Archive of Our Own

College has taught Yoongi a lot of things:

How to cure a hangover in five minutes for those days when you forget about your scheduled 8am Microeconomics class. How to get away from paying parking tickets from campus security by informing them that you’re just a visitor waiting to pick up their younger sister. What website to use when you’re running low on money and you need to download the bootleg version of that one textbook that’s been sold out everywhere.

Upon that, he also knows his deepest, darkest secrets.

And by ‘deepest, darkest secrets’ he means his likes and his dislikes. 

All a curtesy of the insane amounts of icebreakers he’s done throughout his time in university, venturing from questions as simple as ‘what’s your name?’ to ‘tell me about the most embarrassing moment and how has that shaped you into the person you are today?’

Best form of education his six-digit student loan debt could buy in his opinion, with no sarcasm intended.

He’s joking.

Not really.

Though, such aspects of his four years spent, trapped inside a building, are redundant and most definitely not a priority, he guesses such things aren’t entirely useless.

At least if someone were to ask him what he dislikes most in life, he has three solid answers to spew out for the purpose of prolonging conversations. Some of which include, but are not limited to:

1. Sugared coffee.

Why hinder the bitter taste of what’s meant to wake you up with some granules of death? It’s already bad enough that society has found a way to monopolize bean water by adding a little bit of sweet seasoning. On top of that, it’s something you have to pay an extra five dollars for.

Just suck it up and drink the damn thing.

2. Crowded places.

There’s no inept reason for people to be so close to each other. The universe was not curated to accommodate such large environments and vast areas of land just for people to completely disregard that and… brush up against each other. It’s unnecessary, and a burden in most cases.

If it’s anything to abide by in Yoongi’s Book of Rules You Should Fucking Follow, social distancing is number one. And if you disagree—well—you can take it up with the Big Man.

3. The beach.

Need any more explanation be necessary?

The sand gets everywhere, the sea-salted water is a menace to inhale and every step Yoongi’s been forced to take onto the uneven ground just adds onto the impeding list he already has created for this type of monstrosity. He can go on and on about his dislike for such a place—from the heat, to the mustiness—but he’d rather do it underneath the comfort of his own home.

Not where he’s bound to get sunburnt even from a couple minutes under the sun.

Now, for the most part, such facts about himself have stayed the same throughout the majority of his young adult years.

Though, he can’t say the same about the ranking; and it’s safe to say that the whole “best for last,” saying doesn’t exactly apply in this case.

His sister offered him the job.

$200 every week to babysit her daughter while she commutes to her grad classes which are an hour away.

With Yoongi currently at ends with his low-paying side hustle—which is really just his cool way of saying grocery clerk—and his dangerous addiction to those ham and swiss croissants he picks up every morning on his way to work, who would he be, really, if he didn’t take up his sibling on the offer.

Baby-sitting is easy. He’s seen it in movies.

What proved to be difficult, however, was the very fact that his niece is going through her beach phase (whatever the hell that meant) and it’s gone to the point where she’d throw a tantrum if she’s not taken to the shore on the days her uncle Yoongi is responsible for her.

How ironic is it that the very thing he despises is now the place he visits every Mondays to Friday at 10am sharp?

If he’s late, even by a millisecond, he’s forced into time-out by his very peculiar little companion. However, it’s still the same sea—same sand getting up ungodly places of his body, same weather since it’s nearing the warmer months of the year.

It’s exactly what he thinks, now, as he’s sat watching the little girl kick around by the wet sand near the water.

“Yah, Areum! Stay where I can see you, remember?” he calls out from under his umbrella just a couple feet away.

Yoongi’s not that far. Just ample amount of space for him see clearly and run over if she needs help but far enough so the mist doesn’t hit his face.

He sits on the fold-up chair he’s opened for himself, tucked underneath a large, multi-colored umbrella that his sister so graciously offered to him one day when he came home with a raging sunburn.

And why he’s sat down and not accompanying Areum? Might be due to his hatred for water.

But it’s not because he can’t swim. It’s just a personal preference and maybe it’s a little off kilter for him to say he would rather die (and he’s not kidding) before voluntarily dipping his toe in the frigid sea.

To him, it’s a hassle to dry off—a waste of energy just treading—when ultimately, he feels as though that precious time can be spent doing more useful things.

Like sleeping to grow.

Which is why his first sibling-to-sibling paycheck was spent investing on some inflatable floaties—two of which are wrapped securely around Areum’s tiny arms—just so he can save himself the possibility of even going near the waterline.

In his eyes, he’s doing both Areum and himself a favor.

To his sister, well, let’s just say what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.

He pulls out a copy some book he managed to grab on his way out of his home before almost making it late to his sister’s house. Because of it, he didn’t even get the chance to glance at the cover and it proves to be a feat when he takes note of the title: Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Must be Namjoon’s.

Without much of a chance to redirect his attention elsewhere, and his unwillingness to have his phone battery run out so early in the morning, he opens up the first couple pages of the novel in his hands and begins reading.

--

“You like Nietzsche?” Is what Yoongi would have heard if he was in the right state of mind. Right now, however, it only sounds like a jumble of words, and he wonders if he ever ended up answering such an arbitrary question. Though, he’s sure he must have let out something if the voice comes again—a little louder this time.

“Nietzsche. You like him?” The query is stated again, and this time, he can hear himself grumble out a makeshift response.

What the hell is that, and why is someone blundering him about it.

For seconds at a time, he wonders if he drifted too far off into dreamland. Dreamland where it’s all too cold but warm at the same time.

He thinks to himself, no… no, that doesn’t make sense.

Or maybe it does and maybe that’s why Yoongi jolts out of his slumber at the sudden revelation, cursing at the events that are suddenly turning into a reality.

“Oh fuck!”

It doesn’t take long for him to feel the prickling sensation of his pants that have uncomfortably trapped heat onto his legs. Nor does it take just as much for him to realize that he just fell asleep.

For how long or how deep? He doesn’t know.

As is the fact that he’s also just as clueless of Areum’s whereabouts; hand instinctively coming to pat its way over his pockets and body, in search for his phone that couldn’t conveniently make its appearance any quicker than how it has been for the past minute already.

The man to his right must sense his alarm, but in contrast to what he expects, all he can hear is a laugh cast his way.

Luckily, before Yoongi can make a comment about how undeniably inconsiderate giggling at the face of a person who just potentially lost a whole human being is, he’s granted an explanation.

However, that doesn’t wipe the amused smile off this random person’s face, and he grows curious of the unknown man peering down at him with an ardent look on his face.

“Relax,” the other male says. “You’re responsible for the little girl with the pigtails? This tall, with the Powerpuff Girl floaties?” he continues with a hand gesture and Yoongi pauses in his movements to nod.

“She’s out by the lifeguard deck. Gave her some snacks if that’s okay with you…”

The first thing Yoongi feels is a rush of relief as he peers over to his side.

Lo and behold, only a couple yards away, there sits his niece on the steps of a blue, wooden shack—waving to him enthusiastically with a bag of crisps in one hand and a chip on the other.

It’s also then when he notices who he’s talking to.

“Oh… you’re—you’re a lifeguard?” he questions. Though, it’s later when he realizes that it’s a stupid one on his end. The big, bold letters, painted in stark white, stare at him indefinitely on a pair of bright red shorts:

LIFEGUARD.

And his feelings are only confirmed by the bright smile that this figure heeds.

“Sure am!” the blonde continues and Yoongi unknowingly breathes out a sigh of relief he didn’t know he was holding in. “Sorry to intervene, though. I just noticed that you had fallen asleep and she was unattended…” he points out. “Not that I’m a stalker or anything! Totally not… I just saw you guys come earlier and just so happened to be stationed at this post today. Jun is out sick, so I had to step in, but I was not at all trying to be a creep. I just—”

The way this man rambles into strings of sentences is oddly endearing to Yoongi. Typically, on any other given day, he’s not this affected by random people coming up to him to start a conversation.

He’s always prided himself on being able to defer away from those types of situations. Preferring the solace that comes from talking to his direct friend group in comparison to those he just meets, the prospect of speaking to someone under sudden circumstances doesn’t exactly bode well for him.

But then again, it’s not every day when you fall asleep on a beach chair, almost losing a kid on a day as bright as this one.

Nor is it all that common to be in that specific type of scenario with a man as pretty as the one standing in front of him, talking to him with the utmost comfortability that Yoongi almost doesn’t want to interrupt him.

Yet, he does.

He has to focus.

“Hey…” Yoongi eventually cuts him off, in efforts to regain control of his own muddled thoughts and frantic memories. This lifeguard has panic written all over his face and uncharacteristically, Yoongi thinks that a smile would look a lot better in place of such an unforgiving expression. “It’s fine, really,” he offers him a smile. “Didn’t think you were.”

"Alright, great. That's always nice to hear." A relieved huff comes as a response as he stands up, eye-to-eye with the bright-bleached blonde in front of him. 

He's sheepish. “Thank you, though… I’m sorry. I don’t even remember falling asleep.”

“Oh no! Not a problem at all! She’s a funny one—Areum. Kept me company on this otherwise boring morning.”

With the lifeguard looking over his shoulder to glance at his niece mid-sentence, Yoongi would be stupid to ignore the flex of this man’s muscles.

His torso twists underneath the sun, shrinking and lengthening with every minute movement he makes. Unchanging from before, he’s still shirtless. But now that Yoongi doesn’t have the odds of a book covering his eyes, the ridged lines of his body are clear.

So is his pretty sun-kissed skin that only seems to glisten the more he stares.

He hopes he doesn’t notice.

“What’s your name?” the blonde asks when he turns back around and Yoongi has to blink a little to catch up with what’s asked of him.

“Yoongi…” he clears his throat, answering. “Min Yoongi. And you are?”

“Jimin!” A shriek comes from a couple feet away.

Voice accompanied by a little girl running up with short legs and chips falling in a trail behind her, Areum koala-bear hugs the other male’s legs tightly and Yoongi watches intently as Jimin brings a hand to comb at her hair.

