Fire on Fire - Sam Smith

"This bed is cozy, can I sleep here- I'm going to sleep here, I'm sleepy."

Jimin tiredly runs his hands down his face, Taehyung's drunken words now feeling like a spiral over his head as though the world is fucking whirling. It wasn't helping the fact that Minho is also rolling on the floor because he finds it colder for his heated body. Let's not forget Jeongguk also trying to silently calm the situation by helping Minho undress or giving Taehyung a pillow to cuddle to on the bed.

Meanwhile Jimin leans against the wall, intensely glaring to the floor while the loud noises grows so unbearable to stand by the pounding headache already he's faced with. If there's anything he hates more, it's being in a small room with a shit ton of people, broiling this type of itch in his body that it was making it hard for him to breathe.

No not from anxiety, or maybe it was - He doesn't fucking know!

He just hates being around too many people at once!

It infuriates his soul.

Then why is he still here?

Well, the answer is simple.

He owes Jeongguk.

Felix left a while ago after he got a text from Ten saying he needs him to help him with something, who the fuck knows what, so if Jimin left than Jeongguk would've been here alone to deal with both intoxicated males. He considered leaving after Taehyung nearly puked on him, but then Jimin remembered when Jeongguk took care of him, the day he bashed his head, and when Felix took him to see Yoongi the next day even if he didn't want to be checked.

He owes them for that.

So that's why he's here, taking a break already, after helping Taehyung puke his organs out in the bathroom and stopping Minho from jumping out the window. It still didn't process his mind why Felix just didn't just take them home if they're this bad, but the more he stayed in this room observing them, if they were to go to their own separate homes without someone to take care of them, they would most likely do something extremely reckless.

Like how Jimin and Jeongguk has stopped them from being a few times already.

Staying here was the best option, while it also crossed out the possibility of them getting more sick while being driven back as well.

Being here in this room, Jimin has already lost track of the time, but for sure it's before midnight because he hasn't heard the fireworks yet.

Not like it matters either way. Jimin is staying here even if he didn't want to.

"Kookie, you're so generous," Jimin snaps his eyes to Minho, who's still on the ground with hiccuping chuckles as Jeongguk folds his blazer and button up shirt, leaving Minho in just his t-shirt he wears inside. Jeongguk didn't motion anything back, probably because he must've not heard him but not like Minho cared with his giggling thoughts.

Jimin grimaces back and unclasps the choker on his neck, already bugging the shit out of him, and shoves it in his pocket. A soft giggle suddenly catches his attention, looking now to the bed to see Taehyung still laying on it. The blonde man smiles drunkenly with the side of his face plastered to the pillow, eyes twinkling underneath the dim light of the lamp as he stares at Jimin.

"You're so pretty."

This didn't even surprise Jimin anymore, "I know."

Taehyung giggles like a little school kid, sliding up but crawls towards Jimin from the bed, a small playful pout on his lips, "No you don't."

What?

A confused knot twitches Jimin's face, crushing his features, "What are you talking about?"

Jeongguk glances up from folding Minho's clothes just as Taehyung now sits to the side of the bed, facing Jimin with his body swaying a bit, hiccupping a little with a lazy smile, "You don't believe you are. Ha, you tell yourself that because that's what everyone wants to hear from you, little princess."

That hit a little too close to him.

Maybe a little too much.

And Jimin did not like it, at all.

His lips twists hideously, pushing himself off the wall, "Watch your fucking mouth! You're damn lucky you're intoxicated right now or I would've-"

Jeongguk rushes towards him and tugs him by the arm away from Taehyung, who only bursts out laughing and plasters back on the bed delightfully to the ceiling spinning before his eyes.

Jimin's tongue is snarling with curses as Jeongguk drags him to the bathroom, keeping the door open just for the sake on not leaving the other two completely alone but giving themselves enough space for Jimin not to be so triggered around them.

That still didn't change the scars that already opened by Taehyung's words.

