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khrystalsnow · 3 months ago

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February to April Jungkook Reading List

🤠Oh hey guys~ long time no see🤠~

I was totally supposed to post a list 2 months ago but i got really busy with school and work SO PLEASE DON’T KILL ME🫣But this reading list is long to make it up. These are the fanfics that got me through the semester, or more like my escape 90% of the time from doing my school work so i hope you guys enjoy it and much love to all of the authors💗

I have also reread a bunch of fics from my past reading list, so you guys can check those out as well!

LEGEND

Fluff - 🌸

Smut -🌹

Angst - 🥀

Crack- 🍄

All Time Favourite - 🌺

-------------------------------LETS BEGIN---------------------------------

ONE SHOTS

Entropy by @youthguk 🌹

“The universe tends towards chaos”

One-shot | college AU | fuckboy!JK

That Night of Graduation by @smartkookiee 🌹🌸 🌺

After a stupid game of Truth or Drink you are convinced into telling everyone about the time you and Jungkook hooked up together the night of college graduation. A missed connection that you and Jungkook hadn’t even talked about. Bringing up some unexpected feeling that you hadn’t realized had been lingering between the two of you

One-shot | friends to lovers | post college story | right person wrong time | good ending

Truth or Dare: Kiss a Friend by @dailynnt 🌹

During the game Truth or Dare, Jungkook kisses you so hard that you can’t think of anyone else but him. But it doesn’t seem to mean anything to him. To forget about him, you start talking to someone else, but Jungkook won’t let anyone take his place

One-shot | Friends to lovers | possessive!JK | unspoken desires

Jungkook’s realization by @champagnevi 🌸

How jungkook realized that he's in love with OC

Carefree by @guksfairy 🌸🥀

y/n is a member of STRLIGHT which has five members but they’re not mentioned much, y/n is under Wonijin Entertainment and JK is under Hybe, JK is head over heels for y/n

we ride by @v-eee 🌸

new neighbor offers you a ride

The Monogamy Monologues by @kpopfanfictrash 🌹🥀 🌺

The year? Some point after college. The occasion? Namjoon is getting married and the Rich Man’s Crochet Club has convened once again. Somewhere between the drinks and the laughter, everyone has the same realization: Jungkook has never been in a serious relationship. In the name of all that is holy (Overwatch and booze), the club’s mission is revived. Now though, their goal is much more perilous. Now, they aim to find Jeon Jungkook a girlfriend. (Part of The Rich Man’s Crochet Club series)

-> The Virgin Volume 🌹🥀

It takes place before RMCC and is the story of how Jungkook lost his virginity.

nothing like us by @focusonkayjay 🌸 🥀

To help you escape the relentless barrage of blind date requests and the unsettling advances of a creep in the office, your arch-nemesis, Jungkook, boldly declares during a company holiday retreat that you’re in a relationship with him—an audacious statement that couldn’t be further from the truth. Stunned and confused, you’re certain that your rivalry with him is far from anything resembling love. Yet, as the retreat progresses, you start to question whether the "fake" in this "fake relationship" is truly present in the room with you.

enemies to lovers | fake dating | corporate employees

shot glass full of tears by @focusonkayjay 🌸🌹🥀

When your beloved cat suffers a small injury, you're left with no choice but to call your ex-boyfriend, who just so happens to be a veterinarian. But when you see Jungkook for the first time in five months, the weight of the past comes crashing down and suddenly, you’re left wondering if walking away from him was the biggest mistake of your life. Meanwhile, Jungkook, desperate for a second chance, sees this as the moment he's been waiting for and with a heart full of lingering feelings, he’s determined to set things right and show you the love you truly deserve—if only you’ll let him.

veterinarian!jungkook x cat mom!reader | exes to lovers

D&D by @aajjks 🌹🍄

There is a lot to deal with whenever your horny roommate ends up drunk as fuck

roommates!JK and reader

we fight by @v-eee 🌸🥀

a petty fight turns into three days of stubborn silence

miss taken. by @junghelioseok 🌸🌹

you pride yourself on being a professional, but sometimes your students' parents really test your patience.

teacher!au | single parent!au |enemies to lovers

historic moments by @moyochu 🌸

“no one’s going to believe we’re together anyway, you’re the super strict history teacher and i’m the chill biology teacher that brings my pets to class”

teacher!au

pour some sugar on me by @yoonia 🌹

Being stuck in the kitchen of your aunt’s bakery late at night is the last thing you had in mind when it came to preparing for Valentine’s day. Although, being stuck with your archenemy, and the most overbearing person you have ever known, teaching you how to bake your aunt’s secret recipe is the exact opposite of what you’d ever have in mind. As the kitchen grows hot, however, you cannot tell whether it’s from the ovens or if it’s something else burning between the two of you. As the night progresses, you cannot help but wonder which one would melt first once you are done. The frostings? Or you?

enemies to lovers au | Baker!yoongi and Baker!reader

the spins by @here2bbtstrash 🌹

you discover a new side to your former lab partner, frat wonder boy jeon jungkook, when you confess to him the one thing no man has ever been able to make you do

frat boy!jungkook | reader's first partnered orgasm | SMUT

Sweet Inhibition | Park Sunghoon by @scorpieuns 🌹

you know what they say, never answer a call from your boss when you’re drunk off your mind—oh, and never tell him that he desperately needs to get laid

office au

Walk You Home by @angellesword 🌸🌹🥀

general!jungkook x medical practitioner!reader

Hold on to me by @kooklovee 🌸🌹🥀

Your husband forgets your second anniversary. What starts as disappointment and heartbreak soon spirals into doubt—about your love, your marriage, and whether he even sees you anymore. But when Jungkook realizes his mistake, he’s willing to do anything to prove that his love has never wavered. Can he make it up to you, or is it already too late?

CeoHusband!Jungkook x Wife!Reader

Lunch Break by @borathae 🌸🌹

“Min Yoongi is many a thing in your life. Coworker, superior, best friend and beloved long-term boyfriend. Yes, that’s right. You are dating your boss. It’s a lot easier than it sounds. You get to live together, get to go to work together and get to spend lunch break together. Problem is, Yoongi decided to wear his pretty blue button-up today and this shirt has a rather lethal effect on you. Thankfully, he has his own private office.“

coworkers!AU | established relationship!AU | office romance!AU

SERIES

before we shatter by @caramelkoo 🌸🌹🥀

dating an idol is fun, they said. having a family with one is fun, they said. Until you're falling face forward because of your reality. A reality where Jungkook dreams of a future and a reality where your own future is collapsed.

established relationship | idol!jungkook | mentions death of a loved one | cheating (not by the main characters)

webbed heartstrings by @focusonkayjay 🌸🌹🥀

For as long as you can remember, Jungkook has been the biggest flirt when it comes to you. Despite being the campus heartthrob with a trail of admirers and girls dying for his attention—his focus has always, inexplicably, been on you. You wouldn’t exactly call yourselves friends, not with the way he shamelessly flirts and constantly pushes your buttons, but there’s no denying the way he gets under your skin, making your heart race in ways you wish it wouldn’t. When you finally give in, after enduring his endless date requests and ridiculous antics, you expect something special, maybe even something perfect. What you don’t expect is to be left disappointed and hurt in a way that blindsides you. Little do you know, Jungkook’s time is split between charming you and saving the city. And while you’re questioning everything, Jungkook is desperate to prove that his feelings for you have always been real, even if his reality is anything but ordinary.

spiderman/campus heartthrob! jungkook x reader

Your Universe by @muniimyg 🌹🍄🥀

Regretting rejecting oc, min yoongi goes through a circus load of gestures and tasks in attempt to be loved again

basketball captain!yoongi x preschool education major!OC | tsudereyoongi x sunshine OC

Chess of Ice by @jimlingss 🌸 🥀 🌺

Jeon Jungkook is a rising star, aka. hockey captain of a team heading for the Olympics. The last thing he expects is to begin a whole 'nother sport, holding a broomstick in his hands, sweeping the ice and throwing dumb stones towards a target. As if that wasn't bad enough, his love life is about to turn into a game of chess as well... and you're his opponent.

Sports!AU

Perfect Plan by @joons-cinnamon-bun 🌸🌹🥀

Life has a funny way of throwing you off course. After enduring the heartbreak of infidelity, you find yourself diving headfirst into meticulous planning, determined to control every detail of your life. But on your 29th birthday, you realize things haven’t unfolded quite as you imagined. So, in a bold attempt to take back control, you craft a new plan: have a baby. And who better to ask for help than the one constant in your life —your close friend Namjoon? Drama ensues.

friends to lovers | friends with benefits?

ON-GOING

Something about you by @ahundredtimesover 🌸🌹🌺

You and Jungkook have been friends for a decade. And while he’s the charming and dependable, often reserved boy-next-door, he’s also just been a friend - a constant in your life, a part of a whole, and someone who’s seen all the flawed and probably unattractive sides of you

Friends!au | vacation!au | PE teacher!JK and researcher!OC

Point of View by @muniimyg 🌸🍄🥀

a collection of slow-burn moments

The price of desire by @dreamersparacosm 🌸🌹🥀

What starts as business turns into something far more dangerous; it’s a game of seduction and sabotage, of whispered secrets and stolen moments. He wants more than carefully curated press releases and polite smiles. He wants you. And he doesn’t care what it costs

Miniseries | idol!jk and corporate girl boss!reader | 'we shouldn't but we can't stop' trope | enemies to lovers ish | grumpy girl boss x cocky idol

The Jeons by @justarkive 🌸🌹🥀 🌺

a collection of chaotic familly drabbles

family!au | non-idol JK

Parasocial by @youthguk 🌹🥀

Everyone in your circle knew that where there was you, Jungkook wasn't far behind. It was just your natural state of being - together. Your relationship had this beautiful, messy way of coloring outside the lines of typical friendship. But somewhere between algebra homework and growing pains, his protective streak went from "adorably concerned" to "intensely involved in literally everything."

best friends with benefits | childhood friends | cheating | toxic dynamics

Every Breathe You Take by @focusonkayjay 🌸🌹🥀 🌺

Nine years ago, an argument tore apart the unshakable bond you shared with your childhood best friend of 15 years, Jeon Jungkook, leaving behind scars too deep to ignore. Now, nine years later, unforeseen circumstances have brought you back to your hometown, Busan from Seoul, and fate forces you to reunite with him.

Sharing the same tight-knit friend group means constant, unavoidable encounters with Jungkook... each one stirring up unresolved tension, bittersweet memories and... regret. Torn between the idea of mending what was broken or keeping your distance, you also carry a dark secret: the real reason you’ve returned to Busan, a truth you’re determined to keep hidden at all costs.

restaurant owner!jungkook x model!reader | childhood friends to enemies (kind of) to lovers | slow burn

stuck with you by @focusonkayjay 🌸🌹🥀 🌺

Jungkook’s a hopeless romantic—emphasis on hopeless more than romantic. From the moment he first laid eyes on you, he swore he heard bells chiming, like the angels from above were giving him a cosmic nudge. But he’s always been the awkward, nerdy guy—the one who blends into the background—while you? You felt like a dream way out of his league. Fate, however, had other plans and now, you’re his roommate and living with you—in all your effortless glory—is equal parts chaos and heaven. The only challenge? Keeping his ever-growing feelings in check. That is—until a cocky fuckboy with not-so-pure intentions sets his sights on you, and suddenly, just loving you from the sidelines might not be enough.

computer sci major!jungkook x econ major!reader | shy/nerdy!jungkook x popular/influencer!reader | college au | roommates au

All This Time? by @jimxnslight 🌸 🥀

Another day, another boyfriend caught cheating. You’re hardly surprised, but before you can even process another one of many betrayals, your best friend Jungkook offers a solution: a blind date. The twist? The guy Jungkook has in mind might not be a stranger at all.

friends to lovers

ego season by @sparklingchim 🌹🥀

your ex-high-school crush is now your fuck buddy. you just gotta make sure that your older brother taehyung, jungkook's best friend, doesn't catch you red-handed.

hockey player!jungkook x rich girlie!OC | college au | friends with benefits | brother's best friends

Heartweave by @chrrybbmb 🌸

... in which jungkook realises his heart is caught in your web

spiderman!jungkook | cringefail!jungkook | both are in denial of their feelings

Sexy Disasters With Feelings by @kooppss 🌹

Jungkook is your roommate. Did everyone tell you it’s a bad idea? Yeah. Did you still think you could handle it? Yep. So here you are, trying to keep your promise that 'you’ll never fuck another fuckboy again.' Good luck with that.

I hate you, I think? by @cosmorice 🌸🌹🥀

CEO!Jungkook and you have an odd relationship filled with tension and chaos; but is it hatred he truly has for you?

CEO!jungkook x Reader

Server Room by @mister0ctopus 🌸🌹

Your first impression of your new IT guy? Shy. But when you accidentally caught him doing something in the server room while moaning your name, you just had to pretend you didn’t see it, right? Right?

Office au | Mini series

Play you like a game, boy by @lilliankoo 🌹🥀

he looks like an angel but is a devil- well that's what your kingdom thinks. he is also the blessed leader of tribe "lav"; even a leaf cannot move without his permission but here he was in-front of you on his knees. while the whole tribe bows to him- he only bows to you. now, there are two paths presented to you- marry him & return his love or refuse & watch him conquer your father's kingdom. power is an evil yet a tempting apple-and now its in your hands- are you going to take a bite; taste the sweet poison or will you use it to tempt others? its an evil world with evil options.. do you think you can handle him?

antagonist! tribe leader jungkook x princess reader

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khrystalsnow · 3 months ago

Text

February to April Jungkook Reading List

🤠Oh hey guys~ long time no see🤠~

I have also reread a bunch of fics from my past reading list, so you guys can check those out as well!

LEGEND

Fluff - 🌸

Smut -🌹

Angst - 🥀

Crack- 🍄

All Time Favourite - 🌺

-------------------------------LETS BEGIN---------------------------------

ONE SHOTS

Entropy by @youthguk 🌹

“The universe tends towards chaos”

One-shot | college AU | fuckboy!JK

That Night of Graduation by @smartkookiee 🌹🌸 🌺

One-shot | friends to lovers | post college story | right person wrong time | good ending

Truth or Dare: Kiss a Friend by @dailynnt 🌹

One-shot | Friends to lovers | possessive!JK | unspoken desires

Jungkook’s realization by @champagnevi 🌸

How jungkook realized that he's in love with OC

Carefree by @guksfairy 🌸🥀

y/n is a member of STRLIGHT which has five members but they’re not mentioned much, y/n is under Wonijin Entertainment and JK is under Hybe, JK is head over heels for y/n

we ride by @v-eee 🌸

new neighbor offers you a ride

The Monogamy Monologues by @kpopfanfictrash 🌹🥀 🌺

-> The Virgin Volume 🌹🥀

It takes place before RMCC and is the story of how Jungkook lost his virginity.

nothing like us by @focusonkayjay 🌸 🥀

enemies to lovers | fake dating | corporate employees

shot glass full of tears by @focusonkayjay 🌸🌹🥀

veterinarian!jungkook x cat mom!reader | exes to lovers

D&D by @aajjks 🌹🍄

There is a lot to deal with whenever your horny roommate ends up drunk as fuck

roommates!JK and reader

we fight by @v-eee 🌸🥀

a petty fight turns into three days of stubborn silence

miss taken. by @junghelioseok 🌸🌹

you pride yourself on being a professional, but sometimes your students' parents really test your patience.

teacher!au | single parent!au |enemies to lovers

historic moments by @moyochu 🌸

“no one’s going to believe we’re together anyway, you’re the super strict history teacher and i’m the chill biology teacher that brings my pets to class”

teacher!au

pour some sugar on me by @yoonia 🌹

enemies to lovers au | Baker!yoongi and Baker!reader

the spins by @here2bbtstrash 🌹

you discover a new side to your former lab partner, frat wonder boy jeon jungkook, when you confess to him the one thing no man has ever been able to make you do

frat boy!jungkook | reader's first partnered orgasm | SMUT

Sweet Inhibition | Park Sunghoon by @scorpieuns 🌹

you know what they say, never answer a call from your boss when you’re drunk off your mind—oh, and never tell him that he desperately needs to get laid

office au

Walk You Home by @angellesword 🌸🌹🥀

general!jungkook x medical practitioner!reader

Hold on to me by @kooklovee 🌸🌹🥀

CeoHusband!Jungkook x Wife!Reader

Lunch Break by @borathae 🌸🌹

coworkers!AU | established relationship!AU | office romance!AU

SERIES

before we shatter by @caramelkoo 🌸🌹🥀

established relationship | idol!jungkook | mentions death of a loved one | cheating (not by the main characters)

webbed heartstrings by @focusonkayjay 🌸🌹🥀

spiderman/campus heartthrob! jungkook x reader

Your Universe by @muniimyg 🌹🍄🥀

Regretting rejecting oc, min yoongi goes through a circus load of gestures and tasks in attempt to be loved again

basketball captain!yoongi x preschool education major!OC | tsudereyoongi x sunshine OC

Chess of Ice by @jimlingss 🌸 🥀 🌺

Sports!AU

Perfect Plan by @joons-cinnamon-bun 🌸🌹🥀

friends to lovers | friends with benefits?

ON-GOING

Something about you by @ahundredtimesover 🌸🌹🌺

Friends!au | vacation!au | PE teacher!JK and researcher!OC

Point of View by @muniimyg 🌸🍄🥀

a collection of slow-burn moments

The price of desire by @dreamersparacosm 🌸🌹🥀

Miniseries | idol!jk and corporate girl boss!reader | 'we shouldn't but we can't stop' trope | enemies to lovers ish | grumpy girl boss x cocky idol

The Jeons by @justarkive 🌸🌹🥀 🌺

a collection of chaotic familly drabbles

family!au | non-idol JK

Parasocial by @youthguk 🌹🥀

best friends with benefits | childhood friends | cheating | toxic dynamics

Every Breathe You Take by @focusonkayjay 🌸🌹🥀 🌺

restaurant owner!jungkook x model!reader | childhood friends to enemies (kind of) to lovers | slow burn

stuck with you by @focusonkayjay 🌸🌹🥀 🌺

computer sci major!jungkook x econ major!reader | shy/nerdy!jungkook x popular/influencer!reader | college au | roommates au

All This Time? by @jimxnslight 🌸 🥀

friends to lovers

ego season by @sparklingchim 🌹🥀

your ex-high-school crush is now your fuck buddy. you just gotta make sure that your older brother taehyung, jungkook's best friend, doesn't catch you red-handed.

hockey player!jungkook x rich girlie!OC | college au | friends with benefits | brother's best friends

Heartweave by @chrrybbmb 🌸

... in which jungkook realises his heart is caught in your web

spiderman!jungkook | cringefail!jungkook | both are in denial of their feelings

Sexy Disasters With Feelings by @kooppss 🌹

I hate you, I think? by @cosmorice 🌸🌹🥀

CEO!Jungkook and you have an odd relationship filled with tension and chaos; but is it hatred he truly has for you?