Tone light and lively, Jimin answers with a smile. “Well, there you go.”

--

“So, you never answered my question about the book,” Jimin points out. Fiddling with the strap of his rescue buoy laid on his lap, he peers over to Yoongi’s set up where said object remains untouched on Yoongi’s chair.

The brunette responds with a quick laugh and roll of his eyes.

“Oh that… it’s not even mine. Just grabbed it on my way out before meeting Areum.”

It’s quiet for a couple moments before the other boy asks. “Your kid?”

“No!” Yoongi replies all too quickly. Feet kicking over the sand, he stutters at such a proclamation. “Oh god, no. My sister’s… yeah, she’s my niece.”

Jimin giggles, apologizing sheepishly. And Yoongi would never admit this out loud, at least not now, but the sound taps something fuzzy in his chest.

Quickly, and almost embarrassingly, he finds himself eager to hear more.

“She has me on child duty,” he explains instead, shaking his head a little to get rid of such aimless thoughts. Not cool, he tells himself. “I just take the little one here every weekday since she likes the beach so much.”

“Ah… and do you?” Jimin asks, casting him a side glance.

“Do I?”

“Like the beach,” the blonde asks questionably and Yoongi’s brows twist comically as he licks his lips.

“Nope. Hate it. Can definitely go without it… as you can see, I’m kind of—” he trails off in the notion that the answer is laid out point-blank in the open, and when the other boy follows his line of sight, a mirth of amusement begins to shade over Jimin’s eyes.

They’re sitting on the ledge of the guarding port.

With Yoongi only having one beach chair, and Areum complaining that her uncle Yoongi and her new best friend would be too far to watch her build her lopsided sandcastle closer to the shore, they were requited by some very eager hands to sit at the very spot she was occupying just moments ago.

Unlike the half-naked man sitting next to him, when Yoongi is able to point out such a contrast between the two, his very own self is dressed in something most-definitely not classified as beach attire. A patriarchal-colored windbreaker covers his torso and his legs are covered with the matching set. Some jewelry lines the expanse of his ears and a peace-sign necklace hangs off his pale neck.

To say ‘coming out of this trip unscathed of a sunburn’—while picking out his outfit this morning—was his only goal is completely accurate. In truth, however, he just didn’t want to make the effort to find his board shorts.

Those of which are most likely scoured in the deep depths of his closet, with no hope of ever seeing the light of day.

Jimin, on the other hand, takes in the man in the tracksuit, and Yoongi's scared to say that he already finds the blonde’s eyes quite alluring.

“Mm… I don’t know,” the blonde eventually jokes. “Could have had me fooled.”

“Glad you think so. Not sure why people aren’t following the trend,” he recovers quickly with his own smirk.

Jimin takes that with stride and pulls at the opportunity to tease. “My fault completely. You’ll be sure to find me in something similar next time around.”

Next time around indeed, Yoongi thinks and likewise, he grazes over at the other male’s small frame. Albeit, post-hastily as he tries not to think too much about the way Jimin’s abs flex in the limelight and muscles tense as such an unexpected gaze.

At the end, it has Jimin gulping, and Yoongi bites his lip in feigned attempt to hide his smile as he takes in the reaction the lifeguard heeds.

Jimin continues their conversation. “You mentioned taking her here every weekday?”

“Yup, favorite spot,” Yoongi explains. “It’s the closest beach from my sister’s house.”

It’s silent for a moment.

The waves crash in a metronomic sequence against the sand. Yoongi takes it as comfortable—the way he’s so easily able to speak to Jimin without much care of the topic; the way Jimin openly succumbs and bites into his chatter and joking. The blonde is the first to break the silence, and Yoongi tunes in to the voice that chips to his right.

“Well…” Jimin starts. “Lucky for you, I don’t think Jun will be getting over his stomach flu anytime soon.”

“Lucky for me?” he asks.

“Yeah!” Jimin recovers as Yoongi quirks his eyebrow chaffingly. He clears his throat with a small smile. “Wouldn’t want you to fall asleep again—can’t have Areum running off somewhere without supervision again, can we?”

Normally, such a statement would have attuned to something completely innocent. But the look in Jimin’s eye tells otherwise, as does the way his fingers pick and prod at the lose thread hanging off the end of his buoy.

In hindsight, Yoongi pretends not to notice, but quite honestly, that’s all he can think about as he stares off at the sea.

“So, I can expect you… you two every weekday, now?” the lifeguard piques up again and Yoongi bites the inside of his cheek to prevent the grin threatening to paint his features.

“Yes. Yes, you can.”

--

The following morning, Wednesday, poses as their first day meeting up with a now-familiar face.

Instant to meet them once they park at their usual spot and walk down small hill to the soft ground and fresh water, Jimin is already waiting for them out by his post.

Well, not really waiting—more like doing his job—but to Areum, it’s a screech of joy when she notices the lifeguard sitting at his regular setting, and the sound of such a feeble reaction cuts through the soft, guitar-esque music that plays in the background through the blonde’s Bluetooth speaker.

Jimin turns to look at his left and finds a running Areum headed his way.

“Areum!” he chuckles, as the girl climbs her way hastily up the steps to his ledge.

Once she makes it, he picks her up and immediately sits her down on the leveled railing surrounding the blue shed. Yoongi hasn’t even made it halfway to the pair yet, but even from this distance, he can distinguish the bright smile preening on his niece’s face.

“How are you today?”

“Good!” she answers immediately. “I’m great. Uncle Yoongi got me a new pail and shovel! Wanna see?” Though Jimin doesn’t really have to ask. Said objects are already being held up proudly by small hands and the blonde finds himself holding Areum by the waist, just to make sure she doesn’t fall over from excitement.

“So cool! Are you going to build something for me this time around?”

Eyes growing wide, Areum immediately nods. “Mhm! I’ll get started now!”

Jimin watches her wiggle to get out of his grasp. Landing with both feet to the floor, the little girl is unbothered to the way when she almost tips over. Areum recovers quickly, though, and just as hastily beings to run toward the compacted sand closer to the dwindling waves.

When Yoongi finally makes it to the shed, he offers an apology. “Sorry about that,” he says, peering up at the lifeguard whose eyes light up at the voice. “She’s hyper today. Gave her some candy on the way here so she wouldn’t throw up.”

“She gets carsick?”

“From time to time, yeah. I never really know so I keep a bag of mints in the dash,” he explains and casts the other boy a look. It’s an unspoken hi between them when Jimin’s lips press together in a smile and Yoongi returns it.

A couple minutes later, when the brunette is done catching his breath and they share more greetings, Jimin questions his unkept movements. “What are you doing?” he asks, curiously at the sound of a clicking noise.

“Opening up my chair?”

“Such a hassle. There’s no need for that.”

With virtually no opportunity to decline, Jimin walks down the wooden steps, seconds later with a laugh. Nothing more is said before he makes a move to grab Yoongi’s belongings. As effervescent as Yoongi’s always been, declining help from others, Jimin doesn’t look like the type to take “no,” for an answer.

So, instead of fighting the man that gleams up at him with a spark in his eye, Yoongi takes it as his cue to play in a little further at the scenario.

“Is this an invitation for me to sit with you?” he jokes, but it causes Jimin to successfully flush in response.

“More so for Areum,” the lifeguard says above his red cheeks. Yoongi licks his lips. “She’ll throw a fit. After all, her sandcastle is in need or our attention.”

--

And that’s how both boys find themselves, sitting next to each other once again as they watch the sun rise higher and light shine brighter over the horizon.

As surprising as it is for Yoongi, his introverted side has no trouble lining up to the characteristics Jimin has to offer. They’re currently laughing without a care in the world, that notion of the brunette ever being alone on this beach long gone as their tones grow louder in amusement and their stomachs hurt from chortling too hard.

Yoongi is just finishing his story about the 5-year ban his apartment complex placed on him after accidentally drowning their community lifeguard.

It started with his near-death experience after being left alone in the water by his sister; how he didn’t understand why he was being faulted for something he didn’t even initiate. Though, it ultimately ends with him admitting that it was probably due to the way he tried to climb up on his back; older man struggling to carry the weight of a 20-year-old Yoongi pawing at his shoulders to keep his head above water on the deep end.

Jimin wheezes after the brunette’s story and offers his condolences. “Poor man,” he bumps into Yoongi’s shoulder amidst his laughter.

“Poor me!” Yoongi bites back with as much enthusiasm. “He should have expected it. All of those swimming classes and he couldn’t handle one boy.”

Jimin entertains him. “Must have not been too good of a guard, then.”

“You’re telling me,” the elder explains. “I’m forever scarred.”

“I can only imagine. I mean god forbid your pretty hair gets wet in a hole full of water,” the blonde chastises with a teasing quirk of his lips after his giggling dies down.

Yoongi, on the other hand, has always been pin-pointy about the things that are said to him. He asks the question before he can even process it leaving his mouth.

“You think my hair is pretty?” he asks, knowingly.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Yes, you did.”

“No, I didn’t.”

They bicker back and forth for a while, and Yoongi enjoys the way Jimin continues to flush from his accusations.

Taking the time to relish in the situation he’s under, Yoongi takes note of how captivating the blonde looks when he’s happy.

His eyes glint into crescent moons, complimenting the genuine laughter that comes along with it. Teeth in perfect array with each other, it’s endearing how only one tooth peeks out at the end of a close-lipped smile. At that very moment, Yoongi admits to himself that he would have no problem making a fool of himself for days on end if it meant him seeing Jimin at such a jovial state. It was no surprise that he already found the other boy attractive from the start, but this?

This tops the icing on the cake.

It eventually dies down, though, but the merriment is still present in their eyes and heavy breathing underneath the warming rays.

Jimin gasps. “I might have something to offer you,” he says after some time.

“And what is that?” Yoongi hums, playing with the rings on his fingers. He looks to his side to see a hopeful looking Jimin.

