Archive of Our Own

Search

The bar was dim and smoky. Jimin adjusted his backpack and pulled his cap low over his forehead. He was exhausted after fourteen hours of travel. He felt eyes on him when he entered and it added to the dizziness in his head. He rooted around in his cross- body bag for the half-eaten chocolate bar and broke off a piece. He popped it into his mouth and felt better already although he knew it was only psychological because he hasn’t swallowed yet. Approaching the bar, he settled his bags around a stool.

“Please give me a tomato juice.” The bartender raised his eyebrows at the request and shrugged. He set a glass of tomato juice in front of Jimin with a smirk, perhaps a tad condescending. Jimin chugged half the glass and surreptitiously scented the air. The small bar stank mostly of Alpha and Omega pheromones. He could detect a few beta scents in the mix, faintly threading through. Jimin tried not to breathe too deeply. He checked on the exit a couple of times until finally Adisa, his colleague appeared. He waved to catch his attention and Adisa quickly made his way to Jimin. He divested himself of his back pack with an exhale of relief. “I’ll have a whiskey. The best you got.” Adisa murmured from Jimin’s side. The bartender smiled as if to say now that’s what you order at a bar. Jimin snorted under his breath, annoyed.

“Here comes the entertainment” a loud drunk voice hollered from one of the tables and guffaws of laughter hooted through the crowd. Jimin shook his head in exasperation at Adisa. “They must have had barrelfuls to be this drunk.” Wolves did not get drunk easily.

“Yeah well ignore them.” Adisa sipped his whiskey. Jimin did not know if he admired or was irritated at Adisa’s indifference to the overt chauvinism that the omegas were especially subjected to. It pissed him off.

An Alpha approached them from one of the tables. “What are two pretty wolves like you doing in a bar like this?” His eyes were however focused on Adisa.

“What’s a big bad Alpha like you doing in a small bar like this?” Adisa asked in return, fluttering his eyelashes. Jimin suppressed a chuckle. The Alpha looked momentarily tongue tied.

“I’m Zane.” He introduced himself eagerly, recovering.

“Hello Zane” Adisa said with fake coquettishness and the bar seemed to catch fire.

“And who are you?”

I’m Adisa and this is Jimin.” Adisa motioned his hand towards Jimin and Zane did not even pretend to glance away from Adisa.

“A pleasure to meet you.” Zane puffed his chest out and Jimin observed him covertly. He was goodlooking in a brutish sort of way. “I work at the mining operation in the main island.”

Jimin finished his tomato juice and turned his attention away from Adisa and Zane, bored by the interaction. He checked his watch. The pilot was supposed to meet them fifteen minutes ago. He asked the bartender for a glass of orange juice. The bartender poured his drink from a can mumbling about losers who won’t order alcohol at a bar. If Jimin wasn’t so exhausted he would have politely told the wolf off. Right now he couldn’t bring himself to care. He turned fully on his stool, giving his back to the bartender and faced Adisa and Zane again. Adisa was a stunning omega and during all the time he has known Adisa there was never a moment when some wolf was not salivating over him. Zane wasn’t faring well. His cheeks were already ruddy.

“We are part of the environmental damage assessment team.” Adisa was telling Zane when Jimin tuned in. Zane’s expression instantly turned sour.

“Are you the nutjobs trying to close us down?” He asked angrily.

“Whatever do you mean, Zane?” Adisa asked wide eyed, playing a dumb wolf down to the pat.

Zane did not look convinced though he seemed to be caught up in the Omega’s simpering eyes.

Jimin had enough. “We aren’t trying to close anyone down. We are doing a study on the marine life and the rising temperatures in the ocean. Not everyone is out to get your job”

“Don’t talk down to me.” Zane snarled snapping his gaze to Jimin.

“I merely explained what we are here for. Are all the Alphas in this bar so touchy?” Jimin asked lazily.

“A beta like you wouldn’t know how touchy an Alpha can be.” Zane said with a small cruel smile around his lips.

“And I thank the moon goddess for it everyday.” Jimin smirked. If this lunkhead thought he had insulted Jimin, he couldn’t be more wrong. Zane looked like he was spoiling for a fight. Jimin was so fucking tired.

“You fucking tree huggers.” Zane spat.

Jimin eyed the exit itching to get out. He was suffocating from the many scents and this Alpha’s rancid hostility.

“Why is the pilot so late?” Jimin asked rhetorically to Adisa.

“I’m talking to you.” Zane interrupted, snapping a finger right in Jimin’s face.

“I’m done talking to you.” Jimin told him calmly.

“We are done when I say we are.” Zane’s veins stood out in his neck.

“Get them Zane” Someone shouted and the idiot preened.

“Listen Zane…”Adisa began.

“Stay out of this doll.” Zane condescendingly waved him away.

“Who are you calling doll” Adisa bristled.

Jimin straightened on his stool, looking to diffuse the situation. “We don’t want to pick a fight. Please leave.”

“Well, you should have thought of that before you insulted me.” Zane responded aggressively. Jimin could sniff out his scent now amidst the others. It was making him antsy. He sighed. “I did not insult you. You approached us first and I’m asking you to leave us alone.”

“The fuck I will. You think you can walk in here, among us hard working wolves with your fancy degree and tell us how to do our job? Or take away our jobs?”

Jimin flinched when drops of saliva from Zane’s vitriol hit his face.

“Take it outside.” The bartender warned.

Zane laughed at the bartender’s words. “You think this beta could take me?”

Jimin finished his juice and placed his glass on the counter. He calmy unclasped his watch and gave it to a frowning Adisa. “Jimin don’t” Adisa held his wrist.

“Let’s go.” Jimin said to Zane with a head tilt.

“Jimin…The fuck?” Adisa hissed.

“Your funeral motherfucker” Zane tossed out before heading towards the exit.

“Hey.” Jimin pried Adisa’s fingers off his wrist. “Trust me. I’ll be fine. He is not going to let us go without some sort of physical altercation and I want to do this while I’m able” He removed his cap and tossed it on the counter.

“But your blood sugar.. You haven’t checked it yet..” Adisa tried to stop him but Jimin was already striding towards the door. “Fuck.” Adisa cursed and grabbed Jimin’s bag and ran after him. A few interested patrons also trailed after them.

The air outside was chilly and Zane was jogging in place. “I thought you had chickened out and I had to go inside and drag you by your hair.” Zane leered.

Jimin said nothing. There was a small semi circle of wolves around them. Adisa looked worried and Jimin in turn tried to not worry about Adisa. He needed all his concentration to be on himself. He kept his body loose, and his feet planted firmly on the ground. Zane eyes changed colour to a very light brown and he ran at Jimin without warning. Jimin managed to duck the first punch and rammed his knee into the wolf’s gut before slamming his foot on Zane’s knee. The Alpha went down with a scream, clutching at his right knee. Jimin stepped back. The crowd murmured. Zane staggered to his feet, wary now. He shook his right leg a couple of times. It was a matter of pride now for the alpha. He threw himself at Jimin with a bellow of rage. Jimin used the Alpha’s momentum to flip him over and around, slamming him to the ground. Dropping on one knee, Jimin punched him two times in the face in rapid succession and jumped lightly to his feet. Zane stayed down, groaning in pain.  Jimin’s eyes darted around the crowd anxiously. A couple of wolves looked like they were going to have a go at Jimin. Adisa shifted from foot to foot nervously. Jimin knew he was fucked if he had to take on one more fight. He was feeling light headed and needed to eat carbs immediately. Jimin caught Adisa’s eye giving him a sharp nod, turning swiftly away from the circle of onlookers. Adisa joined Jimin and they headed back inside.

“I need to test my blood sugar.” Jimin whispered, jamming the cap on his head. He pulled the bill low over his forehead.  “I’m seeing double.”

“Shit Jimin. I told you leave it be. Let’s check your levels and leave” Adisa complained as he took out the portable glucose meter from Jimin’s bag and handed it to him. Jimin pricked his index finger and massaged it until a drop of blood formed. He touched the edge of the test strip to the drop of blood and checked the meter. The screen flashed a 68. Adisa peered into the machine and waved a protein bar at Jimin. “Eat this right now” he commanded.

Jimin tore the wrapper and crammed a large piece inside his mouth, chewing slowly. “May I have a glass of water?’ He asked the bartender through the mouthful. The bartender slammed a glass in front of him ungraciously. Water sloshed over the glass and spilled on the counter.

“Jimin. They are coming in.” Adisa tugged at the edge of Jimin’s shirt. Sweat broke out on the nape of Jimin’s neck, trailing down the middle of his back.

They both watched the door, bodies stiff with tension. Jimin’s knuckles turned white from the grip he had around the glass.  Zane limped in supported by another wolf. Jimin stuffed the rest of the protein bar hurriedly, cheeks bulging. Behind Zane and the other wolf, another walked in. The stranger scanned the room, eyes passing over Jimin and coming to rest on Adisa.

“C’mon let’s leave” Adisa urged and Jimin could smell fear rolling off from him.

The newcomer walked in a slow sprawl towards them, eyes gleaming in a way that Jimin had seen a million times. He resisted the urge to scoff and studied the wolf. He was lean and tall with short black hair. A slightly large nose and big eyes. His eyebrows were thick and fierce looking. His lips were thin but in that perfect shape that one saw only on models. He was dressed in all black and his feet were encased in heavy brown shoes. The type that looked like they could crush Jimin’s sternum in one go. He was goodlooking for sure and even from the distance he could make out that the wolf was an Alpha. Zane and his friend disappeared from their sight, behind the new comer and Jimin exhaled in relief.

He turned to Adisa. “Entertainment’s here.” he said trying to summon a smile through bulging cheeks, seeking to ease the tension.

“About damn time.” Adisa agreed, looking back at the stranger with hungry eyes. They were eye fucking each other. Jimin felt a prickle of annoyance. He swallowed the last of the protein bar and drained the glass of water. He wanted to look away from the Alpha approaching them, but he failed.

“You must be the wolves I’ve been looking for.” The stranger said in a slightly accented English. His eyes were still on Adisa and only on him. Jimin was offended. It was like he was invisible.

“Your whole life?” Jimin quipped sarcastically.

“Just the last five minutes.” The wolf’s brow rose in amusement and he finally looked at Jimin. The weight of those dark eyes rendered him blank and tongue tied. The Alpha quirked one eyebrow and Jimin made himself think.

“I’m gutted.” Jimin mustered a droll reply with a hand over his heart.

“I’ll bet.” The wolf chuckled. “You must be Dr. Afebel and Dr. Park?”

“Yeah we are. I’m Jimin Park. Are you the pilot?”

“Yep.” The Alpha nodded.

Jimin felt exhaustion seeping into his bones. Thank god. He would have hugged the wolf.

“I’m Adisa.” The omega held out his hand.

“Jeon Jungkook. Jungkook is my first name” he clarified and bent to kiss Adisa’s hand. “Nice to meet you Adisa.”

Jimin gave into the urge and rolled his eyes. “I’m going to the bathroom.” Neither Adisa or Jeon Jungkook acknowledged his statement, busy checking each other out. Jimin sighed. He rose to his feet and moved towards the restrooms. He swung the door open into a small room with two urinals and three stalls. There was one wash basin with a mirror over it. The wash basin appeared to be clogged with some vile looking liquid. Jimin shuddered and hurried to the urinal. Bladder emptied, he approached the basin with nose scrunched up. The liquid in it was draining and he turned the tap with the tip of his fingers, watching himself in the mirror to avoid the basin. Another face appeared in the mirror and he turned swiftly.

“You watch yourself out there.” Zane whispered, tone low and serious. An Alpha, presumably his friend, lounged at the door. 

“Are you back for another sample?” Jimin crossed his arms refusing to be intimidated. Zane stepped very close to Jimin. The other wolf at the door straightened and Jimin glanced at him. The tension was palpable in the air.

“I came to give you a sample.” Zane countered. His friend slipped behind Jimin and held his arms in a vice like grip. Zane drew his fist and punched Jimin square on his cheek bone. Jimin’s head snapped back dislodging his cap. He muffled a cry of pain.

“The world is a dangerous place. Wolves disappear.” Zane sneered and squeezed Jimin’s jaw in a tight grip. “Do you understand?” He let go and patted Jimin’s cheek. “Take care.” Zane said and he and his friend strolled out of the bathroom. Jimin touched his aching cheekbone with trembling fingers and picked his cap off the floor. For long seconds he did not move, shaken by the encounter. He turned slowly to the mirror and examined his face. A bruise was forming.

“At least it did not bleed.”  He said aloud to himself and jammed the cap on his head.

“What did not bleed?”

Jimin jumped at the sudden question, his adrenaline already high from the encounter with Zane. His heart was beating so fast that he feared the other wolf would detect it.

“Are you okay?” Jungkook asked, stepping forward.

“I’m fine.” Jimin automatically stepped back.

“You said you are going to the bathroom and you were gone for fifteen minutes.” Jungkook kept walking towards him and Jimin did not like it.

“Didn’t think you noticed.” Jimin tried to circle around him, but Jungkook stopped him with a firm grip on his shoulder.

“Your scent is off.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can smell two Alpha wolves strongly on you and it doesn’t seem pleasant.” Jungkook answered with a frown.

“Yeah well I got into a fight earlier.” Jimin admitted.

“Adisa just told me about the fight. Which is why I came to check on you.” Jungkook glanced around. “Did something happen here?”

Jimin hesitated a beat, unsure if he should share.

“Tell me.” Jungkook said and it was strangely compelling. Jimin relented.

“This Alpha who works for the mining operations, Zane.. He went nuts on us when we said we are here for an environment assessment.”

“Is that all?” Jungkook inquired. His voice was low and hypnotic and his eyes were fixed on Jimin. But Jimin’s eyes were everywhere but on Jungkook.

Jimin took a couple of deep breaths. “He came to warn me.”

“And?”

Jimin was flummoxed. Why did Jungkook think there was more? He raised his eyes to look at him and he couldn’t breathe. Jungkook was close, too close. Too solid. Too Alpha. His scent was strong but Jimin could not make out the exact notes of it. There were too many scents swirling around and he was still in shock.

“He punched me.” Jimin said in a shameful whisper.

“Where did he punch you? Are you okay?” Jungkook leaned into Jimin, trying to see him under the bill of his cap.

“I’m fine. He punched me on my cheekbone.” Jimin lowered his head.

“Let me look.” Jungkook touched his cheek and Jimin jerked away. He did not like the heat Jungkook’s touch brought. He felt claustrophobic, caught in a bind by too many emotions and exhaustion.

“I’m heading out.” Jimin jogged out of the restroom, pulling the bill of his cap lower.

“What took you so long?” Adisa complained.

Jimin shrugged. “Just…”

Adisa’s eyes narrowed and Jimin deliberately looked away. Jungkook joined them seconds later.

“We should go.” Jimin said pulling out his wallet to settle the tab. He placed a couple of bills and told the bartender to keep the change. Jimin slung his cross-body bag and picked up his back pack from the floor. Adisa already had his back pack secured over his shoulders and he was laughing at something Jungkook said. Jungkook was smiling at Adisa.

Jimin’s stomach churned unpleasantly and it was belittling to recognize that Jimin was jealous. Everyone fell for Adisa and jealous was not the sort of wolf Jimin wanted to be. He abruptly went towards the exit without saying a word. He felt much better out in the fresh air. Footsteps behind him indicated that Adisa and Jungkook had followed him out but the sound receded. He stopped not knowing which way to go and felt foolish for stalking out like some betrayed protagonist of a 1950’s movie. He turned to look for them. Jungkook and Adisa were standing a few feet away.

“Why did you stop?”

Jimin grit his teeth.

Jungkook smirked.

Adisa grinned.

“Which…” Jimin cleared his throat. “….which way?”

“Glad you asked.” Jungkook walked in the opposite direction with Adisa keeping up by his side. Jimin followed them meekly. He had a tiny suspicion that Jungkook was laughing at him and Adisa was in on the joke. Jungkook’s back was as alluring as his front. It was really ridiculous that Jimin was acting like a pubescent hormonal wolf. Getting all jealous and flustered. The foolish, obscene twist of jealously in his gut was simply further evidence of the ridiculousness of the situation. And over an Alpha..Jimin thought with disdain. The fuckers thought they are superior just because biology favoured them a little. He halted that train of thought even as it sprung up. He did not like stereotyping but here he was, reduced to doing exactly that. He knew that good Alphas existed. His mama was living proof of that. Thankfully, the launching pad came into sight because he was getting sick of the words flying inside his head  He should be used to getting treated like he was invisible by now and most of times he did not care. This time was not it. Jungkook got on his nerves.

When they neared the bright red Bell 206, Jungkook asked for their backpacks and other bags. He shoved Jimin and Adisa’s bags into the backseat.

Adisa climbed into the backseat. “I feel safer in the back”.

“I have a fear of heights.” Adisa explained at Jungkook’s questioning look.

Jimin could not make out if Jungkook was disappointed. He wavered indecisively and moved to join Adisa in the back as well but Jungkook tapped Jimin’s arm and motioned for him to get into the passenger seat in the front.

He climbed in to the front seat sans protest. Maybe because he was exhausted. Maybe because he did not want to be invisible. But mostly because he was rattled by the long travel and then the fight and he wanted to feel safe. How Jungkook fit into that, he did not know.

***

Jimin’s skin was tinged with grey and he seemed lost and disoriented. Jungkook fought the urge to comfort him. He focused his mind on the task at hand and asked his passengers to strap on their harness. He handed over ear protectors before going around the helicopter, doing a visual check. Satisfied, he turned his attention back to his passengers. He first checked on Adisa and pulled the harness and adjusted the seat belt. “Wear the ear protector” he prompted Adisa and the omega obeyed, holding his gaze with a look that burned across his groin. He shifted uncomfortably. The omega was something else. He quickly shut the rear door and moved to the front. Jimin was staring off into space. He hadn’t strapped his harness. Jungkook leaned over him and pulled the seat belt across Jimin’s chest. Jimin’s fingers fumbled with his. “I can do it.” Jungkook ignored him and clicked the belt in place. He then picked up the ear protector and placed the cups gently over Jimin’s ears. Jimin held his wrists. “I can do it” he repeated more firmly.

“Will be quicker if I do it.”

Jimin let his wrists go. His cheeks glowed at their proximity. Jungkook pretended not to notice. Their breaths mingled intimately in the cool air. Jungkook would be lying if he said he wasn’t intrigued by the beta. He smelled like burning sugar, caramelly. Like the burnt layer of sugar on top of a creamy crème brulee. It was a scent different from Omegas. It did not have layers to it. It was singular. Jungkook took a deep breath of Jimin in despite himself.  Jimin did not elicit an immediate physical reaction like Adisa did.

“The protector is in place.” Jimin said softly. Jungkook realized that he had been holding the cups with his palms and was leaning unconsciously into Jimin.

“Right. I was making sure it was secure.” Jungkook whipped his hands away and shut the door. He climbed in and did all the pre flights checks and the range check. He checked the fuel pressure, boost pumps. All good. He pressed the start button and opened the throttle. Next were the navigation systems before bringing the engines upto operating speed. When they took off into the air he heard Jimin make a small sound. He looked sideways at Jimin but the cap was pulled low over his face and he couldn’t make much of his expression.

“You okay back there?” He asked Adisa to break the silence that built up thick and fast.

“Yeah. A little cold.”

“There are blankets next to you.”

“You should use a blanket too.” Jungkook suggested to Jimin.

“I can take the cold.” Jimin muttered. “I was born in winter.”

Jungkook shrugged. If Jimin wanted to be cold, it was on him.

They flew over several small islands, valleys and ocean. His passengers were mostly silent save for an exclamation or two about the beauty of the earth below.

“We are ready to land.” Jungkook spoke. He lowered the helicopter gently into the wind, onto the landing circle. He started the shutdown process and relayed instructions to Jimin and Adisa.

“You can get out now. Do not go near the rear of the aircraft. Be careful of the rotors. They can take your head off…”

Jimin started to get out with the headphones still on his head. It pulled and he jerked, cap flying off. Jimin gasped in surprise, clutching his head and Jungkook got slammed in the gut at his first good look of Jimin. There was a bruise blooming high on his cheekbone and there were dark circles under his eyes. Their eyes met. Jimin averted his gaze and shifted. Jungkook leaned over and grabbed his wrists. His bones felt delicate within his grasp.

“The rotors.. Be careful.” Jungkook repeated loudly.

“Yeah, got it. Thanks.”

He let Jimin go.

Jimin rubbed his wrist as he headed around the front of the aircraft. Jungkook purposefully turned to Adisa who had just exited the aircraft. He watched the omega, enjoying the view. But he found himself watching Jimin out of the corner of his eye. Just as carefully. Just as avidly. With every breath.

***

Jimin placed the syringe and the vial of long-lasting insulin on the bed. Dawn was just breaking. There was the sound of ocean all around him and he tasted the tang of sea salt on his tongue. He had crashed on the bed last night without brushing his teeth which for him was an anomaly. His mom teased him that even if the world was ending, Jimin would welcome it only after brushing his teeth. He looked around the tiny shack. The floor was made of wooden logs and the walls and roof out of bamboo interwoven intricately. A hermit crab skulked in the corner trying to find a way out. He swung his legs to the floor, stood and stretched with a yawn. He could feel grains of sand under his feet as he went on his rescue mission. He picked up the crab and pushed the door open to set it on the sparse grass growing on the sand.

“You are free” he croaked and watched it scuttle away rapidly.

The ocean looked dark as his surroundings. A full bladder took him to the attached bathroom. There was a sink with a mirror, a toilet and a showerhead. The bathroom’s floor was plain sand and open to the sky. The fronds of a tall coconut tree loomed over the top. Jimin splashed water over his face before heading back to the bed. He left the front door open to let the salty breeze and breaking dawn inside. He called his parents and mama picked up.

“Jimin! Wait I’m going to put you on the speaker.”

“Hi..Hi..” His parent’s voices tangled brightly with each other and he laughed.

“Hi guys.”

“Reached there safe?”

“Yeah mama. This place is so beautiful. I’m staying in this tiny shack by the sea. It’s lovely.”

“Did you check your blood sugar?”

“I did.”

“Jimin please take care. We will be worried.”

“I will mom. I have survived this far, no?”

“Don’t joke about your health.”

Jimin sighed. His parents could usually joke about his health but the distance probably made them worry.

“How are the hens?” he asked to lighten the mood. “I don’t see any visible injuries on you”

“Jimin!” Mom gave a dramatic gasp. “Clover is terrifying”

“The other day, she ran out of the coop screaming“ Mama giggled.

Jimin laughed along. “Did not peg you to be to coward”

“Who are you and what did you do with my rice cake?” Mom demanded. “Why are you taking her side?”

Jimin felt a tug of tenderness towards his parents. It has been years since they called him rice cake.

“I love you both so much.”

“We love you too.”

“I need to go now. You guys take care.”

“You too Jimin.”

“I’ll call you during the weekend. Bye.”

He hung up and looked outside. The sky was lightening. He rolled up his shorts on his right leg and filled a syringe with the insulin. He checked for bubbles, tapping it lightly and propped up his leg on the bed. He heard someone at the door and before he could even process it, Jungkook barged in.

“What the hell are you doing?” He grabbed Jimin’s wrist and wrenched the syringe from his fingers.

Jimin’s jaw dropped. “What do you mean what am I doing? What are you doing?” He lunged for the syringe but Jungkook held it over their heads, out of reach.

“Give it back!” He jumped to his feet and stood on his tiptoes, trying to reach for it. His body pressed against Jungkook’s and Jimin could feel the heat of his skin. And for the first time since they met, Jimin could detect his scent. It was like a forest in bloom. That green scent that forests exuded, tinged with blooming flowers. His head spun and he stepped back. The back of his knees hit the edge of the bed.

“Give it back” he demanded quietly.

“What is this?’ Jungkook waved the syringe over his head. “Are you taking drugs?”

Jimin sat on the bed and took a fortifying breath. “I was about to inject myself with insulin.”

“You have diabetes?” Jungkook jerked back as if Jimin was contagious.

“I have type 1 diabetes and you cannot catch it.” Jimin snapped as he got on his feet and tried to reach for the syringe again but Jungkook backed away.

“The fuck are you doing?” Jimin asked, frustrated.

Jungkook’s eyes were wide. “Shouldn’t you have informed me this when we first met? How irresponsible and reckless of you.”

“What? Should I have said I’m Jimin and I have diabetes?” Jimin asked sarcastically.

Jungkook narrowed his eyes not appreciating the sarcasm. “You have type 1 diabetes and you fail to inform me. What will happen if you go into a coma? Should I fly you to the hospital? Should I be watching out for you everyday?”

Cold rage curled Jimin’s fists. “You are not responsible for me.”

“Yeah? Think again. I don’t want the burden. What if something happened in the middle of a dive? I’m supposed to accompany you on dives!”

“You asshole. What the hell do you want me to do? Sit around and wait to die?” Jimin hated this. He was not defined by diabetes and he was disciplined. Hell if he would allow some alpha he has just met brand him a burden. “I know how to take care of myself. I have been doing so for more than fifteen years.”

Jungkook did not look impressed or maybe he did not care.

“I did not know you were going to accompany us on the dives.” Jimin tried to rein in his temper and explained.  “I planned to inform the crew before the dives.”

“Before the dives? Are you crazy? How do you expect the crew to function properly with last minute announcements?”

Jimin had enough. “I’m not going to discuss this further with you right now.”

“Like it or not I’m responsible for your safety.”

“I did not know. I thought you were just the pilot.”

“I was in the army, special forces.” Jungkook said dismissively.

Of course. It had to be the Special forces, Jimin thought sourly.

“Give me the syringe and leave.”

Jungkook stood still like a rock.

Jimin planted his hands on his chest and shoved.

“The syringe..” Jimin held out his palm. Jungkook caught his wrist and placed it carefully in his palm. The plastic was warm from his fingers. Jimin raised an eyebrow at Jungkook and tilted his chin towards the door. Jungkook looked like he was in a stupor and did not react. His nostrils flared.

“Fine.” Jimin huffed and rolled up his shorts again and injected himself efficiently on his thigh. Jungkook winced.

“Enjoyed the show?”

Jungkook’s dark eyes glittered and his jaw was locked tight.

“The freak show is over. You can leave.”

There was only the sound of waves receding and churning along with Jungkook’s thrumming heat and then suddenly Jungkook was not there. The air Jungkook left behind carried his scent and Jimin began to tremble. There was a billowing whiteness in him, unsullied and inviolate.

It unspooled around him.

***

His skin prickled and bubbled with heat and temper. He stomped blindly towards his shack, thrumming with excess energy. He still could not believe that Jimin did not inform him about his health issues at the outset. It agitated and disturbed him, tore at his insides and he wanted to run into the waves to cool off. He was out for a run when he noticed Jimin on his bed through the open door. He had a syringe in his hand and Jungkook had reacted without a second thought. 

Fucking stubborn beta.

Fuck you too for running past his shack. 

He did not understand it but he was furious. Furious at Jimin, furious at himself.

Adisa stood near this door, watching his angry movements and greeted him with a flirty smile.

“What’s got you in such a tizzy?”

“I’m not in a mood to talk.” Jungkook said through gritted teeth.

“We can do something else.” Adisa offered.

“What if I refuse?”

“Your loss.”

Jungkook grabbed the omega by his hand and pulled him inside his shack in reply. His lungs were full of Jimin, even as he tried to lose himself.

***

The room reeked of sex and omega slick and Jungkook couldn’t stand it. He had requested Adisa to leave immediately after their frantic coupling. Frantic on his side at least. The sex was good but it did not distract him from his disturbed heart. He pulled on his shorts and jogged out, needing to escape. Jimin scared him. Something about him supercharged his blood and made him yearn for things he hasn’t thought about until then. In the distance, the surface of the sea bulged upwards and shattered on the sandy shore in a spray of white. Standing at the border where ocean met land, Jungkook was acutely aware of the insignificance of life, that lives are actually no more than brief instants felt with clarity.

He wanted caramel. He wanted to taste Jimin’s skin to find out if it was made of sugar. He wanted to know if Jimin would melt on his tongue. He wanted that for his brief instant of life. He did not know what he wanted.

He dug his toes into the sand and let the ocean swirl around his feet. The salty air kissed him and he closed his eyes and searched for that elusive hint of sweetness in it.

Lost

We lose things, things that cannot be returned.

