“Jimin, can I borrow this?” Jungkook held up a pair of leather pants Jimin had worn for a costume last Halloween. He arched a curious eyebrow at his brother, then his forehead crinkled in suspicion.

“They won’t fit,” he stated firmly, with almost a bitter addition. “

“They probably will, we’re almost the same size.”

Jungkook was obviously not very self-aware of his own growth spurts, Jimin noted. He had gotten taller than Jimin this year and then kept on going, much to his older brother’s chagrin, but he seemed to deny anything about him had changed at all. Jimin, who since middle school had religiously kept track of his height, celebrating every gained millimeter (real or imagined), didn’t want to admit the fact straight out. Not to mention, Jungkook was built more slender than himself, more like their father, and Jimin resembled their mother’s side, with rounded cheeks and a more heavy-set bottom that Jungkook about when he blocked the television.

“Fine, do as you like, “Jimin scowled. “I don’t know where you’d wear something like that, though.”

Jungkook didn’t answer, just flopping himself down across his bed and pulling out of his pocket one of the many thousands of markers he seemed to have stashed in every corner these days. Despite his lingering irritability over sizes and centimeters, Jimin smiled a little to see Jungkook carefully drawing out something to his soulmate. Normally, Jungkook was the type to dress pretty decently, but the thing was, was that most of those ‘pretty decent’ outfits were the only outfits he wore. He could have worn the same white T-shirt for a week in a row and no one would have noticed or questioned it, because they all knew he actually had enough T-shirts to wear a new one everyday. The same ripped jeans, the same Timberlands, the same bulky hoodie. It looked nice, but Jimin thought it was too predictable. ‘What, are you a cartoon character or something? Your closet is all the same thing!’

So the fact that Jungkook was trying out any new article of clothing, much less the leather pants he chose, made Jimin certain it had to do with wanting to impress his soulmate. As quiet as he was, Jungkook was really rather easy to read.

“Getting ready for Jin’s birthday?” Jimin queried, his ridiculously huge math textbook forgotten in his lap as he craned his neck to see that Jungkook was writing out something on his arm in a dark red pen. When Jungkook didn’t respond again, Jimin leaned over and laid a hand on the boy’s shoulder, his voice sympathetic. “You wanted to go to the illumination with just him, didn’t you?”

Jungkook’s hand froze mid-sentence, and his head ducked down a little lower. “It’s no big deal,” he mumbled.

“But Jungkook, he’s your soulmate. It’s okay for you to want to be alone with him from time to time.”

“He wants to hang out with everyone,” Jungkook said quietly, continuing his sentence on his arm. “And I don’t mind so much. It’s not like I don’t like the guys or something.”

Jimin looked at his brother sadly, unable to come up with a good enough argument to make Jungkook speak up about his feelings. He himself probably wouldn’t be able to get the guts to complain directly either, too worried about losing what he had over something small.

But what a hypocritical moment, since he and Taehyung hadn’t spoken once all day. They had argued over stupid things before, but every time it happened, it felt like the end of the world to Jimin. He didn’t mean to be dramatic, but his mind screamed at him all the same. This time it had been because Jimin had gone to one of the frat rush parties with a friend. Nothing serious or dangerous had happened, but Taehyung had complained like Jimin was constantly out partying without him. How could he let something like that come between them? Didn’t one of them have to be the first to apologize, to try and fix things?

He sighed, pulling out his phone to call Taehyung. He slipped off the bed as it rang and went out onto the veranda off his and Jungkook’s room, pulling on a sweater jacket and closing the glass door behind him for privacy. He sat down on the freezing cold metal of the lawn chair, giving a sharp inhale as his body slowly heated up again. Taehyung didn’t pick up. He sat back in the chair, letting out a sigh. He was probably still irritable, pouting, and being unreasonable. Sure, Jimin himself was quite childish when it came to their arguments, too, and he was supposed to be the older one, but it was frustrating to deal with someone who didn’t seem to be as good at thinking in another person’s shoes. Jimin was always doing that. Worrying about how other people were feeling, or how it would affect them, while Taehyung boldly shot forward with whatever felt right to himself alone. At first, Jimin had thought this was one of the many perfect things about the boy, but it had gradually gotten more and more aggravating, until Jimin wasn’t sure how to deal with it anymore. How could he explain that gap of perspective to someone who just didn’t seem to get it?