“I can teach you how to swim!” he says, offering a wag of his eyebrows.

Yoongi ponders. “Swim?”

“You know, like get in the water,” Jimin teases. “Maybe then you wouldn’t be leaving Areum out to fend for her own.”

The brunette, on the other hand, laughs at the thought of him doing so, declining in hilarity.

“I’m a good teacher!” Jimin continues to fend for himself. “You probably just never had someone like me there with you to turn you into the next Michael Phelps,” he finishes with a huff.

“The next who?”

“The next Michael Phelps…”

“Non-alienic terms, Jimin.”

“You’re a lost cause,” the blonde exclaims jokingly and nudges Yoongi to the side.

Unbeknownst to the lifeguard, the reason why Yoongi’s laughing is not because he thinks Jimin isn’t well capable of doing his job. Nor is it because he doesn’t want to.

Jimin might have misunderstood his story.

The ban has been long lifted—an apology was all it ever took for his landlord to let him get into the water again.

Save for the fact that he wasn’t able to go into the deep end unless he was absolutely sure of his abilities, it was still a starter. However, because of it—and the sheer embarrassment that followed when he would walk into the pool and his friends would jeer at him from the other side of the water—Yoongi decided that it was finally time for him to learn. Luckily, the skill came easy for him and he was able to freestyle his way to the big-kid side with no problem a couple months later.

Now, with Jimin presenting such a proposition to him, he knows that the lifeguard isn’t aware of his capabilities. Yoongi wasn’t about to ruin the blonde’s ardor, though. He looks enthusiastic for Yoongi to accept—really fucking cute at that. And to hell with his ancestors if he were to pass up on this opportunity to spend more time with the male.

Yesterday, he wouldn’t have been sure of his eagerness and feelings toward Jimin. However, today, he can whole-heartedly say that this sole blonde has been the subject of all his attention and thinking for the past twenty-four hours.

And maybe that’s why it doesn’t take much more convincing for him to say: yes.

--

Jimin

rise and shine my guppy!

Jimin

though i’d only be calling u that if u can float without a floatation device

Jimin

u can right?

because if not i’d have to demote u to a polliwog but that’s kind of a mouthful to say

Jimin

well whatever we’ll see when you get here

Yoongi

driving

Jimin

SORRY

Jimin

kidding then

don’t mind my texts and focus on the road

didn’t even know i was blowing up ur phone

Jimin

oh wait I’m doing it again huh…

sorrrrrry

Yoongi

jimin

Jimin

EYES ON THE ROAD

Yoongi

i’m kidding we’ve been parked here for the past 10 minutes already

we’ll be down in a sec ;)

Yoongi

lol

Thursday comes as quick as they go. It’s already the next day and Yoongi finds himself in an oddly ecstatic mood as he makes his way toward the beach. With Areum in stride, it only takes about ten minutes max to get himself out of those pre-swimming classes jitters.

That’s what Yoongi likes to call them, anyway.

Not at all related to the way he can’t seem to stop thinking about Jimin—how he’d be as a teacher; what they’re set out to do today.

How he’d look like… wet.

It’s also the reason why they took so long to get out of the car.

He offset realizes that this is the feeling he usually gets before he has a date, nervous and skittish. But he shakes himself out of his thoughts and holds onto his niece’s hand a little tighter.

Jimin can be seen at the far distance, and he hopes that he can collect himself properly before he has to make conversation.

“What is that?!” Jimin exclaims upon seeing the pair coming down the sand. Areum has made her way to Jimin’s side already, bidding him a quick hello before walking to the waves while Yoongi is left to make an amused face at the expression dawning on the blonde’s own.

Yoongi comes with just a bag. Mostly empty-handed.

“I thought I told you to come in swimming attire!”

“This is swimming attire, Jimin.”

“It most definitely is not!”

Yoongi is wearing black skinny jeans, a plain white t-shirt with a cap on his head; a stark contrast to Jimin’s fitted, black tank that hugs ever line and curve of his body. It’s a given that he knew the lifeguard was already fit from yesterday’s shirtless escapades. But even until now, with his body half clothed and those same tight, bright red swimming trunks from yesterday, Yoongi has trouble looking away.

He masks his sudden nervousness by licking his lips and Jimin can’t exactly pinpoint what’s so amusing.

Especially when the elder male only continues to smile as he makes his way up the steps. 

“Well when you come to think of it…” Yoongi starts to tease. “Anything can be swimming attire if you really tried.”

The blonde rolls his eyes at that and ceases to let out a grunt. It’s way too early for him to be blushing this much over some harmless words and he busies himself with the slippers on his feet before he can make it noticeable.

“You—whatever... I should have some extra shorts for you in the shed, just let me know.”

“I’m just kidding, teacher,” chuckles Yoongi, noting the exasperated look on the lifeguard’s face. “I have some shit in here. I’ll change right now.”

And so, he does.

Spending only a couple minutes in the small backroom of the post, he gets all of his stuff on and ready, coming out moments later to a very enthusiastic Jimin playing with Areum by the coastline.

“Uncle! Uncle!” she cries out, waving him over. It catches the attention of the man standing next to her and his eyes look appreciative of the brunette’s new appearance as Yoongi makes his way toward the pair.

“You’re already soaked, and it’s not even noon, yet,” Yoongi notes, but carries her up in his arms, regardless.

This is the closest he’s ever been to the water so far. Areum’s wet legs dampen his shirt and he mentally curses himself for not having taken it off beforehand. Despite having told Jimin that he had other clothes, he failed to mention that this is his only top. Though, he didn’t know what to expect. Of course, guys don’t usually swim in anything more than a pair of bottoms.

The blonde, on the other hand, takes a moment to graze over Yoongi’s stature in the midst of his busyness. With the oversized tracksuit the covered his figure the last time they saw each other, and the fit he had on earlier this morning, Jimin never thought much more about how Yoongi would look beneath all that.

He’s surprisingly broad, and very toned. His calves are defined to chisel out his efforts in the gym and his torso is surely not that far off. Arms straining against the material of his cotton tee, his muscles bulge out more as he shifts Areum’s weight in his hold.

Jimin can’t help but stare perplexed at the way Yoongi’s shirt clings to his chest in an outline.

Buff and strong, the other male feels his mouth run dry, and he has to physically snap himself out of it when those dark, brown eyes peer over to his own. Questioning in a gaze that almost has Jimin ready to jump on him if he asked.

He falters. “Ready to get started?” Jimin asks nevertheless, granting the two of them a smile.

“Started with what?” Areum questions and looks over to Yoongi. Instead, he nods over to the lifeguard who continues to stare at them with a wistful look in his eye. The brunette isn’t exactly sure what it is they’re set to do for the day, so in this way, he’s getting his own answers, too.

“I’m going to teach your uncle here how to swim!”

Areum’s eyes grow big and it’s a testament to the shock that begins to cloud her small features.

Little does Jimin know that Yoongi was the one who taught this very niece of his how to swim. It happened not long after he learned the first time. For that sole reason, Areum is confused as to why his uncle is being taught again. However, there are no words that leave her mouth, and it’s all due to Yoongi’s interruption; loud and hasty as he sets Areum down back on the ground.

“But uncle already—” she starts, accusatory.

“Is already so excited to learn today! Aren’t we, Areum?” Yoongi shushes her with a pat to her head. It doesn’t hide the fact that he’s been caught, though. His niece is smart, she surely takes from him. And as bratty as ever, she rolls her eyes playfully before kicking her way back to her play set just a couple feet away.

Jimin misses the exchange, thankfully. In spite of that, he holds a smile to his face, and motions over for Yoongi to come closer. They’re side by side and Jimin is actually adamant on turning this into a thing. He asks, “are you ready?”

Yoongi responds. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

--

Conveniently, the only task for today is “learning how to tread water,” and it’s something that the three of them can do as a group as they wain further into the ocean.

Areum is the mediator between the two, both equal parts exhilarated and exuberant.

With safety being their utmost priority, she’s strapped onto Jimin’s side with a Velcro garter that links to his waist and his mini buoy to the right. It also helps that she has those same red, blue and green Powerpuff girl floaties linked onto her arms; giving her double the protection, and Yoongi wonders if he needs something similar—something extra to give off the notion that he can’t do this on his own.

“Okay, let’s stop here for a second.”

It’s cold, but as Yoongi walks steadily next to Jimin, he begins to grow comfortable at the soothing feeling of water running around him.

Don’t get him wrong, he still hates the ocean.

The elder can already feel the chill that’s sure to come if he were to leave his position at this time. Shivering at the thought of sand everywhere and the feeling of salt on his face, he would rather just stay here. But with Jimin and Areum next to him, it makes it a lot more bearable, and he’s glad that he can contribute a little to their animated expressions—stirred to help their uncle Yoongi figure out his way as a swimmer.

Luckily there are little to no waves. At this time of day, the tide is subdued and clam, and it gives the trio the freedom to start their lessons on a good note.

Jimin begins to explain. “So, we’ll get deeper eventually, but right now, I just want to see you hop a little and kick underneath you to get a feel for how you are right now.”

He demonstrates something that has Yoongi snorting in his head, and it’s not out of ridicule or meanness. Rather disbelief at how Jimin manages to look unbelievably adorable with his brows furrowed, cheeks puffed out in the slightest, as his body bobs up and down with the tiny currents of the ocean.

Quite frankly, Yoongi isn’t really paying attention to anything being said.

They’re a little further than waist up in the water and it’s not until after Jimin finishes, looking up at him expectantly, that he realizes his short attention span has bitten him in the ass again.

“Sorry, what?” he asks, sheepish.

“Not paying attention to me and slacking off already?” Jimin quirks his eyebrow teasingly. “I have to say, I’m quite offended.”

“It’s just cold,” he lies.

“Aw, do you need Areum to go over there and hug you?”

No, Yoongi wants to say. I would rather it be you, he’s close to blurting out. But he bites his tongue.