When the red flowers bloom over the branches, then we shall meet. Then we shall meet

“Go!” Jisu called as her arm fell through the air in a signal and Jimin was over the edge, disappearing into that sea, so blue, so green, the water a liquid gem closing over him. It was so quiet. Jungkook was already near the sandy bottom. Jimin regulated his breathing, inhaling through his mouth from the regulator and exhaling slowly. Bubbles floated past his mask. Light fell in shafts and then diffused, the water turning dimmer and more opaque and suddenly cooler. A school of tiny silver fish scattered before him like sparks. Jungkook’s limbs were luminous against the ocean floor. He felt the water shift as Adisa dove in and turned to see him silhouetted against the clear, wavering ceiling of the ocean, a wide steam of bubbles in his wake. Jimin let himself fall through the water, blowing out forcefully every few minutes to clear the air pressure building up in his ears. He remembered his first dive into these waters. He had waited on the boat with his mask on, struggling to breathe. It always happened to him. He felt very claustrophobic with equipment on. Adisa, used to it, ignored him. Jungkook tapped on his shoulder “Why are you gasping? Did you take your medicines? You said you had it under control!”

This was why Jimin did not like to reveal that he had diabetes unless absolutely required. Everyone saw diabetes first, beta next. Jimin was lost in-between all the labels. It seemed like no one ever saw him, just Jimin.

“This is not about diabetes.” Jimin explained patiently. “I am claustrophobic with the mask on. I’ll be fine inside the water.” 

“That makes no sense.”

“To you.” Jimin said scathingly, patience all gone.

“It’s true. Jimin is always this way. Don’t worry about it.” Adisa chimed in and only then Jungkook let it go.

And when Jimin immersed himself inside the ocean, his breathing slowed down, his heart calmed.

A manta ray flashed and glided along like a butterfly. In the ocean winds, Jimin drifted lower, examining damage at the base of the reef. He and Adisa set up instruments that would measure tidal shifts and currents. Then they spread about, collecting samples. Many of the corals looked bleached and Jimin worried about the temperature. The noise from the distant deep-sea mining would have also aided in turning the reef into a desert. He made a mental note to record noise the next time. He looked around for Jungkook and spotted him collecting trash from the ocean floor. It was insane how much trash accumulated from the world outside. Trash collecting Jungkook endeared himself to Jimin and if his mouth wasn’t bracketed around the regulator, he would have smiled. Forty-five minutes later he indicated to Adisa that he was going up and pressed the button to inflate the buoyancy control device to begin his slow ascent. Five metres below the surface he paused to acclimatise his body. Below him, Jungkook and Adisa have come together, their shapes blurring. Jimin removed his gaze from them, refusing to acknowledge the twinge in his heart. He broke the surface and looked up at the sky. A small dark cloud floated high above.

Where all could this small cloud shower rain? The whole world was thirsty.

When the birds return and fly around, and fly around in tranquillity, then we shall meet. Then we shall meet

Jungkook walked into the small open space littered with tables and chairs under the thatched roof where they ate their meals. Jimin was leaning over a table talking to Jisu who manned the boats. His hair was damp and hung over his forehead and eyes like straw. He laughed at something Jisu said, falling entirely over the table. He banged his elbow in the process and he held his elbow, jiggling in place, his expression a mixture of laughter and winces. His face was scrubbed fresh and he looked cute.

Shit.

Jungkook did not like the way he reacted to Jimin, especially after he had found out that he had Type 1 diabetes, as though he should be constantly watching out for Jimin. He looked around and the place was empty but for some of the crew and a few wolves from the mining company. Adisa was sitting with three Alpha wolves and all three seemed spell bound by him. He caught Adisa’s eye and he waved Jungkook over. He hesitated, not really wanting to get involved. More involved he corrected in his mind, afterall they had sex once. But Adisa seemed cool and he spoke to Jungkook very normally and did not bring up that early morning in the past two weeks. Jungkook decided to join them and pulled up a chair beside Adisa. The three Alphas visibly straightened their shoulders and puffed out their chests. Jungkook smothered a laugh at the display. He expected a little possessiveness that came naturally to an Alpha over omegas, especially omegas that he had sex with. But thankfully there was nothing and he was glad. He did not want complications. The conversation carried around him and Jungkook grew bored with the mindless flirting. His eyes were fixed on Jimin’s tight pert ass. He was leaning over the table again after his little jig with his elbow. His thighs were thick and solid. Jungkook was fascinated. He has noticed how muscular and fit Jimin was and though he preferred athletic bodies, none of the wolves he had been with were this fit. Jimin rivaled his own level of fitness and that was something. Adisa’s hand on his thigh drew away his attention and his body reacted. His mind was at odds with his body though. Usually, he would let himself enjoy the attention but now he was strangely reluctant. When Adisa’s fingers dug into the flesh of his thigh he cast his eyes questioningly at Adisa’s face. He looked tense and was staring straight ahead. Jungkook followed his gaze and saw Jimin disappearing with another wolf.

“I think that’s Zane.” Adisa whispered as if to himself and stood. Jungkook instantly stood up as well, scraping the chair back.

“You stay here. I will go and check.” The words came out more as a command than a request.

“No. I will go with…”

But Jungkook was already half way across before Adisa could finish his sentence. Jimin was standing close to the wolf in the darkness, about fifty feet away. He was gesticulating with his hands. The other wolf was partially hidden behind the trunk of a coconut tree. He closed the distance in a sprint, coming up behind Jimin. The other wolf, Zane, whom Jungkook could make out as an Alpha was unnecessarily close to Jimin. Jimin whirled around with a confused look. “What are you doing here?”

“What’s going on?” Jungkook asked.

“Who is this?” Zane smirked. “For all your tough acting shit you need an Alpha after all.”

Jungkook’s body tightened.

“Fuck off” Jimin said furiously.

Zane held up his palms in mock placation. “Sure. I saw you mucking about in our part of the ocean and wanted to talk to you. No harm in talking, is there?”

Jungkook crossed his arms. “It is not your ocean.”

“Stay out of this.” Jimin hissed at Jungkook. He jabbed a finger towards Zane. “You take care. I will be sending my reports soon to the pollution control board.”

Zane’s face darkened with hate. Jimin took angry steps away from the Alpha. Jungkook jogged to keep up. “What reports?”

“I was bluffing. We are doing an independent study and there is no report, atleast not immediately.”

“Why did you say that then?”

“What is this? An interrogation?” Jimin abruptly stopped and Jungkook tripped into him. Jimin steadied him with firm hands on his biceps.

“Why would you rile him up? You already got into a fight with him.” Jungkook continued undaunted.

Jimin sighed. “I was angry.” He turned his face away and caught the lights from the dining area nearby. He looked pale and his hands were shaking. Jungkook pressed his fingers to Jimin’s forehead and he jerked back with a scowl.

“Did you get enough to drink?” Jungkook asked. “You feel hot.”

“I’m fine.” Jimin batted his hand away.

“Did you eat? I don’t want you passing out on my watch.”

Jimin’s condition freaked Jungkook out and he didn’t know why. Except he did. Jimin had a vulnerability, a weakness, that could be fatal. He did not want the burden.

“Did you check your blood sugar?”

Jimin pressed his lips together in a firm line.

“Let’s go right now to check.” Jungkook grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the shacks.

Jimin resisted and Jungkook was forced to stop.

“You need to stop doing this.” Jimin said softly. “I’m trying my best to be patient with you, but you make everything about me into only one thing. Diabetes. It is tiring.”

“I don’t want the burd…responsibility.”

Jimin took a step back at his fumble with the words and Jungkook moved forward, involuntarily.

“Listen to me Jungkook. I am not your responsibility and I am certainly not a burden. Not yours, not anyone’s.” Jimin’s tone was still soft, but there was steel underneath.

Jungkook flinched. It did sound horrible, hearing the words coming out of Jimin’s mouth. He had not realized how carelessly he has been tossing those words around.

“I….” Jungkook was at a loss for words.

“Do you understand?”

Jungkook understood but he could not say yes. He could not dismiss it.

Jimin stared at him intently and then exhaled. He ran a hand through his hair and resumed walking.

“Where are you going?”

“To test my blood sugar.”

“I’ll come with.”

“No.”

“Yes.” Jungkook insisted. “What if that crazy Alpha came around?”

“I can handle him.”

“I know you can. But it seems like your blood sugar is low…” Jungkook petered off. Shit, he was making it about diabetes once again wasn’t he? But it was perfectly valid at the moment.

Jimin did not respond and they reached his shack in silence. Jimin opened the door and they stepped inside. “Sit wherever you want.”

Jungkook preferred to stand. He wanted to have a clear view of everything. Of Jimin, the meter, the syringe, the insulin.

Jimin pricked his finger and touched the test strip to the drop of blood blooming there. Jungkook looked away, uneasy but snapped his eyes back. He watched as Jimin inserted a strip into the meter and waited for the beep. Jimin muttered something under his breath and took out a syringe and another vial from the small cooler.

“What’s wrong?” Jungkook was alarmed.

“Nothing. This is normal.” Jimin huffed in exasperation.

“Why are you injecting yourself again? Don’t you do that in the morning?”

“This is short acting insulin.”

Jungkook picked up the vial. “Why the different types of insulin?”

It irked Jimin that he of all wolves thought to ask. No one usually did. It irked him because if he started to acknowledge how Jungkook was surprisingly attentive, he would not be able to protect himself.

“They work at different rates.” Jimin explained as he prepared the needle. Jungkook handed him the vial. Jimin pulled up his T-shirt and held the end between his teeth. He injected into his stomach and Jungkook winced. He has been witness to it many times already but he still winced every single time. He noticed something else, half falling out of Jimin’s bag. “What is this?” he asked pointing to the small packages.

“Emergency kits.”

“For?”

“In case I go into shock or the verge of coma.” Jimin’s voice was flat. Jungkook froze. He did not want to be reminded of the possibility.

“You have enough right?

“Can we not talk about this?”

“Ok.” Jungkook agreed easily. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Uh…nothing?”

“C’mon…Tell me more about yourself.”

“You will be bored. I’m very ordinary”

“You know, I only have a few Beta friends and not close either. How is that you wolves are so standoffish in general?”

Jimin did not reply. He was looking down and Jungkook wasn’t sure if he was ignoring him. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. He studied the slightly bent head. Jimin’s hair had dried and it was unruly and sticking out in all directions. Cute.

Not again.

“How is it that Alphas and Omegas gravitate towards each other?” Jimin finally spoke, gaze still on the floor.

“That’s.. that’s not true anymore” Jungkook’s reply sounded weak to his own ears.

“Knots and slick huh? And pups?”

“It’s…um…”

“Don’t knock yourself out, that was a rhetorical question. And you did not like the stereotyping, did you?” Jimin smiled.

“Touche” Jungkook conceded.

“I asked my parents this question. I was fifteen.” Jimin reminisced. “They were very honest with me.”

“How did they explain it?” Jungkook asked with interest.

“Do you really want to know?”

“Yeah.”

“They told me that in the wild, before we evolved, only Alphas could mate in a pack. And after we evolved, only omegas could bear pups. Evolution.”

Jungkook did not know what to say. 

“It makes sense right? I’m the last choice.” Jimin laughed bitterly.

“That’s not true.”

“Don’t…Don’t try to give me false comfort. I’m not a pup.” Jimin’s eyes flashed.

“You know the world has changed.”

“Oh please. Spare me the changed world talk. When you first met us, I saw you undressing Adisa with your eyes.”

“So what if I was? He is extremely attractive.”

“Right? Thank you for proving my point.”

“What point?” Jungkook threw up his hands in frustration. “What does that have anything to do with you? He is different. You are different. I don’t have to react to every wolf the same way.”

“it’s laughable coming from you. What do you know about getting rejected and passed over? You think with your knot.”

Jungkook set his teeth against the unexpected surge of irritation. As an Alpha, he was used to being pegged as this perpetually horny wolf with no control over his dick.

“Okay you want the truth? Yes! All that you said is true. Maybe that is why I haven’t slept with a Beta. How would they be able to take my knot?”

“You are right Alpha. The world revolves around your knot.” Jimin parried to conceal the hurt. He really should be used to it, but Jungkook’s words lanced him.

Jungkook looked shamefaced at his outburst. He did not know how they reached here. He was trying to be cordial and friendly and yet it turned on him. But he also did not like Jimin’s assumptions about him.

“What you said wasn’t fair. You don’t know me.” Jungkook said in a furious whisper.

“Which part Alpha? I said many things.”

Jungkook loathed the condescension in Jimin’s voice. He loathed the way Jimin addressed him as Alpha.

“About thinking with my knot.”

“You can act all self-righteous but you know you did. You hardly looked at me. If that wasn’t thinking with your dick, I don’t know what is.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“I think I should sleep with an Alpha to find out for myself. I would know then”

Something feral unwound in Jungkook’s gut.                               

“What makes you think you would find one. Didn’t you say you are always the last choice.” Jungkook wanted to hurt him, he wanted to make him feel the feral pain twisting in his stomach at the thought of Jimin sleeping with an Alpha. With anyone.

Jimin’s face turned to stone. “I’m still a choice Alpha. Fuck you. Don’t worry your omega infested head over this. I’ll find someone.”

How did they come to this point of cruel words? Jimin’s heart shriveled up a little.

“So, tell me Jimin. What are you into? Standard missionary or maybe slow sex? Or are you into bondage? Scarves and a four-poster bed?” Jungkook’s eyes glittered with muted anger.

The pulse in Jimin’s neck buzzed. An image of him on a four-poster bed, with Jungkook between his legs flashed in his mind.

“You would never know.” Jimin countered, just as angry. Their scents rose in the air along with something else. Something undefinable. There was a vague sensation Jimin has known as a pup and all through his life. Some stirring of seemingly unprompted emotion. He wanted Jungkook to see him, beyond all the labels he had. He needed to be the first choice for someone. He needed Jungkook to open his eyes. Beyond skin, bones and flesh. Into the darkness of his heart. What would it take? He felt desperate and shamed.  

“You would never know Alpha.”

Jungkook grabbed him by the hips and walked him backward to the closest piece of furniture, which happened to be a sturdy table. He pressed Jimin against it, sliding his left leg between Jimin’s instinctively. He smoothened a finger on his cheekbone, the one which was bruised when they first met. He pressed a gentle kiss on that spot. Jimin trailed his fingers on his cheek in the wake of the kiss and looked at Jungkook in a tangle of apprehension and disbelief.

Jungkook was acutely aware of the warm hands against the small of his back, moving uncertainly.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he whispered

“Like what?” Jimin whispered back

“Like you are afraid.”

“I’m not.” Jimin lied but his eyes did not. They were dark with concentration and fear.

“Don’t be” Jungkook pleaded. He cupped the back of Jimin’s neck, spanning it with his palm.

Jimin was afraid of falling. A graceless descent, an abyss beneath a careless step. He was disregarded and invisible too many times in his life to be careless.

“Did you mean what you said about me being the last…” Jimin had to ask. It was one thing when Jimin said that about himself and quite another to have someone else throw it in his face, even if it were his own words.

“No. I’m sorry.” Jungkook murmured and kissed his forehead.

“Ok..” Jimin exhaled. “Ok” he said again to reassure himself.

Jungkook dipped his head, Jimin’s features blurring in his sight as he met him halfway. Jimin’s mouth parted easily beneath his and he knew a sweetness as piercing as desire against his tongue. Sliding his hands lower, he flexed his fingers against Jimin’s firm ass before dragging the shorter wolf up his thigh. Jungkook bent his knee a little and rocked upward, grinding his thigh without apology against Jimin’s groin. Jimin broke their kiss with a sharp gasp, turning his face away. Jungkook took the opportunity to lick his way down Jimin’s throat. His pulse throbbed against the thin skin of his throat and Jungkook could almost feel the euphoric rise of it when he scraped his teeth over the spot. He sucked hard at the warm skin, not wanting to move away from his throat and that fluttering pulse. The shudder that he felt run through Jimin’s body when he pressed his fangs against the pulse beat made Jungkook groan. He slid one hand under Jimin’s Tshirt, caressing the warm skin over the waistband of his pants. His fingers found a dip over Jimin’s right buttock. Intrigued, he trailed his fingers to the left and found another dip there. Jimin shivered. Jungkook lost his mind over the discovery.

“You have dimples of Venus” Jungkook whispered against Jimin’s throat. Jimin’s pulse picked up and he tilted his head back giving Jungkook more room to mark him up. His palms curled into fists, grabbing handfuls of Jungkook’s shirt on his back. He arched against Jungkook, a quiet moan spilling from his mouth. Jungkook could feel Jimin’s cock throb through the thin barrier of their clothes. The heat there was impossible for him to ignore. He widened his stance a little, pushing Jimin’s legs farther apart. He worked one hand between them to palm Jimin’s cock, dragging his fingers down the growing shape of it. The strangled moan that Jimin tried to choke made Jungkook growl. His eyes flashed gold, changing from black.

“Don’t hold back. I want all your sounds. I want them all” he muttered as he slid the zipper of Jimin’s pants open. Jimin moved one hand to the back of Jungkook’s neck and drew him down in a messy, desperate kiss that lacked finesse. It felt more real. Jimin bit Jungkook’s bottom lip when he worked one hand into those stupidly tight pants and cupped Jimin’s cock through his underwear. He rubbed his hand against the growing hardness, ignoring the ache in his own groin as he kissed Jimin dirty and deep. Jimin froze when he heard the unmistakable sound of the door opening behind them. Jungkook broke their kiss with a guttural curse, lifting his head to take in wide dark eyes with dilated pupils and a blush that started at Jimin’s cheeks and ran down his throat to disappear inside his T-shirt. Jungkook wondered how far down the blush coloured his skin. Jimin’s scent was strong and it invaded Jungkook and made him dizzy.

Burning sugar. Caramel.

Fuck me. I’m so fucked.

“Busy” He threw shortly to whoever was at the door. He did not take his eyes off Jimin.

“I can see that.” Jisu said with an amused chuckle. Jungkook knew it was irrational of him but the thought of anyone seeing Jimin like this made his blood boil. He wasn’t exactly at his logical best. He shielded Jimin with his body as best as he could.

“Dinner’s ready.” She slammed the door shut, leaving them to an awkward silence.

Jungkook leaned back and reluctantly pulled his hand out of Jimin’s pants still focused completely on Jimin. Jimin cleared his throat. Trapped between the table and Jungkook’s warm body, he wished he could hide from that dark gaze. He swallowed nervously and looked away, trying to bring his pulse back in control. He focused at a point on the wall over Jungkook’s shoulder willing his breathing to slow down. But it was hard because with every breath he took, Jungkook was there. His lungs were full of the sharp scent of him. A blooming forest inside his body and there was no where to go, nowhere to escape.

“Shit. I didn’t mean for this to happen.” Jungkook ground out and Jimin felt the sting of those words. He closed off his expression, steeling himself.  Jimin had never gotten so hard, so quickly in his life and now he felt used. He stepped around Jungkook, needing to get away from the dark heated gaze and stinging words. He zipped up his pants and moved wordlessly towards the door and slipped out.

Jungkook did not stop him. He stood facing the table, utterly still.

When the sun turns water to gold then we shall meet. Then we shall meet

Jimin checked his blood sugar on the boat. He had eaten egg white sandwiches in preparation for the dive. He can never stay in the water for more than one hour. He waited for Jungkook to dive first. They had avoided each other’s eyes in the boat. Adisa went in next and Jimin followed. The sea that was limpid around his ankles in the shallows, was a dense blue now. A school of butterfly fish swam in front of him, silver and striped with dark gold, each moving like the pulse of a wing. He ran light fingers across bottle brush coral. The fronds, waving red, yellow and purple like exotic flowers, pulled inside leaving a stony, pitted brain. A rush of air, and some faint distant clicking, as if the coral was speaking. Adisa was running some tests. Jimin should go and help but today he could not. His eyes searched for Jungkook and he found him easily as if his optical nerves stretched and were attached to Jungkook. He was moving slowly along the ocean floor. Jimin hung suspended for a moment in that blue silence, watching Jungkook, isolated and yet bound to him, the water around them a living thing, embracing and sustaining. Jungkook turned his body in Jimin’s direction, bubbles floating about his face with every exhale of air from his body. They watched each other across the watery light. Fish shifted and moved, an array of dazzling shapes and colours, their scales so vivid, their puzzled and skittish yellow eyes.

A sweet pain pierced him, a phantom kiss on his once bruised cheekbone.

When the tears run down the cheeks and turn into pearls, then we shall meet. Then we shall meet

Jimin found a pebble on the beach as white and smooth as the curve of a moon. He brushed off the sand and placed it in his pocket. They were still avoiding eyes, Jungkook and him. Maybe Jimin could whisper the sea in his ears and dazzle him with the memory of sunlight flashing in the surface of the water. He heard laughter from the dining area carried across the sands to him. He learnt by accident that Jungkook and Adisa had sex. Made love.

How can love be made? Jimin wanted to know. Maybe his mama would know and explain it to him as she had when he went to her with questions as a pup. She answered every single one, never hiding, always unflinching.  

Jimin had gone to Adisa’s shack for their scheduled meeting. He rapped on the bamboo door and pushed it open. Adisa’s back was to the door and he was on the phone talking about the best sex he has had in a while.

“Jungkook’s knot was perfect. I orgasmed so hard that I did not even know my own name for a second.”

Jimin wanted to run out, discard those words and then walk in, fresh. New. But it will be useless. The past can be transformed but never discarded. Adisa turned his head towards Jimin, phone held against his ear. He looked uncomfortable. “I’ll talk to you later” he spoke into the phone.

“It was just once, the day after we came here.” Adisa confessed after hanging up. Guilt twisted his features.

Jimin was struck by a high lonely feeling.

“Why… are you telling me?”

“I don’t really know. There seemed to be something brewing between you and him and…I would never poach. You know that.”

“How good was it?” Jimin asked and clamped the palm of his hand over his mouth in shock, at the words that had slipped past his lips. “Sorry” he mumbled into his hand. “Sorry. It is none of my business.”

Adisa had acknowledged his apology gracefully and Jimin’s pain bloomed inside him.  

The thought of Jungkook and Adisa merging their bodies together haunted him. Jungkook chose the omega first.  It was foolish to feel wronged. It had happened before Jungkook kissed him and held him in his arms, giving him so much pleasure. His body sang with it and still carried the music of Jungkook’s touch and his changeable eyes. How could Jimin feel betrayed then? They had no hold on each other. Their eyes could not even meet. It was foolish to feel grief, ugly and clumsy, a clay pot heavy with water, a perpetual weight. If his heart was broken painfully and the shards fell around his feet that he had to take each step carefully, it was his own fault.

The wind bore the scent of forest along with salt and Jimin whipped his head around. Jungkook was standing behind him, near a coconut tree, one arm around it’s brown trunk. He was dressed in all black and the wind tossed his baggy t-shirt into a hundred fluttering leaves around him. He was perhaps looking at the ocean. Or at Jimin. But his gaze was hooded and Jimin knew that their eyes could not meet.

Jimin brought out the pebble into the fading light and touched fingertips to its smooth surface. If silence and pain were condensed into the smallest object, this is how it would feel. A bittersweet pain of yearning that traveled across the ocean that had embraced and accepted him, swelling like a dark sky against his throat.

Hidden

Hide everything, Hide your heart, hide your eyes. Hide what you cannot protect.

When the fire burns me inside, then we shall meet. Then we shall meet

When Jungkook opened his eyes, it was dark. He was sweating a little even though the air was cool and he was bare chested. The ocean sang in its continuous swell of waves. He had been dreaming of flashes of skin, of diving into a hot wet place. His cock throbbed and he shifted, bringing his knees up and planting his feet on the bed. His throat was parched yet water seemed so far away. He trailed a hand down his chest, stomach and into the waistband of his shorts to encircle his hardening cock with his fingers. He was frustrated. It was four weeks since he had sex. It wasn’t a particularly long time and he has gone without sex for much longer. It did not explain the sexual frustration and the burning need under his skin all the time. All the damn time. If he were honest with himself it began after he kissed Jimin. And after you touched him intimately, his brain supplied helpfully. Jimin scared him and confused him. There was always something or the other of Jimin going around in his head. It’s because you are worried.

No matter what Jimin said, he still felt responsible for him. He already regretted sleeping with Jimin’s colleague and he wasn’t looking to complicate things further. Adisa has been keeping away from him. He still spoke to Jungkook and was friendly but he did not make any more overtures. Not that Jungkook would have responded as hot as the sex with Adisa was. Maybe he should rub one out and get rid of whatever this was. He stroked his cock idly, trying to relive the pressure. He liked the feeling of being half hard. The feeling of slight swelling and heaviness in his balls. He closed his eyes and went through his memories for inspiration. He thought of how sweet slick tasted on his tongue, how it glided on his cock, how it eased the way for his knot. He thought of the multitude of scents, multi layered and delicate, each note revealing itself to heighten his arousal. He heard moans, sighs of pleasure, rosy lips pleading for him to go faster, harder. He loved the squelching sounds of sex, his knot coated with slick, making that obscene sound. He felt pre come travel up his cock, heading towards the tip. It spilled over and ran down the sides. He was not yet fully hard and that irked him. His desires finally demolished the stubborn wall of resistance in his mind and he gave in. It’s just for this moment. It doesn’t mean anything.

He imagined Jimin was watching him. Can you feel it Jimin? My cock is growing hard and moist. He could feel his eyes on him, on the slow strokes of his hand. His cock seemed to have a mind of its own, swelling further and more precome build up and ran alongside his throbbing cock to his balls. He shivered a little and cupped one hand under his balls.

What would you be thinking now Jimin? Watching me like this? Will you want to catch a drop on your tongue and paint your lips with it? Will you straddle me and bury me deep inside you? Or would you rather just watch the explosion that’s inevitable?

He thought about Jimin’s strong thighs and his long endless legs. He wanted to kiss his way down those legs. How many kisses would it take to reach your toes Jimin? Would I be kissing you forever? His stomach flexed when he thought of sucking Jimin’s toes. He let his gaze travel to Jimin’s flat stomach and chest. He wondered how Jimin would react if he licked and teased his nipples with his teeth. Jimin had beautiful clavicles and he imagined running fingers over the buttery soft skin. Has the blush from your cheeks traveled down your chest Jimin? Watching me like this? His eyes made an upward trail over the blush to Jimin’s throat and the maddening pulse. Jungkook felt his cock throb with every beat of pulse in Jimin’s throat. He wanted that pulse deep inside him, he wanted to devour it. He would mark up that skin. His ass lifted off the bed at the thought of Jimin carrying his possessive desire on his skin, for the world to see. For every Alpha, Beta and Omega who tries to touch you, who tries to even think of you. They wouldn’t dare. He wanted Jimin’s pulse so much to savour and protect. He wanted it beating always. He stroked a hand over the head of his cock and squeezed painfully. Would I feel like this inside you Jimin? The base of his cock started to throb. A knot was forming and Jungkook froze in shock, both physically and in his mind. He hasn’t popped a knot while masturbating in years and years. It was a common occurrence during the first few years after his puberty, but never after he started to have sex. He moaned softly as his knot grew in size. He felt dizzy with the pleasure that it brought, a steady ascent to bliss. He started stroking desperately, faster and faster. He saw Jimin’s windswept hair, the curve of his smile and eyes that scrunched up. Please Jimin. Please.

He did not know what he was begging for. Was it for release or for Jimin himself? It wasn’t enough. His skin sizzled and burned and it wasn’t enough. He squeezed his knot. Come on. Come on. Sweat prickled his stomach. He flung his head back into the pillow, exposing his neck to the salty air. Kiss me Jimin. Bite me. I don’t want salt. I want you, your sweetness. His other hand rolled his balls gently and then harder as if he could force the cum out of his throbbing balls. He saw Jimin’s lips hovering over his in a near kiss. The air between their lips could taste Jimin’s sweetness but not Jungkook. He parted his lips, sucking in air greedily so that he could take all of Jimin inside him. He wanted to steal Jimin from the air. But there was nothing and he made a whine of disappointment and pain. He did not know when his fantasy transformed so sharply into reality. What do I do? Jimin, please help me baby. It was as if only Jimin could bring him pleasure. Please release me from this, baby. He unknowingly slipped the endearment into his imagination.

Jungkook yelled aloud in frustration and sat up. His knot looked angry, red from being rubbed raw. Jungkook’s eyes were gold, his wolf taking over him. His skin was flushed and he trembled. He glanced at the door, mind half made up to go out and seek Jimin. The rational part of his mind tried to talk sense to him. It seemed a losing battle until his eyes fell on clothes folded neatly in a corner. It was from their dive yesterday and Jungkook realized that he had picked up Jimin’s briefs by mistake along with his. He staggered to his feet and lunged towards the pile. Meticulously folded clothes flew into the air and landed on floor until he reached what he wanted. He crushed one hand around it and hurried back to bed. He buried his nose in it and inhaled deeply. His cock moved in the air involuntarily as Jimin’s caramel scent finally hit the back of his throat. He moaned high and deep into the wadded up underwear, body twitching. He brought a trembling hand down to encircle his engorged cock once more. He wrapped Jimin’s underwear around his knot and stroked, moving the material up and down, just short of the tip. Precome flowed and soaked the material. He could feel it coming. There was no stopping and he did not want to stop. He could feel the cum surging up and yet orgasm eluded him and he realized what he wanted. He brought the underwear back to his nose. Jimin’s scent was mixed with his own and this finally released him. He could taste Jimin’s and his own essence together. He gripped the material to his nose tightly with both hands. His cock bobbed in the air and his knot swelled impossibly tight and then he exploded, untouched. The first spurt launched high in the air. His toes curled. He was unraveling and shattering in the only way possible with Jimin.

