2

Jungkook is awakened by a solid thump on the floor next to his bed. Like someone dropped a textbook on the floor. When he orients himself, he realizes Jimin is standing in front of his bookshelf doing almost exactly that. He’s flipping through what looks like Jungkook’s yearbooks and loudly flinging them on the floor when he’s done.

“Hey,” Jungkook croaks, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes, “What the hell are you doing in here?”

Jimin is still perfect in his black suit. He doesn’t even look like any fuzz from the sofa stuck to him, his blazer isn’t even creased. He looks over his shoulder at Jungkook stretching groggily in the sheets, “You never said I couldn’t come in your room.”

He tosses the book in his hand on the ground and reaches for another.

“Can you not throw my shit on the ground? What are you doing with my yearbooks?”

“Just some research on you. Trying to get a sense of who I’m stuck with.” Jimin begins paging through the next one, turning past pages covered in classmate scribbles and well-wishes for the summer.

“That’s creepy. Why would you need to? Cant you read my mind anyway?” Jungkook struggles to untangle his feet from the sheets and stretches. The floor is cold and his toes flinch away from it instinctually, but he perches on the edge of his bed to get accustomed to it and help him wake up.

Jimin shrugs, “Only the sexy thoughts. Nice dreams, by the way.”

Jungkook fights the urge to dive back under the covers. He can’t remember any of his dreams per se...but considering the subject matter his subconscious has to work with now...

Well he wouldn’t be surprised if Jimin had all sorts of embarrassing ammunition.

He lurches to his feet and starts gathering up the fallen yearbooks. “Don’t you have anything better to do than stay up watching my dreams?”

Jimin pointedly drops the last yearbook on the ground in front of him, “Well I don’t sleep, what do YOU propose I do to entertain myself?” He grins slyly, “At least I get to see a lot of myself in your dreams. It’s not often I don’t have any competition in the form of crushes or significant others.”

Jungkook decides to ignore the jab at his lack of romantic life, “You don’t sleep?”

“Why would I?”

Jungkook scoops the last yearbook up and tucks them all back onto the shelf.

“Dunno. It just never occurred to me that you didn’t. Plus last night you said something about wanting to sleep on me...” He bravely tries not to recall the way Jimin had smiled so beguilingly and the expanse of his abs dipping down into his pants—

Jimin waves his hand, “Oh that was just a line. I was trying to see how easy it would be to work you over.”

“Thanks a lot.” Jungkook snarls.

“Hey don’t be bitter, you did pretty well!” Jimin grins at him. Jungkook glares back. They lapse into silence and stare at each other for a moment. Jungkook realizes he’s still holding onto a yearbook and finishes leaning it against the others on the shelf.

Jimin jerks his chin in the direction of the books, “Why didn’t you order me to clean those up? I made the mess.”

Jungkook blinks and looks back over at the books, and then back to Jimin, “I...I guess it didn’t occur to me.”

Jimin’s eyebrow lifts ever so slightly, “Interesting.” He sweeps out of the room in cryptic silence.

Jungkook is uncomfortably reminded of final exams. It feels like he’s standing at the whiteboard waiting for the teachers to ask him questions. It’s too early in the morning for mind games, he thinks, as he snatches a towel from his clean laundry heap and heads to the shower.

“Don’t break any of my stuff!” Jungkook yells towards the kitchen and living space. The silence he receives in return is not reassuring.

He’s rinsing his hair when he gets the next dose of Jimin’s presence. It comes in the form of his bathroom door blowing open hard enough to bang against the wall and nearly make Jungkook eat shit in his slippery tub. Soap gets in his eye.

“Ow—fucking why—“

“Jungkook!” Jimin rips the shower curtain out of the way.

“What could you POSSIBLY want right now?”

“There’s a person at your door leaving stuff on your porch. He rang the doorbell and walked away. Do you have any enemies?”

Jungkook dips his head under the stream to get the soap residue out of his eye. “Did he leave, like, a brown box and some envelopes?”

“Yes. Is this something that qualifies as harm?”

“I think you’re talking about the mailman. So no. I can’t believe you know what “Sophie’s Choice” is but you don’t know what a mailman is.” He grips the shower curtain and closes it between them.