CEO!jungkook x Reader

Server Room by @mister0ctopus 🌸🌹

Office au | Mini series

Play you like a game, boy by @lilliankoo 🌹🥀

antagonist! tribe leader jungkook x princess reader

#KhrystalSnowReadingList #jeon jungkook #bts fanfic #min yoongi #kim namjoon #readinglist #February to April Reading List #2025 Fanfics #KhrystalSnow

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khrystalsnow · 4 months ago

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Nvm i found it🤠

SOS FIC HELP

Guuuyyyyssss could anyone find me the this one jungkook fanfic, its with yn and jungkook and they’re in a pretty big friend group and they’re hanging out for the night and jungkook/yn suggested they play truth or drink bc they’ve played it before. They it turns out that they’ve slept at the night of their graduation but none of their friends knew so everyone was curious. It was a huge misunderstanding why they never talked about that night and that’s all i remember😭😭

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khrystalsnow · 4 months ago

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SOS FIC HELP

#jeon jungkook #fanfic help #sos

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khrystalsnow · 4 months ago

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Something About You (01) | JJK

Pairing: Jungkook x (f.) Reader

Genre/Tags: friends au, vacation au, slow burn, romcom-ish vibe; adulting; inspired by AYS; PE teacher!JK and researcher!OC; fluff, comfort, smut (?)

Chapter Warnings: foul/explicit language; alcohol consumption, mentions of cheating (JK’s ex) (18+)

Word count: 11.4k

Series Masterlist

Status: Ongoing

Series Summary: You and Jungkook have been friends for a decade. And while he’s the charming and dependable, often reserved boy-next-door, he’s also just been a friend - a constant in your life, a part of a whole, and someone who’s seen all the flawed and probably unattractive sides of you.

A resumption of your friend group’s out-of-town trips has caused you to spend more time with him. And somewhere in between the morning coffee in the forest, running around in the snow, and watching the sunset on a boat, he’s become something more. And you’re not quite sure how to deal with it.

🎶: Beautiful Soul by Jesse McCartney || Yes or No by Jungkook

A/N: Hi, it's here! This is a tribute to my group of friends. BTS is comfort and I love them so much 💜 Other female characters are inspired by some other fictional characters (tell me if you know who!) Also to Kim Namjoon, I'm sorry 🤣 (you'll get it). Please enjoy!

Your eyes dart to the time on your laptop screen.

4:17 PM.

This online meeting was supposed to end half an hour ago and you planned on clocking out right after so you could get to where you need to be but you should’ve known better. Your research team had taken so much time discussing operational aspects of the project that you are in charge of and you had to keep everyone on track. It worked for the most part.

But while your work chat is still buzzing with questions that you state you’ll respond to next week, your phone’s group chat is being bombarded with messages from your best friend.

[from: jiminie pabo] yooo ___ are you on your way??

[from: jiminie pabo] you better not flake on us or else tae will wrestle you

[from: jiminie pabo] reply to me!!

You manage to keep your expression neutral as you sneakily reply and say that you’re still stuck in a meeting and it’ll probably take you another 30 minutes before you could leave. Your car’s in the warehouse after a little accident so you’re gonna have to book a ride. It’s rush hour on a Friday so it’ll be tough, but you’re managing this team and you can’t just end the meeting without your members having ironed their thoughts out.

[from: jiminie pabo] kook is just finishing up. i asked him to pick you up from your place

[from: jiminie pabo] your carriage is on its way. you’re welcome

You sigh in relief internally at not having to worry about transportation. And it’s shortly after when the man in question sends you a text message to say that he’s just left the gymnasium and will get to you in 40 minutes max.

That’s enough time for you to get ready and make sure you have all your things packed and your mind devoid of all things work-related because as you’ve promised yourself, you’ll try this whole work-life balance madness and shut off for the weekend.

But then again, you don’t really have a choice when you’ve got that trip planned with your friends in the mountains. Or was it the forest? You’re not sure; the outdoors are all the same to you.

Taehyung had just arrived after a year and a half in London where he was making waves in a few theater productions. He wanted to immediately spend time with your group of 12, and a little vacation was planned right away, just like how it was in the old days.

The camping-turned-glamping weekend was because you convinced everyone that setting up tents was just gonna waste your time, and the point of the trip is to spend it together. You pretty much pouted your way through it, but they also know you well enough that not sleeping on a bed and not having proper running water just isn’t your thing. Doing it once was enough, and the last time you camped, you were miserable.

Hoseok luckily found a property that operated cabins with all the comforts of home. You saw a bed and bathroom and you locked in, and you’ve been waiting for this weekend since your older friend laid out all the activities you’ll be doing.

Adulting is stressful enough; trying to make a difference in the world is even more. The time you spend with the people who know you best and who accept all versions of you has become your key to survival.

And yes, that includes your brat of a best friend.

[from: jiminie pabo] get ur flat asses here soon, ok?

[from: jiminie pabo] i just want to eat and drink and pretend I don’t have responsibilities

You decide against defending your not-so-flat ass because it really doesn’t stand a chance against his, and instead say you’ll update them once you’re near.

You head out the door once Jungkook texts you that he’s just turned to your street, and you find him already opening the trunk and reaching out for your bag, just like the gentleman that he is. He’s donned in his usual sweats, a look you’re so used to that you forget sometimes he’s a proper adult with a proper job.

“Did your students win?” You ask as you enter the car.

“They placed, so they’ve got another tournament to go,” he smiles. “They were so shocked but I knew they could do it. They worked so hard.”

“Having a good coach helps, I guess,” you wink.

He chuckles then asks about your meeting, and you narrate how tiring this week - more like this whole month - has been. Between the weekly research conferences you’ve been organizing and the daily management of your teams, you haven’t really had time to rest.

“Is that why you insisted on going for a cabin trip?” He asks. “Honestly, I was looking forward to setting up camp and all that.”

“I know you do that for fun and stuff but why would we do all the work and set up our own tents? This isn’t a team building activity, you know?”

“Isn’t that the point of going on a friend trip? To bond and do stuff together like that?”

“We do enough bonding when we make our food,” you point out.

“Yeah? And what exactly do you contribute?”

“Excuse me, I’m the taster,” you gasp. “Trying the food before you all do is like, a crucial role.”

“You can’t even tell if a dish needs more salt or not,” he chuckles, referring to your obvious lack of food knowledge and your very basic palette.

“Uh, I didn’t know Jimin was the one who picked me up,” you scowl. “Why are you calling me out, Kook? You’re supposed to be on my side!”

“What if I don’t want to be?” he teases.

“You must! Or be the neutral one, then!”

“That’s Tae’s job. I’m just here to enjoy the show. It’s never boring with you and Jimin around,” he smiles.

Your face relaxes at this. At least you provide some form of entertainment to your friends, since you can’t really contribute in any other way. Your clumsy ass and inability to develop practical life skills won’t let you. It’s your shared helplessness that has you and Namjoon bonding every trip.

“Why are you so against camping anyway? You literally don’t even have to do anything.”

“Kook, there are four things in this world that make me angry - heat, bugs, Jimin, and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.”

“You forgot cold food,” Jungkook adds.

“Because hot food is supposed to be eaten hot. Duh.”

“And Mo-eum’s chewing.”

“Because she eats like a child.”

“And Tae’s headlock.”

“Dude can choke me with those arms,” you exclaim.

“Text that’s not justified also drives you nuts. And indented paragraphs. And non-use of the Oxford comma. And Gill Sans. And—”

“Yah!” You exclaim, smacking his chest with the back of your hand.

He responds with the kind of laugh that Jungkook reserves for your group of friends - squinted eyes, scrunched nose, wide open mouth, and bouncing shoulders. With a 10-year friendship under your belts, you know this is him teasing. And genuinely enjoying it.

“You’re having too much fun making fun of me, huh,” you frown.

He settles into a smile - the cheeky yet comforting one that you’ve gotten used to over the years.

“___, I coached the high school swim team all afternoon. You know how intense those matches get,” he groans. “Getting on your nerves and then telling all our friends about it is my chosen relief for tonight.”

“You make me sound like I whine a lot,” you pout.

His pursed lips tell you that you actually do, and you smack his arm this time and whine some more.

“I was just making the point that many things, in fact, make you angry. Not just four,” he corrects.

“This is why I’m single,” you sigh, sinking into your seat. “And why I forever will be.”

Jungkook turns to you and your faraway eyes tell him you’ve fallen into that corner of your mind again that always drowns in thoughts. He doesn’t know how you went from thinking of what makes you angry to believing you’ll forever be single but that’s how conversations with you go all the time.

Your mind goes from one realm to another.

And you ramble. A lot. A moment of being lost in your own mind is immediately followed by a period of vocal self-reflection and bouts of existential crisis, which is odd for a person who seems to be so sure of herself and what she stands for.

But that’s how you are. You could go 30 minutes straight just talking about one of the research projects you’re working on without breathing. One time, Hoseok asked you about what was going on with the women’s protests and you ended up presenting a whole ass thesis about social movements, complete with some conceptual framework and other things Jungkook didn’t understand.

And while your friends looked at you in bewilderment - except for Namjoon, who probably had read that same piece of work and was giving side comments during your impromptu lecture - Jungkook applauded you internally. You were very passionate about it. And you clearly knew your shit.

When he met you during your first year of university after Jimin, his best friend from middle school, brought you and your best friend Mo-eum to dinner, Jungkook thought your rambling was typical of a political science major who just had too much to say. He later on realised that you were actually one of those rare types who had such a rich, active mind with the ability to eloquently express all her thoughts. Majority of the time at least, but even if he couldn’t always grasp what you were saying, he knew it was substantial.

And much as he enjoys teasing you about all these quirks you have, it’s also his job as your friend to assure you that you’re doing alright.

You’ve already got your legs folded on the passenger seat and your face distorting with every new thought that crosses your mind, so he nudges you with his elbow.

“Yah, your being single has nothing to do with your grocery list of things that make you mad,” he says. “They’re harmless, okay? Plus, being angry isn’t always a bad thing, right? Like the great Kim Namjoon said - anger is necessary. It’s our history because anger has changed the world. And while you may be angry at all these little things, you and I know it’s that same fire in you that makes you good at what you do. And it’s what makes you a good person and a good friend.”

Your eyes turn to the man next to you, no doubt exhausted from a full day of teaching middle school kids and coaching the high school swim team but breezing through traffic while dealing with your whiny ass.

You’re a words of affirmation type of girl. All your friends know that. But you also know that when they assure you about something, they genuinely mean it.

“True, anger is good sometimes,” you nod and smile.

“I mean, who else would willingly fight their friends’ nasty exes and lay all the receipts to their faces?” Jungkook points out. “And you know already that even if I don’t understand half of the things you say about your research projects, I know enough that your work has changed lives. So good job, ___. Not everyone can do what you do.”

“Hmm, says the Teacher of the Year winner for three years in a row,” you say, wanting to be the supportive friend this time. “You’re helping the students a lot in healthily dealing with the world and you don’t even have to expend your energy on anger.”

“But we’re both still changing lives, aren’t we?” He asks you.

“We are. God, how did we even get to talking about this?” You laugh.

“It was Namjoon and his great speech,” Jungkook chuckles. “Imagine if he was a poet or a songwriter or something.”

“Well, his grandparents decided that his pen game would be beneficial for a future political career and who knows? Speech writer one day, assemblyman the next? Maybe then he’d help us dismantle the patriarchy and make this place safer for women,” you start. “Because actually, men’s role in addressing gender inequality is so understated and—”

Your eyes meet Jungkook’s and both of yours are saying the same thing - here you go again. You both laugh in understanding and you shake your head in submission, stating that you just want to chill and won’t go into one of your rants this time.

It does give Jungkook an opening to tease you about another thing, though.

“Speaking of Namjoon, I still think you two would’ve made a good couple.”

“Yeah, but who’s gonna cook the food? Slice the fruits? Change the frikkin lightbulb? Repair whatever breaks in the house?”

The thought of how helpless you and Namjoon would be cracks Jungkook up.

“True. Clumsy people can’t be together if we want world peace,” he hums. “He’s proof that God is fair. He saw the brain and dimples and thought, yeap let me mould him into a klutz.”

“And you are not wrong,” you laugh. “Plus, we’ve known each other for a decade. How does one decide to just… date their friend?”

“That kind of normally happens, ___,” Jungkook rolls his eyes. “That’s literally how Seokjin and Hayoung got together. Met at college, became good friends, and then boom, went to a concert together then realised they like each other. And now they’re engaged.”

The thought brings a smile to your face. Thinking about your cousin’s love story with the most handsome and thoughtful man you’ve ever met gives you hope. You’re glad you entered the same university two years later than she did, in time for you to witness that friendship blossom into something more. And of course, to meet her other equally awesome friends.

You’re just not quite sure if that kind of thing is for everyone. Your two former relationships had been whirlwind romances, but the flame died as quickly as it sparked. You keep a small group of friends and none of the men, including the one next to you, had ever been a prospect.

Your thoughts are interrupted when your phone rings.

“Gyu-rim and I are at the supermarket right now,” Yoongi says, straight to the point as always. “We’re buying all our food already. Can you pass by the one nearest Seokjin’s house so we can put some of the drinks in Jungkook’s cooler?”

“Got that, uncle,” you reply, with the man no longer reacting to your term of endearment for him. “Can you get me a whole pack of sour gummy worms please? Thank you!”

You drop the call and instruct Jungkook to turn the corner. You meet Yoongi and Gyu-rim, who haul half of the groceries in the trunk. You place your pack of gummies in your bag, but you catch Jungkook eyeing it, so you ask him if he wants to nibble on something or if he’s hungry.

“I’ve got red bean bread with me,” you say. “Do you want some?”

“We’ve got a long drive so might as well,” he says. “I didn’t really get to eat during lunch because the kids were too nervous to eat and I didn’t want to show them that I still had an appetite.”

“I’m sure Seokjin and Tae’s parents prepared something for us like they always do,” you say.

There’s a reason why their house is your meeting point before every trip. Other than it being your hangout spot throughout your university years, their family also always serves a lot of food when you’re all around.

You offer Jungkook your container of the bread and he picks up two, devouring them immediately before eating another one in two bites. You grab his water jug from the backseat and hand it over to him. Just as he finishes, you enter the village and arrive at the house.

You pinch and pull his cheek as you often do to express your thanks, and you get out of the car before he pinches you in return.

You enter the living room and the scene before you is one you’ve seen hundreds of times over the past 10 years.

There’s Jimin being dramatic over losing in Mario Kart, Mo-eum being happy just placing higher than him, Hoseok laughing hysterically even if he’s second, and Seokjin cheering for himself as the winner like always. Hayoung and Suhyeon are busy chatting, Yoongi and Namjoon are munching on something while trying to convince Gyu-rim that it’s still possible to find a decent man in their thirties, and Taehyung is at the center, singing opera just because.

But once they see you, they stop what they’re doing, accept the hug you always give them, and ask you how you are. Even the not-so-affectionate ones have learned to give in. It’s the perk of being everyone’s baby, you think.

Being the youngest of five kids and with large age gaps with your siblings, it was natural for you to seek and receive affection from your friends, just as it was natural for them to take care of you. That’s mostly because you’re clumsy and clueless about many things, and you’re used to convenience and being looked after.

It’s nothing they’ve ever complained about, and you’re just glad that you found people who genuinely love caring for you.

Taehyung gives you the tightest hug instead of the headlock he greeted you with the last time. You’re still not used to his large arms wrapping around you, but the warmth hasn’t changed. He bulked up for his role in that West End production, and somehow he got even bigger since the last time you saw him, which was four months ago when you went to London to watch his play.

The welcome of Jungkook is a lot less doting than yours. Even if he’s the youngest amongst everyone, they know he doesn’t require the same affection as you do.

In fact, they depend on him more than anyone, and it always amuses you how, despite being the baby of his family as well, he developed life skills that allow him to naturally figure things out. Perhaps it’s his being a teacher but he’s always been like this since you met him - an all-rounder who seems to know what to do in every situation.

It’s not long after when Yoongi suggests you should all get going. It’s a two-hour drive to Chungbuk, after all, and it’s predicted to rain on your way there.

You get in Jungkook’s SUV with Jimin and Mo-eum while the older ones get in two other cars. Taehyung delivers a bag of food to the others before he takes the seat behind you. He hands you a roll of gimbap that his mother had made, and you pop pieces in your mouth while holding the container out for Jungkook to eat while he drives.

Despite the long day and each one of you having full time jobs, the ride is still filled with banter and karaoke sessions. Taehyung has to referee when you and Mo-eum butt heads with Jungkook and Jimin, as the boys always like to tease and push your buttons.

All that is temporary though, as at the end of the day, you stick to each other like glue. The five of you always opt to sleep together in one room or one suite and in this case, one cabin, even if you have to make adjustments with the sleeping arrangements.

“So…” Jungkook starts, his eyes darting from one end of the cabin to the other. “Us boys are definitely not gonna fit in that.”

The bed by the window is the larger of the two, but it’s still too small for the three of them, not with their build and ways of sleeping. It’s a situation you’ve had before, so you go with your backup combination.

“Jimin can sleep with me and Mo-eum,” you state. “Kook, you and Tae can take the loft bed.”

“Sure, that works,” Jungkook nods.

He looks around and appreciates the coziness of your lodging for the weekend. It’s definitely fancier than a tent, but it also just houses the basic necessities. There’s a small table right by the door with three stools and a small kitchen counter and refrigerator across from it. The bathroom is surprisingly spacious though, and he can already guess that’s one reason why you chose this property. He forgot to point out earlier that small bathrooms also drive you nuts.

