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bulletproofscales · 5 months

Note

Hey my dude Could you write a lil fic where the maknae line are stressed due to exams or sth and they cope with food so they gradually gain weight but it only gets worse when exams are over bc they get pampered by the hyung line to the point where they break chairs and get stuck in doorways 👉🏻👈🏻 - your Prince Charming 😔🤙🏻

i already wrote something nearly exactly similar with the hyung line! if anyone is interested in reading that click HERE.

but it was one of my first promtps and i felt like i could do this request more justice by digging into it a little more… it ended up being a 4-month-22k-words fic hope you enjoy!!

also im experimenting with adding my inspiration gifs into the fic, i feel like they add something, to me at least. gif credits will be at the end with links to the ops :)

(if me answering and writing a prompt from 2019 doesnt give you hope about your request geting eventually finished, idk what will)

A higher GPA, and a higher BMI

tags: namkook , chubby jungkook , fat jungkook mindless eating , stuck in furniture , oblivious weight gain , taejin , chubby taehyung , fat taehyung , student - TA relationship , public stuffings, stress eating , outgrowing clothes , sopemin , established relationship sope , chubby jimin , fat jimin , spoiling , breaking furtniture , confessions , miscommunication

22k words

AO3 LINK

Already having graduated college, Namjoon Seokjin Yoongi and Hoseok guarantee to help their younger friends with anything they need to hopefully get through this semester as smoothly as possible.

Jimin Jungkook and Taehyung didn’t mean to push that guarantee to the extreme.

Jungkook gravitated to Namjoon for help. STEM majors gotta stick together and all that. They weren’t exactly the same, but a lot of their classes overlapped at least at the early years that Jungkook finds himself in. So it wasn’t uncommon to find the two at the maknae’s shared apartment late at night hunched over a pile of exercise sheets and past exams.

It wasn’t always like this though, Jungkook started college as valedictorian, top of his class effortlessly getting honors and getting into his dream school for bioengineering. But that confidence would be his downfall because nothing could’ve prepared him for the massive effort that you’re supposed to put into a college major. His first ruthlessly failed exam needing an emergency call to Namjoon from Jungkook’s two roommates for him to come and console the poor boy. Easy enough to do if you’re Jungkook’s personal hero. But a bigger problem was brewing for the younger that Namjoon wouldn’t be entirely sure how to tackle.

Said problem being: a very suddenly anxious Jungkook, unsure of his own skill and unable to figure out how to properly study in a way that ensures this never ever happens to him.

“Kook-ah, you know what you need to know for the exam.” Namjoon tries. “You will be okay.” His hand sits on Jungkook’s bouncing knee, settling it. He can at least do that.

“But what if I forget? What if I get so nervous I can’t recall everything I studied. And all my effort goes to waste-” He is spiraling. Namjoon can see him spiraling, he says the first thing that comes to mind.

“Get up. We are getting dinner.” He stands up, leaving behind a puzzled Jungkook. Groggy from lack of sleep, puffy from stress, hair a fluffy mess from running his hands through it. He looks adorable, and he is wordlessly looking for an explanation. “You’re not gonna get any sleep locked up in here.”

“I do need to sleep tonight.” Jungkook mumbles more to himself, and Namjoon is a bit concerned about the way the younger says ‘tonight’ like it’s the exception. But he chooses not to comment on it.

“Exactly, let’s go. Hyung’s treat.” His smile grows on his face, he’s got him hooked and out of the house; and that’s what matters. Jungkook really does have this class figured out, they’ve been at it for hours and Jungkook has been at it for weeks. Continuous days of sleepless nights, Namjoon is sure if he gets as much as one beer into his system, Jungkook will sleep like a baby.

The decision is simple, something that’s walking distance because Namjoon can’t drive. The shoebox-sized fried chicken place across the street from Jungkook’s apartment. As soon as they walk in, Jungkook is groaning behind him. “I’m starving!”

It earns a squinted glare from Namjoon over his shoulder. “When was the last time you ate?”

“Do fingernails count?”

“Sit down.” Namjoon is nearly tugging at the younger’s sleeve, guiding him to a booth. Trying to be menacing but Jungkook’s giggles show that he is unsuccessful. Too much endearment in Jungkook’s eyes when he looks at Namjoon for it to work.

The place is nearly empty except for them both and some of the wandering staff. Namjoon didn’t think to check what time it was, or if their kitchen was even open still. And, call it his papa bear instinct, he is not leaving until he gets some food for Namjoon to eat. Fortunately when he calls the water, it’s all good news, he lets Jungkook take over what he wants. Since Namjoon ate the recommended amount of food today, he already had dinner.

But he’ll share a beer with Jungkook. You know, in solidarity.

Once they’re out of that stuffy apartment, it’s easy to fill the conversation with literally anything else that isn’t Jungkook’s exam. Feeling warmth spread along his chest at Jungkook’s whole demeanor lightening up. But he hasn’t seen the best of it yet, bunny grin spreading across his face when the chicken is set in front of them.

“You sure you don’t want any?” His eyes are already eating the glistening chicken, but Jungkook quickly glances up at Namjoon.

“No, no. I might steal some but I’m not hungry.” It does look like Jungkook ordered for two. But it’s nothing they can’t take home with them. “All yours, Kook.” He smiles, feeling genuine comfort at the sight of Jungkook pretty much launching onto his meal.

The conversation does die a little inevitably. Jungkook isn’t giving himself much room to talk. He isn’t giving himself room to breathe. Bringing the plate close to his chest for his chopsticks to shovel the biggest mouthfuls his lips can possibly stretch to accommodate. Namjoon wouldn’t be able to ‘steal some of it’ even if he wanted to. Eyes wide as he takes the next bite, but they always close to enjoy the flavourful bites, signature frown letting Namjoon know that the younger is absolutely loving his food.

Well, it’s nearly animalistic rather than blissful. Some of the caramelized coating of the chicken already staining Jungkook’s lips orange, and it’s beginning to cling to the corners of his mouth and some of his cheeks too; in the particularly huge bites. Not holding back any of the pleasure noises he lets out, because they all get muffled and swallowed by the food.

The first few dishes licked clean in a matter of minutes. A burp coaxing its way out of his mouth before he even sets the last empty plate down.

“Aish… Manners, Jungkook.” Namjoon feels a blush make his face all warm, as he chuckles through his scolding.

“I told you I was starving.” He mumbles already bringing up the beer, the one that he had left abandoned as soon as the food was served. Cutting his own speech short with thick gulps of beer. “Ah-” Jungkook manages to close his lips to swallow the burp that comes immediately after. “Can I get some more?”

It’s Namjoon’s turn to widen a bit beyond endearment. “Aren’t you full?” There’s a confused smile on his face, met with an uncharacteristic serious expression on Jungkook’s face.

“I really don’t wanna go home yet. I can make more room.” He sees it again, that fear and anxiety in Jungkook’s big guilty eyes. Namjoon acts on instinct, raising his arm for the waiter to see.

“Jeogiyo! Another serving of spicy chicken please!” The waiter nods quickly. He shoots a warm smile to Jungkook who is looking gratefully back at him. “And two more beers.”

Jungkook is determined in everything he does, Namjoon finds out. Even finishing every last crumb of this second serving. Even as the frown on his face stops manifesting his appreciation for the flavor, but the effort of trying to fit all this food in. Taking a few more beer breaks to possibly wash down the greasy lump that must be forming in his throat. Though that must only make it worse, if the way his cheeks expand in swallowed burps is anything to go by.

The same silence from Jungkook’s first devouring fills the table, though this time much painfully longer. And without any of the younger’s delighted enjoyment, instead a demonstration of pure… gluttony? Avoidance? Namjoon doesn’t even know what to call it.

A struggle, is what it is. And Namjoon can’t seem to look away. Eyes following how Jungkook begins to eat with only one hand, the other one mysteriously disappearing under the table. The older can only guess it’s to ease the tension that must be forming at his stomach.

Obviously already full, but he doesn’t cease until the last piece of chicken forced its way past his lips, at this point chewing slowly and lethargic. His blinking prolonged and sleepy. But he seals the deal by taking his beer and drinking the last few sips of it. Groaning immediately after he swallowed the last gulp. Noise that’s a little coaxed out by the burp that follows straight after. Leaning back on his seat, only his heavy breathing filling the silence.

“How are you feeling?” Namjoon asks.

“Ready to pop.” The younger chuckles sleepy. Namjoon was expecting something more along the lines of his emotional state for the exam. But this works too.

“Want hyung to walk you home?” He can’t help but smile a bit, that blush from both fullness and alcohol on Jungkook’s cheeks, and his pouty greasy lips, it’s incredibly endearing.

“Yeah… yeah I’ll fall asleep if we stay here.” Both his hands are on the table now, helping himself stand up. Revealing to Namjoon the sight Jungkook had been hiding under the table all their meal. A round cute, slightly reddened, bloat, that pushes the waistband of his sweatpants down; exposed by the shirt, that Jungkook seems to have folded upwards for a better rub.

Namjoon can’t help but look at it, it’s right in front of his face!

Looks tight. Small but packed to the brim. He wonders what it feels like to touch.

The thing to snap him out of his trance is Jungkook unfolding his shirt right back to cover his ballooned stomach. “Do you want anything else?” The younger askes a bit puzzled. Right, Namjoon is still sitting. Still in perfect line of sight with Jungkook’s cute little bloat.

“No no, sorry. I’m tired too.” He chuckles a bit through his excuse, standing up quickly and calling the waiter to take their bill. Ended up spending more than he anticipated. Namjoon wasn’t expecting Jungkook to order enough chicken for 3 and drink enough beer for him, Namjoon and the other few people in the restaurant.

Though it’s worth it for the way Jungkook tiredly leans to him as they walk across the street back to his apartment. Not doubting for a second before wrapping his arm around the younger’s shoulders. Keeping it there all through the elevator ride. Feeling particularly accomplished at the way Jungkook nuzzles his neck, feeling his smile against his warm skin.

His roommates, Jimin and Taehyung, give them a look from the living room; as Namjoon basically guides a half-asleep Jungkook to his room. A blush creeping on the older’s cheeks at the implications.

“H–he ate a lot of chicken.” Namjoon smiles with a nervous chuckle attached to the end of his sentence.

“If the police come asking we won’t tell.” Taehyung snickers from the couch. As he continues to help Jungkook to his bed. He plops on it like dead weight but he is sleepily smiling up at Namjoon.

“Thanks, hyung.” His voice is still a little thick with grease. Eyes beaming even with bags under them. Just from the slight shift of movement to nuzzle his bed, Jungkook’s shirt is riding up again. A sliver of skin and the ballooned little tummy that pushes against the fabric.

Namjoon diverts his eyes back to the younger’s face. “Anytime, Kook. Really.” He lets his hand comb through the fluffed up long hair of the younger. “I like seeing you so relaxed for a change.” Namjoon smiles down at him and is rewarded with melodic, slightly tipsy, giggling. “Rest up, okay?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll do great tomorrow.”

“Yes, hyung.” He is already closing his eyes. And Namjoon has to hold back an endeared chuckle. Not bothering to say another word as he quietly leaves the sleeping Jungkook behind.

It’s about the early afternoon, after what Namjoon imagines is a harrowing exam experience, that he gets a text from Jungkook.

kook: that dinner worked like MAGIC hyung

kook: that might have been the best night sleep i had

kook: NOT EVEN IN EXAMS EASON JUST IN GENERAL

Namjoon wasn’t trying to give life saving advice. Mostly just panicked in an attempt to get Jungkook out of the house. But the relief he feels is too much for him to even feel like a fraud.

Though it really must’ve worked like a charm. Because he doesn’t get another text from Jungkook for the entirety of exam season. It’s a change of pace to get a text from the younger that isn’t anxiety-ridden, a change that Namjoon entirely welcomes.

kook: namjoonie hyung

kook: i miss you

kook: come with me to a cafe to study?

A smile is already splitting his face.

you: oh i’d love to! but i actually graduated 2 years ago 😅 thanks tho

kook: -_-

kook: come work or something

kook: since when are you turning down opportunities to be at a little nice coffee shop with ambiance and good french toast?

kook: don’t you have anything to work on?

He can’t help the smile growing on his face. He gets so defensive, as if Namjoon could ever say no to him. And he has some lyrics he’s been wanting to clean up. Though he won’t tell Jungkook, he doesn’t want to remind the younger of his… artist name.

No matter how many times Jungkook says that Rap Mon was the sole reason he ever approached the older in college, Namjoon refuses to believe it.

you: sure i’ll find something~

kook: you play so hard to get.

Namjoon would think he sounded annoyed if he didn’t send the coffee shop place and the time to be there. With his headphones, laptop and little lyric notebook he makes sure to be there.

As most times, Jungkook epsters him for a reason. The place does have a beautiful ambience, and the smell of coffee and baked goods smells divine and the place is filled with mostly one person tables of people buried in their work. He spots Jungkook pretty easily, in one of the booths with an arrangement of what, from Namjoon’s personal experience, he imagines are exercise guides, the obscenely big calculator, and his glasses on, hair up in a bun.

Cute.

He must’ve been here for a while longer than Namjoon, if the few clean plates are anything to go by. Jungkook doesn’t notice the older, like everyone else, completely engulfed in what he is doing.

“You could’ve told me to come ehre earlier.” He chuckles without malice, making Jungkook perk up.

“Oh! I just got here like 20 minutes ago. I got off class early.” So he ate all this in 20 minutes? “Hi to you too by the way.” He says through pursed lips. A dimpled grin splits Namjoon’s face.

“Hi, Jungkook. I missed you.” His words are particularly sweet and genuine, just to get a smile out of him. And it works, it always works.

“You should order something, I picked a place with good salty options for you.” He says smugly.

“So thoughtful, Kook.” Namjoon sighs dreamily, picking the abandoned menu from the corner of the table. And he is right, he already sees an avocado toast that catches his eye. But when the waiter comes to them to take Namjoon’s order, Jungkook is talking again.

“I’ll get another latte and one of the cinnamon rolls.” He smiles politely to the waiter, Namjoon has to get over the fact that he is ordering more at all.

“And… an avocado toast and an americano.” Namjoon recovers smoothly. The waiter looks a little surprised too. If Jungkoko really got here just 20 minutes ago like he says, then yeah, anyone would be surprised he is getting… (Namjoon counts the plates), fourths already.

Regardless he nods and walks away. Namjoon starts setting up ready to get to work. Though in the silence it seems like Jungkook feels the need to explain himself.

“That was my lunch.”

“Oh?”

“This is… dessert.” A smile grows at the sudden seriousness in Jungkook’s tone.

“Okay.” He says a bit amused, a small chuckle bubbling at the back of his throat. “You can eat as much as you want.” He offers a gentler look, only because there’s a tint to Jungkook’s cheeks. The younger smiles back before they fall into comfortable silence. Only interrupted by their food, and then, quiet eating noises with the subtle scribbling of their paper.

Until Jungkook is done with his order, then he calls the waiter again. For more food. And Namjoon is getting a proper view of what happened in those first 20 minutes that Jungkook arrived before him. Practically scarfing down the plates without even glancing at them. The hand that isn’t scribbling obscenely long equations onto the paper, reaches for the food. Clumsily, his lips stretching and trying to catch the food without taking his eyes off the exercise. Only lifting his face when he is done and needs to call the waiter for more. Though, the entire staff seems to be alert of Jungkook.

Is this not the first time he is doing this?

Namjoon tries not to think about it, but what were once quiet eating noises turn louder the messier it gets. So he can’t ignore it, and at some point he just starts to wonder how much can Jungkook pack in? The stack of plates next to his pencil case is obscene, like something out of an eating contest. One that only Jungkook knows about, and he’s been practicing months to get a head started on.

Because, Namjoon has hung out a lot with him, and even when he was a freshman in college, Jungkook could never eat this much. Not even when the dreadful freshman 15 are supposed to hit. He is so acutely aware of Jungkook’s eating, Namjoon does not manage to do any work that day; not a single verse. Maybe for the better, since he spares himself from Jungkook’s teasing.

But it’s a long couple of hours. Namjoon knows he could’ve gotten up at any time, they’re just keeping eachother company. Yet, he finds that he can’t quite bring himself to stop stealing glances at the younger, catching him sometimes halfway through stretching his lips around a bite, or even already licking his fingers clean obscenely before reaching for another handful of food. Namjoon is transfixed in this cycle of looking up just to quickly divert his eyes away, though he doubts Jungkook even notices him there.

Alas, when he finishes his exercise guide, he proudly punches the table grinning. “Done.” He states a bit breathless, which has probably something to do with the massacre of plates beside him. And it’s not even the whole thing, as the staff took the initiative to start taking away the plates as they piled up besides Jungkook. “I can’t look at another one of these or my brain will pop.”

Namjoon has to hold back from saying he imagines there will be another organ of his popping soon. “Yeah I’m all out of juice too.” He says instead, resigned. He is not getting any progress, not today. After fighting for who covers the check, and Namjoon successfully wins, they’re packing their things.

Only then, does he get to see the impact of Jungkook’s new coping method for stress. When the younger stands up from his chair, without the table covering him anymore and reveals the rest of his body. Namjoon comes eye to eye with Jungkook’s newfound pudgy middle. A belly that hangs just a bit over the waistband of his pants, with a shirt that clings to the pillowy fat; hem barely brushing his bottom roll. As if a wrong movement would make it ride up the gentle curve of his stomach. Tight enough that the dent of his belly button shows through the stretched fabric, clinging fully to the muffin top on his hips and putting full display of the thickness of his waist.

Having him stood up while Namjoon still sits makes it even clearer that it’s not just his belly that softened, but all of him. His chest rounded out and pushed slightly forward; perky chest and slightly puffy nipples. Something Namjoon maybe would have noticed if it weren’t for Jungkook’s chronically awful posture. Stretching the shirt at the very top. Along with his arms, clinging to the short sleeves without all the definition that Namjoon had gotten used to, instead softer and thicker. And his double chin, from this angle it was evident. Face looked rounder more than ever with the padding under his jaw clear as day as Jungkook looked down to smile at the older.

“Not enough juice to even get up?” Jungkook retorts and snaps Namjoon out of his trance.

“Y-yeah yeah sorry.” He stands up quickly, quickly enough that he nearly knocks into the table a bit. Earning a deserved chuckle from the younger, and a flustered huff from Namjoon. “Shush, or I’m making you drive me.”

“I was gonna offer to drive you anyway. Come on.”

He doesn’t miss the slight heavy breathing form Jungkook as they walk to the car, and the quiet sigh when he sits on the driver’s seat; he tries to ignore it at least. But Jungkook makes it extra hard to look away when the hand that isn’t steering the wheel cupped the bottom of his belly. Thumb digging into the layer of pudge to reach the bloat, in slow circular motions.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this relaxed while studying.” He says, and it’s genuine! Jungkook has a satisfied smile on his face, Namjoon remembers when he had to pry the younger away from the exercise guides and coax him to eat a meal.

Definitely doesn’t have any of those problems anymore.

“You helped for sure.”

“Please, you were in the zone even before I got there.”

“No. No I mean like, the tip. The tip you gave me all that time ago?” Namjoon’s puzzled look must speak for itself. “You know, eating before an exam, eating while studying. Like we did last time.”

He doesn’t distinctly remember giving Jungkook that advice, but it shows all over his body. And his smile is so proud of himself, the one that reminds Namjoon of an underclassmen highschooler telling him he wanted to go to college for biology just like Namjoon. Just to impress him.

Namjoon simply doesn’t have the heart to tell him otherwise.

In fact, Namjoon doesn’t have the heart to tell him anything else on the matter. Anything that isn’t encouragement. Even when Jungkook isn’t in exam season, he’s become so food motivated; it makes sense to offer him treats during the semester, just to keep him on track…

It makes sense for Namjoon to do that.

Of course.

Snatching him during the week for study cafes, and bringing beer to all their late night study sessions… They’re all for the sake of Jungkook’s education.

In the back of his mind, of course, he thinks his genuine encouragement might have gotten out of hand. But it’s worth it for the starch difference in Jungkook’s grades, and overall mood. Going through his classes with ease, as well as going through bags of snacks during said lectures. Through the rest of the year it only got worse, Namjoon knows this, but… Jungkook seems so happy.

These are some of the thoughts he has to debate with every time he goes to Jungkook’s for another study session. Tonight is no different. Going up the stairs to the younger’s apartment to support Jungkook in the midst of exam season. Though at this point, Namjoon isn’t entirely sure if he is of service anymore.

But if he isn’t of service, that means he has to face what other reason he could be joining Jungkook so often for.

And Namjoon simply doesn’t have time for that, he just arrived at Jungkook’s place. Box of brownies in hand. Store bought, Jungkook’s favorite (for some reason).

“Hyung!” His smile remains just as bright as any other day that Namjoon shows up for support.

The rest of Jungkook though… It’s unrecognizable.

In a year, the student’s new “study method” took a toll on Jungkook’s body. The frame that opened the door for Namjoon was close to being as wide as the door frame itself. His waist thickened to the point it buried any trace of Jungkook’s former dainty waist, thick rolls stacking along his sides, staring with jiggly love handles and finishing at the top with, what Namjoon could only describe as, the weight of his moobs beginning to overspill from the sides, beginning to sag to the sides with rounded softened nipples that constantly push against all his shirt. Pushing his arms to the sides, both of them fattened as well, softened without any of its former impressive muscle; they wobbled gently when he scribbled on paper.

As soon as he opens the door, his belly threatens to push through the threshold on its own, stretching forward in a slope. Slightly firmer at the top and center of it, but surrounded with pillowy and sagging downwards over the waistband of his pants. Overhang girthy and making most of Jungkook’s shirts ride up as he walks. Always shifting in his chairs trying to push his shirt down from behind and then from the front, before he inevitably gives up. It folds into hefty rolls whenever he sits down, taking room on his lap. The fact his legs fattened so much too doesn’t help, pooling out of every chair he sits on, ass wobbling with each step of the stairs that he’s taken Namjoon to their apartment.

His face… probably the only thing that stayed the same. Cheeks just rounding out cutely, making his face impossibly more of a circle when he grins, bright and heartwarming. With the addition of a bit of padding hanging off his once sharp jawline, into a squishy double chin.

“Hey Kook.” He says before his staring becomes too obvious. “I bought some motivation.” Namjoon smiles, proudly patting the brownie box.

“How did you know I was craving these?!” The younger whines thankful, as he steps aside to let Namjoon in.

“You’re always craving the worst quality brownie in the market.”

“Hey! There’s definitely ones worse than this! There’s always the cafeteria ones.” Namjoon is already making his way to the dining table. Guided by the scattered papers and books that are already taking over the surface.

“Second worst, then.” He gives in with a fond smile, like he always does. Taking a seat in front of Jungkook. Who makes the poor IKEA chair creak when he takes a seat on it. “Does that make you feel better about yourself?”

“Immensely.” His shit-eating-grin isn’t any less endearing.

“What are we studying today?” Namjoon cuts him off instead, only for Jungkook to start showing him the exercises he’s been having trouble with. Wordlessly and poutily. “Oh… oh I remember hating these.” The older’s face scrunches at the memory.

“I know… It’s gonna take a lot of brownies to get me through this.” Jungkook sulks. And right, because they’ve been implementing a new system. As well as the plethora of “study snacks” that Jungkook mindlessly gorges on while working, there’s the reward snacks. The ones Namjoon keeps out of his reach only to give him when he finishes something.

It’s been so long, Namjoon doesn’t exactly remember how it started. All he knows is Jungkook is too dependent on it now to go back to not getting snacks as rewards now.

“Just start with this one.” He points to one of the exercises on his study guide. Before picking up the brownie box and giving it a gentle shake. “There’s enough for the entire syllabus.” That’s the thing that makes Jungkook’s eyes sparkle with newfound motivation. Wordlessly taking the guide and his notebook before starting to quietly scribble down.

It was about 10 minutes, Namjoon using that time to revise Jungkook’s notes and get accustomed with the subject again. But, fast as ever, Jungkook slides the resolved exercise. “Let’s see.” Namjoon mumbles adjusting his glasses, feeling the younger’s eyes glued to him, switching from Namjoon’s reaction to the unopened brownie box. “This one is good!” He chirps, but it’s nothing compared to the full body beam Jungkook gives him, reaching for the brownie

The cycle repeats endlessly. Jungkook is a skilled diligent student, Namjoon isn’t entirely sure why the younger keeps inviting him over to study, almost never fully needing to ask questions. If there ever is a mistake, once Namjoon points it out, it is like something clicks in Jungkook’s mind. Entitle up to speed with the older.

The brownie box is emptying quickly. And Namjoon feels entirely useless, yet he can’t find himself to say it outloud. Not when Jungkook is in front of him with crumbs all over his cheeks and chest, chocolate clinging to the corners of his lips. And the hand that isn’t writing down is under the table mysteriously. Or well… It hasn’t been a mystery since that time at the coffee shop.

Another exercise done, Namjoon isn’t even done revising it before he catches a hand reach to the brownie box from the corner of his eyes. In a reflex the older reaches for it faster and brings it towards himself. “Ah ah ah, don’t get cocky. You don’t know if it’s correct or not.” He has a teasing smile, and Jungkook looks startled for a second, as if he had done it unconsciously, before smiling back.

“I’m pretty sure it is, hyung.” As he says it his hand reaches for the box again. And Namjoon has to bring it further back; this time with the glint of competitiveness that the younger always inspires from him.

“Not until I say so.” He’s finished reading, he knows it’s correct. But still, he holds the box away from Jungkook’s grasp, with a playful smile that the younger mimics. This isn’t about the exercise, not anymore. Jungkook tries to reach further from the table, leaning out of his chair. Just for Namjoon to react quicker than ever leaning back. From Jungkook’s angle, Namjoon can see the way the top of his belly is sinking into the edge of the table. Softer chest sagging barely against his shirt.

He can see Jungkook beginning to prepare to lean closer. And when Namjoon stands up already grinning from ear to ear, ready to possibly be chased by the younger.

And when Jungkook launches at him… He can’t. Namjoon’s smile fades a little, as he watches Jungkook try again. His own expression cracking into disbelief as he looks down at himself. Realization dawning on both of them slowly.

Jungkook is stuck in the chair.

The room feels death quiet, Jungkook clears his throat looking down at himself, hands gripping the armrests. Now that he is standing, Namjoon can see the way they’re digging into his fatty sides. And tries to push them down. Making his body ripple with each try.

Namjoon feels a little petrified where he stands. Before pleading doe eyes look his way. “A little help?!” Jungkook whines, snapping the older from the trance he was in.

“Fuck sorry.” Namjoon chuckles a bit nervously before rushing to him. “Come on, let’s get you out.” He mumbles getting behind Jungkook, fingers gripping into the legs of the chair and begin to tug backwards.

“Yes!” Jungkook groans. With each tug his apron belly slap against his lap. “I really really want that brownie!” He throws his head back whining pathetically. As if everything in his body didn’t scream that he had one brownie box too many.

Namjoon is grunting behind him, but it won’t budge. “Has this happened before?!” He can’t help his desperate tone. And Jungkook throws an insulted look over his shoulder.

“No?! You think I would’ve sat here if I got stuck already!?”

“I don’t, but it looks like this chair is three sizes small, Kook.” He chuckles a bit, slowly getting the chair off the curve of his plump love handles. Both of the younger’s hands are on the table, pushing his ass to Namjoon in an attempt to collaborate.

“I’ve been studying in my room a lot!” Jungkook’s voice gets higher pitched as he whines. Making Namjoon more forceful until he stumbles back. Flimsy wooden chair in his hands as he frees Jungkook.

“Ha!” He is a little breathless but victorious still. “Freedom.” Namjoon punches the air. Before noticing Jungkook’s silence.

He is eating another brownie. Namjoon guesses, the one Jungkook thought was owed to him for getting that exercise right. But then he is grabbing another one while still munching on the previous brownie. And his other hand is grabbing another one after that.

“What are those supposed to be for?” Namjoon crosses his arms with a teasing smile.

“Emotional reparations.”

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Taehyung hates critique day. Which sucks. Because in an art major, every day is critique day. He knew what he was getting into, of course he knew. Taehyung just didn’t expect to feel so personally about his art.

Though, he knows how to behave. Of course he doesn’t make a scene, and he takes all the critiques. But his frustrations end up manifesting elsewhere.

It’s not even his turn, there’s another 10 people before him. But Taehyung’s thumb is already against his lips. Teeth anxiously nipping at his cuticles. He doesn’t think his art is beyond critiquing, of course not. That’s the whole reason he is majoring in art. But he pours so much of himself into each piece, vulnerable and grotesquely intimate. It’s so hard to expose in front of everyone, relating the quality of his art directly to his own value as a person.

What if what he is saying is overdone? A cliche experience that everyone goes through and is not worthy of being represented through art. Or worse, what if it’s too much? Too personal and private to expose in a room full of strangers. What if these types of things should be left for the little epigraph under a painting for only the willing to read? Instead of stating it proudly as a defense for the homework you did in front of a bunch of strangers-

A hand places gently on his wrists, warm. Cutting the middle of his rampant spiral. Taehyung still has his fingers grazing against his lips when he turns to see the hand owner, his upperclassman and TA, Seokjin. Who has a patient smile on his face that seems like he can read all of Taehyung’s thoughts.

“If you’re gonna nip on anything, have this.” He whispers as to not call attention to them while the professor gives her critiques to another student. Taehyung’s hand is lowered gently and a candy bar is placed on it. His jaw drops, looking at it before looking up at Seokjin; who looks even smug about it.

“Thanks.” Even if his response is short, the admiration and gratitude must show on his face, because the older has to stifle a laugh. Taehyung doesn’t waste another second ripping open the package and bringing it to his lips.

Being able to press these anxieties onto the crunchy bar feels too relieving. The delicious nutty flavor is an amazing bonus. Taehyung can’t hold back from finishing it in only a few hurried bites. Relishing in the way his thoughts are taken over by the small snack, instead of his sprinting anxieties. And then he is pushing the last of it with his fingers, only realizing he hasn’t taken a single moment to enjoy the candy bar once he is gulping the last bite. And he isn’t even close to having to expose his artwork.

Does he go back to panicking? It feels like he should- Correction, it feels like he is.

Unconsciously, his hand is already reaching for his lips when Seokjin intercepts it again. Another candy bar in hand. Making Taehyung’s eyebrows fly to the roof.

“I get cravings during the day, okay? Don’t look so judgy.” Seokjin defends himself whispering, but his smile gives away that he didn’t take it too personally.

“I don’t wanna waste your stash, don’t you have some gum?” It’s the younger’s turn to hold in his giggles.

His TA’s face scrunches up. “I don’t like mint.”

“You are weird.” Taehyung says with a smile, hands already focusing on tearing the wrapper apart. Seokjin is rolling his eyes, while the younger is stifling his giggle with the first bite. He wordlessly passes Taehyung his backpack so lay by the student’s side where he is sat. Opened already and showing the plethora of candy bars and different snacks stashed in there.

How is this man so fit?! Taehyung rather brings the backpack closer to his side with his leg, as he’s already working through the second candy bar. He really tried to space it out and enjoy it a bit. But he still finished it in the span of only one student getting their critique. Only throwing a pleading glance at Seokjin, whose eyes are already on Taehyung with a patient nod, he is reaching deep in the bag for another one. Without looking into the bag, it really does feel like he has the entire thing full to the brim.

He pulls another one out, this time not so worried in making sure he makes it last throughout the like, 8 other people who have critiques before Taehyung. And he doesn’t. But his hand is already reaching for the bag without a second thought. He is sure Seokjin will be fine without 3 or 4 of his bars. The supply feels so endless he doesn’t even keep track.

