"Yoongi-hyung, your turn. Truth or dare?" Jimin grins.

"Truth," Yoongi answers confidently.

Initially Yoongi was skeptical to play the game as he doesn't know the two really at all but Jimin and Hoseok talked he and a less reluctant Jungkook into it.

He's surprised that he finds it's actually been fun as well as a pretty good icebreaker for the four of them.

The most recent dares have included Yoongi having to fit as many cotton balls as he could into his mouth in thirty seconds– which was quite mild considering the other dares included Jimin stripping down to his underwear and running to the garbage chute and back while Jungkook had to eat the box of takeout Hoseok had stored in the back of his fridge which had been there for an undisclosed amount of time.

(It was supposed to have been stir fry, but it was practically unrecognizable.)

On Hoseok's last turn when he chose dare, Jungkook tasked him to get on Instagram and like five of his most recent hook-up's posts.

That was kind of awkward because, well, apparently that was Jimin.

It was only awkward for a moment though because upon seeing Jimin and Hoseok's faces turn a fierce shade of fire engine red when Hoseok shared that detail, Jungkook bursted into loud laughter which made Yoongi crack up as well.

Then they'd all started laughing, Jungkook teasing the two while Yoongi giggled along beside him.

As the dares were beginning to become a bit less exciting, requiring more effort to come up with anything interesting, they'd all transitioned into picking Truth.

Now it was Yoongi's turn to share a Truth and Jimin's turn to ask.

"Okay," he smiles rubbing his hands together like he's cooking up a real juicy question.

"Have you ever been in love?"

"Oh come on Jiminnie," Hoseok squawks. "That's a dumb question."

"Why's that a dumb question? Not everyone has."

"He has an ex-boyfriend, hyung," Jungkook rolls his eyes teasingly. "Of course he has."

As the three begin going back and forth Yoongi sits by quietly, tuning them out for the most part as he thinks about the question.

Fully sober Yoongi would hesitate to answer. Wouldn't want to talk about something so personal with practical strangers, but Yoongi isn't fully sober so his filter is out of commission for now.

So, he answers honestly, cutting them all off.

"I don't think so."

As soon as the words leave his mouth the room becomes so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone in the circle, excluding Yoongi, are stealing fleeting glances, silently asking each other what the fuck and who wants to ask the follow up question to that bomb of a confession.

Ultimately, it's wordlessly decided that Jimin will ask the follow up question since it was his truth he'd asked.

"What do you mean I don't think so?"

Yoongi sighs, nibbling his bottom lip.

He's siting on the floor across the coffee table and the couch, Jungkook on the floor next to him while Jimin and Hoseok are sat across the table, also on the floor.

Yoongi brings his knees up to his chest, propping his chin on his forearms as they rest on top of them as thinks of how to answer.

Jungkook can see he's hesitant as he contemplates what to say and is about to tell Yoongi he doesn't have to elaborate if he doesn't want to, but Yoongi speaks again before he can.

"I've thought about it quite a lot actually since my ex and I broke up last. At the time- during our best times specifically, I thought that I was in love. But, looking back, I'm not so sure... I think it's more accurate to say that I was dependent on him. That I needed him. Or, I thought I did."

The room remains silent. Yoongi continues.

"He is handsome and charming and just, magnetic. Everyone is drawn to him. Because of the pull he has on everyone and anyone I felt lucky to have him. Lucky that he wanted me when he could have anyone. I didn't feel like I could do better. And towards the end, he'd made me believe it," he gulps. "I clung to him because I didn't think anyone else could care about or for me like he did. But, then..." Yoongi trails off, chewing his lip again.

Everyone is still stunned at his sharing.

Besides when they were talking about the music, Yoongi hadn't spoken much. Not even when he and Jimin had been speaking earlier.

Now, he's not only shared, but what he's just said are things Jungkook wasn't even aware of.

"Okay..." Jimin begins, lips pouted out in thought. He releases them with a smack. "You said you didn't think anyone could care about you like he could... But, and tell me if I'm wrong," Jimin flashes his eyes to meet Jungkook's before settling them back on Yoongi. "It sounds like someone proved that wasn't true?"

