Chapter Text
"For someone as tightly-wound as you are all the time, I would expect timeliness to be included in your list of things to be anal about.” Taehyung raises an eyebrow at Jimin while holding the door open.
Jimin rolls his eyes. "Are you gonna let me in or not?”
"I dunno,” Taehyung muses. "Are you gonna apologize to Yoongi for delaying the dinner he spent three hours making? He’s been crying for the last fifteen minutes.”
Jimin stares Taehyung down, refusing to give in to his innocent but annoying attempt to shame him for his habit of running late to everything.
"Well, I guess I’ll just take this nice, expensive alcohol home with me because my best friend has clearly replaced me.” Jimin starts to turn away but is hauled through the open door in a bear hug from behind as Taehyung whines loudly.
"Nooooo Jimin-ah, get back here. You have to meet the new guy."
"What new guy?"
Taehyung continues as if he hasn't heard Jimin's question. "He’s so handsome. Beautiful even. Face like sculpted marble and, if the size of his hands is anything to go by, a huge-"
"Tae-yah, I love you, but if you finish that sentence I'm leaving." Jimin's head is starting to hurt at the thought of entertaining a stranger.
Taehyung is wiry and surprisingly strong as he half-drags Jimin towards the kitchen. He plops Jimin down on a bar stool and takes the alcohol from his arms.
“You look like you need a drink,“ Taehyung says as he twists open a soju bottle and pours two shots into glasses he seems to have conjured out of thin air. He hands one to Jimin, cheers, then taps the counter and downs it. Jimin mirrors him and sighs as the liquid slides down his throat and settles warm in his belly. He feels a little of the tension melt away but not enough to let Taehyung off the hook.
Jimin can hear the sounds of clanking silverware and muffled voices from the dining room. “You started without me.”
“Yeah, we did,” Taehyung replies flatly. “Why don’t you go tell Yoongi how upset you are about it. I wanna watch what happens.”
Taehyung doesn’t miss a beat as he grabs the bottles of alcohol, loops his arm through Jimin’s, and tugs him towards the sounds and smells of dinner. It’s been a long day. A long month, actually. Jimin’s been looking forward to letting go, even if he is dreading the look Yoongi will probably aim at him for being late. But now his anticipation sours alongside the alcohol in his stomach. He's usually the first one to welcome a new friend, but tonight that feels like a gargantuan task.
“His name is Jin, and I’m pretty sure you’re gonna marry him,” Taehyung whispers in Jimin’s ear as they step through the opening into the dining area.
Jimin scoffs but almost chokes as his eyes land on the only stranger at the table full of his friends. He blinks a few times to make sure his eyes are functioning properly because the man sitting across from Yoongi is perfect. And, not perfect in an artificial way, but, in a 'I won the genetic lottery and have taken full advantage of it' kind of way.
Taehyung smacks his back a couple of times as he ushers him to the seat next to Jin. Perfect.
“Jin-hyung, this is Jimin. Jimin-ah, meet Jin.” Taehyung carelessly pushes Jimin into his seat as he turns towards Jin. “He might look like a cupcake,” he adds, pointing at Jimin, “but this one will stab you if provoked. Otherwise, he’s fairly harmless, tiny but handsome, and currently single.”
Jimin almost chokes again and then smacks Taehyung’s arm.
“See.” Taehyung widens his eyes at Jin. “Vicious.”
Jin, gorgeous face and perfect smiling teeth, bows slightly as he reaches his hand towards Jimin. “Nice to meet you, Jimin-ssi. I’ve heard a lot about you in the twenty minutes you weren’t here.”
Jimin is equal parts enchanted, embarrassed, and annoyed at being called out by a complete stranger.
“Uh, yeah, good to meet you, Jin-ssi,” he stammers out, tripping over his tongue as he bows back and shakes the other man’s hand. It’s warm and smooth and absolutely swallows Jimin’s hand whole, but he notices bony knuckles and slightly crooked fingers. On anyone else it might lessen their attractiveness, but Jimin is pretty sure there’s nothing about Jin that could blemish this vision of perfection. Symmetry. Softness. Sharpness where it counts. A long, graceful neck that flows into broad shoulders and a lean waist. He’s sitting, but Jimin can tell he’s tall.
“Is there a reason you were so late getting here this time?” Yoongi asks in his low scratchy voice from across the table.