Letting the candy bar wrappers pile around him, it doesn’t take long before a warm feeling starts to set on the bottom of his stomach. Blood circulation his stomach as it digests all that chocolate, peanut butter, and whatever else they put on them. It’s making him sleepy, but Taehyung welcomes the feeling with open arms, sedating him from all his anxieties. Mind too lethargic to worry, and hands too busy on the slight bloat of his tummy to reach for his teeth to nip at them. Taehyung doesn’t even notice when his time for the critique comes, catching him half way through a snickers bar. That he brushes to his lap, along with all the other wrappers that piled on his desk around his art piece.

The warmth emanating from his stomach is enough to even make him feel more soothed as he explains his piece. Something Taehyung had been struggling with since he got his first critique, and he realizes he can’t in fact be perfect at something from the get go; like he had unconsciously hoped for. Not this time though, he has a calm tone as he explains the inner workings and reasonings behind his assignment. And he doesn’t know if it’s that, or if this piece is particularly good, or if his lethargic mind is playing tricks on his perception of the world, but the critiques don’t seem as bad as they usually are.

The rest of the class passes by in a blurr. And he has Seokjin to thank for it.

And he does! Walking up to the TA once everyone starts walking out.

“Sorry about almost emptying your bag.” He smiles shyly. “But I really never felt that relaxed during a critique, ever.”

“Don’t mention it, I know it took me ages to get used to it.” His smile is patient as ever, Taehyung is beginning to wonder if it was this charming from the beginning of the semester.

“And what did you do then?” If he is tucking a lock of hair behind his ear, it’s nobody’s business.

“I was bringing entire boxes worth of snacks.” Seokjin giggles. “Really took my freshman 15 to a whole new level.”

If Taehyung lets his eyes go up and down Seokjin’s body with a smile, then maybe it’s a little bit of his TA’s business. “Doesn’t look like you have them on you right now.”

Seokjin smiles with a bit more confidence. Taehyung has never prided himself in his subtlety. “I told you I got used to the critiques, didn’t I?” If the older takes a step closer, Taehyung’s heart has no business pitter pattering this way. “Now I just keep a stash in case anyone is getting a little panicky.” Taehyung is about to object, but Seokjin anticipates it. “Happens more often than you think!”

“Sure it does.” His arms are folding over his chest, but it’s not as defensive as it is flirty. Seokjin seems to notice.

“You can just say thank you.” The fact his tone gets even cockier should not be as attractive as Taehyung is making it out to be.

“If it manages to calm my nerves consistently. Then you’ll get your thank you.” It feels like they’re standing much closer than when Taehyung first walked up to him to thank the TA. But he is leaving with a lot more.

“Keep me updated then.” Seokjin smiles unfaced.

“I will.”

And Taehyung leaves that class with an entirely different feeling of nerves than the one he walked in with; much giddier too. Though, airhead at heart, he notices he forgot to ask Seokjin for his number; and Taehyung definitely won’t be flirting through their school emails, and finding his social media and dming him is out of the question. Taeyung has some dignity left, thank you very much.

Instead, he limits himself to keep Seokjin’s memory alive in his mind every time he has a class where he has to present some of his artwork. Stocking up on a bagful of snacks for him to work his way through until he gets his critique. Mostly figuring out what’s the right amount, since that first time he only ever started snacking about 2/3rds of the the class in, so naturally Taehyung has more time to fill if he is starting to eat from the get go. But also, he can’t get too full too early! Because then the feeling could possibly wash off in the span of his 4 hour courses.

Though the most exciting part of his week was trying out what he enjoyed snacking on the most. What offered that warm hazy sensation that Taehyung was seeking, what settled best on his tummy, and what was most appropriate for class. He is not making the same mistake of bringing some chips and spicy sauce to class; not only making a lot of noise, but having the spice make his stomach gurgle and churn as he held back from farting in class.

After extensive research, Taehyung found out that sweets were the best option. Fluffy and noiseless, and perfectly filling. Instead of cramping to fit them into his bag, Taehyung proudly walks into class with a bakery box that sits on his lap. They’re bigger and more filling than candy bars, just (if not more) as delicious. And Taehyung plops it open as soon as the first student begins to expose. He is able to make them last the entire class, chewing unhurried but constantly throughout. Taehyung’s always had an appetite, but he always brings enough to end up with both hands under his desk on his bloated tummy, and a fuzzy feeling of fullness.

It’s only been two weeks, but Taehyung really does feel like he owes Seokjin a thank you. He thinks to himself as he walks into the classroom where Seokjin assists. The younger considered talking to him after class, but he finds the TA’s eyes on him… Probably due to the bakery box he brings with him into the classroom. Taehyung quite frankly, had already naturalized the snacks he has been bringing with him to most classes. Completely forgetting that Seokjin only comes to help out once every two weeks.

“I take it you’re trying out my advice?” Seokjin catches him as Taehyung walks to his usual desk.

“Trying it? I’ve already adopted it.” He sits down and smiles up at Seokjin. “I haven’t been this relaxed ever since I got into art.” Taehyung leans back into his chair, smug, before beaming. “And look at this!” His hand wiggles his fingers daintily in front of Soekjin’s face, his eyes crossing a bit to get a better look at the sight.

With perfectly healthy cuticles.

He gently takes Taehyung’s hand into his. Thumb rubbing up and down his middle finger; making the younger’s insides churn. “Wow… Look at you.” His tone is a little teasing, but his smile is endeared. Though, Taehyung can only focus on the world around him again, once the TA has let his hand go. “What’s on today’s menu?”

“Cinnamon rolls, some red velvet slices…” He purses his lips. And shies a bit when he sees Seokjin’s eyebrows reach his hairline. “And–and just a few more things. Can’t remember.”

“Certainly a lot more than those 5 snicker bars you ate last time.” This time there isn’t much endearment in Seokjin’s smile. Taehyung widens.

It was only 5?! He had felt so overwhelmingly full back then…

Now it wouldn’t come close to doing the job.

“I always had an appetite.” He shrugs with pouty lips. “I was just guilty of eating too much of your stash.” Taehyung excuses himself with arms crossed over his chest.

“I’m glad you’re bringing your own then.” Seokjin chuckles, making Taehyung worry if he even believes the younger’s excuse. “This is definitely more than all of my stash.” He eyes the big bakery box on Taehyung’s desk, and looks up with a smile that doesn’t say the full truth; the younger’s cheeks burn a little warmer.

But he doesn’t get to say the last word, the professor is calling Seokjin over; who only offers a wide grin before ushering to her desk.

This interaction definitely echoes in Taehyung’s mind, only silenced with the first few bites of the cinnamon roll. But not entirely, since flashes of Seokjin’s teasing smile as he eyed Taehyung’s portion size creeps on him. Catching him mid-bite, with his lips stretched, buttercream coating his lips and red velvet crumbs already beginning to fall onto his lap. His cheeks blushed everytime. All that nonchalance he had these two weeks, acquiring this habit, unbothered by the weird stares, suddenly shifted into self awareness when Taehyung sensed the TA’s eyes on him.

Taehyung didn’t dare look to check; he wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he actually caught Seokjin staring at him making a pig out of himself in class. Maybe he was just deluding himself and the older was nowhere near paying him attention. Why would he be? They barely know each other.

All this just represented more thoughts for Taehyung to have to silence with food. Or at least try to. Determined to silence his feelings of sudden awkwardness, like he had managed all those classes before this one; where he ate without a care. And besides, if anyone would be nonjudgmental of this… coping mechanism, it should be Seokjin out of all people, shouldn’t it? He advised Taehyung to do it after all.

A thought in the back of his mind wonders if maybe it isn’t judgment that Seokjin is showing. But Taehyung decides to bury that thought with another one of the cinnamon rolls, taking an obscene bite of it. Guiding his thoughts to the warmth stretching his stomach, not taut yet but getting there. Pressing against his shirt with a slight curve. Already making him blissed and a little sleepy.

And he still has so much more food to go.

Perfect.

With newfound determination, and a mind determined to not think for the rest of the class, Taehyung loses himself to the food before him. Not only the sound of his professor giving critiques, but the sight from the corner of his eye of Seokjin (possibly) watching him, all fade away. As Taeyung focuses on looking down at his bakery box, focusing on his own hands as they reach more fervently for the food, feeling how the icing and buttercream make his throat feel thick and his entire body tingle as all the blood goes to his distending stomach. One hand goes idly to caress the growing curve, feels like with every heavy gulp, it expands against his fingers. Though it doesn’t feel unbearable like it used to be.

He brought enough food that when it’s time for his critiques, Taehyung hasn’t even finished. But he still ate enough for that comfortable warmth to ease his nerves. It goes by smoothly, like it has for the past few weeks. And he has left overs! Taehyung could probably take these back to his apartment, he is sure Jungkook will appreciate the extra study snacks.

Yet as soon as his professor is done talking to him, his hand is reaching for another slice of cake. Even when he has no reason to be nervous anymore, no anxiety rattling his bones; it’s like his hands reach for the food all on their own. He doesn’t even question it, let alone try to stop himself. But in the back of his mind, Taehyung is beginning to realize, he’s trained his body to do this. To eat without conscience, to eat to lose conscience.

Which isn’t really all that good. But then again… Being this full does feel really nice. Especially when these last baked goods are all he needs to fully push to the edge of comfortably full to stuffed to brim. The thought on the back of his mind isn’t enough to stop the automated path of his hand, as it grips the velvety piece of cake. It doesn’t matter if it’s not as enjoyable as it settles in his rounding stomach. The taste is amazing.

Fuck Jungkook, he has enough snacks already. That waistline speaks for itself.

Taehyung has to force that last bite down with his index finger, chewing lethargic and slowly; a little painful. His stomach gurgling under his desk in complaint, as if to convince Taehyung to not swallow. He does, obviously. The only thing more embarrassing than eating like a hog in front of everyone, would be spitting something out. He gulps it down and has a burp stretching his cheeks almost immediately after. Having to cup his swollen stomach when it vibrates and gurgles whining.

Ow.

He might have overdone it. His eyelids feel heavy and it feels like all those sweets are taking space his lungs need; making his breathing heavier and his body warm all over.

As if on cue, the class is dismissed! Perfect timing, Taehyung is ready to get these pants off and take a fat nap. Already tidying up his desk from all the little disposable plates and trays, he has good student etiquette thank you very much. Ignoring the weird stares from fellow students that walk past his desk. If they haven’t gotten used to this in the last two weeks, it’s out of Taehyung’s hands.

When it’s time to get up. His stomach churns painfully, cramping and complaining to the point Taehyung plops back into his chair. A little ‘ouf’ leaving his lips; as if he hadn’t already been breathless before attempting to stand. It takes a second try, and a second failure for Taehyung to realize… he might need a little help.

This time around, he does feel like the side-eyes he is getting from his classmates are somewhat deserved. He overdid it. Most definitely. Taehyung has never been this full, belly expanding with each shallow breath; agitated from trying to stand and pinned by his taut belly. Full enough it stretches his poor shirt; he’s always had a bit of padding around his tummy, and it barely shows from how tight his stomach is rounding out. Only able to feel that chub when he massages his gurgling stomach; but it looks hard enough to be a baby bump.

In a meek, breathless attempt, Taehyung tries again. Only to fall back in his chair. Desperation beginning to tie his overstuffed stomach in a knot, not only are his classmates leaving; but the people from the class after theirs are entering. His head turning for any familiar face he could ask for assistance.

The only one he finds is the one Taehyung is most embarrassed to call for help. But he doesn’t have much of a choice, does he?

“Seokjinssi?” The TA was picking up some notes, his back to Taehyung, thankfully. There’s at least some hope that he didn’t see Taehyung’s pathetic attempts to get up.

“What is it?” He comes closer slinging his backpack on and getting a proper look at Taehyung’s situation. Bloated belly, pushing at the waistband of his pants and shirt, holding onto the desk for momentum. Seokjin’s entertained smile makes him want to shrink away.

“Could you…” Taehyung is not gonna look at his face when asking, instead looking at the mess he turned himself into. All of that flirty energy he had felt for Seokjin when he first helped the younger out, was gone. Replaced with mortifying embarrassment. “Uh… I kind of overdid it. I need a little help.” He says instead, avoiding Seokjin’s reaction.

A hand comes into his line of vision.

Phew.

Taehyung takes it and lets Seokjin tug him up. Amazed by the soft grunt that slips from the back of his throat; feeling his swollen stomach try and pin him in place. But that’s not nearly as embarrassing as the way he accidentally leans closer than he should to Seokjin’s torso. The hand that isn’t holding Taehyung’s holding him by his waist; hand big enough to brush the side of his bloat.

He is mortified, and Seokjin’s little smile does nothing to help the feeling.

“You okay?” The way even the TA’s charming expression has his eyebrows slightly raised and his eyes a little widened. Even he wasn’t ready for Taehyung’s display of gluttony.

“Y–yeah… Yeah, thanks.” Taehyung forces himself to smile. But what’s even harder is separating from the firmness of Seokjin’s torso. Brushing the crumbs that collected across his chest. “That’s a first for me.” He feels the need to comment.

“Eating so much you can’t get up?” Seokjin chuckles. “Yeah, you’re the first time I see it too.” His tone is friendly, but Taehyung can still feel his cheeks burning red. Only worsened by the up and down glance Seokjin gives of his body.

“You should meet my roommates.” Taehyung tells a joke only for himself to laugh at. Ready to wash off all the embarrassment he accumulated in this class. “See you around, Seokjinssi.” He scrambles to grab his stuff and nod off. Weighting if this much humiliation is worth being able to handle the critiques.

Taehyung doesn’t really decide. Not really. Because the next day comes, Taehyung doesn’t even have a critiquing that day, but his feet still drag him to the bakery close to campus. Staff already familiar with his face and gave him the freshest donuts of the batch. In the back of his mind, he does question himself again. If it really is the best for him to be eating beyond his capability to stand up.

But he got the donuts already. And even if he won’t be getting critiques today, it’s still nice to have a snack while he paints. It’s just once more.

Except it isn’t, Taehyung finds himself facing the fact he underestimated how much of a habit he had made of Seokjin’s little advice. Part of him started feeling guilty to not go to the bakery, feeling like all the staff was expecting him there. And the very few scattered days that Taehyung didn’t go, his worries were confirmed when the caring lovely staff asked about what happened. Besides, whenever he skipped, his stomach would grumble so much he would eventually end up dragging his feet to the college dining hall and buying anything he can get his eyes on.

Seokjin doesn’t bring it up again, but he does continue walking over to Taehyung’s desk to chat. Never able to be subtle in the way he always glances down at the younger’s desk; as if to check if he had brought any food this time. And Taehyung always had.

Luckily though, he never has to ask Seokjin for help getting up in what’s left of the semester. The more used he got to eating these huge quantities of sweets, the easier his stomach stretched and adapted to the heft of Taehyung’s snacks. But, simultaneously, made him harder and harder to satisfy.

It got to the point where there wasn’t enough food he could physically bring to his class for it to be enough to make him feel as full as he used to be at the beginning of the semester. He keeps his portions similar to the ones he had when he first started bringing food to class, only to stuff himself with anything he could; whether it meant another stop to the bakery, a demolition of the lunch menu at the dining hall, or cleaning whatever his roommates had stashed the fridge with. Though that last option got him a scolding most of the time.

In the back of his mind, he knows. Taehyung is overdoing it. Ending his school day stuffed to the brim and waddling home; even on the days he has sculpting class, and his hands are in no condition to be touching food. Let alone classes where his hands are in full capacity to eat, a professor’s critique not needed for his body to crave that hazy drowsy sensation of being full.

And it’s beginning to show. He knows it. Taehyung can feel it in the way his clothes begin to fill out. Waistbands sinking into his middle when he sits down, and then even when he is standing up. His inner thighs rubbing together when he walks, covering all of the chair when he sits. The front of his tummy always pressing against his shirts, which have only gotten tighter with the course of the semester. Then, it’s not just his stomach pressing against the fabric, but his chest too. Small but puffy mounds of fat, with softened and overly sensitive nipples. Then his sleeves start feeling a little fuller as well.

And if Taehyung gets another comment from his roommates about how chubby and round his face has gotten, he will throw another paintbrush at them.

But it’s fine.

The semester will end, and without the routine of his classes, the routine of his snacking shall also stop.

Taehyung has it under control.

Even if he was determined to not need a change of clothes until the end of the semester. Yet here he is, rummaging through Jungkook and Jimin’s laundry for anything oversized.

Whatever, it’s not a change of clothes. Jimin and Jungkook steal his clothes for fancy events all the time. Or… they used to. Taehyung doubts they fit them now.

He finds one of Jungkook’s sweatpants and he rather not ponder on how they’re not an oversized fit. He leaves for uni decidedly. Today he has a live painting session, his favorite. He arrives there early even! Ready to pick his favorite spot in the circle of canvases, and display all his paints and–

Seokjin is there.

“You don’t take this course.” He states a bit bluntly. Excuse him, but Taehyung has to mentally prepare himself to engage with Seokjin, and have him smiling all charming at him.

“I don’t.” Luckily, the older only seems endeared by Taehyung’s straight forward greeting. “Ms.Lee called in sick, I’m covering for her.”

“Are TAs allowed to do that?” He can’t help scrunching his face. And it downright earns a bit of laughter from Seokjin, smile only growing.

“It’s just a live painting session, Tae.” Endearment rolls off his tongue. “Take a seat.” Seokjin’s shit eating smile shouldn’t be as endearing as it is. But that’s an existential question Taehyung had to give up ages ago.

“You’re not the boss of me.” He scoffs, but does in fact walk to his preferred canvas. Just because he wants to. Not because Seokjin instructed him. Setting his bag and walking to the line of aprons hung up at the back of the class.

He doesn’t think twice before grabbing one, putting his head through it and beginning to tie it as he walks back to his spot. But… as he feels his belly press against the cloth, rolls on his waist shifting with each step, Taehyung feels the straps sink a little into the folds that stack on his sides. A sensation he’s gotten used to.

However, he can’t seem to be making the two ends of the straps meet…

Not even close.

Stopping in his tracks, he focuses on sucking in. And feels his stomach retract the slightest bit, he pushes the straps. The two edges barely grazing each other, not nearly enough give for him to tie a knot. And panic starts to set in.

Yeah, he hasn’t had a live painting session in a while. But it hasn’t been that long, has it?

And he hasn’t gotten that fat in said short amount of time, has he?

He turns his back to the rack of aprons, almost resentfully. There has to be a bigger one, isn’t there? No, Taehyung is in Korea. Where he was a size large even before this… gain.

“What’s the matter?” Seokjin asks, but his voice sounds more knowing than what Taehyung feels comfortable with. And his voice is closer than he was prepared for.

Almost automatically, he takes the apron off his head, holding it defensively to his chest. Acutely aware of the way his hands sink into the new padding that rounds his pecs. “Nothing.”

Seokjin’s smile only widens at that. “Nothing.” He repeats, comedically unconvinced. Though he is looking at Taehyung with endearment, helpful almost.

“Yes.” But Taehyung is too prideful.

“Okay…” The older doesn’t argue. “That’s a really nice shirt, would be a shame to spill oil paint on it.”

“I won’t.” He purses his lips, shrugging bratty. “I was about to put it on.” Taehyung’s thick-headedness gets the best of him though, and he can feel it bite him in the ass when Seokjin crosses his arms and leans against the wall; expectant.

“Go on then.”

“With what?”

“Put it on. I’m gonna start the class on time, so…” Taehyung doesn’t check the clock to know if the clash should actually start soon or not. Not willing to show that he has anything to worry about. At least he knows they’re still the only two here, if the way Soekjin is acting is anything to go by. Taehyung knows by now that as confident as he likes to act, the TA would die of embarrassment to be caught flirting like this.

Does this count as flirting? It feels like he is just tormenting Taehyung.

“Whatever…” He mumbles, putting it over his head again. But not bothering to tie it behind him. “There. Happy?”

“You’re so stubborn, did anybody tell you that?” Seokjin’s tone is too soft to be taken seriously.

“Endlessly.”

“Do you want some help?”

“No.”

“Do you need help?” He rephases much to Taehyung’s dismay.

“…Maybe.” His surrender is worth it for the cackle Seokjin lets out as he walks behind Taehyung. “B-but I doubt you can do anything.” He grumbles as he feels Seokjin’s knuckles brush against his fatty sides as he takes a hold of the straps. The rolls that won’t leave no matter how much he sucks in.

“Let me try…” He can practically hear Seokjin’s concentrated frown as he brings the straps behind the younger; Taehyung can feel them sink into his folds once more. There’s a beat of silence, where Seokjin doesn’t move the straps and seems to be calculating his options. Taehyung doesn’t want to wonder what the view must be like for him from behind. Finally, he instructs. “Suck in.”

“Tsk, you think I didn’t try that already?” He responds a little defensively.

“Just do it!” Seokjin’s voice is close to a whine. And Taehyung ‘eughs’ but compiles. Taking in a deep breath and forcing his pudgy belly inwards.

There’s another beat of silence, before Seokjin talks again. “That’s it?”

“What do you mean that’s it?” Taehyung can’t help his voice sounds a little breathless, still holding in. The end of his sentence cut short as a tug of the straps coaxes the air out of him. Straps not only sinking further into his rolls, but the front of the apron beginning to fold into itself too, riding up the curve of his belly just a little.

“Suck in more!”

“I can’t- OUF!” The sudden tug cinches, or at least tries to cinch, at Taehyung’s middle. Fat overspilling from over the straps in a poor attempt to resist the restrictions of the apron.

“Yeah, we are gonna need some extra fabric for these straps.”

“You didn’t need to choke me to know that.” Taehyung is still catching his breath. And once he stops sucking in, he can feel all of Seokjin’s efforts come undone as the straps go back to reaching the far back of his side rolls.

“I wouldn’t need to help you at all if your apron fit.” Seokjin retorts, giving a light squeeze to one of Taehyung’s thick love handles before moving to the front desk in the classroom. Just in time to avoid the indignant turn Taehyugn does to face him.

“It’s your fault I don’t fit into the apron.” Or any of my clothes, for that matter. He holds back from saying. Seokjin has his back to him as he rummages through the drawers of a desk that most definitely isn’t the TA’s.

“What did I do?” There’s a chuckle attached at the end of his question. That makes Taehyung believe Seokjin knows exactly what he did. “Aha!” He doesn’t let the younger answer, as he pulls out… A string.

Walking victorious towards Taehyung, this time with a charming smile, he instructs again. “Turn around.” He complies, too curious to question the older’s strategy. Taehyung turns around and lifts his arms a bit.

He can feel Seokjin take one of the straps once more. And in the comfortable silence with a very concentrated tone he asks. “Where were we?”

“I was gonna tell you how you are responsible for my apron not fitting.” He deadpans.

“Ah yes… Blasphemy.” Seokjin giggles behind him. Now he is grabbing the other strap.

“It’s not! Your trick for critique-anxiety worked too well.” The younger hopes his pout is coming through his voice for Seokjin to hear. “I’m surprised you aren’t struggling to put in your aprons either.”

“I used that trick maybe one or twice for my final exams. Not… every single critique I was ever given.”

“It’s not my fault I get more anxious than you.”

“Was critique-anxiety the one making you eat during your normal classes too? I’m surprised you didn’t bring any snacks to this one. I feel robbed.”

“How did you know I was eating in other classes?”

“You have a bit of a reputation by now, Tae.” The endearment is ever present in Seokjin’s voice. “There!” He stands up straight finally, giving Taehyung’s peaking love handles, exposed by all the cinching and tugging of his shirt, one last celebratory pat. Making them giggle right above the slightly tight waistband of Jungkook’s joggers. “Your apron now fits. You are very very welcome.”

“Thanks…” Taehyung tries to twist and get a proper look at Seokjin’s contraption, the extra yarn sinking a little into the padding that now covers his back. “And what do you mean I have a reputation?” He snaps up to look Seokjin in the eyes. A little sense of dread coiling at his stomach.

Or that might just be the apron restricting his belly.

“Don’t look at me like it’s news to you. Do you think people weren’t gonna notice the guy walking in with a picnic’s worth of food into every class? Even professors know who you are.” His face is starting to burn and even if he was the one to daringly try and lock eyes with Seokjin to get an answer from him, Taehyung isn’t quite liking what he is hearing.

So… to make his case even worse, he eyes the clock. Still 15 minutes till class starts, he has time. “I’ll go buy some breakfast.” He states pouty, feeling heat flare at his cheeks.

“That definitely will help the apron.” Seokjin’s comment is already far behind, because Taehyung is fleeing this humiliating scene with quick steps. He doesn’t turn around to respond, his face burns too much for him to do so.

He won’t buy much, he tells himself. Just keep himself out of class long enough for other students to arrive. So Seokjin stops making him blush.

The cafeteria is always a welcoming sight, the staff already knowing his face, much like in that bakery that he still very much goes to on a daily basis. Putting a polite smile for the staff as he begins buying anything he can get his hands on. Once he starts it’s so easy to just keep piling his plate. Getting his money’s worth on that student meal plan. But it’s so hard to stop.

Only once Taehyung can’t physically fit more into his plate does he realize he overdid it. He glances at the wall clock again. Ten minutes.

Taehyung can definitely manage to eat all this before class.

With a decided nod he takes his plate to one of the empty tables, still a bit before most students start to get lunch. And Taehyung will definitely be there with everyone else a second time too, even if his meal plan doesn’t cover it. He knows his hunger won’t let him skip a meal, no matter how much he ate before.

He feels like such a pig. Out of control and eating to avoid the nerves and the confrontation that Seokjin seems so comfortable bringing to his class. Forcing Taehyung to acknowledge just how fat he got.

And that maybe it’s not entirely Seokjin’s fault either.

Taehyung shovels that thought right to the back of his mind where it belongs with a bite of his food. He wasn’t entirely aware of what he had gotten either. It was a nice surprise when sweet cinnamon batter took over his lips. Sweet, of course he got sweet. The taste so addictive and soothing to his body, he can’t help his other hand reach for something else to bring to his lips, a cookie. Taehyung can pretty much feel the clock ticking, interchangeably taking bites of the two baked goods, looking like a ravenous animal in front of the few people scattered across the cafeteria.

10 minutes, he reminds himself, forcing to stretch his lips with bigger bites, mixing the sweets as he goes. Not caring if the tastes don’t fit or blur together. All Taehyung wants is for the comforting ballooned feeling to take over him.

The one that gets him to forget about critiques.

About Seokjin’s charming smile.

About how he managed to get so fat in the course of the semester. Ironically.

He is starting to feel it. Bloat beginning to make his shirt ride up a little bit at his side.

No, not his shirt.

Jungkook’s oversized shirt.

The stretch of his stomach making his belly, that now was covered in a thick layer of chub no matter the size of the bloat, press harder against the poor apron. Taehyung can feel the way the extra lace Seokjin used to tie the knot, sinks into the fat padding that covers his lower back.

5 minutes, he glances at the clock. And he still has nearly half of his serving left. Maybe he underestimated himself.

Maybe, Taehyung isn’t as much of a pig as Seokjin’s eyes make him out to be.

He leans closer to the plate in an attempt to make the food pass the stretch of his opened lips faster. But he feels something snap behind him, and a sudden pressure release from his swollen abdomen.

The straps of his apron broke.

That gets him to stop eating. Staring at the plate blankly. Refusing to get a proper look at himself.

Taehyung definitely won’t be attending class.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────────── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Jimin can’t see another video of “music majors when they remember they need listen to a song due at midnight”. The ones Jungkook doesn’t get tired of sending him. Excuse you, Jimin spends more time in his home-made studio than Jungkook does in his silly little labs. No, he doesn’t have a song-listening due at midnight. Jimin has to finish the rough demos of a soundtrack by the end of the week. Not quite the same, no.

These thoughts keep running through his mind as Jimin leans inches away from his monitor, FL Studio open as his own raw creation blasts through his overly expensive (maybe a little pretentious) headphones. He heard Jungkook and Taehyung come in at some point in the night, he is sure they’ve taken care of dinner. Lately this apartment has started to ditch the “skipping meals” plan that most broke students seemed to adopt. But Jimin always has a hard time remembering to take breaks when he has projects like his one plaguing his mind.

It’s 2 am already. He can wait until he has this one song finished before forcing himself to the kitchen. The weight of this project already lulling his senses and numbing him to such trivial things like eating and “drinking something that doesn’t have caffeine”. Jimin is way beyond the line of feeling uncomfortable, having pulled several late nights of work, letting Taehyung’s snoring guide the beat of his songs. Rolling around to class the next morning looking worse than in his prima-ballerina days. Jimin works nearly in autopilot as he adds layers of texture to the song, he doesn’t care if it’s shit. He just wants it to be finished.

Done.

And it’s only… 3:45am.

Fuck.

He needs to eat something and go to bed.

Nothing could’ve prepared him for the complete masacre of what used to be “dinner”. Absolutely nothing, the hogs of his roommates left him nothing.

Jimin thought he had it under control. The stress, his emotions, the hunger. But his eyes begin to water against him. He doesn’t have anything to eat! And he has been looking forward to it for hours! And he is sure his roommates didn’t mean to but his bottom lip is wobbling against his will and he has to cup his lips before he dejectedly walks back to his room. Sniffs heard throughout the room.

In an attempt to distract himself, he downloads the file and sends it to Yoongi. Rubbing his eyes and leaning on his chair, his entire body catching up with him, pain swelling on his lower back and his knees as he tries to stretch.

And as if to make matters worse, his stomach complains with a roar.

He can’t help it, his face is scrunching up and sniffles are making his body spasm gently and his shoulders tense with each shaky intake of air. Before he can stop it, his hands are covering his face, where he feels himself begin to cry.

Ping!

The notification noise anticlimactically cuts him off. Hands leaving his face to peak at his phone.

yoongi hyung: what are you doing up

you: what are YOU doing up?!

yoongi hyung: i asked first.

you: was finishing the thing i sent you

you: and crying

Jimin is one to try and find humor in his everyday misery, but he does feel a little guilt when he sees Yoongi take a bit longer to reply.

yoongi hyung: why were you crying?

It’s his time to ponder his answer. And, deciding he doesn’t want to get a lecture about his time management skills and Jimin’s incredible ability to neglect his basic needs, he chooses something that’s still very much true.

you: tae and kook didn’t save me any food (｡•́︿•̀｡)

His response is immediate then.

yoongi hyung: wanna come over?

yoongi hyung: I also need your opinion on something.

Tsk.

yoongi hyung: and i got food

Sold.

you: be there in a bit!

Jimin tries to be quiet. But also, when he worries about possibly waking up his roommates, he quickly realizes he doesn’t care.

Serves them right. Hmf.

He texts Yoongi when he is outside, really not waiting to wake Hoseok up. He doesn’t deserve it. But to his surprise it’s him who opens the door for the younger.

“Oh. Hobi hyung.” Jimin pouts a little worried. And the older beats him to it.

“If you’re going to apologize, don’t. I was awake too.” His smile is gentle, but his hair is a little messy and his face is a little puffed up.

Either Hoseok is lying and Yoongi and him totally woke him up. Or the couple was having a fun night and Jimin interrupted.

He doesn’t know which one makes him feel worse.

“Still, thanks.” Jimin’s smile is a little guilty but some of his worry smelt away when he hugs Hoseok tight. A little bit of that uncomfortable tension on his body leaving with the lithe (but strong) man squeezes at his sides.

“Yoongi is in the kitchen. Only you can get him to start cooking at 4am.”

“He told me he had food already!” Jimin whines as he walks in.

“Well…He lied. I offered to grab something from a convenience store. But you know Yoongi wouldn’t let you have that.” The chuckle attached at the end of his sentence screams endearment. Jimin follows behind him into the couple’s apartment like his second home. Which it practically is.