“Well how am I supposed to know? After seeing your living space I figured you were some sort of hermit. Why would people send letters to a hermit?”

Jungkook ignores him and resumes soaping his loofah when something occurs to him. “He...didn’t see you, right? Looking...like that?”

“Calm down princess he didn’t see me. Wait. What’s wrong with the way I look?” Jimin sounds aggravated.

“You’re in a trailer wearing that suit—poor guy would probably think you were a goddamn mafia boss or drug kingpin.” He groans, “You can’t follow me to work looking like that—I’ll have to do too much explaining.”

“Couple things. One, you’re going to work? Like to a job? ...why?”

“I work for Taehyung’s mom—she owns a flower shop..”

“...you’re a florist?” Jimin sounds like he’s barely keeping from laughing.

“More like a delivery boy—hey give me my face wash.” Jimin’s hand snakes around the curtain with the bottle. His face follows after it,“Okay, whatever. Two, what do I need to look like?”

Jungkook grabs the bottle and shoos the demon back to the other side of the curtain, “I don’t know—just normal. Non threatening. Not like you’re about to shake down several small business owners.” He steps back under the water—already turning cold because of this extremely unecessary conversation. “Now get out of the bathroom please. Don’t scare any of my neighbors and let me finish this shower in peace.”

The trailer is still and silent when Jungkook emerges from the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist. He wants to go get dressed but the silence is making him think about a puppy he’d had growing up—if it was too quiet that probably meant trouble. Instead he drips gently on the floor and peers out into the living area. It appears as though Jimin has actually followed the spirit of the orders as well as the letter, since he’s just quietly sitting on the sofa. As Jungkook tiptoes closer Jimin starts raking his hands back through his hair. Where his fingers make tracks the immaculate, sleek black hair starts to lose color, like someone is pulling the black off the ends of the hair. A honey-colored gold slowly takes over the demon’s head, poofing up as he finger combs it. When he’s done the sharp raven-black hair has been replaced by fluffy blonde layers, and oh no. This might be even worse. He turns to look at Jungkook and he’s dressed in a blue hoodie and black jeans.

If Jungkook thought it was hard to resist him before...

“Normal enough for you?” His smile seems warmer, less flint in his gaze, cheekbones look rounder and fuller. Jungkook’s stomach does little flips.

He realizes he’s essentially naked, dripping on the vinyl floors, and staring. Jimin giggles—totally different from his laughs earlier—high and airy. Jungkook’s eyes bug out.

“Uh...um. Yeah that’s—hm. Normal, good.”

Jimin flicks his eyes up and down Jungkook.

“Are you...going to work like that?”

Jungkook clamps his mouth shut—when had it fallen open??—and backs out of the room. He’s zipping up his jeans when a loud, insistent pounding can be heard from the front door.

“Fuck, can I just get like five minutes? Just five?” Jungkook mutters as he slips his work polo over his head and makes a beeline for the door. Jimin is sitting on the kitchen counter, swinging his legs and reading from Jungkook’s cookbooks with the hoodie pulled up over his head. “Cute” is the adjective that floats to the front of Jungkook’s brain and he feels like hurling. Traitorous brain.

“What the hell is going on out here?”

Jimin looks over his shoulder at the racket going on by the door, “Someone wants in, I think.”

“Like 15 minutes ago you were ready to murder the mailman and now there’s someone trying actually break down my door and...? Nothing?”

The pounding resumes, “LET ME IN ASSHOLE—ARE YOU ALIVE?? HAS THE DEMON KILLED YOU YET?? ANSWER MEEEEEE—“

“Oh, that’s Taehyung.”

Jimin resumes the interest in the recipe book, “Yeah. I figured that was a “You” conversation. It probably wouldn’t make him believe I didn’t kill you if I answered the door without you.”

Jungkook fluffs his still-damp bangs and wrenches the door open. Taehyung tumbles into the trailer in a heap of gangly limbs. He peers up from the floor, “Oh good. You’re alive.” He narrows his eyes, “Unless you’re that demon wearing him like a meat suit.” Jungkook wordlessly steps to the side so Jimin’s back can be seen. “Oh okay, cool.”