“Jimin…Jimin…” He moaned into the drenched underwear, Jimin's scent, him, with each successive spurt. He came for a long time, the force of his orgasm almost violent and edged with pain. When it was finally over, his belly, chest and balls were coated with his spent desire. He twitched weakly and his eyes teared up. He moved the underwear off his face, but still clutched it in one palm. He rubbed it against the semen on his flaccid penis, driven by a feral need to get inside Jimin. Somehow. Anyhow.

What was that? What the fuck was that?

All around him was the distinctive smell of their combined scents and he sank into the pillow and closed his eyes, too strung out and tired to answer his inner questions. Tears leaked from under his closed eyelids. They were tears of pleasure that soaked his pillow. He abruptly rose up and ran outside, naked, to the still dark world. He ran, kicking up sand in his path, until he reached the sea. His ears turned to indecipherable sounds of pain and anguish, searching for the source of the song as delicate as the wind in his ears, as haunting as light caught inside a jewel. He immersed himself into the waters and the sea cleaned him with her salty swirls. The semen from his genitals and body that were Jimin’s were now claimed by the sea. The tide was coming in and the waves pounded harder. Jungkook heard them all. Fire in a stone, a voice in the sea, a name on his lips.

***

Jimin tried not to think. He tried not to wonder, or question, or worry. Jungkook would not look at him at all. Even when he handed the oxygen tanks to Jimin, Jungkook did not look at him. Wolves were supposed to be good at living in the present, enjoying what they had. But Jimin could not help but think about the past along with the present. He saw how Adisa truly embraced his wolf. He should learn to do that too.

“Are you okay?” Jisu hunkered down next to him on the boat.

Jimin smiled. He knew he had smiled. He couldn’t not smile at Jisu, who was gorgeous and kind and just kept giving him things. Like protein shakes, sunscreen, towels. She tucked a few strands of hair behind his ears and snatched her hand away, embarrassed. He smiled again to reassure her.

“I’m fine. A little tired.”

“Should you do the dive then?”

At Jimin’s flat expression she hurried to explain. “I’m asking because you don’t seem to be present here.”

“I’m fine Jisu. Just thinking. That’s all.”

“Okay, if you are sure” she said.

Jimin noticed Jungkook looking their way from the corner of his eye and when he turned to fully look, Jungkook averted his gaze and acted as if he had never been looking. Jimin wasn’t surprised. He secured the oxygen tank and looked for a place to sit on the edge. Only the spot next to Jungkook was free and he sat there, arm brushing with Jungkook’s. Jungkook inched away. Jimin felt a spike of anger and he stared at the glistening water.

“How are you?” The words spoken in a low tone surprised Jimin. He whipped his head to look at Jungkook.

“What?” he asked just to be sure that Jungkook had spoken to him.

“Nothing” Jungkook mumbled.

Jimin turned away from him once more.

“I have something of yours.” Jungkook whispered and Jimin pretended not to hear. He wondered why Jungkook always spoke when he turned away from him.

“Jimin…”

“Yes?”

There was so much awkwardness between them that Jimin was transported back to high school.

“um… your clothes got mixed up with mine from the last dive.”

Jimin’s face burned. He remembered looking around for his underwear and not finding it. He had gone commando, wearing nothing underneath his shorts for the ride back to the shore. He had to cross his legs and sit. Was Jungkook referring to it? Because that was the only missing piece of clothing.

“Okay. I’ll take it from you when we get back.” Jimin said as neutrally as possible.

“Okay.”

There was that stilted awkwardness again. Jimin saw Adisa smirking at him from Jungkook’s other side.

I know, Jimin yelled internally at Adia. I know, you asshole.

“Did you test your blood sugar?”

“Yeah”

“Okay.”

“Did you eat?”

“Yes Jungkook I did.”

“Okay.”

Jimin wanted to scream and dissolve the awkward tension and thankfully the boat reached their scheduled spot in good time. Jisu anchored the boat and they got busy with the pre dive preparations. Jungkook dived first as usual and Jimin went last. On the ocean floor, he checked the equipment that recorded temperature and did a minor repair. He also had an eye out for long spined sea urchin which might help in the recovery of the degraded reefs. Towards the end of the dive, Jimin saw a field of sea urchins beyond the coral, their black spines waving like wheat in the currents. He swam low over them, spine inches from his diving suit. Each was the size of a baseball and had a dozen spots, blue and orange set in white. Clustered on the ocean floor, they seemed to watch Jimin with an infinite and wary gaze. Enchinoderm, enchinoida all blind. They had a spherical white inner shell scored all over with holes on the top and bottom. He searched for a shell in the cluster of black spines. A glimpse of white and he floated cautious fingers over the venomous spines. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Jungkook. Jungkook held up a clenched fist with the palm side of the fist facing Jimin, signaling him to stop. Jimin pointed to his eyes with the index and third finger and then pointed to the white shell amongst the sea urchins. He then made the question signal and pointed down. Jungkook held up the stop signal once more and pointed up. Jimin wavered indecisively. He did not want to obey Jungkook even though he had to. It was one of the rules. Jimin too pointed up and they began their ascent to the surface. Adisa was already mid-way, his finned feet flipping gracefully. They surfaced and Jungkook got into the boat first, followed by Jimin. Jimin had scarcely unloaded the oxygen tanks and was about to remove his diving suit when he was grabbed by his shoulders.

“What the hell was that Jimin?” Jungkook shouted into his face, shaking him. His eyes were glittering.

Adisa gaped with his mouth open, beside Jimin.

Jimin ignored him and reached for a towel. He wrenched himself from Jungkook’s hold.

“Jimin!”

“What?” Jimin yelled back. “Now you want to talk?”

Jisu moved worriedly to Jimin’s side.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Jungkook’s throwing a hissy fit, that’s what is going on.” Jimin claimed acidly and took a chug of water from the bottle that Adisa had passed to him.

“You did not respond correctly to my signals.”

“I need to check my blood sugar.” Jimin announced. "Can we do this later?"

Jungkook grabbed Jimin’s back pack roughly from the floor of the boat and searched, moving the contents around impatiently.

“What are you doing? Give me my bag.”

Jungkook ignored him and took out the meter and test strips. “Check now.”

“Guys, calm down.” Adisa looked between the both of them.

Jungkook grabbed Jimin's hand. “Check right now.”

“What is wrong with you?” Jisu asked. Jungkook turned to her. “Let him check his blood sugar first, Jisu" His tone was impatient.

With all the three wolves’ eyes on Jimin, he checked hastily, uncomfortable with the attention.

“Well?” Jungkook huffed.

“It’s within parameters.”

“Here eat this.” Jungkook extended a protein bar.

“I said it is within…”

“You still need to eat Jimin!”

Jimin jumped at his impassioned tone.

“Jimin?” Adisa prompted.

Jimin was aware that he was acting pupish. He couldn’t help himself. He grabbed the protein bar ungraciously and tore into it. He finished it five quick bites and glared at Jungkook.

“Are you okay now?” Jungkook asked, expression gentle.

Jimin rolled his eyes. “I was okay all along.”

“What were you thinking reaching for the sea urchins?” Jungkook was visibly agitated. He gripped Jimin's shoulders once again, the abrupt changing emotion swirling on his face.

Adisa gasped at the swift turn of emotion in Jungkook. Jimin mirrored him, shocked. Jungkook's fingers dug into his flesh painfully. But it was the sweetest pain.

“There was a shell…I wanted to… You are hurting me”

“Are you a pup?” Jungkook yelled. He removed his hands and curled his fingers into tight fists.

Jimin bristled with irritation. “I know how to handle sea urchins. I’m a marine biologist!”

“Then act like it!”

Jungkook did not give Jimin a chance to respond. He turned to Jisu and Adisa. “And do you know what he did? I held up a hold sign and he did not bother to respond with his own hold sign.” He looked back to Jimin. “You know you should respond with a hold sign in return. How else am I supposed to know that you have understood my signal and have agreed to stop and hold your position?” Jungkook’s voice held a note of hysteria.

“Calm down. You are nit picking.”

“No I’m not. You know how dangerous it is for us under these waters. What if something happened to you?”

“Nothing is going to…”

“You don’t know that! You don’t know Jimin. What will I do if something happens to you?” Jungkook clutched his hair, eyes flashing gold and black, wolf very close to the surface. Jimin was unsettled by his reaction. Granted that he had not followed proper communication rules but Jungkook’s reaction was over the top. Adisa placed a hand on Jungkook’s shoulder to calm him down. Jungkook shrugged him off. His scent was very strong and aggressive. Jimin could see that Adisa was affected by it and Jisu’s Alpha was starting to respond.

“I’m sorry” Jimin pleaded softly.

Jungkook’s eyes were still flashing gold.

“Listen to me. I’m really sorry. I won’t do it again okay?”

Adisa signaled to Jisu and they both moved away.

“I…I was just excited seeing the shell. I wanted one for so long.” Jimin explained.

Jungkook stared at him for a few more seconds, searching his face and then he walked past Jimin. Jimin exhaled slowly and bent over the edge of the boat. His nerves were drawn tight. Further out, the tranquil body of water flashed like scales of innumerable fish. The glittering of multitudes was there. Jimin chanced a glance back. Jungkook was facing the opposite direction. The lines of his back were taut with tension. And beyond Jungkook and all around them was the shifting, stirring and tossing of multitudes.

***

Jimin stared unseeingly down at his glass of tomato juice, sorting out his emotions from the day. A table fan creaked tirelessly in one corner. The tables were filling up slowly. He was pulled from his reverie when another wolf sank into the chair on the other side of the table. Jimin groaned.

“What do you want Zane?”

“Nice to see you too Mr. Fancy degree.”

“Aren’t you tired of this?”

Zane leaned forward. “How’s the report coming along?”

“I doubt you would understand.”

“You are so uptight Mr. Fancy degree. Has anyone told you that?”

“Fuck off will you?” Jimin said adopting a bored tone.

“Have you ever taken a knot?” Zane leered.

Jimin remained silent not dignifying the question with a response.

“Aha…I don’t think you have.” Zane crowed.

“This is none of your business and frankly you are boring me.”

“I wonder if you can take a knot? I don’t think that stick up your ass would allow any space for it.”

Jimin sighed. He wondered where all this was going. How typical of an Alpha to talk about his dick.

“Why are you so concerned about my ass? Your dick is not going to come anywhere near it.”

“That’s disgusting. Why would I want to?”

“I don't know. You brought it up. You seem very interested in my ass.” Jimin shrugged.

Zane got red in the face. Jimin got amused. This fool was entangled in his own attack. It was so easy to trip him up.

“Why are you here again?” a familiar voice asked. Jimin and Zane turned to the wolf from whom the question came.

“Oh look. It’s your little lapdog again to the rescue.” Zane’s sneer stretched. “Is he the one fucking your dry ass?” He swung his head around to Jungkook and addressed him. “Are you this desperate to fuck him? This wolf”

Jungkook shot to his feet while Jimin merely raised an eyebrow. He grasped the neck of Zane’s t-shirt in one fist. “The fuck did you say asshole? You should be so lucky. Don't even take his name on your filthy tongue.”

Zane parted his lips to speak but before he could Jungkook socked him solidly on the jaw. Zane’s neck snapped to his left. Jungkook hauled him up. “If I see you anywhere near Jimin, if your breath even stirs a single hair on him, I will make sure you can never use your dick again.” Jungkook reached down and twisted Zane’s junk. “Do you understand?”

Jimin flinched under Jungkook’s blazing fury. The few wolves in the dining area also tensed up instinctively.

Zane coughed and spat mixture of saliva and blood. He garbled incoherent words, muffled by Jungkook’s harsh fingers on his groin. Jungkook pushed him to the ground and in the next breath pulled Jimin by his wrist.

“Wha…”

“Let’s go.”

They had taken many many steps before Jimin could form words with his astonished tongue. “I did not need rescuing.”

Jungkook released Jimin’s hand as if suddenly coming to his senses. He looked like he wanted to flee and stay at the same time. His eyes darted uncertainly.

“Are you okay?” Jimin asked and Jungkook reared back as if Jimin’s question had touched him physically.

“I’m fine. Fine” he replied in an overly loud voice.

“Okay. I’m going to head back.” Jimin informed him.

“Okay”

“Okay”

***

Jungkook paced his shack. Jimin had gone back to the open restaurant. He decided to take a moment for himself alone after the altercation with Zane. He required the time to cool down. His blood was still singing in anger. He glanced at Jimin’s underwear on top of his bed. He needed to return it to Jimin and for that he had to wash it. He felt like a pervert, holding on to the unwashed piece of clothing but he could not bring himself to wash it. Do you want Jimin to know your combined scents? Do you want him to know that you got off using his underwear?

It did not make sense to Jungkook. He did not want complications and responsibility. Jimin came with a lot of that. And he was a beta.

He paced more and decided to put off washing for one more day. He composed himself the best as he could and headed out to the restaurant, When he reached, Jimin wasn’t there but Adisa was. He walked over and greeted him.

“Hey.”

“Hey Jungkook. Sit down” Adisa invited.

“How’s the study coming along?” Jungkook asked, glancing all around.

“It’s okay. We are testing the PH of the water. It’s very important for corals. They are sensitive to the slightest change…..Are you listening?”

“Yeah yeah” Jungkook snapped his eyes back to Adisa.

“Could have fooled me.”

“You said you are testing the Ph levels and that corals are sensitive to changes.”

“I’m impressed.” Adisa conceded. “hey.. what’s going on between you and Jimin?”

The question caught Jungkook off guard. “What? There’s nothing between us.”

“Really?” Adisa conveyed his skepticism

“Yeah.”

“So..since you cleared that up…I’m pretty much up for anything...” Adisa said, propping his chin in the palm of his hand.

“Even though I asked you to leave immediately last time?”

Adisa pouted a little. “Maybe I want to make you beg for forgiveness?”

“I don’t beg.” Jungkook cleared his throat. “And I’m not interested.”

“I should have told you. Jimin never dates anyone I’ve slept with.”

“Is that why you do it?” Jungkook laughed because he knew it would piss him off. “Are you jealous of Jimin?”

Adisa’s teeth bared. “I’m not jealous of Jimin. I love him.”

“What are you suggesting then? I’m not interested in Jimin and I’m not interested in you. It does not matter who you sleep with and who Jimin dates”

“Are you sure about that? You went at me like a wolf possessed. I think you protest too much about not being interested in me” Adisa leaned forward and his scent caught Jungkook right in the groin. Shit. He wasn’t interested but his dick reacted.

“Yes” Jungkook replied firmly.

“Now we both know that it isn’t true.” Adisa smiled with confidence and trailed his fingers along Jungkook’s arm.

“We both know it’s just pheromones. We are wolves. We see, we smell, we react. But it does not mean we are interested.”

“Ouch.” Adisa said good naturedly. But there was something else in his eyes, besides his confidence.

“Sorry.” Jungkook did not want to play the bastard.

“No. I get it.” Adisa said. “If you are looking for Jimin…”

“I’m not.” Jungkook interjected. Adisa rolled his eyes and continued “if you are looking for Jimin, he went that way with Jisu.” Adisa pointed a finger and Jungkook’s eyes traveled along it into the dark distance.

He tried. He really tried to sit and smile. He tried to be indifferent, unconcerned. He tried to hide his emotions. But his body gave him away. He was all motion from his brow drawn into furrows, his lips pressed into a flat line, his fingers drumming on the table, to his restless jiggling legs under the table. He could not rest. His mind raced and so did his body. It was a competition with no winners.

“You can go, you know.” Adisa grinned.

“I..no..I don’t…” Jungkook stammered.

“Why are you so emotionally constipated? Well whatever. Why should I care? I’m sure Jimin is getting some action.”

Jungkook jumped to his feet with a guttural curse. A nerve ticked in his jaw and he faced the direction that Adisa had pointed. Adisa smothered a laugh but he needn’t have because in an instant, Jungkook disappeared into the darkness, out of reach of the lights from the restaurant.

***

Jungkook’s heart thumped wildly. He was feeling so many things. What was it? Uncertainty? Fear? Insecurity? He has watched Jimin and Jisu together and she was a very likable Alpha. It was impossible not to notice them, because they always joked around and bantered. Jisu was easy going, affable and now that he really thought about it, she and Jimin got along very well. Then he got it. What he saw in Adisa’s eyes, hidden behind his confidence. It was fear, fear of rejection. Rejection did not happen to wolves who looked like Adisa. He knew because rejection did not happen to him either. And it made them both extra vulnerable. He walked swiftly over the sand, feet sinking with every step all his senses honed on only one thing. Find Jimin. He did not understand it. He did not want to understand. Jungkook smelled him first. Caramel like sugar over a creamy crème brule. It seduced him, called to him to taste the creamy softness underneath the crystals. It demanded that he break the thin layer of sugar with a light tap. It tugged on his heart. He took in a deep breath almost dreamily. The ocean gurgled and laughed at him. Jimin… he nearly said out loud on a sigh. His breath caught in his throat. Jimin was leaning against the bark of a coconut tree. Every cell in his body focused on him. And then someone else snuck in. An Alpha. Jisu. She was leaning into Jimin. They were kissing. Jimin is kissing her. Jimin was kissing someone else other than Jungkook. A moan rose from Jimin into the wind blowing from the ocean.

Jungkook thought of Jimin’s eyes.

He thought of stubborn breathing, of lips trembling.

He thought of desire, deep and hidden in depths, waiting to be released.

He thought of death deflected every time, faced with Jimin’s back as he moved firmly forward.

He thought of Jimin in the ocean, blue all around him, sea urchins waving beneath him with blind eyes.

He thought of all the words Jimin had uttered, knitted into him, an amulet in his body.

He thought of the piece of clothing cupping Jimin’s intimate parts, on his bed, drenched with their mingled scents and his knees buckled.

He watched Jimin and an Alpha, an Alpha who was not him, not Jungkook. The sea mocked him now, her teasing turning into something dark. On this night, the sea surged up and inflicted an immense pain on him. No not the sea. He couldn’t blame her. A thousand points of silver swept in from the waters and passed through him. Someone else was tasting Jimin and inhaling his scent. Someone who was not Jungkook was touching his skin and feeling the fluttering pulse in his throat.

“Jimin..” he whispered again and again, as if by the sheer force of repetition, he could make himself understand.

Blur

You cannot find anything in a world that is blurred. Blurred by your own tears and by theirs.

There was a giant clam. Jimin kicked his way down to it. Around it were broken coral. It was the third quarter of the moon phase and the clam was spawning. Adisa joined him and focused bright light on it and they both watched in wonder as plumes of cloudy smoke of eggs were released. Jimin looked around for Jungkook. He was far off in the gloomy distance, a pinprick of light. Jimin and Adisa watched the spawning for a few more minutes. Jimin’s heart tightened at the thought of the eggs floating around, yearning to be fertilized. He wondered if there are other clams nearby. This one must have detected the spawning induced substance in the water, most likely sperm. Giant clams are hermaphrodites. Self-fertilization was not possible but this allowed them to produce egg or sperm depending on what it detects in the water. Adisa tapped on his arm and held his thumb up. Jimin held his own thumb up in response. Adisa went to their equipments leaving Jimin to notify Jungkook. He took one last look back at the lonely clam and swam towards Jungkook. Something was not right. Jungkook’s regulator trailed free. Air rushed into Jimin’s ears. He swam faster. Jungkook waved and then drew his finger definitively across his throat, the diver’s universal signal of distress. When Jimin closed the distance, he could see Jungkook’s pink lips and the wildness in his eyes. Jungkook grabbed his arm and the grip hurt. His oxygen gauge showed red. Jimin took a deep breath and passed his regulator to Jungkook. Water moved past his naked lips, the taste of salt, the taste of panic. It seeped into him becoming a slow swelling, as Jungkook breathed and breathed. His own lungs grew taut. After what seemed like a very long time when it was barely seconds, Jungkook put one hand on his shoulder and passed the regulator. It was warm in his mouth from Jungkook’s lips. Jungkook looked calm. Together with many pauses they kicked their way towards the surface. Deep breaths, a passing of the regulator, acts as intimate and essential and full of question as a kiss. Jimin breathed and then Jungkook did. It was a kind of dance, rhythmic and full of precision. A dance which had one purpose, the surface of the water far above, that invisible border where the water opened to the sky. It seemed to take forever but at last they broke through. Jimin flung his head back and released Jungkook. He drank in air greedily. He had taken in some water in the last meter of their ascent and he coughed to clear his lungs. He was dizzy and his body painfully cold.

“Jimin” Jungkook shouted, gasping, the first word he has spoken to him in two days. He ripped off his mask, moonlight glinting in his dark hair. “Jimin..” he said again.

Jimin swam to the boat. JIsu extended an arm and helped him board it. Jungkook and Adisa followed quickly.

“I was right behind you.” Adisa said. “I know it must have been terrifying, but it was also beautiful to watch. You did well Jimin.”

“I was so scared. It was awful to be without air. I know it is illogical, but I was afraid every time that he…Jungkook wouldn’t give it back.”

Jungkook looked at him, his expression so intent, so focused, a sort of intimacy that he has never allowed with Jimin. “Still, you did it” he said in a rough whisper. “You did not miss a beat.”

“I had to.” Jimin trembled from the cold. He hoped he wasn’t going into shock.

Jisu silently handed him a bottle of water. Jimin smiled weakly at her in thanks and Jungkook’s intimate look vanished. Jungkook busied himself with changing out of the diving gear.

I’ll drink water first. Jimin thought to himself. Then I will sit down and test my sugar.

Jimin brought the mouth of the bottle to his lips and his body started to weave to and fro. The bottle fell from his hand, not a drop passing his lips. Jimin’s body crumpled and he collapsed to the bottom of the boat.

“Jimin!” Adisa yelled.

Panic fluttered into Jungkook. Jimin’s collapse appeared in painful slow motion to him. He had to keep calm. He had to remember his training. Jisu and Adisa were clustered around Jimin and he remained stupidly immobile. And then suddenly, everything felt so violently alive, his senses sharpened, nerve endings stripped. He pushed Adisa away roughly and  put his ear to Jimin’s lips.

“Is he breathing?” Jisu asked.

“No. Check for pulse.” Jungkook said with a calmness that he did not feel.

He tilted Jimin’s jaw, closed his nose and pressed his mouth to Jimin’s. His lips were dry and morgue cold.

“I feel a pulse. It’s faint.” Jisu held Jimin’s wrist in her fingers, her eyes wide with concern.

A savage dread gripped Jungkook as he blew into Jimin’s mouth again and again. Each time he watched his chest rise but he wasn’t responding.

“Start the fucking boat. We need to leave now.”

Jisu ran into the engine room to take them back to the shore.

“Give me the emergency kit. It must be in his bag” Jungkook screamed. Adisa scrambled to Jimin’s bag, fingers fumbling. He held up the pack and Jungkook grabbed it and ripped it open. He broke a glucose gel tube and pried Jimin’s lips apart. He inserted it into Jimin’s mouth and Adisa trickled water. Jungkook massaged his throat and titled his head far back in an attempt to get the glucose past his throat. He checked for Jimin’s pulse. It was faint and fluttery but there. Jungkook fumbled with the zipper on his diving suit, cursing when his fingers shook at the simple task. He pushed down the suit to Jimin’s stomach.

“I…I think we need to inject him.” Adisa said, voice fragmenting.

“Do it.” Jungkook yelled and peeled down Jimin’s diving suit further but he couldn’t move it past his hips. He abandoned it for the moment. Adisa’s fingers shook as he prepared the syringe.

“Hurry up.”

“I’m trying.” Adisa replied as he inserted the needle into the vial and withdrew all the liquid.

Jungkook pried the syringe from Adisa impatiently and injected Jimin on his arm after cleaning the spot. He applied light pressure against the skin.

“Come on Jimin!” he shouted and slammed his fist against his sternum, furious with Jimin, with himself and the whole damn world. He turned Jimin on to his side.

Even though he was doing everything that needed to be done, nothing seemed to be working. Jungkook was trying very hard not to panic. He was about to lose it when Jimin started coughing and Jungkook had not heard a better sound in his life. Relief surged through him, and he was shaking like a leaf. He brushed Jimin’s hair off his forehead, his skin cold and bloodless. Jimin vomited and crunched his body.

Adisa was crying. “Thank…fuck…Thank you moon goddess” he moaned.

Jungkook massaged his back trying to ease Jimin through the violent heaving of his body. When the shudders stopped, he propped up Jimin’s back against his chest.

“How are you feeling?” Jungkook asked. Jimin sipped water, from a bottle in Adisa’s hands.

“Great.” Jimin said and threw up again.

Jungkook was sick with relief and couldn’t make sense of the riot of emotions raging inside him. He checked Jimin’s pulse, ignoring his own skipping in his ears. Jimin struggled to sit up without support but Jungkook stopped him.

“Just give it a minute, okay?”

Jimin hummed in response and leaned back. Adisa tried to get the diving suit off from Jimin’s hips and legs, but the material seemed to be stuck to his skin and Adisa did not want to jerk Jimin around much.

“Just cut them off.” Jungkook said in a tone that did not give room for any arguments. 

“Don’t cut them….” Jimin protested faintly.

What?”

“My diving suit.” He grinned, causing Jungkook’s heart to slam in his chest. “Don’t cut them..These are now my lucky pair. I lived”

Moon goddess, Jimin was making a joke. As Jungkook released his breath, a giant constricting weight lifted off his chest. Jimin could have died. The thought scared the crap out of him. He hid his emotions beneath a scowl. “Then let’s get them off and get you dry.”

Adisa tugged and finally got them off leaving Jimin in his swimming trunks.

“Can you get my bag? I have a long sleeved t shirt.” Jungkook requested Adisa. Adisa nodded and passed the bag to Jungkook. Jungkook fished out the thick t shirt and helped Jimin wear it. Meanwhile Adisa draped a towel around Jimin’s hips.

“Jimin…We need to remove your trunks.”

Jimin lifted his hips and Adisa pulled his trunks from underneath the towel.

“I can do it.” Jimin said weakly when Adisa attempted to help him into the dry pair of shorts.

“I know you can. But let me do it okay?”

Jungkook held Jimin tighter against his chest. “Please listen to him” he pleaded with Jimin.

Jimin sighed and acquiesced. He lifted his hips again to enable Adisa to slide up the shorts. Once in place, Jungkook picked up the towel from around Jimin’s hips and wrapped it around his shoulders and chest.

“Are you warm?”

“Yeah” Jimin croaked.

What would he have done if he had lost Jimin? Why did his survival matter so much than anyone else he had met in his life?

“You are a bloody liability, you know that?”

Jimin’s lips stretched into a pale smile. “Just keeping you on your toes.” Jimin leaned forward and attempted to get on his feet.

“Sit down.” Jungkook’s tone was brusque.

“I’m fine. We have almost reached. I haven’t even thanked you for saving my….”

“Forget it.” Jungkook clamped down the urge to grab him and hug him and tell him it was his pleasure. “Let’s get you to the clinic.”

“That’s not necessary. I have this under control.” Jimin’s colour was back, and his eyes were bright.

But I’m not in control Jimin.

“You don’t want to go? Fine. Its your decision.” Jungkook’s voice was sharp and Jimin flinched and pressed his lips together.

Jungkook had touched those lips with his own. That awareness slammed into him like a cannon. Jimin stood and they both stared at each other long enough for Jungkook to be the one to look away. The boat docked and JIsu came to Jimin’s side. She offered her arm and Jimin took it, stepping gingerly with help and leaning into her. Adisa followed them closely behind. Jungkook watched them disembark and curled his hands into fists. Because he was within an inch of carrying Jimin in his arms and if he did that, he was screwed.

***

Jungkook woke up suddenly. He had fallen asleep as soon as he gotten back to his shack. He hadn’t bothered to eat and now he was starving. He checked his watch. It was two am. He grabbed a protein bar from his bag and stepped out of the shack. He walked slowly as he ate, with no destination. He allowed his feet to take him wherever they wished. He stuffed the wrapper into the pocket of his shorts and scanned the expanse of sand and the water beyond it. The moon has high in the sky glinting off everything. Glinting off Jimin.

He was sure it was Jimin lying on the sand. He moved silently towards him. He allowed himself to watch Jimin knowing he was hidden from his view, behind him.

“What are you doing here?’ Jimin asked suddenly, popping his invisibility bubble.