Jimin squirms a bit under the attention, but now is not the time to show weakness. They will all pounce at the chance to embarrass him in front of the perfect stranger.
He meets Yoongi’s stare with what he hopes is a similarly steady gaze. “Actually, I was late because my instructor grabbed me after class to talk about a competition coming up in a couple of months that she thinks I would be a good candidate for.”
Taehyung leans across Yoongi to stage-whisper at Jin, “Jimin-ie’s a dancer. Very good. Looks like sex on a stick.”
Jin giggles, and Jimin’s face flushes. Choosing to ignore his growing mortification, he continues.
“It’s for a professional troupe that has a tour lined up for the winter. If I win, I get a spot as a permanent member of the team. Like, a legit job dancing.” He can’t hide the excited quiver that shakes his voice at the end. It’s what he’s wanted since he can remember wanting something. Dancing for a living instead of scraping by.
“What! Jimin-ah! That’s such good news!” Hoseok shouts from the other end of the table. As a fellow dancer, he knows the grind. In the end, he chose to teach instead of perform. It's not that he lacks the talent—Jimin would argue that Hoseok is more gifted than him any day—but he got tired of the constant travel. It works, because Hoseok’s the best dance-mom those kids could ask for.
“It’s kind of a long shot, but I think I’m gonna do it.” Jimin reveals a small smile as his friends cheer and raise their glasses.
“To Jimin-ie and his perfect ass!” Taehyung shouts. Yoongi claps a hand over Taehyung’s mouth and raises his glass, ignoring his boyfriend’s narrowed eyes.
“To Jimin-ie’s future!” Namjoon finally calls out from the head of the table. Everyone echoes the cheer and clinks their glasses. From his seat on the other side of Jimin, Jeongguk slaps him on the back with an enthusiastic way to go hyung!
As the noise settles, Jin turns to Jimin with what seems to be his signature smile, all pearly white teeth and plush pink lips. “It sounds like this is a big deal. I wish you luck.”
Jimin knocks his glass against Jin’s, dipping his head in thanks. He’s secretly pleased at being praised in front of the beautiful new addition to their game night.
Jimin clears his throat, finally feeling like he has his feet underneath himself. “How do you know everyone, Jin-ssi?”
“Hyung owns the cafe Namjoon-hyung’s been doing open mic nights at,” Jeongguk interjects before Jin can answer.
Jimin feels a stab of guilt at the reminder that he has yet to go see his hyung perform on one of those nights. He’s been putting in extra sessions at the dance studio and doesn't normally get home until midnight.
Yoongi notices Jimin’s hesitation, perceptive as always. ”Ah, Jimin-ah, don’t worry. You’ll make it, eventually.”
Jimin wills the blush away from his cheeks. His friends aren’t trying to point out the things he already berates himself for, but he feels strangely vulnerable in front of a new person, and each topic of conversation seems to be peeling another layer from his social armor.
So, he shifts the focus. “Wow, a café owner. That sounds like an exciting job. What inspired you to follow that dream?”
“Well, Jimin-ssi, I’m far too good at most things, so, I decided to pick a random path that would make my parents question everything they’ve tried to teach me, and also wonder if they should’ve put a higher age limit on my trust fund.”
Jimin’s eyebrows shoot upwards. That’s not the answer he was expecting. “O-oh, that’s… an interesting way to choose a profession.”
Jin cocks his head to the side, sounding entirely too confident as he replies, “Turns out I’m good at running a café, too. But, naturally, I’ll give half the credit to my dashing good looks and ineffable personality.”
Jeongguk giggles beside Jimin. “Hyung has no shame. He’s famous for it.”
Jimin is thrown off by Jin’s sureness. It’s not that he doesn’t agree, his face belongs in a museum and he’s obviously engaging enough to earn a spot amongst this tight-knit group, but confidence is an inconsistent friend to Jimin. He finds himself lost in the face of so much of it in one person.
It's an effort to stumble out, “I hope I can make it by, soon, Jin-ssi. It must be something special if you’ve got Jeongguk’s attention.”
“Oh, it’s not the café that has Jeongguk’s attention,” Hoseok snickers. Jeongguk shoots him a glare before looking back sheepishly at Jin.
Jin just grins at Jeongguk and winks. “It’s ok, Guk-ah, everyone ends up with a little crush on me at some point or another. You’ll get over it.”