“I mean honestly that doesn’t mean anything.” Jimin chirps. “I could still be using him like a puppet and sitting right over here.”

Taehyung blanches, studying Jungkook critically.

Jungkook feels like he’s aged 30 years in ten minutes, “Jimin, stop messing with him.”

“You are aggressively no fun.” Jimin hunches deeper in his hoodie.

“What are you doing here, Tae?” Jungkook tries to divert his friend’s attention back to the matter at hand, “Why were you assaulting my trailer?”

“You’re not answering your goddamn phone, asshole! Why in the absolute FUCK is it off?” Taehyung stalks over and dramatically flings himself on the sofa. “Jeon Jungkook, you are the only person I know who would let their phone die the morning after they take home an incomparably evil, centuries-old monster—no offense—“ he directs at Jimin.

“—none taken—“

“—seriously where the fuck is your phone?”

Jungkook starts patting his pockets before he realizes he just put these pants on, “I actually...don’t know.”

Jimin holds up his hand and there’s suddenly a phone in his palm. Jungkook’s phone. Jungkook lunges forward and snatches it, “You had it? Why did you take my phone? Did you steal it?”

Jimin turns to face Jungkook with a bewildered expression, “What? No, what use would that thing be to me?” He closes the cookbook, “You said it was missing; I changed reality so that I had it. Otherwise you would be late to work looking for it.” He pushes the hoodie back off his head, “It was behind your end table.”

Jungkook fidgets a little guiltily, “Oh. Uh...thanks.”

Jimin hops off the counter, “It’s still like you’re not grasping the concept of Unlimited. Magic. Why did you bind me if not to utilize that exact thing?” He shakes his head, “I swear sourcerers might be dumber than humans.”

“I’m pacing myself.” Jungkook huffs. He turns back to Taehyung, but his friend has become fixated on Jimin’s head.

“Hey wow. Did you notice your hair? It’s different.”

Jimin stretches up on his tiptoes to put the cookbook back on the shelf, “Jungkook wanted me to look more normal.” A sliver of hip shows where the hoodie rides up, “Blend in more.”

“Blend in...right.” Taehyung says absentmindedly. He’s staring exactly where Jungkook thought he would be. He’s seen that look on his best friend’s face before. That look is Bad News.

Jimin turns back to the boys. “Aren’t you going to work, Jungkook?”

He jumps, hunting around for his keys and wallet for a moment before a weary sigh from Jimin makes him stop.

“Um. Jimin. My keys...wallet...”

Jimin flicks his fingers and the weight of his items drop into his pockets. Jungkook squirms,

“Ugh. That’s weird. It’s like you put them in my pockets for me...”

“Well...I did.”

Jungkook waves his hands vaguely as he fishes his keys out, “But like...with your hands.”

“You told me not to touch you last night, remember?” Jimin pushes his bottom lip out like he’s pouting but his eyes sparkle.

Jungkook stands there clutching his keys and actively avoids Taehyung’s eyes when they flick over to him. He clears his throat, “Hm. Yes. I remember.”

“What was the context of THAT?” Taehyung’s voice is laced with enough humor Jungkook is tempted to punch him.

Jimin sighs theatrically, “I was going to suck his dick in the kitchen and then ride him on that ugly sofa like he’d been imagining, but he told me no—“

“Jimin!” Jungkook snaps, cheeks flaming.

“Wow Jungkookie, you said no?” Taehyung is talking to him, but his eyes never leave Jimin.

Jungkook’s mouth drops open, “Of course I did! YOU guys told me not to fuck him!”

Jimin hums in understanding.

Taehyung scratches his head, “Well yeah—it seemed like Yoongi had the right idea about that, but we didn’t actually think you wouldn’t.”

“Thanks a lot, asshole.”

Taehyung taps his index finger against his bottom lip, “I guess Namjoon and Seokjin will be pretty upset. They both bet you wouldn’t make it though the night.” Jungkook feels an ugly little pang at Namjoon thinking he couldn’t resist Jimin for even one night.