Yoongi and Hoseok were both the ones to first introduce him to music in highschool. And Jimin was the witness of the very beginnings of the most obnoxiously romantic couple he knows. A delicious smell already takes over the cozy apartment. “Hyung, you’re cooking for me?” He smiles teasing when they make their way to the kitchen. Loving to tease whenever Yoongi shows his tender side; the one that always comes when Jimin needs it most.

“And I might throw it all out if you don’t shut it.” He pouts and Jimin only giggles, launching forward for a back hug to the other. His cheek pressing to his shoulder.

“You wouldn’t.” He says with certainty, and a shit-eating smile. “You love me.” Jimin doesn’t care if Yoongi doesn’t answer, all he needs is a quick peek at what the older is cooking. Kimchi jjigae, Jimin’s personal favorite.

“Go go to the studio.” He tries to shimmy Jimin off. “Babee.” The youngest feels particularly accomplished when he gets Yoongi to whine for his partner. Hoseok chuckles behind them both, taking Jimin’s hand gently.

“Come on, we can set up in the office.” Jimin doesn’t need much convincing. Easy to manhandle around as Hoseok drops his arm over the youngest’s shoulders. He can’t help it, being in both of their presence is so soothing. That and the all nighter (or week of consecutive all nighters) is catching up to him.

He comes here so often, the little room turned into a studio not only has two chairs for the producer couple, but a third one for Jimin’s frequent visits. Well… He visited a lot more often before this hellish semester. But it still feels like home when he tiredly plops down smiling at Hoseok.

“I missed you.” He says simply, getting Hoseok’s expression to soften as he sits beside him. “Sorry for crashing your sex.” And his sleepy state immediately ruins it; judging by the choked sound Hoseok lets out.

“Don’t worry about it.” He says instead of denying it. In his sleepy state, Jimin’s mind unhelpfully provides him with mental images.

Not that he’s thought about this before. Or anything.

Yoongi thankfully interrupts his brain, kimchi jjigae bowl in his hand. “You said you sent me something to listen to?” He takes a seat at Jimin’s other side. Who can’t answer because he is already shoveling a mouthful of stew into his cheeks. He only nods. “Let’s give it a listen then.”

The youngest gulps suddenly then. “R-right now?” He can’t help the nerves. Hoseok is right here, he only shows Hoseok his finished pieces and this was just a rough demo. His eyes darted to both of his sides, suddenly self conscious. Jimin doesn’t know if he can handle the exposure right now.

But he doesn’t exactly know how to tell that to his two hyungs. Because that would just mean he has something to be self conscious about. And yes, Jimin has endlessly heard both Hoseok and Yoongi tell him that demos don’t have to be perfect. Jimin just chooses to not apply that to himself.

“S-sure, sure, let’s play it.” Jimin corrects himself. Not very smoothly. But after an exchange of looks between Yoongi and Hoseok, they decide to give into it anyway.

“Fine. But we aren’t giving feedback until tomorrow.” Hoseok states opening the file on Yoongi’s computer.

“What? Why?” He pouts.

“Because if you knew you could fix something you wouldn’t sleep at all.” There’s an endeared chuckle attached to the end of his sentence, and a big warm hand massaging the base of Jimin’s neck. But even that is not enough to soothe the sudden knot that tied into his stomach.

Feeling the dread as the file downloads, and Hoseok starts opening the producing software that’s much better than his; Jimin busies himself with the first thing he finds. And that’s the delicious homemade dinner Yoongi made him. Leaning back on the chair, his knees up to his chest and the bowl close to his face as he begins to scarf down the delicious homemade stew. It takes over his senses, warmth trickling down his throat and setting perfectly on his stomach.

Jimin would much rather focus on that. Especially motivated as the first chords of his demo start to play in the expensive speaker system. He buries the first beginnings of stomach-twisting cringe with warm spicy goodness. Lulling his senses and soothing his heart rate. Almost warming along the knots of his back and relaxing them at least somewhat. The speakers are too loud though, pulling Jimin back to the stress of this assignment. The endless work, endless stress. The endless idea in the back of his mind that he has his two idols to live up to.

It only encourages him to tilt the bowl a little upwards and begin to focus into slurping it down. Not caring if all the broth begins to settle a little uncomfortable in his stomach. He welcomes the feeling, it drowns out everything else. The breathing through his nose echoing in the actually quite big ceramic bowl. The warmth of the food making its way down and curling at his belly in a way that makes his head feel fuzzy and nice. The demo becomes background white noise as his thick gulps become louder and rhythmic, easy to get lost in.

He is gasping for air the moment the song plays its last chords. He completely spared himself from the experience, he realized gleefully. But immediately after, realizes Jimin ate all that food in the 4 minutes the song lasted. Or well… He doesn’t realize, per se, his stomach makes a very painful statement; accompanied with a loud embarrassing rumble. Loud enough that makes both Hoseok and Yoongi turn their heads to him for the first time in the night.

At least Jimin hopes so, he wouldn’t want to seem like a pig in front of them.

“You finished it?” Hoseok is the one to ask, shock clear in his voice.

“He hasn’t eaten a thing in who knows how long, leave him alone.” Yoongi hushes him with a pout, before turning to Jimin; who is having to concentrate on his breathing. “Want some dessert with that?”

Even turning his head to face Yoongi feels like a heavy effort. Lips a little tingly from the spice of the stew. Parted as he breathes heavily, having to collect his hazy thoughts even to realize what he’s being asked. Let alone what he wants.

“N–no… No, I ate too fast.” He sighs, Hoseok sets his hand on Jimin’s thigh, rubbing endeared.

“Okay, we heard your thing. So it’s bedtime now.” His chuckle is gentle, and Jimin can feel Hoseok’s knuckles brush against his rounded tummy when his rubbing inches up his thigh, just before rubbing back down. It makes him realize just how big the portion was, looking down at himself as he nods lazily. Jimin sees the curve that pushes against his snug shirt. Little but no less mesmerizing.

Jimin has never bloated like that.

He is too entranced to hear the couple get up, only when Jimin’s vision is obscured by a hand that’s a lot less dainty than Hoseok; Yoongi’s. “Come on, up.” He looks up tiredly and dumbly. As if all his blood is leaving his head and traveling down to circle his stomach and help him digest. That mixed with the sleep deprivation making him lethargic, almost drunk-like.

The grunt Jimin lets out as he stands makes the two older giggle. They each wrap an arm around Jimin’s lower back, letting him melt in their hold as they walk to bed.

“I can take the futon.” Yoongi mumbles to Hoseok, basically hearing their silent communication as he stares ahead. Jimin’s head snaps back up to obstruct their vision at both his sides.

“Your bed is big enough.” He states simply. Not asking before he plops in the middle of the bed, not questioning its state of messy. Shifting perfectly in the middle till he looks at them both with a smile.

They’ve done this so many times already, it only takes the couple a few seconds to recompose themselves as they walk to the bed too, to lay at Jimin’s sides. Making the younger feel properly at peace, the memories of his stress and how awful he had felt about his demo already blurred by the nice rumbling sensation of his stomach digesting. His thoughts silenced, only a faint comment going on in his head as he falls asleep.

He should definitely try this more often for all his producing sessions.

They wake up at noon. At least Jimin does, the bed is empty and the sunlight is warming the covers perfectly. The sound of faint talking comes from outside, and it’s not nearly as strong as the smell of food.

Looks like today he will be putting his theory to the test.

He has lunch first thing, and then Yoongi and Hoseok make a spot for him in their home studio. That, now that he has the full proper hours of sleep, he finally notices how much better and more professional it is than the one he has at home. He isn’t sure if it’s the most productive Saturday afternoon of his life. But it’s definitely the one he’s enjoyed producing the most in. At least for the last few… semesters.

When he leaves, the couple makes sure to tell him that “You always have a free spot here if you need some creative break.” And Jimin clings to that. It’s perfect, isn’t it? Jimin gets to see his hyungs more often, rekindle the relationship he had neglected ever since getting overworked in college. But not feel too guilty about hanging out with them since he gets to be productive too!

He doesn’t even have to think it the few days later when he texts them to hang out again. And Jimin welcomes it with open arms, even when it becomes a couple-of-times-a-week thing. Getting to eat their delicious cooking and work on his projects without the churning of his stomach distracting him, or overworking himself to the point where his lower back stabs for a break.

Yoongi will always go to the bathroom and come back with snacks for everyone but Jimin mostly works his way through them, Hoseok will stretch and whine a bit and urge Jimin to watch some short episodes of the shitty reality shows (that jimin tried to resist before inevitably getting invested in) as a break. Usually accompanied by some delivery, doesn’t have to be a meal, sometimes it’s ice cream or some baked goods “to boost up energy”. And around lunch and dinner, they all get up to just hang out around the kitchen.

The youngest hasn’t felt this well rested in ages. And… Ironically, workflow hasn’t been this smooth in ages either. Jimin spares himself from saying that out loud and getting a big fat “I told you so.” from both of them. But it’s clear they know, from the way they encourage Jimin and praise their work and praise how much more energetic he sounds and how his work starts feeling a little bit more creative and alive.

He personally would blame having his two biggest inspirations in the room with him while he produces, but he supposes the sleep and food have something to do with it too.

Jungkook and Taehyung won’t stop teasing him about it. But they just don’t get the friendship he has with Hoseok and Yoongi. A relationship that feels like he isn’t just regaining the closeness he had with the couple, but Jimin feels impossibly closer than ever before. Maybe the age difference was too apparent in highschool. Now that they’re all adults, Jimn can feel the way Yoongi and Hoseok treat him differently, letting him get closer.

Babying him still, always. But they trust Jimin more, not trying to guard him as much as they used to in highschool. Guarding that only resulted in forced distance. When Jimin wanted nothing more than to get close…

Maybe a little too close.

He’s matured now, and so has their relationship. Jimin is fine with this. His crush in highschool was definitely a little too noticeable, and probably the reason why the couple tried to restrain themselves around the younger. Though now, he gets to see them behave like a couple. And it’s nothing short of endearing.

The way Yoongi’s hands always find their way to Hoseok’s skin even in subtle ways. When it happens, even if he is deeply concentrated working, or halfway through talking, a small smile brightens Hoseok’s face.They can’t get enough of each other, Jimin would feel bad about third wheeling if it weren’t such a delight to see.

Or if the food weren’t so delicious.

And if the couple’s bed weren’t so comfy.

His semester started like one of the worst in Jimin’s university years, and now he doesn’t remember ever being this easy going with all his assignments. With the olders’ assistance and inspiration, and care. It was like producing had never been easier. But he still can’t help getting nervous whenever it’s time to show his work to either Yoongi or Hoseok. Or worse, both of them.

Today Jimin should feel relieved, it’s the day he is finally handing in that assignment, the soundtrack he had been working on for most of the second half of the year. But Jimin can’t give himself the pleasure, because he knows Yoongi and Hoseok won’t let him get by this achievement without them listening to it.

Thankfully, though, the couple prepared a celebration feast. So at least Jimin will have something to keep busy with as the 20 minutes of soundtrack play in the background. The sole trick that has been getting him through every work session with his hyungs.

Tonight, his distraction is looking like a big big portion of KFC. Because he mumbled craving fried chicken a few days ago, and of course, Yoongi and Hoseok weren’t gonna let that slide. He is eager to silence the jittery feeling down his navel, anxious to know what they will think of all this hard work.

In the back of his mind, Jimin knows they would never say any critique without the perfect words. And Jimin knows how to take critiques, he doesn’t mind them! Unlike Taehyung. But something about them makes Jimin’s lower back shiver with goosebumps.

So he doesn’t hold back from picking up the bucket of fried chicken and bringing it to his lap. Beginning to eat even as Yoongi starts to decompress the zip file of Jimin’s album. The crunch perfect to drown out the noise around him, that and the oily delicious flavor giving him something nice to focus on. Already chewing on a drumstick as the first chords start to play on Yoongi’s nice speakers.

He’s heard these songs so many times, engraved them into his mind through the course of the semester, that they’re surprisingly easy to let fade into the background. That or the chicken is too good. Jimin closes his eyes too, for full immersion. During the last few months, with him inhabiting Yoongi and Hoseok’s apartment more than ever before, he has actually grown somewhat of a resistance. It’s harder to have enough food to distract him for as long as he needs.

Jimin has gotten faster at eating, is what he wants to say.

But all this chicken should last him enough. Or at least long enough till he is full and hazy and able to drown out the critical ear that plagues him whenever he is forced to listen to any of his work. His chewing becomes more fervent as he starts to nip the drumstick clean of meat. Letting himself get lost in the hunger he feels. Convincing himself at least.

It’s been a while since Jimin felt properly hungry. Impossible under his hyungs’ care. But still, he convinces himself to grab another piece of fried chicken even as he is still chewing the first one, barely managing to swallow as he pushes the new one in. Focusing on anything but the music, the crunchiness of the fried batter, resonating between his ears, the oil coating his tongue and the roof of his mouth, the taste that’s so delicious it makes Jimin feel the closest next thing to hunger.

Gluttony.

Relishing the sensation of warmth that spreads at the bottom of his stomach. The faster he eats the more time he has before he realizes just how heavily all this food is gonna make him feel later. Though, Jimin has realized, he doesn’t mind that heavy hazy aftermath either. In fact, it motivates him even more, the soundtrack becoming plain background noise. As he fully succumbs to it, each hand with a piece of chicken as Jimin loses his manners in an attempt to fit as much food as he can. Stretching his lips around him, thankful that he is sitting a little bit behind the two older producers, so they can’t see him like this. Desperate and unmannered. But he bets the animalistic chewing sounds are revealing enough.

It does the trick though, the music sounding more pleasant the fuller he gets, leaning back in his chair with the bucket still on his lap as he continues to eat at a more heinous and lethargic pace, wanting to keep this sedated high state for the entire duration of the soundtrack. He can feel his bloat begin to brush the bucket of chicken, but he doesn’t feel as full, not yet at least.

Like he said, he’s built some resistance, even if he feels his stomach press against the fabric of his shirt and the bucket flush against his tummy. Jimin feels like he definitely has more room to finish this serving at least.

As the soundtrack reaches its climax, so does he, his eating becoming impossibly more ravenous even as he starts feeling a proper tightness down his navel. Even if he has to push the chicken past his lips a little more forcefully, and leaning to eat the drumsticks becomes a little bit harder with the tautness of his bloat. The pile of clean bones collecting at the bottom of the bucket.

Whipping his oily fingers on his shirt, sensation the curved stiffness of his belly. The pressure of his hands a welcoming feeling, it releases some of the tight stretch that makes his breathing a little heavier. Or that might just be the way he is suffocating himself with pieces of fried chicken, edges of his lips hurting a bit as he stretches over the humongous bites. Probably both.

He has never timed it more perfectly, one oily hand reaching for the bucket while the other throws another clean bone in, and finds that he had finished it. Just as the last outro song begins to play. Jimin opens his eyes for the first time since he started eating, looking down at the bucket to find that yeah, he finished it. The warmth that spreads across his stomach borders on painful, but he adores it nonetheless, soothing and numbing. He can see his bloat too, stretching the shirt tight and pressing back against the bucket, rounded out cutely. A small plushness rounding the bottom of it.

Though when Jimin looks up, he sees both Hoseok and Yoongi looking over their shoulders at him. The mess he made.

The mess he turned himself into.

“I thought we were eating after… to celebrate.” Hoseok is the first to comment, an endeared smile growing on his face. Oh… They had… mentioned something along those lines.

“I—” Jimin tries to speak, though his voice sounds thick and greasy with all the oil. And speaking itself feels like an extension on his poor breathless state. Seems like Yoongi takes pity on him.

“Leave him, he was hungry.” He wasn’t, and by the little smile Yoongi has on, he seems to be thinking the same. “Wanna go to bed, Min?” His tone is so gentle with him, like Yoongi knows just how lethargic and drowsy he feels right now.

“N-no…” He huffs out a breath after the sentence, like itself is an effort. “What did you think?”

“I don’t know if you’re awake enough to hear.” Hoseok giggles, getting a light slap to the thigh from his boyfriend. Prompting him to correct himself. “We loved it, Jiminie. Your hard work shows.”

“Really?” His tone sounds childishly hopeful as it does sleepy.

“Yes.” Though Hoseok’s tone sounds genuine nonetheless. “Your take on things is so unique, Jimin.”

That seems to settle him, Yoongi prompts. “You can go to bed, I’ll take this.” He stands up and picks up the empty bucket. Leaving Jimin bare to his impressive bloat. The hem of his shirt even rode up a little at the very bottom, leaving a sliver of skin he hadn’t noticed before. But he is painfully self aware now. Blush creeping up his cheeks as he tries to fold his arms over his torso in a way that’s casual, but also hides the damage.

Jimin knows he is unsuccessful when Hoseok giggles. “It’s not that bad, Minnie.”

“I look huge…” The words slip out easier and less filtered when he is this full, all that food lulling him to sleep.

“Well it suits you a bit.” Hoseok is standing up too, offering a hand. “Come, let’s get you to bed.” That sounds like the best idea anyone has ever had.

He’s overeaten a lot in this apartment, looking for ways to sedate himself into enjoying his music more. But never was it this hard to stand up, even with Hoseok’s hearty pull upwards Jimin can’t help a grunt slipping from the back of his throat. Feeling all the food in his stomach shift with the movement, he has to cup the (naked) bottom of his bloat for some comfort. It’s not that taut.

Hoseok is there to help, wrapping a slim arm around Jimin’s waist, letting the dainty palm settle on the side of his tummy as they slowly make their way to the bedroom. The younger feels his breath shallow as if he had come from a marathon. Every step making his bloat bounce against the waistband of his sweatpants and aching a little in the process. He’s never been more thankful for the cozy size of Hoseok and Yoongi’s apartment, because it’s only a few meters before he is plopping heavily onto the center of the bed. The movement caused a burp to push its way out of his lips. Jimin whines and throws his head back, careless enough to let both of his hands settle on the curve of his bloat and massage the tight skin. Coaxing a few more burps to slip out, though he lets them fill out his cheeks instead of ripping them out.

He can feel Hoseok’s eyes on him, even with Jimin’s own eyes closed in a mixture of bliss and discomfort. Hearing a few footsteps get nearer. When Hoseok mumbles “Look at him.” His smile is audible too.

“Are you alright, Jimin-ah?” Yoongi’s voice has a chuckle attached to the end of it, and Jimin can feel the bed shift as the older makes his way to sit next to him. He wants to answer, of course, but all that leaves him is a pouty whine. Opening his eyes only to put them in puppy mode for both of his hyungs.

“Want a heat pad?” Yoongi’s voice offers kindly.

“We leant it to my sister.” Hoseok comments, though his voice feels closer. And sure enough, there’s another feeling of shift at Jimin’s other side. “But I think we can give him something else.” Trustful, Jimin doesn’t bother to open his eyes to know what that is. But instead he feels the grazing of Hoseok’s soft but cold fingers against the center of his bloat. “Can we?” He doesn’t need to specify, Jimin knows they both saw him massaging his gut after stuffing himself.

All he does is nod, before Hoseok’s palm is pressing flush to the warm skin, his fingers are squishing at the center of his taut stomach. Jimin’s jaw drops, a soft gasp leaving his lips. “Is this okay?” It prompts the question, that he answers wordlessly again with a quick eager nod.

The extra reassurance makes another hand graze a bit lower on his stomach, not as soft, calloused, but warmer. So irrevocably Yoongi’s. His massages are slower but firm, some of it pressing against the naked bit of skin. Though only for a few seconds, before he tugs down (or tries to) the hem of Jimin’s shirt. Only for it to ride back up again to sit on the biggest part of his bloat. Yoongi doesn’t bother to pull it down a second time. Instead, the tips of his fingers, roughened up by the guitar, slip under the hem. Making Jimin sigh in relief, the older’s hand like a heat pad on its own, as Yoongi begins to slowly grip and knead the bottom.

Hoseok takes initiative. Not just letting his hand slip under the snug shirt. But tugging it further up Jimin’s torso. Exposing the rounded out, swollen tummy, his hand setting on the hardest part right at the top. The gentle pressure makes a groan slip from the back of his throat, throwing his head back.

“You really overdid it, Min-ah…” Hoseok muses, there’s a teasing tone hiding somewhere under his warm voice. But Jimin feels too much bliss to properly acknowledge it, thighs shuddering as his back arches to their touches.

Yoongi is painfully quiet, but his hand keeps moving slowly along the bottom of his belly. Massaging what feels like a bloat, but is somewhat easy on the hands, easier than the top where Hoseok’s hand is. Pudgy…

A choked sound leaves his lips, it errands a small but no-less teasing chuckle from Hoseok. “That’s it, you worked so hard today.” His voice sounds closer to Jimin’s ear. The warmth coming from his stomach only grew with the presence of the older next to him.

“Don’t hold back.” Hoseok’s breath brushes against his ear and it’s a sudden contrast with the warmth that’s beginning to emanate from his skin. His heavy breathing hitches, feeling not only the bloat coaxing wheezes of air, but Hoseok’s closeness too. That does nothing to help his breathing either. And he is sure Hoseok knows his impact, his smile pretty much palpable when he hums. “Hm?”

Jimin doesn’t think he can answer something properly in the stuffed state he is in. Let alone with the way his heart skips a beat.

“O–Okay.” He manages to whisper, letting his head tilt to the side, meeting Hoseok’s shoulder.

“That’s it.” The older’s voice is barely above a whisper, the hand on the shelf of Jimin’s rounded bloat pushing him closer to Hoseok’s side, to lean a bit of his weight against his lithe torso. He doesn’t resist the guidance, not caring about the suffocating heat if he is sharing it with Hoseok. But the push against the top of his stomach, it makes him grunt at first, feeling the tight pressure.

And as he shifts his hips lethargically, though, a deep burp comes out. Right next to Hoseok’s face.

That makes Jimin’s eyes pop open, feeling pretty much the bucket of ice water that showers him. Meeting Hoseok’s equally widened expression.

“Pfthahahah!” Bubbly giggles make Hoseok’s body shake. A sense of relief washing over Jimn’s suddenly tense muscles. As Jimin follows along with a shy chuckle. He notices, Hoseok wasn’t watching him. He was watching at Yoongi.

Jimin had almost forgotten about him. And he is met with a stoic, serious expression; a tint of pink on his face. Was it always that color?

“I think you should go to sleep, Jiminie.” Hoseok interrupts the younger’s analysis with a smile. His hands guiding Jimin away from his own body to lay fully against the bed. He doesn’t fight back but he probably has a confused pouty expression on his face. Luckily Hoseok seems to notice. “We haven’t had dinner yet.” His tone is so endeared. “We’ll come back to you in a bit, okay?”

Jimin can only nod, his eyes avoiding Hoseok as he continues to study Yoongi’s expression. But the eldest doesn’t look back. Staring at some spot in the mattress.

“Night, Min.” Hoseok’s hand combs his fringe out of his forehead as he stands up, Yoongi following suit. But only mumbling a quiet:

“Night.”

Jimin stays quiet himself, controlling his breathing as he watches the couple walk out of the room.

He doesn’t know what just happened, but he is pretty certain he ruined it. But, the now soothed, warmness clinging to his belly is pulling also at his eyelids, lulling him to sleep.

Though he is soothed to find the couple snoring besides him when he wakes up.

Not all that ruined, then.

It would make sense… Now that Jimin’s semester project is finished, and his vacations are starting, Jimin doesn’t have a need to be hanging out at their apartment to stress-manage once every two days.

But they keep inviting him. And…. Jimin really likes their company. And their apartment is much nicer than the shoebox he is sharing with Jungkook and Taehyung. And now he can just hang out with them without the stress of his assignments.

It’s a no-brainer.

And, if he felt the couple slowly open up to him more during these months, putting down the walls they had with Jimin in highschool.Now it’s like Jimin can free himself too. Letting himself hang out in their apartment and not just their secluded studio. Hanging out happily on the couch, Hoseok by his side, feeling comfortable enough to cuddle close. Until Yoongi got back from his music teacher gig and then they started working on dinner.

Or even going out vinyl shopping with Yoongi, since Hoseok thinks he has an obsession. And getting to hear the older talk for hours, even asking for Jimin’s opinion on which he prefers. They stop to get take out and bring it back home, to eat dinner while they listen to the entire thing. With Hoseok’s too-warm-to-be-disapproving expression on his face.

And Jimin still sleeps in their bed, with them. For tradition’s sake, of course.

He could also argue it’s for the sake of tradition the way his eating hasn’t diminished in the slightest. Even if a situation like that hasn’t repeated again, and Jimin truly doesn’t have an excuse to stuff himself at that anxious desperate pace anymore, he’s now switched to a constant state of snacking.

Now that he doesn’t have assignments to keep him concentrated, or to have prize-meals, once he finishes said assignments; and that he is all around just hanging out more at their house. Jimin began to make himself comfortable in the couple’s kitchen. Feeling free to rummage through cabinets; during the course of the summer finding more and more of his favorites. Which might have something to do with the one time (in their moment of peak domesticity) Jimin went with the couple to buy groceries and they let him pick out a few things since “you’re there often enough.”

A joke when he heard it, but those things have become now regular stock in the Min-Jung household. Much to Jimin’s detriment. When he once felt embarrassed to only be at the couple’s house to work on his assignments. Now he feels guilty of emptying their kitchen.

But they’re so encouraging. If not to say, they’re the ones filling Jimin’s plate. Whether it’s giving him second or sometimes third servings of their dinner. Or taking the empty bowl of snacks Jimin has by his side on the couch, only to come back with it filled again. And all this on top of Jimin’s slow wanderings into the kitchen, standing on his toes as he reaches for the couple’s cabinets. Already accustomed with where to find his stuff, and stray away from Hoseok’s granola (He’s invited Jimin to try it… but he’s grown a taste for… yummier things).

Jimin notices a shift, Hoseok cuddles him closer, even if the situation like the one of his last assignment didn’t repeat. Hoseok’s hands still wander and pat and praise where they can get away with. Which is way more than whatever Hoseok is doing. But he likes this. The push and pull, the giddy smiles and playful glances. It feels like something that would’ve made highschool Jimin swoon, but now not only is he different and (in his personal opinion) much better and matured, but Hoseok is too. These past months it’s felt like all he has been doing is rediscovering his old crushes and falling for their new selves all over again.

He hasn’t been noticing that shift… with Yoongi. Always friendly, always warm. Always indulging to Jimin. But at arms length. Still some of that hesitance from highschool clinging to him. The younger can’t say he blames him. But instead he is getting mixed feelings about all the attention Hoseok has been giving him.

Is this okay?

Nothing ever actually happened, Jimin could really just be making all this up, his highschool hopes and dreams coming back to haunt him; due to all the Hoseok-Yoongi exposure. He can imagine it. Yoongi and Hoseok looking at him with a fond warm smile, the one they’ve given Jimin all of his youth. Seeing the two of them fall in love while they were probably aware of the younger’s feelings. Kind but so impossibly condescending. The idea of possibly putting himself in that position is enough of a motivation to push these thoughts to the back of his mind; and rather enjoy this while he can.

Living almost exclusively in his gym shorts, the waistband of which feels tighter as the summer goes on. The hems at his legs digging into his thighs when they’ve never done that before. Sinking into his ass as he walks. All his shirts are constantly stretched over… his belly.

This lethargic lifestyle… It made Jimin gain a few. Maybe more. He’d worry about it if Hoseok and Yoongi weren’t treating him all the same, encouraging and doting him with anything he wants. And, Hoseok in particular, Jimin is sure he is touchier. Patting him all over, maybe that’s when Jimin should have noticed the fact he was getting softer all around, before properly plumping up. But… Hoseok’s praise and hands feel too good to focus on anything else.

It was definitely there, though. Comments like “Your appetite nowadays is something else.” When Jimin is reaching for thirds, stomach is already heavy with a meal but still roomy for more. Still not stuffed over the edge, where he gets breathless, red, and a little sweaty.

“Got you a refill. Since I know you can work your way through a whole bag of these.” He chuckles while setting another bowl of cookies next to Jimin on the couch. His usual spot in the house nowadays. Even when he is producing he hasn’t been in the studio much at all. He likes to joke that it gives him war flashbacks.

He feels a bit like an idiot for not noticing. Only really realizing he’s fattened up when he needs to pull his gym shorts under his belly. That hangs comfortably over the waistband and pushes forward, squishy muffin top clinging to his shirt too. Probably the only thing keeping it from riding up the curve of his gut. Though he can feel the sliver of skin up his chubby back when he sinks into his comfortable side of the couch.

The tightness follows up his thickened waist, where rolls were stacking up comfortably. There’s a logo on the front of his shirt, that’s stretched white from the expanse of his chest. Rounded, pudgy and emasculated. He gives a tentative squeeze. No sight of muscle, thumb and index sinking right in.

Even the sleeves feel tight sinking into the new chub that hangs from his arms. And the collar of the shirt seems nearly suffocating. Not to mention, this has been the hardest summer has ever been for him. Needing the constant company of the AC. He turns it off out of pity for Hoseok and Yoongi’s electricity bill. But it’s only a few minutes until he starts getting sticky with sweat.

Jimin hasn’t just gained a few, he’s fat. And he let himself be blissfully ignorant for most of the summer.

But, then again, Hoseok doesn’t seem to be against it.

And Yoongi… Well he hasn’t even acknowledged it even happened.

Hoseok must be the only one who has a thing for it. Just like he seems to be the one who has a thing for Jimin anyway….

If he sounds a bit sulky. He is.

Though, his conflicted feelings about his weight gain, liking it, liking Hoseok like it, and feeling frustrated at Yoongi’s lack of response, aren’t enough to keep him from showing up. Lately he doesn’t even have to warn the couple, Jimin knows their schedules already.

Yoongi opens the door for him. “Hey.” Even if he wanted to, Jimin can’t read into Yoongi’s actions. Always so genuine and so particularly warm towards the younger.

“Hi hyung.” He really tries not to let his own intentions with them ruin the amazing relationship he already has, especially with Yoongi. Who’s only ever given support and love in Jimin’s life. They reach for a hug, the few instances in which Yoongi ever so much as touches him. But they’re always the same, perfectly respectable. His broad hands spread in the upper part of Jimin’s back. Even as the younger’s belly is big enough to overspill from the sides of Yoongi’s torso. Not too long. Perfectly standard. Almost calculated when he separates.

Okay, maybe Jimin is reading too deep into Yoongi.

“Smells delicious.” He puts a giddy smile on his face, and Yoongi rolls his eyes. As if pretending the only reason he didn’t go above and beyond in his cooking is Jimin’s almost daily appearances.

“Got some Ssambap ready.” That answer alone makes Jimin groan in delight as he walks further into the apartment.

“Hiii!” He exclaims, waiting for an eager Hoseok to rush to greet him. Give him a proper hug. Hmf. “Is he in the studio?” It wouldn’t be the first time he had to pretty much keep his hand pressed on the doorbell to get the producer couple to take off their headphones and notice he was outside.

“No, no, Miss Jung had some problems with her car. Hoseok just went to help out.” That makes Jimin’s head turn over his shoulder. Shit-eating smile already on his face.

“Miss Jung?”

“Hoseok’s mom.” Yoongi states simply.

“You call your boyfriend’s mom ‘Miss’?” He can’t help the giggle that slips out as he says it. Getting the respected reaction when Yoongi scoffs jokingly offended. “You’ve been together for like 9 years!”

“I’m a respectful son in law!” He whines. Before his face morphs into a pout. “And she is a very scary woman.”

That makes Jimin burst into a fit of giggles. Folding over himself, feeling the overhang of his belly fully press against his lap. Shirt riding up his back for him to quickly adjust it down when he stands back up right.

“You are adorable.” “I don’t know why I keep letting you come here.” Yoongi deadpans, eyes looking particularly anywhere that isn’t Jimin and his hands adjusting this shirt to fit over his love handles. Ouch.

