Date: December 11th
Time: 2:10pm
Location: Jimin's house, the bathroom
Mood: Hyung!
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"Hyung!"

Namjoon sighed. An exhausted, why-is-my-life-like-this type of a sigh that made the other person within earshot feel his deep and tragic pain.

"Yes?" He questioned into the phone while watching as Kitty gave up on their interrupted conversation and walked out of the room.

"I have a problem." Jimin sounded stressed as he went on to explain his situation and what Y/n had seen. When he finished he waited for Namjoon (who had yet to give him any solid advice) to guide him.

"Explain something to me." He began and Jimin eagerly agreed. "You spent all night cleaning your house?"

"I did." He nodded proudly.

"You went over every bit of it?"

"Everywhere except for dad's room."

"So...you cleaned your whole house. Every centimeter. All night. And you managed to leave out every sign conceivable that points to you being a werewolf???"

"Yep, ahuh. I did do that."

"And you didn't think that would look off to her? Pictures of yourself in wolf form all over the house??"

Fidgeting nervously, he lowered his voice to ensure that Y/n couldn't hear the conversation. He had turned on Netflix for her and excused himself to the bathroom in order to get advice. "I didn't think about it. Those things are normal to me, I see them everyday. It wasn't until she was here that I realized how strange it must look."

Another long sigh was sent back through the phone. "Do you think she bought the Huskie story?"

"I think so." At the memory, his wolf rolled over happily. Ever since she'd expressed the desire the meet him, he'd been purring nonstop. Jimin would have liked to have shared the same excitement but he was too afraid of how she might react when she found out the real truth. Obviously the truth would have to come out eventually, but he wasn't ready. There was a chance this would scare her, that it might chase her away. And before that happened he wanted to get in as much time with her as he could. Just in case things didn't go well.

Inside, he deflated at the thought.

"Then, if she doesn't bring it up again don't worry about it. But..." Namjoon trailed off, piquing Jimin's interest in his thinking so he encouraged him to go on. Eventually his hyung answered, voice wary. "Why do you think she asked you if you were a werewolf? You think it was really a joke? Or is she catching on?"

"I don't know." He replied truthfully. He wasn't sure he wanted to think about the possibility of her catching on. He wasn't ready for that conversation.

Thinking back to his mate, all adorable in her red sweater and form fitting pants, a strong urge to see her sprouted from within. Enough to forget his worries and end the conversation with his hyung.

When he arrived back in his bedroom he took in the sight of her sitting cross-legged on his bed, too enraptured with the show on the tv to acknowledge his presence. When he moved to sit next to her she wiggled closer until their sides touched, though her attention never left the show.

Meanwhile, he couldn't force his eyes to part from her. Clearly the moon goddess knew what she was doing because every centimeter of skin and each individual hair was like treasure he'd just unearthed. The scent was another thing. He realized that it was a combination of all the things he loved. Things that only carried happy memories and that he felt a deep connection to. It took them so long before he was able to freely stare at her like this and just then he wondered how he had managed to stop. If she'd let him, he could look all day and never tire of it.

The slight curve to her brow, the slope of her cheekbone and the corner of her mouth. All areas he'd had the opportunity to see before were just as fascinating the hundredth time as they had been the first. When she was focused on something like she was now, her mouth would form into a pout and eyes would narrow in thought. His eyes carefully traced from the small crease in the corner of her eyes to the downturn of her mouth, every perfect part of her. Curious as to what was stealing her attention he glanced to the television to find an older man talking about a crime.

"Why is he sitting in such a small chair?" He blurted. The man's legs were pulled together and he appeared rather uncomfortable with his seating arrangement, but went on speaking regardless.

To his surprise, his mate sent him a sharp look. "Don't make fun of John Walsh, Jimin." she said defensively, sparing him one scorching glance before moving her eyes back to the TV.