“I can’t believe you guys bet on whether or not I would have sex with a DEMON!” He shakes his head, “Actually...that sounds about right for you guys.”

“I mean, I don’t know if I would have. Made it through the night, I mean.”

“Tae, aren’t you straight?”

“Am I? Shit, I think I forgot.” Taehyung’s ears turn pink.

Jimin laughs, full and energetic, “You’re cute. And your sexy thoughts are so LOUD.” Before Jungkook can really process the interaction, Jimin sashays over and straddles Taehyung on the couch. His thighs strain the black denim and completely eclipse Taehyung’s lap. “I like that thought...hmm that one too. That one’s creative...but Jungkook’s sofa won’t survive and he’s weirdly attached to it.” Jimin slips a hand into Taehyung’s hair, grabs a handful, and tugs his head to the side. Taehyung groans, actually groans out loud and that brings Jungkook back to life.

“Hey. HEY. What the fuck is this?” His voice is much higher than he would hope, under the circumstances.

“What does it look like? You don’t want me to touch you, but HE does. Maybe we can explore that little box of kinks I saw in your head. Want to confirm whether or not you like to watch?” Jimin leans back, showing off the geometry of he and Taehyung’s bodies pressed against each other. Jungkook’s breath hitches as Jimin draws his fingers down Taehyung’s cheap work polo and flips the hem up just enough to see Taehyung’s belly button.

His friend looks blissed out, pupils large and dark and his mouth open slightly as he watches Jimin on top of him. The demon leans in and noses up his neck, causing Taehyung’s voice to modulate lower, practically rumbling in his chest as he moans. Jungkook feels antsy, standing there, twisting his keychains between his fingers. When Jimin works his way up and presses his lips against the corner of Taehyung’s mouth, he snaps,

“Work! Work. I’m—we’re going to be late. Get off him, Jimin.”

The demon immediately backs off Taehyung to sit on the arm of the sofa. Taehyung is a sight; clothes rumpled, shirt hitched up, hair mussed and cheeks red like he’s been running uphill for an hour. In contrast, Jimin looks as fluffy and serene as ever, a deceptively innocent figure in his casual clothes. Jimin has a very knowing smile stretched across those lips. He shakes his head at Taehyung, “Too jealous for some of those, Taehyung. Might have to work up to that.”

Taehyung finally seems to be getting a grip. “Woah. WOAH. That was...man.” He frowns up at Jungkook, “What the hell dude, if you didn’t want to watch you could’ve just left. Why’d you stop it?”

Jungkook doesn’t actually have an answer for that. He just knows he’s suddenly irritated and needs to get out of there. “C’mon. Let’s. Let’s go. Work. Your mom. Let’s go.”

Taehyung yanks his polo back down, “Wow thanks for bringing up my mom when I’m about to get laid.” He finger combs his hair back into place and heaves himself off the couch. “We’re going to be late anyway, might as well be hella late.”

Jimin follows them out the door with his hands deep in his pockets, looking immensely pleased with himself. They pile into Jungkook’s car, since Taehyung biked here this morning. Jimin sprawls in the backseat, boots up against one window and his head flat on the seat. Jungkook almost tells him to get his feet off the window but that seems like an opportunity for Jimin to mock his car and he doesn’t have the energy.

Apparently he can’t avoid being mocked because his car churns and tries super hard to turn over three times before gurgling helplessly and refusing to start. His head hits the steering wheel. “Of course. Of course you do this today.”

“I can’t decide if it’s endearing or sad that you have so little ambition when it comes to using my powers.” Jimin remarks from right by Jungkook’s ear. Apparently car trouble is enough to make him sit up. The demon grabs Taehyung’s shoulder. “Order me to touch you long enough to take you to work, Jungkook.”

“You could just fix the car—“

“You’ll still be late. Just. Come on. Do it.”

“Take us to work, Jimin.” The demon grabs his shoulder.

Jungkook feels a rush of air like he’s falling forward and he and Taehyung stumble into the flower shop’s parking lot. Jimin just strolls forward, graceful as ever.

“Ugh. That’s a little...off putting.” Taehyung grouses.

“Only the first few times.” Jimin assures him.

Jungkook frowns as he looks around, “If you can’t read minds how did you know where this was?”