“Because Hoseok likes me.” If Jimin were bolder he wouldn’t have said it in such a joking tone. But for the sake of keeping the peace. He’s now becoming acutely aware of how long it’s been since he and Yoongi hung out alone. “And because you’ve become incapable of cooking for two anymore.” That gets a smile out of him.

“I did enough for us to eat ssambap for breakfast and lunch tomorrow…” He confesses. “Are you hungry?”

“Always.” Jimin grins and follows the older to the kitchen, the smell is downright mouth-watering. But he is stopped as he tries to set the table.

“No no, I’ll take stuff to the studio. I wanna show you what I’m working on.” The small smile on Yoongi’s face is enough to make Jimin’s stomach twist in excitement. No matter the inner conundrum Jimin has, he will always be excited for either of his hyungs’ music. Especially when he has that confident smile on his face. Yoongi looks amazing when he is confident.

Is it excitement he feels? Or are those just the butterflies?

“Got it.” He interrupts himself to nod and turn on his heel. It’s been at least a few months since he’s nestled into the studio. But it feels just as familiar as it did that last time when he handed in his final work… And also all that stuff happened during his final hand in.

It does feel more cozy than he remembers, feeling himself get hot in the smaller room as he walks to his designated chair. What must’ve been an old one that either Hoseok or Yoongi used. At least judging by the screech it lets out as Jimin settles his weight into it.

Jimin looks down at himself, it’s a tight fit. His sides nearing the edge of the chair, nearly grazing the armrests. Though he can feel his thighs sink a little into them, as well as overspill from the edge of the chair. Jimin says feel, because he can’t get a proper look at it. His belly, only cramped forward by the armrests, takes a comfortable seat on half of his lap.

With pursed lips, Jimin makes himself bounce gently onto the chair. His belly slaps against his lap, and the rest of him jiggles in unison. But the chair only gives a few creaks in complaint.

Okay, he’s good-

Yoongi clears his throat; the younger snaps his face in his direction to find him standing by the door. Did he just see Jimin testing if the chair could hold his weight?

“I’ll–I’ll go get the uh… the food.” Jimin’s heart sinks to the pit of his stomach with the awkward look on the older’s face. Nearly fleeing the scene before he could catch Jimin behaving like the hog he turned himself into.

Or well… The one they encouraged him into becoming.

A bitter taste takes over his tongue, if he finds it so uncomfortable, then maybe he shouldn’t have been so doting towards Jimin. Let him go completely crazy these past three months, just to show him rejection once he’s gone too far. Once Jimin started realizing he actually still cares what his hyungs think about him. A little bit more than he’s proud to admit; a lot more than he has any right to.

The sweet smell of ssambap, the pork belly caramelized by its own fat, fills the room as Yoongi walks in with a tray with the big serving, some lettuce, rice, kimchi and two little bowls for them. That little smile is back on his face, like he is trying to brush off the awkwardness of barley a few minutes ago. The taste on Jimin’s mouth becomes unbearingly bitter. Maybe that’s why he is so eager to reach for the assortment of little dishes beginning to assemble his ssambap; while Yoongi begins to open the file he wanted to show him.

His mind feels far away, deep into himself. It feels unfair that Jimin is being rejected like this when Yoongi and Hoseok were the ones to instigate it. But then again, part of him wonders if the oldest took notice of how Jimin and Hoseok’s relationship became more playful; flirtier. That would be a pretty justified anger.

“Okay, this is for the opening of a short film they hired me to do.” Yoongi eyes briefly at Jimin with a smile; the younger already with the perfect, maybe a bit overstuffed, piece of lettuce in his hand. “Tell me what you think.”

Even before he is turning to play the song, Jimin is pushing the ssambap into his mouth, brushing the hem of his stretched lips. Okay, really, overstuffed that one. But he can’t help but feel a little bit seductive as he is wrapping his plump lips around his chubby index finger that pushed the bite in and slipped it out. Already making a second one as he chews. The sucky thing about this dish is, there’s really no way for Jimin to eat ravenously as he has gotten used to. But Jimin can at least let himself relax; feel a bit more confident as the delicious crunchy and perfectly oily pork belly reaches his tongue.

He has to hold back the moan that threatens to resonate in the back of his throat; it would definitely be disrespectful to interrupt the song with his gorging. Song that by the way, has this ethereal feel to it, gently creating the dreamy setting. It only feels fair that Jimin quickly scrambles to prepare a second bite, only to slowly lean back in the poor office chair. And not even the loud creak can ruin the religious experience that takes over his senses as he closes his eyes, letting himself get lost in the music, followed by the orgasmic balance of flavors that take over his mouth as he drops his jaw and manages to fit the humongous bite in.

But… The sudden snap of the lumbar support of the chair, with the loud thud of Jimin falling to the ground. That’s enough to snap both of them out of the listening experience. Hitting the carpet floor with a thud and a loud. Not giving Jimin time to react before he is “oufing” against the floor staring at the ceiling. Taking the entire seat of the chair with him and leaving behind the headless wheeled legs.

Yoongi comes into view from above, looking as stunned as Jimin feels. Maybe a little less out of breath.

“A-are you okay?” The younger only now has time to feel the mortifying embarrassment, as Yoongi kneels at his side offering his hand. Eyebrows raised almost comically with worry.

“Y…yeah-” He can only breathe out a reply, following the way Yoongi’s widened eyes graze along his fatteened body. The shock threw away any attempt at subtlety, letting Jimin see… the mortified expression.

Jimin’s heart tightens. Its disgust Yoongi is pathetically trying to mask.

“I’m–I’m fine, I’m fine.” His chubby hand shoos Yoongi as he slowly starts sitting up. “Ow…” He pouts his lips. Yoongi’s hands rub down his own thighs nervously, not knowing what to do with himself.

That’s okay, Jimin doesn’t know what to do with himself either. Though, as if to make matters worse, the front door opens.

Obviously too flabbergasted to act on his own, still looking at Jimin’s body with panicked eyes, Yoongi screams “Office!” Not giving the youngest time to react before hurried steps are thumping quickly through the apartment. Hoseok probably noticed the slight panic in Yoongi’s tone. Both his and Jimin’s head snapping towards the door frame when Hoseok’s slim silhouette appears; in complete quiet as if they were getting caught in the middle of something they shouldn’t have. At least Jimin felt that way.

“What’s wrong??” Hoseok speaks before he gets there. Both Yoongi and Jimin’s head snapping towards the door frame when Hoseok’s slim silhouette appears; in complete quiet as if they were getting caught in the middle of something they shouldn’t have. At least Jimin felt that way. Hoseok’s eyes bulged out at the crime scene before him, switching between Yoongi, dejectedly kneeling on the floor and, and Jimin laying with the armrests of the chair still squeezing into his sides.

“Sorry about the chair.” He blurts, unmoving from his spot on the carpet.

There’s a brief moment of quiet. Before Hoseok, folds over, bursting out laughing. High pitched and cutting through the uncomfortable silence Yoongi and Jimin were drowning in. Hand having to hold onto the door frame to hold himself from falling.

“Oh Yoonie…” His voice is 3 octaves higher and breathier, through barely contained laughter. “I leave for an hour… And this is what you get into-!” He can’t finish his point, interrupted by another fit of laughter.

“Shut up!” Yoongi’s voice also sounds higher pitched, for all the opposite reasons. Outraged, whiny and embarrassed.

“Enjoying yourself?” A teasing tone clings to his voice, and Hoseok has that distinctive shit-eating grin. The mocking in his words does nothing to soothe Jimin’s self consciousness about the older.

“The opposite" Jimin snorts humorlessly. “You should see how he is looking at me, hyung.” He doesn’t mean for it to come out that bitter, and the eyeing he gives Yoongi doesn’t help. But it’s something that has been eating him up, and Yoongi should seriously be more subtle about his distaste for Jimin’s weight gain.

“What do you mean?” The oldest’s eyes are suddenly fully on him. Making Jimin feel extremely exposed. The idea of backing down and brushing it on flashing through his mind.

“You’ve been weird for weeks now!” The whine slips out of his mouth before he can even consider that alternative. “Ever since I got fat!” His chubby pointy finger points at Yoongi’s gobsmacked expression.

“W-what?” Even Hoseok looks stunned.

“I’m sorry if my weight gain, that you two encouraged, is ruining the mood for you! And whatever’s happening between us!” Jimin can’t help but snort, he is tired of the confusion. “But you could try and be, I don’t know, nicer about it!” Jimin is suddenly very aware of the fact that he is screaming. Suddenly shrinking a bit into himself and looking anywhere else; he finds a nice spot on the floor. “A-and help me up.”

The silence is palpable, at least for the two seconds before a hollering laughter makes the walls shake. Hoseok nearly folding over himself and having to grip the door frame to avoid falling down. It’s shocking enough that even Yoongi and JImin share a puzzled look before looking at Hoseok.

“You told me– You told me you were going to tell him! Yah!” He manages to finish a sentence but it’s attached to a string of giggles. Jimin was startled enough to ponder if Hoseok was talking to him, but Yoongi beats him to it.

“I–I was going to!” His eyes darted between the youngest and his boyfriend. “The time just wasn’t right.” Jimin’s own eyes are bulging outwards between the couple, huffing as he sits up from where he was laying on the floor.

“Tell me what?!”

There’s another beat of silence.

“Yoongichi here, has a weight gain kink.” The mocking smile doesn’t leave his face. Jimin feels his heart stammer erratically. “And I was dumb enough to think he would’ve told you by now… With how much weight you put on and all.”

He is at a loss of words, though Yoongi speaks before he can even begin to formulate words. “You’re making me sound like a creep! It’s not like that!” He speaks through a pout, looking at Jimin with desperation. Who can’t offer any comforting words back, jaw hanging limp in complete shock.

“We— I didn’t plan on making you gain any weight.” He explains exasperated, suddenly not looking at anyone’s eyes. “You were just so spent with work and–and it just was my way of looking after you!”

Jimin never would’ve considered…

“I obviously uhm… noticed the gain. But I didn’t want to freak you out.” Yoongi does dare to look at Jimin in the eyes then, genuine and a little scared. “I may have taken it too far with my acting. And caused the opposite effect I wanted. I’m sorry.” His face scrunches up into a flinch the more he goes on, as if preparing for another one of Jimin’s explosive reactions.

“I…” The youngest starts to speak, mainly because he can feel it’s his que to respond. But without the slightest clue what he should say. Seeing from the corner of his eye Hoseok stepped closer to where the pair was sitting on the floor. “You like it?” His eyes darted between the two of them, not able to help the hopeful tone of his voice; impossible to hide it after these old feelings resurfaced with full force.

“I don’t have a kink for it, personally.” Hoseok’s hand finds Yoongi’s shoulder. “But I think you look beautiful, Jiminie.” The oldest is nodding eagerly.

“I don’t like you just because of the weight either.” His face is serious but his nodding is desperate, as if still scared of giving the Jimin the wrong idea, whose heart is stammering out of his ribs.

“I like the weight.” He sounds more sure than he has all night. Nodding softly as his eyes dart between the two. “I like getting to hang out with you again, and getting taken care of by you.” Once he starts he doesn’t think he can stop. “And I like that you two don’t look at me like I’m a kid anymore, and finally feeling like I have a chance.” He smiles a bit, Jimin knows he is risking it all, but he can’t bring himself to care when it feels so good to let go of all these emotions.

Hoseok kneels behind his boyfriend, at eye level with Yoongi. He is biting his lip with an endeared smile on his face. “Well… we have all changed since then.”

“You’re not a tween anymore.” Yoongi jokes with a shit-eating smile that shows at least some ease on his part.

“You are 2 years older than me.” The look on the oldest face eases him enough to retort back. “Only one year younger than Hobi hyung. You two just behave like senior citizens.” Hoseok breaks into giggles and Jimin feels quite accomplished about that.

“It feels more drastic in highschool! You know that!” His melodic laughter fills the room. Jimin feels his own shoulders slump in proper relief. And he catches the older looking at Hoseok with lovesick eyes as his laughter calms down. “Babe… offer him dessert.” He whispers to Yoongi with an amused smile.

“Oh!” He smiles a little embarrassed before turning his face back to Jimin. “Min-ah, do you think you have any more roo-”

“Yes.” Jimin answers without giving Yoongi time to finish. “Help me up.”

gif credits!1st gif : gainerbf on tumblr, October 3rd 2023

2nd-4th gif : overfedbutterball on tumblr, September 11th 2023

5th photo: fatbellygirl-piggy on tumblr, November 16th 2023

#BTS #bts feederism #namkook #taejin #sopemin #chubby jugnkook #fat jungkook #chubby taehyung #fat taehyung #chubby seven #fat jimin #stress eating #stuffing

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sweetestpjm · 8 months

Text

never trust a skinny baker

pt.1 of ?

Never trust a skinny baker.

"1...2..." Jimin pursed his lips, wondering why he only had two and a half dozen of his signature cookies made. He swore that he'd put in 3 dozen. Okay, maybe he'd eaten one of them. Or two— just to make sure it was good. And then maybe 3 more while they were still in their warmest state. Then that last one for good luck...

Okay, maybe it made sense why there were only 2 and a half dozen left now. It made sense, it added up.

"Hyung?" Hoshi said, poking his head into the kitchen, making his way in once he realized that Jimin was just organizing the baked cookies onto trays. "Someone's come in, they want to apply for a job here."

He practically lit up at that— he really needed more help. Hoshi was great but he knew running the entire bakery together was difficult. They'd learned that on their first holiday rush. Valentine's day, if one could even call it a real holiday.

"I'll be right out. Just get them something to nibble on while I finish with these," he said, shooting a smile, "and let them know that the job is probably theirs."

"Got it, boss hyung!"

Jimin rolled his eyes at the excessive formalities, but he'd scold him on it later.

Eventually he put the tray out— though he nearly dropped it upon seeing the male that Hoshi was giving a croissant to. Oh he was really handsome and dressed well, which had Jimin instantly attracted to him. But that was easy, he was one of those universally handsome guys, after all.

"Hi, sorry for the wait," he apologized, shimming his curvy body through the little area and joining them at one of the booths— of 3 booths. Pretty big for a little bakery but still not many.

The man shook his head, standing up and giving him a respectful bow. "Hi, I'm Jeon Jungkook. It's no worry, I was just coming around wondering if you were hiring still?" he pointed to the door, where there was a 'hiring' poster.

"Yea!" he said, a hand on his nearly aching belly as he thought, "let me just interview you. Got a resume on hand?"

"Hyung! I got the job," Jungkook squealed, jumping as he put his hands on Yoongi's shoulder, "ugh, you would've loved it there. And the baker..he's really cute."

"Oh? Really cute?"

Jungkook shrugged, "like a doll. He's pretty and cute and— well, I quite like him since he's given me a job even though I've only been a bartender and an assistant carpenter.."

"Weird jobs of yours," he chuckled, still chopping vegetables, "but sounds nice, I'll be sure to drop by."

"And eat, because the food is to die for. Like, the fumes of the bakery are like a happy pill, or something.."

Yoongi rolled his eyes, still focusing on finishing chopping the last of the cucumbers. "I'll be sure to. Weird of you to tell me how hot your boss is, though. You usually don—" He finished up chopping, setting the knife down and grinning at Jungkook. "Someone's already got a crush on their new boss, mm?"

"A little? I mean, keep your options open, baby. You'd like him."

"Any pictures? I'm always keeping our options open, darling."

Jungkook nodded with a wide smile, opening up the instagram for it. It took some time until he found a post featuring the owner, Jimin. A few pounds lighter for certain. Once he found it, he put it up to Yoongi's face who instantly melted at the sight.

"Oh he's really cute. Ah, you should invite him over, I'll cook him a nice meal." Yoongi cooked for a living rather then baked, so it was a regular offer he'd make. New friend? 'Bring them over, I'll cook them a meal. Find out their favorites.' Meeting family? 'I'll cook them the best meal of their life, invite them over'.

"Maybe after I've worked there some time?"

"Really? Fine, shy boy. But I'd be interested too if his personality is as sweet as his looks are."

"Oh, most definitely."

"Just tighter, please. However it needs to be so you can tie it," Jimin said, not sucking his belly in this time. The attempt before when he did, it undid itself the moment he'd relaxed. Not this time. This plan was undeniably foolproof.

The younger nodded, trying again and eventually it worked, somewhat. "There, hyung. I— if you need to extend the ties, I can do it. I used to sew."

Jimin turned around, nodding his head, though he could see his cheeks were red. "That— that would be great, I really don't want to buy a new one, this one just.." he tried to flatten it better, "holds a special place in my heart."

"I get it.." he said, an idea coming up. Perhaps now was the time? It had been three months and well..he couldn't compose himself much more. Especially with all this tying business. "Maybe I could fix it up at my place and you could join us for dinner? Us being me and my boyfriend. My boyfriend's a private caterer, so he cooks," Jungkook said, "whatever you'd like to eat."

He instantly smiled, nodding his head. "That'd be lovely! I was wanting to invite you for a meal for some time but I am a bit shy." Jimin's belly rounded out more and well— the ties undid. His cheeks were red hot again.

"Don't worry about it. How about just leave it like this?"

Jimin nodded, shyly stroking his belly. "Yeah. Guess it's the muffins doing their work, huh?"

Jungkook nodded, not sure when he'd gotten red from this encounter. "I— well, guess so."

"Lovely to have you over, Jungkook tells me all about you. Best baker in the world, hm?"

Jimin smiled sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders and looking at the food on the table. Were there others coming? It looked like quite a lot for how small and lean they both were. "Maybe one day. I can tell that you're good too. Are you excepting another?"

Yoongi tilted his head, then noticing his confusion's reasoning, "ah, no. Just us three." He pulled out another dish, just some baked bread and set it on the table. "Sit, dinners ready."

Jungkook sat down, as did the other two shortly after. And so dinner and small talk began.

"Caterer, huh?" Jimin said, between his bites, "no wonder you are, this is delicious. I really love food— clearly, and this is great. Really great."

"Your bakery is great," Yoongi said, nearly choking at Jimin's comment towards himself, "I'm happy you're enjoying it."

Jungkook perked up, "oh, Jimin hyung, you should tell Yoongi about your muffins! He likes them a lot, he's actually really good at making them but—"

"Gguk here accidentally broke my muffin mold tray, so now I make him buy me muffins to make up for it." Yoongi bit back his smirk.

"Aah.." Jimin giggled, tilting his head at Jungkook like a puppy, "no wonder you're always so insistent on taking some of the muffins home. That's adorable."

Jungkook tried not to visually show how something as simple as those words was making him quite happy. Really happy. "I owe Yoongi big time plus I can never say no to him. Look at those eyes, imagine saying no to those eyes."

Yoongi made the effort of batting his eyelashes at Jimin who chuckled, a hand over his mouth. "That is pretty cute. I wouldn't say no either."

Now Yoongi was further understanding Jungkook's crushing. There was just something about Jimin. Something adorably soft and intriguing for certain.

It wasn't often they agreed about someone, after all. Yoongi nor Jungkook was taking to it lightly.

As the evening went on, they glanced at one another making it obvious to themselves that this was universally agreed on between them.

For Jungkook, it was his sweetness of course. His praising, his attitude and he could admit (not aloud of course) that he was very fond of that bakers tummy he had going on.

Yoongi on the other hand, quite liked his storytelling and his joking. He kept wondering if he'd get even cuter and each time he did indeed get cuter. Mumbling on about baking, about his old cat and especially about the latest BL he'd been reading (which was great information for him to behold).

They were just very glad they were on the same page.

At last, they could agree on doing this; asking that chubby (and clueless) baker out on a date.

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chubby-manggae · 1 year

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Chocolate Lover

New idea I dreamt of but how bout picky eater jimin who rlly isnt a picky eater he just hasn’t tried many foods, including all things chocolate, milkshakes, and many other foods.

but now jimin has a goal to try many new foods so he starts out with the easiest one to find, chocolate. He starts off with chocolate candy, Twix, KitKats, Reeces, Snickers and he loves them all so much. He makes sure to buy those huge bags of them to keep in the refrigerator at all times, never being out of stock of any kind. On one of his chocolate runs Jimin spots a brand that he’s heard amazing thing before about but never had the courage to try, Lindor. After contemplating for a second, he puts a bag of them in his basket. When he tries them they don’t disappoint, they outer chocolate shell is good but the softer, more creamy chocolate on the inside is absolutely splendid. Unfortunately lindor is a bit pricey so jimin can’t have it as often as the others so Jimin looks forward to his once a week lindor days. Next he tries chocolate chip cookies, he steals them from one of his roommates and realizes he rlly likes them. He starts to put them in his vanilla ice cream making some delicious cookies dough vanilla ice cream, which he eats every other day. Then he tries those Swiss roll (twinkies), and omg are they to die for eating only two a meal is such a challenge on the poor boy. The chocolate and cream filled things from heaven were always running out, luckily one of Jimin’s roommates was always quick to but more. He learns they taste even better when you stuff marshmallows inside of them, creating a beautiful mix of marshmallow cream chocolatey goodness. Chocolate doughnuts are the next thing jimin tried and oh boy does he realize what he’s missing out on. He ends up loving them so much that he can’t help but eat 3 every time he passes the box in the kitchen. It definitely didn’t help his expanding waistline when he found out u could buy munchkin doughnuts. You would think because they’re smaller in size it would be less calories but nope, they were just easier to hold more in your hand. Poping abt 8 into his mouth every time he passed them in the kitchen. Next up for him to try was brownies. Jimin got one of those boxes of Little Bites brownies but had to go back to the store that very day because he had eaten all the ones in the box. On his way to buying another box, something in the bakery caught his eye, a box of 24 brownies covered in amazing butter cream frosting. There was no way Jimin was passing up this opportunity and quickly grabbed two boxes of the frosting brownies. That night jimin ate 12 after dinner then another 12 when he wondered to the kitchen at 2am after being woken up but his stomach. He’s been getting hungrier a lot sooner than he used to but his roommates always makes sure the kitchen is fully stocked with all the chocolatey sweets the now chubby boy enjoys. The last thing on Jimin’s list to try, the big kahuna, chocolate cake. Jimin when to the store and bought one of those small circle cakes, he was still a bit worried that he wouldn’t like it but his desire to at least try it out won. So jimin cut himself about a fourth of the cake and slowly took a bite. It. Was. Perfection. Jimin ate more and more of his slice before finishing and cutting another one, then another…then another until he realized he had finished the whole cake. Getting up was a bit of a challenge with how full he was but he quickly refilled his cup of chocolate milk, another thing he was trying, before as quickly as one could do with a full stomach went to the coach where he then stayed after getting tired from all the eating. Over the past month and a half, Jimin’s eating habits had changed a lot, from healthy small snacks throughout the day to big meals of noodles and pizza and chocolate treats in between each meal.

It had only been a little less then two months since jimin started his journey to try more foods but his waistline definitely looked like it had been more. With his new eating habits along with his job at a pizzeria, jimin rlly packed on the pounds. His chubby cheeks coming back and bigger then ever, a little double chin forming when ever his looked down. His abs melting away and forming a little tummy and his ass and thighs getting a bit bigger and softer. Jimin seemed a bit obvious to the changes but his roommates sure won’t but hey that’s what happens when you eat pizza every other day and eat chocolate so much to the point that your finger tips and face are covered in it almost 24/7. Not that they all mind though, they’re happy to spoil there chubby, soon to be fat chocolate loving jiminie.

#bts feederism #chubby bts au #chubby bts #chubby jimin #fat bts #fat jimin #loosely based off of the author’s experiences

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yoontteokki · 1 year

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Hi i love your writing so much 🥲 plz can you write a fic where Jimin overfeeds his boyfriend Yoongi and turns him into a big spoiled baby 🥺 Maybe Jimin makes him wear a bib when he eats because he’s a messy eater and helps him burp because his gas gets trapped when he eats too much, but Yoongi is very very spoiled

hi anon! i hope this fic is to your liking, it took so long to complete because i wasn't too sure how i wanted to approach it but i absolutely love how it turned out. i'm not sure if this has a name but i absolutely LOVE spoiled bratty feedees, it's pretty much my favourite trope atm so if anyone has more spoiled!yoongi prompts please send them my way 🥹 i'd love to write more!

warnings: force feeding, gas, stuffing, light slob

♡ spoiled brat ♡

“Ah, ah ah!” Jimin choruses as he catches Yoongi extending his hand out, ready to grab the bacon straight from the plate in front of him. “Yoonie, do you remember our rules?”

Yoongi mumbles something under his breath.

Jimin lifts an eyebrow. “Speak up, baby. I can’t hear you.”

“I can’t eat with my hands,” Yoongi grumbles, palming his huge stomach with a pout. “I’m hungry, though. I want food now.”

“And you’re going to get it, bubs,” Jimin tells him. He wraps Yoongi’s baby blue bib around his neck and presses a gentle kiss to his chubby cheek. “You’re all ready for your breakfast now. Remember, you’re not to eat without your bib on, okay? You get really messy, sweetie.” Yoongi nods. Jimin’s not sure he’s even listening, judging from the way he’s eyeing the plates of food so intently.

“Yoongi, baby? What did I just say?”

Yoongi pouts even more. “You can only feed me when I’m wearing my bib.”

“That’s right,” Jimin coos. “We need to keep you clean, bubs. And if you feel your gas getting trapped, you’re to tell Jiminie, remember? I can help you with that.”

Yoongi nods again, more frantically this time. Jimin can tell he’s getting agitated. He hates to see his baby so hungry, but it’s imperative that Yoongi understands why they have these measures in place. Without keeping him waiting any longer than necessary, Jimin scoops up the first strips of bacon with the fork and guides it to Yoongi’s lips, watching delightedly as he wolfs them down.

His lips are slick and oily when he demands, “More.”

Jimin just smiles and feeds him the rest of the bacon, giving his stomach a light pat. Watching Yoongi eat is always such a treat - Jimin loves seeing his boyfriend well-fed and happy, loves the way his skin glows with contentness and loves watching him grow bigger and bigger with every meal. Ever since they started dating, this new lifestyle not only took a toll on his body but also his attitude. The shy, mild-mannered boy Jimin had met in the university library four years ago had been replaced with this fat, entitled brat who has all his meals fed to him and doesn’t need to lift a single finger since his boyfriend does everything for him. Jimin has yet to encounter anyone as spoiled as Yoongi. He’s become such a spoiled, pampered baby, and Jimin loves every part of him.

Halfway through his pancakes, a disgruntled look makes itself present on Yoongi’s face, and he begins to run his hands up and down his belly. “Jiminie,” he moans, “Help me.”

Jimin puts the fork down. “Oh no, baby. Do you need to burp?”

Yoongi nods, and Jimin springs into action. He places one hand on his belly and the other on his flabby back and starts rubbing thorough circles into the soft flesh in order to alleviate the gas that’s trapped. “It’s okay, bubs, we’ll get it out,” he assures Yoongi. Ever since Jimin had started overfeeding him, he produces a lot more gas which gets trapped during his meals, causing him a lot of discomfort. Thankfully, Jimin’s a pro at releasing the gas pockets by now, and the problem is soon fixed. Yoongi belches loudly, then points to the stack of pancakes.

“Feed me quicker this time. You were being too slow.”

Jimin’s not even taken aback by his tone anymore. After all, it’s his fault that Yoongi has become such a spoiled, fat brat in the first place. “I will, sweetie. But we don’t want to overdo it. I’ll go as quickly as I can, okay?”

He picks up a faster pace now, shoveling one pancake at a time down Yoongi’s throat. Soon enough the pancakes are gone, leaving only a plate of sausages left. Yoongi finishes them all off in record time, and his bib is left a greasy, stained mess. There’s even maple syrup and chunks of meat stuck to his flabby arms and chest. Jimin helps him out of his chair and uses a baby wipe to clean him up before kissing him on his wet lips.

“Well done, Yoonie!” he congratulates his boyfriend. “I’m so proud of you for finishing everything like a good boy. Now, do you want to go get dressed?"

Yoongi nods, and Jimin leads him to the bedroom with an arm around his soft waist.

Ten minutes into dessert, and Jimin's patience is starting to wear thin.

"I told you I wanted blueberry," Yoongi huffs, folding his arms against his chest. There's already raspberry sauced smeared across his cheeks and chins, and chocolate dribbling down his bib. His chocolate muffin stares up at him, unwanted.

Jimin blinks, unfazed. "But today you're getting chocolate. You've already had a lot to eat today, sweetie, you're not getting another muffin."

Yoongi's eyebrows knit together. "Get me another muffin right now. I want a blueberry one as well as this one."

"No, Yoonie. You've already had ice cream and a whole tray of cupcakes on top of your breakfast and your lunch was huge. You've had more to eat today than usual and I'm not letting you get sick. Just eat the muffin I gave you."

Jimin supposes he should have seen this coming. Whilst Yoongi just sits pretty and lets Jimin feed him ninety percent of the time, he'll occasionally act out and demand to be given more, more, more. These days he never seems to be full. His appetite is becoming increasingly hard to keep up with, and Jimin has to put his foot down at some point. He knows that outbursts like this are to be expected of Yoongi since he's become so damn spoiled, but his attitude can be exhausting when he's being so difficult.

"I want another one!" Yoongi orders, pointing to the cupboard from his high chair. His belly is so big that it now rests on the adjustable plastic table. "Get me another one right now, Jimin!"

"Fine!" Jimin gives in and storms over to the cupboard. He pulls out the entire box of muffins, both blueberry and chocolate, and places them on the table alongside a whole jug of milk from the fridge. Yoongi's eyes grow comically wide. "If you want more, I'm going to feed you more. You're eating all of this, Yoonie. No if's or but's. You wanted more, so here you go."

Yoongi says nothing, just watches in bewilderment as Jimin unwraps the muffin already sitting in front of his and shoves it in Yoongi's mouth. He twists the plastic cap off the milk and raises it to Yoongi's lips, letting him drink from it before he shoves another muffin into his mouth. It's a routine Jimin's hands get used to quickly, and the look on Yoongi's face is so entertaining. He's turning pink, and with every muffin his cheeks are getting messier and fuller, his eyes droopy and dazed. His belly is distended and red, and when Jimin gives it a stroke, it's rock hard. But this is what Yoongi wanted, after all.

Eventually, when they're down to the last muffin, Yoongi gasps for air and rubs his pudgy hands over his stomach, groaning. "Jiminie, I'm so full." His stomach growls angrily. "I - hic - really need to burp. My tummy hurts."

Jimin soothes Yoongi's bloated belly with his small hands, largely ignoring his request. "Not until this muffin and milk is finished, baby."

Yoongi moans, and Jimin forces the last muffin into Yoongi's mouth followed by the final gulps of milk. When he pulls the jug away from Yoongi's mouth with a pop, he unleashes him from the chair and guides him over to the couch in the living room carefully. Jimin can hear all the food sloshing around in his belly when he plops him down.

"There, there, baby. We're going to sort this pesky gas out, okay?"

Jimin rubs Yoongi's back and belly vigorously for a good few minutes before any progress is made. Eventually, Yoongi lets out a long string of burps and farts, his face red and his belly even redder. He belches right in Jimin's ear, uncaring and sloppy, and uses his own hands to relieve some of the pressure built up inside his huge belly. His bib is absolutely covered in food, and his sweater is equally as messy. Jimin tuts.

"Such a messy baby," he sighs, eliciting a final, huge burp from Yoongi. He massages his belly soothingly, his voice stern when he says, "I hope you've learned your lesson today, Yoonie. You know I love you, and I love feeding you, but you have to know your limits. You were a very bad boy before. From now on, are you going to be good for me?"

"Y-yes," Yoongi stammers, dangerously close to slipping into a food coma.

Jimin smirks and plants a kiss onto his forehead. He tucks a piece of Yoongi's long black hair behind his ear and whispers, "Spoiled brat."