Next to you, Jimin groans and warns that if you hit him in your sleep again like you’d done before, he’s gonna push you in the river. You can only smile innocently, as not hurting him is a promise you’re unsure you’ll be able to keep.

After that’s settled, you meet up with the rest of your friends outside. The seven of them have split up in two other cabins - Seokjin and Hayoung with the girls in one, and the rest of the boys in another. They’ve also just put away their things and it’s time to get dinner going.

Everyone gets to their tasks like clockwork - some are organising all the groceries in the cupboards, some are chopping up ingredients, and some are building the fire. You, Namjoon, and Taehyung - the designated cleaners - decide you’ll at least try to be useful and start assembling the camping chairs.

You surprisingly find it quite therapeutic. Between the scent of rain that just stopped and the sounds of nature, there’s something that feels so healing about doing all this with your friends.

Sure, it’s smoky. The ground is a tad bit soft from the downpour earlier, too. And the bugs are having a party everywhere, causing you to shriek every time one of them gets near you.

But there’s chatter and laughter and anticipation. There’s this calmness despite the chaos, and it’s all this that you’ve missed this past year.

Driving out of town to get away during school breaks was a thing you all did during your university days. When the five of you finally graduated and joined the rest of your friends in full-time adulting, the trips became less. Post-work drinks and weekend hangouts were frequent, but it was difficult to align everyone’s schedules for something that was more than a day.

Taehyung was the one who made sure they still happened somehow, even if it was every couple of months. It’s the first time you’re all complete after a year and a half, and the last trip you had was before he flew out.

Having this again after so long feels like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders. It’s as if you don’t feel like you have to carry all your burdens on your own. And seeing your friends’ smiling faces despite their respective high-stress jobs, you know they feel the same way, too.

Your sentimental thoughts are disturbed by Jimin yelling for someone to get something before he disappears into your cabin. You still follow him inside to find out what he needs, learning then that he’s back in the bathroom for the second time since you arrived.

“What does he want?” You ask Jungkook, who stands by the tiny kitchen.

“I asked Jimin to get me gochujang from the guys but he, well… he’s got some business to do,” he laughs. “Can you get it for me, please?”

You nod in response then tease your best friend about not clogging the toilet before you get the condiment from the resident cooks outside. You return to the cabin and watch Jungkook skillfully mix a bunch of things in a pot.

“What’s that for?” You ask next to him.

“We’ll fry chicken later for dinner number two and this is the sauce,” he answers.

“Oh,” you nod. “It smells good. And spicy.”

He sees your slightly nervous face then reassures you that he’ll set aside some for you and Taehyung before adding more chili, knowing your low tolerance for heat. You smile in response, and wanting to know if it’s manageable for you, Jungkook scoops some for you to try.

You take the teaspoon he hands out and taste it. You let it linger before deciding it’s something you can definitely eat.

“Does it need anything else?” He asks.

“Uh,” you trail, your eyes darting from him to the sauce, clearly clueless if there’s more he needs to add, but you act like you’re trying to figure it out.

He tastes it himself.

“Sugar,” he states, then looks at you with a slight smirk. “That’s what you were gonna say, right?”

“Totally,” you lie, but he sees right through you and laughs.

It’s a Jungkook thing, you think - to tease and be a bit cheeky but never overdoing it.

He sets aside a mound of sauce in a bowl before adding more chili powder in the pot that the rest of them will have. He chills them all then says he’ll help prep the rest of the chicken outside and you follow him out. It’s the same time that Jimin opens the door and you fake gag to his face before asking him if he’s okay.

“My tummy’s been a bit weird since this morning,” he groans.

“Take something before it gets worse,” you advise. “Ask Mo-eum. Surely the paramedic would know what to give you, right?”

He nods, and you already feel bad for him with this rough start to the weekend. But you stay with Jimin the whole night. He hates having to skip on the pajeon and chicken because they’re too oily, but you give him half your share of the kimchi stew to make up for it. You also know it’s his favorite.

You serve him water whenever he runs out, and even if he was told to pass up on alcohol tonight, you let him take sips of your beer just so he doesn’t completely miss out. You wrap a blanket around him so he doesn’t get too cold, and he sweetly smiles at you and comments how nice you are to him.

“It’s my apology in advance in case I unconsciously hurt you later,” you sweetly smile back.

Everyone laughs, knowing that’s not far from happening.

The night goes on with the bright stars in the sky and the crackling of the fire pit while you all take turns washing up.

It’s close to midnight when you’ve finally settled in bed, with Jimin laying in between you and Mo-eum. You lost rock-paper-scissors so you’re on the outer side of the bed, even if you argue that you’re more likely to fall off it because you definitely cannot stay in one position when you sleep.

But you’re required to honor the results of the game so you stay on your side, your left arm and leg wrapped around Jimin’s side. Despite the possibility of you pulling him along if you do fall, your best friend lets you; he knows you can’t sleep without hugging something.

Mo-eum lays fetus-curled on Jimin’s right, and both of you have your eyes on his screen as he goes through TikToks that have you three in controlled giggles. You shush them when Jimin snorts, as he sends one of the videos to your group chat. Just then, you hear Jungkook control his laughter from the loft bed, too, prompting you all to laugh even harder.

“Go to bed, you weirdos,” he groans, trying his best to just get to sleep.

“You’re just jealous you’re missing out on the fun down here,” you tease, turning around to stick your tongue at him.

He shakes his head at you.

“Yup, talk about fun when you can’t get your ass off the bed in a few hours,” he counters, making a face before lying back down.

Jungkook starts to do breathing exercises, following the rhythm of Taehyung’s soft snores next to him. It works, as the next thing Jungkook remembers is waking up to his alarm at 5 in the morning.

He nudges the man next to him then heads down the ladder to wash up before your morning activity.

He’s caught in surprise when he finds Jimin sitting on the stool, holding a bottle of Soju on his nose.

“What the heck happened to you?” Jungkook asks.

Jimin groans and turns towards the bed with angry eyes.

“She did.”

Jungkook chuckles because much as he expected this, it’s still funny when it happens.

“Was it her fist or her elbow?”

“Her elbow,” Jimin sighs. “That woman doesn’t even exercise. I don’t know where her strength comes from! Ugh, I should’ve made her sleep in the loft with you instead.”

“And be the one to get smacked on the face? No, thanks.”

“Your nose can handle it,” Jimin teases.

The younger man bends his arm to fake slap his friend who’s nursing a possibly bruised nose. But that’s one of the things Jungkook is thankful for - not being your go-to bed mate, which saves him from any possible injury to his face or any other part of his body. You’ve claimed many of your friends already, and he still doesn’t know how you’re able to do all that in your sleep.

Seokjin and Hoseok enter your cabin to yell that there’s 10 minutes left until you all have to leave for the hike to the nearby mountain in time for the sunrise. You’re the last one off the bed because you were in such deep sleep that it feels like you’re still dreaming.

You’re oblivious to the damage you caused, as you half-mindedly do your morning routine and dress up appropriately for this chilly morning. It’s when you notice Jimin’s slightly red nose and his angry eyes that you realise you might’ve unknowingly done something last night, and his growl when you ask him if he’s okay is your confirmation of that fact.

You try to make it up to him with hugs and a reminder that you’d taken care of him last night but he’s still sore and you’re still sorry.

He dramatically narrates what happened on your way to the mountain, and while most of your friends are laughing because it’s just an insane yet predictable thing to happen, you actually feel bad for him.

Jimin pretends to not care about you during the hike. He stays ahead of the pack instead of walking side-by-side with you because he knows that things like this bore you and you need him to feel entertained.

But not today, as you see him laughing about with Gyu-rim and Suhyeon while you’re stuck at the back of the pack with Yoongi who’s still half asleep and Mo-eum who’s so lost in her surroundings that she barely notices you, even when you trip on stones or shriek because of the bugs.

You groan to yourself.

You love sunrises and pretty skies. You’re just not particularly fond of the early wake up call and long walks you have to make to see them at their best.

Plus, you’re sweating. And because of the energy you’re exerting, you’re starting to feel hot, too. You take a deep breath and try to rein in all your negative aura so you could release them because being annoyed is not how you want to spend this beautiful morning.

You exhale all that and it comes out as another groan.

“I didn’t know you hated hiking that bad,” a teasing voice calls you out. “You could just stay here and wait for us to come back down. That’s an option.”

“Hey, that’s mean,” you pout and try to give your best puppy eyes to the man who’s now leveled himself with you.

“Of course I’m kidding,” Jungkook shakes his head.

He pulls your wrist to continue on the walk, and that’s when you realise that everyone else has gone ahead. And just as your eyes widen in shock that they had indeed left you behind, Jungkook gets to it first and explains that the back group was waiting for you but he insisted that they go ahead so as not to miss the sunrise in case you opt to not continue.

“No one leaves anyone behind, you know that,” he says. “And for the record, Jimin was the one asking if you were okay and then ordered me to check on you and make sure you get to the top on time. So yes, he’s worried even if he’s still upset that you elbowed his nose. Especially since Joon accidentally hit it with his backpack.”

You stop yourself from laughing because Jimin just really can’t catch a break, but you also truly feel bad for him that he has to suffer in more ways than he deserves.

“Fine. Drag me up this mountain, then. My legs will give up soon,” you grunt.

“Stay upright for me, yeah? I don’t really plan on carrying your ass all the way up there,” he chuckles.

You make a face and he just laughs again, then proceeds to take the bag off your back and swings it over his shoulder.

You make it to the top in time, just before the sun begins its slow ascent up the sky. It’s much cooler at the peak and the thick fog covers the quaint town below. It’s much more peaceful here, too, and you embrace the tranquility alongside your friends, as the view has left everyone speechless. You snap some photos - enough to remind you of the moment - and then settle on a rock to watch the sky change its colors.

“So pretty, isn’t it?” Hayoung sighs in awe as she sits next to you. “Just like the ones our grandparents would drive us to see.”

“I’m sure they’re enjoying this from up there,” you smile in response, recalling your summers in their home with the rest of your cousins, when life was simpler and you didn’t have responsibilities that weighed you down.

Once the sun has found its place above the clouds, you all gather on a flat area of the mountain and get your portions of the rice cake soup that Seokjin and Yoongi prepared this morning. Coffee is passed around and Jimin is the one who hands you your cup. He sits next to you and shows you your work of art on his face, and you both decide that having Mo-eum’s curled body in between is the best option on your last night. She fortunately agrees.

It’s close to 8AM when you get back to the cabins, as all of you took much longer on the hike down. It’s an hour of hanging outside and by the river before you’re all driving out into town for some lunch. The nearby market had you buying fruits and clams for tonight’s dinner while your ATV ride in the afternoon had you squealing in both excitement and fear.

It was your first time driving on your own, and after Jungkook had taught you which buttons to press, he drove away at maximum speed. Much as you nag him for his risky tendencies when it comes to things like this, you’ll admit it was refreshing hearing him scream in exhilaration.

All your friends like to have fun and that includes you. It’s why you go on trips like this - to try new things and get your heart racing, maybe live on the edge a little and sustain that passion for life that you all promised each other you’d find and live out outside of your respective careers that you put your whole selves into.

Adulting, you’ve learned, is about maintaining that part of yourself that still finds joy in changing seasons and pink-colored skies. It’s about carrying out your responsibilities while parking them on the side for a weekend over good food and bottles of beer. It’s about planning for the next 10 years while living in the moment. It’s not easy, but perhaps you’re able to do it because you all have each other.

And so watching Namjoon’s tense face relax in enjoyment, seeing a timid Suhyeon let go a little, and hearing Seokjin and Hayoung giggle in their shared ride are things that give you energy, because you know they’re enjoying this moment right here with you.

You finish right before sunset and return to your accommodation exhausted yet still somehow refreshed. There’s less to do now, as much of your dinner is grilled meat and seafood, so Jungkook suggests watching Halloween on the outdoor projector. It’s one of the features of the property that you were excited about, but you didn’t really consider a slasher movie for your last night in the forest.

No one else seems to do so aside from Jungkook, who insists that it’s all part of the fun. While a part of you thinks this is a stupid idea, you also don’t know what else could be more perfect than a thriller film in this environment. So you support him and it’s not long after when you find yourselves in front of the screen, with plates of meat and clams, bowls of rice, and cups of ramyeon around you.

There were definitely jump scares and men and women alike shrieking, either because of the movie or some sound from the woods. Seokjin dropped his can of beer more than once, and Hoseok gave up midway and hid behind Namjoon for the rest of the movie. You were seated next to Jimin on the outdoor couch and yelled in his ear several times that he banned you from being close to him for the rest of the night.

It’s how you found yourself next to Jungkook on the picnic bench where he was so unbothered while you cussed out every time you were surprised, either because of the movie or because of him. Which was many times.

Your heart is pumping by the end of it but you admit it was still fun. It’s the kind of stress you don’t mind feeling every once in a while.

It seems that everyone else felt the same, as the reactions and string of curses somehow made up for the unexpected horror of the night. Naturally, you all gather towards the fire pit.

The air is chilly and despite the tension from earlier, everyone seems relaxed and at peace. Conversations go from Seokjin and Hayoung’s wedding plans, to Taehyung’s audition clip that he sent for a Broadway production in New York, to Jimin’s recent blind date. The latter topic leads to Gyu-rim stating how hard it is to date in her thirties, an exchange she was having just a day ago.

“You literally just turned 30,” Yoongi nudges her knee. “You have a decade to go before you can be sure it’s really that difficult.”

“Well, I don’t have that many options to start with,” she counters. “You’re my only friends. People at work are shit. And my mom’s friends’ sons are either too young or too old.”

“Don’t you have that cute neighbor?” Mo-eum asks. “Or what about the owner of your favorite cafe? Doesn’t he leave little smiley faces on your cup every morning? Or the guy from the gym!”

“Well, the cute neighbor orders so much beer and chicken, it might be an obsession. And the cafe owner might just be flirting with all his female customers with doodles, who knows? And gym dude with nice hair talks to his mom all the time. That’s not exactly a green flag.”

“Now you’re just projecting,” Namjoon states. “You’re calling out red or yellow flags that might not actually mean anything, and you’re only doing that because–”

“I dated someone with a weird food habit, liked someone who turned out to be a serial cheater, and got dumped because this guy’s mom told him to,” Gyu-rim finishes. “In short, you never really know something’s wrong until it goes wrong, and when it does, it sucks like hell.”

“That’s why you get to know someone,” Yoongi says. “You date and then learn things about them and then break up if you don’t like what you see. You know they’re the one when you like them despite it all.”

“It’s just too much effort,” your older friend sighs. “And yes, I know that’s what relationships are supposed to be about but like, I want to work on communication and learning how to understand someone… not accepting some ick or skeletons in the closet type of shit. Those are things I want to know before I decide I’d like to date them.”

“Well, I guess it’s hard when there’s no one to vouch for them,” Suhyeon chimes in. “I mean, we knew Seokjin’s a good guy because we’ve known him for years. It wasn’t hard for either him nor Hayoung to make that decision about dating. Maybe that’s what makes it hard at this age and our prospects are people we barely know anything about. You’re kinda going into it blindly.”

Her words feel like a slap on the face to you, something Suhyeon is totally unaware of because these are the questions you’ve been having about your own past relationships that just live in your mind.

Your exes have been people you dated shortly after meeting them. The attraction was immediate and when two people gravitate towards each other that intensely so soon, it usually means something really special. Somehow you thought that feelings that strong and that certain meant you could overlook the flaws and imperfections of the other person.

Both times you were wrong. And while you’re glad you got out before you got in too deep, both times you still wondered if it would’ve worked out if you just held on a little longer, or if it would’ve even started had you known fully what you were getting into.

But the unknown excites you, at least when it comes to relationships. It’s kind of like research - you learn a bit about the person, make a hypothesis, then test it. You could be totally off mark or very close to it. Still, the process is always different. It keeps you on your toes because you don’t know what to expect even if, ironically, you already had an idea of what you wanted out of it in the beginning.

Perhaps that was your undoing - focusing on the high, anticipating the excitement of being right, then copping out when it wasn’t what you expected.

It’s not something you’ll say out loud though, at least not right now.

So you stay comfortable in your seat with a jacket over your tired body. You listen to your elders with two years more experience hash out what went wrong in their past relationships, and if they think they’ll end up settling for someone they know or are comfortable with, just for the sake of having a companion in this life.

It gives Jimin the opportunity to pitch to Yoongi and Gyu-rim this “40 and still single” pact, where they should just date if they don’t have anyone by that age, but both of them just look at him incredulously and shake their heads.

For some reason, your best friend is an advocate of friends-to-lovers type of stories even if he goes on blind dates all the time. He’s said he believes in it for other people but not really for himself. You share a mind like that - intense feelings from the onset are genuine and unmistakable. Sometimes you meet someone and immediately just know. You may have been wrong both times but it doesn’t mean you’ll always be wrong.

Who knows? Your future husband might be on a camping trip in some lakeside area not far from here, and you meet him in a chance encounter and things pick up from there. Suddenly the thought excites you again, but it’s something you keep to yourself.

You all make a toast to your existent and non-existing love lives. It’s enough to keep the energy hopeful until you all decide to retire for the night.

You lay in bed with thoughts suspended in your mind, just like the stars spread across the sky. Your eyes wander to their twinkling lights as you stare out the skylight.

That is, until you hear a voice whispering your name. You look upward, towards the left, and there’s Jungkook and his head peeking from the loft bed’s railing.

“Can’t sleep?” He asks.

You shake your head in response.

“Got any tips?” You ask, the tiredness hitting you once again.

“Tense your muscles and then relax them slowly. Do your 4-7-8,” he instructs. “Works like magic.”

“You’re just tricking me into making weird faces,” you frown.

“You do that even without me saying it, ___,” he chuckles. “Just try. You’re thinking too hard, I can almost see the thought bubbles appearing over your head.”

You roll your eyes this time but you follow his advice. You feel your muscles loosen and that does something to your brain, as if it, too, is relaxing on its own. And it works.

The next thing you know, your eyes are opening to the sun’s bright light, and there’s those same doe-eyes from last night, somehow content because maybe even he can see it - you had a really good sleep.

You wait for your mind to fully wake up while you curl under the covers. Mo-eum’s in the same position as she was last night and Jimin seems to be peaceful and unhurt. That appeases you at least. Up in the loft, you can see Taehyung already taking up the empty space next to him.

The bathroom door opens and Jungkook exits with his hair sprout bouncing as he walks, prompting you to giggle.