Jimin jerks his head towards Taehyung, “That one has quite a few fantasies and memories about fucking in and around this building.” Taehyung conspicuously drops to tie his shoe and not look at anyone.

“Ugh, Tae. I’m not leaving the two of you alone today.” Jimin waggles his eyebrows at Jungkook, “Or...ever. No being alone for you two.”

“Hey, What? I can control myself.” Taehyung whines.

“No. No you definitely cannot. I think we have proven that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Plus that one—“ Jungkook points to Jimin, “—sees it as some kind of game now. We won’t be able to get any work done.”

Jimin nods, “You’re not wrong. I’m especially intrigued by that rush of jealousy Jungkook gets. Wonder who that’s for?”

Jimin’s face says he knows exactly who that’s for but trust him to be needlessly provocative. It hasn’t even been one full day and Jungkook feels like the demon knows too much about him. There’s also a weird twist in his stomach when he contemplates experiencing jealousy in regards to a literal embodiment of sex and evil. He turns on his heel and stalks to the building.

“Dude, you have a crush on me? Wild.” Taehyung teases him and Jimin cackles and Jungkook slams the door to leave them outside. He wonders whether it would be worth it to lock them out of the shop.

“Well good morning! Having a rough day?” Taehyung’s mom appears from behind the counter, straightening up amidst several colorful floral arrangements.

Jungkook leans on the counter and sweeps up some stray leaves with his hands, “You have no idea.”

“Is my wayward son with you?”

“I don’t claim him today...but yes. He’s out in the parking lot.”

She frowns a little, “What did he do?”

Jungkook shakes his head a little, “It’s not really...him...” he trails off when he looks up and sees her fixated on the door. It doesn’t take a genius to suspect what caught her attention as the door swings shut.

“Oh. Hi.” Taehyung’s mom breathes, “I don’t think I know you. Are you Jungkook’s friend?”

Jimin delicately leans on the counter next to Jungkook, extremely close but very pointedly not touching the taller man. “Hmm, not sure. I came here with him today if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t think he likes me very much.” Jimin giggles and Jungkook nearly melts into a puddle right there, so he can only imagine how Taehyung’s mom feels. It’s the first time he’s seeing how non-magical people react to the demon, and it’s fairly predictable now that he stops to think about it. Jimin has her utterly entranced. She giggles like a schoolgirl when he makes a joke about flowers and smoothly introduces himself and tells her his name. Taehyung trails into the shop and takes one look at Jimin flirting with his mom before making a kind of strangled gurgle in his throat and disappearing to the back room.

“Well I’m not sure how Jungkook could dislike you, how do you know the boys?”

Jungkook panics briefly as he remembers Jimin can’t lie. Now would be a bad time for Taehyung’s mom to find out they’re witches...especially since she doesn’t know witches or magick exist.

“Well, I—“

“He’s my new roommate.” Jungkook interjects. Jimin closes his mouth, apparently getting the memo that this is a magick-free zone. “He uh, moved into town yesterday and I’m showing him around.” Jungkook realizes the more he speaks that he doesn’t really have a plausible reason why Jimin is trailing after him everywhere instead of in their supposedly shared trailer or, you know, his own job.

“Roommate?” Taehyung’s mother frowns, “Are you having trouble with bills, Kookie? You’re probably due for a raise...”

Taehyung comes out of the backroom to see Jungkook floundering, “I mean, yes mom, we can always pay him more, but he’s just trying to save a little—Jungkookie wants to move out of that trailer eventually you know.”

Jungkook decides to forgive him for trying to hook up with the sex demon he’s bound to. He silently thanks Taehyung over his mother’s head when she turns her attention back to Jimin,

“Do you like flowers?”

Jimin nods, “They’re pretty, but I’m afraid I have sort of the opposite of a green thumb.”

Taehyung’s mom smiles brightly and turns to walk deeper into the shop, beckoning him to follow her, “Nonsense! Let me show you how to do some arranging while the boys load the van.”

Jimin hangs back before walking after her, “Jungkook, do I have to go? I meant what I said...I will literally kill any flower that touches my hands. It’s kind of a...thing. A thing she will definitely notice. Also...” he hesitates a little, “If I go back there and the two of you leave to load flowers...there might be...things that happen...