Jimin is fighting against Jeongguk now, ready to march back to that damn room and tell Taehyung an earful of what he fucking thinks of his perky skating. His body is coiling with that twitching familiarity of explosive anger, the type that he always finds himself being uncontrollable to his own thoughts and have this boiling urge to throw everything in sight no matter what it is. It's the type of rage he had when Taemin left his apartment, where he trashed the entire closet and screamed until he fucking felt like it.

Ha, maybe he does have a fucking problem, not like it's anyone's damn business.

"S-Stop," Jimin heaves in frustration from Jeongguk's shuttered words, snapping his eyes to look to Jeongguk's pleading gaze.

His tongue was ready to fucking throw a series of words right to his face, so damn ready that even his lips parted to target his rage to the ravenette's sensitive stare-

Jimin slaps a hand to his mouth and moves back in series of steps, crashing to the wall with this hideous impulse fighting to just throw something or punch the damn wall. Snapping his eyes shut, Jimin gulps his words and tries to calm himself down.

He tries practicing breathing techniques, like how he does with Taemin when he gets like this, but the more he hears Taehyung chuckles to the other side of the room the more his wrath coils. Both hands are on his mouth now, mewling with his head pressing back against the wall to ground himself back.

Jeongguk didn't do anything, it's not his fault.

Don't disappoint Taemin.

Don't explode.

Don't explode-

A gentle hand on his wrist has him shaking now, biting against his palm to control himself despite how horrible he wants to tear the touch off him. Angrily he opens his eyes, looking directly at Jeongguk standing in front of him; reminding Jimin that this is Jeongguk.

And unless Jimin doesn't wants him to panic like how he did before, Jimin has to be cautious of himself with what he says.

So Jimin shakes his head, refusing to let go of his lips, "Jeongguk, just leave. I'm not okay right now. I have a temper and-"

It only took a second for Jeongguk to grab Jimin by the sides of his head and yanks him forward, forcing a squeak that managed to still be loud enough for Jeongguk to hear, and Jeongguk didn't look away; Only stares directly to Jimin's eyes, glancing down to his hands on his lips.

Jimin knew what he wanted and immediately shook his head, "W-What are you doing? N-No. I'll say something that'll hurt you a-and I can't-"

"Trust," Jeongguk whispers, holding him still with eyes still to his hands, "Hear."

Trust me.

Trust yourself.

Being this close, I'll be able to hear you.

The real you.

Trust... Me.

Without Jeongguk saying it, Jimin knew that's what he meant. He knew. He just knew. It says it all in the way Jeongguk glances from his hands to his eyes, giving him the space to remove his hands from his mouth if he wants to; Even if Jimin decides not to.

That's the thing though, Jimin knows himself.

He knows once he's riled up, he'll spit a roll of hurtful thing like he's done so before to Taemin, Jihyo, his ballet partners, the list goes on. His temper is something he can't control, or has learned to handle, even if he's tried.

He's fighting against everything just to not have Jeongguk panicking like how he did at the training room because of his slight slip of temper. If Jeongguk were to witness his tantrum now, no doubt his anxiety would fly through the roof by how bad it would be.

So Jimin blinks back to him, gulping thickly, "I-I can't-" He shakes his head, lips quivering while losing his bits of control, "Why.... Why the fuck are you being nice to me? I thought you hated me for your b-brother and fuck- You've been acting like a fucking idiot taking care of me and-"

Jeongguk brings Jimn closes, steady eyes focused on him. Jimin's words began to stutter over each other, shakily hands slowly easing away from his lips with burning eyes, "I don't know who the fuck you think you think you are, trying to mind fuck me and then acting all patient with me knowing well your brother use to fuck my ass before I tore his damn heart-"

Finger tips smoothly grazes over Jimin's lips, once again forcing his words to stutter over each other incoherently that provoked that fire in his body to dwindle down, slowly facing the aftermath of his flame along with the mix of his rumbling thoughts.