“Oh.. “

“I could smell you, you know?” Jimin turned a smile at him from his prone position on the sand. He was wrapped in layers but he could see that Jimin was still wearing his tshirt, underneath it all. The hem of his t shirt peeked from out under his sweater and the sleeves hung over his hands. Jungkook felt a jolt of satisfaction and arousal on seeing Jimin in his clothes. He felt happy that he was larger than Jimin because it appealed to his primitive side that screamed that he could protect and take care of Jimin.

“Jungkook, I really didn’t get to thank you for earlier.”

“You saved me too.” Jungkook sat beside him and Jimin got up and pulled his knees to his chest.

“That wasn’t exactly…”

“Thank me by not getting yourself into any more trouble.”

There was a wet track down Jimin’s cheek and Jungkook frowned.

“Were you crying?”

Jimin bobbed a shoulder. “I called home.”

Jungkook waited silently for him to continue.

“My parents read me the riot act and made me feel like shit. I yelled at them.” He sighed.

“Your parents must have been really worried.”

“They were and I don’t blame them. But sometimes its hard for me to keep a hold of myself and of them.”

“When did you find out you had diabetes?”

“I was twelve.”

Jungkook whistled. “That’s early.”

“It was one hell of an adjustment. My mama specially was pissed that she couldn’t just fix it. I guess she felt helpless. I was so terrified of needles and I had to get over it.”

“Do you…fear...”

“Death?” Jimin asked bluntly.

Jungkook winced.

“Yeah I do. I have to really watch out for what I eat, what I put in my body. And there are several other things like I cannot just get into water. I have to do all these tests, prepare myself. It takes the spontaneity out of my life and anyone I’m with. Once in college I was feeling so depressed that I drank one too many shots of tequila with my friends. I had to be hospitalized.”

Jungkook touched his arm. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.” Jimin’s eyes sparkled and Jungkook felt like he had been sucker punched. “I realized pretty quickly that I had complete control over my life. I listened to my doctors, I learned to calculate what I eat, The amount of carbs and proteins. I did sports.”

Jungkook’s dark eyes watched his steadily. “That’s all it took? Organization and disciple?”

“That’s all it takes. Organization, disciple and determination. Every single minute of the day.”

Jimin did not tell Jungkook of the restless nights of fear, of eyes filled with tears, of him waking up early to wash his face and to compose himself so that his parents would not discover that he had cried in the night. He did not tell Jungkook of going to bed, afraid that he would not wake up in the morning, of having seen his parents for the last time. He was afraid of going blind, every time his vision blurred.

“Why did you leave the special forces?” Jimin asked, to change the subject. He also wanted to know realising that they hadn’t spoken much about their lives that they lead before they met.

“I got in early, right after school. I did my stint and then wanted to study.”

“How was it in the special forces?”

“Brutal. But I enjoyed it and learnt many skills like flying an aircraft, scuba diving, parachuting, sky diving. Pretty much anything a wolf can do in this body. I was part of the peace keeping force in the amazon.”

Jimin’s mouth dropped open. “Wow.”

“Trust me, it isn’t wow. I saw many things, did many things, I wish I could unsee or undo.”

“No, I’m sure. It’s just that you did something important, something for this world.”

“So are you. Trying to save the oceans from all of us.” Jungkook said with a cheeky grin.

Jimin waved his words away with a shy grin of his own. “What did you study?”

“You will laugh.”

“I won’t.” Jimin promised.

“Music.”

“Music?” Jimin repeated. Jungkook was full of surprises.

“Yeah.” Jungkook ducked his head down in an uncharacteristic show of timidity.

“I would have never guessed!” Jimin exclaimed. “You sing? What instruments do you play?”

“Yeah I do. I can play the drums, guitar and piano.”

Jimin stared at him.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“it’s not fair you know?”

“What isn’t?”

“Leave some talent for the rest of us.”

Jungkook scoffed.

“Is there anything you cannot do?”

Yes. Yes there is. I cannot understand you or myself when I’m with you. Because all I want to do is stay.

Jungkook cleared his throat. “What about crushes and wolves? Did you date? Or have relationships?” Jungkook paused, pitching his words in a casual tone. Too casual. “Anyone ...good enough to mate?”

“Same as everyone else.” Jimin shrugged in a vague manner.

Jungkook groaned. “That’s such a generic answer.”

”You asked a generic question” Jimin responded with a slight smile.

“Alright then. When did you lose your virginity? I hope that was specific enough for you.”

Jimin’s cheeks heated up. “That’s none of your business.”

“Come on. It’s not a worldly secret. We are full grown wolves. Tell me yours and I will tell you mine.”

“I’m sure you lost yours when you hit puberty and haven’t stopped since. Twelve? Thirteen?” Jimin guessed.

“Actually no. You are wrong. I was seventeen and thought I was in love.” Jungkook gazed up to the stars. “Her name was Kaia and she was an omega. I wanted to mate her and have pups.”

Jimin couldn’t hide his shock. “What happened?”

“I joined the army and the long distance thing didn’t work out. We were young and not so in love as I thought we were”

“Damn.” Jimin muttered.

“You?”

Jimin’s jaw tensed and he played with the sand, letting fistfuls of it drain between his fingers.

“I was twenty. It was the first real relationship I had. He was an omega.”

Jungkook’s brows shot up.

“We went out for a year and then he dumped me for an Alpha.”

“Is that what put you off?”

“Alphas or sex?” Jimin joked.

“Both.” Jungkook stared at the swelling waves as If he did not give a damn about Jimin’s answer.

“Not really. I know wonderful Alphas starting with my mama. And why do you think I’ve been put off sex?”

“I was just taking your lead.”

“Do you think I’m frigid? I have had great sex. Excellent sex. Stupendous sex.”

Jimin’s words grated on his nerves. Jungkook did not want the image of Jimin having sex with anyone.

“Yeah, with Jisu.” Jungkook snorted as if he thought the idea was funny.

Jimin got to his feet. “Jisu’s a great Alpha. And what do you know of her and me?”

Jealousy bloomed so violently inside Jungkook that it removed all proper sense from his mind. He jumped up too.

“Of course. Is that why you chose Jisu? She doesn’t have a knot. Does it make it easier for you?” Jungkook snarled softly.

“You are full of crap.” Jimin spat out.

“Oh I’m full of crap? You know you cannot take a knot from a male Alpha”

The moment the words were out of his lips, Jungkook’s eyes widened in realization.

“What’s the difference between you and Zane that you had to fight him that night?” Jimin asked without any emotion.

“No…” Jungkook blanched and reached out a hand. “I’m an idiot.”

Jimin laughed bitterly and avoided the hand.

“Please don’t compare me to Zane.”

“Why not? You said the same thing…”

“Not in that way! I admit I’m an idiot and I’m sorry.”

Jimin ignored his apology. “I cannot take a knot. So? Why is that of concern to you?”

“It is not of any concern to me…It does not matter to me if you can or not. It shouldn’t matter to anyone…”

“Ah. I get it. You are pointing out why I went to her. You are so typical Alpha. All you care about is stuffing a knot into a warm hole. Is that why you run from me? Because you know I cannot satisfy you?”

“Don’t make assumptions about me! Please..”

“You make it so easy for me to. I’m just a beta afterall. I cannot even give you what you deserve huh Alpha?”

“Shut up Jimin. Why are you saying such things? This is your insecurity speaking”

“At least I have enough brains to know there is a difference between nailing everything that moves and making love.”

“You think so huh?” Something fired in Jungkook’s eyes. “Did she make love to you?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Jungkook edged closer. “Tell me.”

“Why don’t you tell me about you and Adisa, Alpha. Was it good? Did he make you come Alpha? Did he take your knot well?”

Jungkook really hated that word. Alpha. And at that moment he loathed his knot. The air crackled with the sort of danger that came out of nowhere and flattened everything with a single blow. He clamped his hands to Jimin’s upper arms and hauled him into his arms. Jimin was about to protest when he pressed his lips to Jimin’s. Jimin braced his hands against Jungkook’s shoulders, expecting force and fury. But his lips were velvet soft and he kissed Jimin so very gently, his body pressing full length against his and holding Jimin in place. Jungkook’s hands slipped down to his sides, to his ass and hoisted him higher, until Jimin wrapped his legs around Jungkook’s waist in support. Something shattered in Jungkook’s chest. He was fully aroused as he moved against Jimin. Jimin opened his mouth on a shocked gasp.

“Did she do this? Did she kiss you like this?” Jungkook’s eyes were full of torment.

“Did you Alpha? Do you kiss your omegas like this?” Jimin tightened his arms around Jungkook and gripped one fist into Jungkook’s hair.

“No” Jungkook admitted in a pained whisper and slipped his tongue inside Jimin’s mouth and explored slowly and thoroughly. The heat of Jungkook surrounded him, the strength of Jungkook cradled him in position and the scent of him made Jimin hungry for more. He tried to pull Jungkook impossibly closer with his arms and legs. It took Jimin a moment to realize that Jungkook had stopped kissing. He dropped his hands and shoved. Jungkook lowered him to his feet and Jimin wiped the taste of him away with the back of his hand. Damn him.

“Get away from me.”

“Jimin…”

“Don’t touch me. Don’t say anything.” He took several steps back, cheeks burning in humiliation. The air felt jagged inside his chest, every breath a painful reminder that Jungkook had reduced him to another conquest with just a kiss.

“You know what’s funny? I only kissed Jisu and you had to talk about it like it was a pity thing on her part or that I chose her only because she doesn’t have a knot.”

“I did not mean that..” Jungkook stuttered even while his heart sang at the knowledge that they had only kissed.

“Your meaning is very clear to me.” Jimin said through gritted teeth. “I get it. I’m a beta. I cannot take knots.”

“I din’t say that Jimin. Not in that way…”

“You both said it and meant it Alpha. Besides, not everything needs to be said aloud. Congratulations on that demonstration.”

“You are twisting this into something else!”

“You never said you are interested. I forgot it was a game.”

“Do you even know what you are saying?”  

“I’m going to my shack.”

“Wait.. you can’t just leave.”

“I can and I will.” Jimin stared at him for a full five seconds, daring Jungkook to stop him.

Jungkook dropped his eyes in defeat.

“Don’t leave. Please.” he whispered to the emptiness around him. There was an emptiness inside him too, like Jimin had carved his chest hollow.

Please.

Jungkook’s body felt like a house of sand. It shattered and was shattering still, slipping stubbornly through Jimin’s fingers. The sea beckoned to him with her winking waves, but he remained on the shore, slipping, spilling and shattering.

***

Jimin did not know how it all went to shit. They were having such a good conversation and then it had taken an ugly turn Such hurtful words were spoken. He was at fault too but Jungkook was really thoughtless with his words. His words were like barbs, finding their target unerringly. He thought back to his kiss with Jisu. She really was a sweet Alpha and he wished that he could have moved further with her. Even as he was kissing her, he could smell a blooming forest. He had looked around expecting to see Jungkook. There was nothing, but darkness. He wondered if he had imagined it and asked Jisu if she detected anyone’s presence. Jisui hadn’t. It was a battle lost even before it began. They decided to remain friends. Jimin sighed. She had been great about it and there was no awkwardness between them. She did not hold back in touching him casually as she used to before they had kissed and Jimin was grateful.

Why did he always long for unattainable things? First had been the omega who dumped him for someone else. He thought everything was going great and it was his first serious relationship and therefore he had been naïve. But still, there were no signs. Their sex life was satisfactory. They did not have fixed roles in bed and Jimin was very satisfied, almost smug that they had defied traditional roles. But Kira wanted an Alpha in the end. And then there was a beta, Mingyu. They were good friends and decided to try out a romantic relationship. It neared its end eventually and though Jimin knew they weren’t meant to be, his heart still grieved. Mingyu said that Jimin was too intense and that he did not realise how much planning was required in their day to day lives. Though Mingyu didn’t tell him, Jimin knew what he really wanted to say. That there was no fun in their relationship because they couldn’t do many things impulsively. No spontaneity. It really wasn’t fair. Mingyu had been fine with the lack of spontaneity as a friend. When they started dating, it was suddenly an issue. No, Mingyu didn’t say it but there had been little sarcastic comments that made Jimin feel like he was lacking.

It was always something. Either he wasn’t enough or he was too much. Why couldn’t the world pick one thing and stick to it? The cherry on the top was an Alpha, Nishal. Jimin should have known. They had a good time, until it came down to the brass tacks. Sex. Jimin could not take Nishal’s knot. It was very painful even with lube. His body wasn’t meant to take something like an Alpha’s knot. Nishal wasn’t cruel, not really. But he hadn’t been kind either and made Jimin feel like something was wrong with him. Like he was at fault. Faulty. One day, the final day, he left Jimin crying on the bed. He was bleeding from a tear when Nishal had tried to force his knot in at Jimin’s insistence and Jimin had stupidly tried to take it, thinking if he could then every thing would be okay. Nishal would like him, love him even, wouldn’t he? So he had concealed his enormous agony and held himself still and tried to take it. Nishal stopped as soon as Jimin started to bleed and had stumbled back, horrified. “ You shouldn’t have insisted that I try. Look at what happened” he had accused Jimin.  And then he had left him crying and bleeding alone with a “I’m sorry. I don’t think it will work out between us.” Jimin should have seen the signs early on but he was so taken in by the attention that Nishal gave him that everything else faded into the background. He was flattered, ecstatic that an Alpha as good looking as Nishal showed interest in him. Did that not make Jimin shallow too? Well, he had certainly learnt his lesson. He had thrown the bedsheets away and called his Mama on the phone, like a pup. He sobbed his heart out to her and his mom and they had panicked. He hadn’t told them what transpired except that it was a breakup. Mom had comforted him saying that there was a mate out there for him. Mama had stewed in anger, sensing that Jimin was hiding something from them.

Zane had taunted him but he wasn’t the slightest bit affected. It was the usual thing that a Beta heard when they were at the receiving end of mockery or of malice from an Alpha. The assholes thought that it was the greatest insult. As if their lives were nothing without Alphas and Omegas. But when Jungkook had uttered those words, he was torn apart. What did Jungkook say? This is your insecurity speaking. Well fuck him for showing Jungkook his insecurity. Jimin did not cry and he was proud of himself for it. He hadn’t cried when he entered the privacy of his shack either. For a few seconds, the world around him was blurred with a watery edge. That was all. Nothing was spilled. Nothing shattered.

He shifted restlessly on his bed, giving up on sleep. Tomorrow would be better. He promised himself. I will put this behind me. That was what he had done his whole life. Put things behind, move on. Sleep in the hope that he would wake up with the sun and live to find beauty in others. In the hope that it would lead him to his mate.

That was the only way, in this vanishing fragility, under this oppressive weight of beauty.

Unmask

Do we search for the obvious, the vivid? Or the shielded and eclipsed? What do we look for?

Jimin’s fingers froze on the keys of the keyboard of his laptop. He turned his head slowly to look back. There was sand stretching as far as the eyes could see, dotted with coconut trees. The sea was swelling and receding as usual. He resumed typing and after a few minutes, he felt eyes on him again. He concentrated on the sounds around him, stilling the movement from his fingers. He could hear his own even breaths, going in and out, the wind rustling through, the fronds of the coconut trees swaying, and of course the song of the sea. He tapped a few keys. Tip tip tap.

“I’m paranoid, is all” he whispered.

“There’s no one.” He said aloud and grinned. “No one. Fear me. I’m the terror of this land.”

He got up from the chair and punched the air a few times. “That’s right. Run you cowards.”

Someone laughed, the sound high and clear and Jimin screamed. The chair toppled back on the sand.

“Sorry. Did I startle you?”

“Oh my moon goddess. Oh.” Jimin wheezed.

“Sorry” Jungkook said again from a few feet away. He did not come any closer.

“It’s all right” Jimin snapped. He was so embarrassed.

“How did I not smell you?” Jimin wondered to himself.

“The wind…” Jungkook started and paused when Jimin gazed at him. “The wind was blowing the other way…”

Jimin crossed his arms. “If I wanted an explanation from you, I would have asked.” He said pupishly.

Silence resumed and Jimin knit his brow in a frown.

Jungkook suddenly walked towards him and Jimin took a step back uncertainly. The edge of the small table dug into his ass. He was about to ask him to stay away when Jungkook leaned down and picked up the chair.

Oh my moon goddess..Jimin exhaled in relief and then straightened and almost clutched his chest. Why was he so jumpy? He dropped his hand.

Jungkook swept grains of sand from the seat and curled his fists around the top of the chair. He just stood there gripping the chair, saying nothing, doing nothing. He wasn’t even looking at Jimin. Jimin fidgeted. What did he want? They have completely avoided each other since their exchange of harsh words two days ago. At least Jimin was completely avoiding Jungkook, bolting at the sight of him. There was no banter, no conversations about family or virginity. Just an unnatural tiptoeing around the other. Jimin had not participated in the dives for two days and though he had a perfectly good reason of needing a day or two to get over the shock and take time to analyse their findings, it still felt like an act of cowardice.

Jimin missed him.

“Did you want something Alpha?”

Jungkook bit his lip. He looked like he was going to speak but he didn’t.

“I’m busy. So if you don’t need anything from me, can you please leave?”

“Can you not call me Alpha?” Jungkook requested in a strangled whisper.

Jimin was taken aback at the request.

“um. What?”

“I don’t like it.”

“Tough shit.”

“Please?”

“What’s this Alpha? Didn’t we make ourselves clear to each other?”

Jungkook winced but his voice came out strong and unwavering. “Actually no. I haven’t made myself clear to you.”

“That’s so funny.” Jimin said with fake sweetness. “Hilarious.”

Jungkook’s expression hardened. “I never thought any less of you because you are a beta. I don’t believe in traditional roles. I’m sorry it came out that way.”

“Are you done?”

“I was jealous.”

Jimin resisted the urge to look up at Jungkook’s confession. He wanted to ask..of what?

“Done?”

“I was dumb.”

“Finished?”

“You made a lot of assumptions about me. I was hurt too.”

“Go ahead and blame me. I don’t care.”

“I’m not blaming you. While I was an asshole, I also want you to know that you weren’t fair with me.”

Jimin went around the table and gave Jungkook his back.

“Jimin? Please can we sort this out?”

“Please?”

Jimin was stubbornly silent.

“I’m going now. I hope we can talk later.”

When Jimin was sure that Jungkook had left, he faced the table intending to get back to his analysis and not dwell on a particular Alpha. Except life always threw curveballs at him, didn’t it? Because on the table was a small pale lavender shell of a sea urchin. Jimin was transfixed. Delicate ridges ran all around in columns from the gaping hole on top. He touched the shell with a tentative finger and a glimpse of white inside the hole caught his eye. He reached inside and pulled the rolled up piece of paper and unfurled it.  We often don’t know what we are searching for.

Jimin stared at the cryptic one-line sentence. He crumpled the paper and tossed it on the sand. The wind picked it up and it rolled towards the water. Jimin ran after it. Fuck fuck he chanted under his breath, but the sea did not heed his chants and claimed the paper. Jimin walked back dejected. He felt a strange lonely pang at the thought of the paper floating down to the ocean floor, never to be seen again by him. He closed his palm around the shell and the end of his thumb and the other fingers did not meet. For a peace offering, if it could be called that, this wasn’t bad. Jungkook had paid attention, but then he had always been attentive like when he asked about the different types of insulin or when he started to carry protein bars with him all the time, or when he constantly checked with Jimin if he ate, if he had enough water, if he carried his meter and emergency kit. Jimin had noticed it. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. I need perspective. He closed his laptop and tucked it under one arm. He held the shell enclosed in the palm of the other hand and made his way back. Tough green grass grew here and there and Jimin noticed that there were little flowers in many of the patches. Some white, some purple.                  

***

Jungkook was miserable. He felt miserable. He had washed Jimin’s underwear late afternoon after returning from the dive. It was neatly folded on his bed. He stared at it, wishing he could conjure Jimin in front of him. Jimin. Jimin was ridiculous. He was funny, beautiful, smart and kind and passionate and… Jungkook could go on. He knew Jimin had a particular impression of him. It hurt him. Jungkook had said some terrible things in the heat of the moment but it was a blow to his gut that Jimin’s opinion of him was so low. Rock bottom. Since their last conversation, all Jungkook had thought about was Jimin. Jimin had lost so many things. But he lived and he carried on. Jimin did not know but he carried grief on his back like a symbiotic thing. The sadness written on his face, like ink on paper was something Jungkook wanted to take away and replace with joy and the ferocity of life, knowing that Jimin had the heart of a real wolf, clean and full and right.

Jungkook felt almost comforted by the familiar, overwhelming sense of shame. He remembered bits of their conversation and his spiral of shame sped up exponentially. Jungkook finally understood that there was life in this thing of theirs other than his own. Sadness and pain and aloneness, other than his own and he would give anything he had to take that from Jimin and just let him be joyful.

And so he had gone searching for joy at the bottom of the ocean and found it. He hoped that his gift brightened Jimin’s day. Even if it were just for a second, that was enough for Jungkook.

And he realized that this must be what it felt like to like somebody. The kind where you felt so much that you just wanted the other to be happy, no matter what it cost you. Real, legitimate grown up love.

“Love?” Jungkook asked aloud. How did love fit anywhere in the equation? Sure he was attracted to Jimin and there was a strong pull between them. He was also insanely jealous of even the thought of Jimin with anyone else. This he had to acknowledge in the process of self introspection, because jealousy had lent daggers to his tongue and he had spilled words aimed to wound.

Was he making the same mistakes again by trying to dodge his new found feelings about Jimin? Jungkook did not know if it was love, or if he should put a label to it. He remembered the panic and the sheer heart wrenching fear when Jimin went into shock on that boat. Was that love?

Whenever Jungkook had thoughts of Jimin, it brought to him all the things he felt he would lose. He had been equating Jimin with loss. Pups, Sexual satisfaction, Jimin himself. The worst of the perceived loss was Jimin, with his illness. He was imploding from inside even without his knowledge. He held the secret fear that Jimin could die any time. There were a hundred things that could go wrong and Jimin would be wrenched from him. His grief would be beyond enduring.

Tears rushed to his eyes.

He was being selfish and cruel to both himself and Jimin. He was giving up even before he gave them a fair chance. His pent up feelings exploded with the violence of a thousand suns.

What should I do? Where should I go?

Jimin had been a flicker on the edge of his mind, a loss, a fear. He was now a pleasure, a reward, laughter falling like quiet rain on a summer day.

Jungkook wept.

***

Sungwoon was silent at the other end. Jimin twisted the end of his bedsheet into knots.

“First off, what a jackass!”

Jimin felt vindicated. “Right?”

“Absolutely.”

“I knew that you would…”

“But Jimin..” Sungwoon cut him off. “…you were harsh on him.”

“What do you mean” Self righteous anger swelled.

“Yes he said a horrible thing to you but he also apologized immediately. Did he not?”

Jimin made a reluctant sound of agreement.

“I think after that you took everything he said as a personal attack.”

“But it was a personal attack. He was talking about me!”

“You made those assumptions Jimin. About why he kissed you and how you cannot give him what he needs. He didn’t say that.”

“You weren’t there. You don’t know.”

“I’ve known you for ten plus years Jimin. You are my oldest friend and we have always looked out for each other. But we have never let our bond cloud our judgement and this is why we trust each other to have our backs. Correct?”

“But he… he..you know what happened with Nishal.”

“That is not Jungkook’s fault is it?“ Sungwoon asked gently.

“He said I went to Jisu just because I couldn’t take a male Alpha’s knot.”

“That was a terrible thing to say and this is my point Jimin. After that from what you told me, you did not give him a chance to speak. You flung a lot of accusations at him based on your life experiences of which he has no clue about. You cannot blame him for what happened in your life, before you met him. That’s unfair and you know it.”

Jimin sighed.

“I’m not asking you to forgive him. But don’t you think it would be better if you could hear him out? Give him a chance for your own sake and move on. You don’t have to be best friends, or even friends. Just eliminate the animosity. I know how much disagreements and fights affect your emotional well being. This will be like a thorn in your side, pricking you continuously.”

“I don’t know.”

“Why are you resistant to just hearing him out especially when he reached out to you first? What are you afraid of?”

“That I will fall for him.” Jimin confessed honestly. He didn’t even have to think of a response. It appeared like a hair trigger on his tongue. “I’m so confused.”

“But do you realize that you have also been unfair?”

“Yes. I hate it when you make sense.” Jimin complained.

Sungwoon chuckled.

“I wish it would be as easy to tell you to be not afraid. I think you are thinking too much. All you need to do is air things out so that there are no ill feelings.”

“Okay. I will think about it. Thanks.”

“Anytime Jimin.”

“How’s Eva?”

“Huge.”

“Rubbish. How dare you talk about her like that.”

“What? She really is. We are giving birth to quadruplets.” Sungwoon whined.

“No!” Jimin yelled. “When did you find out and why didn’t you call me the very next second?”

“Just a few days ago. I was going to speak to you this weekend.” Sungwoon defended. “I told your parents.”

“Put her on the phone right now.”

Jimin waited impatiently. He could hear Sungwoon calling for his mate. There were shuffling noises and then he heard Eva’s gentle tone. “Jimin…”

“Congratulations Eva.”

“Thanks.” Jimin could hear her happiness. “I told this dumbass to inform you the instant we got the news.”

“Thanks for throwing me under the bus.” Sungwoon yelled in the background.

“Am I now in running for best friend position, now that he has been dethroned?” Eva asked.

Jimin laughed.

“I will give you my first born” she whispered.

“I heard that” Sungwoon’s voice boomed

“You are my dearest friend Eva. The queen of my heart. There is no competition.”

“Moon goddess, I wish I had mated you.”

Before Jimin could respond, Sungwoon came back on the line. “Will you stop flirting with my mate? I swear she will leave me one day for you.”

“I will.” Eva confirmed loudly.

“She said she will.”

“I heard.” Jimin grinned. “Don’t fight pups” he said extra loud for Eva’s benefit.  “Go take care of your mate. I’ll talk to you later?”

“Yes. And Jimin? You are one of the best wolves I know. I hope you understand that.”

“Yeah asshole. Stop trying to make me cry. Between you and Eva my tear ducts are going on strike.”

“Later.” Sungwoon hung up.

Jimin flopped back on his bed, a heavy weight pulling him inwards like a black hole.

What should I do? Where should I go?

He imagined a field of sea urchins unfolding beneath Jungkook, their perfect hidden bones curved to hold the light, their spines repelling, interweaving. He imagined Jungkook searching for a shell among the thousand eyes. All blind.

***

The sun was warm on the boat. Jimin turned his head to the sea spray. Adisa was pressed close to him. Since the incident, it was his first dive and Adisa was superglued to Jimin during the dive and on the boat. Jungkook was looming over them constantly too.

“You can relax.” Jimin told Adisa. He was very amused.

“Shut up and let me do this.” Adisa grumbled.

“You are smothering me.”

Adisa levelled an annoyed look at Jimin. “Yeah? At least you will live.”

At Jimin’s wry grin, he cursed. “Shit. I did not mean it like that.”

“I know. Relax. I can take a joke.”

“Besides..” Jimin raised his voice  “….these days everyone seem to be saying things that they claim they do not mean.”

Jungkook, who had been staring at Jimin, lowered his eyes.

“What?” Adisa asked, puzzled.

“Nothing.”

Jungkook’s eyes were shadowed but he saw the corners of his lips turn up in a secret smile.

***

“Jimin?”

He looked up from his notes.

“May I sit?”

He shrugged and Jungkook dropped into the chair in front of him outside Jimin’s shack. It was early evening.

“Today was a good dive huh?”

“hmmm”

“I saw an octopus.”

“I was there too.”

“Right”

“How’s work?”

“It’s okay.”

“Did you eat?”

Jimin sighed. “Why did you really come here Alp..Jungkook? I’m sure it’s not to exchange pleasantries. Next thing I know you are going to expound on the weather.”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

Jimin folded his notes and placed them on the sand near the leg of his chair. He added a rock on top to prevent the pages from flying into the wind. “Fine. Let’s hear it. Talk.”

Jungkook looked startled, like a bird caught in flight.

“Are you mad at me?” he asked tentatively.

“Yes.”

Jungkook exhaled strongly on a deep sigh.

“But at the same time, I realized that I said many things that night which I regret and I’m sorry.”

“Thank you Jimin.” Jungkook’s eyes shone with gratitude.

Jimin nodded and focused on a hermit crab scuttling on the sand.

“I’m sorry too” Jungkook ventured.

The shell of the crab was a delicate grey, like how he felt inside.

“I was afraid of losing you.”

“Why?” The word was ripped involuntarily from Jimin.

“Because of diabetes…”

Jimin sighed and pushed to his feet.

“Wait”

Ignoring him, Jimin stormed inside. Jungkook rushed after him. “Wait…”

Jimin unscrewed the cap from a bottle of water to drink. He twisted it back on angrily and sat at the edge of the bed.