Nodding his head in another apology, Jimin only smiles at him in amusement before motioning for him to start.

“Okay, it’s your turn,” the lifeguard initiates, right before stabilizing Areum and himself. “Go ahead, I’ll save you if you ever end up drowning.”

Yoongi scoffs playfully and tries to recall what’s being asked for him. Eventually, he does hike himself up and kicks.

It’s for a good thirty seconds, that he’s able to stay afloat, before his legs grow tired. It’s not the bare minimum of what he can do, but he has to act the part. Seems good enough for Jimin, though. He looks impressed as he stares at Yoongi proudly.

His smile jostles something in him, so sincere, that Yoongi has to exhale at the sight. Breathtaking would be a lack of a better word for it, and it’s an expression that’s sure to battle the seven wonders of the world. It’s done before realizing the situation he’s in and he wavers momentarily because that reaction is not his intention.

Sure, it would have been good under any other scenario if it wasn’t for the fact that Yoongi is currently trying to suck. So, because of it he decides to act quickly. Saving himself, and his original plan, he flails his arms for good measure; getting back on track to make him to look a lot flimsier than he actually is with his body weight.

Jimin tries to hide his laugh, but ultimately fails. Mission accomplished.

“Okay! Okay… that was good!” the genuineness in Jimin’s tone is present, but it’s contradicted by the snicker that follows not long after. “You stayed up longer than I actually thought you would! So, maybe, we can go a little farther than what I had planned for today,” he ponders. “If you want, we can continue doing this until you’re ready to head further down there?”

“If I do, would that just make me your test dummy if I don’t make it out alive?”

“If my teaching skills are up to par with my credentials, I’m sure the last thing you’d need to worry about is dying.”

They end up staying around the shallower parts for a while longer.

The sun continues to shine brightly overhead, and it creates a nice cast of clear reflection on their faces. Water soothing against his skin, Yoongi thinks that this isn’t so bad. Areum laughs next to them without a care in the world for her uncle Yoongi’s poor acting and Jimin’s dynamic giggles are loud and vibrant beside her. The thing is, however, that as nice of an environment it is right now, Yoongi feels like there’s something missing.

It’s not the happiness. That’s effervescent in the way the two people in front of his smile and clear their minds of any worry.

It’s not the company. He’s more at ease with no one else on the beach and just the three of them giggling in the water.

Yoongi later realizes that it’s the lack of physical attention—or, really, just attention in general.

Looking at Areum, who high fives Jimin after executing this one special move, he frowns.

In truth, he feels this way because he loves that type of shit. Be it hand holding, finger poking, leg nudging—whatever—it’s something that staggers his heart and livens his spirit indefinitely. He may never show it at times, and every instance where Taehyung comes to greet him in a tight bear hug, he always pretends to hate it. But the reality is; he really doesn’t.  

And maybe right now he feels horrible that he's thinking this way. But the fact still remains that the subject of all of Jimin’s observation at this very moment is his little niece—hand in hand with the person of his desired attentiveness.

He lets out a little huff, trying to hold back on rolling his eyes when Jimin only side-eyes the sound. He’s been at it for about five minutes now, and even though he jumps into their shared enjoyment and hysterics every once in a while, Yoongi needs more.

“I think I’m ready to go deeper now!” he announces, hoping that it’ll turn things around.

“Wow, Yoongi. You’re such a fast learner!” Jimin fluoresces brightly up at him when he shows the way he’s able to tread a little longer this time. The smile cast toward him has Yoongi doing the same and eventually he follows the hand motions Jimin gives him to join him and Areum at their section.

“All in a day’s work, Jimin-ah.”

--

His previous subjections only seem to be temporary.

As much as his proclamations worked for the first couple minutes, it eventually leads to Jimin to pay more attention to the little girl.

Of course, he expected as much.

They’re a little farther than waist deep, now and Yoongi can physically feel the slope of the sand drift into nothingness. If he were to completely let go, and stand without being on his tiptoes, his neck would be fully submerged. So much so that he has to tip his head backward at times.

However, Jimin maneuvers himself expertly. It has no hinderance to the way he holds another person in his arms. Arms that Yoongi should currently be in at this very moment.

“Areum, you’re kicking so well!” Jimin cheers. Yoongi stares over to his niece. She flutter-kicks with her stomach down and with Jimin grasping her hands.

It would have been an amazing sight—seeing his niece graduate from their neighborhood swimming pool to the vastness of the ocean. That is, if it wasn’t for the fact that Areum is quite cunning. And when Jimin looks over at Yoongi momentarily to see if he’s looking, she sticks her tongue out at him in mischievousness secretively.

Yoongi’s eyes grow wide. He should have known that the little girl was being oddly coy during their ride to the beach.

He can vividly remember her long dialogue about Jimin—ranging from how cute he is, to how much she liked him as a person. She even ended it by asking if Yoongi thought the same, ultimately finishing with: “Do you have a crush on him, too?” Now that Yoongi looks back to that conversation, there really is no hiding the fact that Areum knows.

At first, he answered no. But now?

“Are you looking? Maybe I’ll get you to this point eventually,” Jimin wags his eyebrows and Yoongi takes the chance to splash some water in his direction.

“Maybe I would be if you taught me the same way as her.”

The lifeguard snorts. "Aw, are you jealous?"

Yoongi scoffs. "No." Yes.

Yoongi's never been coy about hiding his feelings. And it surely doesn't help that Jimin's already affecting him the way that he is. 

On one end, he’s embarrassed that he let a statement slip so suddenly. There’s no saying that the implication is there—that he wants Jimin to hold his hand and stare into his eyes lovingly, like they do in the movies. But on the other, Jimin looks so captivating with water dribbling down his soft features—tousling the honeyed strands framing his features, curving to the shape of his thick lips that Yoongi just can’t seem to take his eyes off. He’s tempted to just say fuck it.

Who cares if he caught feelings this fast?

You only live once, anyway.

He’s taken out of his thoughts by the feeling of saltwater hitting his face.

Jimin sends a random wave toward the direction of the brunette, in retaliation from his earlier actions. It starts a water fight that takes Yoongi out of his idle position not too far from his niece and the lifeguard, and moments later, he's attacking back.

Yoongi laughs brightly at the sight of Jimin shrieking when the coolness hits his face. 

Despite the blistering sun that only continues to heat the ambiance around them, the sea is still fresh. Areum, seems to enjoy the events that have led to this point, too; shrieking and flapping her tiny arms to contribute her own rain into the bigger ones that occur from the two older boys.

As Yoongi takes in the overwhelming feeling of happiness that ensues from such a sight, he also basks in the effortlessness that comes from him and Jimin’s relationship.

He’s playful, he knows that now.

Because even though Jimin came to the beach with his hair parted in the middle, styled in a way that screamed ‘don’t ruin me!’ Yoongi still did. Yet, the blonde doesn’t seem to care. If anything, he only continues to dishevel the strands further, running his hand through the strands that only showcases his chiseled arms in the limelight; closing his eyes at the feeling of his forehead exposed to the brisk air.

It’s also then when Yoongi thinks sex—and not the physical form.

Well… maybe that too.

But, regardless, Jimin screams it. Hot and sexy, but cute and adorable, all into one.

Yoongi notices it in the way he bites his lip in concentration as he plays with the water—and the way that quickly turns into a large grin that has his eyes disappearing like a puppy happy that it’s finally found its owner. Quite frankly, Yoongi has trouble keeping up, but it still pangs a heat in his abdomen that he can’t otherwise get rid of; because it surely doesn’t help the fact that he’s good with kids, too.

More specifically, Areum; who is difficult to manage but a ray of sunshine at that.

She waddles in the water, giggling at the sight of Yoongi and Jimin only continue to go at it. With every wipe to his eyes, there’s another man-made wave that follows shortly after.

Yoongi is losing.

It’s two against one and as much as he likes to consider himself strong and athletic, he can only do so much alone.

Because of it, he doesn’t even realize he's been stalking backwards to the deeper end this whole time; still joyful and spirited as he splashes back.

It's when he reaches a part of the ocean that dips to the point where his head completely submerged into the water, when he knows he's fucked. His breath is knocked out of him quickly and the of salt begins to enter his mouth, heavy on his tongue.

He’s not particularly joking this time around, either.

The deepness of the water is one that he underestimated before continuing to escape Jimin and Areum. He’s flailing instead of splashing. Gurgling instead of laughing. It’s so off-kilter that he forgets everything that was taught to him in the years leading up to this, and it takes a while for Jimin to notice that’s he’s not kidding.

Jimin eventually watches concerned. Taking in a deep set of air, he swims over to the brunette who struggles against the current meters away from him.

With Jimin’s abilities, he’s able to reach him fairly quickly. Areum jostles at the force he swims with but floats along no problem. Hooking his arms underneath Yoongi’s shoulders when he’s at a close enough proximity, he brings the both of them back to the surface.

As Yoongi coughs up some water while doing so, they wain closer to the shore. The lifeguard doesn’t let go until they make it back to where they started—the ocean meeting just below their bellybuttons.

“Are you okay?” he asks, one arm wrapped around Yoongi’s waist.

“Yeah… yeah. I’m—” Yoongi chokes.

Areum shrieks in worry, paddling over to her uncle to softly rub at his back. Now, with Yoongi sandwiched in between his niece and Jimin, he takes note of the type of situation he’s in.

The lifeguard is still holding onto him and his left arm is draped over his shoulders. They’re impossibly closer than they have been all day. He can feel his own heartbeat caging against his chest, along with Jimin’s deep breaths as he copies Areum’s actions.

He feels babied, and it’s not what at all what he set out to premeditate. Instead, this is mildly embarrassing, and he has to stop himself from letting out a groan at the reminder that he just made a fool out of himself. He guesses it did work in some cases, though. Yoongi is finding some of the attention that he felt was missing from earlier—and now, he’s pressed up against Jimin, too.