When Jimin was about to speak again, Jeongguk presses his index finger to his bottom lip with eyes intently staring at his pink smooth skin. The words were back to being clogged in his throat, breathing heavily to the unsteady rate of his heart while his pulses became unable to stay still calm with his body.

But he didn't move.

Only focuses onto Jeongguk's eyes that now has met his, who has this dark yet weird gleam in them. Maybe he's taking pity on him, which is something completely different to what Jimin's partners use to do when he gets like this. He's staring at Jimin as though he's finally understanding him, but then again he still doesn't.

And what's preventing him from finding out more is the barrier of his blood family past.

All this time, Jeongguk hated Jimin for hurting his big brother. Such a strong dislike that he couldn't even look at him without thinking of Namjoon's heart broken eyes, remembering him going on abour how Jimin was saying so many vile things about their relationship and how it was better off dead than trying to make it grow into something more.

Jeongguk really really disliked Park Jimin.

Jimin knew he did.

So then why isn't he looking at him with hate anymore?

Why did he help him when he was passed out in the locker room?

Why did he defend him from Namjoon to get him away?

Why does is he always there, no matter how many times Jimin loses his tongue before gathering his composure for the sake of not disappointing Taemin?

Why is he here, in front of him right now, trying to comfort him in some damn way as though he was fragile glass?

What changed?

And it seems as though Jeongguk was in Jimin's head as he asked himself these questions, glancing between his eyes with a sincerity, "Partners-"

"Bullshit," Jimin snarls, squeezing his eyes shut in desperation to his frustration from running loose, "I've had many partners before, and none of them had to pull a nice card on me whenever I would hurt their little feelings. Either you're so damn stupid or just a masochist who likes me hurting you."

Jeongguk grimaces, reading his lips with this dull expression before looking back to Jimin with now that darkness intensifying. His fingers on his lips trails to his jaw, pressing against the soft skin as his touch traces more until his thumb is the only thing on his lips, a hand cradling his cheek.

And Jeongguk's lips softly moves, "Maybe," He murmurs, his tone dark with Jimin now gulping thickly to this unfamiliar side of him, "People.... Don't..... L-Like..... What..... T-They..... Can't..... Understand."

Jimin smiles to this, chuckling even with a shake of his head, "And you understand me?"

"No," Jeongguk's throat is now becoming dry, lips quivering to the rising anxiety knowing he has over used his limit, "Goal..... S-Same... Ah- Goal... Must... F-Fini-"

Jeongguk starts to cough, wheezing with his touch falling from Jimin's face to ease his own neck in distress. Jimin's smile falters, staring at the ravenette now with this unease circulating his chest and conscious to what he just said.

Goal.... They have a goal.

He's right, they do have the same goal; To skate, for their own personal reasons.

That's enough for both sides to know they would do anything to accomplish it until it's done, and while also giving a hint of clarity to know about Jimin's character.

A heartless man, doing something he's never done before, just so he can stop being a disappointment to those he somewhat cares about- or his own definition of care.

Despite their difference, they have one similarity; Their ambition.

Whatever strategy they use to get to the finish line, they make sure to get there against all odds or obstacle in the way.

That... Is the only understanding they have.

The only way they can reach that is by pushing whatever personal issues they have with each other and Namjoon aside. This is only about skating, nothing more than that.

And at that moment Jimin began to let that sink in more, now calming down officially with a hesitant hand caressing Jeongguk's hair to ease him down from the overuse his voice as he still heaves his breathes.

Silly boy.

Jimin shakes his head, "Stop talking so much," Jimin whispers, meeting Jeongguk's eyes after he fixes his gaze up, "Take it slow.... You've done enough for today."

Jeongguk studies Jimin monotone stare returning back, the rage now completely gone, only left with just this silence between them after Jeongguk also relaxes too. The soft tender touch of Jimin's hand on his hair is still there, but now he's slowly drops it after over extending his own limit of tolerating physical contact.