#this unlocked something within me #bts feederism #feedee!yoongi #spoiled yoongi #feeder!jimin #please send me more spoiled!feedee requests!! i love them sm #yoontteokki writes

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breadcheekstete · 1 year

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i had a dream that j¡min finally accepted that no matter how much he works out or diets, his body wants that pudgy layer of fat on him.

so there he is rehearsing with one of his tricky tshirts that exposes his torso every time he raises his arms and his abs have melted completely in a pot belly that forms a muffin top over his sweats and he's just as happy and bubbly.

he realizes that this body frame let's him do the same as his built muscles did but he's so much relaxed, allowing himself to eat and rest as much as he pleases.

maybe some of his clothes don't fit, like one of his favourite slacks, but he smirks pleased at the thought of his members staring at his unbuttoned slacks with his pot belly all rounded and full after a group meal in one of their pre debut usual restaurants.

he's so shameless about it, squeezing and shaking it as he grabs yet another serving of meat.

he would keep eating even when the members already settled in with a warm (and chaotic) convo. so from time to time the members would tease him, or even poke his belly mischievously.

or that's what they assure, cause there's an undenyable spark of lust in their eyes. and he for sure will milk every drop of it.

#bts feederism #chub kink #breadcheekstetefic #chubby jimin #the dream was so realistic i didn't realice until like two hours after i woke up that it wasn't real

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trivialovehandles · 1 year

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Jimin’s a little vain. Yoongi’s a lot chubby. When they’re set up on a blind date, Jimin initially plans to let Yoongi down easy, but instead ends up smitten. So smitten, in fact, that he can’t stop thinking about Yoongi’s body. Or how he’d look with a body like Yoongi’s.

part 5 of 21 days of chubby bts, yoonmin featuring bored pianist jimin, chubby hip-hop producer yoongi, and a fateful blind date for the mutual weight gain prompt

#bts feederism #chubby bts #fat bts #fat bt5 #chubby bt5 #chubby yoongi #chubby jimin #or should i say chubby-turned-fat yoongi and skinny-turned-chubby jimin

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chubbypinkminnie · 11 months

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should i post a chapter even tho the rest isn’t finished

i’m proud w how it’s going .. it’s a collab with @bulletproofscales

#bts feederism #fat bt5 #chubbypinkminnie #fat jimin #fat yoongi #chubby bt5

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soft-bellied-tannies · 7 months

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Chubtober Day 3

Today’s Chubtober prompt comes from @softievante’s ten day list! Day 3 is mutual gaining so enjoy this not so little draft of a Sopemin idea that I love.

—-

Chubby feedee Yoongi asked his dom feeder Jimin to do a switch-style role-play session where Yoongi feeds Jimin instead. While he was hesitant, Jimin also agreed that it would be fun to try so he allowed Yoongi to plan the entire night.

Yoongi ended up getting all of Jimin’s favorite foods and they were both impressed by the amount Jimin was able to eat, considering his typical small appetite.

Jimin had never been overly strict with his diet, but he was intentional with his food choices. He rarely ate more than regular meals and wasn’t one to indulge in snacks or sweets unless he was a little stressed or Yoongi offered to share with him.

Jimin would also admit how nice it was to let Yoongi feed and praise him for an entire evening which was a surprise since Jimin was quite vocal about how much he liked being in control.

After the “scene” was finished, Yoongi was doing aftercare, and Jimin said, “You know, I get it, this feels really good”.

Yoongi asked if Jimin would want to do it again sometime, to which Jimin said maybe, taking time to think about it.

That response was enough for Yoongi, who figured that Jimin would have safeworded out the scene before they could finish - he was happy to have gotten such a positive response at all.

A month later, Jimin could not hold out any longer and asked for a repeat of that night. He was nervous to approach the topic with Yoongi, thinking it was wrong to shift the dynamic away from how well it worked now.

Much to Jimin’s surprise, Yoongi was completely on board - telling Jimin he had a great time with their roleplay attempt too. He also expressed how sometimes it’s nice to share a big meal with Jimin rather than eat it all by himself.

It slowly became a pattern that Yoongi would feed Jimin maybe once a month when he finally spoke up about it.

Then, once a month became a few times a month until Jimin decided that they should both eat together on Saturday nights, their chosen night to always plan a big meal for Yoongi.

Jimin started taking bites from what he fed Yoongi, needing to order more than their already large typical orders.

Jimin started to gain here and there, slow progress considering his intake was still much smaller than Yoongi’s but much more than his previous eating habits.

As his gain becomes a little more noticeable, Yoongi starts referring to Jimin as his chubby feeder or his soft boyfriend which has Jimin flustered and shy but happier than he ever expected at the same time.

Once they realize that they may be missing out on both reaching their limit, one always sacrificing to take the other farther, they discuss adding a third.

It was an easier discussion as they had already discussed polyamory in the past and their close friend, Hoseok, had always been the one on their radar to ask.

Hoseok was aware of their relationship dynamics and had even taught Jimin a few things about being a dom since Hoseok was previously a member of a well-known BDSM club.

Hoseok immediately agrees to at least enter the relationship as a stand-in dom on the nights that Jimin wants to fully participate along with Yoongi.

They tried a full session together without Jimin having to maintain feeder responsibilities and Hoseok in full control. It was obvious after one night that Hoseok was the perfect third, all three enjoying themselves more than ever.

After that night and asking Hoseok to fully join their relationship, Jimin fully becomes a switch and finds himself eating more which then leads to filling out more.

He never wanted to give up those nights when he took control because Jimin loved his dynamic with Yoongi, but he would admit that getting to give up all responsibility and let Hoseok feed him was just as fun.

Hoseok became the perfect encourager to both of them - Yoongi wanted a rough dom who pushed his limits, while Jimin needed gentle praise and soft encouragement.

Yoongi and Jimin also took turns encouraging each other while Hoseok maintained both roles perfectly.

Jimin had more limits and needed recovery periods, while Yoongi was all in most of the time, but neither ever wanted to disappoint Hoseok. He could be intimate yet demanding, but he also gave them perfect aftercare and knew all of their limits.

Jimin continued gaining but never got close to Yoongi’s impressive gain that had started nearly two years before he even brought up the idea of Jimin eating instead.

The more progressive gain and switching roles allowed Jimin to be more intentional with his gain while Yoongi ate what they put in front of him, unbothered by how much or where he continued gaining weight.

Eventually, Yoongi tried the same thing with Hobi, asking for a switch scene, which Hobi turned down, saying it was not for him and that he was strictly a feeder.

Yoongi smirked and gestured to Jimin, who was eating out the tub of cheese balls in his lap with a shirt that hugged his little potbelly and said, “Yeah, Minnie said the same thing in the beginning, babe. We’ll see about that.”

Hoseok kept thinking about Yoongi’s words and would look back on pictures of boyfriends in college, realizing how much bigger both of them are now.

It was always so shocking to him to see how much smaller both used to be, especially Jimin who looked absolutely tiny in his early college years.

Hoseok finally asked Jimin about it, wanting to know what changed his entire personal dynamic with gaining, and was shocked by Jimin’s simple answer.

“Yoonie wanted to try it, so I said yes, and it felt great, so I wanted to try again. Now we’re here.”

Hoseok then asked Jimin if he was happy about the choice to give in or even happy about the relationship as a whole, always wondering if Jimin ever felt coerced. Jimin was almost confused by Hoseok’s questions before giving his response.

“Hobi, of course, I’m happy. I love you both, and I get to have all the parts I enjoy now. I love the experience of being a dom and I get to have that with Yoongi. I have realized that I also love giving over my control sometimes and I get to have that with you. Also, I love food and I mean, I think it’s obvious I love being praised, so…it’s honestly perfect.”

After hearing Jimin answer it so easily, Hobi finally decides to give it a try. Yoongi and Jimin made him promise to be honest after the experience, even taking time to think it over if he needed to. They tried it out and Hoseok did take the time they gave him to think it over and found that it just wasn’t for him.

He didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as Jimin to start gaining regularly or become a switch, and he honestly couldn’t comprehend Yoongi’s ability to just completely give up all control, but Hoseok did relax his eating habits after and stopped fixating as much on his intentional diet, recognizing that Jimin was completely right in his point to actually start enjoying his food.

Those choices would lead to small weight gain, but nothing close to his actively gaining partners.

A trickle-down of clothes would happen over time throughout this journey of mutual gain. Yoongi would have always given Jimin clothes that he grew out of that were too big on Jimin.

Once he starts gaining too, Jimin would have old clothes to give to Hoseok. It would eventually reach a point where Jimin would give Hoseok shirts that were getting a little too small on him that once belonged to Yoongi.

Jimin and Hoseok would have much different transitions in their food acceptance. Jimin would obviously have insecurities, but he also was the one more into it.

He understood and experienced the enjoyment of it outweighing the shame - cherishing the fact that he had the support and love of his partners to pursue something he was once adamantly against.

Hoseok’s gain would be small in the big picture, but still more than he ever expected himself to gain - relationship weight or otherwise. He would have hardcore denial, saying he was bloated until Yoongi called him out on it.

Jimin and Yoongi would be adamant that it was natural and attractive, that they loved everything about him, and that the concept of their dynamic was an obvious factor in gaining weight unintentionally.

Once the acceptance came for Hoseok, he would be much more vocal about his own gain. He would express his jealousy of Jimin’s ass, having the complete opposite body type to his other boyfriend, and discuss his appreciation for Yoongi’s pride and confidence in his own body and desires.

Yoongi never would have imagined that a single ask for a silly role reversal between him and Jimin would lead to the best possible relationship he could have dreamt up.

The happiness that had come from their one decision brought them a new dynamic, a beloved partner, and a lot of weight between all three of them.

#soft bellied tannies #bts feedism #chubby bts #bts weight gain #chubby jimin #chubby yoongi #feeder jimin #feeder hoseok #sbt chubtober

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cookiesuga55 · 5 months

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Drinks on me

Brainrot: College AU chubbies.

Jungkook goes off to college and is determined not to gain the freshman 15. But... once he starts partying with all of his new friends the pounds pack on and he lets himself go. And he loves it. He loves it so much.

He drinks up and munches on delicious greasy food, getting softer and pudgier, and so much thicker in his belly. It rounds out from the onslaught of fizzy calories and fatty snacks that he chows down when he's living it up. He needs food when he drinks! It's a requirement for a night out. He downs sodas and fried cheese curds along with drinks that make him giggly and warm... and so hungry. Plates of hot, greasy fries slide down so nicely with a cold beer. All of that yummy weight settles in his belly until he's sleepy and satisfied.

Jungkook thickens into a dense weight that's accompanied with a doubled chin, a bubble butt, and tree-trunk arms and legs. Stretchmarks paint his thighs, hips, and sides, but honestly, they just make him more sensitive during hookups. He feels like he bruises so easily now that his skin is stretched tight. Most satisfying of all is the curve of his newly-grown belly. He always feels warm and cozy with so much padding keeping him toasty and insulated, even against the chilly weather.

After another late night out ending with a pretty, angel-faced boy named Jimin sleeping in his sheets, Jungkook knows just the cure to cook up and beat their impending hangovers. Jungkook doesn't bother with a shirt as he pads out to his kitchen and squints against the afternoon sunshine. He needs food. Greasy food. Then he's in the market to laze around all day and hopefully persuade Jimin to stay over again.

Jungkook belches into his fist after shoveling down a massive greasy meal of all of his favorite hangover cures. He proudly pats his stuffed gut now that it's full of oily bacon and fried eggs, bloated from partying and heavy with the fattening feast that he just gobbled down. Jungkook cooks up a smaller portion of seconds to walk back to Jimin and give him breakfast in bed. He's so content to nap off his meal and steal some kisses, which Jimin happily obliges him.

Jimin easily melts Jungkook back into the pillows like a pad of butter until they're lazily sprawled all over each other. While keeping Jungkook sated with kisses, Jimin's palm settles right over Jungkook's deep navel. He slowly rubs into the fatty warmth and digs in his fingers. Jungkook is still a bit hiccupy from the night before, and each jostle makes the thick layer of padded blubber lining his gut jiggle into Jimin's grip.

#THICC BOI #fat koo is happy koo #Jimin kissies #bts feederism

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sweetestpjm · 1 year

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Shift in the Balance PT. 1

Yoonmin est + Yoonminkook ; Football start chunky jk, Soft Jm & lovesick Yoongs <3 First time posting a story here, let me know how I'm doing lool

It's 8 o'clock, and Yoongi had been watching that damn old clock on the wall all day. Eagerly waiting to go home, though, now was finally the time. Of course not on the dot-- he'd never be lucky enough to, perhaps no one would be beside the son of his boss who easily was favoured, couldn't blame him, though.

He could suffer through cleaning the tables, hurting his sore back even more. Suffer as he threw out the uneaten food of the last guests, and gathering a bag of what he could take home-- a decently hearty amount, though less then usual as business had been better then ever that day. It isn't as bad as most, but he knows he's being dramatic about mopping the kitchen area when his younger coworkers are eying him. They're the dramatic ones..not him. It's odd to them, but he felt he had every reason. Why did he have to be working, when he could be at home with his boyfriend?

It was a shame, really, but he'd gotten used to the dynamic as much as he hated not seeing him for more then minute. He was needier then he'd ever admit aloud, it seemed.

The sign was flipped over, from open to closed— Yoongi still wondered why they had that pesky sign. Locking the door and turning off the lights was enough. He guessed it was to maintain the rustic and old look of the place, the reason why it gained traction was partially because of that. Like a trip back on time, with good food and bathrooms that was the only relatively modern looking section of the place.

Yoongi quite liked his job, it was decent hours and some perks. Discounts, bringing food home and such— which helped knock off money from groceries. He was a head chef, so his hours were a little longer but he made more and wasn't as worked to the core when he'd just been a regular kitchen staff. He directed them, but of course he did some other things too— especially on weekends and Fridays, their busiest time of the year. Sometimes, he'd get lucky enough that his boyfriend would pop in on one of those days and Yoongi would usually wait him— he could manage it quite wel since that had been his gateway up into his current job. Perhaps he'd been in every position, but he couldn't quite recall.

What was important was turning on the ignition, and getting himself home before the food got cold. Food never tasted the same reheated, but he knew well enough that if he had to; doing it in the oven or a pot was better then microwaving it.

There's already a few pings at his phone from him, and he can already picture the whiny tone that came with every message. Wanting him home. It warmed his heart, and he wished the traffic would seize to exist.

Though, alas— no, thankfully, he arrived home around 9:30, which was a little more then usual but considering it was clean up after a large party of adults, it added up.

With a huff of relief, he entered their apartment, placing the food on the counter, sliding his shoes onto the rack and putting on his slippers.

Instantly— the moment he had his slippers on, he was greeted from behind with a hug. None other then his boyfriend, especially since the hug was so soft against his back. Jimin had always given the best of hugs.

"Welcome home to me," Yoongi chuckled, placing his hands over Jimin's that went around his torso, "you smell nice. Freshened up before I came?"

Jimin hummed, the sound vibrating against Yoongi's back as he had his cheek firmly pressed up against it. "I was sweaty from work," he said, moving one hand to interlock with Yoongi's, "and I wanted to be clean for you,"

"Cute. Though, I am pretty stinky myself," he sighed, thumb rubbing along the backside of Jimin's hand, "how about you set the table, and I'll clean myself up?"

There's a whine of complaint, but Jimin complies and Yoongi gets along to his aforementioned shower.

Once he's out, he's graced by Jimin bent over with an elbow on the table, whilst the other plucked at the different dishes with chopsticks. It was cute, how he sometimes just couldn't resist food like that. Leaving him there with it was like asking him to eat it.

Well..he sort of had been, he assumed he was probably pretty hungry as he usually didn't get much during the day at work. Since he'd only just gotten the job, his work was more intense and harder in his job.

He worked as a aesthetician and was more organizing carts, cleaning the areas and beds for the main ones. It wasn't what he'd dreamt it out to be, that was for certain. He knew it'd take time and practice for him to actually work on a person for more then just their bill for the treatment. But still, he enjoyed taking home samples and sick of products he couldn't yet afford. Using on himself and Yoongi too, as pampering was a large part of both his and Yoongi's love language.

A huge part of it.

Yoongi slides his chair out, sitting down, watching Jimin's sweetly round cheeks flare up pink as he's caught. Which does happen quite a lot, once Yoongi thinks about it-- it's nearly like he's entranced every time he eats. Especially when it comes to the dishes Yoongi makes or brings home for him.

"Hyung, you took sooo long," it had only been five minutes, so the statement only made Yoongi laugh in entertainment, shaking his head as he put some of the food on his own plate. Jimin did the same, about the same amount as Yoongi had.

"I'm here now though, aren't I? Eat your food," he chuckles, jutting his foot at Jimin's leg, "I know you're hungry."

Jimin hums, glancing at his plate and beginning to eat. "Well-- yeah. Work is so hard," he groaned, half in frustration and half in enjoying the delicious meal, "I think my boss likes me, she made me help the nicer lady. Maybe I'll be the one giving treatments, soon."

Yoongi grins, quite proud of him. He'd been there since he'd gotten the job not long ago, moping about feeling like he was useless at the job. Though, it had moved along to him rambling about his coworkers, all pretty kind aside from one of the higher up aestheticians; she was a blunt bitch, as Jimin had said, and was very skilled but extremely rude. Jimin had been assigned to her a few times, and it was sure to say that Yoongi was whined to to bring a pint of ice cream for him to mope about it with. "I'm sure you will be. I'll make sure to be your first booking, I'll book the longest treatment you have so you impress everyone," he said, unable to peel the grin off his face. What? He was a proud boyfriend.

It's enough that Jimin's covering his face with the hand that isn't feeding himself, giggling and shaking his head. "Aish-- you're so embarrassing," he grumbles, though he hardly means it. Yoongi knows just how much he'd want that, whether he'd actually admit it or not.

"Mm, but seriously I'm proud of you. I'm not surprised she likes you, you're sweet and good at what you do...even if for now it's washing hand towels and fixing spa beds, Minnie," he says, picking up his last tteokbokki and eating it, "proud."

"Corny, but, thank you." The words mean a lot to him, Yoongi can tell in the way he shyly distracts himself by finishing up his plate and silently picking at the rest of the food on the table as Yoongi rambles on. Something about a new younger employee who he doesn't hate (shocker, since he usually hates the young ones) along with a food reviewer coming in and rating the food well. This and that until Jimin's declared himself full and they're packing away the minimal leftovers (thanks to Jimin).

Yoongi pauses, leaning against the counter to watch Jimin bend over to peer down at their freezer. Getting an eyeful of his full hips and sweet behind, and he's certain that he's pouting out his lower lip in thought as he glances at his options. "Do I need an ice cream sandwich or a melona is the question..." Jimin mumbles to himself, finding that Yoongi answers it by poking at the pudge poking out on his hips, "ice cream sandwich, it is."

He pulls out a large ice cream sandwich, it's an Oreo one though. Since he's civilized, he's put it in a bowl and grabbed a spoon to eat it without looking like an Oreo ice cream sandwich after.

With ease despite his fullness, he plops onto the couch with Yoongi following along, placing him on his lap. It was Jimin's spot, after all. Though, he wiggles a little to get comfortable (and tease Yoongi, but he didn't need to know that) and begins on the sweet cool treat. Yoongi leans back a little, Jimin following the movement and humming in content as Yoongi has his arms wrapped around him, holding him closer.

His hands sink in a little, acknowledging the plushness of his boyfriend. He quite likes it, it's made him a better cuddle and just feels-- soft. What's better then something warm and soft? Nothing. There quite literally is not anything better then that.

"Want a bite?" Jimin queries, turning his head back to look at him, a small sliver of the ice cream sandwich on his spoon. Yoongi declines, and quite quickly the spoonful has gone to Jimin. And another. And another. And yet another, until the bowl is empty and he's scrapping the sides for bits of the melting ice cream.

It's cute, the way they were able to just sit and bask in each others company. Even if it just ensued Jimin gorging on sweets or watching a show Yoongi liked but Jimin found to be boring. They just, simply, enjoyed one another so very much.

After a few minutes, the bowl and spoon are washed and they're in their bedroom preparing for bed-- it's early, but they know themselves. Chatting for hours in bed, and sleep ensues a few hours after deciding to get ready to rest for the night. It's silly, but it's how they are.

Yoongi's long been in his pyjamas, consisting of some sweats and a loose tee, while Jimin had chosen (strangely) some jeans and an oversized hoodie.

Jimin huffed, trying to undo the button. Failing multiple times before it gave in, and the zipper undid itself as his plush tummy took in the space, allowing Jimin more room to breath and sigh aloud in relief. "Why would you wear jeans..."

The younger shrugged, pink tinting his cheeks as he removed his pants, replacing them with new boxers and switching the hoodie out for an oversized tee. "Because."

"Because?"

Another shrug, dimming the lights and crawling into the bed, tucking himself under the blankets with Yoongi, an arm draped over his chest as he pressed himself against his side. With ease, Yoongi was holding him right back, peppering kisses all over the side of his face, primarily on his cheeks though. Soft and full, how could he not pepper them in sweet kisses? "Weirdo."

He doesn't shrug, he only giggles and the topic is averted, moving onto what they should do tomorrow on their first off day together in two weeks.

Yoongi's sure he's up first, arm around Jimin's soft middle, lazily pressing his fingers against the plushness there. It's a little new, though as long as he's known Jimin he'd always been a little softer and cuddlier-- though, now he was certain this was he softest he'd ever been while knowing him. Or ever, really, considering he'd seen photos of him younger, in which he wasn't so lean but surely smaller then now. Far smaller then now.

But, he knows he isn't the only one awake when Jimin's giggles fill the air. "Hyung-- that tickles," he huffs, turning to face him, leaving Yoongi's arm to drape over his back, choosing to rub the small of his back instead.

"I thought you weren't awake," Yoongi grumbles, the only way he can talk in the morning. it was either that, or a whisper-- which would still have that grumble to it that sent butterflies straight to Jimin's belly.

"So, what, you just tickle my tummy when I'm asleep?" Jimin chuckles, enjoying the way Yoongi's flustered at that, "hmm? Answer me, hyung."

The elder shakes his head, closing his eyes and mimicking a snore. "Hyung! You do, don't you?" he's whining, so Yoongi can't get out of it now, meekly nodding his head as he pressed against his chest.

"Yes, okay?"

Jimin hummed, threading his fingers through Yoongi's hair. "I'm not accusing you, I'm just curious. It's...dunno, nice to know you want to touch me even if I'm not asking for it," he says, mumbling the last few words.

Though there's something else to it-- something deeper, but Yoongi can't seem to find it on his own. "I do love your body, Minnie," he murmured, pressing his thumb against his love handles, "I think you're so pretty."

"Really?"

"Pft, really, love. Something about you lately is just so..." his brows furrow, wracking his mind for the word, "radiant? In just every way, really. Not that you weren't before, but, I don't know. Something just changed, in a good way."

Jimin keeps threading his fingers through his hair, taking a moment to think. "Well, hm..thank you. I-- well," he bites his lip, "I'm glad you still like my body."

"Mm, never think that I don't. 2 sizes up or down, I'll love you all the same."

"Even 3 sizes up?"

"You-- you know what I meant, yah," Yoongi groaned, rolling out of bed, flattening out his shirt, "we do have plans today, slipped my mind. We're going to Taehyung's school to watch the football game there."

All he hears is Jimin groaning, and the sound of the covers moving to cover Jimin entirely. A muffled, "not Football..." But Yoongi didn't listen, pulling the covers entirely off him with a chuckle, and walking on off to the washroom while leaving Jimin too stunned to utter a word.

Until he's pouting, blow drying his hair and side-eying Yoongi as though saying 'the things I do for you' like watching a university football game is the worst thing imaginable.

"You won't die. I'll be there, Taehyung, Hoseok, Seokjin and Namjoon will be there, too," Yoongi assures, though Jimin's pout only intensifies, setting down his blow dryer and taking the plug out of the outlet.

"I will die. Hyung, sports are so boring."

It's clear to see, although he had been into track many years before-- that had slowly turned into something he hated due to others. But, despite it, he still hates it all. Even attending his cousins house league basketball games makes his stomach churn with distaste. All that makes it somewhat bearable is--

"What about this-- I get you the biggest popcorn there is and a soda, hm?" Jimin raised an eyebrow, surely the deal was sweetened with that-- but, he needed a little more convincing. "Fine, you can sit on my lap. Refills on it all as many times as you'd like, okay? But you can't complain after that."

With a sly grin on his lips, he nodded, "mm, I guess it's a deal, Yoongi-hyung."

Jimin keeps himself clung to Yoongi in the food-stand line, not understanding how a university has it's own food venders but perhaps it was just because his did not engage in many sports in those days. There was an on-campus gym, but that was about it. Though, he was also wondering why it took so long to wait, and why the line for a university football game was so long. He was hungry, having missed breakfast by sleeping and they'd nearly been late so they couldn't have gotten any food, much to Jimin's avail.

"Hungry?" Yoongi asks, seeing how Jimin's pouting just a little bit. Practically on cue, his stomach lets out a rumble, loud enough that Yoongi hears it from beside him. The arm around his waist snakes a little further, pressing against the softness of Jimin's newly formed tummy pooch of his lower belly.

He nods, though he knows his body has already answered, rudely, for him. "I didn't even have breakfast," Jimin sulked, "and we're at a football gam-- I mean, my favourite place in the world."

Laughing, Yoongi shakes his head-- quite fond of Jimin's good-hearted sarcasm. At least he tried to take on his end of the deal to some extent.

"Hyung!" Taehyung shouts, though he's a few feet away, slowly making his way over through the crowd of people, sure to draw lots of attention to himself through his over-the-top attire and loud deep voice. Jimin ducks his head, and Yoongi's shaking his, wondering how he couldn't have expected that, even though it is Taehyung. Natural demander of attention.

"Hi Taehyung-ah," Yoongi says, hand mindlessly squeezing at the pudginess of Jimin's waist, causing him to squeak against him, "excuse him, he can't function without breakfast. Clearly."

"Clearly. Jiminie hyung needs food to be sane," Taehyung giggles, joining them in the line, staring ahead at the 3 people in front of them, "the food isn't bad here, actually. Popcorn's always fresh and the fries are perfect."

Jimin's head perks up, looking up at Yoongi, his puppy dog eyes out on display for him.

"How am I supposed to deny him anything when he looks like that," Yoongi says, looking over at Taehyung who seems equally convinced merely by Jimin's eyes.

"I will kill you if you don't get him everything he wants, Min Yoongi. I may like you, but a well fed Jiminie comes first," Taehyung says, giving Jimin's tummy a poke, almost gasping as it dips in far more then it ever had before. His eyes meet Jimin's, smiling at him and getting a smile right back (since, the eyes had already worked the magic on his meal).

Yoongi rolled his eyes, waiting and waiting whilst the younger two spoke. Taehyung complaining about classes but also thrilled about his designing project, where he gets to design two pieces that would suit both men and women, a gender neural fashion project (apparently nothing gets him going more then that). While Jimin tries to make the best of his current job, rambling on about all the products and discounts, even adding in that he uses it to give Yoongi facials (which somehow gets Yoongi blushing quite a lot).

Eventually, it's their turn, ordering the biggest basket of popcorn, large fries and a drink for each of them. Water for himself, soda for Jimin and Taehyung.

Finding their seats right as someone's talking into the microphone, greeting their friends and all eyes are on the field.

Not Jimin's, too busy gorging but after some time he does find his eyes on the field out of pure boredom. Even with Yoongi's arms around him (which is usually enough to distract him from anything), he finds himself paying attention to the game.

Well, sort of, he's paying attention to a particular player. Player 01. He doesn't know if he's good or not, but he sure as hell knows that he's cute and definitely built.

They're all sturdy and strong looking, but 01 is just...a little different. Gorgeously thick, and toned, thighs, that are practically ready to burst out of his uniform every time he's bending down at the beginning of each quarter of the game. He's got a bit of a tummy, though he can tell he's toned, it's there enough that the small protruding pooch of it that presses against his uniform in a little bump. Again, his arms are thick and his biceps are remarkably strong. Jimin's nearly bitting his tongue every time the ball is in his hand, even cheering with Yoongi (and everyone else) when he scores.

By the end of the game, he can surely call himself a fanboy. So distracted, that he'd just barely finished the food from the beginning, from nearly 2 hours before, in that two hours (with a little help, too).

Yoongi doesn't say anything, not wanting to think more then that he was right about football being enjoyable enough that Jimin hadn't only been focused on the food. Though, he isn't too sure about why until Jimin's desperately following Taehyung down to the locker rooms to meet Taehyung's boyfriend there (his name was Han) and Yoongi was curious and confused. He wasn't too sure what to pin Jimin's enjoyment to, just yet.

"Did you enjoy the game?" Han asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead, halfway out of the locker room door, enough that he was able to kiss the side of Taehyung's head, "it was a tough one, we got so lucky with Jungkook's scoring on the last second."

Yoongi nodded, "that guy was fast as hell, it was a close game. Good job, I enjoyed it. Jimin enjoyed it too, and he does not like foo--"

Jimin shakes his head, "it was amazing! I really enjoyed it, I'm happy to have been invited."

Silence crawled but Han filled it, "glad to hear it. Uh, did you guys wanna come in or could you wait a bit for us to finish up? We don't take long, I swear." The latter is chosen, more for the sake of Han not wanting Taehyung to see other very hot sweaty football guys, though. It's cute.

"You enjoyed a football game? Well, there's a first for everything," Taehyung laughed, swaying as he now back hugged Jimin, poking his fingers along his soft belly, "or maybe you liked one of the players?~"

Yoongi raises an eyebrow, leaning against the wall. "The team's definitely not ugly. They could be an idol group based off looks," he hummed, noting how Jimin's head tilted in interest, so he continued on, "not bad, not bad at all. Are they all over 23?"

"Oh yes-- aside from the short one, he's 21. Really good, though, good friend of Han's. Why? Are you two--" Taehyung gasps, arms tightening around Jimin which has Jimin wincing, "sorry-- I meant, are you two finally in search of a third?"

"What? N--"

"Maybe," Jimin says, pursing his lips and loosening Taehyung's arms around his taunt full gut, "I, just-- thought, maybe."

Taehyung giggles, "I think you hadn't communicated that to hyung yet, Minnie~"

Jimin huffs, "no, I guess not. Hyung, I've been thinking about it lately."

"Well, I have too but I didn't think we were just admitting it to Taehyung randomly," he says, shaking his head, "let's talk later? I think the-"

A stampede, a stampede of ab-bearing (aside from one) men are coming out in a Hurd out of the change room. Some say their goodbyes, something about classes being soon while a few others stay. And among those, it's Player 01, in all his sturdy chunky glory. Jimin can't think straight, Taehyung's arms now around Jimin while Yoongi kept his hand interlocked loosely with Jimin's chubby stubby one.

"Okay. Names," Taehyung says, squinting as he glances at the four men that have joined them, "Sunghoon." He nods, making himself noted to everyone. "J-- no, yes, Jeongin?" Jeongin nods, laughing a little bit at the expression on Taehyung's face. "Fuck-- you're Jungkook?" Jungkook nods, and it's him-- Player 01, now he knows that it's Jungkook. The last of them is Jihoon, but Jimin's distracted by trying to subtly look at Jungkook while the others disperse into conversation. But-- not so much to his avail, he's caught.

"Jimin, right?" Jimin doesn't know how he knows his name, but he nods dumbly in response. "Jungkook. Yoongi's friend?"

Jimin laughs, "boyfriend. He dragged me out here, but-- I'm friends with Taehyung."

"Well, figures-- he talks about you whenever he's here, actually. I feel like I'm meeting a celebrity," Jungkook jokes, having Jimin descend into giggles, so, he continues on, "but it's nice to meet you. Guessing you're not a football fan then, since they had to drag you? Hm?"

