out in a way that Jungkook would no doubt make fun of him for later but often made the women in his life swoon. He blinked up at the sky, fingers drumming against the table as if deep in thought. "I'm sure Jungkookie is rather busy with all of his paintings, and I would hate to have to share your attention."
Nari laughed at that and took a sip of her tea. "Ah, of course, oppa. We wouldn't dream of neglecting you from our usual outings."
Wonderful. Jimin sat back on his heels and hoped that the pleased look that had undoubtedly plastered itself on his face wasn't too noticeable. If these ladies ever fawned over his maknae again, it would be too soon.
"If you're so busy with your paintings, do you think I could make a request?" Bitna asked innocently, but the look in her eyes was anything but.
"Of course," Jungkook nodded politely, pointedly ignoring the way his hyung not-so-discreetly elbowed him in the side to shut up. "I'm always open to new work!"
"Fabulous," Bitna's bangles chimed together as she brought her hands across the table to hold Jungkook's, and Jimin surprised himself with how strong the desire was to slap them away. "So you make house calls, by chance?"
Jimin choked on his tea, suddenly acutely aware of where this conversation was going. He held his hand up in apology as Haewon shot him a concerned look, not at all caring about the splashes of water that stained his beautiful hanbok as he did so. No, his eyes were trained solely on Jungkook, ever the beautiful fool who just let Bitna caress the backs of his hands as if nothing was amiss at all.
Briefly, Jimin wondered if this white-hot jealousy coursing through his veins was the same his other boyfriends felt when he announced he was going on his outings with his numerous admirers. If so, then he owed them a huge apology.
"I suppose," Jungkook answered earnestly, eyes bright at the prospect of a new commission. "It is a little unusual, but I do them occasionally."
"Wonderful," Bitna all but breathed. Hana leaned in suggestively, and it was all Jimin could do not to gag. "Are you familiar with human anatomy?"
"Oh!" And god, how beautifully Jungkook's cheeks burned at the question. Selfishly, Jimin imagined that his maknae was thinking of him, of their countless nights together in bed with nothing more than a thin blanket to cover them. "I suppose so."
"Then how about this?" Bitna asked, now walking her fingers suggestively up Jungkook's forearm. "You can come over to my place and paint me. It would be rather intimate, of course, as I have been dying to show off these beautiful sheer robes I've recently acquired, but I can assure you that you will be paid handsomely for your efforts. Both in coin and using...other methods."
Jungkook squeaked, and Jimin fought the urge to throw up. Alright. They were done here.
"That's okay, Bitna," Jimin answered before Jungkook could say anything. He stood up from the table abruptly, pulling his maknae with him with one tightly-fisted hand. He smiled, hoping it came across as genuine, but he couldn't find it in himself to care if it was. "To my knowledge, Jungkookie rarely paints the human body. I'm sure you can find someone better suited for the job."
That wasn't true. Jimin happened to know that Jungkook had a whole cupboard dedicated to everything from detailed portraits of his boyfriends draped in the finest silks and jewels to rough sketches of domestic scenes so incredibly lifelike that one could practically feel the love put into every stroke.
Call him sick, call him a bastard, call him whatever, but right now, Jimin was reveling in the knowledge that the only people Jungkook had ever painted were his boyfriends and boyfriends alone.
"Besides, I think we've kept him long enough." Jimin smiled sweetly at his entourage of girls before turning to Jungkook, eyes boring into his skull and willing him desperately to agree, if nothing else. "Isn't that right?
"Ah." Jungkook shot his hyung a look that most clearly said what is with you but nodded nonetheless, laughing airily in a way that Jimin hoped would placate the awkwardness of the abrupt end to their conversation. "Jimin-hyung's right, I'm afraid. I really must get going."
"Aw, boo," Bitna pouted, and Jimin had to physically fight back against the crazed grin that threatened to dance across his face. Serves her right.
Nari blinked at Jimin pleadingly in a way that he probably would've found adoring earlier but now only served to irritate him further. "I understand. But promise you'll bring this cutie along again, Jiminie? Please?"
