Jeongguk sighed as he lay sprawled out on his sofa. He had just gotten home after having three, hour-long meetings, back-to-back. He was tired, bored and hungry, but he couldn’t be bothered to heave his heavy bones up and to go make something to eat. There were some leftovers that Jin had brought over, but he didn’t want to go to the kitchen because it crushed him each time, seeing the pictures Yeonjun and Taehyung had left there.

There was a picture of a dog and a house which Yeonjun had drawn, and a giant red heart from Taehyung. There were two other pictures stuck up in the living room, and the messy scribbles clashed with the sleek design, but Jeongguk found that he didn’t really care. He liked when Taehyung and Yeonjun were with him, and though it had only been 3 weeks, it felt like they’d been apart for forever.

He had called Taehyung's number several times, but the baker never picked up. He ignored Jeongguk's texts and messages, and was never present when Jeongguk visited his shop. It hurt, knowing he'd hurt Taehyung, and seeing him for the first time in weeks at the restaurant two days ago, was like a huge breath of air.

Naively, he had thought that perhaps Tae would listen to him, but the memory of Taehyung's sad face, leaving him in the bathroom, played like a loop in his head.

He sighed, finally getting up and walking slowly to the kitchen, tired of being alone with his own thoughts.

“Fuck.” he groaned, running a hand though his knotted black hair. He opened the fridge, trying not to stare at the pictures as he looked for something to eat. He sighed and closed the fridge, not feeling hungry anymore. He grabbed himself a beer and headed upstairs, ready to stay up all night and then curse himself for it in the morning. His phone buzzed twice, pulling him out of his small daze.

“Yeah?” He answered lazily.

“You’re an ass. Is that how you greet your best friends?” Jimin huffed over the phone.

“What do you want?” Jeongguk sighed.

“Jesus fucking christ you’re a loser.” Jay laughed.

“Bye-” Jeongguk said, beginning to end the call.

“Wait wait wait!” Jay laughed. “I’m sorry. We only called to ask you to open the door.”

“Why can’t you open it yourself? You know the code. And who said I even want you in my house anyway?” Jeongguk said.

“We brought chicken.”

“...”

“...”

“I’ll be there in a minute.” Jeongguk mumbled, ending the phone call and heading down to open the door. He could hear his friends giggling behind the door and he couldn’t help the small smile that graced his face.

He tried to keep his face stoic, but Jimin tripped on the welcome mat on his way in and Jeongguk couldn’t help but snicker.

“We brought chicken!” Jimin grinned, holding up the bag.

“I see.” Jeongguk said, smiling softly. “But why?”

“Because you’re sad!” Jimin said.

“I am not sa-”

“Don’t lie.” Jay said.

“Fine.” Jeongguk said. “Maybe I was a bit sad."

“See! We brought chicken to cheer you up!” Jimin said.

“I feel like there’s an ulterior motive to all of this.” Jeongguk said sceptically as they sat down to eat.

“Not at all.” Jimin said through a mouthful of chicken.

“Gross.” Jeongguk said while Jay laughed.

“We only wanted to make you happy.” Jimin said.

“Okay now I know something’s up.” Jeongguk said. “What did you guys do?”

“N-nothing!” Jimin said. “We haven’t done anything.”

“Well-” Jay began.

“Jay!” Jimin said, frowning at the betrayal. “We didn’t do anything.”

“Well now it’s obvious that you two did do something.” Jeongguk groaned. “This chicken is a bribe, isn’t it.”

“No-”

“Yes.”

“Shut up.” Jimin glared at Jay. “He doesn’t have to know.”

“You’d be a shit friend if you don’t tell him.” Jay said. “You really do owe it to him.”

“Now I'm worried.” Jeongguk said. “Just tell me.”

“Jay this is all your fault.” Jimin glowered, pushing the chicken box out of the way.

“What?” Jay shrugged. “There’s no point beating around the bush. Just say it. What’s the worst that could happen?”

*****

“JEONGGUK LET GO OF HIM!” Jay shouted, trying to pull Jeongguk away from Jimin. After Jimin had explained what had happened, Jeongguk had launched himself at his friend and was attempting to attack him. Jimin would be a dead man if it wasn’t for Jay holding him back.

“I can’t believe you told Taehyung!” Jeongguk yelled. “You’re a sack of shit Jimin.”

“I didn’t tell Taehyung. I told Yoongi-”

“Yeah and Yoongi is obviously going to go tell Taehyung. Way to fucking go.” Jeongguk growled, shrugging Jay off his arm and glaring at Jimin.

“He won’t-”

“And I’m supposed to trust that? That “he won’t”? Great.” Jeongguk rolled his eyes.

“I’m sorry.” Jimin sniffled. “I really was only trying to help. I thought you’d be fine with it-”

“And a 30 second phone call would’ve told you otherwise.” Jeongguk said. “If Taehyung finds out then I’m never talking to you ever again.”

“He won’t.” Jimin reassured. “Yoongi even agreed that it’s best if it comes from you."

“No shit.” Jeongguk sneered. “What did telling Yoongi even do? What did we even gain? You got your dick wagged and that’s all that matters, yeah?”

“Jeongguk!”

“What.” Jeongguk spat.

“I was only trying to help. I’m sorry that I didn’t ask you first, okay? I really really am. I never would've told Yoongi if I’d known it would hurt you.”

“Well it did.” Jeongguk said.