“What’s funny?” He asks with furrowed brows.

“You look like a baby with your hair,” you say.

“It won’t go down,” he groans, attempting once more to flatten the top of his head.

“Just tie the whole thing then. At least it’ll be intentional.”

“Yeah, so you can make fun of me some more?”

“Maybe,” you playfully shrug.

He walks towards you and flicks your forehead, and you try to kick him without disturbing the two people still asleep next to you. But Jungkook, like the athlete that he is, manages to grab your foot wrapped in your blanket before it hits him, and now you’re his hostage.

You glare at him - half pleading and half threatening - but he just makes a face at you. His grip on your heel is a little hard but it seems like it’s what you need, as the hike from yesterday morning has your leg and feet feeling a little sore.

“Hmm, Kook. Massage it please,” you moan, pushing your limb towards him.

“Only if you massage mine.”

“But I don’t wanna touch your toe socks,” you whine.

“Hey. Don’t be mean to them,” he frowns, eventually giving in as he starts massaging your calf.

“It’s just funny. That’s what my nephew wears. And he’s four,” you giggle.

“Toe socks know no age, you brat,” he says. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Your chuckle turns to another groan at the expert way he kneads your muscles. You could easily fall asleep with this, but just when you think you’re about to, Jungkook pinches your leg and you cover your mouth before you yell out your expletives.

He giggles in that child-like way he does when he teases, and all you could do is glare at him. But he makes it up to you with another minute of massaging, and you softly smile at him in thanks.

“So, no incidents last night?” He asks, gesturing towards your bedmates.

“None, although I think Jimin went to the bathroom again in the middle of the night,” you respond, raising your arm for Jungkook to pull so you could get the energy to get out of bed.

“Poor guy,” he shakes his head. “Goes on a trip only to get hit in the nose and get a stomach bug.”’

You shake your head at the absurdity of things but then again, if there’s anyone who’d roll with the punches and even laugh at his own misery, it’s Jimin. That’s always been the kind of optimism and easygoing energy you need in your life.

You and Jungkook head outside to make coffee. You’re one of the first ones awake even if you were both probably the last ones to fall asleep last night. It’s your last day here and you want to savor as much of the air and the tranquility as much as possible.

You sit next to him on the picnic bench and watch him pour hot water over the filter for the drip coffee, alternating between your cup and his. The scent is relaxing, so is the cool breeze. You shift your body to be parallel to the seat, and with your head on his shoulder, you stretch your legs and arms out to try to get a bit of sun.

“Wow, you got yourself a coffee maker and a makeshift lounge chair,” he huffs. “Let’s not forget a driver.”

“I’m photosynthesizing. You always tell me to get my vitamin D,” you explain. “And also, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll treat you to a really nice meal, I promise.”

“Why, what else do you need?”

“A ride to this event I need to attend in Cheonan. On Saturday. Please?”

You turn to him with your best attempt at puppy eyes.

“My car won’t be ready for another two weeks and I don’t wanna stress over how to get there since, uh, since I’m a panelist for a session. And it’s my first time to speak to a large audience about my research and I’m starting to freak about it and–”

“What! ___, of course I’ll drive you! That’s huge!” Jungkook exclaims.

You don’t miss his proud smile and the excitement in his eyes, and it somehow makes it all so real.

“Why aren’t we celebrating that this weekend, then?” He asks. “I wouldn’t have risked you getting attacked by bugs during the hike had I known.”

“Because I’m so nervous and talking about it makes me even more nervous,” you explained. “Mo-eum convinced me to not think about it this weekend because I’ve been stressing about it like crazy so I’ve just been trying to keep my mind off it to calm myself down.”

“And is it working?”

“Surprisingly, it has,” you nod. “I’ve had my talking points ready for a month now. I’ve been practicing for weeks. I had to be intentional in really switching off this weekend and it’s helped. It only entered my mind because the warehouse messaged me earlier about my car needing another few days in there so I’ve just been thinking about how to get to the venue after my field work in the morning.”

“Sure. I was just gonna stay at home and play games but a drive south isn’t bad,” he says. “I can stay around and drive you back home, too.”

“Are you sure?” You ask, relieved at not having to worry about your commute at night.

“Yeah. I mean, you did mention a really nice meal, so…”

“I did,” you laugh. “My session’s in the afternoon and I won’t stay long after. We can grab dinner on the way back.”

“Sounds good to me.”

“Thanks, Kook. I would’ve asked Jimin but he’s got an important shoot and Mo-eum’s on duty,” you reason.

“Being a third option isn’t bad,” he chuckles. “So if you’ve been successful in keeping your mind off it, does it mean that’s not why you were so quiet last night? You barely spoke after the movie.”

“You mean when we were talking about failed relationships and possibly being single for the rest of our lives?” You laugh dryly.

“Well, it’s what twenty and thirty-somethings worry about. You were rambling about that in the car the other night,” he reminds you.

“True. Let’s just say when I’m around more experienced and mature people, I prefer to just listen and reflect,” you say.

“And what did you reflect on?”

“Just things I’ve already thought of before,” you shrug, somewhat ready to verbalize them now. “I get intense and excited when I have a new relationship and I overthink but at the same time, I don’t think at all. It’s nice and fun then I see something I don’t like then I just… get out of it. I think what got to me was what Suhyeon said about going into it blindly,” you continue.

“Like, we enter a relationship with someone we’re interested in because we want to get to know them but we don’t know if we’ll actually like the person we’ll get to know. Kind of tricky, right? I mean, do we date to get to know them, or do we date them because we already know them?”

“Does it even matter?” Jungkook asks. “We have to make the decision to stay if we want it enough either way.”

“Even if we don’t like certain things about them?”

“Depends on what you can tolerate. Or what you think you deserve,” he replies, his tone a little weary at the memories rushing in. “We don’t really know anyone well enough. A friend or a colleague or whatever becomes a different version of themselves when they become your lover and you have to deal with that, and then stick around or walk away.”

Jungkook’s face falls and you apologize for bringing it up, knowing it’s quite a touchy subject.

“We’ve talked about this before. It’s nothing new,” he assures you. “You don’t have to feel sorry. Joo-yun went from pursuing me one day to deciding she didn’t want me in her life the next, and then imposing some shitty deadline. And Si-an, well, you know how that went.”

You and Jungkook don’t have deep conversations that often. You tend to reserve your deepest thoughts and feelings for your best friends and he was never really the type to talk about his. He was with Joo-yun for the most part of university so you spent more time with the other guys. She was also the jealous type so you always found yourself being cautious around Jungkook when she was there.

But you remember when he opened up about the breakup, on the night of your graduation. You all slept over at the Kims’ residence and you, Jungkook, and Jimin stayed up until dawn, just talking about your shared pain over soju and beer.

Joo-yun wanted to go abroad and didn’t want to have a long distance relationship, so she told Jungkook they could only see each other until they graduated, which was three months away. He broke it off right then. It was in the same month when you broke it off with Jeong-su after your nth fight over your busy schedule.

Three years after that, you were saying goodbye to your shared apartment with Mo-eum and starting a new role at the research firm. Everyone was at your place to celebrate. It was when you casually said that you’d broken up with Seungho - the guy who worked at your building and that you pined for two weeks before you asked him out. It was also when Jungkook had drunkenly shared that he broke up with Si-an the night before because he caught her cheating on him. You let him stay over then drove him to his place the next morning. He never really talked about her after that.

Your mind drifts to those years. They feel so far away even if some of the thoughts and feelings from that time still linger. Breakups are never easy but somehow you always manage to get over them quite easily. You suppose it’s the insecurity and self-doubt that follows that you couldn’t really move on from.

“So on both times, did you break up with them because you knew what you deserved?” You ask Jungkook.

“Thinking back, I tolerated them longer than I should have,” he hums. “Joo-yun was a bit controlling at times and I always just justified her tendencies in my head. I think she wanted me to beg her not to leave or to take me with her but I didn’t. And that hurt her pride so she lashed out then I broke it off.”

“I always felt like she dimmed your shine,” you sigh. “You’d turn quiet and not be your bratty, fearless, dumb self. It was kinda sad.”

They’re terms of endearment you always use with the younger guys. Jungkook knows this, and he agrees. He also agrees with your observation because it was true. He couldn’t joke around or have fun around his friends when she was there. She dimmed his light like you said. No one ever really put it into words like that.

“And Si-an was just foolish,” you add. “I have so many other mean words for her so I’ll just shut up.”

So does he so he laughs in response.

“For the record, Jeong-su was too up in his ass and too lazy to make time for you, and Seungho rubbed me the wrong way,” Jungkook says now. “Not acknowledging waitstaff is a red flag to me.”

“I agree,” you smile, knowing that unlike Jimin and Taehyung who always had a field day shitting on your exes - and for good reason - Jungkook isn’t the type to say things like that unless he feels it intensely.

There’s a brief moment of both of you drifting away while sipping your coffee until the cabin door opens. Your three roommates exit and start bringing out fruits and cold cuts for snacks before your morning trip to the lake. Soon enough, the others gather around your table, too, and the somber mood from earlier immediately switches to something more lively and positive.

And you’re glad it does. You’re not used to seeing Jungkook dispirited or looking dejected over a memory and you try to erase that from your mind by taking a good look at him this time.

Donned in his black sweatpants, oversized shirt, and a bucket hat, sometimes you forget he’s a 28-year old man who does teaching for a living, only because anyone could easily mistake him for being one of the students. But that’s his charm, you learned over the years.

There’s something so relatable and wholesome about him. It’s in how he pokes your puffed cheeks full of watermelons and in how he chases a frog that’s hopping towards the other side.

Yet he’s also dependable and possesses this certain level of maturity. It’s in the way he prepared coffee then unfolded the camping chairs for the rest of your friends earlier. He’s pure-hearted even if he’s cheeky and playful, as he now asks you to collect stones with him so you could both make a tower and make a wish for your peace of mind and his students’ win and for the toxins to be removed from Jimin’s body so he could eat properly today.

You let that image of Jungkook linger because seeing your friends happy makes you happy, too. It’s what this trip is about, anyway, regardless of the thoughts that plague your mind.

You take the mid-morning drive to a lake to kayak. It’s the perfect day for it, as the skies are in a stunning shade of blue and the clouds look overwhelmingly soft and pure.

Hoseok and Yoongi, who aren’t fond of the water, sit out. The rest of you play rock-paper-scissors on who gets to ride solo and in pairs.

To Jungkook’s dismay, he ends up getting paired with you.

“We literally had a heartwarming conversation earlier and now you’re acting like your life is cursed because you’re riding a kayak with me,” you scowl at him.

“___, I might as well be rowing alone because you suck at it. And now I have to do it with more weight,” he complains.

“Yah!” You smack his arm. “I’m not that bad.”

“You barely made it past the dock the last time we did this,” he deadpans.

“And that was five years ago. People can always improve, you know?”

He deep sighs and frowns at you to the entertainment of your friends, and while you’re a little nervous of what mishap you’ll cause again, you also can’t wait to get in the water and maybe prove to him that you’re not that clueless about things like this.

Except you might actually just be, because not long after you get on the kayak and start paddling, it slowly tips over until it capsizes.

You panic for a moment but manage to get your head out of the water where you’re met with a frustrated Jungkook and a yell of your name. You’d say sorry if you could but you’re halfway through an apologetic smile and a restrained chuckle over how he looks but the latter wins. And you laugh.

“___, Kook!” Jimin, who was just about to get on his kayak, yells out from the dock. “What happened! Are you both okay?”

You turn around where the staff are telling you to swim back and the captain is requesting another boat.

You look back at Jungkook again with his damp hair and his baby boy pout and you try to hold your laughter in again but you just can’t. He looks so upset that it’s actually adorable. It helps keep your mind off the fact that you’re soaking wet and it feels incredibly uncomfortable.

But he finally cracks a smile and he playfully shakes his head before splashing water on your face with his hand.

“Why are you like this, ___?” He groans, but you can tell he’s not upset anymore, even with the way he pulls you by your life vest as you both swim back to dry land.

“I don’t even know what happened,” you exclaim. “Everything was so fast!”

“Your center of gravity was off,” Yoongi explains, as he stands on the edge, helping you up. “And you paddled right away before being stable and then… yeah. Hoseok caught it on video.”

“What!” You shriek, walking to your older friend, with Jungkook following.

Hoseok shows you the clip and even the man behind you can’t stop laughing. One second you were both there and the next, you just disappeared.

Jungkook feels uncomfortable in places but there’s not much he can do now. He just really wants to get back in the water and paddle out there.

You first insist that you’ll just stay behind. When Jimin encourages you to still go because you’ve been excited about this, you then say you’ll just do the individual one so Jungkook can, too, and he can catch up with the rest of your friends who, from a distance, are still laughing.

But like the good friend that he is, he says it’s fine, and that going together means you’ll both actually get somewhere. You just have to let him take control and do what he says. And sit properly.

So you follow his and the instructor’s orders. You keep yourself seated at the center and align your arms, making sure you have a good grip on the paddle and are following Jungkook’s counts. You know you’re not doing as well as he is but he still tells you that you’re doing fine. He’s good at instructing so you find a good rhythm, and soon enough, you catch up with your friends who tease you endlessly.

“It was still funny even from here,” Seokjin teases. “But are you okay? We know how much you hate being soaked in your clothes.”

“I’m dying inside,” you admit. “But yeah, I’m okay. I think Jungkook’s halfway there.”

“I’m good,” he assures you. “At least we get to see the view from here.”

He points towards his right where the scenery of the sun atop the mountains and against the clear skies is so beautiful. You’re definitely a long way from dry land but you feel so stable. It was definitely worth getting back on the kayak despite fearing another tragedy. Jungkook made sure you were okay and that you got to enjoy this, too.

Jimin takes pictures and you all explore some more. Once you’ve seen enough, you paddle back and your friends watch the video and chuckle in amusement. It’s another one of those that’ll come up in your group chat’s memory and you’ve already accepted that it’ll be a story they’ll share and bring up.

“You two get washed and dry up, okay?” Hayoung says. “They have a shower room here and I’ve got towels in the trunk. You can just buy some clothes at the shop right there.”

You follow your cousin’s advice and find the locker rooms. Mo-eum hands you a pair of shorts and a shirt she got from the store then heads out with you where Jimin offers you a cup of fresh juice. Standing by the car is Jungkook with a pair of shorts and the same crab shirt you’re wearing.

“Why’d they have to get us matching clothes?” He laughs as he enters the driver’s seat.

“They probably think it’s cute,” you shrug, taking your seat in the passenger side. “Or it could be a peace pact, I don’t know. I mean, you were getting angry at me earlier after all.”

“I wasn’t angry,” he rolls his eyes. “It’s like, I expected it but I was still surprised you made us fall over. Like, why does it always happen to you?”

“Well, God is fair. He gave me the brains but said, ‘let's also make her dumb.’”

This causes him to laugh.

Jungkook isn’t the type to voice things out but he truly finds you endearing. Even when you’re being clumsy, or asking him to do stuff, or making fun of him, or complaining about a hundred things at once, there’s something so genuine about you. You can get a little intense about things you’re passionate about, which he admires, but you’re also able to roll with the punches and find joy in things once you’ve calmed down.

He pats your head as his form of affection and you smile at him. He finds that endearing, too.

You all make your way back to the cabin to make some lunch. The resident cooks prepare black bean noodles and marinated ribs while the rest of you start packing up. It’s a breezy afternoon despite the sun, and it’s a perfect last meal in the mountains before you do the last thing on your itinerary.

It’s a short trip but you feel like you’ve done so much. It used to be like this during your university days when you’d just drive out to somewhere, do various things in town, soak up nature, and eat your hearts out. There have been changes, too, like preparing your own meals, no longer getting passed out drunk, and spending time just talking and reminiscing. Your respective jobs and other responsibilities don’t give you much time or space to enjoy being around people, and you’ve always found peace and comfort in each other.

It’s not a long drive to the pier where you’ll go on a yacht cruise. It’s a size that comfortably fits all 12 of you, and it’s a perfect last hurrah, as you all lounge by the deck and enjoy the wind and the changing skies. It’s mostly quiet by now, as everyone’s energy has slightly drained, especially with Monday right around the corner.

But it’s still peaceful, as you take in the fresh air and scent of the lake and the seagulls flying about. You let these last few hours be your reprieve, before another week rolls ahead and that panel discussion becomes your reality in a few days.

You watch until the last of the sun disappears, then it’s back to the car for a trip back home, and a dinner at a restaurant as your pitstop.

With your apartment being a 15-minute drive to Jungkook’s without traffic, he offers to take you home. He carries your bag and walks you to your door like the gentleman that he is and with your droopy eyes, he wishes you goodnight with a pat on your head.

“Get some rest, okay?” He smiles. “I’ll see you on Saturday.”

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khrystalsnow · 5 months ago

Text

Really good progression and background to jungkook’s attitude even though he’s a prick for saying that oc😭 like what is wrong with him. I can’t wait for the next chapters!

SUTURES & SCARS part 2 ✫ jeon jungkook

CONTAINS: medical!au, surgeon!jungkook x surgeon!reader, slow burn, teasing, mutual pining, enemies to lovers, fighting turned bonding, past and present love, fluff & angst :)

NOTE: thanks so much for reading, hope you enjoy it!! this work is not revised, and english is not my first language.

my main masterlist! ❀ comment to be on the taglist!

part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4.

Jeon Jungkook had learned to perfect the art of detachment.

It wasn’t always this way. There was a time when he had been different—someone who laughed freely, who allowed himself to feel deeply. His brother had been in a motorcycle accident. It was late at night when a drunk driver ran a red light, crashing into him at an intersection. The impact sent his brother flying off the bike, causing severe internal injuries, multiple fractures, and a traumatic brain injury.

Jungkook got the call while he was studying late in the medical school library. His phone buzzed on the desk beside his open textbooks, and when he saw his mother’s name on the screen, he almost didn’t answer—she rarely called him at that hour. But something in his gut twisted.

The moment he picked up, he knew.

His mother’s voice was frantic, choked with panic. “Jungkook, it’s your brother. He’s—he’s in the ER. They said it’s bad. You need to come now.”

His world tilted. The sound of the library faded into a dull hum as he grabbed his things, shoving books into his bag with shaking hands. He ran out of the building, breath coming in short gasps, not even realizing he was running until he reached the hospital’s entrance.