Jungkook chokes a little on a mistimed breath as Jimin delivers that information. Too many scarring mental images. He stutters, “Um, actually—“

Taehyung’s mom turns around, “Yes?”

“Jimin’s just trying to be nice, he’s actually very allergic to...um...touching flowers.” He cringes before he even finishes the sentence.

“Allergic to...touching flowers?” She repeats incredulously.

Jungkook doubles down, “Yeah. Deathly allergic. So maybe it’s best if he just goes and waits by the van.” As an aside he hisses to Jimin, “Go. Wait by the van.” Jimin dutifully turns back towards the door, but not before,

“It was so lovely to meet you...hopefully I’ll see more of you as I get settled here in town.” The demon winks, actually winks at Taehyung’s mother as he slips back out the door.

“Oh yes! Lovely to meet you too!” She says a little too brightly, color staining her cheekbones and twisting her fingers together.

Jungkook feels a little faint. This was a horrible idea. Taehyung comes to stand by him as his mother turns back towards an unfinished arrangement. They look at each other in silent camaraderie amidst the many bouquets and vases needing to be loaded. They grab the first things they can see and head out for the van.

“I’m going to have to quit my job.” Jungkook says weakly once they’re outside, “Or Jimin is going to seduce your mom.” Taehyung whines, actually whines.

“Please. Please don’t ever say that again.” After a couple steps he adds, “But I think you’re right. Please order him to leave my mother alone. My heart and my boner can’t take it.”

“Only if you never mention your boner to me ever again.” They walk around the corner and the van comes into view. Jimin is standing there and two university students are leaned up against the van, giggling at something he says.

“For fucks sake. You’re going to have to lock him in the trailer.” Taehyung says as they watch Jimim step into one of the girls’ personal space and tuck a curl behind her ear. She turns almost crimson and clutches her books tighter. “Going out bar hopping with him must be the most depressing thing. It’s like watching Master Chef while you’re on your couch eating Easy Mac.”

Jungkook sighs, “Come on, let’s save the nubile college students from the clutches of ultimate evil.” He quickens his pace to get closer to the van. Jimin smiles over at him when he’s a few feet away,

“Ladies this is my...roommate? Jungkook. I’m afraid he’s going to be upset with me for bothering you.” He sighs and looks theatrically sheepish, “I was just supposed to be waiting by the van but now I’m wasting you lovely ladies’ time and keeping you from your destination.” The girls practically fall over themselves to assure him that that isn’t even approaching the same realm as how they feel and there’s no way he could EVER waste their time and Jungkook feels this wave of annoyance while Taehyung stares at Jimin like he’s just unraveled all the secrets of the universe.

Jungkook slams open the van door and starts piling flowers inside. The girls look over at him briefly before returning to rapturously listening to Jimin. Jungkook has to whack Taehyung on the arm to get him to stop doing the same thing.

“Can we have your number? Maybe we can hang out later?” One of the girls works up the courage after three more trips to bring flowers out, Jungkook’s jaw grinding every time he has to pass close by their conversation.

“I don’t have a phone.” Jimin says proudly.

They gasp, “Wow, it’s such a statement to not be connected nowadays. How do you keep in touch with people?”

“I go see them.”

They start droning on about how he must be such a good friend and so sensitive and Jungkook really can’t take this anymore.

“Dude,” Taehyung whispers as they stand next to each other at the back of the van shuffling arrangements around so they’ll fit, “You look crazy. If it bothers you that much just order him to stop talking to them.”

“Doesn’t that seem like...wrong?” Jungkook hisses back. It’s not like ithe idea hasn’t occurred to him. Several times. When Taehyung just looks at him blankly he elaborates, “He’s not hurting them. They’re just talking. With your mom it’s different because...it’s your mom. But to order him to not talk to anyone? Doesn’t that seem just pointlessly picky and cruel?”

Taehyung looks at him like he’s grown a second head, “Do you not recall what he’s planning to do to YOU in the afterlife?”