His phone rang, and he jumped, picking it up from where he had dropped it in his lap. “Hello?”

“Jimin?” Taehyung’s deep voice crackled across the line.

He smiled. “Hey…are you busy right now?”

“No, I was just doing some reading for class tomorrow…” He heard the sound of Taehyung thumping his pen against his desk, like a thin drumline.

“Oh, well, I just wanted to call and talk about this morning,” Jimin said it in one breath, because he felt awkward having to bring it up. “I didn’t want to leave things as they were.”

Taehyung didn’t answer. Jimin wondered why he was always surrounded by people who didn’t answer, who somehow were okay with leaving things silent and unresponsive.

He took a breath and continued, “I’m sorry if I didn’t tell you clearly about my plans to go to the party. That was my fault. But,” Jimin had to take another calming breath before he added, “I think you should try to think more about how I feel. You’re always studying, and I have friends I want to hang out with, too, not just you. I can’t just sit around and wait for the chance that you don’t have anything to do that night.”

There was silence on the line, and it was starting to rub up angrily against Jimin’s patience.

“So? Do you have anything to say?” Jimin pointedly queried.

Taehyung’s voice was slow to start with, as though he was thinking carefully on each syllable. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to constantly update me on where you’re at, Jimin. We’re soulmates, not parole officers.”

Jimin paused a moment, then nodded. “I agree.”

“I just missed you.”

That didn’t quite seem fair to Jimin. He had apologized, why wasn’t Taehyung doing the same? “I miss you, too. But that isn’t the point. You yelled at me.”

“I know.” Taehyung voice seemed to have somehow reached an even deeper depth. “I shouldn’t have gotten so angry. It just felt like you were out having more fun without me, and I wanted to go, but… I have a lot of work to do. So I was frustrated.”

Well, it wasn’t an outright apology, but it was probably close enough for Jimin to accept. “We’ll have lots more time once Christmas break starts. How about you come over for dinner?”

“Mmm,” Taehyung hummed into the phone, and Jimin thought he detected a bit of a return of Taehyung’s cheerfulness in the sound. “I want to, but I have a test tomorrow on child psychology. But you’re coming to Jin’s birthday party, right?”

“Of course!” Jimin glanced over his shoulder into the glass door, only able to barely see Jungkook’s feet kicking lightly back and forth. He was probably still talking with Jin. “And I may need your help. I think Jungkook wants some one-on-one time with Jin on his birthday, but…”

“But Jin is being too careful,” Taehyung agreed. “He was arguing with Yoongi about it this morning. You wanna get everyone to ditch them at the illumination?”

“Well, maybe…” Jimin ran a hand through his hair, considering his options. “It’s how they got together, anyways, being ditched. But I need to convince Jungkook to make a move.”

“Good luck with that,” Taehyung chuckled. “Okay, I have to get back to studying. But I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Okay, tomorrow.” Jimin paused, and hearing that Taehyung was still on the line, he impulsively wanted to add on something else, but he couldn’t get the words to actually get past his lips, and instead hung up. Some things were better left for in-person conversations.

He slipped back into the house, shivering by that point, and saw Jungkook laying on his stomach on the bed, his head resting on his pillow as he stared at his arm. He looked up when Jimin came in and sat down, covering up with the blanket from his bed.

“Did you work things out with Taehyung?” Jungkook questioned.

Jimin nodded. “I guess we just needed to talk things out. I feel better now.” And you would, too, if you just told Jin you wanted to go on a proper date for once.

Jungkook looked back down at his arm, blinking at it pensively for a long moment. “Jin likes cute things.”

“Well, that seems kind of obvious,” Jimin chuckled, wondering where his brother was going with this.

“I’m not very cute.”

Jimin halted, staring at Jungkook’s dead serious expression, then practically fell over laughing. “Haha, Jungkook, of course you’re cute! You’re my brother, after all; some of it had to rub off. Look at this innocent, adorable face of yours!” He leaned down and pressed his palms to either side of Jungkook’s face, squishing his cheeks in and earning an irritated and flustered Jungkook on top of him, pinning him to the floor as they wrestled. He knew the nervously twitching smile on Jungkook’s face meant that he was pleased, but couldn’t admit it aloud. But that was okay with him.