There's always this lingering tension between them that just gnawing at the air they breathe, making it hard to be able to stand each other's presence without their heart skipping a beat.

Jimin's face twitches to the heat rising up skin, hands now balled on his sides to the way Jeongguk simply stares at him with that unclear stare.

And for the first time, in years, Jimin felt his stomach twist in knots. A feeling that only followed by this tiny sense of nerves but flickering a small glow of warmth underneath the cold ice.

This moment between them right here, was like swallowing burning water down each other's bodies, and thankfully it didn't last as long as they thought.

"Wooohooo Jeonggukie! Jiminie! Are we playing hide and seek- Oh there you are!"

The two snaps their eyes away from each other and to the door, seeing Minho crashing against the frame with a brutal groan before giggling when he sees the two, "O-Oh, am I disturbing something? Hm?"

Jimin didn't even react upon the suggestive commentary, but Jeongguk's cheeks did grow a light pink before scrambling back with a fierce shake of his head. Minho only laughs to himself, slurring something in his words before moving out once again.

Jeongguk instantly follows after him just so he wouldn't hurt himself, while Jimin only casts on grim stare to the mirror of his reflection. Those dark and taunting voices were back caressing his mind once again, trying to get under his skin as he studies his complexion, but he only tears his eyes away before walking calmly after them too.

He doesn't need another temptation for tonight.

Upon turning the corner, the first thing Jimin sees is Taehyung sitting on the floor, facing the large body window with hands clapping while swaying side to side cheerfully.

"Fireworks! Fireworks! Fireworks!"

Even if Jimin did get a little annoyed with him after what happened earlier, he couldn't stay mad for long when Minho happily sits beside Taehyung and mimics his moves overly enthusiastic too as they wait for the fireworks.

A small snort irks out of his lips, with Jeongguk standing beside him to watch them as well, "You have some odd friends."

Jeongguk didn't signs or remark anything back, but he does twitch a soft smile to his two friends - finally seeing them get along properly without fighting.

Just as the fireworks scorched the sky.

It's midnight.

"YAY!" Taehyung cheers, just as Minho fights the air with his own hollers of joy. Jimin evidently flinches to the noises, snapping his gaze to Jeongguk instantly with a small hint of worry but then remembered he didn't have his hearing aids on.

Yet his eyes still reflected those fireworks even though he's just watching it through a window.

He didn't seem happy, but neither sad. He just seems neutral as Jimin usually does, staring at it with not the same joy as the two idiots on the floor. Usually people grow impressed by it, or even squeal a little to the new year. However that's not Jeongguk.

If anything, he looks a bit uncomfortable.

Hm, perhaps fireworks isn't much of his thing?

Jimin nods to himself, perhaps keeping it as a mental note, and turns his attention back to the two-

The air stopped in the mid of Jimin's throat right when Taehyung wraps his arms around Minho's neck, and Minho takes his jaw while pulling him forward until their lips collided together.

Jeongguk choked on his own oxygen, being the quicker of the two to react and shoots forward, closing the curtains and tears the intoxicated males apart. The two whined like little kids, trying to reach each other as Jeongguk tugs Minho to stand away from Taehyung.

But Taehyung got frustrated and scrambles to his feet, yanking Minho out of Jeongguk's hold and hugs him tightly in his arms with a possessive glare in his eyes.

And Jimin finally understood what was going on, chuckling a little to himself on how he didn't think of it sooner. He knows Taehyung's partner, Seulgi, is with Minho. He's seen them a few times together after their practices when he leaves, but he should've put two and two together sooner about these two supposedly rivals.

A secret relationship huh? Or some type of adultery?

There's only one way to find out.

Jimin then cracks his neck and walks forward, grabbing Jeongguk from the arm and drags him away from Taehyung's venomous stare as he still holds on tightly to Minho like a large teddy bear.

Jeongguk snaps his head to Jimin, glaring at him but Jimin only signals him to wait as he took them to the side.