It had been a case of malpractice, a rushed surgery that should have never happened the way it did. He still remembered the phone call, the way his hands trembled when he gripped the steering wheel, speeding toward the hospital.

He was too late.

And when he arrived, the world around him blurred into nothing—just the sterile white lights, the overwhelming scent of alcohol, and the surgeon standing before him. There was no need for words. The hesitation in their eyes, the way their lips parted but no sound came out, the regret etched into their features like a scar—it was enough. A slow, crushing weight settled in his chest, suffocating, unrelenting.

His brother was gone.

His parents blamed the hospital. They blamed the system. But most of all, they blamed Jungkook for choosing to stay in this field, for willingly stepping into a profession that had taken away their eldest son.

He defied them anyway, promising himself he would fix the mistakes others made, that no family would have to go through what his did. But somewhere along the way, he lost pieces of himself in the process.

And now, years later, his past had returned in the form of you.

Jungkook’s eyes lingered on the framed photograph sitting on the shelf—his brother’s familiar smile frozen in time, untouched by the tragedy that had stolen him away. The edges of the frame were worn from years of restless fingers tracing over them, a habit he couldn't seem to break.

Exhaling sharply, he pushed back the ache threatening to surface, reaching for his car keys with a steady hand. There was no time for grief. Not now.

The metallic jingle of the keys was the only sound in the quiet apartment as he grabbed his coat and headed out the door. Seconds later, the engine roared to life, and he was gone—swallowed by the night, driving towards the one place where he could bury everything under the weight of his work.

The emergency doors crashed open as a stretcher barreled into the trauma bay. A male patient in his late twenties lay unconscious, his vitals dangerously unstable. Blood seeped through the gauze wrapped around his abdomen, a deep laceration revealing the ugly truth beneath—this would be a fight to keep him alive.

Jungkook pulled on his gloves, barking out orders. “We need to stabilize him—get me two large-bore IVs, stat.”

Beside him, you were just as quick, working seamlessly despite the charged atmosphere between you. “His BP is dropping. If we don’t get this bleeding under control—”

“I know.” Jungkook’s voice was razor-sharp, cutting through the tense air like the very scalpel he demanded. His hands, unnervingly steady, extended without hesitation.

Dr. Min Jihoon passed it to him swiftly, his gaze flickering between you and Jungkook, reading the charged silence between you even as the chaos of the trauma bay swirled around. Yeom Kwan and Minjee moved in sync beside you, their hands quick, their focus unshaken—but everyone could feel it. The storm brewing just beneath the surface.

But none of it mattered. Not here. Not now. In the operating room, grudges dissolved into the sterile air, personal rivalries drowned beneath the urgency of keeping a heart beating.

And so, despite the fire simmering between you, you worked together, seamlessly, flawlessly.

And when, against all odds, the flatline stuttered back to life, when the erratic beeping of the monitor steadied into a rhythm of survival, there was a moment—barely a breath—where Jungkook looked up.

His eyes met yours, dark and unreadable, the weight of what you had just accomplished pressing into the space between you like a force neither of you were ready to name.

You wondered—why those walls? Why did he hold himself so tightly, as if the world was something to endure rather than experience? You had wondered this since the first time you saw him, since the first time you worked together during that grueling internship.

Back then, Jungkook had already been brilliant. Unshakable hands, precise instincts, the kind of surgical talent that made attendings take notice. But there had always been something else, too—an invisible barricade, an impenetrable distance he maintained between himself and everyone around him.

At first, you thought it was arrogance, the same superiority he carried in med school, the way he dismissed emotions as if they had no place in medicine.

But then, during one brutal night shift, when the weight of a lost patient had pressed down on all of you, you caught something different.

It was in the way he had lingered for a second too long, staring at the empty hospital bed. The way his fingers had curled into a fist before he turned away, jaw clenched, unreadable. That was the first time you wondered if his walls weren’t built out of indifference, but out of something much heavier. Something he never let anyone see.

During the internship, you had arrived with the usual hopes and determination, eager to prove yourself, but the harsh reality of working under someone like Jungkook quickly turned your excitement into frustration.

From the first day, he seemed to make it a point to keep you at arm's length—cold, calculated, and dismissive. His gaze was sharp and piercing, but never kind. He'd often ignore your questions or shoot you down before you could even finish a thought.

It was one particular Friday night, 20:06 p.m., when everything erupted—when the raw weight of loss crashed into the already fragile foundation of your connection with Jungkook.

The girl had been young, barely out of her teens, and the trauma she had sustained was far too severe. Despite all the hours, the efforts, the prayers, she had slipped away. But what hurt even more was the fact that Jungkook had gotten close to her—had befriended her in her brief time at the hospital.

Dasom, that was her name.

You had seen the way he’d gone out of his way to make her smile, the way he’d stayed by her side, offering comfort when it seemed like there was nothing more to do.

Your breath caught in your chest as you watched him—his hand gripping the edge of the bed, fingers curling into a fist, knuckles white. His jaw clenched so tightly, you could almost hear it grinding. He hadn’t said a word, but the silence between you both was deafening, filled with the weight of everything unspoken.

His stoic expression, unreadable, gave nothing away, and yet, you could feel the fury and sorrow radiating off him in waves. It was in this moment that you saw Jungkook’s vulnerability, raw and untamed.

But that wasn’t the part that tore at you. What tore at you was the way he didn’t let anyone see it—not even you.

And when he turned away from the bed, the lines of his body tight and strained, you felt the pull to follow him, to say something, anything to bridge the gap between the two of you. But before you could, his voice, low and bitter, sliced through the tension like a blade.

“You don’t know what it’s like,” he said quietly, his voice rough, almost shaky. “I promised her she was to live more years.”

“I... I didn’t know how to handle it. How to...” His voice faltered, and for a second, you thought he might apologize, but instead, he gave you a small, almost imperceptible smile, the kind you rarely saw on him. It was almost like a quiet admission, an offering of the piece of him that he kept hidden away—untouched by his usual walls.

Later that night, you had been tasked with helping him during a complicated procedure. You had done your best to keep up, to be efficient, but when the pressure of the situation increased, you faltered. A mistake—a small one, but enough to cause a delay. And Jungkook, who rarely raised his voice, snapped.

"Do you even think before you act? You're going to kill someone with that kind of carelessness," he spat, his words biting deep. His voice was like ice, chilling you to the core.

Your heart raced, but you stood your ground, not wanting to let him see how deeply his words had affected you. "I'm trying my best."

"Your best isn’t good enough," he said, his eyes narrowing in disgust. "You don't belong here. You're out of your depth, and you’ll never be able to keep up."

The room fell silent except for the sound of your pounding heartbeat, each word he spoke slicing through your confidence like a knife. He had been harsh before, but nothing had stung like this.

It felt personal. Like he was saying it not just as a mentor, but as someone who already decided you weren’t worth his time.

The tension hung thick in the air as you struggled to hold back the tears. But you couldn't let him see you break. Instead, you turned away, focusing on the procedure, forcing your hands to stop shaking. Jungkook, with that cold look in his eyes, didn’t apologize or even acknowledge your struggle. He simply moved on.

The "you’ll never be able to keep up" haunted you.

And as you reflected, you realized it wasn’t just about that moment—it was the culmination of every encounter with him during the internship. The way he had dismissed your every effort, made you feel insignificant, like you were just a rookie in a world you would never belong in.

You hated the way he made you feel so small. Because deep down, no matter how much you resented him, no matter how many times he made you feel less than, you couldn’t deny that you loved him— despite everything.

Coco slid a plate of pasta in front of you before nudging your shoulder with a knowing grin. “So… you and Jungkook, huh?”

You nearly choked on your drink, shooting her a sharp look. “Excuse me?”

Aerum burst into laughter, leaning forward with her elbows on the table. “Oh, don’t even try to deny it. You two are practically a legend in this hospital, and your first day was last week!”

Your stomach sank. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

Coco’s grin widened as she pulled out her phone. “Not at all. In fact, let me enlighten you.”

She turned the screen toward you, revealing a flood of messages in the hospital’s dermatology group chat. Your eyes scanned over the chaos:

‘Are they fighting again?’ ‘Jungkook looks like he wants to strangle her, but like, in a sexy way.’ ‘This is better than my K-dramas.’ ‘If they don’t end up together, I’m suing.’

You groaned, burying your face in your hands. “Oh my god. This is humiliating.”

Coco and Aerum burst into laughter, nearly choking on their food as they watched your mortified expression. Coco twirled her pasta around her fork, grinning between bites. “I swear, this is the best entertainment we’ve had in months.”

Aerum, still laughing, took a sip of her drink before shaking her head. “Seriously, how have you not noticed? Half the hospital lives for the drama between you two.”

Coco smirked, taking a sip of her iced coffee. “Come on, you had to know. Every department has a bet going. Some think you’ll kill each other. Others think you’ll make out in an on-call room.”

“Who the hell is betting on my love life?” you asked, horrified.

Coco shrugged. “Everyone.”

Aerum nodded. “Even Dr. Min. And he doesn’t care about anything.”

You sighed, picking at your food as your face burned. “Great. Just what I needed. A fan club dedicated to my professional downfall.”

Coco leaned in, voice dripping with amusement. “Face it. You and Jungkook are the hospital’s worst-kept secret.”

Just as you were about to protest, you felt it—that unmistakable sensation of being watched. Your spine stiffened as your gaze flickered across the cafeteria, landing on two female doctors from the Gastroenterology department seated a few tables away.

They weren’t even trying to be discreet, whispering behind their hands while stealing glances in your direction. One of them smirked when your eyes met, nudging the other before looking away like they hadn’t just been caught red-handed.

Your stomach twisted uncomfortably.

For a second, it was like you were back there—back to that moment a few months ago, when your phone had exploded with notifications, when your name had been whispered through the halls for all the wrong reasons. The viral video. The mortifying attention.

The way you had become the topic of conversation overnight, not for your skills, not for your hard work, but because of something that should have never left the confines of the hospital walls.

The memory tightened around your throat, suffocating. The same heat crawled up your neck, the same frustration churned in your gut.

Aerum must have noticed the shift in your expression because her grin softened. “Hey,” she murmured, nudging your arm. “Ignore them. You know how this place is. They’ll find something new to obsess over soon.”

Coco nodded, following your line of sight before rolling her eyes. “Seriously. Half these people act like they’re surgeons in a medical drama, and the other half just like to stir the pot. Don’t let it get to you.”

But it wasn’t that easy. Because no matter how much time had passed, the weight of their stares still made your skin crawl. And the worst part? You weren’t sure if it was because of the video… or because of Jungkook.

Later, the restaurant buzzed with energy, the warm glow of overhead lanterns casting golden hues over the tables. Laughter rippled through the air, the scent of sizzling meat mingling with the sharp tang of soju. The trauma team had gathered for a much-needed dinner, a momentary reprieve from the relentless pace of the hospital.

But you barely touched your food.

Because across the table, the nurse Minjee was leaning in just a little too close to Jungkook, her delicate fingers wrapped around her soju glass as she tilted her head, eyes locked on him with something dangerously close to admiration.

“You’re seriously amazing, Dr. Jeon,” she gushed, her voice soft but deliberate. “That last case… how do you stay so calm under pressure?”

Jungkook, ever the picture of effortless confidence, merely offered a small, practiced smile. “It’s just part of the job.”

Minjee’s smile widened, her gaze never wavering. “You must have someone special outside of work, right? A girlfriend?”

Something inside you twisted.

It was stupid. So incredibly stupid. You weren’t nothing to him. You weren’t even his friend. Hell, the two of you could barely stand to be in the same room without some sharp-edged argument slicing through the air.

But as the silence stretched, as Jungkook hesitated, something lodged itself deep in your chest—something ugly, something you didn’t want to name.

You weren’t sure what was worse: the fact that he didn’t answer right away, or the fact that Minjee’s hand casually brushed against his in the meantime. It was barely a touch, but it felt deliberate, like a move in a game you weren’t even playing.

And suddenly, you were aware of everything.

Of how your scrubs from earlier still clung to your skin, of how you hadn’t bothered fixing your hair after the shift, of how exhaustion lined your face while Minjee looked effortlessly put together. Of how easy she made it look—how easy it was for her to talk to him without a sharp edge, without an undertone of competition, without baggage trailing behind every conversation.

You swallowed, fingers tightening around your chopsticks.

“Jungkook’s always been like this,” you blurted out, the words slipping before you could stop them. Your voice cut through the chatter, drawing more attention than you intended. “Back in med school, he had this habit of thinking he was always right.”

Jungkook’s gaze flicked to you, amusement sparking in his dark eyes. “That’s because I usually was.”

You forced a laugh, ignoring the way your pulse stuttered. “Oh, please. Remember that case we studied in our third year? You argued with me for an hour about it, and I was the one who ended up being right.”

The air shifted.

The playful teasing you had relied on as a defense mechanism edged into something sharper, something unspoken. The rest of the table quieted, eyes darting between you and Jungkook like they were watching something unfold in real time—something that felt too raw, too personal.

Jungkook leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze steady, unwavering. “And yet, here we are, still competing. What does that say about you?”

The words shouldn’t have stung.

But they did.

Your grip tightened around your chopsticks, and suddenly, the room felt smaller, the heat of lingering stares pressing in on you. You could feel Minjee watching, could feel the curiosity in everyone’s silence.

You had played this game with Jungkook for years, but tonight, for some reason, it felt different. It felt like you were losing. And worse—you didn’t even know what you were losing to.

Pushing back your chair, you stood abruptly, the sound loud against the floor. “Excuse me. I need some air.”

The night outside was crisp, the air biting against your heated skin. You exhaled sharply, hands gripping the railing as you tried to steady yourself.

It wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t. So why did it feel like one?

“You okay?”

You turned, finding Seo Hana leaning against the wall, arms crossed as she regarded you with something between amusement and concern.

It was strange, realizing you hadn’t really had the time to properly introduce yourself to her. She was a resident, newer to the department, someone you had only exchanged a handful of words with between cases and hurried consults.

But it wasn’t just her.

You hadn’t properly introduced yourself to Dr. Ryuk Jinho either—the attending physician whose reputation for efficiency preceded him, always too busy moving between patients to bother with small talk.

Nor had you formally spoken to Dr. Min Jihoon, the trauma surgeon whose sharp skills were only rivaled by his sharper tongue. You had worked alongside them, assisted them, debated over treatment plans

in the middle of chaotic shifts, but actual introductions? The kind where you exchanged more than just clinical opinions or hurried greetings?

Because there was never time.

Between the endless hours, the exhaustion that seeped into your bones, and the constant pressure to prove yourself, there had never been room for anything beyond work. Beyond survival. But standing here now, with Hana watching you carefully, you realized that maybe that was something you needed to change.

You forced a smile. “Yeah. Just needed a breather.”

Hana smirked knowingly. “You and Jungkook are exhausting to watch.”

You let out a hollow chuckle, shaking your head. “Tell me about it.”

She was quiet for a moment before nudging your arm lightly. “For what it’s worth, I think he gets under your skin just as much as you get under his.”

You sighed, staring out at the dimly lit street, your stomach still twisted in knots.

“Yeah…” you murmured, voice quieter this time. “I think that’s the problem.”

There was a brief pause before Hana raised an eyebrow. “By the way, we’ve worked, what—dozens of shifts together? And I don’t think we’ve ever actually introduced ourselves properly.”

You blinked at her, surprised, before laughing softly. “You know what? I think you’re right.”

She extended a hand, all mock seriousness. “Seo Hana, surgical resident. Occasionally rescues emotionally tormented colleagues from their own overthinking.”

You chuckled, shaking her hand. “Good to know. I could probably use a full-time therapist at this point.”

“Oh, please. If you think I’m qualified for that, you’re in worse shape than I thought.”

That made you laugh—a real, genuine laugh that loosened something in your chest.

Hana grinned, clearly pleased with herself. “See? I knew I could fix your mood.”

You shook your head, a small smile lingering on your lips. “Thanks, Hana.”

She bumped her shoulder against yours lightly. “Anytime. Now, should we go back inside? Or do you need a few more minutes to contemplate your life choices?”

You paused, staring back at the dimly lit restaurant behind you. The laughter from inside felt distant now, like a world you weren’t sure you could dive back into. A heavy sigh slipped from your lips, and you glanced at Hana, who was still waiting for your answer.

“Actually…” You hesitated, pulling your jacket a little tighter around your shoulders. “I think I’m going to head home tonight.”

Hana looked at you for a moment, raising an eyebrow, but then her expression softened. “Fair enough. You’ve had a hell of a day. Need a break from the chaos.”

You nodded, offering a small, grateful smile. “Exactly. I just need some time to breathe. Think about… anything else, really.”

She chuckled, her eyes bright with understanding. “Well, don't stay up too late contemplating your life choices. You need to be back at it tomorrow.” You laughed lightly, shaking your head.

“Take care of yourself, okay?” Hana called as you started walking away. As you walked toward your car, you knew the tension wouldn’t completely go away. But for tonight, at least, you could escape it.

Jungkook sat back in his seat, fingers tapping absentmindedly against his glass of soju, his eyes drifting toward the door every few seconds. It had been a tense night. The usual banter with you had slipped into something sharper—something more fragile. He hated it. It wasn’t like things had ever been easy between you two, but tonight had felt different, more raw, like the weight of everything had finally caught up to you.

He glanced over at Hana, who was casually chatting with some of the others, but his focus was still on the door. You hadn’t come back yet.

When Hana excused herself a few moments ago, Jungkook’s attention had wandered, his mind racing with the thought of you alone outside. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe you were just taking a breather, clearing your head. But there was something about the way you’d stormed off, the way the entire atmosphere shifted when you stood up. It didn’t feel like just another one of your usual snarky exchanges.

Something had happened. He could feel it.

When the door finally creaked open, he looked up instinctively, his chest tightening as Hana stepped back inside without you.

“Where's...?” he asked, skipping your name. His voice came out soft, though he hadn’t meant it to.

Hana glanced at him, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She didn't awnser.

Jungkook’s mind went on high alert. He leaned forward slightly, fighting the instinct to get up and look for you himself. “She’s okay, right?”

Hana’s expression softened, and she raised an eyebrow as she slid into her seat. “She’s fine, Jungkook. Don’t worry about her. She just needed a break from… everything.” She glanced at him with a knowing look, her voice dropping to something a little lighter.