“Please step out.”

“No. Hear me out fully and then I will go away if you still want me to.”

He stared at Jungkook, and he did not know what his own face showed. Give him a chance.

“Okay.”

Jungkook stood in front of him. “I think….” His voice was too soft, so he breathed deeply before going on. “I think I was afraid of so many things. About losing you, about pups, about sex.” He paused, reminding himself why he was saying this. “It is all insignificant things to worry about, except for the fear of losing you. I can’t apologize for that.”

“Okay?”

“It is not that I need to have pups made from my own body. It was so ingrained in me that it became something I had to do. I did not give any thought to it until I met you. I was running on instinct and conditioning.”

Jimin looked up at him in silence. He felt encouraged to continue. “I wanted pups when I was younger and I may want pups in the future. The only thing that has changed, will change is that I don’t require them to be of my blood. Or maybe I don’t need them at all”

“That’s what they all say.” Jimin spoke quietly.

“This is me Jimin. Not other wolves in your life.” Jungkook was firm in his conviction. “I don’t know what anyone else have told you and it does not matter to me. What matters is that you know that it’s me here in front of you.”

Jungkook already felt overwhelmed and he has barely started. His legs felt weak and he sat beside Jimin on the bed.

“And sex? What a fool I was. It means nothing Jimin, if it isn’t with you. I was insanely jealous of you and Jisu, of you and all the wolves you were with. Is it selfish of me to wish that I had met you sooner? Jisu’s  a good Alpha and I’m sorry for insinuating that you liked her only because she doesn’t have a knot. If I were the better wolf I would ask you to not let her go. But I can’t and I won’t.”

Jimin stared steadfastly ahead. His lips trembled.

“You… you know I can’t take knots? Sex would never work.”

“It will work.”

“It won’t Jungkook. I have tried and all I was left with was blood.” Jimin cried.

Jungkook hooked a finger under Jimin’s chin and turned his face towards him. “Blood?”

Jimin shook him off. “I dated an Alpha and my rectum tore when he attempted to get his knot inside.”

Jungkook cupped his cheeks. “I will never let that happen to you. Who was this wolf?”

“I would never give you the opportunity to.” Jimin sniped.

Jungkook knit his brows together. “Can you please look at me?”

“I asked him to.” Jimin murmured and sat cross legged on the bed. Jungkook mimicked him and their knees almost touched.

“Why would you do that Jimin? And what sort of a wolf he is to actually try to the point of making you bleed.” Jungkook’s tone was angry.

“Leave it. It’s in the past.”

“I’m sorry it happened to you.”

Jimin glanced at him as if he was trying to read some sort of answer in the light hitting his eyes.

“We can figure this out Jimin. Together.”

Jimin fiddled restlessly with his fingers. “Why would you want to do that when there are better and easier options? I’m not convinced.”

“You are making light of my feelings and of me. If I wanted easier I wouldn’t be talking to you now. And please! Let me decide what is better for me. I won’t have you belittling yourself like this anymore.”

Jimin was uncertain for the first time since the conversation started. Somewhere in the back of his head or in the depths of his heart, he wanted to roll over and expose his neck for this wolf. He wanted to be bitten.

“I’m still afraid of losing you. This is the only thing that hasn’t changed since we met.”

That made Jimin’s head snap back up.

“What?” Jimin said, looking at him sharply.

“It terrifies me so much. When you went into shock I was sure I would go mad if you didn’t wake up.”

“Imagine living with it.” Jimin offered.

“I was out of line. I shouldn’t have projected my fears on you and burdened you with it. I was the burden Jimin. I let it control me.”

“And now?”

“Now I don’t want to deny myself anymore. I think you could be my m…” The word almost slipped out.

Jimin’s face drained of colour. He had guessed the almost spoken word. Unbidden, a great wave of melancholy rose in his chest. His heart squeezed. It can’t be.

Silence lingered between them, heavy and pressing.

“Thank you. I appreciate you talking to me. I guess I was judgmental of you” Jimin finally said. “I’m sorry. You mentioning my condition is a trigger for me. But that’s on me”

“It was more my fault Jimin.”

“Don’t do that. Don’t be an apologist for me. I snapped at you and acted like a dick and you have the right to be annoyed with me.”

“Okay. I’ll be annoyed with you if you want me to.” Jungkook sported a wide grin.

“Jungkook.” Jimin’s eyes were serious and warm. He wanted Jungkook to hear him too.

“I’m sorry. I’m just not annoyed or angry or whatever you think I should be. I got what I deserved.”

Jimin sighed heavily not knowing what to say.

Jungkook looked at him expectantly. “So..”

“So?” Jimin met his eyes.

“Are you still mad at me?” Jungkook asked in a small voice.

“No. I don’t think I am.” Jimin admitted truthfully.

“Thank you.” Jungkook touched Jimin’s wrist with light fingers.

Jimin smiled.

“Where do we go from here?” 

“I don’t know. Should we go anywhere?” Jimin said, cautious.

“I would like to. Sit with me for dinner?”

“Not tonight. I’m sleeping early.”

“But you need to eat.” Jungkook was worried.

“I ate.”

“Okay.” Jungkook said, nodding. He stood.

“I’m going to finish up my notes and hit the bed.”

“You have a good night.” Jungkook said crossing the room reluctantly.

“You too.” Jimin said sincerely, following him to the door.

“Yes.” Jungkook said.

“Right.” Jimin rocked back on his heels.

“See you.” Jungkook said, sounding now a little strange.

“Yeah” Jimin agreed, standing by the door.

Jungkook coughed as if clearing an obstruction from his throat. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes. Tomorrow.”

”Don’t forget your notes.” Jungkook leaned down to pick it up. He extended the notes to Jimin.

Jimin clutched the papers to his chest.

Jungkook lifted a hand in goodbye, but his feet were still rooted on the spot.

“What are you going to do?” Jimin asked politely seeing that Jungkook was wavering outside his door.

“You?” Jungkook replied without thinking.

“What?”

Fuck. Abort abort.

“Nothing. Did I speak? I don’t think so” he babbled.

“Are you thinking with your dinky again?” Jimin looked pointedly at Jungkook’s crotch.

“Dinky?” he snorted. Moon goddess, Jimin was funny. And fearless. “I do not have a dinky.” Jungkook tried to look insulted, but amusement bubbled through him. “A donkey maybe.”

“You are a donkey.” Jimin muttered.

A laugh escaped from Jungkook. He was so glad that they were able to joke about it. So fiercely happy. When Jungkook laughed, a clean cold light bathed Jimin’s eyes, scouring his mind of all memory.

Look

will we ever find what we look for? Is it because we look for what we want, instead of what we need?

Jimin was jealous. He curled his toes in an unconscious tensing of his body and ran his tongue over his dry lips, wincing, when he realized that they were cracked. He nibbled at one crack, pulling at the peeling bit of skin. The gentle rocking motion of the boat kept in time with the emotion churning in him. It was churning in his stomach and chest. Adisa and Jungkook were sitting close, much too close. He frowned. It was not as though they were suddenly close, skin touching, lips parting and curving into laughs and smiles. It was not as though they suddenly exchanged words with each other. But it was as though Jimin was seeing them with new eyes. Jungkook’s eyes gleamed with delight at something Adisa said and he shifted an inch away when Adisa leaned closer. Jimin was being irrational because Jimin and Jisu and any other wolf were much the same with each other. Nervously, Jimin undid the folding clasp on his watch and clicked it back in place. He had forgotten to leave it in his room. Click. Click. Click.

Jungkook turned towards him at the rhythmic sound and Jimin froze. He smiled, a brief twisting of his lips and returned to Adisa. His eyes did not gleam in delight at Jimin. Jimin knew logically that he was seeing things because of jealousy. They were actually being the usual. Even now as he watched, Jungkook was sitting a foot apart having increased the distance between him and the omega. What am I doing? Jimin chastised himself. Take it slow.

It was hard to be slow, because Jungkook said so many sweet things and it gave him hope. Even so, he wanted to give himself time to see if it wasn’t ephemeral. There wasn’t much time anyway. He and Adisa were scheduled to leave in three weeks. Jimin did not want to think of what would happen after they leave. Or what couldn’t happen. That was the thing about hope. It was a powerful thing. It could keep someone alive but it could also crush cruelly. Sunlight glinted off the surface of the sea and he couldn’t wait to dive. His parameters were within acceptable limits and he was thankful. There were days when he couldn’t dive because his body wouldn’t allow it. Jisu dropped anchor and Jungkook broke apart from Adisa’s side. He appeared in front of Jimin.

“Did you check?”

“Yeah.”

“Be careful down there.”

“I always am.” Jimin replied, fixing his regulator. He went over the edge of the boat.

Jimin descended through the blue and set up his small equipment. Adisa joined him soon. They worked steadily for the better part of twenty minutes.  Knowing that Adisa could finish up, Jimin signalled his camera to Adisa and pointed to his left. Adisa followed his finger and gave a thumbs up sign. Jungkook was hovering nearby but with his back to them. Jimin swam swiftly to the orange corals knowing that he had at most another fifteen minutes. Fish cut through the water around him warily. Transparent jelly fish by the dozens floated in the water, boneless and bloodless. They pumped leisurely, with seemingly no sense of direction. Boneless, bloodless and brainless but nevertheless looking like pumping hearts. A few strayed near the orange corals. A wall of mouths from the corals caught one, polpys attaching itself with tiny tentacles, ensuring that the medusa couldn’t swim away.

Corals and Jellyfish both belonging to enidarians, one eating the other. Jimin was fascinated. He had read about this behaviour but it was the first time witnessing it with his own eyes. The unlucky jelly fish pumped, trying to get away but the corals held steadfast even while they feasted on it. It was cruel and beautiful. He was so absorbed in his observation that he did not realize that Jungkook had joined him until he felt a tap on his arm. Startled, he turned, breathing out a frenzy of bubbles. Jungkook pointed a finger above them to a breath taking sight. A bloom of jelly fish, flashing pale orange gold in the sunlight floated high over them, their tentacles trailing in long tendrils. It was time to leave.

***

“That was beautiful.” Jungkook exclaimed on the boat. Jimin agreed silently.

“Don’t be fooled.” Adisa said. “They look harmless but many are deadly.”

“Like you.” Jungkook replied, tone dry and sarcastic.

It did not sit well with Jimin even though Jungkook was only teasing.

“Do you know that there is an immortal jelly fish?” Jimin asked, needing to say something.

“Really?”

“Yeah. It is the only known animal in the world to be able to reverse its life cycle. An adult or juvenile can revert to a polyp if stressed. It’s called transdifferentiation.” Moon goddess, it sounded like he was showing off or something. Jimin pressed his lips tight in embarrassment.

Jungkook was staring at him with strange eyes.

“It’s just jellyfish” Jimin muttered unnecessarily. Adidas gave a knowing smirk from behind Jungkook and Jimin wanted to wipe it off his face.

“We should go to an aquarium.” Jungkook declared.

Jimin managed to say nothing, though he wanted to ask many things.

“It will be cool. I will have my own marine biologist to explain everything to me.”

When where how. He did not want to ask why, because of Jungkook’s sweet words of apology and explanations even though he was jealous right now. He couldn’t believe Jungkook with the jealousy weighing down on his bones.

He nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He wasn’t sure what to say anyway.

“What am I? Kibble?” Adisa asked sulkily and Jungkook blushed, the colour high on his cheekbones.

Jimin turned resolutely back to the sea. Nothing made sense. He felt like the Jellyfish, untethered, waiting to be caught. His heart pumped blood and red. It was unfair and it gave Jimin a dull ache in his chest.

***

Adisa was going into heat. That explained why he had been demanding attention from Jungkook. Jimin did not think that he did it consciously. It was their pheromones and reproduction and instinct and he would have been the same with any other unmated Alpha. It was just that Jungkook was the nearest. Probably. It still hurt. Besides Adisa was Jungkook’s first choice. Jimin thought viciously as he entered Adisa’s shack. It was dark. He almost expected Jungkook to be inside and was stupidly relieved.

“Where is Jungkook?” He nevertheless asked because he was brainless. Like the jelly fish.

“I don’t know. Why are you asking me?” Adisa responded testily. He was shifting restlessly on his bed, sweat beading on his brow.

“um… He helped you off the boat..”

“Jimin…He accompanied me until my door because I was feeling weak and because you were busy taking care of our instruments. That’s all.”

“I know. I just asked.”

“Sure you just asked” Adisa was particularly snarky, as he always became during heats.

Jimin placed a wet strip of cloth on his forehead. “Will you be okay?”

“Yeah. I have taken medicines. They should kick in soon enough.”

“All right. Call me if you need anything. Is your phone nearby?”

Adisa picked up his pone from beside his pillow and waved it in the air.

“All right.” He said again and crossed the room to the door. He shut it softly behind him, blinking in the bright sunlight. He meandered to his shack. There was something on the sand by his door. A conch shell resting on a scrap of paper. He picked both up. The shell was brown, grey and white, with a horny exterior. The inside was a pale pink. On the paper, was a familiar handwriting. So that you always carry the ocean with you. 

Jimin read it again and held the open side of the conch to his ear. He smiled hearing the waves of the ocean. I am only hearing my own pulse. But even that thought did not take away the magic of the moment. The magic which he lost as a child when he learnt that there was no ocean inside shells and that it was only an echo of the pulse.              

He pushed the door and let himself inside. He flopped down on the bed, resting on his back with his legs dangling over the edge. He held the shell against his chest, feeling the warmth of it through the fabric of his shirt. He stared at the bamboo walls, losing himself in the endless, pattern. It was quiet and still, the warm noon day sun heating the air through the tiny holes in between the interwoven bamboo. Specks of light scattered on the floor. He listened to the steady beat of his heart in his chest and the gentle rhythm of his breathing, concentrating on the sensation of the cool bed covers beneath him.

***

Jungkook found Jimin sprawled on the shore, shaded by a few trees and basking in the heat. The slightest of breezes carried over Jungkook’s scent. The scent was a little different, deeper even from a distance, hitting a subtly different note. He smelled confident and the perfect ease of his walk agreed. And of course, his looks were just as stunning in his loose baggy clothes. Jimin raised his head as Jungkook got closer, eyes following him, alert to his presence. They had missed each other since the dive yesterday. Jimin had holed himself inside his room, not responding to the knocks on his door. He had quickly eaten dinner, eyes darting around for the Alpha. Jimin expected to be a wreck on seeing Jungkook, but the slow turn his insides gave was not exactly unpleasant. Jungkook squatted next to him.

“I was looking for you.”

“hmmm”

“You seem ….”Jungkook searched for words, reaching out for them, found one finally “…happy.”

“Is that wrong?”

“You just seemed tense yesterday.” Jungkook said. “Stormy.”

Jimin shrugged.

“Was something wrong? I felt like you were avoiding me.”

“I was.” Jimin admitted truthfully.

“Why?”

“You…” Jimin did not want to start with the sweet anxiety in his gut.

“I?”

“You seemed awfully close to Adisa on our way back yesterday.” He half held his breath so that the scent of Jungkook would not make him ache.

“I was the usual. Just being a little more considerate because he wasn’t well.”

“Didn’t seem like that to me.” Jimin was astonished at his own words. This was not him.

“It was. He came and sat next to me because he was unwell.” Jungkook insisted. 

“He was apparently starting his heat on the boat.”

“I was aware.”

“Oh.” Jimin felt foolish and excluded. He had not known until much later. Of course Jungkook was aware.

His oh must have conveyed a lot because Jungkook made haste to explain. “It’s nothing. Just biology. We are attuned to an omega’s pheromones and heat.”

“It’s not nothing.” Jimin said in a monotonous tone. Moon goddess he hated feeling like this, sounding like this.

“Jimin..”

“Can’t you see how it is? You chose him first. You did not even look at me. And yesterday you were drawn to him, weren’t you?”

“Yes I was. But it’s just the pheromones Jimin. No wolf is impervious to that.”

“How do I know that? How do I know you will not want that.” Jimin grew distressed.

“I won’t. I’m not a pup. I know what I am missing or won’t be missing.”

“I’ve always felt like the last choice in my life Jungkook. Even with you.”

“I cannot apologize for what you think of as me choosing Adisa over you. I wasn’t choosing. It was a brief hour of sex before I understood what I really wanted. It was nothing. We had just met Jimin!”

“I cannot expect you to understand.”

“You don’t give me enough credit. You are my only choice. Not first, not second, not last.”

“I want to believe you, but I have so many insecurities and doubts. Will it always be this way? How many times would it take for something to break?”

“I won’t allow it. I won’t allow anything to break.” Jungkook promised.

Jimin traced patterns in the sand with his toes and neither of them spoke.

“Thank you for the shell.” Jimin said after a while of silence.

“It was my pleasure.”

“Do you know it is illegal to take conch shells from the ocean?”

“Arrest me.” Jungkook spread his arms wide. Jimin’s eyes crinkled with mirth.

Jungkook reached for him, slowly as to not startle him, his glittering dark eyes lingering on the shape of Jimin’s lips. For a foolish moment, Jimin thought Jungkook was about to lean in and kiss him. The air was tense, warm and thick. Instead Jungkook pressed his forehead to Jimin’s as he gently grazed the tips of his fingers along his jaw. It was a brief shy gesture that had Jimin holding his breath. And just like that, he was gone again, almost immediately pulling away. He stretched out on the sand and Jimin copied him. Jungkook inched his fingers to Jimin’s hand and entwined his pinky finger with Jimin’s. A hot terrifying tightness began to intensify in the pit of his stomach. Late afternoon light escaped from beneath low clouds, shooting through the surface of the water, making the waves glow for an instant before they licked the land and then grew dark, seething through the pale, gritty sand.

“Did you eat?” Jungkook mumbled sleepily.

“I did.”

“Your blood sugar…Did you…” Jungkook’s words sank into slumber and his finger tightened on Jimin’s before relaxing.

Jimin closed his eyes.

***

When Jimin woke up, the sunlight was thick and heavy and pouring over everything like honey. A glance next to him confirmed what he already knew. Then his breath caught in his throat as he really noticed. Jungkook had thrown his tshirt aside at some point. Jimin’s eyes darted all over his body, his lips parting in quiet wonder. Yes, he had seen this before but not like this. Their pinky fingers were no longer intertwined, but lay close, touching. Jimin couldn’t help the way his eyes dragged away from those taut abs and firm chest, because the pull of Jungkook’s lips was as irresistible as the changing of the tides. Even when still, his lips looked expressive, ready to jump from shape to shape. Jimin bit his own lips in worry or want or both. His eyes traveled up, following the panes of Jungkook’s face. He had a strong brow and thick eyebrows. His nose was adorably large. His hair seemed like it was meant to form perfect loose tumbling waves. Jimin itched to bury his fingers in it and see the strands fall between his fingers. Jungkook shifted in his sleep and Jimin jerked away like he had been caught by an electric current. He looked away while he waited for his heart to slow. When he glanced back, it was at Jungkook’s muscular legs, following his thighs until they disappeared into his shorts. His eyes skipped ahead to Jungkook’s groin and Jimin looked away hastily, already blushing. Jungkook looked friendly. He should have looked terrifying, even in his sleep with his lean muscles, incredible strength, and perfectly handsome face. Jimin should have looked upon him and felt like dying, like crawling around on his belly in his unworthiness.

What Jimin wanted in that silent moment was to press his lips to Jungkook’s mouth, He drew his knees up to his chest and looped his arms around them, gazing at Jungkook’s still form all the while. Was it just that Jungkook’s form was beautiful? No. Was it that he was kind ? Yes. There was that. But there was also that undercurrent of something else, something that grabbed Jimin by the insides and wouldn’t let go. He wasn’t exactly sure what it was.

In the perfect stillness of the moment, Jungkook’s breathing shifted and he opened his eyes so slowly that Jimin forgot to look away. His dark eyes were soft with sleep or contentment and Jimin looked back steadily, watching.

“Have you been waiting long?” Jungkook asked quietly.

Ages. I’ve been waiting all my life for someone like you.

***

The next day, Jimin did not go for the dive. His blood sugar was teetering just inside the limits and he decided to stay back. Jungkook brought grilled fish for him.

“Will you be alright?”

“I promise to stay alive.” Jimin joked, the corners of his mouth quirking up.

Jungkook was not amused.

When Jimin felt better he decided to walk along the shore. It was a windy day. He took care to not go near the waves. He felt giddy at the pressure of the sand between his toes, bunching and slipping away. The wind rushed up his t shirt and touched the exposed skin on his stomach. He imagined salt sifting into his flesh, crystalizing every cell. He imagined his blood growing thick, and then ceasing, until he is a pillar of salt. How a touch would shatter him then. He shuddered and walked back quickly, feeling haunted by the thought of his own heart pumping and struggling like the Jelly fish caught by a hundred tiny tentacles.

Zane awaited him by his door. “You fucker” he yelled, the sound like a cracked whip.

Jimin was startled.

“You did this. You shut us down!”

“What?”

The hell was going on?

“Don’t pretend not to know” Zane snarled into his face.

“I really don’t know what you are talking about.” Jimin stated calmly and that seemed to rile Zane up more.

“We were shut down temporarily. You sent the report.”

“It has nothing to do with me.”

Zane shoved him and Jimin stumbled. He grinned at Zane, a showing of teeth. “Think again before you touch me.”

“Yeah? I don’t see your lapdog around”

“Zane..Zane. Zane.” Jimin tutted. “You forgot that I had you at my feet. All alone.”

The Alpha went red with rage. “You think you are superior don’t you. I will make you eat dirt.”

“Listen I don’t know what you are on about. I haven’t sent any report. There wasn’t one in the first place.”

Zane laughed madly and Jimin doubted if he was even listening to him.

“There will be payback. I will make sure of that, fucking beta.” Zane spat and it landed on Jimin’s right foot. He flinched. He watched, disturbed at Zane’s retreating back, wiped his foot with sand and then went in search of one of the crew. He found her, repairing a sail. They greeted each other and Jimin asked her if she has heard anything of the mining operations.

“Yeah. They have been temporarily shutdown due to pollution claims, pending investigation.”

“Do you know who filed the charges?”

“It’s rumoured to be the watery world foundation. If I remember right, there was an undercover operation and no one knew about it until later. Two young attractive omegas with recording equipment. They dived during the day and charmed the miners at night.”

“Thanks.”

Great. The crazy fuck thought it was Jimin and Adisa. He regretted his empty threat from weeks ago. When Adisa and Jungkook returned from the dive, Jimin appraised them in Adisa’s shack. The omega was a little frightened.

“Only a few weeks before we leave.” Jimin consoled him.

Jungkook pulled Jimin aside. “Did he touch you?”

“Jungkook, please...Drop the Alpha act.”

Jungkook bristled. “I’m just concerned about you.”

“You don’t have to be. I am fully capable of….”

“Guys, can you please fight elsewhere.” Adisa massaged his forehead. “Your scents are giving me a headache.”

Jimin picked up his backpack off the floor and grabbed Jungkook’s wrist and dragged him outside. But then he didn’t know what to do.

“Let’s go to my room” Jungkook suggested and Jimin followed him. Bad idea because, the room smelled like Jungkook and his brain scrambled.

Jungkook sat on his bed. “Why won’t you let me take care of you?”

“I don’t need taking care of. I’m fully capable of it on my own.” Jimin paced in front of him, pausing to set his backpack by the bed.

“I know you are and I really like that about you. But part of liking someone also means…”

“You like me?” Jimin interrupted.

Jungkook was incredulous. “What do you mean by that question huh? Of course, I like you. It is what I have been saying for days and days!”

“But you didn’t Jungkook. You didn’t say those exact words.”

Jungkook blinked and stared.

“What? What?”

“Are you… how..” Jungkook sputtered, not sure where to start. “Jimin.. why the hell are you so…insecure?”

“Jungkook.. He gets you. Omegas get you in a way I never will. I bet he wouldn’t have reacted to you the way I did when you asked me about Zane.”

“What about what I want? Don’t generalise.” Jungkook’s voice was strong and his tone was as patient as he could manage.

“He was touching you. That day on the boat” Jimin growled.

Though Jimin did not utter a name, Jungkook understood whom he was referring to.

“I wasn’t letting him. Did you not notice that?” Jungkook said quietly. “He was starting his heat and he just wanted some simple comfort.”

Jimin looked at him intently for a long minute and then slumped. “Do you want to?” he finally asked in a small voice.

“What?” Jungkook was appalled and insulted. “What the fuck?”

Jimin unfolded his arms and stared at his fingers, his expression confused, sad and scared.

“You know goddam well that I do not. Want. Him to touch me.” Jungkook knew he sounded disgusted and hoped Jimin understood that his disgust was not directed towards him, but rather the thought of being with someone who wasn’t Jimin.

“It’s just that you will want to be an Alpha in and out of bed and I can’t take it all the time. Certainly not in bed. You.. you will leave me…We cannot be spontaneous and…”

“Are you pissed at me because I show concern for you? Threatened because he touched me? Or because you think he gets me or whatever? Or because you want me to leave you even before we have started because you have some pre conceived notion about what I want in bed?” He threw his arms out, shouting now. “Can you please say something that will make some fucking sense?”

Jimin glared back. “Yes” He didn’t elaborate.

Jungkook waited for a moment, but it became obvious that Jimin wasn’t trying to say more. “Yes what?”

“Yes. All of the fucking above.” Jimin scowled and paced.

Jungkook put his head in his hands and groaned thinking about how irrational Jimin sounded. “Right..Okay..” he sighed but Jimin began to rant.

“He gets you. They get you. You can wave it off until the end of time, but it is the truth. And you will want it too. You will want heats, slick, pups. You will want spontaneity. You will want someone not caged by an illness. You will get tired of me and leave me. You will want someone more attractive. I won’t be able to hold you to me and you will leave.”

Jungkook stared struggling to articulate how he felt. Some of what Jimin had said was ..logical. Stupid, insane, inaccurate and actually pretty insulting but also in a bizarre way, logical. 

“So…” Jungkook started slowly. “Do you…” he squinted and cocked his head seriously. “Do you want me to like some one else? Do you want me to leave you?” he asked in complete earnest, not even remotely sarcastic.

“No” Jimin howled and groaned.

“Because that’s what it sounds like. It sounds like you think I need to find someone else, specifically Adisa or some other omega. Or maybe just anyone else other than you. Explore my options. And what about you? There will always be someone else more attractive then either of us. Will you leave me for someone more attractive? There are better wolves out there than me in every way and will you leave me for them Jimin?”

Jimin glared and fumed. “You know I’m right. It may not be now but that doesn’t mean that someday you are not going to start to wonder what else is out there, what you missed out on, because by the time you realize it, you are already committed to me.” The more Jimin talked, the paler he got and Jungkook realized that Jimin was backing himself into a nightmare and he alone was in it.

“Jimin..” He shook his head and eyed him warily not sure how to dispel all the nonsense from his head, when he wasn’t technically wrong. “Jimin..” his voice was soft. “Just because you are not fully wrong doesn’t mean you are right.”

He approached Jimin gently, still annoyed and angry himself, but he understood that Jimin felt his fears were valid. It would serve no purpose to shout. “I’m a fully grown wolf, capable and equipped to make decisions regarding my life.”

“I know that.” Jimin snapped. “That’s not..”

“Yes it is.” Jungkook snapped right back at him. “Now I’m supposed to be running off into the world to see what else is on offer because I will get.. what? Bored with you? Dissatisfied? Restless?” He walked towards Jimin pointing at him accusingly. “The fuck kind of a fickle prick do you think I am, that I don’t even know my own mind and my own heart?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“No! It is what you meant. It’s exactly what you meant. You just didn’t think of it that way because you were too fucking busy not giving me some fucking credit.”

They stared at each other, both hurt and discouraged.

“This is me” Jimin snarled.

“What are you so angry about?” Jungkook asked quietly, taking a step towards him.

“I don’t want to feel like this. Insecure… and stupid.”

Jungkook stepped closer and put his hands on Jimin’s chest. “I don’t want you to feel like this either.” He rested his forehead on Jimin’s and moved his hands to Jimin’s shoulders and held him. “You are being stupid Jimin. But only because you are letting yourself think there’s a chance I would ever want to be anywhere but with you.”

Jimin blinked, sudden tears turning all that was in front of him watery. Jungkook was watery.

“You are letting your fear get bigger that what could be us. That’s not okay.”

“Something’s going to happen Jungkook. Something always happens.” His voice was low and rough and Jungkook could hear him trying not to cry. “And then you came along and… fuck. I can’t lose you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Jungkook’s tone was hard and firm and he wondered what it must be like for Jimin, to live in fear everyday of being left alone again, of not being the first choice. “I’m not going anywhere.” He growled. “I fucking love you. It’s driving me crazy with how much I love you....I can’t even explain..I love you..”