It takes a surprisingly large amount of energy out of him to not say that Jungkook could make him football fan, or even a fucking fanboy, for Christs sake. But he doesn't, sparing himself the inevitable embarrassment of that. Instead, nodding at his questions, "yeah, but it's not too bad... I'm easily bribed with food, so." He feels his life flash before his eyes-- forgetting how chubby he'd gotten, shy to advertise attention to his body. He knows he isn't very big, even with how heartily he eats he only gains enough for a small squishy tummy, a round bubble butt and thighs that were snug in all his jeans. Including the ones he had on now, painfully digging into his midsection, especially after all he'd eaten and drank.

But, to his surprise, Jungkook doesn't give him a weird stare or even assess his body. Simply, he just adds onto it, "pft, that's the same for me. I can't ever resist some good food, like, ever. Ever."

"It's so good," Jimin says, nearly whining, "what kind of stuff do you like, Jungkook-ah?"

Jungkook hums, fixing his hair out of his face with one hand while the other carried his medium sized duffel bag. "Good question. Anything, really. I have a really big sweet tooth though, so I really like ice cream, boba and that kind of stuff. But I love meat and spicy food. the fries they sell at the stand--"

"Taehyung told me, so I got them. Really yummy," Jimin says, unconsciously rubbing small circles into the bloat of his tummy.

The comment makes Jungkook smile. "Yeah, so good. But what do you like?"

"Oh.." Jimin bites the inside of his cheek, as though this is the most difficult question of his life (it could be, he loved food so much and so many different foods.). "Tteokbokki is my favourite. Uhm, well, Yoongi-hyung works at a restaurant so whatever he brings is the best. But I really like pastries. There's this little cafe near my apartment and they have the best sweets. They even have some frozen yoghurt, too, when I feel like a treat but also..somewhat healthy."

It's more then half an hour and Jungkook's phone buzzes loudly, a reminder that this next class was in half an hour.

"I really enjoyed talking with you. Maybe sometime we can go to that cafe?" Jungkook asks, hope in his eyes, though he sees Yoongi looking at them, trying to assess the situation. Naturally, his face makes him look like he's angry though Jimin ( not Jungkook) knows damn well he's endeared more then anything.

"Yes! I mean, yes, sure," he giggles, taking Jungkook's phone from him to add in his number to his contacts, "don't miss your class! It was nice meeting you."

Jungkook nods, smiling as he tucks his phone into his pants, pulling his pants up over his exposed tummy before giving a small bow and running off with a loud. "Cya!"

Yoongi slurping his drink at the cafe is enough for Jimin to note that something's up.

"What is it?" he asks, voice soft, interlocking his hand with Yoongi's-- not liking how it was nervously picking at his skin, "what's up, hyung?"

The elder looks at him, his other hand mindlessly stirring his black coffee. "I wanna talk about earlier. About looking for a third, Jimin," he said, caressing the backside of Jimin's pudgy hand, "I wanna know what you want, okay?"

"Ah, hyung. I just always though it'd be nice, ever since we talked about it before. Just another in the mix. To care for and all," he said, shrugging, "and for you to cuddle."

"Jungkook."

"Hm?"

"You were thinking about it because of Jungkook. He was the only reason you were watching the game so intently, huh?" Yoongi teased, tracing along Jimin's hand, "I'm just guessing. But, I think I'm right." Those red-glowing cheeks were always a dead giveaway on Jimin's end.

Jimin whined, swinging his legs around and shrugging. "Well..I, I don't know."

"He's pretty cute."

The brunette tilted his head, "...yes. You think so?"

"Yeah, I do. He's cute, super intense on the field but out of the changing room he seemed sweet. I mean, if you two ever shut up I might've been able to say more then hello, y'know," Yoongi laughed, shaking his head, "I don't wonder if he likes guys but..not everyone is fine with being with more then one person. And even so, usually more as an open relationship--"

"Which this isn't."

"Correct, this isn't. But, if you want to, we get to know him better together. I heard a mention of that cafe you love, mm?"

#bts feederism #bts chubby #chubby jimin #chubby bt5 #soft jimin #soft jungkook #chubby jungkook #chunky jungkook #squish jm #squishy jimin #yoonminkook #yoonmin #yoonkook #jikook #bt5 feederism #feedee jm #feeder yg

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bunnytummy · 2 years

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Abo au

Omega J/m gets always pampered during his heat. His alphas Making sure he is well fed and has the energy for his heat waves.

Usually his body bounces back to his slim figure. But the first heat after their Bonding was different .

Since j/ms body finally recognised it's mates , it started to produce more fat. Mainly around his hips, thighs and lower belly, to prepare for future pups.

Now J/m gains few pounds during each heat and can't bounce back.

#soft feederism #chubby jimin #abo #cute #omega #chubby

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chubby-manggae · 1 year

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The Candy Village Hotel pt.2

Cw: force feeding, public humiliation

During the night, Taehyung, trying to get out of his cabin got stuck in the doorway from to eat all of the candy he was given once his friends had brought him in the day before. He squirming and struggling with getting out, he came to the conclusion of just eating his way out. So Tae broke off big chunks from his door way until he was able to get out, and decided to eat them on the way over to his first victims house. Breaking off pieces of ginger bread and gumdrops from the roof and door way for Jimin's cabin, Taehyung enters. Setting some of the candy down on the table, Taehyung takes some of the smaller pieces like the gumdrops in his hand, all he has to do is get Jimin to eat these few little drops and then he'll swell into like a lard filled balloon just like Taehyung, he just has to figure out a way to get Jimin to eat them. With an idea coming to mind, Taehyung walks over to Jimin's bed…..and sits on him, crushing the smaller boy with his enormous weight. The smaller shoots awake and out let's out a scream that is quickly muffled by the gumdrops being shoved in his mouth. Not comprehending what was just shoved into his mouth, Jimin quickly eats the candy so he can yell at his best friend to get off him, only that's not what comes out of his mouth, "M-more, Tae I want more." Having seen the side affects already take place, Taehyung heaves himself off the growing boy to the table and hands Jimin the candy he collected for him. Taehyung sits to the side as he watches his friend devour the candy like a starved man, his body filling out in every direction, not unlike what his own did. Soon Jimin was nothing but a circle of lard with 4 pudgy roll filled appendages, munching away happily at the candy he was given. Of course Taehyung couldn't carry the amount of candy both the lard boys would need to be full, if they every could be at this point, so Jimin goes to get candy from the outside of the house, while Taehyung brakes some of the cabinets and table for the candy inside the house. Jimin having collected some of the grass, walkway and roof comes back inside, hips brushing the doorway. Together Jimin and Tae eat way at the stash they collected while sitting on the cotton candy and marshmallow bed. Getting halfway through their stash, the candy cane bed frame breaks causing them both to tumble to the floor. The two fat boys, not caring they have broken the bed with their weight, continue on eating mindlessly, even eating the bed when the rest of their candy runs out. When they start to get to the end of their candy stash, Taehyung speaks up and tells Jimin about they're plan on fattening up hobi as well. The other obese boy agrees and they both try to decide a time to strike. They decide to wait till the oldest is back from his morning walk, which won't be long as their binge has taken them into the middle of the morning. Knowing hobi would come check on them after his run, they leave to try to meet him outside the cabins, only for Jimin to get stuck in the doorway. Taehyung laughs at the predicament his friend is in while a flustered Jimin tries to get himself unstuck, resulting in him braking and eating the door frame as well.

Once their both out, they waddle over to where hobi is about to go inside tae's cabin. Taehyung goes to pin the older against the whole while jimin break off bits of the roof and shoves it in Hoseok's mouth. The older refuses to eat it staring at his friends in shock, when did they both get so fat? Jimin and Taehyung put of their best puppy dog eyes, trying to convince their friend to eat and join them. Hobi, ever weak to the pleading faces of the youngers starts chewing slowly and swallows the candy. Soon the dancers body starts expanding, exactly like the two before him, and as soon has he is let up by Taehyung, he turns towards his own cabin and runs as fast as his expanding body will let him. Once he gets to it, starts ripping chuck by chunk, shoving it into his mouth one after the other. Fat spilling over and ripping seems in his clothes. Taehyung and Jimin, happy with their work both go to their own cabins and continue their feast, eating chunks and chunks of the little candy cabins.

And that's how Seokjin, the owner of the hotel found them, three obese boys eating away at the cabins he and his husband, Yoongi, made. No one ever thought that having a culinary and hotel management degree would come and handy together but they made it work. Jaw on the floor from seeing their hard work being destroyed, he walks up to the unit and starts yelling at them. Unfortunately that doesn't work as all three of the boys are in their own little worlds munching away, so he goes over with security and has each of them dragged to his office to discus their punishments. Whining about the lack of candy on the way over to the lobby, none of them seemed phased by all the stares they were getting, some in curiosity others in disgust their faces smeared with chocolate and gingerbread crumbs as they're ginormous roll ridden bellies hung out for everyone to see as they were being escorted. Once to Seokjin's office each boy struggled to smoosh themselves into the chairs they out grew, resorting in them moving the chairs and having to sit on the ground. Not wanting the boys to keep whining while Seokjin tried to explain their punishments, he have them each a big bowl to snack on while he explained. They're punishments were to be workers at the hotel during school breaks and as full time once they were done with school, moving luggage and cleaning cabins when guests left, if any of the cabins were found eaten they're years of working would increase. They would not be payed in money but in candy and they would be given a place to live, that wasn't the candy cabins. All three looked upset at the later statement but they quickly forgot about it when they're bowls were refilled with more candy. Once the boys were munch on the new candy, Seokjin clapped and stood up, "Now to get your pictures taken." The boys looked up, still eating of course, confused. "Oh I forgot to mention the second part of your punishments, your before and after pictures will now forever be posted in the hotel lobby along side are pervious warnings about not eating the candy cabins." Seokiin said with a small smirk. With that, all three balls of lard were heaved up by security and taken town the hall for pictures. The shock didn't last for long as they all quickly went back to eating their large bowls of candy, and that's how their pictures were taken, with their fat, bulging stomachs exposed by their ill fitting †-shirts that looked more like bras for their tits that hung down to rest on their stomachs, their faces still smeared with chocolate and crumbs, holding a huge candy bowl in one hand and holding a handful a candy with the other. Their pictures from before when they were lean and skinny marchers, to the fat candy addicted little pigs they had become were posted size by side in the lobby for everyone to see. The boys couldn't really care that much that their bodies were being used in such a demeaning way, all that matter to them now was candy and that their appetite for it was always met. The boys got onto the charter bus, which was a struggle in itself, four times the weight they were when they left it, sad to have to leave the hotel, but excited for their next holiday brake.

#chubby bts au #chubby bts #chubby taehyung #chubby hoseok #chubby jimin #fat hoseok #fat taehyung #fat jimin #bts feederism

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askfeederjiminie · 2 years

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Oh gosh, where to begin? Hello everyone, my name is Park Jimin from the Mint! Universe. I'm 27 years old, and I'm a Panda hybrid! Although you'd think I'd be more of a feedee due to my genetics, my true passion lies in helping others gain weight. While I am new to all of this and sharing my passion, I have been lurking behind the scenes for the past few months and finally decided to hop in. I'm hoping to find someone whom I can enjoy spending time with on their journey as I help them grow to whatever size they please and more!

#feederjimin #panda! Jimin #introduction #feederism bts #idk what im doing

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foxymoxynoona · 1 year

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Tell Me What Changed Part 10 A

Banner and lines by the talented @awrkive

Summary: Alex and Jungkook have been best friends since childhood –actual best friends. She is NOT in love with him, for real, and wishes people would stop assuming that. Why does no one question if he’s in love with her? Huh? But it might have to do with his successful fuckboy status, while Alex is very much… not that. Which is fine and doesn’t matter! Until Jimin’s impending wedding leaves her eager for a date and willing to put herself out there, and Jungkook can’t believe what happens next.

Fuckboy Best Friend JK x OC

CW and tags: fuckboy behavior, jealousy, pining, heartbreak, angst, bad language, explicit sex, sexy photos, alcohol, f2l, who knows what else

Read on AO3 here or below cut

Previous Chapter | Masterlist | Next Chapter

This chapter is split into two parts, make sure to read 11B before you go onto chapter 11!

Jungkook had seen the venue that morning. He was wearing a tux. He’d been along for the ride emotionally for the whole planning over the last year. It wasn’t like he didn’t know going into it that this wedding was the fanciest thing he would ever be at. But still, there was something overpowering about the event when it was finally time.

Or maybe he was nervous about other things.

No. No, it was the wedding, that was all.

He fidgeted with the cuffs of his shirt in his jacket sleeves as he, Jimin, and the other groomsmen waited in a lavishly decorated hallway for In’am to descend so Jimin could walk her into the ceremony, one of the customs In’am had wanted to preserve of Egyptian weddings.

They had already taken pictures a couple of hours ago, already caught on film when Jimin had seen In’am in her wedding dress for the first time looking like a goddamn princess, that was the truth. The white and gold, the diamonds, the elegant fit, the graceful way In’am always had of moving, it left Jungkook wondering not for the first time if he’d been casually chilling with a true princess all this time. Jimin cried. Jungkook almost cried because his friend was crying. In’am glowed. It was nice to see your friends so happy.

Because of that, Jungkook had expected her appearance this time to be unremarkable. It was not. Jimin teared up again. He accused In’am of getting more beautiful in the last hour. In’am smiled and tenderly touched his face.

Jungkook cleared his throat and looked away at the intimate gesture. His whole body felt like a bag of bees. Nerves. He better not fuck up the wedding. That was all he was worried about. Seriously. Nothing else. That’s why it felt like he was moving through water with every wedding thing they did today, the ticking echo of a countdown clock in the background making the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. He just didn’t want to fuck up their wedding. Honest to god truth.

There was nothing else to be nervous about.

The wedding event had control of two giant ballrooms, one for the ceremony and one for the reception. Jungkook offered his arm to Ina’m’s younger sister –whom he had not slept with, just to be crystal clear– and followed along behind Jimin’s brother and In’am’s older sister down the central aisle. The sea of quiet chatter disappeared as a string quartet played something Jungkook couldn’t recognize now. He was focused on not stepping on his partner’s dress, but also he was scanning the faces.

She was here. She’d been at In’am’s henna night. He’d checked her instagram feed earlier because she was posting again but it was still just random cats and a fat squirrel terrorizing her dad’s bird feeder –which he sympathized with Baba more about now that he and Namjoon had their own squirrel problem. Nothing had been more gratifying than when he’d greased the pole and they’d watched through the window as the fuckers slid helplessly back down to the ground.

Greased the pole as in he put crisco on the bird feeder hanger, not… not that pole… that had nothing to do with squirrels obviously…

His thoughts were scrambled. He wasn’t seeing her but there were so many people. Hundreds of people. And it was hard to see everyone because the lighting was all fancy, shining a spotlight on the wedding party as they paraded down the aisle between the birch branches strung with fairy lights. Yes, he knew they were birch branches because there had been a whole thing about it. There had been a whole thing about every single detail of this wedding. If he ever got married, he did not want it to be this way.

But Jimin and In’am seemed happy despite all the battles with their family and that’s what mattered. It was easy to smile at them as they took their positions in front of the officiant. His work was done for now except to stand there and look handsome and happy for them, so he went back to scanning the elaborately decorated room for a single face while trying not to look like he was doing exactly that.

She was here. She had to be here.

He saw May first actually, next to Minxi who had brought her as her +1, and Rebekah, and then Alex! Wedged in between Rebekah and Sabina, a dip between her two taller friends. She was having to lean this way and that to see in front of the taller people in front of her. She was short! She should have sat close to the front, or on the aisle! He almost didn’t recognize her at first because she had a haircut. Bangs. Other than that, he couldn’t make out much about her from this distance but she was here and relief settled around him.

Now he could relax and enjoy the wedding. The wedding was going on, and Alex was here, so everything was fine. He just hadn’t seen her in so long! Not since the arcade, except when he had waved as she she drove away for Thanksgiving with Hoseok’s family.

Where, rumor had it, she had broken up with her boyfriend.

A whole ass two and a half weeks ago during which Jungkook hadn’t heard from her, and had been too chicken to ask anyone else to confirm what he thought May’s texts meant. No one else had said anything, but maybe no one else knew anything yet? Or they just weren’t telling him? It was fucked up, people should tell him that kind of thing without him having to embarrass himself by asking!

It wasn’t like Jungkook was just sitting around waiting for gossip though, he really had been busy, thank fuck. It kept him from being able to just sit around waiting for her call –not that he would have! Obviously! Just for her to say what? If he had anything to do with the breakup? Or if the end of that relationship at least meant they could be friends again, even if the breakup had been nothing to do with him, even if she just didn’t return his feelings? He felt like being humble about the possibility rather than admitting his hopes might make it more likely to be true. If he was humble about it, maybe that would make the better thing true.

She hadn’t dumped another guy for him, had she?

Had she?!

Was he just her go-to excuse for getting out of tough situations? She’d used the her grandma dying and her dog dying too many times, so ‘My friend is in love with me’ was her backup?

So no, no he had not just been sitting around waiting for her, even if his brain had found plenty of time to wonder and worry and panic in between.

Work had been busy for the holiday shopping season. He and Namjoon had tried to do some late fall house things instead of paying someone else to do it, like cleaning the gutters. There had been lots of last minute wedding things to do, and emotional support to lend Jimin and In’am, and a bachelor party last weekend that had taken two days to recover from. Plus he was an uncle now! Jinhyung’s baby was small and kinda weird looking but cute too, and he’d gone by a few times to visit or drop things off because his mom asked him to.

See! So much going on! He had not just sat around thinking about Alex and if she was okay, and if the breakup had been really upsetting, and who was buying her ice cream, and whether he had anything to do with it. May wouldn’t tell him shit except for her cryptic out of the blue text: bye hoseok barely knew ye

Jimin and In’am shuffled around to sing the contract –a sweet one they had written together and read out now like personal vows, meshing wedding traditions in a way that Jungkook admired partly because they did it despite their families. Families shouldn’t have a final say.

Although maybe sometimes families should step the fuck up and say something if they noticed their son was in love with his friend; they could like, give him a nudge or something and help him figure it out sooner–

Whatever. His smile was sincere as he watched two people he loved take a moment to celebrate this official, legal, spiritual, and familial merging of their lives in front of hundreds of people, many of whom they barely knew. But they were happy. Different people liked different things. Different people took different paths in life.

His gaze drifted out to the audience again. Would Alex cry at something like this? She hadn’t cried at Namjoon’s wedding but that was a long time ago and she hadn’t liked the bride. He didn’t think she looked like she was crying. He couldn’t tell from the distance. Was she looking at him?! Or the couple getting married in front of him? He straightened his shoulders and stretched his neck and smoldered, just in case.

His attention returned to Jimin and In’am as they exchanged the rings, simple gold bands, their eyes shining brighter than any diamonds. In’am glowed when she looked at Jimin. He couldn’t see Jimin’s face but he could feel the same glow emanating from his posture. They loved each other deeply, exactly the kind of love you hoped for your friend. Jimin deserved that, and so did In’am. They were two of the best people he’d ever met.

Oh fuck he was crying! So much for looking cool. In’am noticed and smiled, which made him laugh awkwardly and lift a hand to wipe a tear, at which point he heard a sob from Taehyung in front of him.

“Are they crying?” Jimin asked and looked over his shoulder and laughed through his own tears. The bridesmaids were fine, but the groomsmen were crumbling as In’am’s brother took a deep gasping breath amid a stream of tears. In’am’s father, a big burly man with a stern face at all times, coughed and then loudly blew his nose. It earned a laugh at least in the near vicinity.

“Why aren’t you crying yet?” Jimin jokingly asked his brother.

“I’m in shock she married you,” JImin’s brother answered and In’am laughed, Jimin laughed. Jungkook thought the laughter in the ceremony was one of the most important parts. The joy made the ceremony even more personal. Who cared that there were hundreds of semi-strangers watching you, if you could embrace laughter even in the height of an emotional moment like this? That’s the only way he’d ever make it through something formal like this. Only with someone he could laugh with.

Ahem.

The ceremony continued despite the brief pause. It felt simultaneously an eternity and too short.

Jimin and In’am walked back down the aisle to cheers. Jungkook escorted In’am’s sister back, trying not to make it obvious he was looking at Alex when he passed but May had a shit-eating smile anyway.

Jungkook was glad now that they’d already taken the wedding party photos and he didn’t have to roll right into that, but Jimin and In’am had some to take with their parents and immediately family so there was still a break before they’d do their grand entrance to the wedding party.

“Want to go sneak and say hello?” Taehyung asked with an elbow in his ribs.

“Double entrance?”

“You got something against DP?”

Jungkook snorted. How strange to not be in the gutter with Taehyung right now! The event organizer shouted after them not to wander off but Taehyung just kep walking; Jungkook promised her they were just going to get drinks and would be back before Jimin and In’am. She ran this thing with an iron fist and he was afraid of landing on the wrong side of her.

Jungkook would not have known where to go in the mob of guests moving from ceremony ballroom to the bigger reception room, but Taehyung seemed to know exactly where he was going. So Jungkook stuck close as they wound their way through the crowd, around the gloved waiters circling with hors d'oeuvres on silver platters, past the open bars opening under the judgmental glares of the contingent of In’am’s family who had lost the bid for a dry wedding. Jimin and In’am were pretending to pay for it so as not to start a war between the families but secretly it was Jimin’s parents who had insisted wines, beers, and champagnes must be available or it wasn’t a proper celebration.

Their group had curled around a standing table in the “mingling” area of the ballroom, packed in among big vases of more birch trees so that it was a bit dangerous to get anywhere without running face-first into a sharp stick.

Alex had her back to him, the table awkwardly high in front of her, which May seemed to be mocking her about. They all had drinks; Jungkook didn’t understand how they had escaped the ceremony hall so fast but his sense of time was all fucked up today. She had something in a martini glass and lifted it delicately from the too-high table but he couldn’t see her sip it. Even if she’d been facing him, he might have been too distracted by the way her burgundy dress clung to her body. Was that fucking velvet?! Her hair was down but curled, an unusual look for her; she always complained it didn’t hold curl and he wondered if she’d had it professionally done. She’d clearly dressed up. Damn, the dress was so fitted to her body–

On second thought, he grabbed Taehyung’s arm and said, “Hey, I’m going to get a drink, want anything?”

“Nah, line is too long.”

Jungkook didn’t care. Velvet, was she really wearing velvet? Had he seen that right? Did he care about velvet? Apparently he did.

He turned tail and ran towards the bar in the far corner, but Taehyung was right that the lines were too long and now he didn’t want to actually be gone that long. So when a waiter walked by with white wine on a tray, he took one of those and doubled back and this time made himself continue forward towards the cluster of his friends even as he felt his heart start to race.

Maybe joining the table next to Alex was a stupid move, but it was the natural entrypoint to the group, so he tried to keep his attention instead on May and Minxi. They looked fine, casual, but not really close so if you didn’t know they were girlfriends you might not guess it. Was that on purpose or were they just not big on PDA? This was the first time Minxi had brought May to something; he hadn’t been around to hear her introduce May as her girlfriend. He wondered what had been more surprising, the girlfriend or that the girlfriend was Alex’s sister–

Yeah, who cared about them. Alex looked up at him with a little squeak, because of course she did, he was suddenly right beside her, and when he looked down at her he did first notice that she was wearing makeup and looked really pretty nice, he noticed that first. Her eyelashes looked really big. But something else also big caught his eyes, right down the low v of her cleavage; she even had a gold necklace with lots of little dangly things to make sure your eye went right down the front of her dress. As if you wouldn’t notice it on your own.

“You look like plum wine,” he blurted out in an attempt to not say something worse. “Your eyelashes are nice.”

Alex stared for an eternity (one second) and then snorted right into a laugh. An Alex laugh. The most familiar laugh to him in the whole world and something inside of him healed just a smidge. She was laughing at him. Fuck, he’d missed her laughing at him. Endeared by the idiot she knew he was. Accepting of it.

Was he reading too much into a laugh? Maybe.

“Hey, babe, your eyelashes look great too,” May said to Minxi. “Best eyelashes in the room.”

“Yours are ok,” Minxi returned, to May’s gasp, and Alex explaining to Jungkook, “The best part of this whole coming out thing is watching someone finally give May the shit she deserves. Boys were always too afraid of her, it was boring.” She sounded so casual that for a second Jungkook could believe the last six months hadn’t ever happened. It was just Alex, the same Alex as before except really fucking fancy right now. Fancy Alex. He wanted to pet her. Old Jungkook would definitely have pet her like a dog and she’d have pushed him away probably and he’d have teased her because why did she wear a dress like that if she didn’t want people stroking her–

Damn, it was going to be really hard not to touch that dress. It was begging to be touched. Right down her back, right over her ass–

Alex caught his stair and grinned, “You like the sleeves?” She raised an arm and flapped it, showing how the fabric fluttered.

“Um… yeah, it’s nice.”

That seemed to have been the wrong answer; she glanced at him and looked a little sad, he thought? He couldn’t fucking tell. He couldn’t pretend to tell. Never in his life had he felt both so eager to understand what she was thinking and so hopelessly disconnected from her. Looks, gestures, words might all mean different things now than they used to. Or maybe they’d always meant different things than he’d understood because he’d always just been stupid and wrong and believed it was true when she would say for the hundredth time that obviously she was not in love with him.

A tray of food appeared briefly in front of them and Jungkook grabbed whatever it was without looking and popped it in his mouth. Chewing gave him an obvious excuse to not say something; now he worried he looked weird to be in a conversation with just these three instead of the whole table, like he’d specifically come here for Alex’s attention. He hadn’t! (He had.)

“For our wedding, I think we’ll give some people a Minus One,” Taehyung said, gesturing to Sabina, to whom he had proposed a week ago. “So like five people get to choose someone to disinvite from the wedding.”

Sabina covered her face and sighed, “You stole that joke from Twitter, babe…”

“What?! I would never!”

The awkwardness of it made everyone laugh but Taehyung didn’t look bothered at getting caught, just sipped the champagne Sabina must have already snagged for him. Namjoon booed Taehyung and then looked at something on Rebekah’s phone, and then nudged Yoongi’s shoulder to get him to look as well.

So Alex had been hanging out with Yoongi at the table. Maybe they’d even been sitting near each other at the ceremony. Jungkook hadn’t bothered to look for anyone but her. He glanced at her, curious how that had gone, if she was as bothered as she had expected to be to attend without a date… as she seemed to be missing… He scanned the room just in case Hoseok actually was here, just getting Alex a drink or something. But she already had a drink, which she lifted and sipped again. And spilled a little on her chest. Jungkook pretended not to notice as she dabbed at it with a cocktail napkin. He’d do it for free….

“Um, how’s work?” she asked. It took him a second to realize she was talking to him, but she had to be because Minxi and May were suddenly whispering about something else and then May dragged Minxi off towards something and it was just the two of them standing there now on this side of the table.

“Yeah. Uh, yeah, it’s good, it’s busy. Holiday season. How’s your um, phone plan working for you?”

She snickered, “It’s, you know, a little more expensive than I was paying before.” He smiled too and looked away.

“Yeah, well… it’s uh… sixteen full price frappuccinos a month?”

“Please tell me you aren’t drinking sixteen frappuccinos a month–”

“Without a discount? Are you insane?”

They shared a smile. Uncomfortable but trying. Namjoon and Taehyung laughed loudly at something and they both glanced over but Jungkook hadn’t heard what it was and didn’t really care.

“My brother had his baby,” Jungkook contributed, worried that because she had turned, Alex would say something to pull herself into that other conversation and free herself from him.

“Yeah, I know! He’s so little!”

“Oh, you knew?”

“I haven’t gone to see him yet but mom did and took a lot of pictures.”

“Yeah he’s really little… I mean, he doesn’t do much yet.”

“He’s like two weeks old,” Alex pointed out.

“Yeah, I know! But you said you hadn’t met him yet, so I just thought I’d uh, tell you.”

Alex was grinning and he felt like she might be laughing at him. Her question felt too polite, “Do you like being an uncle?”

“No, that’s what I’m saying, he doesn’t know I’m cool yet. He kind of just thinks I’m another person to puke on.”

“I was going to say you have to wait twenty-one years before you can be the cool uncle and puke together but you’ll be like fifty so maybe that’s not really the cool uncle anymore–”

“I won’t be fifty. I’ll be forty-seven, thanks,” he corrected. “Don’t age me up, old lady.”

“Listen here, when I was your age I was…” Her eyes rolled to the high ceiling as she pondered. “I don’t know, eating ice cream and ragging on my sister for dating my friend without telling me?” She always did that when he called her old, say whatever she’d been doing ‘when she was his age’ two weeks ago. Some things never changed apparently.

It gave him a dose of hope.

“Oh yeah. Yeah.”

“Heard you knew about that before me,” she prodded.

“Yeah but um… we weren’t talking and anyway I think that’s the kind of secret you keep… I’m actually really good at keeping secrets.”

“Yeah even from yourself I guess?”

“I… guess… yeah…” Was she jokingly referencing his feelings? Right here? Before they’d even drank alcohol?!

But he couldn’t be sure, because instead she asked, “How did you find out? She wouldn’t tell me.”

“Oh, I ran into her in a gay club.”

“Oh, you frequent gay clubs now?”

“Uh, not for me,” he quickly assured her. She looked like she wanted to ask more, but Taehyung leaned across the table and said, “Jimin called me, we gotta go back.” Which annoyed Jungkook because he was kinda in the middle of something– but obviously he had to go. Obviously his friend’s wedding was more important than him slowly thawing the ice between him and Alex. Obviously.

Maybe it was better. He didn’t feel on his game. He was flustered in a way he hadn’t expected, even though she was laughing at his jokes, but he wasn’t sure he really trusted it. Maybe she was just being polite. Or if she thought he was funny but just in the haha you’re my dopey friend way. Which he would accept, if that was it! If she just was going to ease back to being his friend again, all right! That was better than nothing! Maybe it had to be that because despite seducing a hundred women (ok it was nowhere near a hundred but a guy had a reputation to uphold), he didn’t have any real idea about how to seduce Alex.

Not that he was trying to seduce her! Or, well, sorta. If she was single. And into that. Into him. If she wanted to be seduced. By him.

Fuck, he felt so awkward because she just looked at him like she was waiting for him to say something –or, worse, waiting for him to fuck off! He couldn’t tell! Was he interfering–

Oh shit, was Alex here cruising to pick someone up?! A not him someone? That could explain the dress! She never wore something that long and form-hugging and tit-attention-grabbing! Ever!

But even if she’d been wearing a grocery bag, he’d probably be this nervous because A.) a grocery bag could rip and then she’d just be naked right in front of him and more honestly B.) for the first time in their lives she knew he was into her at the same time she might be single.

A cold ball of dread rotated in his gut as he followed Taehyung back to join the rest of the wedding party in front of the ceremony room again.

He didn’t appreciate it when Taehyung nudged him, “Eh?”

“Eh what?”

“You two looked like dweeby college kids checking each other out at a party.”

“Shut up,” Jungkook scoffed and shoved his shoulder but it just made Taehyung laugh and Jungkook wished Taehyung knew something he didn’t. Like his friend was comfortable teasing him because he already knew things would work out ok. Jungkook didn’t know that. He didn’t know fucking anything right now except that Alex looked really pretty and he wanted to pet her dress.

On second thought, he asked, “She broke up with Hoseok, right?”

“I don’t know, I wasn’t there, you should ask her.”

Jungkook narrowed his eyes at Taehyung’s smug grin. But still, it made him a little hopeful, because yeah, he didn’t think Taehyung would be teasing about that if he knew for sure Jungkook had no chance. Though why Taehyung would know if Jungkook had a chance escaped him, so probably Taehyung was just being a smug shit because his love life was already settled. Lucky him.