But he really needed to help the kid out. After all, leather pants in winter? That would just be asking for trouble. Especially with a big kid like Jeon Jungkook.

“But I’m serious though,” Jungkook added once they had settled down. He bit at his lip, his eyes flickering away with embarrassment. “I mean...he hasn’t-- we haven’t kissed yet.”

“Oh?” Jimin tried to keep his voice neutral, and slightly surprised, but he had already figured that.

“But I think he wanted to, the night we met. He’s still hung up about the age difference and all, which I understand, but…”

“Jungkook,” Jimin wrapped his arm around his brother’s shoulder. “I understand. But you’re not gonna make things magically change by wearing leather pants or by finding a way to be cuter for Jin. That’s for dramas, and as much as I wish it was that simple, it’s not. You should talk to him.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“That’s not to say that some nice clothes won’t help your case,” Jimin smirked. “I’ll help you get ready. So leave it to your hyung.”

~~

“Namjo-o-on!” called a feminine voice, waving the ends of her scarf at him in greeting as she leapt her body against his chest, nearly bowling him over.

“Hello…?” Namjoon laughed, his dimpling imprinting into his cheeks as he wrapped his arms around Kiara.

“Where are you going?” There was a bit of a breeze today, and it tugged delicately at her bangs, blowing them into her eyes as they sparkled up at him. Kiara was quite a bit shorter than he was, and the height difference only served to make her seem all the more endearing.

“Class. I have English today.” Inwardly, he wished he could just take her to class with him, but he’d be too distracted by her snickers and quiet sarcasm.

“Is that your only class?”

“Yeah? Why?” She was wriggling about in his embrace, pulling a flyer out of her pocket.

“Because, I just found out that they’re doing a little film festival at the library! How cool is that, right? And it’s dirt cheap. Tonight they’re showing a double-feature of Back To The Future.”

“Huh.. I’ve never seen it.”

“What?!” She gasped, thumping him lightly on the arm. “You have to see it. It’s a classic. And you owe me one after we had to sit through all those weird- Korean comedy films with Seokjin and Taehyung last weekend. Although the only real equivalent to that would be to make you sit through three hours of The Three Stooges.”

Namjoon smirked, remembering poor Kiara who had been totally lost while all three Kim brothers had howled in laughter. She’d laughed along the hardest whenever jokes came up that she understood, however, and he knew she was mostly teasing.

“So I’ll pick you up after class?” She asked, leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

“Alright,” he smiled. “And we’ll do your questionnaire.”

“Gotcha. I’m still pondering over your last question, but I’ll have an answer by the time you’re done!” Kiara gave a little salute, dramatically sending him off to class. Apparently, in waiting for her soulmate, Kiara had made a list of ‘essential questions’ that she’d written over the course of her high school years, and he had been slowly working his way through them with her, and writing his own list of questions to her in kind. It had only been a month, of course, and there was no replacing actual time together to get to know the other’s quirks and personalities, but...it was kind of a relief to Namjoon that they had such an easygoing yet organized way to go about it.

To be honest, he didn’t know why all soulmates didn’t do it.

When he got out of English she was there waiting for him, crouched down and playing with a dog that a couple were out walking. She was cooing and petting it, telling him he was a good boy and giggling as the dog got increasingly more excited, insisting on her touch. Namjoon smiled, his hands tucked into his trench coat pockets as he joined her.

“Namjoon, isn’t he the cutest?”

“He’s adorable,” he bent down and the dog suddenly bolted back to its owners ankles. Kiara burst out laughing at Namjoon’s shocked and crestfallen expression.

“Maybe you look too intimidating with your long legs and big coat,” she teased, bumping her shoulder up against him before standing up. Namjoon tried a little longer to gain the love of the dog, but he had little luck. The couple apologized, and Namjoon just shook his head, saying it was fine. After all, they said that dogs were good at observing people, and the dog had kept its distance but didn’t look threatened. Probably he can tell how clumsy I am and wants to keep a safe distance.

