Chapter 24: Ishib sa ♡

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"Toothpaste!" Jimin said enthusiastically and showed the little list he wrote on his phone to his boyfriend who was busy pushing the shopping cart around. They were halfway through it and the task of finding everything was more relaxing that they foresaw, especially because they haven't been too happy when they realised they needed to complete the duty during the weekend.

They woke up pressed against each other and they were both naked and satisfied because of the previous night's activities so the morning started on the right foot. They had slow sex, the lazy type that asked for a rematch later and had a mess of a breakfast Jimin insisted on preparing. The tattoo artist had no clients booked for the weekend so they decided to go shopping first, eat out and have a date in the second half of the day.

"Minty." The pink haired boy mumbled as soon as they reached the right shelf and Jungkook grinned at the cuteness of his frown. His boyfriend was obviously searching for the best deal in town so he let him choose, surprised by his seriousness.

"What's next?"

"Coffee." Jimin pouted as he dropped the tubs of toothpaste inside the cart. The antidepressants he was currently taking didn't allow him to drink coffee and he still had a hard time accustoming to the idea because he loved the taste of the drink. He's replaced it with tea but it was not the same thing and the fact was obvious because it didn't happen only once for Jungkook to catch him looking too intently at his cup of coffee.

"We'll cut that one out. Next?"

Jimin immediately turned around so their eyes could meet.

"What do you mean? You need coffee."

"I won't drink coffee anymore." The truth was that he felt bad whenever he did so and he was sure giving up on caffeine couldn't be that bad, especially as he wasn't an addict like his co-workers were.

"Don't be ridiculous, Kookie." Maybe he would have taken those words seriously if it wasn't his tiny baby speaking. No one sporting sweater paws could look threatening. "We're buying coffee." His tone was indicating there was no room for arguments and Jungkook could only grin at the adorableness that was put on display, happy that his boyfriend's mood was improving with each passing day.

"Okay, you bossy little thing." Jimin's chubby cheeks turned a shade darker at the remark but he continued walking as if he didn't hear what he's been called. At one point he stopped and waited so he could hold hands with the tattoo artist who was still smiling fondly because of his attitude.

Jungkook loved how domestic they were. It was a new aspect of his life and even they were most likely a peculiar pair, they were happy with the little things they could do together. They carried the paper bags to the car before Jimin asked if they could enter the nearest library so he could find something new to read. He was going to start searching for a part-time job really soon but as he spent a lot of time inside the apartment he finished everything that was on his to-read list. He went straight to the fiction section so Jungkook headed to where he suspected there were art albums, remembering that he had a client booked for a Klimt tattoo.

They have just stepped outside when the younger froze and the artist wrapped an arm around him, alarmed that he might have been nauseous, when doe eyes spotted a slim figure a few feet away from them. Daeshim was looking at Jimin in a way that caused for Jungkook's stomach to turn upside down and for his jaw to clench. He couldn't believe that they kept bumping into that bastard because Seoul was huge and a paranoid voice inside his head whispered to him that it wasn't a coincidence.

"Jeon." He's finally been acknowledged but he focused on his little solely, realising he was overwhelmed already.

"Min, are you okay, baby?" He tried to keep calm for the smaller one's sake but it was hard because the asshole they were facing didn't seem to want to leave anytime soon. Jimin's eyes shot up to look at him and his lips began to tremble so his hold on him tightened. "Let's go back to the car, hm?" He gently took the bag that held the two novels he bought out of his hand.

"Jimin, can I talk to you?" Daeshim interrupted their chat and the pink-haired boy shook his head slowly. "Please."

"He said no." Jungkook said and intertwined his fingers with short and warm ones. "Come on, angel, let's go home."

"Jimin." The Dom tried again as they began walking and the brown-haired man felt his rage growing when he heard fast steps following them. Was he a goddamn stalker now? "You told me you're going to talk to me."

"Away, Daddy." The younger whispered and his boyfriend understood that he slipped already and that he was really close to having a panic attack. Jungkook searched through his jacket's pocket for the car keys that he offered to him.