Jungkook closes the back door of the van firmly, “That doesn’t mean I want to do things that make me similar to him.” He doesn’t wait for Taehyung’s reaction, just walks back around to the side of the van. He clears his throat and Jimin immediately looks over.

“We’re going. That is—deliveries. It’s time to...do those.”

Jimin pulls open the sliding door immediately, “Gotta go, ladies. See you later!”

They pout and look a little annoyed with Jungkook interrupting them, “How, you don’t have a phone.”

He laughs, and sounds a little sinister even to Jungkook’s ears. The girls’ smiles freeze for just a second. “Don’t worry, I’ll find you if I want to.” And he slings the van door closed. The girls stand there for a beat or two before looking at Jungkook a little nervously and scuttling away. He climbs into the driver’s seat while Taehyung settles into the passenger seat. The doors close. They both turn around to look at Jimin perched in the middle seat looking for all the world like a fluffy blonde puppy.

“Please don’t fuck my mom.” Taehyung starts.

Jimin pouts a little, “Aw, why? She’s—“

“Let me rephrase,” Jungkook cuts him off quickly, “DON’T fuck Taehyung’s mother.”

Jimin crosses his arms, a little put out.

“In fact, don’t do anything remotely sexual or non-platonic with Taehyung’s mother.” Jungkook turns back to start the van, “Christ, it’s like you’d be having sex with MY mom.”

“But she’s not. She’s just Taehyung’s mom.”

“Hey!” Taehyung barks, “What does THAT mean—just Taehyung?”

Jungkook ignores him to make eye contact with the demon in the backseat, “Yeah, but she and Tae have been looking out for me since I lost my family, so she’s essentially my mom now. Anyway. Hands, lips—whatever—off.”

“Fine, fine. It’s not like I can do it now anyway.” Jimin settles back into the seat. “So why are we driving around with flowers in a van?”

“We’re delivering them to people who ordered them from Taehyung’s mom.”

“Ah okay.” Jimin pauses for a second. “So this is what you do? All day? Every day?”

Jungkook pulls out of the parking lot, “Well not all day. And not every day. But yeah.”

Jimin is quiet for a minute.

“And this...fulfills you? This is what gives your life value?”

Jungkook finds the demon’s eyes in the mirror and quickly looks away. Taehyung has also gone oddly silent next to him.

“I mean, I like helping Tae’s mom and everything but no. This is just a job. Pay the bills, eat, you know. This was never—isn’t. What my life is about.”

“So why are you doing it?”

Jungkook flushes, dark and angry. A hollow chuckle forces it’s way out of his throat, “Sometimes life doesn’t exactly work out how you want. We can’t all just alter reality to make it however we decide.”

“But YOU CAN, now. So why don’t you?”

Jungkook turns on his turn signal with a little more force than necessary, “I said I was pacing myself.”

“You’re angry. Why did that make you angry?” Jimin leans forward until he’s level with the side of Jungkook’s face. He’s studying Jungkook closely, too closely.

“Sit back, Jimin. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”

The demon sits back robotically as the order compels him to. The van is uncomfortably silent all the way to the affluent neighborhood that is the location of their first delivery. Taehyung rolls down the window and starts smoking.

“Your mom is going to kill me if she finds out you’ve started that again.” Jungkook glances over at him.

“Why?” Taehyung blows a thin stream of smoke out the window, “You didn’t make me smoke. Although right now is technically your fault because riding in silence gives me anxiety.”

“No one said it had to be silent,” Jungkook grumbles, reaching for the radio.

“Your face sure did.” Taehyung turns to Jimin. “Do you smoke?”

“Is smoking still considered a vice?”

Taehyung nods, “Now more than ever.”

“Then yes. I do.” Taehyung offers him the cigarettes and digs the lighter out of his pocket. Jimin lights up and takes a long drag.

“Hey, don’t let him smoke back there, the flowers, man.” Jungkook complains. “Those windows don’t open.”

Taehyung watches Jimin for a long minute. The smoke never reappears. “I...don’t think we have to worry about it.” He says quietly. Jimin takes another long drag. Taehyung quickly turns back to the window to flick his ash. Jungkook clicks on the radio to the classic rock station and Taehyung relaxes more into his seat.