Taehyung suddenly starts to giggle as Minho tickles his side gently, taking his face with his hands to stare at him with adoring eyes despite how off his shits he is. Jimin narrows his gaze when the two found their way back into another kiss, one much more tender and delicate with smiles on their lips.

Jeongguk starts to move again, but Jimin grips his arm tightly to stay.

Taehyung's back on the bed now, Minho pulling away from the kiss as he just stares at his face with a gentle hand caressing away the blond threads of his hair from his eyes lazily.

"Finally.... Ha.. Finally....Happy New Years," Minho murmurs softly, nuzzling their foreheads together, "I love you my love."

Jimin face falls, along with Jeongguk's heart to his knees that even made him stumble in his steps in shock.

Taehyung caresses Minho's cheeks, the most sincerest smile on his lips with glittering eyes staring into his, "I'm in love with you baby."

That confirms it.

A secret relationship, together.

Of course.

Jimin twitches a frown, relaxing his grasp on Jeongguk's arm. Jeongguk's body sways to the release, crashing to the wall, shuttered breathes escaping his lips with wide eyes staring at the two boys- who are now cuddled together on the bed in each other's arms, happily fitting like a missing piece of a puzzle together.

This is not something uncommon that happens, if anything Jimin has witnessed similar situations like this often. Shit, he's even been in this scenario before, but the two never had a fake relationship as a cover.

This is sad, really. Unable to be with someone due to the views of the world and risk of reputation, so they have to put excuses and pull a scene just so they wouldn't be caught.

It's not easy being an athlete, or in this case being a celebrity.

Especially with having eyes everywhere watching them all the time.

A dreadful sigh escapes his throat from the sad reality he -and other people out there- has to live with before turning to Jeongguk - Who now is sitting on the floor while still staring at the bed with lips still ajar.

Hm, shocking is it?

Must not see many gays open so often?

Or perhaps he thinks his friend is cheating?

Whatever the case may be, clearly he doesn't look so.... Content.

Please don't let it be that he's homophobic.

Jimin's cringes a little to the thought, leaning against the wall and sliding down as wall to sit beside him, staring at his shoes, "Don't mention this to them. Whatever the case may be, let them handle it."

Jeongguk moves his pinks eyes to Jimin, lips wobbling with a little sniff.

Wait, is he crying?

Jimin's eyes widen in startle, "Why the fuck- Ugh, not again with the crying," He mutters now in panicked with the whole comforting idea, "Just.... Ugh! Just sleep it off! I'm pretty sure they'll tell us something tomorrow!"

Jeongguk remains with his pouty and sad puppy expression, now making Jimin scoot a little away just in case he would throw a sudden tantrum out of no where; Speaking out of experience.

Oh no, he's homophobic isn't he?

No wonder he doesn't stand Jimin, another damn reason adding onto the pile already.

Ugh, let's just hope this is all in Jimin's head.

So to distract his head from not thinking of homophobia and Jeongguk in the same sentence, Jimin only rises to his feet and goes to turn the remaining lights off in the room, while also grabbing an extra blanket and pillows from the drawer by the bathroom before approaching back to Jeongguk's dazed features.

A pillow flies to his face, immediately snapping him from his whirled mind and adverts his gaze to see Jimin setting up his pillow on the floor while spreading the blanket.

"There's only one blanket so we're going to have to share," He chirps as he takes off his shoes and lays down on the pillow, bringing the blanket but to his chin, "Unless you want to share with the hidden couple."

Jeongguk stayed seated there for a good moment, debating on what to do but upon Jimin's statement he places the pillow beside his immediately while still keeping a distance away.

Jimin only twitches a smirk, glancing over his shoulder to see Jeongguk's back towards him as well with the blanket over his shoulder.

This kid is something.

Maybe being around him won't be so bad after all.

_________________________
A/N:
Oop-

A lot really has happened in this chapter huh?

Interesting to see how we're seeing more and more of Jimin's character. We're definitely going to learn a lot more about him in the incoming chapters!

I PURPLE YOU! <33