"I wasn't." He pouted in his defense, but it fell on deaf ears. Barely a word was spoken about this old guy and his mate jumped to protect him. Who the hell was John Walsh?

Regardless of who he was or why Y/n was so defensive of him, Jimin glared heavily at the man on screen. In his uneducated opinion, John Walsh could suck it.

But it wasn't too late to move on to better things. Much better things in his opinion. Smirking, he snuck an arm around her waist and cuddled closer. He set his chin on her shoulder and moved close enough to her than when he whispered into it, his lips would brush against her skin.

"Hey baby, guess what?"

"Hmm?"

Undeterred by her lack of interest, he answered. "We're alone."

"Mm."

Complete indifference. Not one care in the world. Zero fucks given. Not for Jimin. John Walsh had taken it all. But Jimin wasn't going to stop trying. Screw that old white guy! He was Park Jimin.

And Wolfy! His wolf put in happily.

He was in the best mood ever.

"Marshmallow," whining softly, he entwined his arms and legs around her until he clung on like a koala. After a moment she finally realized what he had done and began to blush furiously.

"Tell me who you like better." He demanded, tightening his hold when she tried to wiggle away. "Me or John Walsh."

A couple of seconds of sputtering came before her answer. "John Walsh..."

His jaw dropped and hit her shoulder. "WHAT!"

Every bit of emotion left her face as she stated, "I love John Walsh."

At his confounded expression she broke into a fit of giggles and fell limp in his arms when her body began to shake in laughter.

"You're teasing me?!?" He questioned wildly, trying hard to get an answer out of her but she couldn't stop laughing.

Finally, after what seemed like forever she wheezed, "no." And then bust into laughter all over again.

"Stop laughing! This isn't funny!!" This was extremely serious. Clearly John Walsh was real competition here.

His demand went unheeded, seemingly making the situation funnier as tears had begun to pool at the corners of her eyes.

"Fine then!" He yelled so he could be heard. "Then I love John Walsh too! I like him more than you."

At last her laughter came to an abrupt halt and she stared up at him with wide, blinking eyes. "You do?"

In an instant his heart was a pile of goo. There was no way he could tease her in the same manner. Not when just the thought of her even being slightly hurt upset him. "No. I have no idea who that is—"

He was cut off by a pair of warm lips pressing reassuringly to his own. When they parted the color red greeted him as he reopened his eyes.

"I only like you, silly." She gazed up at him with a sweet smile that he couldn't help but to reciprocate. It was another quiet moment before she muttered, "John Walsh is just a side piece."

"Stop it!!"

<><><>

By the time night had fallen and they walked over to Namjoon's house together, Y/n ached all over. Her face hurt from laughing so much, throat was sore from yelling during the totally necessary play fight they'd had as he chased her through the house, and her sides ached from Jimin tickling her after winning said play fight.

After calming down he'd pulled out some old photo albums (but remarked that some were mysteriously missing) to show her. Some were ancient, black and white pictures of generations long passed but mainly he focused on the ones of his parents and some baby photos of himself. With the pictures came stories, few from his own memory and more from what he'd been told.

They laughed over the funny ones and she rubbed his back and kissed him in the cheek when there were memories that appeared to get to him. At least, the first time that had happened she was sure it was a genuine response. The other times she doubted it. He would say something and then adopt a somber expression while titling his head to present his cheek to her. She questioned to herself why a memory about a school play where he played a tree was traumatizing but decided to not voice that aloud.

Whether he was really upset or not, she gave him what he wanted anyway. They were alone. She wanted to comfort him any way that she could. And she was really curious how many kisses would be enough until he was satisfied.

When it came time to walk over to Namjoon's house to where his friends were waiting, her stomach tied itself up into knots again and she tried her best to control the shaky-ness in her fingers.

Jimin had caught onto her nervousness, probably because he was holding her hand as they walked over.

"Are you sure this is ok?" This was a question he had asked around ten times today and she replied with the same nod as she had been. "Is it really? They can wait to meet you. It's not a big deal."