Jimin is studying Jungkook again. He can feel the weight of the demon’s attention in the mirror.

“You don’t smoke, Jungkook?” Jimin asks after his next drag. The cigarette is almost halfway burned down but no ash has fallen and still the smoke he’s inhaled never reappears. Jungkook opens the center console and fishes out some nicotine gum. He plops it in a cup holder for emphasis,

“Not anymore.”

“Jungkookie doesn’t do ANYTHING, anymore.” Taehyung smiles fondly across the car at him. “Except drink.” He amends.

“Messes with my magick.” He mutters. “When I was on all the stuff I would randomly lose control. I broke a lot of shit in my trailer and knocked over a lot of light poles before Tae indroduced me to Joon and he figured it was because of all the drugs.” He shrugs carelessly, “He was right.”

Taehyung twirls his cigarette between his fingers and narrows his eyes at Jungkook, “I mean, we all thought you were some kind of magickal pansy but now that you’re a sourcerer I suppose that makes a little more sense. Your magick is more sensitive.”

“So this “Joon” helped you battle a drug addiction?” Jimin asks suddenly.

Jungkook takes his left hand off the wheel to reach over and scratch his other arm, “Uh, Yeah. He kind of...saved my life honestly. The whole coven did.”

“Ah, no wonder you put up with his patronizing behavior and rudeness.”

“Hey fuck off, don’t talk about our Supreme like that.” Taehyung shoots back.

“Case in point.” Jimin says. “Interesting.”

“Why are you asking all these personal questions?” Jungkook finally says as he pulls up to the curb of their first house.

“Just curious.” Jimin retorts.

“Well we’re pretty curious about you, too.” Taehyung twists around in his seat to look at the demon.

Jimin blinks, “Well nothing is stopping you from asking. We’ve already established I can’t lie.”

“Because you were an angel.” Jungkook shoots back.

Jimin lolls his head back against the seat, “Yes.”

“And you hated humans.”

Jimin closes his eyes, “Yes.”

“So you followed Lucifer out of heaven and became a demon?”

“Yes.”

“Why are you a crossroads demon if you were already...you know...Lust?” Taehyung asks.

Jimin looks at his fingers for a moment, “I asked to be.”

“Why?” Jungkook also turns around to look at him.

Jimin curls his hands closed, “I didn’t want to stay in Hell anymore. I wanted to be able to come to earth.”

“Wait so like, demons don’t like hell?” Taehyung opens the door to stub out his cigarette.

“Does Hell strike you as a particularly likeable place?” Jimin quirks an eyebrow at Taehyung.

“And Lucifer just let you? Just, made you a crossroads demon?” Jungkook asks.

Jimin nods, “He owed me.”

Jungkook pauses and looks at Taehyung a little wildly, “The devil...owed you? A favor?”

Jimin nods again. Jungkook is about to ask “for what” when Jimin sighs and pushes his bangs out of his face,

“Aren’t you supposed to be delivering flowers?”

Jungkook checks the clock in the dash of the van, “Aw damn, we’re already behind.” He jumps out of the driver’s side and Taehyung meets him at the back to unload the bouquet and arrangement they’re leaving here. Jimin pokes his head out of the van, hair blowing gently in the breeze. He looks like an oil painting.

“Don’t even think about it,” Jungkook shakes his head, “Stay in the van.”

Jimin rolls his eyes and disappears back inside.

Taehyung shudders when they’re walking up to the house. “Why is it whenever he talks about himself I get the heebie jeebies real bad?” Jungkook keeps his eyes on the flowers,

“Because he’s a horror-movie monster in an incredibly attractive mid-20-something body that the devil apparently OWES FAVORS TO.” They quietly pose the flowers on the porch and turn back to the van.

“I think we might be a bit out of our depth here.” Taehyung murmurs as Jimin’s head appears at the passenger window and stares at them as they return down the walkway.

“No shit, Tae. Fuck.”

They climb back into their seats and rumble down the road. A witch, a sourcerer, and a demon in a van emblazoned with cartoon roses, ready to deliver daisies to stay at home moms and pregnant secretaries.

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