Jungkook opened his mouth to respond, but the words didn’t come. Instead, he settled back into his chair, his gaze drifting back to the door once more. His mind wasn’t on the conversation anymore. It wasn’t on the group of doctors discussing their next cases, or the laughter that still rang out from the tables around them. It was on you.

And now, with you gone, he felt it—the unease gnawing at him. The sudden realization that maybe, just maybe, things weren’t as simple as he liked to tell himself.

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khrystalsnow · 6 months ago

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THE CORPORATE EQUATION drabble #6 ✫ jeon jungkook

CONTAINS: corporate!au, ceo!jk, headofhr!reader, grumpy x sunshine, slow burn, accidental vulnerability, mutual pining, emotionally unavailable jk, bickering turned bonding, fluff & angst :)

NOTE: this will be a mini series. thanks so much for reading!! this work is not revised and english is not my first language :)

miiini taglist @haru-jiminn @parapiop7 @radcustoms @minniejim @jeonzll @vantelover1306 @bgfdcvbnjk @mar-lo-pap @lmaothv @jksusawife @thatgirliehan @rayyrayy10 @lovingkoalaface <3

my main masterlist! ❀ the corporate equation masterlist!

The days following the kiss were a whirlwind of stolen glances, unspoken words, and the electric tension that neither of you addressed—but both of you felt.

At work, Jungkook was still the composed, intimidating CEO that had built his empire from the ground up. But there were cracks in the façade, tiny moments where the professional mask slipped—like the way his gaze lingered just a second too long when you walked into a room, or the way his fingers brushed against yours when he handed you a document.

You caught him staring more than once, his dark eyes unreadable, his expression betraying something deeper than he was willing to admit. Yet, in meetings, he was the same gruff, no-nonsense leader, making you wonder if the kiss had been a dream.

But then there were the evenings—the ones where you worked late, and he’d find an excuse to be there too. The tension between you built in the silence, in the space between your desks, in the way his breath hitched when your fingers accidentally touched reaching for the same file.

And the text messages.

Jungkook: Did you eat today? You: Yes, CEO Jeon, I can take care of myself. Jungkook: Just making sure. You forget when you're busy. You: You say that like you don’t do the same thing. Jungkook: Touché.

Neither of you talked about what had happened, but it was there—hovering in the spaces between your words, waiting to be acknowledged. Until one evening, when Jungkook’s father unknowingly pushed the conversation closer than either of you were ready for.

The restaurant was warm and lively, the soft hum of conversation mingling with the clinking of glasses and quiet music playing in the background. You hadn’t expected to run into anyone you knew—much less them.

Jungkook stiffened beside you as soon as his eyes landed on the older couple seated at the corner table. His parents.

Mrs. Jeon was elegant as always, a quiet, refined presence with knowing eyes that missed nothing. Mr. Jeon, on the other hand, was the complete opposite—warm, expressive, and currently wearing a knowing smirk as he beckoned you both over.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the two busiest people in the company,” Mr. Jeon said, setting his chopsticks down. “Come sit. Join us.”

You glanced up at Jungkook, unsure, but his father had already waved over the waiter to pull up two extra chairs. There was no escape.

As soon as you were seated, Mr. Jeon’s gaze landed on you with a fondness that startled you. “You know, I still remember the day you first joined the company. You had this determined look in your eye—like you were ready to take on the world.” He chuckled. “I told Jungkook back then that you’d be trouble for him.”

Jungkook let out an exasperated sigh. “Dad.”

“I meant it in a good way,” Mr. Jeon said, grinning. “And I was right, wasn’t I?”

Jungkook shot you a glance, but you only smiled into your glass. You weren’t about to help him out of this.

Dinner passed in a blur of casual conversation, Mr. Jeon regaling you with stories of Jungkook’s childhood—stories that Jungkook, for all his stoic CEO composure, seemed thoroughly embarrassed by. But the moment that truly stood out was later in the evening, when you found yourself alone with Mrs. Jeon while your boss and his father were talking business outside.

“You’re very special to him, you know,” she said softly.

You hesitated, your fingers tightening around your glass. “I don’t—We haven’t really—”

Mrs. Jeon simply smiled, as if she already knew. “That boy… He takes his time with his feelings. But I see it.”

“Jungkook has always been careful with his heart. But I have a feeling that, with you, he’s already lost it.”

Your breath caught.

You had been avoiding the conversation—avoiding defining what was happening between you and Jungkook. But somehow, in this quiet moment, it felt impossible to ignore.

Mrs. Jeon reached over, giving your hand a gentle squeeze. “Just be patient with him.”

You swallowed, your heart pounding as you nodded.

When the Jeons' stepped back into the main room, Jungkook’s eyes immediately found yours, searching, questioning. And for the first time, you wondered if maybe it was time for both of you to stop pretending.

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khrystalsnow · 6 months ago

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January 2025 FanFic✨

Welcome Everyone! It's been a long time since I've posted anything on Tumblr and for this year, I wanted to start posting more fanfic recommendations to share my love for the authors, instead of being in the shadows and for more people to enjoy them. I will try to post every month the fanfics that I've read (which hopefully I stick by 🤞🏼) but for January, I have mostly Jungkook fanfics so hopefully you enjoy the list and have found something you also love❤️

The majority of fics are 18+ so MINORS DO NOT INTERACT.

Legend:

🦷-fluff

🔥-angst

🌶️-smut

👅-crack/funny

❣️-personal favourite

✍🏼-ongoing

JUNGKOOK

The Corporate Equation by @someonegoood 🦷🔥❣️✍🏼

-this is in a corporate setting with jungkook as the CEO and y/n as the head of HR. Grumpy x sunshine trope, but really cute because we get to see jungkook slowly but surely softening up to y/n no matter how hard they try to deny it🤭

Neighbor Blunder by @awrkive 🦷🔥🌶️❣️✍🏼

-now listen to me, this is really good😭 I really love the dynamic between oc and Jungkook especially now with the new update👀 He's a gentleman, he doesn't beat around the bushes and sets his intentions straight to oc. I'm really excited about what happens next and will be lurking on AO3 for new updates because I cannot wait

ctrl+alt+delete by @muniimyg 🦷🔥🌶️👅

-obviously, I need to add in a social media au because they are really quick to read and this one is no exception. OC is an OF content creator and jungkook is a youtuber. Both of them are really funny and the interactions with their fans are really cute as well!

Playing the Part by @goldenchimmy 🌶️

-this was really good! it was such a nice build-up to the smut scene which is just perfection. Jungkook's such a gentleman and I need more of him please😭

True Love by @lovieku 🦷🔥🌶️

-this was really cute because OC's a simp for Jungkook and I would be too. It was also so heartwarming that they were able to find comfort within each other when OC would get panic attacks and show each other acts of love

The Love Prognosis by @awrkive 🦷🔥🌶️❣️

-A fan favourite of course 🫶🏻 I related to this a lot (the unrequited love part😶) and just being there for the person you love even if they're not with you, but will ultimately hurt Jungkook in the process. highly recommend it if you haven't read this and the drabbles because they are also extremely fun to read!

Teach Me How To Love by @kookooluvr 🦷🔥🌶️✍🏼❣️

-Another fan favourite because it's just THAT good. everything's going good at the current update of them going to Jeju but I'm ready for the angst that's about to commence😭 Ultimately, I just want Jungkook to finally have his girl fr

The Farmhouse by @solecize 🦷🔥

-the plot was something different from the fics that I usually gravitate to in January. this is a friends to lovers, set in a small town where OC is restoring her grandpa's farm and she reunites with her childhood friend. I love every little aspect of this fic because it deals with grief, growing up, and love. I love the subtleness of Jungkook's love for OC in the beginning where he helps her out in the farm, but it slowly grows toward the end, this is just such a wholesome read!

YOONGI

Love & Lullabies by @ktownshizzle 🦷🔥🌶️

-DILF yoongi because it needs its own warninggg. this was also a really cute and heartwarming read. in every part I read, their love for each other just grows and grows. give this fic some love because you won't regret it!

NAMJOON

Empty Box by @moni-logues 🔥🌶️

-I had hope for the ending but alas this fic does not have a happy ending 🥹 this fic does contain infidelity which I would typically stay away from but I gave it a chance and wow. the writing is really beautiful and rich, you can feel the pain both Namjoon and OC go through throughout their journey which leaves you feeling like you've also gone through the waves of their relationship. The plot feels realistic which makes it 10 times more painful

SHORT FICS

satellite by @httpknjoon 🦷🔥

: Your friend, Jungkook, offers to help you while you review for your human anatomy exam.

Petals and Fists by @kissyforkoo 🦷🔥

: boxer!jk x florist!oc

#ReadingList #jeon jungkook #bts fanfic #min yoongi #kim namjoon #JanuaryFanFic

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khrystalsnow · 6 months ago

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Does anybody know the jungkook fic (i THINK its jungkook🤔) where its arranged marriage, jk is a CEO but he has to marry OC for a reason I can’t remember, and OC used to have a heart condition when she was younger and that made her parents really protective over her (i think she was also an only child i believe). Jk did not wanna marry her and resented her bc of the arranged marriage but like fast forward to the end when they were on their honeymoon and they’re all lovey dovey now and Jk lives and breathes for OC, please help me find this fic because idk if I hallucinated reading this or not😭 also idk if I’ve jumbled up like 2 different fanfic plots into this description but please let me know🙏🏼😔

#send help #bts fanfic #jeon jungkook

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khrystalsnow · 6 months ago

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Something new coming soon...👀

#i'm gonna be better at posting i swear

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khrystalsnow · 2 years ago

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Im speechless😭😭 yuna nooooo😭😭😭😭

10: time 》 series m.list

note: i said i'd wait until valentines day to post their endings.. yikes. i'm a liar!!! can't wait to write their finale <3 i have 2 extras in mind btw! so they're not realllllyyy gone yet huhuuuhu. thanks for waiting everyone !!! mwahh

taglist request: send a request with the title of this fic “c2u” // DO NOT comment here or on the masterlist . it gets confusing and i prefer answering and tagging through asks !!!

🏷️ permanent taglist: @joonsjuice @taetaecatboy @pb-n-juju @miss-rainy-days @firesighgirl @whoa-jo @vantxx95 @pamzn @kakixaku @casspirit0705 @tae165 @defzcl @sopebubbles @leefics @ggukkieland @bebebutbetter @yoongimentita7 @boraength @era-genius @4ksj @vampcharxter @miss-jupiter @floweryjeons @taegijns @jeonqkooks-main @ellesalazar

fic taglist: @mint--yoongs @bloopkook @suciedad-divina @xelenavazquezx @kyjjk @parkinglot-nights @skzthinker @rrjkive @hyuneyeon @chemicalclub @bbtsficrecs @italiekim @02shifts @insomniaroses @jayjahni @greybears123 @eunthv @petalsofink @aerikook @wildflower98 @lachimolalajeon @bunnybearrj @peterstarkchrishiddleston @kaiparkerwifes @7thsthings @jungcockthirst

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khrystalsnow · 2 years ago

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2023 Recent Jungkook Fanfics✨

Hello! It's been two years since I've posted a recommendation list for my recently read or favourite reads of the year sooo I decided to do that for the end of the year! I only have a list of Jungkook's fics because he's my bias (plus yoongi and joonie) and just love his fics🫶🏼 I will be posting a separate list for the rest of the members soon🤞🏼 (hopefully). But I hope you guys enjoy and find some really good fics to read during the holidays and all the love for the authors🤭

The majority of fics are 18+ so MINORS DO NOT INTERACT.

Legend: 🧸-fluff ❤️‍🩹-angst 💋-smut 🙊-crack/funny ❤️‍🔥-personal favourite ✒️-ongoing

jungkook & y/n are too shy to admit they like each other and it's cute but also infuriatingly frustrating by @jungshookz 🙊🧸

-quarterback jungkook and librarian y/n

the right choice by @honeytae 🧸

-friends to lovers and mutual pining, soo cute

million dollar darling by @kooktrash 💋🧸❤️‍🔥

-jungkook and model reader. Personally, one of my new favourite because I loveee old money/rich/chaebol fics🤩

close to you by @muniimyg 🧸💋🙊❤️‍🩹❤️‍🔥✒️

-y/n and jungkook slept together and jungkook can't get over it, goofy jungkook and uptight oc. This is soo funny and I look forward to the updates all the time

bonus by @aquagustd 🙊🧸💋

-coworker au where you thought that no one noticed your flustered state whenever he's in close proximity

love on ice by @btsbrat 🧸💋

-cocky hockey player jungkook and figure skater reader

cutie in the kitchen by @borathae 🧸

-married life when jungkook cooks breakfast for oc and flirts the entire morning😭

the witch sisters by @rkivepetals 🧸🙊

-heartthrob witch jungkook meeting witch reader's sisters/family

why not and how so by @bonny-kookoo 🧸(little bit of ❤️‍🩹)💋❤️‍🔥

-jungkook figuring out that oc's dirty humour, mean and bratty actions is just a front and you're just a cutie pie inside

mugs & kisses by @minisugakoobies 🧸❤️‍🔥

-sooooo cuteeee, JK barista and his way of showing his love: drawings on coffee cups

sweet nothing by @adonis-koo ❤️‍🩹🧸❤️‍🔥✒️

-oc being a pregnant guest at the Jeon Estate because of her brother

kismet by @wnderkoo 🧸💋❤️‍🩹❤️‍🔥

-bookstore owner jungkook and oc who desperately needed to get a job

angel in the marble by @venusjeon ❤️‍🩹💋🙊❤️‍🔥

-michelangelo jungkook and servant reader

laundry fairy by @borathae 💋

-neighbours au where JK comes over to help with your laundry and more

ungodly hour series by @explicit-tae 💋🙊❤️‍🔥

-college students where you need a hulu account and jungkook is a BIG TIME SIMP

#jeon jungkook #bts fanfic #jungkook angst #jungkook fluff #jungkook fanfic #jungkook smut #jungkook x reader #ReadingList

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khrystalsnow · 2 years ago

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shein has taken down the selling of the israeli flag, stopped its collaborations with the country's influencers and also cancelled free delivery services to the country. do you know how fucking insidious you have to be for SHEIN to cut ties with you??? SHEIN???!!!

it makes me physically ill. a Palestinian on twitter's last post was about burying their six-year-old cousin without his head. a Palestinian boy on youtube dreamt of 100k subscribers on his gaming channel. and yesterday he reached 500k, but he has been killed in the bombing of the gaza strip. the class of 2023-24 in Palestine has ended early because there are not enough students left alive. literal children who were the teachers, artists, doctors, scientists, scholars, writers, engineers of tomorrow.

when is it enough? statistics released by Palestinian officials about the numbers of martyred isn't enough. photographs and videos of fathers scurrying to piece together their children by gathering their body parts isn't enough. presscons surrounded by dead bodies beside a bombed hospital isn't enough.

yet, somehow, the narrative they are pushing is conflict between two faiths. it is absolutely not. this is no religious conflict. this is colonization, occupation, genocide. it's systematic oppression of Palestine and its people.

the word peace has never angered me as much as it has now. and it should anger you too. there can be no peace under violent oppression. there can be no peace after 75 years of ethnic cleansing. there can be no peace in occupied Palestine.

peace is the product of white supremacy, they prod and kill anyone other than them but when retaliation occurs, it is suddenly rabid savages, unjust savages...

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khrystalsnow · 2 years ago

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Nnnnaaaaaahhhh, but when they got their first daesang😭 here comes the water works😭😭😭😭😭

Crying atm because my tiktok feed is just a compilation of bts hyyh era compared to now and military and I just miss them bro☹️

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khrystalsnow · 2 years ago

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Crying atm because my tiktok feed is just a compilation of bts hyyh era compared to now and military and I just miss them bro☹️

#literally holding in my tears rn #i cannnntttt do this #i just want to binge watch all of their content again #nvm #i’m actually crying now #finals week and this is not a good combo #probs need a hug

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khrystalsnow · 3 years ago

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Love it🫶🏻🫶🏻

Dragonfire

Lord Namjoon commands the dragon riders of Mount Halji, he's authoritative and respected, a fearless warrior, celebrated for his prowess on the battlefield. So why aren't you afraid of him, damnit?

Pairing: Namjoon x F! reader

Genre: Fantasy AU, smut, a spin-off from the Royal Pain AU

Rating: 18+

Word count: 7.3k

Warnings: Sex, Namjoon mounting everything in sight

Namjoon’s watching from across the room as she greets guests at the banquet. She’s striking, not only because she’s beautiful, with her dark hair and lovely eyes, but also because of her bearing. There’s pride in the way she holds up her head.

When it’s his turn to greet her, he bows, low, and kisses the hand she offers to him.

‘Good evening, your highness,’ he says.

He can feel her eyes on him, his black armour, the mark on his hand signifying his status as a dragon rider.

‘Lord Namjoon,’ she murmurs. The way her tongue flicks over her full bottom lip, the spark in her eyes, makes his blood warm.

Then she’s letting go of his hand, stepping away gracefully to greet the next person, and Namjoon’s left with the faintest scent of lavender, tantalising and sweet.

When she reaches the end of the line, she looks straight at him, like she’d known he’d be watching.

She inclines her head just slightly, but it’s enough.

Blood hot, lust thrumming through his veins, Namjoon follows her out of the banquet hall.

***

Namjoon’s tired from his night with the beautiful and lusty princess of Ijil, and it takes him longer than it should to realise that his armour is missing.

Even worse, his sword is gone.

He storms out of his chambers, looking for Jimin and Taehyung. He’s heading for the stables when he sees you.

His first impression is of softness, which is ironic given you’re staggering under the weight of his armour. His sword swings from your hip, he doesn’t even know how you managed to attach it you.

‘Stop,’ he commands.

You glance around, looking for where his voice came from.

Namjoon doesn’t know how you could possibly miss him. He’s always been tall, and of recent years, his build has filled out, a byproduct of wrangling Styx, his bonded dragon.

He still feels a thrill of pride when he thinks about her. Styx, with her midnight black scales, her wingspan wider than any others in her clan. She’s a magnificent beast, fiercely loyal, with the instincts of the finest warrior in battle.

He snaps out of his reverie when he realises you’re limping away, dragging his armour with you.

‘Stop!’ he commands again.

He catches up to you easily. ‘Where are you taking my armour and my sword?’ he demands.