Guk-ah? Just how long has everyone been hanging out with this guy? Jimin thinks.
Jeongguk blushes and goes back to his meal. Jin must notice the questioning look on Jimin’s face and mistake it for curiosity. “I’ll give you until the end of the night. Don’t worry, I don’t take anything seriously.”
Jimin is unsure how to respond. It’s rather presumptuous to assume Jimin will be throwing Bambi eyes at him in a matter of hours. Jin may be dangerously handsome and charming, but Jimin is nothing if not stubborn.
“I wouldn’t count on it, hyung. Jimin is far too busy for things like silly crushes or, heaven forbid, an actual relationship,” Hoseok fills in before Jimin has a chance to reply.
“Jimin-ie is a romantic, hyung, don’t let him fool you. He’s just waiting to be swept off his feet,” Taehyung supplies, unhelpfully.
Tired of everyone speaking for him, Jimin finally gathers himself together. “I’m really focused on my career. I know that’s a cliché thing to say, but this part feels important to get right, so, I don’t really have time or energy to date.” He immediately regrets that last part. “Not that I’m saying I want to date you, or… not date you. Um, I’m just saying that—”
“It’s ok Jimin-ssi,” Jin pats his hand. “It’ll be our secret.”
Jimin is knocked off-balance again and can tell that Jin knows it’s starting to get to him. So, instead of responding, he moves his hand out from under Jin’s and picks up his chopsticks.
“This looks amazing, Yoongi-hyung. Thank you for cooking. I’ll eat well.”
The look Yoongi gives him is indecipherable but may be part pity and part fondness. “Eat all you want, Jimin-ah. There’s dessert, too.”
The rest of the meal passes in amiable conversation. Jin seems to be distracted from tormenting Jimin, due to Jeongguk’s devout attention to every word that spills from his lips. Jimin rolls his eyes several times, looking at Taehyung for validation, only to find him enraptured as well.
Jimin can’t deny his physical attraction to Jin, but his confidence seems more like bravado as the night grows. There’s absolutely no part of Jimin that is jealous of his easy manners and quick wit. He, too, would be carefree and self-assured if he had a trust fund to fall back on. Things in life lose importance when you don’t have to work for them. Unfortunately, everything in Jimin’s life is important since he’s always one wrong decision away from financial and professional disaster.
Still, he catches himself before he judges Jin too harshly. He actually doesn’t know anything about him. Maybe his confidence is a façade in the face of new social situations. Maybe his demeanor will even out as the night grows and he feels more comfortable.
Jimin chides himself and decides to do better at making Jin feel welcome.
---
But after the fifth round of Uno, where Jin and Jeongguk have wiped the floor with the rest of them, Jimin’s agreeability is hanging by a thread. Not only does Jin not need Jimin’s help to feel welcome, but there’s a particular point of the night where Jimin starts to feel like the outsider.
And, okay, Jimin can admit that he’s used to playing cute and adorable to gain attention. He knows he’s attractive and good at harmless flirtation, but he finds himself unable to conjure that dynamic with Jin in the mix. He feels the need to be on guard, over-analyzing everything Jin says. He tries to chalk it up to exhaustion. He’s 100% not jealous.
“Jimin-ssi, I can see your hand, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that today is just not your day,” Jin jokes from his left.
Jimin jerks his cards back towards his chest. “Maybe it could be my day if you’d stop cheating,” he spits back.
Jin gasps with his hand to his chest. “I do not cheat! How dare you question my integrity.” The drama seems to be mainly for the sake of Jeongguk, who laughs and scrunches his nose at Jin.
Jimin is tired, irritated, and a little drunk. He also ate too much, trying to keep his mouth full to reduce the chances of saying something stupid. But there's nothing stopping him now.
“I think you should show me your ID. There’s no way you’re the oldest and, supposedly, most mature person here. And you definitely don’t look 28.” Jimin’s mouth clicks shut.
Jin starts to look offended but immediately softens into a grin. He turns every ounce of his attention to Jimin, leaning into his space and pointing a pair of sparkling eyes at him. “Since I know one of your secrets, maybe it’s only fair that I share one of mine.” He doesn’t blink, doesn’t move. “I’m a very old, very attractive, very powerful vampire. You’ve been under my glamour since you got here. They all have, actually. It’s the only way I can stay like this. Drinking the blood of pretty young men.”