“Why did you call us back so soon?” Jungkook asked as they reached Jimin and In’am.

“She wants some more pictures,” Jimin tattled.

“He wants some more pictures,” In’am corrected and Jimin’s shit-eating grin made that clearly the truth.

Taehyung joked, “Yeah you pulled us away just as Jungkook was starting to twirl his hair and flutter his eyelashes at–”

“Fuck off, I was not.”

“Language,” In’am scolded, tossing her head towards her younger sister, who rolled her eyes nearly out of her skull.

“I know how to say ‘fuck’, In’am.”

“You better not!”

Jimin just backhanded Jungkook playfully in the stomach and suggested, “Hey maybe don’t wait so long this time? Someone might move in.”

“Yeah, I know, she looks really nice tonight.”

“So tell her that–”

“Hey I don’t need anyone’s help seducing anyone,” he lied. “I don’t need the advice of anyone here–”

“Ah, I didn’t realize you were just going for quick seduction. I thought you were wanting more longterm, like uh…” Jimin playfully gestured between himself and Taehyung, and Jungkook got the message. The married guy. The engaged guy.

He just scoffed, “Focus on your own wedding, my man, you haven’t even made it through the dinner yet.”

��OK but we are legally married so we could just run away if we want to,” In’am suggested, which made Jimin laugh and wrap his arms around her.

“We’re not running away.” At her frown, he grew a little more serious and said, “Well, if you need to, signal to me and we’ll go.”

“Yeah?”

“Promise.”

It was kinda fucking romantic and Jungkook felt like maybe he should be taking notes…

The music started down the hall and even though he knew it was coming, it startled Jungkook out of his fluster about Alex. Various drums and a horn started first, and he could see the saxophonist though not hear it over the pounding of the drums. He wondered if hotel guests could hear this all the way into the main reception area and would wonder what was going on, though it felt obvious to him something joyous was happening.

A woman’s voice ululated, the distinct sound instantly capturing Jungkook’s attention as she beckoned them all to follow her down the center of the musicians towards the reception hall as four belly dancers took up place ahead of her to lead the way. Their costumes were sparse and shiny and tasseled and the way they moved their bodies was mesmerizing. They were working, probably off limits to a scoundrel like him, but maybe in another timeline Jungkook would have tried his luck with one of them. Probably one of the younger ones but hey, the two older ones might be cool too.

But tonight Jungkook’s thoughts were held by one woman in particular, and the suggestion of the same softer, fonder, longer-lasting thing that glowed in Jimin’s and In’am’s faces. She looked like a queen again as she began to slow dance forward, swaying, moving her arms, flower bouquet raised like a beacon. Beside her, Jimin looked like a fucker in love, eyes all sparkly, what you could see of them above his wide, besotted grin as he held In’am’s other hand and danced with her along the procession. It helped that Jimin had always been a good dancer with a natural grace. He looked right at home with In’am in this procession, surrounded by voices singing in a language Jungkook couldn’t understand.

Taehyung shrugged and grinned at Jungkook as they doubled up with the bridesmaids again to follow, but the movement was slow, and there was nothing so formal as holding hands or dancing in doubles. Everyone roamed this way and that along the slow progress, joining the singing or shouting at times. The music moved through his arms and legs, so Jungkook felt pretty in tune with it –only for a moment did he feel self conscious when they entered the reception hall with all the music and shouting and dancing and he immediately spotted Alex, right where he’d left her, watching the whole thing.

She turned away when she saw him, but it was just to take Rebekah’s hand and dance with her, like most of the guests were doing. In a way it made him feel like they were dancing together. At least they were in the same party, the same celebration. Did she think this was cool? Would she want this much noise and attention made about–

OK, he was not going to think about Alex and weddings before he’d even gotten to really talk to her! Besides, he didn’t think she would want that much attention. But maybe she did? Turned out there were a lot of things he didn’t know.

Well, he’d know long before they got to that point. If they got to that point! Oh god, marriage?! He just wanted to rub her velvet ass!

Ok, no, he wanted more than that. A lot more than that. Inclusive of that.

Thank god the drums were loud enough to drown out his panic again. He had an image to uphold. Just because he was nervous seeing Alex again for the first time in so long didn’t mean he needed to get ahead of himself. Step one was just to convince her to let him back into her life. That was the goal for this evening. Be Alex and JK: Friends Forever again.

Alex had prepared to feel bad for Jungkook and Taehyung that they’d be stuck sitting up at tables near the front, but then it turned out they were at the same table as her after all. Not next to her though; her seat had her between Namjoon and Sabina. She wondered if that was reflective of when she and Jungkook had not been talking. They’d separated them. And sure they could have just ignored the seating chart but for some reason no one did. They sat at their assigned seats at their round table and fidgeted with the water glasses and silverware and little cardstock nametags. They caused a ruckus at their table as they got situated with their drinks and appetizers, fighting over whose knife was whose, and damn it felt good to be back among her friends, even if her dumb sister was there too. They cheered the loudest at Taehyung’s best man speech, and the additions Jungkook made when he crashed it, that set both of them and Jimin off crying just like they had in the ceremony.

Jungkook looked so cute when he cried. His nose and eyes got so red and his pout gained strength. The contrast of it was just so funny because he obviously looked handsome as shit in his tuxedo but then his little baby eyes were flooding his pout like he hadn’t got the color milk cup he wanted.

Damn he cleaned up well. So well. So well he looked like he belonged in this kind of high-dollar, elegant, sophisticated world that Jimin and In’am had invited them into for their wedding. Alex had known In’am came from money but she did not realize Jimin did as well, and honestly the whole wedding was fucking bonkers. Alex had felt overdressed until she got here and now worried she was underdressed. Her dress was simple, floor-length, a-line, faux-wrap, flutter sleeves, honestly the fanciest fucking thing she’d ever worn, but not elaborate the way so many of the other women were dressed with their bright colors and sparkling jewels. There was so much gold in this room right now but her only gold was the little necklace her mom had given her for her birthday a few years ago and earrings she had borrowed from May. Her dress wasn’t actually an expensive one. She’d taken a chance on one of those online websites that seemed too good to be true, but the thing had fucking delivered. She felt pretty.

Pretty enough to get noticed? Maybe so…

Maybe it was just the glow carrying over from In’am’s henna night, which she had danced her face off at, and stayed up all night talking with more of In’am’s friends and sisters and cousins than she had met before, and just basked in the joy and love and cultural tradition. It made her a little sad her own family wasn’t more traditional. She’d said as much to her mom, who had threatened to whack her with the newspaper after apparently complaining a little too much growing up about the ways in which they were. But Egyptian traditions were so cool! Her mom had whacked her on the arm.

She just found the wedding magical and overwhelming, way more than she had expected to, since her visibility into the planning of it had been all the stress and drama. She hadn’t understood the true scale of it, even after the engagement party. The one where she had asked Jungkook to come as her date and he’d so emphatically turned her down.

And here he was, dateless, just like he had wanted.

And here she was dateless too, but actually it wasn’t so bad. It left her free to snicker into her napkin every time Namjoon made a quiet, bitter comment under his breath during the speeches that accompanied dinner. He wasn’t serious; clearly he was doing it for laughs, and it was working, earning him lots of laughs from her and Rebekah on his other side and Yoongi on the other side of her. Yoongi who was oddly here without his fiance.

Ok, maybe Alex was exaggerating her laughter a little. Because Jungkook kept glancing over when she laughed, and also she just wanted to be clear to everyone that she didn’t have a date because of her own choice. She’d had a wonderful boyfriend who had been fully prepared to escort her to this wedding.

And then she’d dumped him in the airport. Not her best moment. But so it happened, and now she was single at this wedding.

And here was Jungkook too, without a date, not yet latched onto anyone else.

She didn’t want to seem as pathetically eager for his attention as she was. She leaned on her friends for strength. It led her to do other stupid things besides laughing too loud and drinking too much champaign too early in the evening and accidentally, in a moment of messing around with Namjoon, flinging a spoonful of rice onto the floor. Not her fault! Namjoon’s! He seemed unusually playful too. It was his fault.

She worried she was being too loud and annoying.

She needed to do something less obvious. Less desperate-seeming. Less Jungkook-attention-seeking.

So in a fit of bold stupidity, after a truly fascinating performance by the quartet of bellydancers who had led the procession in, when they ran through the tables passing out jingly scarves to encourage guests to come dance with them and Sabina grabbed Alex’s arm, she went. Why not? Get away from the table, away from trying not to make eye contact with Jungkook, look bold and brave and single ready to mingle just in case, you know, anyone was watching or something.

Alex tied a jingly scarf around her hips and attempted to bellydance in the middle of the dance floor.

“I can’t move my hips like this,” Alex giggled to Sabina, clutching her arm as the bellydancers tried to lead them.

“You can,” Sabina insisted, taking her arms so they danced facing each other, which helped Alex drown out the knowledge she was bellydancing in the middle of a wedding where most people were not. Granted, it was a crowd on the dancefloor doing this, and others were dancing at their tables, and she didn’t feel like there was really anyone paying attention to her but still. “Wiggle like you are getting fucked!”

The laughter from Alex was nearly a shout as she gave Sabina a playful shove, “That’s not right! That’s what you look like?” Despite Sabina’s elegance and beauty, these movements didn’t come natural to her either; she was sort of cute and stiff with her gyrations. Alex watched one of the bellydancers –who was actually very close to her own body type! That was cool!-- and tried to move her hips and shoulders the way the professionals did. All sizes could look good belly dancing. Theoretically.

She was sure it wasn’t working. But actually it was really fun and playful to try, and the jingle of the scarf did make her feel a little sexy about her attempts. And even if she looked silly, all right, who fucking cared? She didn’t have to dance to the beat or impress anyone, it wasn’t about that. This was new Alex, Alex 3.0, Alex who did what she wanted and enjoyed herself and celebrated the love of her friends unabashedly and tried new things with limited fear and didn’t give a shit what other people thought about her and what she wanted, Alex who went after the things she wanted in life. Alex who surrounded herself with people and things and goals that let her feel like enough.

Alex who was actually kind of digging this belly dancing thing. Maybe she should take a class or something? She was kind of feeling this! When the dancers moved through all of them and she found herself surrounded by happy, joyful, beautiful women, she felt that same tidal wave lifting her as she had at the henna night.

Yeah. This was going to be a good night. She could feel it through the drumbeat echoing in her bones.

Catch me if you can, she thought in Jungkook’s direction, trying not to look over at him. But also she wouldn’t make it hard. But also she wanted to feel the effort.

“I’m going to tie this on Namjoon,” Alex said to Sabina. “Let’s get everyone up now?”

“I refuse to give this to Tae, he will keep it!”

Alex wished she felt confident yet to go up to Jungkook and tie the scarf around him. Soon, she thought. I hope. She glanced at her phone as they sauntered back to the table. Barely 6pm. But not yet, she grinned, because the night was just beginning, and Alex had come dressed to party, so party she would.

“Namjoon! Dance!”

“Whaa? No… I’m finishing my food.”

“Get up, you oaf, your turn to shake your hips. It’s your friend’s wedding, don’t be a spoilsport.”

He sighed and stood up as if he didn’t have a choice. Most people were done eating now. The dinner music was still going as people finished their meals, but the belly dancing seemed to signal a transition to the dancing part of the evening.

“Hey, when’s the cake?” Taehyung asked. “I want to make Jimin laugh when he cuts it with the sword.”

Rebekah gave him a look and prodded, “Shouldn’t you know? Aren’t you one of the groomsmen running this thing?”

“Oh shit, no, they don’t tell us anything,” Taehyung laughed. “They just tell us to stand places, look pretty, and make sure Jimin doesn’t break his nose again.”

“It looks good, though, right? It healed nicely,” Jungkook quickly insisted.

“He feels guilty, it was his fault,” Yoongi explained to all with a snicker.

“It was not!”

Taehyung wrestled the scarf out of Sabina’s hands despite her protests and insisted as he shoved it against Jungkook’s scarf, “It was. Now dance your penance. Let’s see how many fish you catch.”

“Nah, man, I’m not fishing tonight,” Jungkook said with the air of a designated driver. Alex’s head tilted. What… did that mean? Was that good or bad? Related to her or not? Was he thinking of a +1 he didn’t get to bring or… had he sworn off sex or something?! This might complicate things…

May leaned around and stole the scarf and turned to Minxi with a gleam in her eyes, despite Minxi’s adamant shake of her head and announcement, “I don’t dance.”

“For me?”

“Privately.”

“Yeah, me too, I only dance privately these days,” Jungkook agreed as if their conversations were connected.

“Oh yeah? For who?” Taehyung demanded.

“You snails are too slow, I’m going to dance, goodbye!” Alex shouted, and grabbed Rebekah’s hand, and fled to the crowd of the dance floor to escape. Even though she’d eaten so much at dinner she felt like puking. Better not to do that right in front of Jungkook, yeah?

Jungkook had lost sight of Alex. Easy to do since she was so short. He ought to have tied a balloon to her wrist –a joke he had made many times over the years, at concerts and amusement parks. She had reacted about as you’d expected: offended but also demanding he buy her a balloon.

He sighed. After she’d run off to dance with Rebekah earlier, he’d had a hard time engineering their paths crossing. He’d try to dance near her and then she’d be gone for cake. He’d try to meet up with her for cake but she’d be getting a new drink. He’d try to grab wine from a tray to save her the line but then she’d be back on the dance floor. And then just as he’d get close to her, the damn event planner would be flagging him down for some other groomsman duty: joining a traditional dance, carting the gifts out to In’am’s brother’s car so he could take them home before anything got lost, helping Jimin’s grandmother out to her ride because she was ready to go home very early.

He was frustrated. The evening was rushing by and he wasn’t getting any time in Alex’s orbit. Everything was in the way. Everything was fucking interfering–

A hand touched his arm and then quickly pulled back; he stepped to the side, assuming someone was trying to squeeze past him to the dance floor he’d been surveying for any sight of her.

But it was Alex who looked up at him now from beneath the fringe of her hair.

“Hey,” he greeted, realizing he sounded more surprised than cool. He sounded like he’d been looking for her. He didn’t want to be that obvious.

“Hey, um… do you… want to dance? With me?” She blink at him, owlish in her ask. She shouldn’t be owlish. His heart thudded heavily in his chest at the question. No lead up. No prep. She’d just asked him outright. So straightforward. He would have fumbled for a while probably.

“Oh. Uh yeah, sure.”

“I still suck, just to be clear.”

“Ok–”

“I don’t want to mess up your game or anything–” She broke off when he touched her shoulder, nudging her to the dance floor. Her whole posture went rigid, like she was being marched to the principal’s office. Jungkook would have liked to reassure her but was too busy holding himself back from touching her more; he let his hand fall away from her shoulder in an attempt not to just wrap his arms around her and confess: whatever you want, yes, all you have to do is ask, I’ve been looking for you all night, don’t wander off again.

The anticipation of touching her again made him jumpy. When she suddenly turned and stopped, he plowed into her and grabbed her shoulders to keep them both from falling, which pulled them close together. Just as quickly they sprang apart.

He wasn’t prepared for her laugh, “You aren’t nearly as smooth as I always thought.”

“Shut up,” he grumbled. “I’m just nervous.”

“Bout what?” Her eyebrows lifted up behind her bangs. Teasing him. Taunting him. Fuck he had missed this.

“It looks like you don’t have eyebrows anymore.”

She huffed and swiped at them, brushing them to a slant so he could see a little more forehead and one eyebrow.

“There, better?” She lifted her hands to his shoulders, reaching high, but it felt too middleschool to him, even though he liked that it pulled her close. But shit in looking down at her face it was impossible not to be drawn deep into the line of her cleavage just beneath her chin, like the view was just perfect and he didn’t want that to show on his face, so he tugged her hand into his for a more proper dance position. He admired more than her tits, they were just so there tonight! Taunting him too! Everything about her taunted him tonight. Why had she worn this dress, damn!

The music was faster but they just swayed at their own pace, shuffling a little with each step. Jungkook focused at first on making sure he didn’t step on her toes or the hem of her dress or bump her into anyone else –anything to try and distract him from the reality he was dancing this close with Alex, that her body was very close to pressing against his and her hand was in his, until he could handle that knowledge. Her hand was sweaty but so was his so maybe she couldn’t tell about him.

“So…” Her lips pursed into a duck pout. He wanted to kiss her.

“Can’t believe you got bangs,” he teased. There. Easy. Simple. She’d always said bangs would make her look like a fifth grader.

Her smile was immediate, a little bashful as she admitted, “Yeah, it wasn’t a great decision but–”

“--I think they look nice–”

“Bangs are like the thing you do after a break up, I guess? It’s a rule. It’s in the handbook. I finally got my copy..”

“Ah.” Break up. Break up. She mentioned they broke up. She just put it out there. She just said it. “Um, I’m sorry to hear you uh–”

“Are you?”

“No,” he admitted. He was relieved she laughed too. Was it like Yoongi? He wanted to ask but didn’t. Just used his fingers on her back to pull her a little closer. “Sorry I wasn’t there to buy you ice cream this time.”

“It’s ok. Raincheck.”

“For… after your next breakup?”

“I hope not.”

His skin was tingling. He felt like she might be having a different conversation or he might be misunderstanding and reading too much into the things she said so he shut his mouth for a moment and just enjoyed swaying with her. He looked around at the other couples and groups dancing. It felt like they were in a different place, dancing to different music. There were loud groups of people still clustered around tables, some drinking, some just loudly talking. The dimmed overheads and fairy lights actually made everything feel a little like prom. And he was just here, drifting in the middle of it all. With Alex. Perfectly, finally at peace.

He realized his fingers were stroking the fabric at her shoulder and, to hide this gaf, said, “Your dress is really nice. Really soft.”

“You like it? I worried it was a little low cut but–”

“Nah, it’s perfect–”

“Might seem too aggressive.”

“Aggressive?”

“You know, like… too obvious.”

“Too obviously… hot?”

“Is that what you think it is?” she asked him, looking up, bangs hiding her brows again. They did make her look younger but it wasn’t a bad thing either way.

“Yeah, it’s hot as fuck.” Shit, maybe he shouldn’t have said that. “I mean, you look really pretty,” he hurried to add, even though that felt nauseatingly vulnerable for some reason. What, he couldn’t tell Alex she looked pretty? Yeah, he couldn’t. He always felt like a compliment like that to her would say too much. Show too much genuine interest. Or she wouldn’t believe him. Or she wouldn’t want that kind of attention from him.

“You clean up pretty nice,” she countered. “I liked your speech.”

“I liked your belly dancing–”

“Hey, be nice.”

“I’m serious!”

“You know I can’t dance.”

“I really liked it.”

“Are you being gross?” she demanded, a spark of their old relationship, and he felt great joy in admitting, “Yes.” But then worried it was too much, too quick, they hadn’t been comfortable in so long and corrected, “No, but I mean–”

“Uh huh.”

“Ah, Alex…” he sighed and didn’t know what else to say, just looked away and was grateful she was short so it was easy not to look in her face. He wondered if she’d know if he wiped his sweaty hand off on her dress. He was really sweating. It was going to soak through his shirt.

“I guess your– Anita hasn’t been keeping up with you?”

It was the most awkward and blatant fishing attempt he’d ever seen. Alex didn’t have grace for that kind of game, a thing he loved about her.

“Well, funny story–”

“That starts with a threesome?”

“What?”

“Ooh, are you starting to squirm?” she giggled, looking actually gleeful. “You’ll look like an asshole if you run away and leave me mid-song.” It was the second song but he didn’t point that out because obviously he wasn’t going anywhere.

“I’m not running away, I just– what are you–” His eyes narrowed. “Who’s been telling you what?”

“Just a little bird–”

“Aleeeeex,” he leaned a little closer to sound serious and insisted, “Just ask me what you want to know.”

“You aren’t dating Anita, right?”

He snorted, “No, I’m not dating Anita.” Her eyes looked so dark and sparkly when she looked up at him from this angle, and he thought she might be a little serious right now too. “I’m not dating anyone, if anyone wants to know.”

“Right, you don’t date.”

“I–”

“You don’t go to a party or a wedding with someone, but you always leave with one. Or two, if it’s your birthday!”

“Ok, that’s not quite what you think.”

“What do I think?” she asked, and duck-lip pouted again, and looked up at him with challenge. He started to feel nervous for other reasons now, like this was rocky and whatever this was might be about to break apart. He couldn’t tell if she was seriously amused or not because all these years he’d always thought she was amused but maybe she hadn’t been if she had secret romantic feelings for him. Actually maybe Alex was really good at hiding things from him.

“Are you mad?”

“No, you’re a free man to do whatever you want.”

“Our birthday party… ah,” he sighed, and looked away again and shuffled her to the side so they could move further from the speakers and hear each other better without having to talk so loudly anyone else could overhear. “I was really sad and got too drunk because you weren’t there. Maybe I did um… ask Anita and Seychelle to go home with me… I was drunk enough to shoot my shot.” He grimaced. “They took me home and put my drunkass right to bed and then fucked on our couch.”

“What?!” Alex gasped and pulled away and let out a cackle of a laugh. “No!”

“Yeah…. I guess I cried and then fell asleep in the car or something…” He hated admitting the pathetic truth but felt like maybe it was better that she understood ok, maybe he had tried to have a threesome on his birthday, but it was because he’d wanted something wild to soothe his broken heart, not because his feelings about her weren’t true.

“No, we said no sex on the couch!” she laughed and hit him on the arm as if he’d done the deed.

“Well I didn’t have sex on the couch! They did it without me!”

They were too loud and people looked over at them but her laughter was a relief.

“Oh my god that is so embarrassing for you… I was going to tease you about finally getting the threesome of your dreams but this is way better! I mean, not the part about you drunk crying, but…”

“Yeah yeah… as long as you’re happy about it…” he grumbled.

“But damn, Seashell’s really moving through our group, huh? What do you think, would she like me in this dress? She didn’t seem interested in me when I–”

She held her arms up in dance position again, a childish wordless request to resume dancing, and he nearly tripped in his haste, sliding into her space again.

“Don’t talk to Seashell,” he interrupted.

“Ahhh, are you jealous because she outfucked you?”

“What does that mean?”

“I don’t know, are you feeling competitive? She’s getting more sex than you from your own friends–”

“I don’t want sex with my friends,” he snorted. “Uh… most of them…” Shit, was it better to say that or not say that?

“I knew you and Taehyung were a little too close–”

“Alex,” he whined and laughed and pinched her shoulder. “Don’t spread rumors about me.”

“Yeah, I know, you hate attention, huh?” He scowled. She returned his stare. He loved her so deeply it made him want to laugh and slap his own face. How had he not understood what this feeling was in moments like this? Because these moments weren’t new.

She was the one to continue, “Well, I suspected you weren’t dating Anita, but I did think you got your threesome. I’m both relieved and sad for you.”

“Relieved, huh? Why, jealous? You were getting railed plenty–”

“Ok, let’s not quite say it like that,” she rolled her eyes.

“But would you be? Jealous?” he pressed, desperate for her to say yes.

She shrugged, “I don’t know. I had just turned you down.”

“Yeah. Broke my heart,” he joked though it wasn’t a joke.

She retaliated, “Besides, if I let myself get jealous every time you fucked a girl…”

“But did you? Feel that way every time?” The question was too serious. Oops. It had rolled off his tongue without him thinking it through. Before she could answer, he teased, “Whatever, I had a bunch of swings and misses in a row. And yet here you are, alone at the wedding you wanted a date for.”

Her voice had the same wistful, teasing tone to it when she added, “Dancing badly with you in front of everyone even though you wanted to be left alone so you could find a bridesmaid to fuck.”

“Ah, shit, you really know how to punch a guy in the nuts.”

“I just said the truth!”

“No,” he insisted. “The truth is I’m right where I want to be right now.”

“That’s not what you said back then,” she sang. She was still trying to keep it light. He appreciated that. He could also appreciate there was some fair muscle behind these jabs as they circled each other and tried to suss out the updates, the truths, the right nows.

“Yeah, but I was an asshole back then,” he said. “I’m a changed man now.”

“Mm-hm.”

“Turns out I don’t like you leaving me alone.”

“Yeah,” she snorted. He wasn’t actually sure what she meant by that, but she was still in his arms and didn’t actually seem mad so he’d take it. Actually, what he didn’t want to say was that he was thrilled other people were seeing them dance together for going on a third song now. He was psyched that people passed them or glanced over at them and in their minds saw a more permanent connection between him and Alex, the kind that didn’t end with after a single song. Maybe they were thinking oh, they’re together, that’s cute. Maybe they were thinking damn that’s an attractive couple.

“Jungkook.”

“Yes,” he responded to the summons from his drifting thoughts. Her bangs had fallen down again and without thinking about it, he brushed them back to the side. She caught his hand and twisted the other so she had both hands in her grasp, commanding his attention.

“I broke up with my boyfriend two and a half weeks ago and I still feel kind of shitty about it.”

“Oh.”

“We don’t have to talk about it. It just sucks to know I wasn’t my best self and I was kind of selfish and shitty in the end and… it’s really embarrassing when someone sees the bad parts of you, you know?”

“Yeah. I know.”

“I mean, he was a great boyfriend. He did everything right and he was kind and thoughtful and–”

“Ok, I know. He was the best guy to ever walk the earth. I got it. I saw it–”

“Yeah and I keep breaking up with these great guys and just for…”

For me. Say for me, he pleaded in his mind. But the new song was louder and people started jumping behind her. He tugged her close and spun so she was on the outside of the dance floor, safe from being bumped or nudged. It was harder to hear though over the louder music. He leaned down to hear whatever she might say next but he must have leaned too close because she blinked at him in surprise.

And then she lifted onto her toes and took hold of his shoulders and kissed him. Rushed and clumsy, full of uncertainty, and obvious impulse . Her lips just pressed to his, hurried, without any plan.

It was the best kind of kiss Jungkook hadn’t even hoped for.

A kiss!

She kissed him!

He slid his arms quickly around her to keep her steady as she teetered, maybe trying to pull away too quickly.

Impulse kiss? He wouldn’t leave her wondering if it was welcome.

“Get back here,” he murmured and chased her mouth, the only action his brain could handle right now as bright lights and warmth flooded his consciousness. Soft, full, sweet-tasting glossy lips against his and he’d never felt so inexperienced in his life. Her hands pressed to either side of his neck, little electric shocks at every point of contact between their bodies, at the touch of her fingers, of her lips, of her nose squashed against his.

She pulled away and he couldn’t have said for his life how long the kiss lasted. An hour? A second? Someone jostled against his back but Alex was staring at his face as if searching for something so he remained rooted to the spot in case she was going to kiss him again.

No, she was really studying him, and it made him nervous now.

“What?” he asked, eyes narrowing to hide how naked that stare made him feel.

“No regrets? No puking? Did that feel like kissing your sister?”

He was shocked by her bluntness. God, he loved Alex’s bluntness. After so many months of the confusion and disappointment and feeling like a fucking idiot to have realized his own feelings too late and worrying he’d been hurting her all along if she had allegedly loved him for so long, the way she poked at the painful parts just felt so comforting and familiar. It brought the important things right into focus. They joked about things. They could joke. And he knew her well enough to see the serious part of the joke. Because they did know each other, they shared a language and an understanding that went way back, that was true even if they were still learning new things about each other and themselves.

“I don’t know, I wasn’t thinking about that, let me see again,” he said, and leaned in. There was a laugh in the kiss this time though; he swallowed her giggles as her fingers brushed his cheek, and she sort of curled away but not really. It was like the kiss tickled her but she didn’t actually want to escape, that’s what it was like. Her lips were slower this time, more comfortable against his, he thought. He kept his face near hers even though he had to hunch and admitted lowly, “I don’t have a sister but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t kiss one like this.”

“No? It seems to work in Game of Thrones–”

“Have you even watched that show?”

“No! I’m not paying for HBO!”

Jungkook started laughing and couldn’t stop. It was embarrassing but joy and relief just suddenly bubbled over and he couldn’t stop it. Kissing her left him giddy. High. He had no choice but to drag her in for a hug, or maybe she stepped closer on her own, and he just molded around her, tucking her into his body. So many months of brokenness and the absence of her and uncertainty about whether he’d ever even get to laugh with her again healed as she stepped right back into the Alex-shaped hole in his heart. He closed his eyes and let the wedding fade even further into the background and just existed in this moment with his cheek pressed to the top of her head.

“I really missed you,” he thought she said against his chest.

He let out a long, slow breath, and then, “I know.”

She laughed and punched him in the back, “‘I know?’ Ok Han Solo! That’s not what you say!”

“No, I did too! I mean I know because I did too!”

“Uh huh.”

He squeezed her so tight and breathed in the scent of her shampoo even though it was different than the one she used before and he wondered if that was permanent or temporary. He didn’t know. He still didn’t really know anything except that kissing her was a Good Thing.

Sometimes it was fun to joke but sometimes they needed to be serious, he was learning that, so he pulled away enough to cradle her face and kiss her forehead through her messy bangs and breathed, “I really missed you, Alex.”

Her hands circled his wrists and he felt the pressure of her leaning into the kiss. Another Good Thing.

Then she quickly leaned away and laughed, “Ok, well good, I’m glad you didn’t forget me.” All jokes again, her whole demeanor as though they hadn’t just shared the kind of kisses that changed everything about a day, a relationship, a life trajectory. Ah, fuck, he wanted to just brush the bangs back from her face and kiss her again and tickle her so she’d kick him and he could twist her around to protect himself and wrap her up tighter in his arms and whisper things at her ear to make her yell at him–

“Uh, I think we should go– to our friends over– um–” She grabbed his wrist and took off, weaving through the crowd of dancers. He didn’t even understand where they were going, still too flustered by his own thoughts, by the briefest glimpse of that roaring want for Alex that had cracked open now because she’d kissed him. On purpose. She had initiated all of that!

Did she regret it now? Was she trying to escape? But she was holding his wrist, dragging him along with her. If she was escaping, she was taking him too. That was cute.

Somehow despite the limits of her height, she found her way to the group of their friends dancing on the far side of the dance floor. They didn’t seem to think anything was off but Jungkook could feel Alex’s energy even from behind; she squeezed his wrist and released him, walked straight through their group, and made a beeline for the open bar.

Halfway there she stopped and turned and caught his eye –easily because he’d been watching her still, trying to decide if she was fleeing a mistake or just feeling as overwhelmed as he was right now. She pointed at the bar and at him, a question on her face. He nodded and shrugged to answer that he knew she’d think next what do you want? Should he go with her? Probably, right? Or he should offer to get the drinks?

But she wanted a breath, he felt like that was true. She’d fled, but not completely, just for a moment.

Ah, had he kissed her really good? He grinned at the possibility that he was better at it than she’d expected. Wait, had she doubted him?! That hadn’t even been his best. He would kiss her breathless next time, until he felt her wobbling in his arms. He’d kiss her until she gasped or moaned or whimpered –which kind of noise would she make? He’d find out!

Though in fairness, she was way way way better at kissing than he had expected. Way better. Wow. Damn. He hadn’t expected Alex to give the kind of kisses that lingered on your lips for this long; he could still feel the tingles. It all felt a little fake with her gone and it wasn’t like he understood all that had just happened but at least it seemed like Alex was back in his life and he was along for whatever that ride was. Apparently it would involve kisses.

Single. Single Alex. Only a couple weeks single so maybe she wasn’t wanting to jump right into something. Ok. Ok, but she had kissed him so… he was on her mind. That was a good place to be. Hands on her body was good. Lips on hers was good–

Fuck, he was grinning too big and his friends were looking at him suspiciously. He knew that look, like they thought he’d wandered off and fucked someone in a closet. This was better!