It wasn’t long before their feet carried them to a secluded corner of the library, but they had plenty of time before the film, so they went to find someplace to wait. Cuddling time came where a circular little couch big enough for them to sprawl across had been tucked away into the corner. It was a popular all-night study spot for students, so it was surprising that it hadn’t already been occupied. Without need for verbal request, Kiara tucked herself in underneath Namjoon’s arm, her ankles entangling around his as he rubbed the pad of his thumb against her shoulder in soothing circles.

“So? Did you have an answer?”

“Mm, yes,” Kiara murmured, sounding sleepy all of a sudden. “A favorite childhood memory of mine was during Thanksgiving one year when I was little. I remember my mother was making pies and she let me help. I kept stealing the apples and she kept catching me and tickling me as my ‘punishment.’ I didn’t know at the time that she was having such a hard time with dad, and I often wonder if she was putting on a brave face for me, or if I helped her keep her spirits up. But either way, I appreciated it.”

Namjoon nodded, his bottom protruding in contemplation as he considered her answer.

She shifted in her position against him, glancing up as she asked, “What about you?”

“Mm. It’s not really a singular memory, but kind of a moment? I feel happiest when my brothers and I are all together, and we’re just kind of doing our own thing. Like I’m sitting in the living room and Taehyung is playing a video game while Jin is studying, and I’m reading a book or something. And our parents aren’t home, there’s no rush to do anything. It makes me think about how we’re constantly in motion, feeling like we have to rush to get somewhere, but...we’re not really going in one certain direction, are we? It often feels like we have to get to wherever we’re told we’re supposed to be going as fast as possible, so taking an afternoon or even an hour to just sit and enjoy each other’s company while doing not much of anything...it feels like we’re cheating, somehow. And I don’t think it should. Sure, we’re supposed to push on and continue getting stronger and more open-minded and experienced, and I’ve always thought we should live our lives at a hundred percent...but lately I’ve been rethinking that. Because what if our lives are supposed to be made up of those quiet moments? When we’re not pressured or running? I’m not sure, but it’s nice to at least know that I have both moments in my life.”

He looked down and Kiara had rolled over so she could stare up into his face while he talked. At some point she had started to trace a finger along his jawline, her expression that of an acute observer. He smiled, and she studied the way his lips seemed to stretch taut across with the upturn of his lips.

“I love when you talk like that,” she said quietly, throwing him aback. She took a hold of a lock of his hair between her fingers before mulling out enough for a reply. “I think you’re probably right, that life is about those kind of quiet moments. Especially when you’re surrounded by the people who understand you the most. Some people talk about comfortable silences versus uncomfortable silences, and things like that, and I think it’s related. You feel comfortable with your brothers because they know you. You don’t feel pressured to prove yourself to them or to show them a side of you that’s anything different from what you actually are, especially in that moment.” She paused, pouted her lips and continued, “And I think it’s interesting that people talk about themselves like they’re some sort of stagnant state, don’t you? Like, the you of ten years ago is completely different from the you of today, and neither ‘you’ is less sincere or real because of that. Even yesterday, I was probably kind of a different Kiara than I am now. Maybe it’s something silly like not liking mushrooms, or something big like my ambitions for the future. But from moment to moment, you would expect a person to change, right? Because we’re constantly in motion. Maybe we don’t have to be rushing or pushing forward all the time, as you said, but I think even in moments like with your brothers, you’re still in motion, still changing through being the Namjoon of that moment.”

Namjoon nodded, that stretched-lip smile coming back, little glimpses of his teeth peeking through. Kiara smiled up at him, reaching over to take his hand in hers.

“This is why we can never get to sleep before 4 in the morning,” Kiara giggled. “Well, that and one other thing.”

At her words, Namjoon flushed slightly, leaning down to kiss her forehead, brushing her jagged bangs away from her face. “Yes, and both reasons make me feel pretty damn lucky.”

“So it’s my turn for a question,” Kiara said. “Hm...How about ‘where do you see yourself in ten years’?”

“Well, there’s a question that needs some time…” He sat back into the couch a little more, looking off into the distance.

“Okay, then I’ll nap while you think,” she hummed, snuggling deeper into his lap and pulling his trench coat over to cover them both as a blanket. Namjoon smiled, running a hand through her hair again until she fell asleep.

In ten years, I have lots of dreams. But I really hope that in ten years I still have you.

He was really going to have to find a less cheesy way to put that, or Kiara would never let him live it down.