Jimin made a strangled sound and buried his face into the crook of Jungkook’s neck. His body fell limp in Jungkook’s arms. Jungkook caressed his back soothingly, his exhales warm on Jimin’s scalp. “I wish I could explain how much...” Jungkook continued, “..but since I cannot, I will show you.”

Jimin pulled back and looked at him, eyes damp. Jungkook smiled a little knowing that they still had so much to learn, so many arguments and stubborn demands and struggles to understand how to be them in the best possible way. But they were another step forward.

”How will you show me?” Jimin’s voice was thick with emotion.

”I don’t know.” Jungkook admitted in a whisper. “But I won’t stop trying until you believe that I love you, all of you, Beta.”

Jimin cupped Jungkook’s cheeks and slowly and deliberately leaned in to kiss him. Jungkook made a surprised sound, even though he knew the kiss was coming. Jimin’s lips were warm and dry against his. Jimin flicked the tip of his tongue over Jungkook’s lips. Jungkook opened to him, inviting a deeper kiss. They melted against each other. Breaking the kiss with a gasp, Jimin tilted his head back and Jungkook pressed his mouth to his throat, biting lightly. Blood rushed through Jimin’s ears, muffling the sweet sounds of Jungkook’s mouth sucking bruises into his neck.

“I have something for you.” Jungkook murmured against his throat. It tickled. Jungkook straightened and reached for Jimin’s hand, holding the back of Jimin’s hand in his palm. He plunged his other hand into the pocket of his loose pants and placed an object on Jimin’s palm. It was a piece of turquoise sea glass, rolled smooth by the ocean, edges rounded. It felt slick against the skin of his palm.

“And one more” Jungkook added another, this one green, more common. It was frosted indicating that it has spent more time in the ocean.

Jimin closed his fingers around it. “Thank you.”

Jungkook kissed him softly. “It’s my pleasure.”

Jimin’s throat grew tight and he was afraid that he will cry again. It was just sea glass but Jungkook had searched. He was still searching. He was searching and bringing bits of the ocean to him. Jimin lowered his lashes trying to conceal himself. Waves rushed against the shore and sands shifted beneath their force. And Jimin understood now and knew that force. Because he himself was shifting like the sand.

Jimin raised his head and the expression on Jungkook’s face had him freezing, because there was heat in full force in his eyes. He swallowed dryly unable to look away. Jungkook was looking at him with a focus, like Jimin was something to be conquered. He licked his lips nervously when Jungkook took the sea glass from his hands and placed it on the small table. He then undid the buttons of Jimin’s shirt. The last button came undone and the shirt parted in the middle revealing the smooth expanse of Jimin’s chest. Jungkook pressed his hands against Jimin’s stomach before sliding them upwards to curl around his waist. Jimin gripped Jungkook’s biceps, looking worriedly up to him.

“Don’t worry.” Jungkook tightened his grip on his waist, pulling him closer until they were standing flush against each other. He tipped his head down, mouth hovering over Jimin’s, so close that Jimin could feel his breath. “We will be fine. More than fine. Trust me.” He licked his way into Jimin’s mouth with focused intent, kissing him deep. Jimin gasped, the sound tangled between their lips as Jungkook palmed his ass with both hands. Jimin arched against him, hands coming up to grab Jungkook’s hair as they kissed and kissed, until his lips tingled. Jungkook slipped a thigh between Jimin’s legs, holding them both up against the motions of their bodies.

“We should get undressed.” Jimin gasped.

Jungkook raised his leg higher pressing hard against Jimin’s groin.

“Not helping” Jimin gritted out as his eyes fluttered shut for a few seconds before opening them again. Jungkook reached out and tugged Jimin’s shirt off. He rand his hand over the faint indentations of Jimin’s ribs, to the trail of dark hair disappearing into his pants. His wandering hands paused when Jimin tugged at his hair.

“Clothes Off” Jimin ordered him and fumbled with the zipper on his shorts. He pushed it down along with his boxers and sat splayed before Jungkook on the bed. Jungkook ran his hands up Jimin’s bare legs and leaned over to kiss him breathless. Jimin moaned into the kiss, grabbing at Jungkook’s hair with one hand making him chuckle.

“Do you like to grab?” he asked

Jimin immediately let his hair go. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine. I like it when you are so needy.”

Jimin scowled at him but lost track of whatever he was going to say when Jungkook disrobed swiftly. He shoved himself farther up the bed, his hungry gaze never leaving Jungkook. Jungkook stroked his cock as he stared back at Jimin.

“Like what you see?” Jimin asked in a whisper.

Jungkook swore a little at the sight Jimin made, sprawled on the bed, legs spread wide. He crawled between Jimin’s legs and got a hand on his cock. Jimin arched into his touch with a broken off cry, slapping a hand over his mouth to try to keep quiet. He muffled another sound when Jungkook stroked.

“Want to hear you.”

Jimin shook his head. “I’m loud. And the walls aren’t exactly soundproof.”

“So? Let everyone know that we are together now.”

Jimin had to remove his hand anyway because Jungkook pressed his tongue against the underside of Jimin’s cock before taking the head in. Jimin tangled his hands in Jungkook’s hair and tugged. Hard. He thrust shallowly into Jungkook’s mouth. Jimin tugged at his hair again causing Jungkook to pull off completely, chuckling at the irritated sound that escaped Jimin’s mouth.

“I like how you taste.” He rumbled, licking gently at the crown of Jimin’s cock, lapping up the pre cum.

“Jungkook” Jimin panted through gritted teeth, eyes filing with a wild need.

“Too close?” Jungkook asked.

Jimin squeezed his eyes shut. “It’s been me and my hand for over a year and you are..” He broke off with a cry as Jungkook wrapped spit slicked fingers around his cock and started to stroke. Jungkook leaned into the sharp tug of Jimin’s grip on his hair and continued to stroke.

“Uh.. Jungkook. I’m…” Jimin’s voice was thin and airy.

“Want to see you come.” Jungkook growled not looking away from Jimin’s flushed face.

“Jungkook.” His name ended on a wail as Jimin came, quick and easy in Jungkook’s hand, shaking through his sudden release. Jungkook stroked him through it until Jimin weakly shoved at his shoulder, a silent plea to stop. Jungkook moved forward, elbows on either side of Jimin’s hips. He leaned down to lick up the messy lines of cum spattered over his belly. Shaking fingers caught the edge of Jungkook’s jaw and he moved up to kiss Jimin shallowly.

“Sorry.” Jimin murmured, running his fingers through Jungkook’s hair. “Didn’t mean to come so fast.”

“Don’t be” Jungkook nosed his way over to Jimin’s cheek to nibble at his earlobe. “I liked that I could make you come so quick.”

“It’s kind of embarrassing though.”

Jungkook ran his hands over Jimin’s thighs. His cock lay spent between them while Jungkook’s own was swollen, an ache between his legs.

“Do you have lube?” Jimin asked, not really expecting an Alpha to have one. He was already wondering if he should go to his room to get it. But Jungkook surprised him again when he got down from the bed and rummaged on his table. At Jimin’s obvious surprise he grinned. “It seems to me i’m not the only one stereotyping.”

Jimin flushed.

“Are you sure?” Jungkook asked holding the tube tightly and climbing on to the bed.

“Yes.. Your knot?”

“I don’t always pop knots. It’s mostly during…” Jungkook hesitated. “…heats.”

Jimin sucked in a deep breath trying not to feel jealous again over something they both had no control over.

“But if I did, we will handle it then. Okay?”

Jimin searched his face silently.

”Trust me?” Jungkook said in a serious tone.

“Okay.”

Jungkook lubed his fingers and teased one against his tightly furled hole. He dropped his gaze down to his hands, watching the way Jimin’s body took his finger with a slow steady push. Jimin’s hips shifted against the intrusion. He pushed one more finger. Jimin swore, hips jerking up as he dug his heels against the mattress. Jungkook pushed at Jimin’s left knee a little, opening him up even more and tilting his hips upward. The angle made it easier for him to curl his two fingers inside that tight heat and find Jimin’s prostrate. Jimin arched his back and cried out loudly, knuckles going white where his hands gripped the bed sheet. His cock was hardening again slowly. Jungkook finger fucked him relentlessly that eventually had Jimin gasping. He added a third finger. He pulled his fingers out and then pushed them back in at just the right angle, hitting Jimin’s prostate heard enough to pull another cry out of him. He did it a few times until Jimin tried to close his legs, knees pressing against Jungkook’s arms. “Enough.” He begged and Jungkook settled heavily into the cradle of Jimin’s hips, grinding his cock against the slickness there. The pressure made him swear softly, cock throbbing as he kissed Jimin thoroughly.

“Want to make love to you.” Jungkook murmured against his mouth.

“Yes” came the immediate, desperate response as Jimin tried to pull him closer.

Jungkook lubed his cock quickly. Carefully, lining himself up, Jungkook kept Jimin’s gaze, unwavering.

“You okay?” he asked, voice hoarse and gravelly.

Jimin nodded, too busy drinking in the sight before him. There was something absolutely thrilling about the way Jungkook hovered above him. Jungkook gripped the base of his cock and guided it forward. The feel of Jimin’s hole clamping down around the head of his cock made him moan. Jimin was shaking against him, and Jungkook stroked a hand over his hip in a soothing manner.

“You feel so good;” he growled into Jimin’s ear, low and dangerous. “You good? Is this okay?”

Jimin wrapped his arms around his neck and pulled him close, practically melting under the weight of his body. He bit back a whimper when Jungkook adjusted his position, getting ready to move.

“I want to hear you say it.” Jungkook hummed. “I won’t start until you tell me you are good.”

“I’m…” Jimin took a deep breath. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the sensation of Jungkook’s warm strong hand running down his chest and stomach. He relished the way Jungkook’s fingers dragged over his skin, moving fluidly over muscle and bone. “I’m good” he managed. “Just. Please…”

Jungkook palmed Jimin’s cock, stroking him lightly as he rocked his hips forward in a gentle push. Jimin opened up more for him with a sharp exhale that he wanted to hear again. He pulled back slightly before rocking forward again, sliding deeper into that clenching heat.

“Oh fuck.” Jimin cried out, turning his face into the pillow.

Jungkook took his time, rolling his hips in gentle circles as he opened Jimin up on his cock, not stopping until his balls slapped against Jimin’s ass and every last inch of him was buried inside Jimin. Jimin wrapped his legs low around Jungkook’s hips, heels digging into his ass. Jungkook held his eyes, bracing them both as he drew out a couple of inches before thrusting back in. Jimin’s eyes went wide, mouth opening on a cry as Jungkook did it again, fucking into him with hard thrusts that had them both rocking against each other. The sound of their skin slapping together was drowned out by the whimpering broken moans from Jimin’s mouth.

Jungkook licked at his throat, sucking briefly. He slowed the motion of his hips, grinding them against Jimin’s ass as he kissed him with a biting intensity. Jimin licked his way past Jungkook’s teeth, gasping into his mouth as he rocked back against Jungkook, grinding down on his cock.

“You feel so good” Jimin confessed as Jungkook pulled out and thrust back in again, breath catching in the back of his throat. He yelled when Jungkook’s next thrust hit his prostate. His scent spiked into the air and Jungkook groaned. He felt a familiar pressure in the base of his cock. Oh fuck.

He could feel the muscles in Jimin’s legs tense. Jimin dropped his head back, chest heaving as he cried out from another hard thrust. His cock bobbed in the air, forgotten by them both.

“Jimin..Touch yourself.” He said through clenched teeth trying to stave off his knot. Jimin grabbed his cock mindlessly and started to stroke. The first touch had him shuddering, tossing his head back, as Jungkook drilled into him mercilessly. Jungkook could feel the tension in Jimin’s body, knowing he was close to coming. The ache in his own groin was deepening. Jimin looked half gone in Jungkook’s arms, hair a sweaty mess, his hand still moving on his cock, but he was losing rhythm. He did not even notice that Jungkook has stopped moving, desperate to keep his knot from growing bigger.

“C’mon.” Jungkook pleaded.

Jimin arched against him not even a few seconds later, coming with a wail that was more of a scream. His cock sputtered weakly in his hand. Jungkook’s knot swelled almost simultaneously in the middle of Jimin’s orgasm and he fell into Jimin, tucking his face into his neck. Jimin’s scent hit him right in his groin and he pulled out of Jimin stroking himself frantically.

“Let me.” Jimin whispered and curled his fingers around Jungkook’s knot. Jungkook freed his hands and planted them on either side of Jimin’s head, face still buried, needing his scent like air.

“You popped a knot for me huh?” Jimin whispered. “Such a good Alpha.”

Jungkook whined, his body shivering when Jimin pressed tightly against his knot with his fingers.

“Will you be a good Alpha and come inside me?”

That was all the encouragement Jungkook needed. He felt his balls tighten, drawing upwards, close to climax. He knocked Jimin’s hands away and thrust shallowly into Jimin’s hole, with just the tip inside Jimin. He came with a guttural shout, in heavy spurts. Jimin ran his hands down Jungkook’s back, coming to rest on his ass cheeks, holding him in place. Jungkook slid in further stopping at his knot. He moaned incomprehensible words into Jimin’s neck. Jimin slipped one hand between them, touching where they were joined, with curious fingers and then wrapped his fingers around Jungkook’s deflating knot.

“No” Jungkook moaned. “Too sensitive.” He came down from his orgasm and kissed the side of Jimin’s head. He crawled off the bed and headed for the bathroom. He wet a soft wash cloth and cleaned himself first with perfunctory motions before rinsing it out. He soaked it again, carrying it with him back to where Jimin lay on the bed. He took his time cleaning Jimin up, gently wiping his groin and belly. Jimin watched him with quiet eyes. He lifted a hand, flitting it across Jungkook’s cheek and stroking his thumb gently over there. Jungkook turned his face into the touch, kissing Jimin’s palm with closed lips before tossing the towel on the floor.

“I need to test...”Jimin said.

Jungkook nodded and he leaned over the bed and grabbed the meter and testing strips out of Jimin’s backpack. He watched keenly, a tad anxious while Jimin checked. “Can you please run and get me an apple juice from my shack?” Jimin’s voice was fuzzy.

“You will be alright?” Jungkook asked pulling on his pants.

“I will be. Just hurry.” Jungkook ran out not bothering with his shirt. He ran, the sand impeding his speed. He burst into Jimin’s room and grabbed two cartons of juice. He dashed back to his room and pulled the plastic wrap off the case. It took him two attempts to nail a straw through the stupid hole. Jimin propped himself on his elbows to drink.

“What else do you need? Chocolate?” He went to his table and picked a chocolate protein bar. Jimin shook his head. “This will do. I’ll wait for fifteen minutes. Don’t worry. It’s just a little low.”

“This is because we had sex isn’t it?” Jungkook wailed.

Jimin laughed. “No. It’s just the sudden unexpected exercise.” His eyes sparkled. “It was worth it.”

“Jimin…” Jungkook narrowed his gaze in warning. This wasn’t a joke.

“Are you regretting it?”

“No!” Jungkook shouted. “I don’t want this to happen again. Tell me what we need to do. What I need to do.”

“Oh, in that case we can’t have sex. Ever.” 

Jungkook’s face turned ashen. “What?”

”You heard me. No sex, it’s apparently too much for my body to handle.”

Jungkook was nodding even before Jimin could complete his sentence. “Fine. We won’t have sex. We will be fine. I can do this. I mean there’s always mastrubation, plus looking at you would be enough. Kissing is fine, right? ‘cos I don’t think I can live without your kisses…”

Jimin burst out laughing, interrupting Jungkook’s monologue.

”What…what..”

“It wasn’t the sex, Jungkook. Seriously. It happens sometimes. I got careless at lunch, pre occupied with Zane and his bullshit and didn’t finish my food. And then all this added activity.”

There was hole in Jungkook’s chest and he began to feel physically sick. Neither of them said anything when Jungkook got under the covers and pressed his face into Jimin’s chest, snuggling there. Jimin held him close, cradling his head, his Alpha.

Neither of them said anything because Jungkook was listening to his heart, pumping blood and red.

Found

We are lost only to be found. That is the only reason

“Got time for lunch?” Jungkook asked fresh from a dive. Jimin had opted not to go. They had finished most of the fieldwork and Jimin decided not to participate the balance few dives. In any case they did not dive everyday now that they were nearing then end of their study with only two weeks left. The previous week was very tumultuous and emotionally draining for Jimin.

“I was just about to head for lunch.”

“Grab your backpack. We are going on date.”

“A date? Here?” Jimin asked in a surprised tone.

“Not exactly here. In another island. We will take the helicopter.”

“Can you do that? I mean can you use it for personal purposes?”

“This baby is mine.” Jungkook responded referring to the red helicopter. “Besides it’s only once.”

“Now?”

“Now.” Jungkook said with an amused grin.

Jimin picked his backpack from the sand and held out his hand to Jungkook. Jungkook instantly intertwined his fingers with Jimin’s, happy that Jimin was taking initiative and was slowly growing secure. A private shy smile tugged Jungkook’s lips when Jimin swung their linked hands between their bodies while they walked. He liked this goofy side of Jimin. It was new to him. He had thought Jimin was serious but he couldn’t have been more wrong. Jimin started to recite a nursery rhyme in a high silly voice. Jungkook’s smile widened.

“The frogs say crrok crrroook” Jimin croaked.

“The cow says…” he paused and looked at Jungkook.

“moo moo.” Jungkook obliged albeit in a flat tone.

“C’mon Jungkook. You can do better. That was the saddest cow I’ve heard in my life.”

 Jungkook chuckled and shook his head.

“Oh c’mon. I’ll moo with you. Like this, Moooooo..” Jimin instructed him. “Purse your lips.”

“Moooooo moooooo.” They chorused together and startled a crew member walking in front of them. She turned and looked at them with a quirked eyebrow and then continued on her way. They dissolved into helpless laughter.

“Why are we laughing..it wasn’t even funny.” Jungkook wheezed as they neared the helicopter. He tossed both their bags in the back and helped Jimin with his earphones and strap.

“I can do it myself.”

“I know, but I want to.”

Jimin ruffled his hair fondly. “Fine.” He said on a dramatic sigh.

Soon they were in the air and Jimin’s eyes were glued to the world below them. “So beautiful.” His eyes sparkled and a smile exploded over his face.

“When I met you, I was a little intimidated by you. You were so serious” Jungkook confessed.

“Really?”

“Yep. You were all I’m Dr. Park and I will cut you into pieces with my eyes alone.” Jungkook recited in a deep tone.

“I get that sometimes. It’s my resting bitch face.”

“Nuh. It’s more than that. Even we started to get to know each other, you were still serious and closed off.”

Jimin hummed.

“I really like this side of you. Silly and goofy…”

Jimin smiled. “I really like this side of me too” he joked. “I am this way with anyone I’m close with. I guess it’s because I’m comfortable to be myself and let go.”

“I’m so glad you feel comfortable with me.”

“With you, it’s not comfortable as much as being less insecure….Oh wait are we going to the main island?”

“Indeed Dr. Park. Your observations skills are top notch.”

Jimin turned to him with a Really? look.

Jungkook maneuvered the aircraft to the landing site and it took only a few minutes to shut the helicopter down. He hopped down from the aircraft and retrieved their bags.

“So? Where are we going?” Jimin asked as he slung his bag over one shoulder.

“You will see. Are you hungry? Feeling okay? I got food.”

“Oh goody.” Jimin’s eyes twinkled and he patted Jungkook’s belly. “What’s on the menu?”

“Behave Dr. Park.”

“Will I get to see you naked at some point during the date?” Jimin wriggled his brows and reached for Jungkook’s hand. They walked, swinging their hands together again.

“This makes me feel like I’m in elementary school.”

“What does?”

Jungkook tugged his hand with Jimin’s in it. “This.”

Jimin grinned. “Glad I make you feel young, Alpha.”

“Hey! I’m younger than you.” Jungkook protested and they walked for ten more minutes, bickering and teasing each other. Jungkook led them to a small lake and Jimin gasped at the crystal clear water. Jungkook pulled a blanket out of his bag and spread it on the grass, He placed two towels in one corner. Jimin sat down eagerly and spread his feet. Jungkook passed him a container of grilled fish, mashed potatoes and beans and he tucked in like he was starving. He passed Jimin a drink and he spilled a bit on his thigh before he raised it to his lips.

“Sorry” he muttered.

“What for?”

He shrugged and wiped his lips. “For not being able to be more spontaneous.” He hid his expression by looking down at his food but something in his tone alerted Jungkook to his distress.

“Jimin.” he admonished. “Don’t”

He was shocked by the sudden sheen of tears in Jimin’s eyes and grief hit him like a rock. Jimin blinked and carried on eating and Jungkook wondered if he had dreamt the moisture in Jimin’s eyes. He didn’t eat. He wasn’t hungry anymore.

“When’s your birthday?” Jimin suddenly asked around a mouthful of beans.

“Uh.. 1^st September.”

“You had to think about it.” Jimin grinned.

“Guilty as charged.” Jungkook said. 

Jimin waited for a beat but Jungkook said nothing else.

“Are you not going to ask mine?” Jimin finally asked.

“Why should I?” Jungkook replied, indifferent.

“Rubbish. Will you not know when your ma…” Jimin paused abruptly, stricken.

“My what, Dr. Park?” Jungkook chuckled.

“Nothing.. Just..” Jimin said weakly, not knowing which direction to take. “You need to know my birthday so that you can buy me gifts.”

“That’s not what you said first.” Jungkook scoffed.

Jimin stuffed his mouth with fish and mashed potatoes and chewed in slow bites. He chewed and chewed drawing it out as much as he could, until he had to swallow.

“My what?” Jungkook, the little shit that he was, asked again after waiting patiently.

“If you know why are you asking?” Jimin huffed.

“I don’t know.” Jungkook looked the picture of innocence

“Anyway.. My birthday is on..”

“….October 13^th!” Jungkook finished with him.

“You knew already?”

“Yeah. I asked Adisa.”

“Ah.. stop teasing me Jungkook.”

“Never.” Jungkook said seriously. “I will tease you all your life.”

Jimin’s breath caught in his throat at the seriousness in Jungkook’s voice. As if embarrassed by his own statement, Jungkook ducked his head and toyed with his drink. “Shall we take a dip in the lake?” he mumbled from under his lashes.

“Oh..Jungkook, I can’t..” Jimin bit his lower lip and gazed longingly at the clear water as the sun blazed down at them.

“Are you worried about your feet?”

Jimin tilted his chin. “How do you know that?”

“I’ve been doing a little research.”

“Yeah.. that and I don’t feel like doing all the precautionary things…It takes time..”

“I understand.”

“Sor..”

“Don’t say sorry again.” Jungkook cut him off.

“But you go ahead. I’ll watch.”

“You just want to see me naked.”

“Guilty as charged.” Jimin flashed a quick smile. He watched, mouth dry as Jungkook shed his clothes in a pile on the blanket. He set his hands on his hips and watched Jimin, who became self conscious. He rubbed a hand over his brow. “What?”

“You know what? I can carry you. Let’s go in.”

“That’s ridiculous. I’m heavy.”

“I’m sure I can manage for a little while. I’m strong.”

“Aren’t you modest?” Jimin asked with a smile.

“Just telling it like it is.”

“But my feet…”

“You can wear my boots.” Jungkook pointed to his pair of wellington boots.

“Do I have to be naked?” Jimin’s eyes gleamed.

Jungkook slipped his hands underneath Jimin’s t shirt. “You don’t have to be. But that would work too.” He raised the material over Jimin’s head and there he stood, clad only in his shorts. He was so beautiful that he squeezed the breath out of Jungkook’s chest. Jimin inched his shorts along with his underwear down his muscled thighs and reached for the boots. Jungkook’s heart kicked in his chest looking at Jimin naked, except for the boots.

“Let’s go soldier.” Jimin winked and sauntered towards the water. Jungkook was rendered speechless and motionless and he was rooted to the spot as if in a stupor. “Jungkook? Don’t forget the lube” He called over his shoulder and Jungkook started. Damn. Heat rolled off his skin, nothing to do with the sun.

“What?” He called stupidly.

“Just come here.” Jimin crooked a finger at him and Jungkook could not resist the lure of it. He hurried to his bag and searched for the lube and jogged quickly to Jimin.

“Are we really doing this?”

“Uh huh.” Jimin replied and pried the tube from Jungkook’s fingers. He drizzled some on two fingers and reached behind his back. When Jungkook reached with his own fingers, Jimin batted his hand away. “Save all the energy for holding me above the water.”

Jungkook could not stop himself from kissing him. They kissed for long minutes while Jimin opened himself up. “I think that should do” he said against Jungkook’s lips and squirted more lube directly on Jungkook’s hardening cock. Jimin stroked his cock a few times and placed his hands on Jungkook’s shoulders, the remnants of lube sticky against his skin. Jungkook scooped him up silently and carried him into the water. It was cold but all Jungkook could think of was how warm Jimin felt in his arms. The silt and sand beneath his feet was smooth but he kept a firm hold of Jimin. Jimin nipped his chin and kissed his jaw. Small kisses that branded his flesh with fire. He waded deeper, the water coming up to mid thigh.

“Go in further. I want to feel the water too.”

At Jungkook’s look he said “Just a little more. I will keep my feet up. Besides I’m wearing boots.” Jimin tightened his legs higher up around Jungkook’s waist. Emboldened, Jungkook obliged and went in until the surface of water grazed Jimin’s ass.

“Fuck. Its freezing.” Jimin laughed.

“I didn’t notice.” Jungkook said and kissed him. Jimin sank deeper into the kiss. Jungkook’s lips parted as he moaned. He was hot and smooth and as sweet as honey. Neither of them felt like they were able to get close enough despite Jungkook crushing Jimin to him and Jimin’s hands gripping his hair in a death lock. Jimin rocked against him and Jungkook thought he was about to explode. His whole body throbbed with the desperate need to be inside Jimin. No foreplay. No teasing. Just inside. Right now. He was thankful for Jimin’s foresight before they entered into the water. His limbs shook from lust. Lust that had grabbed hold of him that first time he kissed Jimin. Lust that wouldn’t let go.

“This is going to be a little difficult.” Jungkook said as they kissed. Jimin snaked a hand between their bodies and fondled his cock and Jungkook hissed at the pressure. His hand joined Jimin’s and he pressed his cock against Jimin’s hole. Jimin angled his body up and towards Jungkook and pushed out. It stung when the head of his cock popped inside and Jimin could not stop the involuntary hiss of pain. Jungkook tried to pull away at that sound but Jimin held fast.

“it’s just a little sting. Keep going.”

They both made small movements until he was able to ease his way inside. Jimin was perfect and ready for him and sank down on him in a way that made Jungkook whimper. He closed his eyes and faced the sky. He tried to stand perfectly still and relinquish control, so that Jimin could do whatever he wanted with him. Jimin felt so amazing wrapped around him. Strange yet familiar. Brilliant. Too vibrant and frightening. And then he couldn’t stand it any longer and gripped Jimin’s hips, driving harder, deeper, faster, searching for something inexplicable and primal. The most basic need in the whole animal world. Water splashed around them, churned up by their love. But his arms were tiring with the effort to keep Jimin above water. And Jimin noticed that his movements were slowing down.

“Hey.” He said softly. “Take me back.”

“No.. Its fine. Just give me a moment.” Jungkook panted.

“You don’t have to be strong all the time Alpha. Take me back.” Jimin said, pressing his forehead against Jungkook’s and hitched himself up a little until Jungkook’s cock slid free out of him.

Jungkook sighed and waded carefully through the water in agreement. Jimin jumped down the moment they hit the shore and pulled Jungkook by his hand to the blanket. He lay down and Jungkook tumbled on him. His body swallowed Jimin’s on the blanket. He pressed against Jimin and rocked against him and he let himself be pushed until Jimin was washed up against Jungkook, breaking over him. Jimin bit Jungkook’s neck and felt those callused hands and rough fingers cupping his ass tight and hard. They rocked together, a beautiful symphony, their scents mingling and scenting the air around them. It was like being in a cocoon. The boots encasing Jimin’s legs chafed against Jungkook’s skin uncomfortably but he couldn’t have stopped even if wanted to. The sun warmed their skin, drops of water glistening under it. Jungkook inhaled deeply into Jimin’s neck and groaned. He could feel his knot starting to grow like every damn time they had sex. Something about Jimin’s scent just set him off uncontrollably. He pulled out partially and fisted his knot. It went on and on until they were breaking together, moaning into messy kisses with swollen lips. Jimin recovered first and his heart stuttered. Jungkook was a sight. He came down with his eyes closed, the beautiful tight muscles of his stomach, the bars of his rib cage shifting with each heaving breath. When Jungkook shivered, his back exposed to the wind, Jimin crumpled the blanket on either side of him under his palms and wrapped it around their bodies. Jungkook was still heavily cradled between his thighs.