For a heartbeat Jimin does not question these confessions. If ever there was a real life vampire, they most certainly would look like Jin. Just paler. And definitely more mature. The thought of Jin's mouth anywhere close to his neck temporarily short-circuits his ability to form a comeback.
Fortunately, Jin can’t keep the charade going and breaks into a laugh the likes of which Jimin has never heard before. From any human. It comes from his broad chest but seems to stick in his throat, every drawn breath breaking on a high pitch and sounding like car wipers screeching across a dry windshield.
The spell is broken in an instant and relief floods through Jimin at finally having some proof that Jin is a regular, normal, imperfect human. No, not normal, still more beautiful than any human has the right to be, but a laugh like that definitely knocks him out of range of the untouchably perfect.
“I think you watch too many movies, Jin-ssi,” Jimin offers as he tries not to smile.
“And I think you like things like that,” Jin fires right back, laughter still skipping across his face. “Call me hyung. It’s only fair now that I’ve revealed my true identity to you.”
Jimin’s smile widens a crack further as he feels his flirtatious instincts finally kick in. He might suck at Uno, but he invented this game.
“Jin-hyung,” Jimin tests, voice dipping into a purr, “I’ll let you have a taste, if you let me win this round.”
“Yessss,” Taehyung hisses from Jimin’s periphery. “Somebody, please god, record this.”
Jin looks caught off guard, surprise coloring the tips of his ears.
A spark of triumph ignites in Jimin’s chest. He’s been waiting for this switch to flip all night and none of the reasonable thoughts in his head can stop him now.
“You can even choose where,” he says, leaning closer. Close enough to hear the barest hint of a gasp from Jin's mouth.
A muffled chortle sounds from Namjoon’s direction. He’s been on the receiving end of Jimin’s flirtations too many times to count, so he’s probably just relieved someone else is taking the shots tonight. Once Jimin has a target in his sights, they don't hold out for long.
So, he angles his face and lowers his eyelids, lips slightly parted. Just a little more and then things can go back to normal, where the stranger is the stranger and Jimin is Jimin; designated vixen when he so chooses.
Jin is still holding his ground, but Jimin sees his mask crack a fraction and is readying his most devilish smile when something shifts. Suddenly, instead of retreating, Jin leans further in, charging the space between them with a buzzing electricity.
“If I let you win,” he says low and sweet, “you’re going to have to give me more than a soft spot to sink my fangs into.”
Jimin is, once again, at a crossroad. Alarm bells peel through the haze of alcohol, but they aren’t loud enough to stop the next words out of his sinful mouth.
“Hyung, who said anything about your fangs?”
The collective silence around the room seems to stretch on infinitely, everyone holding their breath for Jin’s reply. Several heartbeats later, Jin still hasn't moved. His face looks caught between shock and the beginnings of arousal. Jimin knows that one well.
Satisfaction curls up in his chest and he tastes victory on the tip of his tongue as he holds his breath, ready for Jin to break. The tension is almost unbearable.
“I’ll let hyung win and he can bite me,” Jeongguk’s voice breaks through the stretched silence like a heat-seeking missile.
“Jeon Jeongguk!” Taehyung shrieks and lunges for Jeongguk as the others complain loudly at the interruption.
The moment is officially shattered when Jeongguk’s shoulder knocks into him, jostling Jimin towards Jin, who immediately puts out his hands to keep Jimin from falling out of his chair. One lands on his shoulder, while the other wraps around the underside of his thigh. Jimin’s breath hitches at the contact and he feels, more than hears, Jin’s sharp inhale. Acquaintances don’t normally get to put their hands this close to his ass unless they're dance partners or strangers at a club.
“Sorry.” Jin jerks his hands back.
“Um,” Jimin gulps as he grabs the table to stay upright. “It’s fine. Um, I’m fine. Thanks.”
Taehyung is still berating Jeongguk in the background when Yoongi suddenly shoots his arms upward and fakes a yawn. “Aish, look at the time. We should probably call it a night?”
Jimin shoots him a grateful look before awkwardly pushing his chair back. “I’ll help you clean up, hyung.” He gives a small, unnecessary bow to Jin, then scurries off into the kitchen.
---
Jin’s hands tingle from where they touched Jimin seconds before. He didn’t even get to squeak out a goodbye before Jimin rushed away into the kitchen, but he can still feel the hard, lean muscles of his thigh burning into his right hand.