"Yeah," Yoongi smiles, bright and gummy. "Then I met Jungkook."

Jimin and Hoseok both seem to perk up at that while Jungkook stiffens slightly.

A coy smile tugs at Jimin's lips and Jungkook can see the cogs in his mind turning. It makes him a bit uneasy.

This has already been a lot for him to process. He isn't sure if he can handle whatever is going to come out of Jimin's mouth next.

When Jimin's eyes meet his, there's a glint in them that wasn't there seconds before. Jungkook could see whatever he was about to say wasn't going to be good.

At least, not for Jungkook.

Jimin and Hoseok then share another look, Hoseok seeming to have noticed the mischievous shift in Jimin's expression as well.

"Right. Good. Well, Yoongi's turn to ask now, right?" Hoseok voices, attempting to get the game back on track but Jimin presses on with his new agenda.

Jungkook reaches for his glass of Coke, trying to give himself something to do to avoid the embarrassment he's sure is about to come.

"Jungkookie has always been very good at making people feel safe," Jimin beams. "He's very easy to love, wouldn't you agree?"

"Oh absolutely!" Yoongi grins, turning his attention to Jungkook.

His eyes are a bit glossy, but not nearly as out of focus as he'd been earlier.

Jungkook can see that Yoongi seems to be sobering up, slowly but surely.

Because of this, it amplifies his confusion when Yoongi keeps his eyes locked on his with a dreamy expression.

"That's why I love him."

Jungkook sputters, nearly spitting out the mouthful of liquid he had.

"You love him?" Hoseok speaks this time, hope evident in his voice, although Yoongi doesn't seem to catch that detail.

"Of course," Yoongi looks at Hoseok like it's the stupidest question he's ever heard. "How could I not? He's... well, he's just him." Yoongi grins, looking again at Jungkook.

Their eyes meet in a sort of trance, the room fading away as they stare back at each other.

It's magical and Jungkook can feel the electric charge as the ground shifts below him... then suddenly the warmth he'd felt get wrapped around him disappears, a cold bucket of water washing over him in its place when Yoongi speaks again.

"He's my best friend. My family... My only family," he says a little quieter, smiling softly. "Of course I love him."

.......

"I think you're overreacting," Jimin tuts. "It's not nearly as bad as you're making it out to be."

"Like fucking hell it isn't!" Jungkook hisses, reaching past Jimin to take a carton of broth off the metal shelf beside him.

When he hears a displeased huff from up the isle, Jungkook turns his head, meeting eyes with an elderly woman with an overflowing cart.

Jungkook flashes her an apologetic smile before giving a shallow bow, Jimin doing the same.

He needs to keep his voice down. They're at the supermarket and it happens to be a busy morning.

It's eight o'clock currently, Jungkook having snuck out of the apartment to get to the store while Yoongi was still asleep.

He'd come to restock the snacks Jimin and Hoseok had eaten the night before from the birthday stash Jungkook had gotten Yoongi.

He'd seen Jimin here by chance.

At first he doubted it was even Jimin he was seeing but upon following him from aisle to aisle until he could get a better look, he'd confirmed it was in fact him.

(He'd told Jungkook he ended up sleeping at Hoseok's place, Jungkook did not ask for further explanation or detail on that, and that he was just stoping at the store before heading back to his own place.)

"He might as well have come right out and told me I was like a brother to him, Jimin. Declaring I'm his family is basically the same thing," Jungkook sighs, shoulders sagging after placing the few small bags of chips he was holding in his cart.

Jimin opens and shuts his mouth once, then once more as he thinks of how to further assure Jungkook that he's wrong and overreacting but the truth is, he's right.

Yoongi basically friend zoned him. Hard.

Don't get him wrong. Jungkook is so happy to be someone Yoongi cares so much about and deems as someone he considers as close as a blood relative.

That being said, people don't normally want to kiss their blood relatives and Jungkook wants nothing more than to be able to finally kiss Yoongi.