"Go to the car, sweets. I'll join you as soon as possible." The request seemed impossible but the boy did as he was told, his legs shaking as he took one step after the other. He didn't want to look back because he was sure the discussion that was going to follow wasn't going to be pleasant for neither of the speakers.

Jungkook watched him to make sure he safely reached the vehicle and then turned around to face Daeshim who looked ready to cause a fight. He couldn't believe how much nerve the poor excuse of a Dom had to still look him in the eye after all the pain he's caused.

"I don't want to cause a scene so listen to me closely because I'm going to say this only once: leave Jimin alone. Stop harassing him, he doesn't want to talk to you and he doesn't need more distress than he's already going through." He was trying to reach Daeshim's human side; he hoped he would understand how much he was affecting his ex-sub.

"What –"

"He's tried to fucking suicide." The idea was still hard to swallow so he needed to pause before continuing. "So please leave him alone." Surprisingly, the words seemed to affect the slightly shorter man because he was left speechless, his eyebrows furrowing on top of his forehead. "I'm asking you nicely –" He rubbed his face with both hands at the thought that a similar situation could be created.

He had no idea what he was doing, opening up and being so vulnerable in front of a man he loathed so he spared him one last glance and headed towards the place where his car has been parked.

Music was playing softly in the background but his eyes searched Jimin's features. The boy looked like he just saw a ghost and it was understandable but Jungkook decided to start the car because the prospect of seeing Daeshim again probably scared his baby.

"Let's eat home instead." He suggested and the boy nodded, still feeling like a deer caught in the street lights. His whole mood has been destroyed and he was visibly shaking as they made their way inside the building they were living in, relieved that there was a hand resting on his waist and reminding him that he wasn't alone.

The take-out had to wait because as soon as the door closed behind them Jungkook pulled him into a long and tight hug that had him becoming emotional. He was tired of crying but he couldn't hold his eyes back from watering, all the sobs remaining stuck inside his throat as soft lips found his forehead.

"You can let it out, I know you were scared." Jimin shook his head and took a shy step back before sniffling quietly.

"I was scared by the way you – you'd react." The pink haired boy's remark unsettled the elder but he didn't have the chance to ask. "He's the reason why we almost broke up." Because he accepted to meet him when he shouldn't have. "I don't want to lose us because..."

"Hey." Jungkook interrupted him with a whisper. "That won't happen, sweets." He leaned in so their lips could brush slowly and allowed his hands to grasp smaller ones. The younger was afraid that talking to Daeshim was going to ruin his current relationship and the thought was unbearable. He had no second thought. "I love you, kitten." He kissed him again and smiled when he heard the most satisfying three words whispered back to him.

Jimin was cuddled on a comfortable lap by the time their plates were left empty, his head resting against a shoulder. He wanted to spend the rest of the day in little space but he knew that would ruin their potential date and he had a few things he wanted to talk to his boyfriend about. It took many hours to therapy for him to realise that problems didn't solve themselves and even if it was sometimes hard, he needed to open up about the things that worried or bothered him.

"He makes me feel so bad about myself. I shouldn't have agreed to seeing him then." Jungkook took a smaller hand in his and squeezed it.

"I think you thought of it as your little revenge because you were so upset with me. I understand that now." Jimin felt horrible at the realisation that the man was right and shame began blooming inside of him, his body trying to get closer to the warmth radiating from the other.

"I'm sorry." He didn't want to hurt him.

"It's okay, baby, I know you are. I fucked up too." The brown-haired man kissed his head lovingly. "We both should have known better."

"The videos he sent..." They made him horribly insecure about everything he was feeling because they could have been the proof that they weren't right for each other, that the pink-haired boy was nowhere close to fulfil his Dom's needs.

"Can I see them?" They were still in his mail so Jimin slowly walked to the bedroom so he could grab his laptop. He knew his stomach couldn't stand seeing them again so he simply logged in before placing the object in Jungkook's hands and taking a seat on the end of the couch where he couldn't spot a thing on the screen. As soon as the girl's screams started, he began shaking so he hugged his knees close to his chest and closed his eyes, trying to remind himself that those were things his boyfriend has done in the past and that everything has been consensual.

