A/n. Taehyung and Jungkook are the same age in this.

Jimin laid on his bed, his heart pounding as he stared at the roof above his head. He listened to the clock ticking in the hallway, his stomach twisting with nerves and excitement. In less than ten minutes he would be turning eighteen. In less than ten minutes he would look down at his wrist and see the name of his soulmate. His lips curled up into a smile, and he thought about how his mother wanted him to have a beautiful girl for a soulmate, but Jimin couldn't help but imagine if it was Taehyung.

Being soulmates with his best friend would be amazing, it made his heart swell just thinking about it. Jimin to his side, and felt his lips curve up once again as he stared hard at his wrist, watching the beautiful black ink begin to fill in on his wrist. The font was a classic, soft and nothing too fancy, but the name it revealed made it just that bit more beautiful. Jimin's heart soared in his chest, and he felt tears of happiness fill his eyes as he giggled childishly. He flopped under the covers, his heart warm, and his mind at ease. He spent the night watching the name on his wrist before he finally fell asleep, wondering how he would react.

Kim Taehyung..I knew it.

__________

The next morning Jimin was panicked as he put the heaviest concealer he owned over the name on his wrist, blending it into his skin. He sighed in relief as the name was hidden, and he took a deep breath. "Mom can't know. Not yet. Neither can Tae." Jimin breathed to himself. Taehyung's birthday was in a month, which made it easy for Jimin to hide the name, knowing that it was easier for him to find out on his own, the same way Jimin had. 

Jimin skipped down the stairs, ignoring his mothers questions about his wrist, his heart beaming like the sun. "Jimin-ah please. Have you gotten your name yet? It would've been wonderful, if it was Jihye." His mother swooned, and Jimin chuckled in response, and shrugged. "Maybe it will be..but I haven't gotten mine yet. I'll tell you when I do." Jimin replies, glancing a his mothers bare wrists fleetingly, before meeting her gaze with a bright smile. "I'm gonna see if I can go over to Taehyung's house tonight. Is that okay?" Jimin's mother waved him off with a nod, her focus now on her phone as she replied to something for work, making Jimin's warm heart falter. He shrugged off the blanket of sadness that threatened to dampen his good mood, and turned to leave for the dance studio.

____

Jimin was one of the lucky few who graduated early with flying colours. Thanks to that he was able to spend more time at the dance studio with his favourite instructor Jung Hoseok and his soulmate. Hoseok's soulmate, Namjoon, had graduated recently from the college that was attached to Jimin's high school, and was at the top of his class. Jimin sighed happily as he thought about him and Taehyung being like the cute couple. His heart soared as he skipped into the small waiting room, searching for the familiar face of his instructor. 

"Hoseok! I'm here!" Jimin called, and he heard a loud crash and a soft voice curse as Namjoon and Hoseok fell out of the closet with messy hair and red cheeks. "Oh boy." Jimin muttered with a shake of his head, watching the usually graceful boy scramble to his feet, leaving Namjoon on the floor. "Jimin, you're here earlier than usual." Hoseok explained with wide eyes. Jimin merely raised his eyebrow, glancing at the clock and hummed under his breath. 

9:30. The usual time. 

Hoseok laughed nervously and shrugged. "Or not. By the way, Happy birthday Jimin. Your class today's on me, think of it as a birthday gift." Jimin's smile brightened, and he nodded. "Sounds great! Is Jungkook and Taehyung coming today?" Jimin questioned. He didn't care if Jungkook came, the boy was great as it was, but he wanted to see Taehyung. "Nah, they aren't. Something about preparing a party." Hoseok said, sending the boy a wink. Jimin felt his heart stutter, and his smile became ten times brighter, never leaving his face for the rest of the day,

____

Yoongi wasn't a great friend of Jimin's, but he knew Jungkook so Taehyung often sent the rapper to get Jimin whenever they held a party or get together. So when Jimin opened his front door to find Yoongi in a black suit, holding a crown in his hands that said "birthday boy" he nearly snorted. Taehyung really had outdone himself this time. "You ever speak about this to anyone, and I will kill you." Yoongi warned, and Jimin couldn't help but giggle. "Don't worry sir Yoongi~ my lips are sealed." Jimin watched as Yoongi's eyes flickered to his lips before rolling his eyes in annoyance, and placed the crown in Jimin's faded orange hair. 