‘Didn’t Jimin tell you? I’m your new squire,’ you tell him, like it’s a done deal.

Namjoon’s flabbergasted.

‘I’m a dragon rider, not one of those fanciful royal knights,’ he scowls. ‘I have no need for a squire.’

‘The dullness of your armour tells a different story,’ you have the audacity to say.

‘It’s black!’ protests Namjoon, not sure why he’s arguing with you but unable to stop himself.

‘You’re a disgrace to Styx,’ you mutter.

Namjoon realises he’s walked with you all the way to the stables.

Cursing, he lifts his armour off you, and you sigh, relieved.

‘It’s very heavy,’ you remark. ‘No wonder you’re so muscular.’

Namjoon stares at his sword, hung carelessly around your shoulder.

‘How are you supposed to be my squire if you can’t lift my armour and sword?’ he mutters, more to himself.

You’re already gesturing to a small area you have set up with a scrubbing brush and a bucket, a polishing cloth and a tin of oil.

‘Leave it with me,’ you say airily.

You frown at his sword. ‘Sweet mother of Jaesu, how old is this blood? It’s caked on.’

Namjoon scowls. ‘I’ll be back in an hour to collect it for a sparring session.’

You wave an arm at him, muttering something that sounds awfully like ‘Lord Jimin’s armour is pristine.’

Namjoon decides to pretend he hasn’t heard you.

***

When Namjoon returns, Taehyung’s leaning against the wall, chatting to you.

‘Did you know about our new squire?’ Namjoon asks.

‘I’m right here,’ you announce, bright, chirpy.

Namjoon ignores you.

‘She’s very good at mending clothes as well,’ Taehyung replies, smiling at you.

Namjoon’s forced to turn to you when you push his armour into his arms.

‘I only do mending for selected people,’ you say, haughty, like he’d shown any inclination to ask.

He’s about to snap a retort when the Princess of Ijil arrives.

Namjoon bows deeply.

You drop into a surprisingly graceful curtsy.

She eyes you.

Namjoon’s already stepping in front of you when you say, ‘I’m the squire to the dragon riders of Mount Halji, your highness.’

‘Charmed, I’m sure,’ she says, dismissive.

She turns back to Namjoon.

‘Do you have time for a quick catch up in my chambers before you set off back home?’

‘Of course,’ Namjoon replies, admiring the way her skin glows in the late morning sun.

She flicks her gaze over his shoulders, gaze meaningful.

‘I can help you mend that rip in the seam of your tunic,’ you say, helpfully, calling everyone’s attention to it.

Namjoon narrows his eyes at you, then turns back to the princess.

She’s already walking away.

***

‘Oof,’ you remark, holding up Namjoon’s tunic. ‘What’s this stain?’

Namjoon’s gaze flies to you.

‘Just kidding,’ you say, chuckling gleefully.

‘Are you ever quiet?’ Namjoon asks, exasperated. ‘Being a squire is a serious task.’

‘She’s a very good squire,’ Jimin says, emerging from the stables with their horses in tow.

‘Thanks, my lord,’ you say cheerfully.

‘You don’t call me my lord,’ Namjoon observes, tetchy.

‘I’ll call you it, if you can tell me my name,’ you say, smiling at him.

Namjoon realises he doesn’t know your name.

‘You didn’t tell me your name,’ he complains.

‘You didn’t ask,’ you shoot back, merrily.

‘Is everything a joke to you?’ snaps Namjoon.

‘Ignore our grumpy commander,’ Jimin says, giving Namjoon a quelling look. ‘He gets cranky when he’s tired.’

Jimin hands you the reins to your horse. ‘Need anything before we set off?’ he asks, offering you his knee to help you mount.

You shake your head, seating yourself. ‘Thank you,’ you tell him.

Namjoon mounts his steed and sets off, nudging his stallion into a brisk canter.

He doesn’t look back to check on you.

***

The first hint of trouble is a rustling in the trees overhead.

Then, firebolts rain down.

Namjoon’s about to urge his steed into a gallop when your horse, spooked and less battle-worn than all the others, rears up.

You land in an ungraceful heap on the forest floor and immediately get up, dazed.

A firebolt grazes your foot, and you lift an arm up over your head in an attempt to protect yourself.

Taehyung and Jimin are up ahead, turning back to help, but Namjoon’s the closest to you.

‘Get your horses away!’ shouts Namjoon. ‘It’s fire demons!’

He turns his steed, Thunder, and speeds towards you.

You watch him approach with wide eyes.

Namjoon reaches down and plucks you off the ground.

You land, hard, on the front of his saddle, face planted in the breastplate of his armour.

‘Hold on,’ grunts Namjoon. He leads Thunder towards a clearing he noticed earlier, to another route that will take you both to the edge of the forest, away from the fire demons.

For once, you appear to have no snappy remark at the ready.

You wind your arms around his waist, holding on tight, and Namjoon’s stomach flips unexpectedly when you press your face into his chest.

He leans forward on Thunder, urging him on, you soft and pliant between his thighs, and gets you both the hell out of there.

***

It’s late afternoon, the sun filtering through the trees, and you’ve yet to catch up to Taehyung and Jimin.

Namjoon stops by a brook to allow Thunder to drink and dismounts.

He lifts his arms to help you down.

You place your hands on his shoulders trustingly, and Namjoon’s stomach does another curious flip.

He wonders if he drank too much arabica before leaving Ijil.

You stay for a moment like that, pressed against him, arms up, face tilted to his.

‘Thanks for saving me,’ you say.

‘You’re one of mine,’ Namjoon says. He doesn’t think he’s saying anything but the truth, but you look pleased about it just the same.

He looks around. ‘It’ll be dark soon. We should set up camp around here.’

***

Namjoon lets out a sigh.

‘What’s wrong?’ he asks, barely concealed impatience in his voice.

‘It’s cold,’ you complain, even though he can barely see you under the mound of blankets you’ve stolen, including his own.

Namjoon rolls his eyes. ‘Live with it,’ he says, unsympathetic.

‘They say body heat is good,’ you suggest.

Namjoon scoffs. ‘Is that an attempt to get into bed with me?’

You’re quiet, he almost thinks you’ve fallen asleep when you say, ‘we’re not technically in beds.’

Namjoon thinks it’s dark enough that he doesn’t have to hide his smile.

‘Come here then,’ he says, gruffly.

‘No thanks,’ you say rudely.

Namjoon reaches over and yanks you into his arms, blankets and all.

‘Just shut up and sleep,’ he advises, when you open your mouth.

Your mouth closes and you nod.

You’re asleep in seconds.

***

When he wakes, too hot, you’re already up. For some reason you’ve wrapped him in blankets, even though he runs hot all the time, a byproduct of his bond with Styx.

Namjoon fights his way out of the blankets and rises, stretching and yawning, rolling the stiffness out of his muscles.

Footsteps make him straighten up and turn around.

You’re bright and freshfaced, holding out a mug to him.

‘Made you arabica,’ you chirrup.

‘Thanks,’ he grunts, accepting.

Your eyes fall to his bare forearm.

‘You’re burned!’ you say, sounding genuinely worried.

‘It’s nothing,’ Namjoon says, amused by your concern over the tiny burn. You should see the scar on his side from the last dragon battle.

You’re rustling through the leather bag you carry near your hip.

‘Let me put some salve on it,’ you say.

Namjoon sits and drinks his arabica whilst you fuss over his arm.

‘You’re aware I’m a dragon rider,’ he can’t resist teasing you, but he lets you rub salve into his arm anyway.

He can’t deny it feels soothing.

He realises you’re looking at the dragon rider mark on his hand.

‘Pretty,’ you say. Your thumb rubs over it, a quick smooth swipe, and then your hands leave his skin.

Namjoon doesn’t think anyone’s ever called him pretty before.

Big, yes. Tall, certainly. Ruthless.

Not pretty.

To hide his discomfiture, he stands. ‘We should get going,’ he says, brisk.

You’re already heading to Thunder.

You stop in front of his enormous steed and look to him for a leg up, as though you’re expecting him to kneel before you like Jimin did.

Namjoon mounts Thunder, then holds out his arms for you.

You reach up, trusting like you were yesterday, and Namjoon’s stomach flips again.

It’s definitely the arabica, he tells himself as Thunder falls into an easy canter.

***

Namjoon says, grumpily, ‘stop wriggling.’

‘It’s just, the hilt of your sword keeps poking me,’ you complain, wriggling more, another smooth movement that makes him grit his teeth.

You look back at him just in time to catch him clenching his jaw.

‘It’s not my sword,’ Namjoon growls.

Your hand on his thigh makes his muscles jump.

‘Something in your breeches —-‘ you trail off abruptly.

‘It’s just the friction,’ Namjoon says, as your whole body stiffens between his legs, against his chest.

You don’t say a word.

‘You’re my squire. I don’t think of you lustfully,’ Namjoon continues.

You’re still silent, ramrod straight against him.

‘I prefer women who are —-‘

‘Beautiful and curvaceous,’ you fill in for him, describing the princess of Ijil.

‘Less annoying,’ finishes Namjoon.

You suggest, ‘I can ride behind you, if my ass is too tempting.’

Namjoon snorts a laugh. ‘And press those pretty breasts into my back?’

You look down at your chest thoughtfully.

Then you quip, barely stifling your laughter, ‘want me to polish your sword, my lord?’

‘Silence, wench,’ growls Namjoon.

Your laughter is equal parts infuriating and infectious.

***

You both catch up to Taehyung and Jimin at the gates guarding the dragon rider enclave on Mount Halji.

Namjoon takes a moment to savour the familiarity of it. He was born to be a dragon rider, the latest progeny of a long line of Eosulian warriors.

He was fourteen when he bonded with Styx, a lanky, graceless teenager with no idea what the hell he was doing. There was more than one surprised reaction at the unlikely combination of the studious teenaged Namjoon and the most fearsome dragon in the clan.

It’s been a while since anyone’s looked at him and Styx with any incredulity.

These days, Namjoon leans into his powerful build, his broad shoulders and chest, the lean muscles of his thighs.

Underneath he’s never stopped studying, learning, trying to better himself.

You nudge his chest with your shoulder, and he realises you’re talking.

He’s quite pleased with how he’s managed to tune you out.

You’re much more easy to tolerate when you’re on mute.

Namjoon allows himself a moment to admire your piquant little face.

He’s almost smiling when your voice manages to break through.

‘Plain?’ you ask.

Namjoon frowns, and obligingly, you repeat yourself. ‘Heading to the plain?’

He nods. He’d automatically guided Thunder in the direction of the plain, where he knows Styx will be waiting for him.

Namjoon stops and dismounts, instinctively reaching up to help you down.

It’s funny how he’s got used to doing that so quickly.

He faces North, and within moments, there’s a change in the air.

Styx lands noiselessly before him, sleek and so beautiful his skin thrums at her proximity.

Namjoon bows, and her massive head dips low to the ground in response. In two steps he’s mounted her, feeling at home in the way he never did in the vast Royal Palace of Ijil.

Something makes him look towards you.

You’re watching him and Styx, unmoving, hands clasped.

Namjoon doesn’t realise what he’s going to say until the words leave his mouth. He’s never invited anyone else to ride with him on one of these journeys before.

‘We’re reacquainting for the bond,’ he tells you. ‘You can come, if you want.’

He can sense Styx’s assent, but she lowers her head again, as if to show you, too.

You approach tentatively.

Namjoon holds out his arms to pick you up, and you say, ‘wait. Would you prefer tits or ass?’

Namjoon, to his surprise, can sense Styx’s mirth.

‘Just get on, and be quiet,’ he grumbles. He lifts you in front of him, locks his thighs around yours and pulls you tight against his chest, and then you’re off, gliding through the mountains of South Eosul.

***

Namjoon looks up as you enter the courtyard where he and the other dragon riders are combat training.

You march past everyone and head straight for him.

‘I need your muscles,’ you announce, without context.

Namjoon mops sweat off his brow and waits.

‘I’ll help you,’ Taehyung volunteers.

Namjoon stops him with a look.

‘What do you need help with, squire? And why is it so important that you’re interrupting our training?’

You frown. ‘The merchant down by the market is a swindler and a scoundrel,’ you tell him.

‘A swindler, and a scoundrel,’ Namjoon teases, amused by your vehemence.

You stare at him. He can almost see the smoke coming out of your ears, the way you’re vibrating with rage.

‘Fine!’ you burst out. You stomp away. ‘I will take care of him myself.’

You’re walking so fast you’re most of the way to the market before Namjoon catches up with you, even with his longer stride.

‘I’m sorry I teased you,’ he tells you.

‘I’m sorry I interrupted combat practice,’ you reply immediately.

You sigh. ‘I needed cloth for your jackets for the Harvest banquet next month. This merchant’s got the best supplies, but all the cloth he’s delivered is less than what we bargained for. Less than what I paid for.’

You’re getting worked up again, indignant. ‘How dare he try to swindle us?!’

Namjoon falls into step beside you. ‘It could be a genuine mistake,’ he says, trying to be reasonable.

You snort in disbelief.

Namjoon accompanies you to the stall, a little worried about how you’re going to approach this.

The merchant bows as you both approach.

‘Can I interest you in the new silk taffeta I’ve imported from Seldinia?’

‘No, but you can interest me in the remainder of the order I put in last week, of which only half has been delivered,’ you say, firmly.

The merchant eyes you narrowly. ‘Which order is that? I’m afraid I’ve completed all the orders from last week.’

You’re apoplectic. ‘Surely you have a ledger!’

You step around the table displaying his wares as he sighs and opens a worn ledger.

‘There!’ you say triumphantly, pointing to an entry that takes up half a page.

The merchant elbows you away from the ledger, making you step back.

Namjoon’s not sure how it happens, all he knows is one second he’s watching you and the next he’s got his forearm to the merchant’s neck, holding him up against the pillar.

The merchant’s looking at his dragon rider mark, spilling apologies.

Namjoon takes a moment, letting the rage recede.

You’re unharmed, you hadn’t even flinched when the merchant pushed you.

So why is he so goddamn incensed that that asshole had the audacity to touch you?

You can hold your own.

So why does Namjoon want to grind this man to a pulp?

He grunts, lets the man down, and he scuttles to do your bidding.

You wait until you’re both walking away, cloth tucked in a basket over your arm, before you turn to him.

‘What?’ snaps Namjoon.

You put your hand on his arm. ‘Thanks for ——‘

You pause, searching for the right phrase.

Namjoon lifts the basket off your arm.

‘Thanks for helping,’ you say carefully.

You seem to not know what to do with your arms now that he’s taken the basket, so you clasp your hands demurely in front of your chest.

‘No problem,’ Namjoon replies.

You keep sneaking glances at him as you walk, until Namjoon sighs.

‘What?’

‘You look quite dashing when you’re angry,’ you tell him.

‘Is that why you’re always vexing me?’

You nod. ‘That jaw clench you do.’

Namjoon glowers at you.

‘You’re doing it right now!’ you point out, delighted, skipping alongside him.

Namjoon says, ‘Quiet, or I’ll make you carry this,’ nodding to your basket.

‘Pfft,’ you scoff. ‘It’s nothing.’

You give him a sideways look. ‘Especially after I’ve got used to carrying your sword .’

You waggle your eyebrows meaningfully and nudge him between the ribs, like he wouldn’t get the innuendo otherwise.

Namjoon turns away so you can’t see him biting back his smile.

***

Namjoon answers the knock at his chamber door with a brisk, ‘come in.’

You take two steps into his chamber, eyes fixed on his chest.

‘My lord,’ you say, bowing. ‘You look very well indeed. That material suits you.’

Namjoon finds he’s distracted by your own appearance.

Has your body always been this lovely shape? And surely you’ve done something to your hair, too.

‘My eyes are here, my lord,’ you say, but you sound more amused than vexed.

‘You look beautiful,’ he tells you.

‘Thank you. Did you call me in here to seduce me with your sweet words and broad chest?’

Namjoon rolls his eyes.

‘I have something for you.’

You look suspiciously at the black bangle in his outstretched palm.

Namjoon says, ‘hold out your wrist.’

You hold out your hand, palm up, and Namjoon fastens the slim black band around your wrist, securing it with a tiny key.

You lift your arm, admiring the way the onyx gleams in the light as Namjoon threads the key along the silver chain he always wears around his neck.

When you speak, there’s a softness in your voice Namjoon’s only heard a handful of times.

‘What’s this for, my lord?’

‘The merchant at the marketplace,’ says Namjoon. ‘He changed his tune when he realised I was a dragon rider.’

He shrugs. ‘You don’t have a dragon rider mark, but I want people who deal with you to know that you have our protection.’

You’re standing so close to him he can feel the warmth of you, smell the fresh scent of your hair.

You look up at him, and he braces for whatever smart retort you’ve thought of.

Instead, you say, very sweetly, ‘thank you, my lord, that’s very thoughtful of you.’

Namjoon opens his mouth to speak, but you’re already speaking again.

‘Thank you for my shackle.’

Namjoon stares at you, speechless.

‘Shackle?’ he splutters, incredulous.

‘It goes round my wrist, it fastens with a key that you wear around your neck. It’s a shackle,’ you say, nodding.

Namjoon glares at you.

‘Aaaaa there’s that sexy jaw tick,’ you say, beaming at him.

Namjoon sets his jaw and ushers you out of his chamber.

‘Ooh, you look like you’re about to turn me over your lap and paddle my bottom,’ you say, chuckling merrily.

‘Maybe I will one day,’ Namjoon threatens.

‘I’ll look forward to it,’ you say, looking positively thrilled at the prospect.

Namjoon slams his door in your really rather pretty face.

****

Namjoon’s near the end of his speech to open the Harvest Banquet when the doors to the Great Hall open.

‘The Princess of Ijil,’ announces the herald.

Namjoon remains standing as she crosses the room, beautiful and resplendent in a gold gown that matches the brocade embroidery of his jacket.

She raises a hand, and Namjoon automatically leans down to kiss it.

She smiles at him, skin burnished gold in the candlelight, eyes full of promise, and Namjoon feels that familiar heat pool low in his groin.

She takes the seat next to his like she belongs there, and on any other day, Namjoon would be proud and honoured to have her by his side.

Today, though, his attention is divided by you, sitting in between Jimin and another dragon rider, Mingyu.

You’re chatting to them merrily, more than a little tipsy, judging by your bright eyes and the way you’re letting Mingyu lean against you.