Yoongi smiles at Areum who gives him and hug, and he kisses her forehead in assurance that he’s okay. Jimin beams at them from the corner of his eye, chuckling breathily when Yoongi lets out a moan. After their sweet exchange, he’s punched in the chest by none other than the little girl in his grasp; mad at the fact that he could have died.

“I think it’s time to get out of the water,” Jimin speaks up softly, offering him a hand after letting go of his waist.

And with a joke about how he’s glad Yoongi didn’t pummel him in the water like the last guy, they get out of a sea with a lighter aura around them and a blossoming friendship.

--

It’s Friday morning, and Jimin isn’t at his usual stance by the shed.

Yoongi would hate to admit that he wasn’t the least bit upset not being able to see a familiar head of blonde. Instead, the blue shack is empty:

No music. No equipment leaned up against the doorway. No pretty and captivating smile casted toward him this early in the day.

He’s never came for the purpose of anyone—it’s always been just him and Areum at the beach—but now that Jimin isn’t here, he feels this innate emptiness that he hasn’t felt before. In truth, it feels kind of unnecessary being here and it seems like Areum feels the same way, too.

“Uncle, where’s Jimin?” she asks with a curious gaze, brows furrowed when she looks around to no sight of the other male.

“I don’t know, sweetie,” he answers truthfully and lets out a quiet sigh. “Maybe he’s busy.”

It proves to be the case later on in the day, when ten minutes pass—then thirty, then an hour—and still no sight of the lifeguard. Like previously imposed, Yoongi listened to instructions well and didn’t bring his problem-prone fold up chair. It’s how he finds himself sitting on the familiar stairs of wood, staring out into the distance, watching Areum play on by the water with (you guessed it) those floaties that she can’t seem to let go of.

Throughout the duration of his time sitting, Yoongi finds himself staring at his phone more often than none. There’s no text that pops up, no other notification aside from that aperiodic game reminder to check in on his status before the day ends.

He momentarily entertains the fact that Jimin might be absent because of the effects of yesterday.

After they found themselves back on the sand, Yoongi didn’t realize that they were still unnecessarily intertwined by their fingers until they had to help Areum out of the safety constraints.

It dawns on him that it might have been a too-soon-too-fast type of scenario. But, ultimately, he shakes the thought away. If it’s any recollection of the way Jimin blushed underneath the rays, then he’s glad to know that he’s not the only one affected by their dynamic so early on.

Regardless, it’s still boring right now—he’s bored—and it’s another case of him letting out a sound of discontentment when more minutes pass and still, no pair of red board shorts.

The sun beats down on them unrelenting. Yoongi’s always been aware of how hot it gets during this time of year, especially as the days grow closer to June. It certainly doesn’t help all that much when they’re at a hotspot for heat, either. It reminds him of the reasons why he never liked the place anyway. Yet, with Jimin around, he seems to forget about all of that.

It’s then when he also realizes that he’s going to have to endure the day alone.

Sure, he’s been doing so ever since his sister offered him the job a while back, but when you get something out of the ordinary like Jimin coming into the picture—and that taken away from you just as quickly—it’s different. Also dramatic for him to say so, but still: different.

The only other solution to his problem is by spending time with Areum; which, really, doesn’t that bad of an idea. He thinks that it would be best, considering he’s sweating underneath the rays from his stagnant position on shed. There’s nothing better to do, anyway, and maybe that will give him the chance to strip out of some of his clothing as he makes it closer to the ocean.

Thinking back to where he last left his umbrella, he remembers him and Jimin’s exchange from the other day. He doesn’t know what prompted the blonde to do it. At that time, they were still strangers who barely knew each other—nice strangers whose dynamic didn’t make it seem as such. But still, Yoongi was a little surprised when the lifeguard showed him his hiding spot for the key to the inside of the guarding post; beneath one of the lose planks closest to the threshold.

It was also then when Jimin asked him if he wanted to leave some of his belongings inside; just to make the trek from his car to the sand easier.

Gladly taking up his offer—because Yoongi really didn’t enjoy lugging all of those things down every day—he chose to leave his umbrella along with Areum’s pail and shovel. An item of which he’s currently in the need for before he goes to join Areum by the wet sand.

Opening the post, he spots the colorful material quickly. There aren’t that many belongings inside. There are a couple of clipboards that scatter around a small table, a jacket that’s hooked on the wall. Really, there isn’t much of value, except for Jimin’s Bluetooth speaker that sits on top of a wooden stool toward the corner of the room. Yoongi is almost tempted to take it and see if the device has any of his songs stored on it. Just in remembrance of the boy that has yet to be seen.

He decides against it; he has other matters to attend to. And so, he shuts the door, puts the key back in its rightful place, and turns to peer over at Areum.

“Uncle Yoongi, come look!” she’s holding something in her wake, waving him over enthusiastically.

“One second, Areum! Let me leave some stuff here first,” he replies before going to take off his shirt and his shoes.

Yoongi eventually stalks over to his niece, peering down at her hand that holds a bit of sand in a clump.

When he squints his eyes harder at the notion that he’s supposed to be looking at something, it’s then when he spots white, little legs—a crab that nestles in between the crevices of land the little girl holds in her palm.

“Isn’t it cute?!” she shrieks, smiling at the small creature.

“Very, Areum. Are you going to put it back?”

“No, not yet…” she says, pouting. “I want to make a home for it first, but I’m scared it’s going to leave. Can you help me make a castle?”

Remembering that Areum’s supplies are hidden in Jimin’s shed, it’s a promise that Yoongi makes—letting her know that he’ll be right back with what they need in order to make the sandcastle. Nodding in agreement, Areum watches her uncle run to the lifeguard post to her equipment and just like the umbrella from earlier, Yoongi locates it just as quick.

It’s not until he locks the door for the second time that day, where things seem off. Yoongi turns around, pail and in hand, to no one on the beach.

He’s only able to see a little girl in sight, moments later, yelling in the distance with her arms flailing and voice that yells out Yoongi’s name over the waves.

“Y-Yoongi!” he can faintly hear the call and it’s then when Yoongi drops everything in his hold to run toward Areum who’s dragged away by the currents.

It doesn’t take long for him to sprint and dive into the ocean. All of those lessons, learning how to swim, finally paid off and he’s able to grab a hold of her niece properly before he loses her in the water. It’s a good think that she’s okay, too. Luckily, she didn’t opt out of her floaties this time around and is still buoyant on the coast with a little bit of guidance. It makes it easier for Yoongi to get them to the shoreline at a quicker rate; un-wanting his niece to suffer more against the waves that don’t seem to be dying down.

“Areum, what did you do?!” he scolds, trying to calm the frantic beating of his heart. Yoongi asks when they make it to the compacted sand where he begins carrying her over to the shed. Backpack and water in his line of sight.

“The crab got away!” she yells, a frown on her face, coughing up some saltwater in the process.

Yoongi can’t bring himself to ridicule her any longer. His sister would hex him, given that she knew of the events that just concurred, and he knows that eventually he’ll have to come clean. He’s just ultimately grateful that Areum’s okay. And it’s now when he makes a vow to himself to never leave her alone, even for a minute. And to brushen up on his swimming skills because he’ll never know when he’ll have to play lifeguard.

It reminds him to take his lessons with Jimin a little more seriously, too.

He’s too caught up in his own thoughts to notice Jimin staring at him from afar. What was once an empty beach with just the two family members in stow, is now occupied by another person.

Jimin had seen the entire escapade.

Stood by the parking lot not moments before Yoongi noticed Areum’s situation, he was able to make out a frantic person, running toward the ocean at a high speed.

It didn’t take long for him to piece together who it was.

Even despite how short of a time the two have known other, Yoongi isn’t all that hard of a person to distinguish. From the way he runs, to his build; maybe that’s just something unique on Jimin’s end, but regardless, he knew it was the brunette.

Which is why he was concerned to see that very person diving headfirst into the water.

As if he wasn’t near drowning not even less than 24 hours ago.

Jimin walks toward the post with a clouded expression on his face, and Yoongi only notices him after he’s done tending to his niece.

“Oh, Jimin!” he calls when the blonde stalks closer to their position on the stairs.

Yoongi doesn’t think he’s ever felt so relieved to see the lifeguard. He would very much appreciate someone of his expertise to check in on Areum, who’s currently sipping on a bottle of water. And it’s also a plus to see that Jimin wasn’t ignoring him from yesterday.

Areum’s floatation equipment are long forgotten by their side and Jimin turns the corner of the steps to stand directly in front of the pair. “I didn’t think you were going to come,” Yoongi admits, albeit a little sheepish at the thought of doing so. He’s happy to see Jimin. He clears his throat.

“Traffic,” Jimin explains, simply, and it’s unlike his usual greeting. It’s then when Yoongi realizes that something might actually be wrong. This isn’t like the other times they see each other.

Jimin’s smile is absent and subdued more to a dim glower; instead, this thoughtful and closeted expression in his face—clear through the furrow of this eyebrows and lips that curve downward.

In truth, the look has Yoongi nervous, and he finds himself asking out of sheer curiosity as to why. Compared to Areum who stays silent as he watches the two converses, Yoongi takes the first move.

“Are you—”

“You know how to swim?” Jimin interrupts him.

It’s a question that Yoongi doesn’t process right away. There’s no lightness in the blonde’s tone to indicate that he’s joking. The meek inquiry is absent as well.

On the contrary, it’s almost like Jimin is accusing him of something—like he already knows the answer to the question, he just wants to hear it from the man himself. Yoongi falters when he understands the reasoning behind it all.

“Y-yeah,” he begins, hesitant, suddenly embarrassed. “I mean… I know some basic things, but it’s not like I’m a pro or anything. It’s not like I’m—who was that guy you mentioned before? Oh yeah! Michael Phelps…” he trails off, in hopes that his joke an ease the tension surrounding them. However, it doesn’t work.

Jimin is silent for a couple moments before replying. “So, you knew. All this time?”

“I… I—” Yoongi can’t lie anymore. “Yes.”

“I think you need to go.”                                    