His dance moves weren’t cool, they were mindless and distracted. He couldn’t help it. He let the joy run through his body, braided with nerves, anticipation of whatever was to come with Alex. He had no fucking clue! But maybe something! Maybe? Unless he’d scared her off?

She came back with drinks –plum wine for them each. He felt his ego swell when she handed him his glass. She was going to taste so good to kiss again– he choked on a too-big gulp of his wine as she slid past him, her own wine glass in hand, and leapt into the center of their friends with a shout. All bright, happy, fun Alex. Alex letting loose. Alex who caught his gaze again because he didn’t want to look anywhere but her and then covered her face and turned shyly away.

Shit he loved her a lot, and it didn’t feel painful anymore. Just warm and eager and hopeful. Was he making her shy? Should he flirt with her and see if he could make her really shy?

He knocked back the rest of his wine, too fast, so he’d have his hands free as he rejoined the circle of his friends to show off his own moves. If their friends noticed anything different about either one of them… so what?

***

Well shit. Shit shit shit. Shit fucking shit.

Alex’s plans were derailed almost as soon as she’d set them into motion.

Because what the fuck was up with that forehead kiss? And the way he’d pulled her into his arms and just held her?

Fuck!

And the way he’d kissed her, all soft lips and gentle hands and this little rushed warm breath that she’d felt more than heard because of the loud music.

Why was he so earnest suddenly? So different? It was terrifying! What if Jungkook was actually a very sweet, loving, sincere boyfriend?! Obviously that didn’t come from experience, what if that was just who he was when it came down to it? Would she actually be surprised? But he’d just been such a fuckboy for so long…

She just hadn’t expected the warmth. She hadn’t expected him to be so serious. She hadn’t expected to get so instantly wrapped up in him and so yeah, she needed some air, and some wine, and then some more air, and then some running around with just Rebekah, avoiding her sister who would probably say something just to set her off, and Jungkook off at a safe distance.

She was afraid Jungkook would kiss her again. She was afraid he’d ask her a blunt question she wasn’t ready to answer yet. She was afraid he wouldn’t ask her anything at all and she’d be disappointed.

She just needed to figure out a few things first. She’d had a couple weeks now both to process the sadness about ending her relationship with Hoseok and think honestly about what she needed before attempting anything more with Jungkook: She needed some answers she could be sure weren’t lies. She needed to see if the feelings were there and authentic –not just companionship and comfort and familiarity, but romance, desire. Lust.

She just wanted to be lusted after, ok? Specifically by Jungkook.

She wanted a sense of how hard she’d have to work to shape her previous friendship with Jungkook into something that more resembled the kind of relationship she wanted with a romantic partner.

And yeah she had not expected kisses like that, just right there in front of everyone! Her kiss had been impulsive but he’d pushed it further! Good luck fucking a bridesmaid now! (hehe) And she had not expected him to just hold her like that. Or sweetly kiss her forehead.

Fuck, she was melting and they hadn’t even talked about whether there was the possibility of something between them. Her plans were wavering –because yes, she’d come with plans. She’d dressed for plans. She had really uncomfortable underwear on for plans!

“Ah, my handsome sexy man,” Sabina cooed, spotting Taehyung across the ballroom. It was getting late, though the party was still going in full swing. Taehyung, Jungkook, and Jimin had their hands on each other's shoulders, dancing in a little circle, kicking their feet. After a moment, she realized Jimin wasn’t actually on the ground; Taehyung and Jungkook were holding him up. It was ridiculous. They were so ridiculous. But hearing Sabina so affectionately claim Taehyung, Alex felt that tug in her chest towards Jungkook. My handsome sexy man?

No. That couldn’t be right. It sounded impossible that she could ever claim Jungkook as hers. Well, in a way she’d always claimed him as hers, while also knowing that possessiveness she felt about him wasn’t an actual romantic claim. She’d never been an option. When all eyes in the room noticed him, his scanned for the hottest woman around and off he went with her, and that woman was never Alex.

“Let’s go dance again,” Sabina suggested, grabbing Alex’s arm. The woman had eternal stamina. Alex’s own was flagging, and she cast about for Rebekah to hold her back, but her traitor friend had wandered off somewhere else. The roadbump of her own sulky thoughts prickled her skin as she and Sabina drew closer –as she saw a woman lean in close to ask Jungkook something and he laughed and waved her off. Had it been a proposition?! Just out of the blue! Probably, right? Jungkook was that kind of hot…

See, the jealousy was going to be a problem. If Alex didn’t have confidence, if she didn’t feel like she could trust Jungkook’s attention was sincere, it wasn’t going to work, and that was part of the test. She was tired of being jealous.

He yawned, and then saw her and covered his mouth, nodding his head as he tried to laugh at himself. She had to yell to be heard over the music as she got close,

“Long day?”

“I’m rallying,” he said, sliding his hand around to her back. It felt… assertive? Possessive? Predatory? But in a good way, attentive, like–

Like he was putting on moves and she was the target.

She leaned into that same energy, or tried to, and slid her hand up to his chest as she asked, “Care for another dance?”

“You like dancing with me, huh?” he grinned. She must have seemed as cool as she didn’t feel on the inside. She nodded. He didn’t even look back at their friends as he tugged her a few steps away and against him, sliding his fingers up her arm to take her hand in his. It was so casually, familiarly done, as if they’d been dancing together like this for years. He just seemed so cool about it all, much cooler than earlier.

“Are you drunk?” she guessed.

“Me? No. Are you?”

“Nope.”

He began to lead her in steps, just small, easy, totally off beat at first but a slower song started and it was easier to move at that pace. She kept looking up at him and then away, embarrassed to make eye contact, afraid he’d read her plan too easily.

Alex was going to see if he’d take her home and have sex with her.

Because she’d know right away this last part that she wasn’t so sure about: can he desire me? Or am I just a challenge, a novelty, and he’ll be done with me once he’s gotten what he wants?

Right now, he was single and hot and in a position of visibility at this wedding. There were tons of gorgeous women here. If he didn’t want to take her home from a public place where hot women would see them leave together, well that was that then. And she’d be taking a piece of advice from Jungkook’s own book, right? Have sex early, see if he means it.

Was it good advice? Bad? Honestly, that didn’t matter. Maybe it was a stupid idea. Could Jungkook be with her even when she did dumb things? Could she be embarrassingly herself with him? Could she feel comfortable admitting this insecurity to him and feel genuinely reassured, if he wanted her to be?

But also.

But also: Could Alex be the woman Jungkook Jeon chose to take him with him? Could he want to fuck her?

He was smiling about something, she noticed. She didn’t ask but he leaned down closer to her ear and mused,

“You’re thinking really hard about something.”

“Maybe.”

“What’s up? What are you so serious about? It doesn’t matter if we get off beat–”

“No, not that.”

“Ok.”

She hesitated. No, it was pathetic. The rejection would be brutal. She shouldn’t say anything, she should just enjoy whatever dances she could have with him. Maybe she could steal another kiss later. That was still progress. That was still incredible. This wedding was magical and over the top and exhausting and she could carry away those precious moments they had together earlier as her souvenir and figure out the rest another day. Or maybe he’d ask her later to go home with him? That’s what she really would have preferred… but what if he didn’t? She did realize he might not, just out of kindness or respect, even if he wanted to. He might be trying to keep giving her the space she had asked him for months ago, even though he knew she was single now, even though she’d kissed him.

“Alex, what is it?” he asked, and this time brushed her hair back over her shoulder. The feathery touch and the soft gesture made her shudder.

Ok but… couldn’t she be the girl who got railed after a wedding for once? Couldn’t the hottest guy here take her home? This hot guy? Who kept looking at her so closely and smelled so nice and had his hands firm against her back and around her fingers?

Fuck, he was so beautiful to look at. She’d kissed him now and she wanted more. She wanted him. She wanted him to want her. She wanted so badly for this specific dream to come true, tonight, and worried she had only set herself up for failure. The want left her breathless. It seemed impossible they’d already kissed, and even more impossible they’d ever kiss again.

Could he ever feel this way when he looked at her?

In a poor attempt at self restraint, she avoided blurting out will you take me home and fuck me, substituted instead for the almost worse request,

“Will you kiss me here?” Followed by her hand lifting off his arm and tapping the side of her neck.

Fucking hell, what had gotten into her?!

And worst/best/worst of all, he did it. He didn’t even ask what the fuck she was on about. Without any hesitation, he leaned all the way down to press his warm mouth against the skin she had tapped. His lips lingered. In all seriousness, Alex felt like she nearly orgasmed alongside the full body shudder that such a blatantly intimate gesture caused. Thank fuck the music was too loud for him to hear the noise that stuck in her throat. She shivered and shirked her shoulders, squirming at the pure overload of pleasure, too much, too too much, it was so ticklish she’d scream, but the kind of too much you kind of wanted more of.

Instead of pulling away when she scrunched her shoulders, his arms just wrapped tightly around her and he chuckled against that sensitive skin and murmured criminally close to her ear, “Yeah, I thought that would be too much, you’re so ticklish.”

Damn he knew her so well.

And since his face was right there anyway, she turned hers, seeking his mouth. He seemed to realize immediately what she wanted because she didn’t have to ask. He brushed her hair back again, wringing another shiver from her that she tried to hide behind running her hands up his chest.

But shit, they were in public! The kiss had only just started but Alex suddenly felt like they were getting wildly out of control and pulled away. Jungkook looked confused and it embarrassed her, the way she ached. So quickly! Tonight was the first night she’d seen him in so long, since the arcade really –but memories of that night at the arcade fed the ache, they didn’t soothe it even a little.

“You’re not drunk?” he asked, brushing his hands against her face like he was checking for a fever.

“I’m not,” she huffed and brushed his hand defensively away. “I just…” She stared at him. He stared at her. Celebratory shouts somewhere else startled her and his small smile couldn’t be anything but endeared.

But suddenly his face took a serious look again and he leaned close, hand firm but careful on her arm as he insisted, “There’s nothing to be worried about with me, ok? I know you uh… you know how I feel about you. And I don’t know if you um– but I know you just broke up with your boyfriend and maybe you need time before you can think about what you want with me– if you even want anything! And that’s ok too, so don’t worry, I’m not going to pressure you for answers or–”

“I want to go home with you.”

“Huh?” His lips didn’t even part for the noise of surprise but his eyebrows went up and his eyes got wide.

Well shit that didn’t sound cool.

“I want…” God, it wasn’t even a test at this point. She saw what she wanted clearly. “I want to be the girl you take home from the wedding.”

“I’m not taking anyone home–”

“I want you to choose me,” she said. “I want you to take me home with you tonight.”

“Take you home with me and…” She couldn’t tell if he was in disbelief, or horrified, or genuinely not following what she was asking for.

“Take me home and fuck me, Jungkook, that’s what I mean–”

“Jesus, Alex–”

The sharp pain she felt in that moment stole her breath. She was so proud of herself for being bold and direct about what she wanted but his response felt like a rejection and she knew she sounded far less cool as she admitted,

“I thought you said you want that with me–”

“Oh, I do,” he said with an unexpected chuckle. “I do want to do that but I want more than that with you, Alex, and I don’t want to ruin the chance of more just because I got horny and impatient–”

“No, but I asked you to.”

“I know but–”

“Ok,” she said, and made to step back because this was mortifying. He caught hold of her quickly, pulling her close and saying near her ear,

“Please don’t look like that, it’s not that I don’t–”

“It’s ok if you don’t want–”

“Alex I can’t say the things I want to do to you because it’ll freak you out and I won’t risk my chance with you when I’m not even sure yet that you’re giving me a chance and we’re at this nice wedding and people will overhear and I’ll get kicked out and Jimin will never forgive me.” She could feel his lips brushing the edge of her ear as he spoke, his warm breath ghosting across the shell of her ear and the side of her neck. She felt completely consumed by him for just a moment, just like she wanted. His hands tightened on her body. She felt the intensity in his words. “Trust me, the way you look tonight is driving me fucking crazy and if you weren’t you I’d already have you over– but not because I don’t want you like that–” Obvious panic broke through the sexual heat of what he was saying as he overthought his own words. Alex hadn’t even been thinking he meant that. She was having a hard time breathing as all the blood rushed down her body and her heartbeat pounded painfully between her legs.

She kissed him, afraid she’d say something pathetic. She just wanted him to touch her right now. She’d take the closet or the backseat of the car or whatever, no wonder Jungkook got any woman he wanted saying things like this in that way, his gaze so dark and sparkly like that. She felt wild with want. And he was looking at her like that, which felt wild too. She felt like they were practically fucking on the dance floor, just right in front of everyone, standing so still and wrapped around and whispering to each other like this, lost in each other. Someone was going to complain about public indecency and kick them out.

“You’d already have me what? What would you do if I wasn’t me?” she prodded, keeping her face hidden by his shoulder so she could try and catch his breath. What had she been thinking, asking a question like that to try and catch her breath to?

“I want more than that with you.”

“More than what?”

“More than…” She felt him lick his lips. “More than finding some coat closet and dragging that dress of yours up and– don’t ask me these questions, it’s mean.”

“Why is it mean?!”

“Yah, you’re driving me crazy. We’re at a wedding, in front of everyone, our friends are looking for us–”

“Oh, you’re feeling shy?” she teased.

Instead of laughing, he paused before pulling away to look into her face as he admitted, “I want more than a wedding night one night stand with you but is that all you want from me?”

Fuck. What a tragic question. She saw it all written there on his face. He might as well have thrown a bucket of ice water over her head.

“I want both,” she answered as honestly as she could. “I want you to want to take me home for the night and do all those crazy things to me that have the instagram girls lining up to suck your dick and I want to wake up in your shirt the next morning and kick you in the butt until you make me breakfast and–”

“I want that too,” he said and took hold of her arms. “I want all of that too, Alex. I want all of that with you too. Everything we had before but also with the fucking and sucking and–”

“Seriously with your mouth?” she started to laugh. Because Jesus he was such a fuckboy with that mouth of his! He started laughing too and they curled together and she could still feel her heart pounding in various places throughout her body but she could breathe through it now, relieved that he was not actually rejecting her yet. The deepest sigh of relief rushed out but she wasn’t actually sure if it came from her body or his.

He was trying to be sweet. And thoughtful. And careful.

And now this confession was out in the open, in the very small space between their bodies.

In that moment, it was impossible not to look at his behavior, how he had been in the last few months, and not see how clearly different he had always treated her compared to other women as a good thing. This wasn’t the thought or effort or emotion he put into those women. This wasn’t a desperate grab for controlling a co-dependent friend’s time. This was a side of Jungkook he was showing only to her, that she had always seen some element of. Alex was special to him. She felt special to him.

Test passed. Even without the fucking.

“Ok,” she said. “I won’t sexually harass you anymore–”

“Wait no!”

“I mean I won’t pressure you into taking me home, just because it was my fantasy–”

“Wait no,” he said again, grinning at her giggles as he took her hands. “What do you mean it was your fantasy?”

“Sorry, I can’t hear you over the music!”

“Alex!”

She began to walk away and he, as she had predicted, dove after her, and wrapped his arms around her in a burst of old playful closeness. He laughed at her shoulder, forearms digging into her stomach, and while she noticed the softness, she didn’t feel self conscious about it at all.

Jungkook wanted to fuck her in a coat closet. Her. That was cool. He wasn’t doing it but he said he wanted to, and instead he was wrestling with her on the dance floor in the middle of a very expensive wedding, so that still counted for something.

“Ok ok ok you two,” Namjoon said, clapping his hands. “You’re making the grandmas clutch their pearls.”

Alex escaped from Jungkook’s grasp with a victory shout and spun a circle around Namjoon. As if he’d actually read her mind, Jungkook caged Namjoon in on the other side and they both started to grind and booty-bump their much taller friend.

“Hey. Guys. Guys! Ok, very funny!” He looked like he was going to flee this embarrassing display, but suddenly In’am and Jimin ran up to join and it wasn’t like Namjoon could flee them, they were the guests of honor!

Alex just felt so happy and free. When she caught Jungkook’s eye as he danced and laughed and rough-housed with his friends, she felt like a connection she had always depended on too much was in fact now real and safe and recognized. It wasn’t like they were even a thing yet but they were going to be, right? That’s what all this meant? That had just been a confession, right? They both wanted each other and short of giving it a try and realizing they were very wrong or very incompatible or something right away–

He wouldn’t let her down. Probably they’d both fuck up a lot but yeah, that’s how it went, right? If he kept crinkling his nose at her like that though she could forgive a lot of fuck ups.

Rebekah nudged her arm and wiggled her eyebrows. Just that was enough to make Alex cover her face, overwhelmed and embarrassing and giddy. She shirked her shoulders and held her hands out and grimaced.

“Good for you,” Rebekah smiled and flung her arm around Alex’s shoulder. “He better treat you right.”

“What!”

“You heard me. I may not seem like much but I can fight–”

“Rebekahhhh, are you drunk?” Alex giggled.

“A little bit.”

“Thanks for telling me things even if you weren’t sure if I’d want to hear them. I appreciate your honesty.”

“Oh yes, uh huh. I’m a pretty good friend.”

“And thanks for not trying to fuck my best friend.”

“Well, to be fair, he wouldn’t have gone for it anyway,” Rebekah admitted.

“No, that’s not true! You’re a vixen! The only thing that kept him safe was your loyalty to me, I know that–”

“Yes, that’s it! I barely even noticed he was hot.”

“I think you’re hanging out with May and Minxi too much, you get sassy when you drink now,” Alex laughed, swinging her around. Actually, the past six months had given her the chance to get closer with Rebekah too. There were lots of good things happening in her life. She was very loving and grateful for everything right now.

“Thanks for reminding me I’m still single.”

“Hey, I am too!”

“For like fifteen more minutes.”

Alex just laughed because she didn’t know what else to say. No, that wasn’t it. They weren’t talking about that! Yet! Damn, she felt drunk, but the only thing she knew to do to comfort Rebekah was dance until her friend was laughing again. Did she know anyone she could introduce Rebekah to? No, she’d be a terrible matchmaker. Wait, but Jungkook knew so many people. Ok. A nice little project for them to do together…

Alex glanced over and happened to notice Yoongi sitting at the table by himself, gaze trained on his phone. This was notable for several reasons. The first of course being that Alex had initially been so worried about showing up dateless to a wedding Yoongi would be at and now instead she didn’t care at all, but Yoongi had also shown up dateless and allegedly fiance-less now. The second being, if he was so bored, why was he still here?

She needed a break from the dancing and the noise and the whirlwind of emotions that wrapped her and Jungkook up everytime they were on the dance floor, so she wove her way through the chairs and collapsed in the seat beside Yoongi.

“Hey.”

“Oh, hey,” he greeted and lowered his phone. Then jerked his head towards the dancefloor and joked, “Good to see some progress after… how many years has it been?”

“Aish, come on,” she laughed.

“Never knew you could be so handsy but I guess it just had to be with the right guy,” he added. There was nothing mean or hurt in his voice though, more just relaxed. Teasing. Casual.

She nodded and shrugged, “Maybe. Maybe I’m just affected by the wedding. What’s gong on with you lately? Heard you’re around a lot more these days.”

“That a problem?”

“For me? No, of course not. We’re cool. I mean, you’re the one who might still be pining over me–”

“Nah, I’m over it.”

“Ok you could act a little more nostalgic for me,” she laughed.

“Sorry. Guess I’m a little…” He just waved his hand, a meaningless gesture.

Her sympathy was sincere as she offered, “Yeah, I heard you went through a recent breakup too but… bigger magnitude. Engaged.”

“Yeah, I’m aware.”

“Sorry,” she grimaced. Maybe she shouldn’t have repeated what Sabina told her.

“Eh. It was mutual, I guess. You know… sometimes other people can put a name on your feelings before you can do it yourself, you know?”

Her eyes narrowed as she said slowly, “.... Yes…” She followed his line of sight, easy to trace: to Namjoon. “Oh my god,” she gasped and grabbed his arm. “Are you in love with Namjoon?! Does he know?!”

“Raquel sure thought so.”

“And was she wrong?”

“You and Jungkook boyfriend-girlfriend now?”

“Hey now.”

Yoongi snickered, “Yeah, maybe we’ll trade answers someday.”

“Maybe tomorrow morning? See you at breakfast?” Alex giggled. She wasn’t even embarrassed by her bawdry joke; she laughed at Yoongi’s surprised face. “Come on, that was objectively funny.”

“Eh.”

“It was! Me? With that kind of an ego? Us, exes, winding up with roommates? Oooh that would be so good, you’re such a good cook, just like Seokjin was–”

“Goodbye, Alex,” he said bluntly, but he was laughing at his phone as she stood up and looked around, feeling all her energy restored. Ready for another round of wedding. She could go all night at this rate. This was fun! Even unexpected closure and friendliness with Yoongi? What a great fucking night!

Where was Alex? Refrain of his night. If she wasn’t right against him, Jungkook was looking for her. He wanted to know where she was. He wanted to be able to reach her at any moment. Every kiss, every dance, every touch left him desperate for more.

The relief that came from being able to ground himself with her again was shockingly normal. He’d expected to feel awkward with her longer. A little nervous still, sure. But for all the anticipation he’d felt in the last few months at the thought of interacting with the girl he had a crush on, that girl was still Alex. Who made inappropriate jokes and kicked him when he teased her and scrunched her shoulders up exactly like he’d expected to when he kissed her neck after she’d asked him to. Alex who he could communicate with in a glance, and who made him laugh with a look, and swung between being the life of the party and then sneaking off for some alone time because it was too much.

Alex who had fucking shocked him to the core asking to go home with him.

And he’d said no!?!??

What the fuck was wrong with him?!

He was just in shock. He had hoped just to be near her tonight and instead they’d kissed and danced together and kissed more and then she brought up that and it just seemed like asking for too much. It made the evening veer into the unrealistic; this had to just be a dream, right?

Fuck, her little gasp when he’d kissed her neck. What had compelled her to ask for that? Of course he’d done it. God he wanted to hold her down and do it again, really make her gasp and squirm and cry out and cum–

Ok, he had not expected her to be so open and straightforward and just break his brain like this tonight. He was barely handling the dress! Be nicer to me, Alex. When did you get so mean?!

He ought to step back. He kept trying to put space so he could think rationally about the right thing to do. No short term thinking with Alex. He wanted the whole thing, the long term, the big picture with her. No just giving in to what he wanted to do when he had her in his grasp right now. He wanted to show he was mature and serious and respectful. She’d just had a breakup. He didn’t want to be a rebound.

Was she just on the prowl? Was that why she’d dressed so good and had so much confidence? She danced without abandon. She joined anything she was called to. She was clearly having a fantastic night and she had admitted she wanted to get taken home by someone and–

No, but she hadn’t said someone, she’d asked him to take her home and…

And, you know, fuck her. Alex. His best friend. Who he’d been longing to do just that to for months now.

Who even needed alcohol when a sexy woman in a velvet dress had you by the balls and you were standing there trying to decide whether to just let her or resist for some higher thinking…

Both? Could they really have both? She said she wanted both…

Fuck, this woman was driving him crazy!

Jimin’s brother and Taehyung had snagged him to get all the bags of eco-friendly confetti ready for people to chuck at Jimin and Ina’m to cap off the night. It was after two in the morning, and Jungkook was shocked at how many of the guests were still here. Even older guests! He overheard talk about moving the party somewhere else. Party to sunrise, apparently! Jungkook was exhausted after the work and emotions and and just everything of the day.

But as he shepherded guests past the table to grab the baggies and out to the circle drive where the limousine waited for In’am and Jimin’s ceremonial departure (they were staying at this hotel and would circle back after a drive around the city), Jungkook realized the night was coming to an end. Soon the wedding would be wrapped and he’d be free of groomsmen duties, free to go home, time to say goodbye to Alex and what, just hope all this stuck? That the next time they saw each other, she still wanted to kiss him? Was this his one opportunity and if he didn’t seize it, she’d be onto someone new tomorrow? It didn’t sound like Alex but neither did kissing him in the middle of the dance floor, neither did asking him to take her home and fuck her, neither did– this was just uncharted territory here. He didn’t know. He didn’t know what he was doing here! He just knew he couldn’t let her leave without some assurance that this had not all been a dream. He didn’t want the night to end ever.

“Everyone’s ready!” Taehyung called up the line from the circle drive to Jungkook, standing in the center of the path. Jungkook waved a thumb’s up to the hotel entrance to pass along to the newlyweds. He’d been looking for Alex to stand next to but couldn’t find her.

The shouting started and people began to throw the heart-shaped white confetti and shout and music played as In’am and Jimin came out of the hotel, hand in hand. Jungkook had to wedge himself in at the end of the sidewalk. He ripped his own cone of confetti open to toss, and in doing so, glanced directly across the path, where Alex stood with Sabina and Rebekah and Namjoon and Yoongi and maybe more of their friends, all shouting and throwing confetti but Jungkook really only saw Alex. It was like magic, seeing her big smile as confetti floated down between them and camera flashes went off and people shouted. He really thought time slowed down.

Yeah, there was no way he was going to remember Jimin’s wedding as the night he didn’t take Alex home. They didn’t have to have sex! They could eat junk food and play video games until the sun came up. They could pass out the second they got to his bedroom. He could sleep on the couch if she changed her mind. But he was going to drag tonight out for every second he could.

Alex had a fantasy of being the woman he took home? He’d be a fucking idiot not to make that come true.

So as soon as Jimin and In’am were in the limo, Jungkook darted across the path and grabbed her hand and dragged her back from the line of partygoers.

“It’s all in my hair!” she laughed, shaking her head, brushing it off her shoulders.

Jungkook brushed it out of her bangs and asked as casually and no-pressure as he could, “Hey, want to come home with me?”

Her eyebrows raised and he felt a moment of panic. Hadn’t she said that’s what she wanted earlier?! Shit! Shit shit shit!

“Really?” she asked, and crossed her arms –under her tits. “That’s how Jungkook Jeon gets women to go home with him? That’s your game? You sound so–”

“Huh? Wha– well but– yeah but I’m not putting moves on you,” he defended.

“Um, ouch.”

“You want me to put moves on you– but– but I already told you that you’re more than that–”

“Damn. How did you ever get laid?”

“I’m just trying to tell you that there’s no pressure to have sex or anything, you can just come over and we can get fries on the way home or something– stop making that face!” he laughed and covered his.

She shook her head and admitted, “My whole world is changing right now. Your instagram is nothing but lies! This is what your game was like in high school! I thought you turned into some superstar fuckboy since then–”

“Fine!” he huffed and turned away from her. His friends were making a point of not noticing them, he could tell. Other people were heading back into the venue to get their things, or going straight out to their cars.

He turned back, ready to say something good he’d think of on the spot.

Alex was gone. She had misunderstood! FUCK. She’d started to walk back inside. He ran after her, already laughing at his own stupidity. She must have expected he’d follow though because it was easy once he caught her hand to get her to stop walking, and easy to back her up against one of the columns lining the hotel walkway. She was so short, it was easy to rest his elbow above her head and lean in close and trace his fingers down the side of her face to tilt her jaw up.

“Oh,” she said.

“It’s time to go, babe,” he said. Her lips twitched. She was trying not to laugh. But that felt ok because she admitted,

“Damn, that’s pretty good…” And something about the way she swallowed made it seem more like she was nervous than that she thought he was ridiculous.

But then he started to laugh as he realized, “So uh, you got wheels we can use, babe?” The laughter erupted from her. She doubled forward, hands to his chest; he dropped his hands to her arms.

“You don’t have your car!”

“Jimin picked me up this morning!”

“So we can ride back with Namjoon!’

“He’ll get pissy if I’m fingering you in the back of his– shit, too much?”

“Oh.” Her eyes went very big.

“Uh… sorry, I don’t know what’s too much or what you think is funny–”

“I don’t either,” she admitted and he was so fucking endeared by her in the moment. He loved the glimpse of her honesty and uncertainty. It made him feel better about his own. “Just… as long as you aren’t like making fun of me–”

“No no, I’m not. Shit, I fucked it up–”

“No,” she said, grabbing his arm. “It’s good then. Um… treat me like one of your insta girls–”

“Absolutely not, I actually care about seeing you again,” he laughed. “But I will take you home with me and we can just see what uh, what happens.”

“I don’t have my car either though. I was planning to go home with someone.”

“Who?” he asked, obviously thinking she meant like Rebekah or something. She just raised her eyebrows. “Wha? Who? You better mean me…”

“Hm…”

“Alex…” He slid his arms around her and tried to drop his mouth to her neck but she was too quick lifting her shoulders with a squeal.

“Say it was me,” he demanded.

“Actually I was hoping Seychelle would be here–”

“Absolutely not.” He couldn’t suppress his laughter, “Can’t risk her converting you.”

“Exactly. I’m ready and willing–”

“Don’t say that in public,” he interrupted. “Wait until we’re home.” He winked at her, meaning it playful. But he saw the flicker across her face, where she wasn’t sure if he was joking or not.

Goddamnit. If Alex really wanted that, was he really going to tell her no? Especially when she’d just admitted she basically planned this. This wasn’t a drunk spur of the moment mistake. She’d come here so hopeful of him– really? This was really all on purpose? So then had she really dumped Hoseok for him? She left her car at home for him? Obviously she wouldn’t have been stranded completely if things hadn’t gone well but… but her hope in him made him bolder.

“So… you wore this dress for me too?” he asked, reaching out to finger the sleeve.

She made a face, “Um, I wore this dress because I look amazing in it.”

“Yeah, you do.”

“But maybe I was hoping someone would notice me in it.”

“Just anybody, huh?”

“Yeah, just anybody,” she grinned and giggled. It was the girliest he’d ever heard Alex giggle. If he’d been watching her act like this with anyone else, he’d known instantly she had a crush, it was so obvious. Her flirting was just so cute. “You know, going to a wedding alone, you never know who might be there, maybe you want to celebrate with someone afterwards.”

“Well then you’re lucky I noticed you before some other guy who uh, doesn’t know how to make eggs in the morning… or something… god, why do you keep laughing at me?!”

“I’m just nervous!” she laughed and hit his arm. “I’m not used to being on the receiving end of your game when you’re being serious about it! Well, I mean, you used to try to pull this kind of shit when you wanted something from me but… but it didn’t make me feel like this before!”

“Oh yeah? What do you think changed then?” He let go of her sleeve but realized she must be cold now, still standing outside without her coat.

“I don’t know! I guess… just… because it could go somewhere um different this time… I mean different than you just crying because I beat you in Smash again–”

“Don’t get too excited, I have been playing a lot of video games lately,” he warned. And slid his arm around her to pull her into his jacket and herded her towards the door.

“Yeah but I’m just innately better at it than you.”

“Uh huh. We’ll see… hey. You know even before all of this,” he mused, “you were always my favorite woman to leave with.”

“Wow.”

“What?”

“I don’t know, it’s kind of weird to hear you call me a woman instead of just girl or shrimp. Oh my god, does that mean you really have realized I’m a woman after all these years?!” She was teasing him, the teasing felt so good, he felt giddy all over again. And apparently when he got giddy he wanted to say raunchy things to get a rise out of her.

So he assured her quietly, “Oh I know you’re a woman, and whether it’s tonight or another night, I will be more than happy to wring every single orgasm from your little shrimp body–”

“There’s no way this is how you seduce women.”

“Yeah but it’s working with you, huh?”

She glared. He was too giddy to even take the kiss he wanted, just tapped her nose because she’d hate it and ordered, “Go get your coat, babygirl, I’ll get my things and– wait, how are we getting home again? Hey, Namjoon!”

He had to walk away quickly because calling Alex babygirl didn’t feel jokey, it felt new and exciting and yes still jokey but also heavy and intentional and now there was no reason he couldn’t call her baby anymore and he was just really excited and ready to get her home. If Namjoon wouldn’t stop for fries, maybe he could doordash some on the way…

Guess what this chapter is too long to fit in a single post so go here for Part B!

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