“I only wanted to help fix your relationship with Taehy-”

“And you’re the relationship master, yeah? It’s been a year and you haven’t even told Yoongi how you feel, so what gives you the right to try fix my relationship when you haven’t even got the balls to start one!”

“Jeongguk that’s enough.” Jay intervened, rolling his eyes when Jeongguk began to glare at him too.

“Jimin go wait upstairs.” He said, watching as his friend trudged up the stairs in sadness.

“Yes, Jimin was 100% wrong to tell a secret that wasn’t his, but you’re also being a dick by attacking him like this.” Jay resumed once Jimin was upstairs.

“Fuck you.” Jeongguk said, sniffling and aggressively and wiping the tears which brimmed in his eyes.

“Don’t swear at me; I didn’t do anything wrong.” Jay said sternly. “I’m not your father and you two aren’t children. Jeongguk you have every right to be upset but taking digs at Jimin’s personal life is shitty of you and you know it too.”

“Don’t care.” Jeongguk said, sniffling even harder.

“Do you wanna cry, Guk? It’s fine if you do.” Jay said calmly.

Jeongguk shook his head adamantly, but tears began to fall from his movements, and before he knew it, he was sobbing, head bowed in defeat. Jay wordlessly brought him into a hug and rubbed his back.

A couple minutes passed and Jeongguk’s crying had reduced to intermittent hiccups and sniffles.

“Are you okay?” Jay asked softly. “It’s okay if you’re not.”

Jeongguk shrugged and continued to stare at the ground.

“I-I don’t kn-know. I know Min was only t-tryna h-help but...”

“I get it.” Jay said. “But you’ll gain nothing besides a headache by yelling and screaming at each other. Maybe go up to him and try and talk it out?”

Jeongguk nodded silently.

“It’s just emb-barrassing. I hate this so mu-much.” He hiccupped.

“We’ll figure something out-”

“But we’ve been saying that for years, Jay. Will we really? Because it feels like we never will.” Jeongguk mumbled angrily.

Jay sighed.

“There’s no reason to stop trying.” He said. “Everything takes time.”

“Pack it up Master Oogway.” Jeongguk laughed half-heartedly.

“Just go talk to Jimin.” Jay snorted, lightly shoving Jeongguk as he stood up. “I know he hurt you but you and I both know he was really trying to help. Only tell him off a little bit.”

Jeongguk nodded and turned around, beginning to walk up the stairs to where Jimin was. Jimin was sat on the landing, fidgeting with his hands and biting his lip nervously.

“Why are you sitting on the floor?” He asked quietly. “You could’ve waited in my room.”

“Dunno.” Jimin shrugged, not meeting Jeongguk’s eyes. Guk sighed and sat down opposite him.

“Your face is puffy.” Jimin pointed out.

“Yeah. It’s coz cried.”

Jimin’s bottom lip wobbled and his face was overcome with sadness.

“I’m sorry.” Jimin wailed for the umpteenth time. “I’m really really sorry, Jeonggukie.”

Jeongguk sighed.

“I know you meant well, Jimin. But it really wasn’t your place to tell. I know you know Yoongi better than I do, but you can’t tell me you don’t understand why I don’t want him knowing.”

Jimin nodded solemnly.

“I know it doesn’t fix anything, but I really truly am sorry.”

“Me too.” Jeongguk said.

“W-why are you sorry?” Jimin asked, startled. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“It was an arsehole move of me to take a dig at your relationship with Yoongi.” Jeongguk said sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.

“Don’t even worry about it. You were right and someone had to say it.” Jimin said. “I hope you know you can still trust me. I know it obviously doesn’t seem like it, but I would really never do anything like to this to hurt you on purpose.”

“I know, Min. You’re okay.”

“Are we cool?” He asked, softly smiling when Jeongguk nodded.

It was obvious that Jeongguk hadn't forgiven him 100%, but he no longer looked like he was going to punch him, so Jimin relaxed a tiny bit.

“Good.” Jay said, emerging from the top of the stairs. “I’m glad you two have managed to smooth things over a bit. Obviously you need to have a real, proper conversation, but I think it can wait until tomorrow. Now let’s go eat some chicken.” He grinned.

“Kay.” Jeongguk said, taking Jimin’s small hand and dragging him down the stairs.

They ate in silence for a while, until Jay choked on a bone and Jimin and Jeongguk burst out into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Then, they began to talk a bit more, profusely apologising to each other and reconciling.

About two hours passed and they were all sprawled out in the living room, watching the Chowder reruns on TV. Jimin’s phone buzzed several times and he groaned, reaching out a tired hand to grab the screen and check the ID.

He gasped, suddenly sitting up straight and staring at his phone in disbelief.

“What’s wrong?” Jay asked.

“You’ll never believe it.” Jimin said, “But it’s Yoongi.”

“So?” Jeongguk said. “You’re always texting Yoongi. What’s new?”

“No but this is different. It’s about you, Guk.”

“Yeah, and? I swear to God Jimin if he’s told Taehyung then you need to get the fuck out of my house.” Jeongguk said, beginning to get angry again.

“No it’s not that. He says he didn’t tell Taehyung anything." Jimin said hastily. "But Taehyung came to him today and they spoke about stuff. He says Taehyung's had a change of heart after you guys ran into each other at some restaurant, two days ago.

“Wow brilliant.” Jeongguk said dryly. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Everything. It has everything to do with you.” Jimin said.

“He says Taehyung wants to talk to you.”

****************************