You’re never washing that hand again, his brain unhelpfully supplies.
“Don’t worry, hyung.” Namjoon clamps his large hand onto Jin’s shoulder. “I think Jimin likes you. He just seems to be having an off night.”
“I beg to differ,” Taehyung interjects. “Jimin-ie was very much on tonight and you should thank your lucky stars that you were here to witness it.”
Jin, still recovering, draws upon his well-practiced charm. “Not to worry, Namjoon-ah, no harm done. He seems delightful. Plus, no one can truly resist this handsome face for long.”
Taehyung scoffs but he ignores it. He still legitimately does not know how to feel about any of it, and that sets an itch under his skin. Nights like tonight usually end with someone hypnotized by either his beauty or charm or both. Not… whatever that was. He's not even sure he's upset about just how thrown off he'd been by Jimin's sudden switch.
Something about the exchange had creeped beneath his shield and left him nervous, thrilled, and entirely unsure of himself. Now, Jin feels an unfamiliar wanting stir under his ribs.
“You ok, hyung?” Jeongguk says, walking up to him on his way to the kitchen. “I’m sorry if I ruined that…,” he trails off and gestures vaguely, “...thing you and Jimin-hyung had going.”
Jin snaps out of his thoughts. “Jeongguk-ah, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Your comedic timing is impeccable.” The effort it takes to force levity into his words as he claps Jeongguk on the shoulder leaves him a little dizzy.
With his familiar confident act shaken, he thanks his new friends for a wonderful evening, plastering on his best award-winning smile that’s managing to smooth over the cracks before anyone notices.
Anyone except for Jimin, it seems.
Not willing to leave with his tail tucked between his legs, Jin strides into the kitchen and hovers over Jimin’s left shoulder as he washes dishes in Yoongi’s sink.
“It was nice meeting you, Jimin-ah. Please come by my café anytime. Lunch on the house.” The sentiment is genuine but the delivery comes off a little forced, if Jimin’s reaction is anything to go by.
“Oh, yes, thank you, Jin-ssi. I'm sure I will see you around.” He barely turns away from his task but does manage to bow deeper than the moment calls for. It occurs to him that no one has ever refused the opportunity to call him hyung before. It’s overly polite and dismissive and rubs Jin entirely the wrong way.
He leaves with haste and a slightly stiffened posture, desperately trying to at least make it to the ride-share he ordered before everything slips out of place.
To his surprise he makes it all the way to the café, through the side door, and up the stairs to his apartment before collapsing on the couch in a rumpled heap. He's never drinking again. At least, not until the next time he drinks.
He can admit that he may have had one too many tonight in a vain attempt to keep up with Jimin. The little fish seems to be able to handle more alcohol than his slight frame would imply, which was the first of several contradictions Jin noticed about him.
Soft but tough. Small but strong. Sharp but gentle. Shy but completely enrapturing.
Jin thanks whichever parent gave him the ability to multitask because wrestling his attention away from Jimin in order to not arouse suspicion had taken all of his willpower. Half of his brain had worked to laugh and engage with the group, while the other half had been cataloguing every move, word, and sound Jimin made.
The obsessive route his mind starts taking has him unnerved and slightly annoyed. And that pesky pull in his chest hasn't gone away. Ok, so, sure, maybe Jimin is marginally more attractive than the average person, and obviously he knows it. He had started the night in the way Jin is used to from others—shy, stumbling, and trying hard not to stare at him. At no point had he expected Jimin to turn it around and give him a taste of his own medicine. It was disarming and had almost throttled him, but he’s had years of practice acting in opposition to his feelings.
His mind tips back to the words that had slipped from Jimin's stupidly plump mouth and slid straight to his traitorous dick.
Nope. Not helping.
He drags himself off the couch to get ready for bed. This was a fluke. Lots of things could explain the way he feels. It’s not worth thinking about anymore, he tells himself. Jimin will most likely not take him up on his offer at the café, and they'll see each other here and there when their friend group is together. He has his own life to live and business to run and people to charm. He doesn't have time for a cute, enticing world of trouble like Jimin.
Everything is ok. He’s still hilarious, still handsome, still intentionally uninvolved. And he absolutely does not think about Jimin’s bedroom eyes and berry-ripe lips in the shower later.