To love him openly and do cute as hell boyfriend things with him.

He wants all the sappy, stupid-romantic things in all those TV dramas and romantic comedies Yoongi pretends to hate so much but secretly loves.

He wants to be with Yoongi in that way, not just in a you're my family type of way.

Jungkook pouts as they step out of the snack aisle on their way to the aisle where the ramen is kept, but he's abruptly stopped when his cart nearly runs into someone turning onto their aisle.

Someone unfortunately familiar.

He was about to apologize, but when their eyes meet, he clenches his jaw shut instead, his blood immediately beginning to boil.

"Taehyungie, hi!" Jimin exclaims with a giggle, stepping forward, throwing his arms around said man and... Jungkook nearly collapses due to the shock.

"What the fuck?" Jungkook stares wide eyed at Jimin, ignoring Taehyung entirely– something he's rather good at.

He doesn't move his eyes away from Jimin even when Taehyung speaks, telling him something about how he knows Jimin from school. That they are both dance majors.

"We missed you at practice today! Sienna said you weren't feeling well. Are you alright?"

Wasn't feeling well Jungkook rolls his eyes.

Jungkook bets he was probably still at the police stat-

Wait.

"You're on the dance team?"

"Did you not hear a thing I just said?" Taehyung rolls his eyes, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

"I try not to pay too much attention to you, Taehyung. I'd rather not waste the energy," Jungkook bites back.

"Oh fuck you, Jungkook," Taehyung grits his teeth.

They bare into each other with murderous eyes while Jimin shifts uncomfortably on his heels.

"Okay, we'd better get going..." he stammers uncomfortably. "Don't want to keep hyung waiting, right Kookie?"

Jimin looks at Jungkook with pleading eyes, reaching for the younger's hands to pull him away from the rapidly tensing interaction.

Neither Taehyung nor Jungkook say anything else to each other, Taehyung turning to Jimin instead, telling him he'll see him later before he steps around them to continue on his previous path.

"It's kind of starting to freak me out how we seem to know all the same people," Jimin smiles nervously as he jokes, trying to lighten the mood.

It doesn't work. Jungkook's still angry, nearly shaking because of it.

"H-how do you know him?" Jimin asks cautiously. "You two obviously don't get on well..."

"He's Yoongi's ex," Jungkook speaks shortly.

Jimin's eyes widen. "The one he was talking about last night?!"

Jungkook nods, lips pressed into a tight line.

"Well, shit..." Jimin trails off, brows pulled together in concern. "That's- huh."

Jungkook's confused by the reaction. Something's going on. Something Jimin isn't telling him.

"What is it?"

"It's just, um..." Jimin begins hesitantly. "I-I," he sighs. "He's talked about Yoongi to us before... I think."

"Us?"

"Hobi and I."

"Hoseok knows Taehyung too?!"

Jimin nods quickly. "He's on the dance team with Hobi and I."

Jungkook rolls his eyes, groaning in annoyance as he continues pushing the cart slowly.

Why this piece of news bothers him so much he isn't quite sure. Probably just because every single thing that has to do with Taehyung annoys him.

"Anyway," Jimin continues. "I've heard him talk about his ex but he never said a name. He- well... I don't know if you want to hear this."

"Hear what?"

"He's moving to Paris for the next two semesters to study at a performing arts school there," Jimin says, shoulders tensing as he glancing at Jungkook before looking away again.

"Okay? That sounds like a good thing. Great even, so why does your face look like that."

Jimin gulps and Jungkook's eyes narrow.

"What else has he said?"

"You're not going to like it."

Jungkook side eyes him suspiciously, wanting him to just come out with it.

"Please just tell me," Jungkook sighs.

"W-well... He's leaving and he's said quite a few times that he plans to get his ex to go with him. How he's going to get him back..." Jimin clears his throat, looking down at his feet as he toes the linoleum under foot. "How all he has to do is get his ex away from his 'asshole of a roommate' and everything will be okay..."