He would say that. But Y/n knew better. While she didn't disbelieve Jimin when he said he wouldn't take it the wrong way and would be ok with waiting, there was no saying that he wouldn't be disappointed. Because he would be. These friends were very important to him and he was important to her. Therefore, his friends were important to her as well.

Sometimes when she was with him she forgot how hard some things still were for her. The happiness he brought to her life was like this funny drug had been injected into it, but that didn't change who she was. Happiness was Jimin and his ear tugs and closed-eyes smiles.

Shyness and anxiety and daddy issues was Y/n. At night when she was alone she would remember things for what they were and debate on if she really deserved to be happy, to smile and live like inside she wasn't broken. A part of her felt like she was living some type of a double life. One that should be and the other a dream.

Dreams didn't last forever. Jimin might be another person in her life that might leave later. Until that time came, she wanted to see him smile. Wanted to be the reason for it.

"No, I'm ready." As the house loomed closer she tugged him near to whisper in his ear. "But can you—um—stay close to me? Please?"

As soon as the question left her mouth she wanted to take it back. It would make her sound like a clingy baby. But of course Jimin's reassuring answer put her doubts to shame.

"If that's what my baby wants, then that's what my baby gets." Coming to a halt, he removed his hand from hers in favor of wrapping that arm around her shoulders. "And—listen." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair before asking the strangest question. "Have you ever heard the term, 'crackhead energy'?"

The air was visible as the reply left her mouth. "Ummm. No."

"Let's just say, that...after tonight, you will probably know what that means."

"I don't understand."

"You will. But don't worry." Encouraging her while he pulled her hair down over the ears, he went on. "It's not like they don't know you. I talk about you a lot. And they're good at making people feel comfortable. You should have seen the first time Kitty came over. Everyone was very welcoming and—oh crap." She had no idea why he went still and stopped talking but her anxiety over the whole situation grew. She was about to ask him what was wrong when he whispered, mostly to himself. "The missing photo albums..."

Suddenly the front door flew open and a young boy with dark hair and a face that still clung to it's last remaining baby fat came bounding down the porch with a cat hot on his heels. Both skipped in a way that was reminiscent of a pair of rabbits.

"Hyung!"

"It's starting," Jimin whispered cryptically.

"Eh?" The young boy titled his head in confusion.

"Nothing." Jimin said quickly before introducing them in a uncharacteristically hard voice. "This is Y/n. Don't touch her." Then his voice reverted back to the ultra sweet one he always used with her. "Baby, this is Jungkook. Please don't let him touch you, he's weird."

When she looked up shyly to greet Jungkook, he shoved the cat in her face. Literally.

"This is Bunny. You could have introduced her, Jimin-hyung."

"Oh-um, h-hi Bunny." The cat stared as she took its paw and shook it. Then felt immediately felt stupid for doing something so weird.

"At least someone has some manners." Jimin rolled his eyes as Jungkook scoffed and brought the cat back to snuggle into his chest. "It's nice to meet you, red noona."

"Don't call her that." Jimin snapped and Y/n looked to him worriedly. Why was he acting so unlike himself?

"Can I call you that?" Jungkook ignored his hyung and turned to her instead. His begging, innocent eyes implored her in a way that reminded her of her baby sister. Not wanting any of Jimin's friends to dislike her, she readily agreed with a vigorous nod and Jungkook cheered.

Jimin grumbled under his breath. She feared she might have angered him but felt assured when he tugged her closer as Jungkook led them to the house.

Although through his many assurances that it would be ok and that they would be welcoming, there still existed that weight of social anxiety. It told her to run and hide. And that, rather than going to meet a few of Jimin's friends, it told her she was walking straight into a wolf's den.

How dumb.

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John Walsh is a criminal investigator, victims rights advocate, tv personality, and all out badass.

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Edited 8/2/22