Yoongi is surprised by the clear weight of the words. Offering no other explanation than such, he’s left to gape at the blonde as Areum tugs at his side. Such a statement is one that he doesn’t expect but is also one that he hates to admit has his heart clenching in the slightest.

Scratch that, a lot.

He’s kind of at a loss for words when Jimin makes no effort to retract his words.

“Why?...” he asks instinctively, all the while never leaving his spot. The blonde’s face stays stagnant, and Yoongi doesn’t know what’s worse—the fact that he’s unable to tell Jimin’s feelings through such a blank expression; or the fact that he would rather prefer yelling and screaming—maybe even hitting—over this.

“What do you take me for. A fool?” Jimin answers without much explanation and Yoongi doesn’t know how to respond.

“Jimin…”

“You pretend to do all of this for what? To make fun of me? To laugh behind my back?”

By now there’s no more bite in his tone. It’s a deafening sadness that paints over his features—his words—and Yoongi hates that he’s the cause of it. He wants nothing more than to wrap Jimin into his arms and assure him that that’s not the case, but he doesn’t know if that’s allowed.

Jimin looks so painfully hurt at his actions, he’s about to apologize profusely until the blonde shakes his head and mutters quietly.

“Just go.”

There is no other option left for him to do so except just that. Un-wanting to worsen the hard gaze the lifeguard has upon him; he thinks that it would be even worse if he were to completely ruin their friendship by saying more.

Yoongi knows that he fucked up.

At first his efforts in the ocean was just a careless tactic to get closer to the male, but now that he’s offered Jimin’s perspective and his side of things—he sees why something so harmless at first glance can completely do a full one-eighty.

He feels the guilt first, something that eats away inside of him.

Areum has barely said a word throughout this whole time, and when Yoongi peek through his peripherals, he sees her head casted down; fingers playing with the ends of her frilly bathing suit as she waits for him to take them to the car.

“Okay…” Yoongi says defeated, gathering his belongings. And with Areum hand in hand moments later, and one more glance back to the male, he offers a sincere look of apology before leaving the beach. “I’m… I’m sorry.”

--

Yoongi would be caught dead before ever going to the beach willingly.

But now that he’s stood at the parking lot, staring at that blue lifeguard post that he’s grown to familiarize himself with in the past couple of days, suddenly, that statement is void of truth.

He’s hesitant to start walking.

Earlier this morning, as he pondered his doings for the day and laid on his bed with a heavy heart and a bout of sadness, he gets a phone call from his sister. Turns out that it’s Areum on the phone, and unlike how it should have been—with him calling to check if she was okay, if she was doing well—it was the other way around. Areum is just as curious as she’s ever been, and she spoke over the line with a quiet voice that lined an inquisitive smile.

“Hi uncle Yoongi.”

“Hi, Areum. Are you okay? Is mom that mad?”

“No,” she chuckles. “She forgives you and I already got my scolding… Are you okay?”

“Am I okay? Areum, I just asked you the same question and you didn’t even answer me yet,” he laughs, hand behind his head.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m good. I’m fine. I just—” she lowers her voice. “Wanted to ask if you and Jimin oppa were okay.”

Yoongi inhales at the thought. Honestly, he doesn’t know, and he tells her just that.  

“I-I think you should talk to him. He talks about you a lot, you know.”  

“I… don’t know, kid. He’s pretty mad at me right now.” Yoongi sucks his lip in between his teeth. It’s true, and it bundles an unwelcoming feeling in his chest at the thought.

It’s also amusing how Areum’s speaking to him with so much knowledge about his—potential—dating life. A five-year-old, already garnering this type of advice that her mom can’t even do with a faint heart.  

“Please go talk to him!” She’s whining now. “I don’t wanna see you two fighting when I go again on Monday!”  

“Wow, so you only want me to apologize so you can have someone to play with at the beach.”  

“Yes!”

And with a little more bantering about how Areum’s only using him for her own benefit, he eventually succumbs. And that’s how he finds himself nervous and sweaty palmed as he battles himself to take that first step to go talk to the male.

When Areum makes a new friend, she’s very open to knowing every intricate detail about her companion. Yoongi doesn’t know how she does it, but it’s come in handy this time around when he eventually makes it a couple feet away from the dock and a familiar head of blonde comes to view on the stairs. And just like his niece said over the phone, he’s working today’s shift.

Alone, since Jun is still up with the flu and was unable to come for the weekend.

He’s thinking too much and he knows he is when Jimin snaps his head to the side to the sound of someone approaching him, and Yoongi is at a loss for words when those deep-brown eyes meet his own.

“What are you doing here?” Jimin asks, borderline defensive but ultimately curious.

“Um…” Words, Yoongi. “I came to apologize.”

Jimin only scoffs and turns back to stare at the ocean. “Don’t need it,” he mutters faintly, but ultimately unsure. Unlike Yoongi’s expectations of him getting up to storm off, Jimin is quiet as he continues to shift his toes in the sand. Yoongi takes it as his opportunity to round the steps and venture closer to the male.

“You might not need it, but I’m going to, anyway.” No words are made out and so he begins. “I’m sorry, Jimin,” he looks down at the lifeguard. Voice increasingly audible over the sound of waves crashing behind him. “I’m sorry that I pretended to not know how to swim. I’m sorry that I lied,” Yoongi shakes his head. “It was never my intention to make you feel that way, and I didn’t realize how it would come across until what happened yesterday… I’m sorry.”

“Why did you do it then?” Jimin asks, still unwilling to look back at him, but Yoongi takes it as a success. At least he hasn’t been dispelled away, just yet.

“I—um.”

If he doesn’t confess, it could ultimately ruin things for good, and so, Yoongi takes a deep breath before finally doing so. Uncaring for the fact that he’s scared shitless out of his mind; saying all of this to a stranger. To Jimin, who looks so serene and serendipitous in his typical lifeguard uniform.

This time, he has a red and white windbreaker covering his small form—a couple sizes too big. It hangs over his figure, matching his board shorts today that are now black. But still perfect and matches his slightly curled hair like a dream.

He’s breathtaking, and captivating and Yoongi has to snap himself out of it before he reels off track for his intention of being here in the first place.

“I like you,” he eventually chokes out, breathless. “I like you and I only did all of that to get closer to you,” Yoongi admits, abashed. “I knew how to swim, and learned a while back after that whole incident, but you just looked so cute asking me if you could teach me—and I never do well with cute things… people. You—I mean. I-I just couldn’t say no. And you took care of Areum the first day I met you and I knew after all of the times we talked that you’re someone that I wanted in my life, as… as a friend—I mean at first but now… it’s crazy to think that I’ve developed feelings for you this fast. Well, not crazy, but crazy. Still crazy to think I mean, because we’re strangers and It’s kind of creepy that I’m—”

“Yoongi.”

Trailing off at the last bits of his sentence, Yoongi doesn’t even realize that he’s been looking down until he glances up to look at Jimin.

Quite frankly, to the lifeguard, he didn’t need much more than the first part of Yoongi’s proclamation alone to forgive him—he just likes hearing the brunette ramble.

It’s funny and it’s cute; seeing him red in the cheeks and pouty over his words. They stare at each other for moments at a time and it’s an unsaid statement for Yoongi to take a seat next to the blonde, when Jimin stays silent and scoots over on the plank.

Taking a seat, they’re quiet for a little longer before Yoongi speaks again. “I’m sorry I took advantage of you.”

“Are you really?” Jimin piques. Except this time, it comes out teasing.

Darting his eyes to the side of Jimin’s face, he quirks a brow in questioning. “Yes, I really am,” he answers anyway, and the blonde hums.

“I know you are. I just… Jimin starts, peeking through the side of his eye to see if Yoongi’s paying attention. “Like you too much—” he finishes, and despite the rapid beating of Yoongi’s heart, the elder forces himself to stop from celebrating too early in order to hear the other boy out. “Which is weird, like you said. I mean we barely know each other and only spent a couple days together, but I already feel this way?” It’s not a question that Jimin needs an answer for. But Yoongi nods, regardless. “And when I found out that you lied to me, it made everything feel like a joke.”

Yoongi can’t help the blush that finally makes its way to paint his features. He’s in awe at the fact that the both of them have confessed the same thing to each other at such a short amount of time. He struggles to find his voice, and when he does, it comes out panted.

“It wasn’t a joke. I like you too much to ever do that.”

As the afternoon shifts into something a lot less hot, and a lot more fitting for their ambiance, Yoongi catches the glow of Jimin’s own cheeks as the sun casts a faint orange on his features.

They stay like that momentarily, staring into each other’s eyes for assurance, before the space between them suddenly doesn’t seem too far, and they’re close to the point where their pinkies are touching; knees bumping.

The feeling of being drawn into the blonde is something indescribable to Yoongi.

He’s unsure of how or when, but Jimin and him begin to lean in for a kiss. It’s mildly uncomfortable. They’re still sitting and turned to the side and their faces catch the heat of the sun. But all is right when their lips finally touch, and that first brush has Yoongi’s heart catching in his throat. He’s not even sure if he’s breathing.

Even more so when they actually begin moving.

Jimin makes the first move, slotting their lips together, chaste and hesitant. When they pull apart, a little dazed and allured, a faint smirk paints over Jimin’s mouth, and it’s the second peck that lasts a little longer. Deeper and more assured.

With every new meet of their lips comes a wave of fresh wave of desire.

Yoongi’s kissed many people. He doesn’t stray away from the fact that others just gravitate toward him in that way but doing this with Jimin is different. He’s not the one in control. Instead, it’s the blonde that has the ability to have his mind going haywire, kissing him like they’ve been doing this forever. He reaches across to lay his hand on Yoongi’s thigh and it’s not long before they start making out.

Saliva paints their lips in a way that makes the slide of their mouths all the easier. Yoongi swipes his tongue across Jimin’s bottom lip to catch the wetness and he heeds a sigh at the feeling of their tongues touching in the process, swirling around each other in a dance that has their bodies going alight.