The tattoo artist spared him a glance while the second video was playing and immediately paused when he saw how terrified his baby looked. The laptop was placed on the small table in front of him before he scooted closer to Jimin, an arm immediately pulling the trembling frame against him.

"Hey, kitten." He was trying to calm the boy down but that seemed like an impossible mission because his mind was obviously far away from them. "I've closed it, baby. It's gone."

"They're scary." Those were the first words that were heard inside the room after an unbearable pause. "You're scary in them." The image of his Dominant's expressionless face as he inflicted so much pain on the exposed submissive was something he was sure he wouldn't be able to forget anytime soon because it looked so natural. And that was not the Jungkook he came to love.

"Min, that's hardcore BDSM we're talking about. It's scary by nature, baby, but you need to understand that everything was consensual. I'd never force anyone into –"

"I know but that's not – not the point." Jimin was stuttering and that betrayed the distress he was going through.

"Then what is the point?"

"It's obvious you were enjoying what was happening." And that was all the artist needed for things to become clear: he was referring to the sadism. The subject was not alien for either of them but they knew different levels of it and Jungkook began to worry thinking about it. "Is this what you actually like?"

"No."

"You didn't hesitate to hurt me." There has been only one time when he's been that rough.

"But you asked for it!" Cinnamon eyes were looking anything but at him and he understood they haven't been on the same page back them. It has been before the great disaster so it was understandable. "I had no idea our relationship is a game in which I have to read your mind so I can know what you really mean." He was getting upset so he ran a hand through his hair and watched as Jimin parted his lips, obviously taken aback. "I trust you, Jimin. I trust your words and I know it's hard sometimes but you have to trust me too."

"I do." He talked to his therapist about it and they came together to the same conclusion: he had trust issues and because of what happened to him in the past he was hurting his partner. Jungkook didn't deserve to be treated like that. "I'm trying my best." Even if it's not enough yet. "Do you still have sadistic needs?"

"Fuck yes I do. What does that even mean?" There was pain involved whenever they were playing, even tears from time to time but it has always been a softer type of BDSM. "Don't you like it when I spank or edge you?"

"I do." But that was not what he meant at all.

"Are you asking me if I ever feel like beating the shit out of you? Because I don't." Doe eyes were studying the other's expression agitated, as if the reply couldn't come fast enough. They obviously needed to get the problem out of their system because it was still affecting their lives. "I was in such a dark place back when those videos were recorded; BDSM was the only thing that calmed me down but now it's nothing like that. Now I have you."

"So you'd never –" Jimin bit down on his lower lip.

"I never feel the need to push you past your limits. Not like that." Big hands gently cupped soft cheeks and their faces inched closer until their mouths met chastely. It was slow and almost calculated and the tattoo artist put an end to it, wanting to finish this conversation once and for all.

"I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions..." He fisted the white shirt Jungkook was wearing. "I love you."

"I love you too, baby. Jesus, I can't believe you've been worried about this." He pecked the side of his head lovingly. "Yoongi has been worse than me. Do you think he whips Hoseok in his free time?" The redhead was jumping scared whenever he heard the smallest noise and couldn't stand watching horror movies so the question made him giggle and shake his head. Jungkook smiled at the sound and kissed the tip of his nose. "Are we good now?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?" Fingers slipped under his sweater and searched for his sides and he immediately reacted by bursting into laughter, knowing some serious tickles were going to follow. He was panting and laying over Jungkook's lap when it all ended and he jumped startled by the playful spank before he felt lips pressing against the back of his neck. "Are we still going on a date or do you want to stay home?"

"I want to go."

They only recently started going out on dates again because the elder just started to have some control over the financial aspect. Jimin wanted to go to an amusement park so during the following hours they've rode countless carousels that made the tattoo artist dizzy but there has been no chance for him to convince the pink-haired boy to go on a montagne russe so he didn't go either, sticking with activities that were more close to earth.

