(JIKOOK) Texting Story Snippets

Bus Stop

Various missed calls and texts stay unanswered on Jimin's phone as he surfs through a serious of channels, hand resting in a bowl of popcorn at his side. He doesn't want to think about how little his 'friends' care about his boundaries and feelings. It's hard to silence his thoughts when nothing he's finding on the television is interesting enough to distract him.

Jimin is used to escaping his thoughts with a new choreography or touring the city he's grown so fond of, but it feels like those options have been stripped from him. He's been reduced to the confines of his worn sofa and his boyfriend's loud chuckles that rip him away from his thoughts in a way that makes him want to scream. Jimin pulls his hand away from the bowl just as he sees Marius reaching towards it, declining even the opportunity for their fingers to brush.

Everything about Marius has become a reason for concern lately. He laughs too loud, he's a picky eater, his expressions are hard to read. What if he knows somethings wrong? There's no way he could tell a difference because there's always been distance between them.

"Let's go grab some dinner, hm?" Marius shuffles through the clutter beside him to find the television remote, muting the sound of commercials bouncing off of the walls around them. He turns to look at Jimin with a wide grin plastered on his face and nods, agreeing to his own suggestion. "I want to take you somewhere I think you're going to like, a new eatery I found just a couple of days ago. Yeah?"

Jimin noticeably grimaces at the others words, looking down and hoping he won't notice. "I don't feel like it today."

"Yesterday either." Marius sighs, feeling the slightest bit irritated, but mostly disappointed. He leans away from Jimin, pressing his weight into the sofa arm and pursing his lips as he watches him. "Are you feeling sick, sweetheart?"

Although his words are sweet, Marius sounds perturbed. Jimin swallows and blinks up at his boyfriend, lifting his lips with a gentle, and hopefully reassuring, smile. "It's not serious, I just feel like staying in."

"Mm." It's not entirely convincing, but Marius knows better than to press the issue if there is something wrong. That's the quickest way to push Jimin away. "Stay home and cook with me then?"

It's definitely not what Jimin expected as a response and a chill travels the length of his spine. It sounds innocent and pleasant on any normal kind of day, but with his thoughts so crowded and chaotic it would only lead to irrational agitation and he doesn't want any part of that. Maybe it would be easier to go out, to chance it. What if Jungkook sees me when I'm with Marius? Jimin furrows his brows at the thought. Why should it matter? I'm not doing anything wrong.

"We can go out if you want. It sounds fun." Jimin says, a feeling of pure dread and anxiety washing over him. He softens his expression and nods, hoping to clear up any disturbance he caused in the other. "I was just being lazy."

Still unconvinced, but willing to accept the excuse, Marius smiles. "Breaks can be good for you, but let's go out for dinner."

-///-

Clouds cast themselves over the setting sun, covering the streets of Paris in a hazy glow. Jungkook looks through the glass of a newly installed shop window, analyzing a small gathering of people that walk into view. He feels so torn, half hoping to see Jimin, but dreading the conversation he's meant to have with him.

"Feeling alright?" Yejoon asks his boss, hovering his palm over Jungkook's shoulder blade as he comes to his side. He's noticed a change in the mans demeanor and it's troubling for more than one simple reason or another. His heart sinks a bit at the worry in the others gaze as they make sudden eye contact.

Jungkook quickly smiles and nods his head. He can feel the warmth of Yejoon's hand on his back, just barely, but he appreciates the concern. "I'm fine." He couldn't even consider burdening anyone else with his spiderweb of problems. "I think I just need some coffee."