“I love you.” Jimin whispered. For the first time.

Jungkook mumbled something into his neck and his skin vibrated. It could have been an I love you or a me too or maybe something else. Jimin did not know and he did not want to know. Because sometimes there were no need for words, not when Jungkook’s skin warmed his own and his scent shrouded him. The weight of Jungkook sank into his bones and Jimin wanted to keep him there. Semen trickled out when Jungkook shifted and Jimin instinctively tightened his ass, a futile attempt to prevent it from seeping out. His senses were loaded with Jungkook, from his head to toe. It was a sharp sweet pain to be so much in love. A little hopeless, a little scary, a little bitter sweet. Like the sweet-sour candies Jimin liked, the sweet and sourness complimenting each other so well that he craved the sweet after the sourness and then the sourness after the sweet. He felt a little like that inside his ribcage, what he had experienced a thousand times on his tongue.

Jungkook tucked himself snugly against Jimin’s chest and when he fell asleep, it was to the tickle of Jimin’s hand along his spine, a single touch repeated again and again. Jimin did not sleep. He lay with his eyes wide open. Jungkook was growing heavy, limp with sleep. But Jimin did not move. He was waiting for the invisible contours of sweet and bitter to coalesce into a kiss, a laugh, a singing in his blood. Something to be measured in years and years and lifetimes.

****

There were only five days left. Jimin was very happy with their progress. They were ahead of schedule and could leave in two days. But he was reluctant to leave early. He wished he could go for dives. He missed the ocean. But it was no longer necessary and Jimin did not want to take unnecessary risks. He checked the time and sighed. His eyes crept to the growing pile of items that Jungkook gifted him every single day from the ocean. Pretty shells, each different from each other. One was a swirl of orange and black, another a long pointed one, all white. There were many more, spread like a constellation on his desk. There were bits of dried coral, long dead. One was a fan of delicate seemingly brittle veins. Jimin was afraid it would crumble beneath his fingers. It was deceptively delicate though, strong underneath. Like you Jungkook had said.  Smooth pebbles, oval and round of grey, green, black and cream, and one all bent out of shape like a rock. And among them all, sea glass winked at him like precious jewels. He picked the turquoise one and rolled it between his fingers. I’ll make a necklace out of this for Jungkook he thought. He placed it back and ran a finger over the spiny ridges of the bone of a fish spine. There were so many thoughts swirling around in his head that he wasn’t able to focus on his work.

Jungkook and Adisa weren’t due to be back for another hour and a half. He shut his laptop, deciding to take a walk. He hoped it would help in clearing his restless mind. He pushed his hands into the sleeves of a hoodie, jammed a cap over his head and shut the door behind him. He squinted in the bright sun and lowered his gaze. He walked along the line of trees. The ocean swelled from her depths and crashed on to land in a tireless repetition. Jimin watched a bird fly low over the shimmering water, white wings, long and breaking into the wind, defying it. He was worried. He and Jungkook haven’t spoken about what they would do after they leave the islands. Jungkook lived in a city six hundred kilometres from him. He wondered how they would handle the logistics of it. Would Jungkook want to live together? He did not think he would be able to be away from Jungkook and visit him only on weekends or worse, once a month. They haven’t spoken of mating too. It was early to speak of it. The word had almost passed both their lips, only to be held back. Jimin wished he could just ask Jungkook to be his mate. He thought about where they could live. Maybe somewhere completely new. Would Jungkook want to move to his city? It seemed so crazy to be thinking about this when he hasn’t even introduced Jungkook to his parents and vice versa. He had mentioned Jungkook to mama on the phone, and she had been excited. He stopped and looked around him becoming aware that he has walked for a longer distance than he intended to and groaned. It was going to be a long walk back. He whirled around at a metallic sound behind him, but it was just a piece of what appeared to a broken off tin roofing rattling against the bark of a coconut tree in the wind. He made a beeline for it, cursing under his breath. When he bent down, fingers extended, he felt eyes on his back and froze. His skin tingled unpleasantly and he pulled the tin roofing free from the sand. He stood still, trying to discern if there were any unnatural sounds in the air. He gripped the tin roofing tight when he heard a light shuffling in the sand and turned. And there was Zane, his eyes flinty, his mouth pressed into a firm line as he brought a shovel down on his head. The tin roofing fell from his hands.

***

Jungkook sat on the edge of his bed drying his hair. He had gone to Jimin’ shack first but the door was closed and there was no answer to his raps or calls. Jungkook thought that he must have gone for a stroll or to get something to eat. He checked at the restaurant and Jimin wasn’t there. He went back to his room and decided to wait. An hour turned to two and his worry grew. Jimin’s walks were always short and since they had gotten together, he made sure to be back in time to greet Jungkook. His fingers shook lightly on his phone as he pressed on Adisa’s contact.

“Is Jimin back?” Jungkook asked immediately when Adisa picked up.

“No..I just asked the crew and others around. No one seem to have seen him.”

“Shit.” He hung up. Panic set fire to Jungkook’s blood. He ran to Jimin’s shack. His backpack was on the floor by the bed and his phone and laptop were on the table.

Jungkook…Jungkook

Someone was calling for him but he couldn’t make out anything over the rush of blood in his ears.

***

Jimin’s nose throbbed and his skull felt as delicate as fractured crystal. Even his teeth hurt. His hands and feet were bound. Zane’s silhouette came into focus against the mouth of the cave.

“What are you doing?” Jimin rasped, mouth dry.

Zane spat. “I told you to keep your nose out of my affairs. Because of you we were shut down.”

“It wasn’t me..us..”

“This is my ocean. You come here and try to take away what’s mine.”

“But I didn’t do anything. It wasn’t us.” Jimin’s throat hurt to speak.

“You said you would send a report to the pollution control board and within three weeks they said they wanted to investigate us.”

“It would…take more than three weeks even assuming I had sent the report. Which I haven’t.”

“Do you think me a fool?” Zane laughed. “Stupid bitch, hanging around alphas like you are in heat. Disgusting.”

“Untie me and let’s talk about this calmly.”

“Or I could leave you here to die.” Zane’s eyes glittered with malice.

“Why would you think I would die if you left me here?” Jimin feigned nonchalance.

“I know that you are diabetic.”

Terror slammed Jimin’s heart. Every fear of death coalesced into Zane’s form. All those puphood nightmares grown up and intensified.

”There is no such thing as diabetic. If someone has cancer, would you say they are cancerous?” Jimin said neutrally, trying to mask his terror.

“See? Still acting superior even when you are going to die. You just can’t help it can you? This is perfect. I will untie you once you pass out and anyone would think you died of natural causes. Because of your own fragility. I even wiped your blood away see?”

“No…No don’t leave me here.” Jimin’s voice cracked.

“The tide may come in soon. Enjoy the ocean.” Zane continued as if Jimin had not spoken. He leaned in close to Jimin’s face. “Do you know why I selected this cave?”

“Zane listen. I had nothing to do with the closure….”

“It’s because the tide fills only partially here. You would die not by drowning but by your own weakness" Zane ranted on, ignoring him.

“Please..” Jimin whispered.

“How does it feel to beg, Jimin? Do you regret acting all high and mighty with me? I would have let that go if you hadn’t robbed me of my livelihood.”

Jimin despaired. Zane wasn’t hearing him at all, caught in his hate and delusions.

“Will your Alpha bitch miss you?” Zane snarled next to his ear and Jimin flinched violently away. Heart exploding, he wriggled away on his back. Rough fingers grabbed his ankle and Zane leaned over him. Jimin tried to butt him with his head but Zane knocked him back. He cried out when Zane pressed down on his knee, sweat breaking out of every pore of his body. Zane pressed harder and he gritted his teeth against the pain.

“Tsk tsk.. Looks like you don’t want to die of natural causes.”

Jimin’s whole body throbbed and he stopped struggling. He would rather let the ocean take him than die at Zane’s hands. The Alpha tightened the ropes around his limbs.

“Good beta” Zane patted his head in condescension and rose to his feet.

***

Jungkook ran along the direction of the shore that Jimin usually chose to stroll. Adisa and the two other crew members were searching elsewhere. He had given them each a pack of Jimin’s emergency kit and he carried one himself along with Jimin’s backpack. He should have never left Jimin alone. He tried not to think of what could have happened to him. What if Jimin was cold and wet? What if he had fainted? Fuck. He remembered that day in the boat when Jimin went into shock. He could be dea…

No. He had to force it out of his mind. Jimin was his mate. Regret choked his throat. He wished he had asked Jimin. He swallowed the emotions that constricted his throat. He ran, distress compressing his lungs into little spheres. He was farther up than he had known Jimin to walk but he wouldn’t give up. He had to find him. All his life he had been searching for things, useless things he wanted and now, finally, he was searching for someone he needed.

Please let me find him.

Something glinted in the evening sun to his right and he ran towards it. It was a piece of metal roofing and he almost dismissed it when his eye caught a few drops of blood on it. He picked it up and there were a few more drops scattered on the sand under it.  He looked around frantically and his heart stopped. He touched the bill of a black cap half buried in sand. It was Jimin’s. Someone had hurt him. Zane! He had threatened Jimin. He dialed Adisa. “I think he was taken. Inform the police on the main island and find Zane.” He instructed quickly and cut the call. Indecision played on his mind and he forced himself to think calmly and logically. Where would Zane have taken him? He refused to entertain any thoughts of Jimin already dead. No, he must be alive somewhere. Because Jungkook was waiting. He had been waiting all his life without knowing that he was and now that he knew, it jagged him with its sharp edges.

He felt like he was wasting precious time while he deliberated. He knew these islands fairly well, having made two trips already. The clock was ticking in his head. When had Jimin last eaten? Had he had an insulin shot? He made a split decision and raced for the caves. Every second, every beat of his heart, felt like a lifetime.

Every breath of his could be Jimin’s last and if he died, Jungkook will die too.

***

Hunger picked at his bones with sharp canine teeth. It was dark and so cold, the tips of his fingers tingled in that deceptive prelude to darkness. He wiped his nose on the cuff of his hoodie, shivers racing over his body. Despite the chilly temperature of the fading evening, he was sweaty and clammy and doggedly ignoring the light headedness that spelled disaster. His vision swam. He tried not to close his eyes. He couldn’t afford to. He leaned back against the wall of the cave. He could see a tinge of blue in the distance. The evening will soon give way to darkness, taking away the ocean from him. He would still be able to hear the song of the ocean though. I need to stay awake to hear it.

Jimin clutched weakly to hope. Jungkook would be surely searching for him by now. The thought comforted him. Even if he wasn’t found, he would go with the knowledge that his mate had searched for him. He blinked grief from his eyes. His mate. He finally found Jungkook, his mate, only to be taken away so soon. He wanted to rail at the unfairness of it all. He just needed a little rest. That was all he needed. Rest. Then he would try to crawl and kick death in its face. The intense pulsing pain beat at his skull while sweat cooled on his skin. He thought the ocean was closer. His vision started to fade in and out in waves and a terrible thirst raged through him. There was no moisture for tears, no saliva left in his mouth.

“Are you coming to claim me before my mate can?” he asked softly into the balmy nothingness.

He needed a moment of rest and then he will deal with the tide. That was all. Surely he could take one second, one brief press of his eyelids. He closed his eyes for just a moment.

***

Jungkook had already checked two caves out of the five. He scanned the ground looking at both sides.

“Jimin!” the noise flew back at him on the ocean winds. Jimin could be in a coma by now with no medical supplies. Silence met his frantic calls. He took several deep breaths. Keep it together. He needed to find Jimin. Even if he was dead he needed to hold him in his arms one last time. And then maybe he could die too.

He burst into the third cave and saw Jimin lying on the sand. Water swirled around Jungkook’s ankles. He was running, but it felt like he wasn’t moving at all until he got to Jimin’s side. Jimin’s nose was bloodied and his skin chalk white. His hair was matted. Jungkook felt his neck for a pulse but he was so cold that he could barely feel anything.

“Come on Jimin.” A faint fluttering gave him hope and he leaned closed and felt a shimmer of breath against his cheek. He eyed the water at the entrance. Jimin needed to get warm and dry but first he needed sugar. He took out a carton of juice from the back pack and poured a little between his parted lips and closed his mouth forcing him to swallow. He abandoned the juice after forcing down a few mouthfuls and prepared a syringe with trembling fingers.

“Don’t give up on me now” he begged. The syringe slipped and he cursed. He caught it just before it hit the sand.

“Focus…Focus“ he yelled at himself. He had only one syringe. When the glucagon vial was empty, he tossed it away and yanked down Jimin’s shorts and injected him with little finesse. He rolled him to his side and quickly unbound his hands and feet. His pulse felt stronger. Better. He made Jimin swallow some water and then pulled on the back pack and heaved Jimin into his arms. The tide was licking at them and he waded ankle deep out of the cave. He half ran from the system of caves and onto dry sand. He set Jimin down and stripped him off his hoodie and tshirt. He took out the spare set of clothes from the back pack. Woolen socks to cover his cold toes and he pulled baggy sweat pants up his legs, gently lifting his hips. Jimin was still unresponsive as he slipped a sweater over his head. Jungkook swallowed tightly. His lips looked pinker, like blood was maybe circulating better. He pulled Jimin against his chest and covered them both in a blanket. He called Adisa and informed him that he found Jimin, barely listening to his response. He wrapped his body around Jimin, pressing his cheek against Jimin’s, which still felt like ice. But Jimin was breathing and so he breathed too. In and out, keeping in time with Jimin. He could now smell burnt caramel from Jimin’s skin and he focused on inhaling and exhaling that essence of him. It was the only thing that was keeping him from breaking apart.

“Come on, Jimin, wake up. I still have so much of the ocean to give to you” He buried his nose in Jimin’s hair, which smelled so familiar as if he had known Jimin all his life instead of a few short weeks. He hugged Jimin closer, needing to absorb exactly how he felt. Jimin started to shiver and he pressed tight against him. “I’ve got you Jimin. I’m not letting go. You come back to me now.”

He could feel Jimin starting to stir, the sugar and heat starting to kick in. The ocean swelled and retreated in front of them. All the times they had dived under these waters, the time they had shared one breath, it felt magical. Jungkook could sit here forever with Jimin wrapped in his arms, just so long as he didn’t die.

“Jungkook?” Jimin said.

He froze, not sure if he was imagining Jimin’s voice. He squeezed Jimin tight, warmth beginning to seep back from him to Jungkook. Jimin’s hand crept up to cover his and Jungkook thought about how much it hurt, in the middle of his chest, in the place where Jimin belonged.

“In which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep, your eyes close” Jungkook murmured, quoting from a memory long forgotten. Maybe it was something he read long ago, laughing at the words, because it had seemed absurd that he would ever feel that way about anyone.

Jimin made a soft, almost wounded noise in the back of his throat.

“Am I dreaming? How did you find me?”

“You are not dreaming.” Jungkook managed a rough whisper from his raw throat. “I’ve got you. You are safe.”

“Zane..He did this.”

“I figured.” Jungkook said and passed him juice and water.

“He might still be around. He said he will come back for me.” Jimin said, panic setting in. He drank noisily, some of the liquid spilling on his clothes.

“I’ve got you Jimin. No one else will. I called Adisa and he will be here soon with a few others.” Jungkook’s voice cracked and wobbled. His body was wound tight.

“Okay.” Jimin said weakly, sensing Jungkook’s distress, to comfort him. He turned his face to look at him.

“Don’t look at me Jimin.” Jungkook averted his face.

Jimin twisted his body and cupped Jungkook’s cheeks. “What’s wrong?”

Jungkook’s lower lip trembled with the effort of holding back his tears. He jerked his face, slipping out of Jimin’s hands, but his hands followed Jungkook. His tears escaped, wetting Jimin’s fingers.

“Don’t cry. I’m fine.”

“No!..You aren’t fucking fine.” Jungkook sobbed. “I can’t…I thought you would die…”

Jimin wiped his cheeks and Jungkook collapsed into him, shoulders and back heaving with the force of his tears. He held Jungkook until he quietened down, face still buried in Jimin’s neck. Jimin caressed the nape of his neck and Jungkook sighed.

“I know it’s too soon and we have barely known each other for weeks…” Jimin said. Jungkook lifted his tear stained face from Jimin’s neck. Jimin’s heart twisted looking at the red nose and swollen eyes.

“Look at your poor face. Look at what you did to yourself.” Jimin trailed fingers in a tender gesture over his features.

“It’s your fault. I have not cried like this for anyone else.” Jungkook responded petulantly and blew his nose loudly into the sleeve of his shirt. “You were saying?” he prompted.

Jimin swallowed thickly, courage deserting him with Jungkook’s gaze full on his face. He heard distant sounds of wolves approaching and hardened his resolve. He wanted to get it out before they reached.

“We met recently but I feel Iike I have known you forever…. Will you be my…mate?” Jimin barely got the last word out before he was knocked flat on the sand with Jungkook’s weight on top of him. “Yes!” Jungkook’s shout was muffled. “Of course I will!” Jimin’s head throbbed on the impact and he chuckled half in pain and half in fondness.

“Jungkook..” he pushed at his shoulders.

“Oh shit. Sorry..Sorry.” Jungkook scrambled back and helped Jimin sit up. “Are you hurt? Did you hit your head?”

“I’m fine.”

“Sorry. I didn’t think. I was so excited.” Jungkook’s eyes shone.

“Don’t start crying again.” Jimin said in mock warning and grinned when Jungkook scowled. He looked too cute with his puffy eyes, nose and lips. “I hate to see you cry.” He added gently.

“I love you.” Jungkook’s lower lip wobbled.

“I love you too my sweet Alpha.” Jimin whispered and hugged him tight. Jungkook was crying again but this time silently and gently. Jimin looked beyond Jungkook to the sea surging up, gazing wide eyed at the turbulent motion of glittering immensity. The moon was shining through parted clouds and a lone sea bird called out hauntingly as it flew over the water. It seemed to tug Jimin a few paces further in the wake of those wingbeats like a soul’s fretful palpitations. He shivered and held on tighter to Jungkook. Jungkook pulled back and stared at Jimin, bare and raw. As if in pain. Their breathing bent the air and Jungkook kissed Jimin, slowly, urgently and then softly, the kind of kissing that had purpose. He kissed Jimin like they hadn’t seen each other in years and lifetimes, like they had been lost.

Maybe they had been. Maybe they still were.

But Jimin would stay as long as Jungkook kept finding him.

Epilogue

Yellow rose in summer wine

“I went shopping.”

“Why?” Jimin asked.

“I realized I had only ripped jeans and sweatpants.”

“Oh is that all?”

“I also have only White, black and green t shirts.”

Jimin chuckled. It described his mate’s fashion choice perfectly.

“I have been dropping subtle hints this whole month and now you went shopping?”

“I’m very nervous.” Jungkook admitted.

“What did you buy?” 

“A yellow shirt, a white shirt, a pair of chinos, jeans, a blazer, t shirts…”

“Whoa what… hold on. Did you raid an entire store?”

“Not an entire store…”

“You don’t seem so sure of that.”

“I didn’t buy socks and underwear. So no, technically not the entire store.”

“Uh…” Jimin was speechless.

“What’s wrong? Did I buy the wrong colours? Should I have brought a blue shirt? Or the peach one. I knew I should have got the peach one.”

“Will you calm down?”

“Do not tell me to calm down, Dr. Park.”

Oh Oh. Dr. Park. Jungkook used that only with two emotions and right now Jimin could place all his savings on the emotion that came with this Dr. Park

“The white shirt is adequate…”

“Adequate? You complain that I don’t have colour into my wardrobe.”

“The yellow shirt then? I think that will go well with…”

“You are no help. I’m going back to the store right now.”

The dial tone beeped in Jimin’s ear and he slowly lowered his phone, staring at the screen in disbelief. The little shit had hung up.

Jimin was amused. He had never seen Jungkook this antsy about something. It has been a month since they left the island to their respective homes. Jimin has already met Jungkook’s parents last week and this week was Jungkook’s turn. They had decided that Jungkook would move in with Jimin in a couple of months and wanted to get the meet your parents out of the way early. Sungmin and Jiye seemed nice and if they were surprised that their alpha son had chosen a beta, they didn’t show it, atleast not to Jimin’s face. But Jungkook had later admitted that he had to convince them a little. It stung, but only a bit. He supposed that society’s conditioning was hard to shake off, especially for wolves of the previous generation. As long as they got past it, Jimin was okay with it. And it did seem like they had because they were warm and welcoming. But only time would tell.

In the next course of few hours his phone chimed intermittently with Jungkook sending photos of him trying out various outfits. Jimin approved every single of them because how could he not? Jungkook looked good in everything. Okay, maybe not the bright green shirt and wouldn’t it be hilarious if he managed to convince his mate to wear it for meeting his parents. He texted Jungkook.

Jimin: I like the green one the best. Brings out your hair.

Apparently Jungkook was not that much in love with him as he had thought because he shot down the green shirt.

“Are you deliberately trying to sabotage me? Brings out my hair? Really?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. It looked good.”

“Fuck you, Dr. Park. See if I ask you for any help or advice.”

“You have a hot body. Everything looks good on you.”

“This is unfair. I held your hand through everything before you met my parents.” Jungkook complained.

It was true. Jungkook had been wonderful, allaying Jimin’s fears and insecurities. He has been very patient.  But Jungkook needed to suffer a little. What was really unfair is how everything fell perfectly in place for Jungkook. Jimin deserved this.

“Are you implying that I’m not a good mate?”

“Implying..” Jungkook snorted. “You are being the worst right now.

“Jungkook, it will be fine.”

“They are your parents. They raised you. If you are intimidating, I can’t imagine how terrifying they would be.”

“They aren’t intimidating...”

“Terrifying” Jungkook corrected him.

“Fine. Terrifying. They are not that. But do tell me more about how intimidating I am.”

Jungkook hung up.

“You can’t bring half your wardrobe.” Jimin protested.

“What if I don’t like something on that day? I need options.”

“You don’t need the option of half your wardrobe baby. Besides you can borrow something from me no?”

“Your clothes won’t fit me. You are short.” Jungkook retorted.

“You are taller than me by half an inch.” Jimin said in tired annoyance. His tone betrayed the many times they argued about his height.

“I’m broader.”

“You are not.” Jimin argued.

Jungkook scoffed.

“Just a little in your shoulders perhaps” Jimin conceded. “But not so much as my clothes won’t fit you. I’m sure my baggier shirts would.”

“Maybe. But I can’t take that risk.”

“What next? Are you are going to say you are stronger?” Jimin asked.

“I am.”

“Want me to crush your head with my thighs?” Jimin threatened.

“If you can reach my head first, hobbit. Let’s see you try.”

Jimin hung up.

Jungkook reached for his phone as he pulled himself upright in bed. He dialed Jimin’s number. In the dark, he waited. It took several rings.

“Hello?” Jimin said, voice syrup thick with sleep. “Baby?”

“Jimin.” Jungkook said and that was all.

“Yeah..” Jimin replied and yawned. “You okay?’

“I miss you.” Jungkook said quietly. “What am I going to do?”

“Only three more days before I see you.” Jimin said, voice fuzzy.

“Do you think so?” Jungkook asked and there was something sharp and full of longing.

“Of course.”

“Of course.” Jungkook echoed hollowly.

“Jungkook.. are you okay? I’m worried.”

“Sorry. Just feeling a little low. Missing you too much.”

“Oh baby.” Jimin whispered. “I miss you so much. I wish the next couple of months would just fly by.”

“Distract me.” Jungkook pleaded.

“Corals produce their own sunscreen. To protect the algae, which are a main source of sustenance for the coral, the corals fluoresce. It creates a protein which acts sort of like a sunscreen”

“I get nightmares about you and Zane.” Jungkook said and it was as if Jimin had not spoken.

Jimin made a sympathetic noise. It was difficult for both of them and they were still recovering from the emotional trauma. “Atleast he is locked up.”

Jungkook did not answer.

“Want to have phone sex?” Jimin joked.

“No…yes...Maybe?”

Jimin laughed. “Will poetry help? You quoted Neruda to me.”

“Don’t remind me. I’m embarrassed.”

“Are you kidding? It was the most romantic moment of my life.”

“Really?”

“Uh huh. I looked up Neruda by the way. I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees”

Jungkook sighed.  “We are kind of gross.” He told Jimin. “I wouldn’t want to be friends with a couple like us. We would be insufferable.”

“We were having a moment there.” Jimin said. “It was nice.” A beat. “You ruined it.” He clarified.

“I’m overworked, undersexed and missing you. I’m not at my best now.”

“I’ll give you that.” Jimin said.

Who hung up first, they could not say because they fell asleep to each other's words and then to each other's silence, broken only by their breathing.

“Absence must indeed make the heart grow fonder.” A faintly surprised Jimin told him a day later. “But the question is, has your heart grown fond enough to wear the green shirt?”

“Give it one more day.”

“In one more day you will be here. No time for the heart to grow fond enough.”

“Are you complaining? Should I postpone my visit?”

“No!...” Jimin said involuntarily and then coughed. “I mean sure.” He tried with diffidence.

“I think I will do that. It’s of paramount importance to you that I wear the green shirt.” Jungkook teased.

“Okay then. Call my parents and tell them you are postponing the visit.” Jimin suggested, smothering a laugh at his own cleverness.

“Okaybyeseeyoulater.”

Jungkook cut the call.

When Jimin opened the door, Jungkook looked up from his shoes and met his eyes, startled but smiling. There was a duffel bag by his feet. His eyes flashed and his entire being seemed to light up and Jimin could see how Jungkook reined in the desire to pounce. Compared to how Jimin usually saw him, Jungkook was dressed up, in a yellow button down shirt and dark fitted jeans, boat shoes. No socks.

“Hi.” Jungkook said bashfully.

It was as if a million flowers burst into bloom all at once.

“Hey.” Jimin replied and pulled him into an embrace. “I miss you, I miss you, I miss you”

“I’m here. You should say I missed you.”

“You should say I love you.” Jimin countered.

“I love you.” Jungkook said obediently and laughed.

They looked at each other and something burst in frenzied unison and they lunged for each other, teeth knocking and elbows finding ribs. It was Jungkook who found Jimin’s mouth first, though Jimin’s hands discovered the hem of his shirt at nearly the same time. They kissed with desperate heat and no finesse, only the intense and flaring burn of separation searing them together. Distantly, Jimin felt a part of him argue that it hadn’t been that long, they had hardly been separated at all, that he was being ridiculous. Jimin buried his fingers into Jungkook’s hair, tugging unconsciously. Then Jungkook angled his kiss differently, tongue running over the roof of Jimin’s mouth and Jimin couldn’t think anymore. He kissed Jimin hard enough to weaken his knees. But they needed to breathe and broke apart. Jungkook’s hair was in a wild disarray and there was a wildness in his eyes to match.

“You dressed up for me?” Jimin panted.

“For your parents.”

“Boat shoes?” Jimin quirked an eyebrow.

Jungkook reached for him in response, jerking Jimin closer and mouthed his neck.

“Do you think we should try mating bites?” Jungkook asked while kissing his neck.

“I didn’t know you were so traditional.”

Jungkook straightened. “Just sometimes, I feel needy. Maybe it’s because we are in different places for the time being. Not that I really want it.”

Jimin cocked his head and considered it. Mating bites were no longer required or used to form a mate bond. It became redundant nearly a hundred years ago as wolves evolved. “We could if you want.” Not that it would make any difference to him or to even Jungkook really.

“I don’t. Not really.”

“You can ask permission from the parents.” Jimin grinned.

“Your parents!” Jungkook yelled as if he suddenly remembered. “We need to get going.”

Jimin nuzzled into his side. “Fine, but comb your hair first.”

There was a bottle of red wine and two bouquets of flowers in the back of the car. Jimin’s eyes had widened when Jungkook handed him the flowers, after stopping at a supermarket with an attached flower shop.

“It’s for your parents.” He clarified.

“Oh.” Jimin said, obediently arranging the things in the backseat.

He was trying to figure out if he felt disappointed or not. He kind of wanted flowers. Maybe.

Jungkook volunteered to drive and Jimin happily gave up the wheel to him. He navigated. Jungkook was drumming his fingers on the steering wheel on and off indicating his nervousness.

“I don’t know why you are this nervous. I don’t think I was to this extent, considering.”

“Considering?”

“The Alpha beta thing.” Jimin answered

“Huh. It’s the love of my life mate thing.”

“You sweet talker, you.” Jimin cooed.

“What if they don’t like me?”

“They will.”

“Really? Do you thi…”

“They have no choice now do they?” Jimin said before Jungkook could complete his question.

“Jimin!” Jungkook protested and side eyed him.

“Eyes on the road soldier.”

“You are the worst! Taking advantage of me in my weakened state.”

“I have to take my cheap thrills when I can. Who knows when the next opportunity will arise?”