Jimin just nodded, running a perfect hand through his perfect hair. "Of course!"
Hell no.
With that, the self-proclaimed bachelor spun on his heel and marched into one of the nearby alleyways, practically dragging Jungkook by his sleeve as he stumbled through an array of apologies to the four disappointed ladies.
xxx
"What the hell was that?" Jungkook asked crassly once they were safely out of sight. The street Jimin had led them down was positioned between the back of the tea house and the front of a few vacant buildings, completely shielding them from the view of any passers-by or the patrons of the nearby establishments. He glared at his hyung's back as he continued to be guided away from civilization. "They were nice, why did you-"
The words were stolen from Jungkook's lips as Jimin whirled around and slammed him against the wall, and he barely had time to groan before a pair of lips crashed into his, rough and bruising in a way they rarely were amidst their usually sweet, domestic life.
"Hyung," Jungkook panted as they finally separated. The wall the painter was pinned against was on a slope, making Jimin's petite frame seem far more intimidating as he leveraged his position to stare down at the taller man. Jungkook's face was on fire, heart racing from the thrill of being kissed so aggressively out in the open, mind you, and eyes darting desperately back and forth. "What are you- what are you doing. We're-"
He was stopped as Jimin, uncaring of his dongsaeng's pleas, captured his lips again, biting and pulling in a way that was hardly needed because Jungkook submitted instantly. He whined into it, knees buckling and his mind going a mile a minute because what was his hyung doing? If they were caught like this...with Jungkook bracing himself against the wall and Jimin caging him in with one hand threaded in his hair and the other bruising his waist...
"I don't care," Jimin breathed as they separated, mouth lingering near his lover's ear. "Let them see."
"Hyung!" Jungkook all but squawked, suddenly incredibly overwhelmed by the intensity of it all. "You don't mean that, you don't- agh-"
He was cut off by a sharp tug of his hair, Jimin angling his dongsaeng's head up so he could stare down at him. The teasing glint in his hyung's eye that he'd become so accustomed to over the years was gone, replaced by a fiery mixture of passion and something else Jungkook couldn't quite place.
"And they were not nice," Jimin growled, surprising even himself with the sultry cadence that slipped effortlessly off his tongue. He'd never reacted like this before, never experienced a bout of jealousy so intense that he would even consider pinning one of his boyfriends against the wall and kissing him until he was breathless, let alone do it. But, frankly, he didn't care. There was something about how his dongsaeng looked up at him, stupefied and pleading and beautiful, that made him lose all sense. "They just wanted to get in your pants."
"Jimin-hyung!" Jungkook sounded scandalized by the notion, and had the atmosphere not been so intense, Jimin would've laughed at the irony of someone with bruised lips and tousled hair admonishing the thought of someone flirting with him. "They didn't-"
"Please." Jimin rolled his eyes. His lips traveled downward to Jungkook's neck, kissing breathlessly down to his collarbone, relishing his maknae's surprised gasps.
"You are not this naive, baby," Jimin murmured between kisses, teeth roughly scraping the underside of Jungkook's jaw before he finally retracted, a pleased smile ghosting over his lips as he observed his pink, flushed, and incredulous dongsaeng standing under him. "Bitna asking you to paint her in nothing more than her nightwear? Come on."
"I am..." Jungkook trailed off, and Jimin swore he could see the cogs in his head turning. "Okay, sure, but...you know I only have eyes for you."
Jimin blinked, then barked a laugh and delivered one last rough, bruising kiss to his maknae's lips, barely managing to brace his hand against the wall before Jungkook's head practically smashed into it from the contact.
"Sap," The elder breathed as they separated, hand moving from tugging at Jungkook's hair to petting it softly. "That was gross."
"Gross?!" Jungkook yelped, eyebrows furrowing indignantly. "You just kissed me. In public!"
Jimin raised a teasing eyebrow. "You're calling that gross?"