Jimin’s lips are thick and as he sucks his bottom one into his mouth, the brunette plays a little with the flesh between his teeth before pulling away with a pop.

This only escalates things, though.

Jimin enjoys the feeling of Yoongi on him; his taste and everything he yearns for in a person. The younger male breaks apart their make out session only to close the gap between them even further—by sitting on his lap. Knees on either side of him, straddling in a way that has Yoongi leaning back in the slightest to catch his breath.

“Is this okay?” Jimin whispers between them; a breadth apart with both hands on the brunette’s shoulders. He’s only hovering, testing the waters before he receives a go. Rest assured, that comes in Yoongi regaining all of his confidence again and he brings his hands to cup at Jimin’s ass, pushing him down in a way that has Jimin sat flush on his lap.

“You wouldn’t have asked if you didn’t think so, hm?” Yoongi husks and crashes their lips together in a new-found passion.

Their kiss this time around is different. It’s filled with fervor, and a hint of something that has both boys knowing this will lead to something more. Jimin does nothing to mask his expressions anymore, he’s sighing wantonly into the kiss and letting out the softest moans. Yoongi thinks that this may be one of the prettiest sounds he’s ever heard in his life and suddenly, he’s craving more.

It’s no surprise that Yoongi begins to grow hard from all the ministrations, either. Jimin’s ass is just as supple as it looks, he can feel it in the way he grips onto the flesh. When he plays his cheeks, it jiggles underneath his fingertips, and that’s all he needs to begin rocking the elder up and down his lap. He’s enthralled at the feeling. As addictive as the whine he’s able to pull out of Jimin because of it.

“God.”

Yoongi looks up at sound, staring through hooded eyes. “This what you wanted?” he taunts, pushing him down harder. Jimin groans at the feeling of Yoongi growing rock hard beneath him. The brunette’s erection pokes his inner thigh and Yoongi wants to laugh at how bad he’s got it for this man on top of him at this very moment.

In moments, Jimin begins to take control. He uses his arms to wrap around Yoongi’s neck for leverage, foreheads touching and breaths mingling in the quaint space between them. At this point, Yoongi’s letting out his own noises of pleasure; grunting at the feeling of his dick getting the friction it’s been yearning for. The swivel of Jimin’s hips has all the blood rushing south and it’s effortless, the way he rocks his hips. Almost like a trance that Yoongi can’t seem to get out of.

Yoongi has to keep himself sane by gripping onto Jimin’s thigh. “As much as I love the way you’re grinding on me right now,” he forces out in a tight groan. Effects of Jimin rutting harder at the sound of his voice. “I don’t think some random families will appreciate seeing us in this position.”

It’s true.

So far, the beach has always been fairly empty during the weekdays, but today Jimin found himself with some sporadic company as the hours went by. A part of him just wants to say to hell with it, who cares if we get caught? But as his job as a lifeguard first and foremost, it probably isn’t the best idea to be seen with his swimming trunks hiked up to point where his ass hangs out and his lips swollen from kissing too much.

Jimin groans at the feeling of cold hitting him when Yoongi pulls away—unwillingly in all forms and thoughts. The cold that meets his torso is unfamiliar and unwanted. He’s close to whine; until he’s lifted up with strong hands under his thighs, legs hooked around Yoongi’s waist. His arms tighten around his neck in efforts not to fall before they’re moving.

“I have a better idea,” Yoongi shushes the protest bubbling in his throat, carrying him up the steps.

It’s then when Jimin realizes what he’s playing at and also then when he’s let down right before the threshold. With Yoongi letting him go, it’s almost like Jimin’s body moves on its own accord; bending down to grab the key underneath the loose plank instinctively and opening the door with no more hesitation.

Yoongi slaps his ass at the given opportunity, causing Jimin to squeak at the contact. It brings them to the inside of the shed, key long forgotten on the floor as Yoongi spins him by the shoulder and backs him up to the table in the center of the room. Taking that as his cue to sit, the free range given from the new position allows for them to press up against each other freely, kissing with a fervor that follows shortly after, along with moans that have the tight space heating with their pent-up energy.

Their lips move together along with their tongues that get sucked and pulled as the intensity of their actions increase. Yoongi’s hands have found their way back to Jimin’s butt and Jimin’s around his neck as he openly grinds up onto the elder, causing low growls to emit from Yoongi’s throat; growing bolder at his actions.

As he bends down and continues to kiss Jimin, Yoongi decides that he likes the feeling of the blonde on top of him. Jimin’s proven to move his hips so skillfully it could have Yoongi busting at the thought. He lifts him up again because of it, and that’s how they find themselves on a vacant chair—Yoongi planted onto the soft cushion with Jimin sitting on his cock. Erections pressed up together in a way that has Yoongi hissing at the contact.

“W-what…”

“Grind on me, baby.”

The pet name stirs something in Jimin, and he doesn’t say more before heeding to Yoongi’s request. Throughout of the duration of the time Jimin tentatively rocks his hips, Yoongi is staring up at him with all the pleasure that’s evident in his furrowed eyebrows and lips parted to an ‘o.’ Such an expression is one that will surely have Jimin reminiscent of this very moment during days he needs a little more company. It’s what eggs him on to grind harder at the sight, relishing in the way their bodies meet so perfectly.

“Yoongi,” Jimin drawls out a moan, when hands begin to snake up his windbreaker.

Yoongi’s mouth is latched onto his neck during, nipping and sucking it’s sure to leave bruises in the morning. It has all the pleasure coursing through his veins and to his cock that strains heavily against the lower abdomen.

“Take this off for me.” Yoongi pushes the material of his top upward to expose the ribbed tank underneath.

It’s so arousing to him to have someone like Jimin sat on top of him. Jimin may look the part of someone intimidating and unforgiving but having him begging and crying out his name just from some simple rutting tells a different story.

When Jimin pulls the uniform off his body and Yoongi follows, the feeling of their skin touching has both men groaning.

Yoongi likes the way Jimin looks in his tank. He’s equal parts cute and equal parts hot with it on; muscles accentuated by the thin material. However, he very much likes the way it looks off too—ridges of his abs finally meeting his view. Enticing Yoongi to mark the skin and lick up the divots of his torso.

“You’re so fucking hot,” he breathes out, mapping the newly exposed skin with his hands.

Jimin blushes at the admission but laughs regardless. “I can say the same for you,” he says, end of his sentence teetering off a whine when Yoongi trails the tip of his tongue up his neck.

And it’s not far off.

Out of the rare times Jimin’s garnered the privilege of seeing Yoongi in anything but a tracksuit, he marvels at his fair skin so effortlessly perfect and beautiful.

Yoongi’s just as broad as his silhouette makes himself out to be. He’s toned in all the right places but still buff and strong. Kick boxing is one of his favorite extra curriculars, the brunette mentioned during one of their talks. So, that may explain his well-defined biceps; bulging effortlessly under the dim glow of the room.

As Jimin continues to set a pace that has the both of them panting, Yoongi doesn’t think he can take any more of the teasing. In a dull ache, he’s throbbing against the waistbands of his shorts and he knows that if he doesn’t do something about it soon, he’ll lose his shit. Reasoning behind it all coming from the way the cleft of Jimin’s ass nestles the girth of his cock so perfectly, he just can’t wait to sink in.

Luckily Jimin feels the way. “Fuck me,” the blonde says simply. “Fuck me, please. Yoongi—”

“Where’s the lube?”

Jimin responds by pointing over to his backpack on the hook, and with one more lasting peck onto his lips and a groan, Yoongi reluctantly pulls away. Eager with bliss, he’s able to locate the items fairly quickly. The packet of lube is peach flavored and bright pink. Fitting, Yoongi thinks. And when he turns around, he’s met with a sight that has his legs nearly giving out.

“Jesus Christ, Jimin.”

The blonde is in the midst of pulling his shorts down, bending over to lead them to the floor in a way that has his ass peeking out the top of the material. Yoongi intakes a sharp breath at the sight of his cheeks jiggling when he steps out of his shorts. And when he meets the elder’s gaze from over his shoulder, there’s a hint of a smirk that has all of his mischievousness reigning through.

“Like what you see?” Jimin teases, running his hands down his ass teasingly. Yoongi scoffs at the question—that’s an understatement—but he can play at his little game Jimin’s at and he forces himself to keep in his groan when Jimin pulls apart the flesh.

His hole is pink, waxed, and looks so tight.

“I’d like it better with my dick inside of you,” he answers, bluntly, and Jimin only points to the chair.

“By all means,” he steps back and Yoongi takes that as his cue to get back in position.

After settling himself, this time, Jimin makes no hesitation in escalating things further. He hovers over Yoongi and sits on the tops of his thighs. From this position, Yoongi is clearly able to see his flush cock, hard against his abdomen and red at the tip from lack of attention. He’s almost tempted to reach out and stroke him until he’s stopped by Jimin’s own actions—who’s pulling down the tops of his shorts so languidly, it has Yoongi hissing at the cool air that hits his erection.

Oh, he didn’t wear underwear today.

“Fuck, you’re huge,” Jimin blurts, reaching in between them to grab at the base of his dick. Yoongi’s stomach caves at the sudden pleasure that spikes his spine. Groaning at the feeling of arousal seeping down his length to coat Jimin’s hand in the process.

“Shit, Jimin.”

As much as he would like to drawl out Jimin’s rapture his own way, Yoongi can’t exactly bring himself to stop him. The blonde’s small hand wraps around his cock so perfectly, twisting and gliding against the muscle that only continues to pulsate in his palm.

Yoongi’s bottom lip is trapped between his teeth, breathing heavy at the sight of Jimin only looking at him through it all—lips shined with spit from the amount of times he’s licked it. Eyes blazed with concentration as he picks apart every small noise that comes out of Yoongi’s parted mouth.

Though, there’s only so much Yoongi can take before he loses all hope for sanity, and so, he reluctantly brings his own hand in between them; large palm engulfing Jimin’s as he halts the lifeguard’s movements.