"Look how pretty that is." A chubby finger was pointing at a chicken plushie that was resting on a shelf. Someone needed to shoot a pyramid of empty cups in order to obtain that so Jungkook tugged on a sweater paw so they could walk towards the booth. "What are you doing?"

"I'm getting it for you, baby." Jimin looked bashful but didn't protest, instead choosing to cling to his arm like a little monkey. Surprisingly, Jungkook succeeded during his first try so for the rest of the night the younger held the stuffed animal close to his chest, making sure it wasn't freezing because of the cold outside.

They even rode the ferris wheel and they were on their way to the car when Jimin spotted one last booth he was interested in. It seemed ready to be closed because the man who took care of it seemed to check on all kind of things and honey-coloured eyes widened in surprise when he realised it was a place where little pets were sold. He simply let go of Jungkook's hand, the latter still munching on his manggaetteok, and approached the stall with rapid steps.

"Good evening!" His smile probably convinced the man that he could wait five more minutes so he answered with the same greeting before allowing the boy to study the little creatures. They were mostly little turtles and Jimin leaned to be on the same level with them just in time for the one in front of him to press its nose against the plastic that was separating them. It was as if it was saying his so the pink-haired boy giggled loudly. "Look how cute it is, Kookie!"

Jungkook was not particularly fond of turtles, in fact, he never imagined he would own one but he couldn't help but give in whenever something made his boyfriend so happy. His eyes were sparkling as he was looking at the water tank so he didn't even hesitate to ask how much it would be to buy the pet only to find out that he had to win a game for that. It was fairly simple so soon Jimin had his hands holding an opened box in which his friend was moving his limbs, probably agitated because of all the movement.

"Do you want to place her on the backseat, baby?" The seller informed them that it was a female they were dealing with and made a list of things they needed to buy as soon as Jungkook politely asked him to.

"No, I'll hold her. She seems scared."

"It's a huge change for her." The artist reassured him and leaned to kiss his cheek before reminding him to put the safety belt on before he started the car. "We need to stop by a pet shop before going home. Do you have any idea how we should name her?"

"I was thinking about Boop."

"Boop as in Betty Boop?" Jimin shook his head but realised his boyfriend couldn't look at him because he was focused on the road before them so he stretched his arm so he could touch the tip of his nose with his index.

"Boop as in booping someone's nose." Jungkook chuckled at the cuteness and pretended he wanted to bite the soft finger, causing for the other to giggle loudly.

"Boop it is." He decided and realised his cheeks were hurting from smiling so much during the past hours. He couldn't remember the last time he had such a happy day and it only got better when they stopped at the pet shop, amused by the enthusiasm his baby was showing. They chose a huge set up and the beautiful decorations were surely going to satisfy the small creature.

The pet was asleep when they arrived home and Jungkook decided to fix the tank inside their bedroom as Jimin started the bath they both needed. Boop was still carried around on a soft palm like a princess and when the tattoo artist was called, he entered the bathroom to find his baby inside the tub already, his eyes following the turtle as it swam in the clear water, probably happy to be able to stretch.

The pink-haired boy made sure the temperature was not too high so he could enjoy his little guest for a few minutes and the elder couldn't stop himself from snapping some pictures, his amusement and fondness growing as soon as Jimin started to pose.

"I think Boop is sleepy, sweets. She had a very long day so why don't you let Daddy put her inside her tank?"

The boy pouted but gently offered him the pet, asking if they could use a bath bomb. Of course they could so by the time Jungkook was soaking the water turned glittery pink and a smaller body was resting in between his legs, its owner humming an old Korean song. He smiled when he remembered the title of it and leaned to nuzzle a soft nape.

"I can't believe we have a pet now." He chuckled hoarsely and Jimin turned around, his eyes wide.

"I love her lots." The brown-haired man pressed their lips together as if he was trying to tell the other that was the case for him too. "Thank you for today, it was the best date ever."

"You're not allowed to say which date is the best until we draw the line."

"And when do we do that?" The boy sounded genuinely curious.

"Many many years from now." Jungkook smiled and initiated another soft kiss.