"Wha- no!" Jungkook sputtered, too overwhelmed to deal with his hyungs usual teasing banter and nonsensical innuendos. "Just...what if someone saw! We'd be banished, or executed, or-"
"But we weren't," Jimin purred but allowed a little distance between himself and his dongsaeng all the same. After all, it was still broad daylight, and although Jimin happened to have it on good authority that this alleyway was pretty much abandoned, no amount of primal possessiveness warranted their heads being chopped off. "Besides. Didn't that feel great?"
"It hurt," Jungkook protested, but Jimin could tell there was no truth to his words. For how delicately and preciously they treated him, Jungkook never refused a battle of lips on teeth on skin. "What, were you jealous or something?"
Jimin narrowed his eyes incredulously, gesturing up and down his maknae's debauched appearance.
"No," He said flatly, sarcasm bleeding into his voice. "Why would you think that?"
"Even after all your threats of replacing me with one of your lady friends?" Jungkook wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, stepping closer to Jimin until they were practically nose to nose.
"When have I ever said such a thing?" Jimin asked, eyes wide with mock horror. Jungkook snickered despite himself, but his laugh was swallowed up by Jimin's lips on his one last time.
"You know I can't keep my hands off you," Jimin breathed as he pulled away, and he would've laughed out loud at the way Jungkook's eyes blew to the size of dinner plates if he felt it appropriate. "Not even in public, I suppose."
"Clearly," Jungkook responded, managing to regain his composure quickly despite the circumstances. He was silent momentarily as the two men just stared into each other's eyes, barely breathing lest some merchant come around the corner and catch them in such a compromising position.
"I wish we could be like this all the time."
Jimin hummed in response, a small smile gracing his lips.
"I do as well," He murmured quietly. It was as if they were exchanging some intimate secret, confessing a great, shameful desire. "I wish I could show everyone that you're mine."
"You're hopeless," Jungkook breathed, and he was about to say something more when the telltale rattle of a wooden basket came from just around the corner, no doubt belonging to some merchant or vendor wishing to use the back alleyways for easy transport.
Immediately, the two men leaped apart as if they'd been burned, Jungkook nearly careening into the wall he'd been pinned up against minutes before and Jimin twirling on his heel and suddenly becoming incredibly interested in the shoes he'd picked for the day.
They waited a moment, then two, but no one came. It seemed whoever had made that sound had realized they were making a wrong turn or decided to stop into the tea shop for a quick bite before venturing forth.
Laughter bubbled up in Jungkook's throat as the silence persisted despite the way his heartbeat raced in tandem with the sweat dripping down his back. The thrill of almost being caught both suffocated him and made him feel freer than he'd ever been before.
Jimin just regarded him softly.
"Let's go home," He said after a moment, walking over and pulling Jungkook from where he'd plastered himself against the wall. "Who cares about the market. Yoongi-hyung can stop on his way home."
Jungkook accepted Jimin's outstretched hand easily. "That sounds perfectly reasonable to me."
Jimin tangled their fingers together, brushing over each individual knuckle before letting his dongsaeng's hand fall.
"I do really want to show everyone you're mine," He started after hesitating. Jimin didn't think he'd ever shown his maknae this much unbridled affection in a week, let alone across the span of an hour, but to hell with it. He didn't feel like teasing right now. "Maybe in another lifetime. But for now, this is enough."
"Yes," Jungkook agreed readily, and Jimin could've kissed the daylights out of him right then and there. "This is enough.
"Hm," Jimin hummed. "My gorgeous little secret."
xxx
When Jimin and Jungkook recounted the events of the morning over dinner that night, Jin had nearly blown his top, pawing uselessly at the faint red marks on Jungkook's neck as he yelled at Jimin loud enough that he was sure the entire town could hear.
And despite the knowledge that they had to maintain a particular aspect of secrecy to their relationship, if anyone heard Taehyung mutter "unfair" in response to his Jiminie and his Jungkookie's steamy public make-out session, no one disagreed.