●18

“Hmm...” Even without words, Jungkook managed to sound both doubting and scornful. “Sure park, sure.”

“Oh, bugger off.” Jimin snapped, his patience wearing thin.

“Love to, but can’t.” The bed jumped as Jungkook suddenly tumbled onto his other side so he was pressed back-to-back with Jimin bare ankles touching. “Now I’m hungry.”

“Demanding snot, aren’t you? And do you have to lie so close?” Jimin frowned; desperately wanting to squirm away and knowing doing so would land him on the floor.

“Why?” He could almost hear Jungkook’s grin, “Embarrassed?”

“No.”

“Liar.” Jungkook snickered. He fell silent, making no effort to move. Jimin chewed on his tongue and focused on not blushing.

[Damn him, damn him.] Jimin looked down at his book, having nearly forgotten it in the bickering. [Deal with it; I have to deal with it. I’m going to be with him for a very long time.] Against him, Jungkook sighed deeply.

“I am hungry.”

“That’s nice.”

______________________

Namjoon collapsed into one of the chairs in the Gryffindor common room with an explosive breath. “Well...damn.” He announced, apparently lacking any other descriptive terms for the current situation.

Hoseok sat opposite and seemed to agree with him, simply because he didn’t argue his statement. Namjoon watched him uncertainly, waiting for a scathing comment, and was actually at bit of a loss when none was forthcoming. The common room was mostly empty, only a few other Gryffindors were there and they ignored the quiet pair.

“We...we couldn’t have known.” Namjoon ventured. Hoseok finger-combed his wild mane and cast a look at the ceiling.

“No. And maybe that’s why we shouldn’t have done it.” he stretched out his arms and then let them fall in his lap. Namjoon waited. As if sensing this, he glanced at him. “I’m not going to nag you, if that’s what you’re wondering. Much as I’d like to,” deep sigh, “It won’t do anyone any good. Jimin needs our support, not our bickering.”

Namjoon blinked, then grinned. “Well, nice to see you agree.”

Hoseok scowled. Namjoon beamed. After a short staring contest, he threw his hands up in defeat, stood from his chair, and stomped off muttering uncomplimentary things about namjoon's ancestry.

Namjoon watched him go with a fair amount of amusement. After he vanished up the stairs to the dorms, Namjoon rested his head against the back of the armchair and stared into the fire. The amusement faded from his features.

“Sorry, Jimin.” He said softly, watching the dancing forms of the flame as the wood beneath turned to ash and sparks floated up the chimney.

______________________

Jimin woke that morning to the feeling of being smothered and crushed. For an awful moment, he fought against the restraint; until that restraint cursed at him and squashed him a little firmer. 

Jimin stopped struggling and let his foggy thoughts clear. He realized that there was cloth over his mouth and something heavy and warm inside the cloth. The weight pressing him down was definitely body shaped.

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