Namjoon doesn’t realise he’s glowering at you until the Princess says, coyly, ‘I’ve come all this way, and you haven’t so much as complimented my gown, Lord Namjoon.’

He turns reluctantly from you. ‘How remiss of me,’ he says, politely. ‘You are very beautiful, as always, your highness, and we are privileged to have you in our midst.’

A burst of laughter and a round of applause erupts from your end of the table as Jimin leaps up, gracefully, to catch a tray of mead on the verge of tipping over.

Namjoon watches as Jimin deposits the tray safely on the banquet table and twirls you around triumphantly.

Jimin is his second in command, and has saved Namjoon’s ass more times than he can count. He’s a gifted fighter, instinctive and merciless when he has to be.

It’s also vaguely annoying that he has the face of an angel and a physique sculpted by the gods.

Namjoon tears his eyes away from you in Jimin’s arms.

He turns back to the princess.

***

Namjoon’s heading to his chamber after dinner, wondering where you are and why he cares.

If you’re with Jimin, you’re in safe hands.

Jimin likes you more than he does.

Namjoon stops in front of the looking-glass by his bed, staring at his reflection.

Does Jimin like you more than he does?

He slips his jacket off, starts unbuttoning the white silk shirt underneath.

There’s a knock on his door.

Namjoon cracks it open, an odd burst of warmth blooming in his chest when he realises it’s you.

You hiccup and reach out, curling your fingers into the open placket of his shirt.

The tips of your fingers are cold, and Namjoon realises just how much he wants to warm you up.

He’s reaching for your arm to pull you into his chamber when you both hear approaching footsteps, an entourage.

The Princess of Ijil.

Namjoon’s distracted for an instant, and when he looks back at you, you’re giving him a smile that doesn’t quite reach your eyes.

His hand closes around nothing.

The Princess of Ijil reaches his chamber door.

And you?

You’re gone.

***

Namjoon has to admit, you’re quick.

By the time he’s made his excuses to the princess and tried to follow you, there’s not a trace of where you might have gone.

It’s only when he passes the stables and hears Thunder whickering and stamping his feet that he finds you, sitting on a groomsman’s stool in a corner of Thunder’s stall.

You give Thunder an accusing look that makes Namjoon bite back his smile.

Namjoon looks at you, at the petulant way your lower lip is pushed out, the bottle of potent mead in your hand, and says, gently, ‘want to go for a ride?’

Before you can come up with whatever terrible innuendo he knows you’re capable of, he’s saddled and mounted Thunder, and is holding out his arms for you.

You give him a curious look but it doesn’t stop you from letting him lift you up into the saddle in front of him.

You settle back into his arms, between his thighs, against his chest, like you belong there.

Namjoon leans forward, urging Thunder into a gallop.

The cool night air is like a balm on his brow, and for the first time Namjoon decides to let himself enjoy how you feel in his arms.

He thinks you’re trying to say something to him, but it’s lost in the wind as the fields of Mount Halji speed past.

He’ll ask you later.

***

Namjoon beds Thunder down in the small barn and heads to the tiny farmhouse.

He finds you standing by the door where he left you, waiting for him.

He lights a lamp, holds his arm out to you.

You say, ‘wait.’

You set the mead down on the wooden table and step up to him, hand on his chest, going on tiptoe.

Namjoon stays perfectly still as you press your lips to his.

It’s sweet, chaste, and yet it makes him want to push you against a wall and take you right here.

You pull away.

‘Just wanted to check if you’re a good kisser,’ you say, breathlessly.

Namjoon raises an eyebrow at you, tilts his chin.

‘Am I?’ he asks, like he doesn’t care what you think.

‘Yeah,’ you say.

‘I’m good at a lot of things,’ he tells you.

‘Stop showing off,’ you chastise.

You squeal as he chases you into the bedroom.

***

Namjoon’s trying to take it slowly but you’re writhing under him, rubbing against him in all the places that he likes, and god, he’s so hard he can’t imagine there’s any blood going to the rest of his body.

He can’t think .

You’re kissing his neck, tongue flicking against his skin, and Namjoon groans at the pleasure of it.

‘I didn’t know you were so sensitive, here,’ you note, a purr to your voice that makes his eyes close.

You grind your hips against his, arms splayed around him.

Namjoon’s got no idea how you managed to get on top of him but Jaesu, he loves the view. He already knows he’ll never get tired of taking the weight of you.

Namjoon raises his head, trying to kiss you as you’re pulling away, and you press your hand to his lips.

‘Look at you, my big dragon rider,’ you taunt. You roll your hips against his cock, still covered in the dress pants he put on for the Banquet, pulling another grunt from him.

‘You like being under me?’ you ask.

‘I’d rather be in you,’ Namjoon tells you, honestly.

He runs a hand down his torso, cups his length. ‘Get these off and I’ll show you.’

Your eyes meet, and the heat in his gaze makes you visibly shiver.

Then you’re undoing his pants.

Namjoon lifts his hips to help you slide them down.

His cock brushes your parted lips, and quick as a cat, you open your mouth and take him in.

Namjoon’s fist clenches in the silk of your dress as you take him deeper, tongue flat against the underside of his cock.

‘You unman me,’ he utters.

You look up at him, mouth full, eyes wide, and he groans at the sight of you.

‘Do you like this?’ you ask, pulling back, lips swollen, stained with the stickiness of his seed.

Namjoon reaches down to cup your cheek. ‘I want you on top of me, love,’ he tells you.

He never knows if you’re going to do what he says, but to his relief, you wriggle up to sit on his chest.

He reaches out, undoes the ties fastening your gown carelessly, enjoying the way it falls open under his hands.

He tugs it up over your head, leaving you in a chemise so gossamer thin he can see the outlines of your pretty breasts, your hardened nipples imprinted against the fabric.

Past the length of your torso he can see between your legs, and, he realises he can feel the dampness of your arousal on his own stomach.

You’ve wetted through his shirt, and Namjoon doesn’t think he’s ever been more aroused.

Your mouth opens, and Namjoon shakes his head.

‘Look what you’ve done,’ he tsks, his voice husky, low.

You open your mouth again, and again, he shakes his head.

‘You and your smart mouth,’ he says. ‘You’re so wet you’ve ruined my shirt, and I’m so hard I hurt.’

He hisses as you roll your hips over him. ‘What are you going to do about it, my love?’

You’re moaning at him, and he laughs harshly. ‘You want my cock? Do it yourself.’

‘Or do you just like talking with that smart mouth,’ he taunts. ‘Can’t follow through?’

Your eyes flash at him, and then you’re bracing against his chest, taking him in hand, lining him up.

Your eyes flick to his, and Namjoon stares you down. ‘Shy?’ he asks, voice mocking.

‘No,’ you gasp, as you lower your hips onto his pelvis, taking him in increments.

Your hand tightens on his arm. ‘Too big,’ you murmur, breathless.

Namjoon has to take a breath when he’s in all the way. You’re wet, and warm, and he can already feel his pleasure starting to coil out from his shaft, sending tingles across his groin, making his balls tighten.

You’re moving on him, thighs flexing as you ride him. Namjoon has the loose thought that the definition in your thighs is probably from carrying his armour around for months, because he’s never seen you do any other form of exercise, then you’re leaning forward on his chest, murmuring in his ear, and his thoughts evacuate his head again.

Fuck, you’re beautiful when you come.

You cry his name, and Namjoon cups your ass, helping you move on top of him, wringing every last bit of pleasure out of you until you’re limp on top of him.

He waits, hard and throbbing inside you, until you look up at his face.

‘Did you think we were finished?’ he asks.

There’s a spark of something in your eyes at his challenge.

‘I did, actually,’ you say haughtily.

You make as if to move off of him, and as always, Namjoon’s amused and outraged by your audacity.

He grips your thigh, admiring the mark his fingers leave when he lets go.

You’re watching him carefully.

‘Should have known you’d like that,’ you remark.

‘You know,’ Namjoon says thoughtfully, pulling you underneath him, thrusting once, experimentally.

You wait for what he has to say.

‘I like you better when you’re not talking,’ he says.

Your squawk of outrage turns into a moan as he starts to move, his cock sliding in your slickened cunt.

‘Yeah,’ he says, as you moan. ‘This is better.’

He seals his lips against your own and fucks you until you’re crying out and coming on his cock.

***

Namjoon’s awakened by a pounding on the door.

He stumbles to the entrance of the tiny farmhouse and is greeted by Jimin, dressed in full battle gear, thrusting his armour at him.

‘Halians,’ Jimin says grimly. ‘They’re en route to the Hold.’ He pauses, meaningfully. ‘The Princess of Ijil is still within our Gates.’

Namjoon’s pulling on his armour, methodical. ‘The dragons?’ he asks.

‘They’re all in formation,’ Jimin says.

He looks up as you walk into the room, dressed in Namjoon’s shirt from last night.

‘Ah,’ says Jimin, unsurprised. ‘Tell me later if I need to defend your honour to your brother.’

You laugh. ‘Seokjin can’t talk,’ you say, and Jimin grins.

‘Don’t I know it,’ he agrees.

Namjoon doesn’t have time to unpick this conversation right now.

He tightens his sword and says to Jimin, ‘Let’s go.’

‘Wait,’ you say.

You step forward and pull him down into a kiss.

‘Stay safe,’ you say.

Namjoon casts a look at your pretty face, wishing he had the time to appreciate how good you look in his shirt.

You’re already stepping back.

‘Look after him, Jimin,’ you say.

Jimin nods. ‘I always do.’

The laugh you both share at his expense makes Namjoon scowl.

***

Jimin grew up with Namjoon, and he’s been analytical, an overthinker, for as long as he’s known him.

Namjoon was the friend who always used to get caught when they played dragons and wizards, the kid who was busy trying to strategise when what he needed to do was run.

He made up for it by becoming quicker, stronger than anyone else. So then he didn’t just win at games, he annihilated his opponents.

He’s fought alongside Namjoon in countless battles against the Halian army, and there’s no doubt that Namjoon’s brilliant strategising has saved their asses many a time.

It’s just that, Namjoon’s so damned serious all the time. He wears his responsibility as commander on his shoulders, bears the weight without complaint.

When he started sleeping with the Princess of Ijil, Jimin had realised he was in real danger of losing his friend to a life of power seeking and political manoeuvring.

That’s where you came in.

Jimin’s known you for years, he’s friends with Seokjin, your brother who’s currently making a name for himself in the vast plains of Daljeon.

He’s always liked your sense of humour. Like Seokjin, you cloak your inner steeliness in jovial banter. Also like Seokjin, you’ve been blessed with a face as pretty as Jimin’s own.

You’d been at a loose end when Seokjin left, and Jimin had quickly realised that your personality was the perfect foil for Namjoon’s seriousness.

He’d watched in amusement as you ran circles around Namjoon with your quick wit, and had relaxed after he’d seen the way Namjoon had consistently chosen to laugh with you rather than flatten you.

Today, though, Namjoon’s not laughing.

They’d returned from a skirmish with a Halian sub unit at the border of Eosul to find the farm cottage empty.

A search of the Hold has so far, not revealed your location.

Namjoon looks up as the doors of the Great Hall open and a messenger comes in carrying a package.

Namjoon tears it open and stops dead as pieces of onyx fall out.

He looks at Jimin, jaw set. ‘It’s hers. I gave it to her the night of the Banquet.’

Jimin’s already grasped the messenger. ‘Where is she?’ he demands.

‘It’s from General Dei of the Halian army,’ splutters the messenger. ‘That’s all I know.’

Namjoon moves so quickly the messenger’s against the flagstone wall before he finishes his sentence.

‘Tell me where she is and I’ll spare your life,’ he utters, voice low and deadly.

One move of Namjoon’s hand toward the hilt of his sword yields the information they need.

Then Namjoon’s running, heading for Styx on the plain.

***

Namjoon glances over at Jimin as they approach the caves where you’re being held.

‘I’m worried, Jimin,’ he confesses.

Jimin places his hand on Namjoon’s shoulder, drawn taut with worry.

‘She’s the only bargaining item they have, even the Halians wouldn’t be stupid enough to harm her knowing you’re on your way.’

Namjoon’s gaze is dark. ‘I’m more worried about what this is going to cost them,’ he tells Jimin. ‘I’m angry.’

His fists clench. ‘I’m really fucking angry right now.’

Jimin says, carefully, ‘This isn’t a reason to start a war.’

Namjoon laughs, short, humourless. ‘I don’t want a war,’ he agrees.

He sets his jaw as they reach the entrance. ‘I want a massacre.’

You’re against the back wall of the cave, flanked by Halian guards.

General Dei’s standing by. ‘Lord Namjoon,’ he says, inclining his head in greeting.

Namjoon, imposing in his battle armour, gives the General a look that has the guards behind him shifting nervously.

‘I know you wanted a negotiation, General,’ Namjoon says, ‘but I don’t negotiate when one of my own hangs in the balance.’

He draws his sword. ‘Release my squire.’

***

In the clamour of battle, Namjoon has a direct line of sight to you, and sees the moment you flatten yourself against the wall to avoid a wayward strike.

He’s by your side in moments, cutting you loose, pushing you behind him.

‘It took you a while,’ you point out. He can’t see your face but he can hear the smile in your voice.

‘I’m sorry I left you,’ he says, tucking you under his arm, cutting down two Halian guards in a swift movement.

He heads for the entrance of the cave, where Styx is waiting to dispense with any Halian guards who manage to get past Taehyung and Mingyu.

Jimin emerges a moment later, sheathing his sword, breathing hard from exertion.

He draws you into his arms, raises an eyebrow when Namjoon doesn’t let go of his hold on you.

‘I’m taking her back to the Hold,’ Namjoon says.

Jimin murmurs, ‘and the rest?’

Namjoon helps you onto Styx, jaw tightening as he takes in the rope marks around your wrists and ankles.

He can find no mercy in his heart for anyone who’s tried to hurt you.

Honestly, he can’t even trouble himself to look.

He turns to Jimin.

‘Let them burn.’

***

You awaken so quietly Namjoon’s got no idea how long you’ve been watching him sit by the window.

You clear your throat.

‘You’re beautiful,’ you say, the words heartfelt.

Namjoon looks at you, at your skin coloured in the hues of the rising sun, at the sincerity shining in your eyes, and thinks that you’re the beautiful one.

He comes to sit on the bed next to you.

You clamber into his lap, face close to his, legs either side of his waist.

‘Thank you for coming to get me,’ you say.

‘I’m sorry I let you get taken in the first place,’ he replies. ‘Did you get hurt, my love?’

He’s looking at the mark on your wrist, where your bangle was.

You catch the direction of his gaze.

‘It didn’t hurt apart from that I didn’t have anything to show I belonged to you,’ you tell him.

Namjoon lifts your wrist to his lips, kisses over the bruise marking your skin.

‘I can take care of that,’ he says.

He moves his mouth further up your arm, sucks your warm skin, laves the new mark he’s left with his tongue.

You’re breathing faster now, watching him intently.

Namjoon tugs the shirt he put on you apart, presses his lips to the warm curve of your left breast, and sucks.

You make a pretty sound, and he does it again, suctions his lips over your softness, admires the lurid colour of the mark he’s made.

You’re shifting your hips slightly, moving over his thigh.

Namjoon flexes his thigh between your legs, and you whimper.

He dips his head again, this time to your other breast, coaxing your nipple out from under his shirt. He licks over your nipple, and to his pleasure, you let out another pretty moan.

You’re still moving your hips over his thigh, more boldly now, grinding harder with each pass.

Namjoon keeps up a steady pace laving your nipples with his tongue. He takes your breast into his mouth, lifts a hand to tweak your other nipple, and you gasp.

He can feel your wetness on his thigh.

His free hand lands on your thigh.

‘Ride me,’ he utters.

‘Namjoon,’ you gasp.

Namjoon can tell by the raggedness of your breathing that you’re close to your release.

He flexes his thigh again, helps you drag your hips along, laps at your nipples, and with a cry of his name you come.

Namjoon pulls you onto the bed, slides his hand onto your bare hip under his shirt and admires the view.

Your breasts look so pretty covered in the marks his lips have made, nipples taut and slick with his saliva.

There’s wet between your thighs, your cunt glistens with your release, and Namjoon’s never seen anything prettier.

His cock, already hard and aching, swells even more as you pull him down to you.

‘I want you, Namjoon,’ you plead.

‘You have me,’ he replies.

He settles himself between your spread legs and pushes into you.

Your back arches as he slides in, slow, giving you time to adjust.

He can feel your hands on his back, one near his shoulder blade, one low on his hips, urging him on, and Namjoon doesn’t want to hold back anymore.

He sheathes the rest of his manhood within you with another push of his hips, groaning at the pleasure of it.

He can feel the walls of your cunt fluttering around his hardness, the rush of slickness from you coating him.

You’re so wet, so warm Namjoon finds himself without words.

He starts to move, and you cry his name so loudly he stops, worried he’s hurt you.

‘Don’t stop,’ you reassure him, teeth on his earlobe. ‘Jaesu, don’t stop.’

Namjoon drags his cock from you and enters you again and again, going deep with every thrust, hard the way you seem to like.

He rolls his thumb over the swollen bud between your legs, and you buck your hips against his, chasing your pleasure.

You’re tightening deliciously around him now, clamping down on him like a vice, and Namjoon’s close himself, leaking into you with every thrust.

He strokes between your legs, dips his head to lap at your nipple, and then you’re coming again, gasping his name.

Your pleasure drags him over his own edge, Namjoon manages another thrust before he’s coming, spilling his seed into you with an intensity that robs him of his breath.

You’re pulling him down onto you now, arms around him. Namjoon has just enough awareness to move slightly so you’re not taking his full weight as he collapses onto the bed, tangled up with you.

***

When he stirs, you’re up already, but thankfully not any more dressed than you were.

You’re looking at him in the looking glass by his bed.

‘I like these marks you made on me,’ you announce, nonchalant.

‘I’ll make more,’ Namjoon says.

He rises from the bed, drops to his knee before you.

‘On my legs?’ you ask, looking down at him quizzically.

‘If you want.’

Namjoon reaches for your hand, looks up at your face seriously.

‘I vow fealty to you, in this kingdom and beyond,’ he promises you. ‘I will protect you to my last breath.’

‘Well,’ you drawl, with the familiar quirk to your lips he’s grown to love, ‘we’d better make sure you live a very long life then.’

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