Jungkook groaned, mumbling something inaudible under his breath.

“Maybe if you had worn the green shirt…” Jimin said, his lips curling up at the sides in a distinctly villainous way. But almost instantly he reached for Jungkook’s hand, intertwining their fingers on his thigh. “Hey. It will be fine. They will love you and I’m not saying this just to comfort you. I really am confident of it.”

Jungkook squeezed his hand and Jimin turned on the radio. They held hands and didn’t speak until they almost reached their destination.

“Turn right here baby.” Jimin said and they entered a quiet street with trees curving over the road.

“Stop here.”  

They pulled up in front of a nice old farm style house, red roof and all. And a yellow door. Jungkook blinked at the brightness of it. The paint was peeling a little in some places on the walls, but it added to the quaint charm. They got out of the car, Jimin twisting to grab the bottle of wine. Jungkook opened the back door to get the flowers.

Lunch, Jungkook though numbly. He was going to eat lunch with Jimin’s parents. Lunch? Lunch? It was going to be more like a slaughter.

Jungkook went to his death stoically.

“Jimin..” he hissed as Jimin bounded ahead eagerly. “I’m…wait..”

The yellow door was flung open.

“Rice cake!” someone shouted from around the level of Jimin’ neck and then Jimin was bending down to exchange kisses on the cheek with a short woman with shorter hair. She had a yellow rose tucked behind her ear and Jungkook was marginally relieved about the flowers he had bought. Another woman joined them, slightly taller with long dark free flowing hair.

Jungkook gripped the bouquets tightly, watching the family in front of him greeting each other with affection and kisses. Rice cake. Interesting.

“Mama, mom…” Jimin glanced over at him and smiled. “This is Jungkook. My mate.”

Jungkook gave the two women a wide eyed panicked stare and thrust the flowers clutched in both his hands in their general direction.

“How sweet of you. Thanks.” The woman with the long hair smiled. “I’m Minji.” Omega mother, Jungkook mentally tagged her. That would make the one with the yellow rose, the Alpha parent. Jungkook gulped, brain short circuiting. Minji sort of disappeared with both the bouquets behind them.

“I’m Sooya. Come in Jungkook.” Alpha mother invited, the rose now hanging precariously over one ear.

Jungkook was going to die.

“It’s been too long.” Sooya complained, slinging an arm around Jimin’s waist. Jungkook followed them meekly, trying not to send out his scent into the air.

“I saw you last week Mama.”

“Exactly. I don’t see you for two months and suddenly you have a mate.” Sooya said in a dry tone.

Jungkook stiffened in fear. He was going to die and he has had sex with Jimin only twenty-six times. How he knew that number, he could not say. Jimin must have sensed his discomfort because he turned and blew a kiss at him. Sooya moved off to help her mate set the table. Jimin pulled Jungkook to his side and kissed his cheek.

“What are you doing?” Jungkook asked, jumping a foot away.

Jimin gave him a baffled incredulous look.

“Not in front of your parents.” Jungkook hissed.

“Not in front of us? What?” Sooya popped up to ask brightly.

“Uh..” Jungkook said. “We haven’t…Um. It’s only a kiss…He kissed me. I didn’t touch him!” Jungkook pointed a finger accusingly at Jimin.

Silence.

“I don’t want mating bites” he burst out randomly, eyes darting in a wild manner. His tone said don’t kill me I had sex with Jimin only twenty six times and I will love him with only a pure heart from now on. 

Jimin knit his brows in a confused frown.

Sooya’s face crumpled into a wide smile. “Moon goddess..he is adorable.” She turned to Jimin. Minji stood behind her and pinned the rose securely with a hairpin.

“Thanks sweetie.” Sooyai said and kissed her and they walked towards the table.

“I’m going to die.” Jungkook moaned and ran behind them to offer help. They heralded him to fill water in glasses and passed him dishes from the kitchen. Jimin jumped in when Jungkook almost dropped a dish in his nervousness and led him to the table. He made Jungkook sit.

“I hope you are hungry.” He whispered into Jungkook’s ear.

Jungkook blushed.

The conversation over lunch was fast paced enough that Jungkook had trouble following it, even if he understood at all.

“More chicken?” Minji asked him.

“Uh.” Jungkook said, feeling self-conscious over how he has already cleared his plate twice.

“Do you know Jimin had a coop of hens? He cried because we killed Clover.”

“Mama!” Jimin exclaimed and Minji took the opportunity to add more chicken and rice to Jungkook’s plate.

“You had a coop?” Jungkook asked enthralled, forgetting to be shy. He also forgot about his impending death.

“He did” Minji answered for Jimin.

“I cannot believe you are bringing up Clover. I still have scars from almost eating her.” Jimin complained. He elbowed Jungkook, drawing his attention “We still have a coop and Clover II is in residence”

“We only killed her because she was about to die anyway of old age.” Sooya informed Jungkook.

“Jimin distributed eggs to the neighbours every Sunday.” Minji said. “I have photos of Jimin with his hens.”

“Moon goddess.” Jimin groaned in resignation and leaned into Jungkook. He kissed his cheek and Jungkook froze.

“What are you doing?” Jungkook was scandalized.

“K-I-S-S-I-N-G” Sooya shouted. The rose was dangling loose over her ear again.

“More food?” Minji asked sweetly, because he had cleared his plate in the two second conversation. He was probably stress eating. Definitely.

“Yes.” Jungkook said, giving up. “Please.” He might as well eat.

“Jungkook isn’t usually like this.” Jimin informed the entire table. “He is usually more.. hands on.”

Minji’s eyes gleamed as she leaned forward. Jimin braced himself at the gleam in her eyes. Trouble, Mama always called it

“Hands on, how?” Minji asked.

Jungkook coughed. Or maybe choked. No one paid him attention.

Protests rose in the air.

“Minji!”

“Mom!”

And Jungkook’s scent spiked beyond his control on hearing Jimin allude that Jungkook took care of him very well. In all aspects. Fuck fuck. Jungkook wondered if getting an erection would hasten or prolong his death by social pressure. Introverts weren’t meant to handle this kind of thing.

Sooya looked at Jimin.

Minji looked at Jungkook.

They glanced at each other, and then looked at Jungkook again.

Jungkook tried his best to look like he wasn’t on the verge of dragging Jimin to a corner and kissing the living daylights out of him. His face was a little too guilty and panicked to sell it though.

“Uh huh.” Sooya said, making a decision. “Pass the beans please.”

“I’ll get it.” Jungkook yelled out, jumping to his feet before anyone else could even move a muscle and even though the beans were the farthest from him. He reached for the dish and knocked over the bottle of wine that he had gifted them. It fell in a horrible slow motion from the table, breaking and spilling ruby red everywhere over the immaculate wooden floor. Sooya’s yellow rose  dropped into the wine on the floor from behind her ear, making a tiny splash.

Jungkook was going to die.

“You beautiful beautiful thing.” Jimin said and kissed him fully on his lips with tongue, right in front of Jungkook's newly minted parents in law.

Nothing Broken

(This takes place in Jimin’s apartment a few days after they return from the islands)

Jungkook tapped Jimin’s nose with a chocolate covered index finger and left a bit of batter behind.

Jimin swatted his hand. “Can you not?”

A smug smile turned the corners of Jungkook’s mouth. He prodded Jimin’s cheek and left another batter stain on his skin. Jimin pawed at his hand and narrowed his eyes. He kicked Jungkook in the leg. Jungkook dipped his fingers into the frosting from another bowl between them.

“Nuh-uh” Jimin backed away. “Don’t” he said choking back a laugh. “Jungkook, do not. No no….stop”

Laughter flew out of him, genuine and joyful and overdue. They had recently bonded and had settled into a heavy silence. He had felt scraped raw. Honest and vulnerable and sore in front of each other. In love. Strong. Starting.

Jimin had suggested that they bake a cake to take their mind off the new bond and the heaviness it brought with Jungkook’s imminent departure to his home that evening.

“Even though you cannot eat it?” Jungkook had asked with wide eyes.

“You can.” Jimin had responded. And that meant everything.

Jungkook’s eyes glinted with war now as he wriggled his frosting coated fingers. Jimin swiped at the counter in panic and his palm caught a plate. It hit the ground, a loud, jarring sound.

“Don’t break shit.” Jungkook said through a grin and danced away when Jimin tried to kick him again. He danced back to Jimin after his temporary retreat forcing him to move from the kitchen.

“It’s not broken” Jimin panted as Jungkook cornered him to the couch in the living room. He fell back on it and the couch dipped beneath Jungkook’s knees as he crawled over Jimin’s hips, taking shelter in the playfulness. Trust, intimacy, all the things Jungkook had found in Jimin, that he did not even know he was searching for.

Jungkook touched his frosting stained finger to the corner of Jimin’s lips. Jimin’s lips parted. His gaze was hazy and warm and unapologetically fixed on Jungkook. Jungkook leaned down and licked at the frosting from the corner of his lips and then entangled his tongue with Jimin’s. Jimin could taste the sweetness of it on his tongue and he moaned in gentle pleasure.

“We are good at this.” Jungkook said softly. “We might not be good at everything yet, but…”

Jimin gazed at him steadily, at his beautiful eyes. “But?”

“But we are good together.” He said. He kissed Jimin’s temple, his brow, kissed the batter from his cheek. Jimin wiped at the wetness on his cheek with the back of his hand before he palmed the nape of Jungkook’s neck.

“Don’t you think?” Jungkook asked.

“Yeah.” Jimin agreed on a sigh. “We are good together and we can make everything else good too.” He kissed Jungkook on his throat, the place where his shoulder met his neck. “This isn’t fair. I can’t concentrate and I said no touching.”

“You only need to concentrate on me.” Jungkook licked his nose.

“Ugh.” Jimin made a mou of disgust. “The baking?”

“You said we need to bake to ease the tension.” Jungkook said. “For one, the tension is cut.” Jungkook’s hand disappeared beneath Jimin’s shirt. He touched his hipbone, his soft skin and the ladder of his rib cage.

Jimin smiled. “And two?”

“There is no two. Tension eased and hence no baking.”

“Uh-huh?” Jimin asked, amused.

“I can’t believe we are bonded. We talked, we will keep talking. We’ll make this work.” Jungkook replied seriously.

A breath gusted from Jimin, light and stunted. He threaded his fingers through the hair at the back of Jungkook’s neck and tugged, pulling him into a messy sweet kiss. Jungkook’s mouth still held sweetness from the batter and frosting. The longer Jimin kissed him, the more it felt real. He wanted to know everything about Jungkook’s life. Everything. The good. The bad. His nightmares and daydreams. Jimin pulled at Jungkook’s shirt until it was tossed away. A turquoise sea glass , one of Jungkook’s many gifts from the ocean, was threaded through with a black chord and hung around his mate’s strong neck. Jimin touched it and smiled. He had drilled the hole himself with careful precision and presented it to Jungkook as a bonding gift. Jungkook has not taken it off since then. 

He ran his hands along Jungkook’s collarbones, over his chest and stomach. He fumbled with the button on Jungkook’s jeans and Jungkook had to swat his hand away to rid him of his own shirt. It turned into a mess of movements. Jimin pulled Jungkook down and kissed him hard. They kept reaching for each other, clumsy attempts to touch where their position on the couch wouldn’t allow. Jimin’s frustrated groan echoed between their lips and he pressed his hips up grinding against Jungkook in slow stuttering rolls.

“Hold on.” Jungkook said. He squeezed Jimin’s waist trying to get him to sit up. “Here, just…”

They tumbled off the couch, a tangle of uncoordinated arms and legs. Jimin’s back hit the floor and Jungkook caught himself on his hands and knees before he smashed into him.

“Ow” Jimin hissed, complaint overrun by laughter. He squeezed his eyes shut and sucked in breath after breath, heaving, shaking laughter.

Jungkook wondered if he could bottle that sound. His lips formed a playful grimace. “Sorry, Jimin. You okay?”

“Nothing broken.” Jimin said and pulled him in before he stopped laughing. Jungkook kissed him between breaths. He curled his arm under Jimin’s lower back and hauled Jimin up with him.

“We’re mess.” Jungkook whispered. They stumbled to their feet and Jimin steadied Jungkook when he almost tripped. Jungkook busied himself with undoing the button on Jimin’s pants.

“I like our mess.” Jimin said. He pulled Jungkook’s hand to his mouth, lips and tongue traveling the tips of his fingers, teeth sinking into his palm, licking the last remnants of sweetness from his skin. Jungkook framed Jimin’s jaw and tugged him into another kiss.

“Is this okay?” Jungkook asked at the end of the kiss. “Is it okay for you to eat the frosting from my fingers?”

“It’s only a tiny bit. No harm done. I’ll li…” Jimin paused.

“You will?”

“I was going to say I’ll live but you are so sensitive to me and living and….”

Jungkook sighed.

“Hey. Don’t.” Jimin said in a chiding tone. “Not now.” He grabbed Jungkook’s hand and pulled him towards the bedroom.

“I don’t think I have told you.” Jungkook said as they walked hand in hand into the bedroom. He backed Jimin into the side of the bed. “I love your laugh. And your smile.”

Jimin grinned and shoved at Jungkook’s jeans until they fell. “I like your eyebrows. One of the first things I noticed about you when you walked into that bar.”

Jungkook pushed him down on the bed. He couldn’t remember a time before Jimin where he has been this open with someone, a time where he had swallowed genuine, messy laughter between kisses or teased someone so fondly or loved someone so fully.

But that was okay because it was finally Jungkook’s time with his mate.

Cake at stake

(This takes place after they have mated and Jimin's parents want a ceremony)

“Mama, please.” Jimin closed his eyes.

“But rice cake…” Sooya whined.

Jimin did not relent.

“I have only one pup…” she wheedled, looking piteous.

“That’s emotional blackmail.”

“First of all, you mated without even telling us…”

“Mama, don’t start again. I explained abou…”

“Minji..Minji…” Sooya yelled at the top of her voice, drowning whatever Jimin was saying.

“What is it?” Minji ran from the garden, panting. She pulled off her gardening gloves.

“Minji..Jimin is being difficult.” Alpha parent complained.

Minji placed her hands on her hips. “You had to scream like that for this? I thought something happened.”

“Something did happen.” Sooya whined. “He won’t listen to me.”

Jimin rolled his eyes. “She’s being her usual dramatic self.”

“You have no room to talk.” Minji rounded on him.

Jimin leaned back against the cushions. “What did I do…”

“You are just like her!” Minji exclaimed.

“um…what…” Jimin said in confusion.

“Both of you, always driving me nuts. Can’t you listen to her for once without dragging me into the middle of it?”

“Okay but what…” Jimin tried again.

“Don’t you feel sorry for me for putting up with you both?” Minji demanded. “Can’t you just humour me…err…Sooya for once and wear that damned flower wreath? I always have to deal with the both of you.”

“Why are you making a big deal out of this?” Jimin swung his gaze between his parents.

“I just want you to look nice.” Sooya said. “Is that wrong? Tell me!”

“But..”

“You won’t understand. Just wait until you have your own pup” Minji crossed her arms and glared at him.

Ever since Jungkook and he mated, his parents said that all the time. Jimin did not want the ceremony? Just wait until you have your own pup. Jimin did not want to invite more than fifty wolves? Just wait until you have your own pup. Jimin wanted a chocolate cake instead of vanilla? Just wait until you have your own pup, we can have both. The light bulb needed to be replaced? Just wait until you have your own pup. The forecast threatened rain on the day of the ceremony? Just wait until you have your own pup.

It was getting ridiculous really. He had a sneaky suspicion that his parents were organizing the ceremony that they had wanted when they mated. Their own parents were against their mating and they had eloped.

“Oh my moon goddess. Fine! I will wear the wreath.” Jimin said wearily.

Minji’s smile was triumphant.

Jimin knew he had been tricked. It looked like his parents had orchestrated this and it was Minji’s idea in the first place. There were many photos from puphood of Jimin wearing flower wreathes, ones that he had helped Minji to make.

“Don’t tell Jungkook. It will be such a surprise for him when he sees you.” Sooya was giddy with excitement.

Jungkook would be surprised all right.

It rained on the day of the ceremony.  There were familiar faces all around Jungkook. His parents, friends, Jimin’s parents. He recognized some of Jimin’s friends in the crowd. Sungwoon waved at him. He waved back and smiled. What had started out as a small ceremony to be held in Jimin’s parent’s garden had ballooned into something big and out of control. At some point he gave up interfering and let it take it’s course. His parents hadn’t been particular that Jimin and Jungkook have a ceremony but soon they were swept away by excitement and plotted with Jimin’s parents well into the night.

He waited anxiously for Jimin, wanting to get over the ceremony so that he could eat cake. There were two sweet cakes for some reason. A vanilla and chocolate cake. Chocolate was his favourite. And of course, there was a savoury cake as well.

The rain had gentled to a light drizzle as if offering a concession and it made everything seem magical. He swept his eyes aimlessly around him and then was pinned in place at the sight of Jimin emerging from the doors to the garden. He himself was waiting a few feet away so that they could walk hand in hand together. Jimin neared him and extended his hand, but Jungkook did not notice because he was busy staring at the flower wreath on his head.

“If you laugh…” Jimin muttered.

“I wasn’t going to.” Jungkook whispered earnestly. “It’s so pretty.”

“I feel like a doll playing dress up.”

“You look good. It suits you.”

“Mom made it for me. I feel self conscious”

“Don’t be. I like it and that’s all that matters.”

“Really? Shouldn’t what I feel matter the most, since I’m the one wearing it?

“Not today. Today, all that you are, the way you dressed, everything, is for me. Just like I am for you.” Jungkook spread his arms wide.

Something about what Jungkook said sounded an alarm in his mind.

“Wait… Was this your idea?”

“What?”

“This!” Jimin pointed a finger at his flower crown.

Damn...Jungkook thought. It was eerie how well Jimin could read his intentions.

“How could you accuse me of something like this?” Jungkook protested, placing a hand over his heart.

Jimin crossed his arms.

“I had nothing to do with it.”

Jimin glared.

“This is slander and blasphemy.”

Jimin stood like a rock, unflinching.

Shit. As his father used to say, might as well be hung for the lamb as for the sheep.

“Okay okay. It was my idea! I saw the photos from when you were young and you looked so adorable wearing the flower crowns and so I asked mom if she could make one for you to wear at the ceremony.” He finished in one breath.

“Jungkook!”

“Are you both going to stand in the corner forever or are we going to get started?” Minji walked to them.

Jimin could not believe that everyone in his family had betrayed him.

“Mom....How could you plot with Jungkook and make me wear this.” Jimin hissed, full of indignation.

Minji’s eyes widened and she looked at Jungkook. Jungkook grabbed his hand and pulled Jimin to the designated spot, foregoing the elegant walk he had planned in his mind.

After all, three cakes were at stake.

Demon spawns, mine

(This takes place eleven years into their relationship)

“Demon spawn one, come in. Over.”

The walkie talkie crackled.

“Mr. Demon” a voice squeaked.

“Position? Over.”

“Behind the couch.” A beat. “Over.” Squeak squeak.

“Good. Hold position. Over.”

“Demon spawn two, position? Over.”

“Yeah.” A bored voice drawled.

“Demon spawn two. Please follow protocols. Over.”

A sigh. “Mr. Demon, I’m under the table.”

“Say over” Demon spawn one demanded indignantly.

“Over.” The same bored voice said.

Mr. Demon cleared his throat. Clearly, the spawns needed more training.

“Demon spawn three, where are you? Over.”

“Daddyyyyy.” An excited voice squeaked, “I’m behind the curtain.”

“He’s not daddy, doofus” Demon spawn two said.

“He is my daddy!” Demon spawn three insisted stubbornly and Mr. Demon butted in.

“We have to use code names sweetheart, like we practiced. I’m Mr. Demon and please say over at the end of your sentence okay?”

“Okie” Demon spawn three sounded confused which was understandable since he was only five years old.

“Lets do that again.... Demon spawn three, tell me your position. Over.”

“Mr. Demon. I’m behind the curtain. Oveeerrrrr.” Demon spawn three shrieked the over in an excited voice. Also he forgot to press the talk button on the walkie talkie, but they all heard him anyway.

“Mr. Demon, why do you ask our positions when you told us where to hide? Over” Demon spawn two wanted to know.

Of course Demon spawn two wanted to know that.

“This is how military works stupid. Right da..uh.. Mr. Demon? Over” Demon spawn one explained.

“We aren’t in the military. This is just a lame surprise for Appa...., i mean Octopus.” Demon spawn two said witheringly.

“It’s not lame.” Demon spawn one contended hotly. “Like you could come up with a better plan.”

Spawn number three toddled out from behind the curtain. “I’m thirsty.”

Mr. Demon closed his eyes and counted to six in his head, two for each of his spawns. He ran to the kitchen and brought water in a glass for spawn three. Thirst satiated, number three had to be coaxed back behind the curtain. “But it’s hot here.” Spawn three whined.

“Just for a few more minutes. Octopus will be here soon and then I will get you an ice cream.”

Mr. Demon was reduced to offering a bribe, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

“Okie.” Number three agreed easily and grinned, the little shit.

“I want ice cream too. Over” Spawn two’s voice cracked over the walkie talkie.

“I think I need to pee. Over” Number one squeaked.

“You always want to pee. Over” Demon spawn two groaned.

“I told you to go to the bathroom before we were going to hide.” Mr. Demon said sternly.

“Daddy. You forgot to say over.” Demon spawn three giggled.

Mr. Demon wanted to lie down on the floor, but he suppressed the urge, because afterall he has faced far more daunting things in his life,

“Can you hold….” Mr. Demon paused when he heard the unmistakable sound of someone outside their apartment door.

“Octopus is here.” Mr. Demon hissed. “Everyone be quiet.”

“Okie. Over.” Spawn three replied brightly. Now he remembered to press the button on the walkie talkie. Mr. Demon pinched the bridge of his nose.

The door rattled a little before it opened to reveal their quarry silhouetted against the light coming in from the hallway. Their apartment was completely dark. Someone giggled. It was Demon spawn three. Octopus heard it too but being well versed in the ways of the spawn, played along. He creeped into their living room, moaning “Why is it soooo dark in here. I’m soooo afraid.”

Before Mr. Demon could give the signal, Demon spawn three ran out from behind the curtain, shrieking “Attack.” The other two spawns exploded from their hiding places. 

“You were supposed to say surprise, dumbo” Spawn one scolded number three, as if that was the problem. Spawn three didn’t care. He was busy attacking octopus’s legs. 

Moon goddess, this wasn’t in the plan. He had gone over the plan with the spawns seven million times only. He hurriedly lit the candle. Octopus was fully ambushed and was currently writhing on the floor with laughter. Mr. Demon stepped out from behind the door, holding the cake.

“All right. Let Appa breathe. Get off him.”

“He’s not Appa.” Spawn three screamed, biting octopus’s ankle.

Spawn two rolled her eyes from her position on Jimin’s rib cage. “You are so dumb.”

“Maya, don’t call your brother dumb” Jimin chided automatically from underneath their pups.

Spawn three abandoned Jimin’s ankle and crawled up his body, fighting for space with Demon spawn two. He moved his face very close to Jimin’s, legs almost choking his neck, noses touching. “Maya is not Maya, Appa. She is Demon spawn two.”

“Demon spawn?” Jimin spluttered and gently removed their youngest from his face and sat up. He narrowed his eyes at Jungkook.

“What?” Jungkook demanded sulkily.

“Demon spawn really?”

“If you must know, I’m Mr. Demon.” Jungkook said as if that explained and excused everything. “Blow the candle out before it…” Jungkook waved a hand.

Jimin rose to his feet. “Who wants to blow the candle with me?”

“Me me..” Spawn one and three squeaked in excitement. Maya rolled her eyes again at her brothers, but she too approached her parents. Jungkook placed the cake on the dining table. His mate and pups stood around Jimin. Though they had all wished him in the morning, they couldn’t spend time together because Jimin had to go in to work early.

“All together now.” Jimin chirped and they blew at the poor lone candle, which flickered out without a fight. His family started to sing in an uncoordinated fashion.

“Happy birthday to you. You live in a zoo. You look like a donkey....” Jimin glared at Jungkook. “...and you smell like one too.”

“How sweet.” He commented drolly. They were the donkeys seeing as how they had brayed the birthday song but Jimin wisely bit back the words. For now.

“Make a wish Appa.” Their eldest, Jaejin aka Demon spawn one said.

Jimin closed his eyes for a few seconds. “Done” he declared, opening his eyes.

“What did you wish for?” Their youngest, Namgyu asked with bright hopeful eyes from knee level.

“Greedy guts.” Maya scolded him and Namgyu’s eyes glinted into a fight.

“Maya..” Jungkook frowned at her.

“Dad, Namgyu told me that Appa should ask for ice creams for him, everyday from today.”

“Appa asked for that, ‘cos daddy said I could have icecream today.” Namgyu insisted and looked up with wide eyes.

“I can’t tell you because it won’t come true then.” Jimin said diplomatically and turned his attention back to the cake, surprised that his pups hadn’t devoured it already. It remained untouched, pure and inviolate and that could mean only one thing.

“Is this…?” Jimin quirked an eyebrow at his mate.

“It’s a savoury cake.” Jungkook confirmed.

“aww. Thank you.” Jimin kissed him and opened his mouth wide. “Feed me.”

Jungkook laughed and used his fingers to pinch a piece. Jimin held his wrist with both his hands and closed his plush lips around Jungkook’s fingers. He gazed into Jungkook’s eyes while slowly licking his fingers.

“Gross.” Jaejin complained.

“Get a room.” Maya had learnt this phrase recently from her friend and used it whenever her parents got cozy with each other.

“I want cake too.” Namgyu asked but turned his face away when Jungkook leant down with a piece. “Sweet cake.” He whined, sounding betrayed that his daddy had come at him with a cake that was not sweet.

“Let’s go for Ice cream?” Jimin suggested noticing the long suffering look on Jungkook’s face.

“Yes.” Jungkook accepted gratefully but it was drowned out by three excited pups.

“Thank you.” Jimin said in a soft whisper and leaned into him. Jungkook kissed the top of his head and they both watched their three beta pups run around.

“It was such a cute idea.” Jimin told Jungkook, when the latter finished explaining what he had planned. They were sitting with their pups on the sidewalk outside the ice cream shop. “Although it’s funny that you had to be so detail oriented even in this.”

Jungkook gave a sheepish grin.

“But Demon spawn, Jungkook? You know how…” Jimin lowered his voice to a whisper.  “.....Namgyu takes everything literally.”

“You worry too much.” Jungkook dismissed his concerns away.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

Jungkook shrugged and extended his ice cream. “Want a lick?”

“I shouldn’t.” Jimin said with longing heavy in his voice.

“Go on. Just one lick.”

“Nooooo…”

“I’ve got you, baby.” Jungkook said with a reassuring smile.

Jimin melted and gave in. “Okay. Just one lick.” He whispered and gave a tiny kitten lick at the mint chocolate ice cream. Jungkook palmed the back of his head and pulled him closer and his lips were on Jimin’s. Jimin kissed back softly and their slowly burning feverish desire seared their lips, turning lips and tongues frozen cold with icecream into a warm epicentre. Jimin fisted both his hands in the front of Jungkook’s tshirt, fierce and demanding. Jungkook was gripping the back of Jimin’s neck, keeping him close, the gesture intimately possessive and bit his lower lip lightly and Jimin barely stifled the keening noise at the back of his throat.

“Ugh..Dad and Appa are being gross again.” Spawn one complained, crunching on the chocolate coated cone.

“Get a room.” Spawn two snarked around a mouthful of pistachio ice cream.

Spawn three, always getting his priorities right, abandoned his ice cream and licked at the mint chocolate ice cream cone held loosely and melting from his beloved Daddy’s left hand.

“…...and then he insisted that he was Demon spawn three to the entire class.”

Jimin gripped the phone tightly, trying not to laugh. “I’m sorry. We were playing a game at home and he must have got confused.”

“But really Mr. Jeon-Park, you should be careful about what sort of games you play with him.”

What Dr. (thank you very much it’s Dr. Not Mr.) Jimin Jeon-Park really wanted to do was ask the teacher if she had a stick up her ass. But that wouldn’t go down well. So no.

“It was just harmless fun.”

“Your pup cried when I tried to correct him and call him by his given name.” she said sternly.

“You could have indulged him for one day.”

And that started a five minute long lecture which ended only when Jimin feigned an emergency. The teacher hung up in a huff and Jimin stared at his phone for a few blank seconds before he dialed his mate.

“Jungkook Jeon-Park!”

Jimin yelled into the speaker with vicious vindication when his mate picked his call. 

“I told you so.”

(Note: All three pups are Betas and adopted. Jimin was reluctant in the beginning but Jungkook convinced him and they ended up with three over the years.)