Jungkook's heart drops along with his jaw, his eyes widening in the same moment.

He then turns his full attention to Jimin, standing directly in front of him.

He doesn't say anything, eyes searching Jimin's as he tries to make sense of everything.

Taehyung is moving to Paris... and he plans to take Yoongi with him?

What?!

"Kookie you have to remember though. Yoongi said just last night that he didn't love his ex. That he didn't love Tae. That probably means getting back together with him and moving to another country isn't something he'll agree to," Jimin brings up quickly. "I know if I were in his situation I wouldn't in a million years say yes to such a thing."

"I wouldn't either, but you don't understand," Jungkook exhales shakily. "Taehyung has this... hold on Yoongi. He knows what to do, what to say, to get into Yoongi's head."

"Okay..." Jimin murmurs, matching the incredibly slow pace Jungkook is walking at as the younger again begins pushing the shopping cart.

Jungkook nibbles his lip, debating on how much detail to go into before continuing on.

"He went to Yoongi's work yesterday. Just showed up after months out of nowhere wanting to talk to him."

Jimin waits patiently for him to continue.

"I promised hyung I wouldn't let him get hurt anymore. That I would protect him," Jungkook says quietly, stopping to hang his head as he leans his forearms on the cart. "How can I do that if he goes to Paris?"

"He said he didn't love him-"

"I know what he said," Jungkook interrupts. "But he also said that he needed him. That he was dependent on him, and that's true," he raises his head to look over at Jimin. "Even though he was so upset– like, shaking in my arms crying upset– when Taehyung showed up he still wanted to talk to him. Wanted to hear what Taehyung wanted to talk to him about."

Jungkook closes his eyes, feeling an uncomfortable lump forming in his throat.

"Even if he says no to Taehyung, he's still going to think about it. Going to consider it. I know he will..."

Jimin slowly raises his hand, placing it on Jungkook's arm before he steps closer to his side and leans his head against his shoulder.

He can see how upset Jungkook is. How worried and sad he's becoming as he thinks more about the situation and the possible outcomes.

God, why did they have to run into Taehyung! He doesn't even live near this supermarket. Why was he there at all?!

"I'm so sorry, Kookie," Jimin whispers and he means it.

Jungkook is so in love with his hyung. So completely that Jimin is still a bit baffled that Yoongi hasn't figured it out yet.

(He and Hoseok spent an extended amount of time talking about this fact after the two had gone back to their place.)

"If he wants to go I can't stop him," Jungkook sniffles. "If he chooses Taehyung I'm not going to get in the way of that. He already knows how I feel about Taehyung. Already knows what I think about them getting back together because I've said it dozens of times before. And... if he wants to go, I won't stop him," he repeats, voice shaky and quiet.

Jimin's heart cracks at the sadness permeating off of Jungkook.

He hates to see Jungkook like this. Absolutely hates it.

He's so in love with Yoongi it's incredible. Why is it that Yoongi can't see it?

They startle suddenly, stopping immediately their already slow steps when they hear a gruff voice excusing himself as he tries to get around them.

They turn to see an elderly couple trying to shuffle around where they're blocking most of the aisle with the two of them stood shoulder to shoulder with their cart.

It snaps them out of their somber moment, apologizing for being in the way as they move to the side in order for the two to pass.

"Let's just get the rest of the snacks so I can get back..." Jungkook straightens, wiping his eyes quickly. "He's probably going to be waking up soon if he hasn't already."

Jimin nods with a sad sigh. He doesn't plan on going back to Jungkook's apartment with him when the shopping is done, himself having his own groceries to take home, but he's not planning on leaving Jungkook alone. Not after what's just happened.

"Okay, Kookie," he answers in a lighter tone. "What was next on the list again?"

"Ramen," Jungkook answers wearily before they begin walking to the correct aisle.

Jimin falls in step next to him, resting his head against Jungkook's shoulder.

His heart aches for his friend.

Although he was so sure just yesterday his love for Yoongi wasn't unrequited, now, after everything Jungkook's just said... he isn't so sure.