Chapter Text
Jimin noticed it within ten minutes, he was in Jeongukk's place.
The heavy silence and sharp gaze.
He tried to keep his focus on the vase in front of him, fine cracks branching like veins, the surface dulled by time. His fingers moved with practiced care, steady despite the awareness pricking.
Behind him, Jeongukk hadn’t moved much.
No phone. No distractions.
“You’re slower than I expected.”
The voice came out of nowhere. Low, even, cutting clean through the room.
Jimin didn’t flinch. He adjusted his grip slightly, continuing his work. “Restoration isn’t fast.”
There was silence for a minute, then unhurried footsteps.
They stopped somewhere closer this time.
“There are faster ways.” Jeongukk said.
Jimin exhaled sharply, then set the tool aside before turning his head just enough to glance at him. “That is impatience.”
Jeongukk's gaze didn’t waver. It was direct, like he was measuring something that had nothing to do with ceramics.
“Pushing boundaries brings faster result.”
Jimin held his gaze for a second longer this time. Long enough to register the stillness in him. Which didn’t come from patience, but control. The kind that felt… dangerous.
Then he looked away. Going back to his work.
“Then you hired the wrong person. Because i don’t force things, i nurture them. Slow and patiently. "
The words settled between them, firm and unpolished. For a moment, nothing happened.
“Most people would adjust. They’d give the client what they wants.”
Jeongukk said after a beat, voice softer but no less sharp.
Jimin’s hands didn’t stop moving. “Most people don’t do this kind of work.”
Again, a step closer.
Close enough now that Jimin could feel it—heat, presence, the subtle shift in air when someone stands just behind you.
“And you’re different?” Jeongukk murmured.
This time, Jimin did stop, turning fully.
Jeongukk stood there, expression composed, eyes dark and steady. Too intent for a stranger.
Jimin met his gaze anyway.
“I’m saying, if you wanted shortcuts, you shouldn’t have called me.”
“Integrity,” he said finally, almost to himself. “Over efficiency.”
Jimin didn’t respond, and Jeongukk stepped back.
“Continue."
Jimin turned back to his work, but the room didn’t feel the same anymore. Whatever he was being measured against—this was only the beginning.
_________________________________________________________
While leaving Jeongukk's place, Jimin had messaged Hoseok to meet at their usual ice-cream spot. He had to vent. He needed to.
Jimin didn’t even wait for Hoseok to sit down.
“He’s insane.”
Hoseok blinked mid-step, then slowly lowered himself onto the small plastic chair across from him, eyeing the already half-melted ice cream in Jimin’s hand.
“Hello to you too.”
“No... listen.”
Jimin leaned forward, voice tight with pent-up frustration.
“I’m working. Properly. Mind you. And he just stands there, watching. Like I’m doing something wrong just by breathing.”
“Hot,” Hoseok said, completely serious.
Jimin stared at him angrily.
“I’m going to throw this spoon at you.”
“Okay...okay."
Hoseok laughed, raising his hands.
“Continue your tragic tale.”
Jimin huffed, dragging a hand through his hair.
"He questions everything i do, not literally but i know when someone's being snobby prick."
"Maybe he just wants to see how you think.”
Jimin rolled his eyes so hard it almost hurt.
“Then he can go observe someone else. I’m not a science experiment.”
Hoseok leaned in, smirking now.
“But you are interesting.”
“That’s not the point.”
“It kind of is.”
Jimin groaned, dropping back in his chair.
“You didn’t see his face, Hyung. Like nothing affects him. I spilled a little solution earlier on the floor, not even anything important, and he just looked at it like I had committed a crime.”
Hoseok softened a little then, studying him properly.
"And you don’t like that.”
“I don’t like people who think they can judge me without saying anything." Jimin muttered, quieter now.
“At least be clear about it.”
Hoseok tilted his head.
“Or maybe… he is being clear. You just don’t like what he’s saying.”
Jimin opened his mouth to argue, but then stopped. Because annoyingly that felt a little too close. He looked away instead, scooping up the last bit of his melting ice cream.
“He’s just... ugh. Arrogant. Controlling. Weird.”
Hoseok grinned.
“You forgot ‘mysterious’ and ‘handsome.’”
Jimin didn’t even hesitate.
“I didn’t forget. I’m ignoring it.”
Hoseok laughed, loud and delighted.
“Oh, you’re in trouble.”
“I’m not in anything,”
Jimin snapped, but there was less bite now.
“I just want to finish the work and leave without being psychologically evaluated every five minutes.”
“Sure.”
Hoseok nodded, unconvinced.
“And I’m just here for the ice cream.”
_________________________________________________________
By the time they left, the sky had deepened into that soft blue-grey, the air cooler, lighter.
Jimin felt better.
Not completely, but enough.
Hoseok’s presence always did that. Smoothed the sharp edges, made things feel less suffocating.
They walked side by side, shoulders occasionally bumping, laughter slipping easier now.
“...and then he said... I'm the one who should be cleaning the toilet...fuck? You did the deed, you do it."
Hoseok said animatedly, hands moving as he spoke.
“Like...not even hypnotized, I'm doing it.
Jimin snorted. Laughing ridiculously.
“I mean, you do have the face of someone who would do that."
“Excuse me?”
“I’m just saying, you look guilty even when you’re innocent.”
“I am always innocent.”
“That’s a lie.”
“Defamation.”
Jimin laughed, head turning toward him, and that’s why he didn’t see it.
Didn’t see him.
Not until Impact, and Jimin’s body jolted back slightly, balance slipping for half a second before he caught himself. His hand shot out on instinct, grabbing onto the nearest thing.
Fabric. Smooth. Expensive. Cold.
And then, sticky.
Jimin froze and then slowly he looked down. Bright blue smeared across white.
His ice cream.
“Oh shit.”
The words left him under his breath, dread settling in immediately.
“I... I’m so....”
He looked up, and everything else fell away.
Jeon Jeongukk stood in front of him. Not surprised. Not annoyed. Just… still.
His gaze on the stain.
Hoseok went quiet beside.
Jimin swallowed.
“Mr. Jeon, I didn’t see you. I... we were just... I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to...”
Jeongukk's eyes lifted then, slow and deliberate, settling on Jimin’s face.
And there it was again. That same look. Like he was reading him.
Jimin felt his irritation flicker back despite himself.
“It was an accident.”
“You weren’t paying attention.” Jeongukk said.
Flat. Not even accusatory, which somehow made it worse.
Jimin blinked.
“Yes… that’s what an accident usually involves.”
Hoseok made a small noise. Half warning, half silent 'please don’t escalate this'.
"Maybe we should just....”
“I’m sorry,” Jimin cut in, eyes locked onto Jeongukk.
“Do you want me to replace it? Pay for it?"
Jeongukk looked down once more at his shirt, fingers brushing lightly over the stain. acknowledging it.
Then he looked back at Jimin.
“You’re careful with your work..”
Jeongukk continued. Tone calm, controlled. “Precise. but not with everything else.”
The words landed sharp. Jimin’s jaw tightened.
“You don’t know me well enough to make that call.”
“Hmm. Be more careful, It would be a waste otherwise.”
Jimin stared at him. “A waste of what?”
But Jeongguk was already turning. Ending things on his own terms. Leaving before anything could be answered.
Jimin watched him go, frustration bubbling right back up, sharper now, mixed with something else he couldn’t quite place.
Hoseok let out a breath beside him. “Okay...”
he said slowly. “I take it back. That man is not normal.”
Jimin huffed, crossing his arms. “Told you.”
A pause.
Then Hoseok added, quieter, “But he definitely notices you.”
Jimin didn’t respond.