“S-stop,” Yoongi rasps, heeding out a gasp. “I’m gonna fucking cum if you keep doing that.”

“Cum for me, then.”

“No,” he whines lowly, tightening his fingers around Jimin’s palm when he only continues to move. “I want to cum inside of you,” Yoongi takes in a deep breath, eyes peering up to the blonde. “Will you let me do that, hm?”

“Only if you promise to fuck me until I forget my name.”

“I’ll do whatever you want, as long as you fuck yourself on my fingers,” Yoongi gains back his momentum and opens the packet of lube in between them. It’s not long after he’s coating his fingers with the clear substance. Shining under the limelight and slick for Jimin, he whispers against Jimin’s mouth with one lingering kiss. “Fuck yourself on my fingers and get yourself ready for me. Can you do that?” he asks sickly sweet, but his actions are anything but.

Jimin doesn’t say more before grabbing his hand with a moan, mewling at the feeling of wetness by his hole as he guides Yoongi’s fingers between them. With one slow circle around the tight ring of muscle, Yoongi finally begins to push in. And it has Jimin falling to his shoulder with a whine. Ass sinking in so deliciously, Yoongi can feel his walls clamping down on his digits with a spasm.

Christ. If he’s already this tight, how is Yoongi meant to fit?

“A-ah. Fuck!”

“Mm, that’s right,” Yoongi mutters against his ear. “Go on, baby. You’re doing so well.”

Yoongi’s words only has Jimin heeding to the request and soon, he’s bouncing onto his fingers—two, three—with enough force to have his cock slapping against his stomach.

Jimin’s head draws back to accentuate the beautiful curve of his neck. Hands on the brunette’s shoulders, he grips hard in any sense to tie him to reality as Yoongi finger fucks him with no regard. Jimin’s always taken note of Yoongi’s hands; fingers long and well… long. He’d be lying if he were to say that he didn’t picture this exact scenario maybe a couple half a hundred times during the past week. Yoongi crooks his fingers and presses so deep, rubbing the pads of his digits against his spasming walls to get that right angle.

“Hngh, shit. Feels so good. Yoongi please. P-please…”

Jimin babbles incoherent at the sparks of fire pooling in his veins. Yoongi watches him fall apart slowly, but surely. And he pulls out before he can get that far, quickly opening up the condom in his other hand before slicking up his cock with the remnants of Jimin’s arousal.  Hoisting the blonde up by the ass and sinking him down onto his girth in one quick movement.

“O-oh my fucking god.”

“God damn, you’re so tight,” Yoongi spits, throwing his head back to alleviate the sudden need to release. Jimin’s walls clamp down on him so well. Even despite the amount of time he spent preparing him, it’s in no help to the way his hold stretches around his erection like it was made for him.

One tentative jolt of his hips upward has Yoongi keening to the pleasure, and two has Jimin fully seating on his lap—full to the brim. The sounds of their moans mingling in the air are loud and heady as Jimin begins to swivel his hips to get comfortable. Soon after, he’s riding Yoongi with so much want, Yoongi’s lungs have trouble cooperating. Jaw clenching and letting out loud groans as Jimin builds up a rhythm that has both of them keening.

“You’re so… a-ah! Fuck. Yoongi you’re so big,” Jimin whines, never relenting in pace. The pull of their hips together is addicting. As is the sounds of skin slapping that only adds to the heat of the room.

Yoongi looks down to watch his cock disappear into the blonde’s body, but he quickly regrets it when a new heat pools in his abdomen at the sight of lube trickling down his stiff length. Jimin’s cock throbs and glistenes with precum at the tip. “Y-yeah?” he chooses to say instead, hazing his gaze over to Jimin who’s own are shut tight. “You’re taking me in so well. So, fucking tight, Jimin. Just like that.”

The dig of Jimin’s fingers onto his shoulders are sure to leave a mark, but at the feeling of Jimin fucking onto him like it’s his job, he could honestly care less. He’s perspiring at the slightest—a result of all of this aroused energy he’s been holding in, finally making its way to the light.

Quite honestly, it doesn’t take much more before both boys find that familiar coil in their stomach threatening to break.

Yoongi is surprisingly noisy during sex and Jimin is close to sobbing at the building intensity that’s sure to have him crumbling in seconds. The blonde finds his legs growing tired as his orgasm comes closer to the edge and Yoongi seems to notice. Creeping his hands to the underside of Jimin’s thighs, he lifts him up in the slightest and begins slamming his hips upward on his own. In a way that has his bulbous head hitting Jimin’s prostate.

“Fuck, fuck… Fuck!” Jimin cries, finally succumbing to the pleasure by hiding his head on the crook of Yoongi’s neck.

Yoongi moans loudly at the new angle and relishes the feeling of Jimin’s walls spasming around his wet cock. “Christ, baby. Are you gonna come? Come for me right now. I wanna see you cum all over my stomach.”

“I—I. Ah!”

“Come on, baby. Let go.”

And really it doesn’t take more than a couple sharp snaps of Yoongi’s hips to have Jimin releasing all over Yoongi’s lower abdomen untouched. Thick ropes of white seep in between their figures, tricking down Jimin’s abs and onto Yoongi’s fair skin. He moans high pitched in broken sobs. Body drifting into overstimulation as Yoongi rides for his own release.

“Yoongi,” Jimin mewls, sucking on his neck as his vision fades momentarily. “W-wanna feel you. Cum for me. God.”

Yoongi’s thrusts begin to grow sloppy at the sound of Jimin begging for him and in a matter of seconds, he’s doing just as asked. Biting down onto Jimin’s shoulder to keep in his sounds, he growls low and deep. His body stiffens at the intensity of pleasure that waves through him indefinitely. And Jimin is on the same boat, coaxing him through his orgasm by playing with the ends of his hair, whispering sweet praises in his ear as Yoongi comes down from his high.

“Fuck,” Yoongi sighs when the air finally comes back to his lungs. “Fuck,” he repeats incredulous.

It causes Jimin to laugh, wincing when he pulls back. Yoongi is still holding onto him like he’s scared he might leave and Jimin kisses the side of his cheek in affection.

“That was nice,” he hums as Yoongi groans.

“Nice would be a lack of a better word,” he chirps, playing with Jimin’s ass.

“Yeah? How would you describe it then,” Jimin scoffs as he furrows his eyebrows at the oncoming uncomfortability of cum drying on their torsos. “Good? Great?”

“Something of the sort.”

“Then how?”

Yoongi chuckles as he runs his clean hand through his hair. Jimin follows the movement of his biceps contracting at the movement. His cock twitches. Jesus.

“How about… amazing? Earth-shattering? Best dick you’ve ever gotten in your life?” Yoongi teases, pecking his lips. “Apocalyptic? Phenomenal?”

“Was I unaware that I ended up fucking a best-selling author?”

“If the words are as pretty as you, I would write them any day,” Yoongi comments coyly.

“Gross,” Jimin slaps his chest but blushes regardless.

Yoongi chortles. “You love it.”

“Highly unlikely.”

“You love me?”

“Take me out on a date first and we’ll see,” Jimin shushes him with one more lasting kiss.

--

“Jimin!”

Areum breaks the short-lived silence concurred before she starts running down the beach. With only one other person at their location at this hour of the day, Jimin is her subject of attention.

The blonde is stood at his usual post with an oversized sweater on, and multicolored shorts. This time, instead of sitting on the steps and frolicking along his own business, he’s been stood, leaning against the edge of the port as he watches the pair make their way toward him.

“Hi, lovely! How’s my little Areum today?” Jimin waves her over with a big hug. And in seconds, they’re hand in hand, with Areum speaking animatedly and Jimin listening intently out of endearment.

“I’m great!” she squeaks excitedly, bouncing up and down with her words. “Did you and uncle Yoongi finally make up? Did you, did you?!”Areum demands with brighter eyes and a wide smile.

Amused and a little surprised, Jimin eventually makes eye contact with Yoongi; who’s walking toward the lifeguard stand in a haste. There’s no saying that he can control Areum’s filter whenever he’s not around, and it seems like that ties into this scenario. Already embarrassed by his niece’s actions this early in the day without even saying something so much as a hi.

“Yeees…” Jimin peeks at him knowingly before looking down at the little girl. “You can say that.”

Able to catch the last words of his sentence, Yoongi’s face pales in recognition. Like earlier acknowledged, his niece one hell of a smart girl and it’s evident in the way she grants him her own smirk, eyes wide to allude innocence but it’s anything but.

“Is that why your neck has a boo boo?”

Cutting into their conversation, Yoongi hands her his bag from over the railing, filled with her new set of toys for the sand. “Okay! That’s enough, Areum. Stop bothering Jimin, you can go play now.”

“Sure, uncle Yoongi! Don’t try to hurt him too much while I’m gone!” she runs at breakneck speed to the beach with a cheery giggle before Yoongi can even scold her for saying so.

“Oh my god,” Jimin mutters; blushing with a hand tracing his neck.

Yoongi shakes his head. “Tell me about it.”

Looking up at him from the side of the post, when they finally get over their initial shock, both boys smile at each other abashed. Jimin leans over the wooden railing to meet Yoongi for a kiss, and he sighs when their lips make contact. It’s short and haste, but it still has the ability to bludgeon Jimin with all the butterflies in the universe.

When they pull apart, it’s like something anew. Their feelings are one that they’ve never thought could come about, but as they stare at each other with longing eyes, something tells Yoongi that this was meant to be all along.

Shortly after he makes his way up the steps, the sit at their regular spot; staring out into the crashing waves—much like a visual of their feelings coming alive.

“Come swim with me!” Areum eventually calls over to the pair, kicking against the sand and ocean with a bright smile.

Jimin’s ears perk up at the request, and he turns to Yoongi. “Think you can handle the water this time?” he elbows his side and Yoongi feigns hurt.

“With you as my lifeguard, I don’t think that will ever be an option for me.”