"Get in the car before Taehyung kills us both for being late to your party." Yoongi's voice lost its annoyed edge, shooting Jimin a large grin as he climbed behind the wheel, waiting for Jimin to clamber in the passenger seat.

____

The party went by in a second, filled with laughter and gifts. They ate too much food, and Jimin couldn't help but feel his heart swell as he look at his group of friends. They were happy, unbothered and that's all Jimin wanted. 

He knew it would get some getting used to being Taehyung's soulmate, but he knew that everything would return to the way it was right now, or even better in Jimin's mind. The world would be brighter, and his heart would be full.

One day. And Jimin couldn't wait.

________

It seemed like Taehyung's birthday came in a flash. Jimin was amazed at how quickly the date had arrived, and nearly forgot it. The only reason he didn't was because Yoongi showed up at his door holding out an invitation that was bright pink, with large bold letters that said:

Park Jimin,

The party is on Friday. There will be cake, so you better show up.

It made Jimin smile, and he shook his head in amusement, before thanking Yoongi and going to close the door. "A-actually Jimin..I was wondering if you wanted to go shopping for Taehyung's gift tomorrow with me." Yoongi spoke quickly, just before the door shut completely. Jimin's body froze, and he opened it slowly, before smiling kindly at Yoongi. "I...I'd love to." He said with a smile. "It's always good to have a shopping buddy." Yoongi's grin widened. "Yeah, it is." 

_______

"Happy birthday, dear Taehyung~! Happy birthday to you!" Jimin sang the loudest out of the group of friends, his eyes bright and happy as he watched Taehyung blow out the candles on the cake. The birthday boy clapped his hands excitedly, before grinning at everyone. "Present time!" Taehyung grinned, turning to look at Jungkook first, who had a shy smile. "Sorry hyung, your gift isn't here yet. I ordered it." Jungkook apologized, and Jimin didn't miss the way Taehyung's face fell, or how Yoongi sent Jungkook a dirty glare. 

Jimin noticed the way Jungkook crossed his arms, and frowned. The boy had found out his soulmate almost two weeks ago, but hadn't mentioned it to anyone. Jimin couldn't judge, he was doing the same thing, he was just worried for the younger boy. He quickly shook his head of any thoughts that weren't about Taehyung, and grinned stepping forward. "Here, Taehyungie, I got you a gift." Jimin grinned, watching Taehyung's pout disappear as he ripped away the wrapping of the gift in record time.

The gift was a small silver locket, and on the inside was a small picture of Jimin and Taehyung at the beach. It was a recent photo, and one of Taehyung's favourites of the two boys. He watched Taehyung smile widely and he dove over the table to hug the small boy tightly, while everyone cooed. "Thank you Jiminie! This is the best gift I've ever gotten from you. Sure beats the chocolate bar I got last year." Taehyung tease, watching Jimin blush and nod. 

"Yeah sure does." Jimin nodded. Last year you weren't my soulmate.

______

Midnight rolled around, and Taehyung was still locked in the bathroom. Jimin's eyes were drooping, feeling tired from the events of the party. Water balloon fights, bobbing for apples, karaoke, it was a wonderful night. The joy ended though when the writing on Taehyung's skin began to make an appearance, and before anyone could get a look at it Taehyung locked himself in the bathroom, leaving everyone confused and worried.

Jimin looked up when he heard he familiar creak of Taehyung's door, and looked up spotting him, and saw his worried eyes and then his eyes drifted down to his exposed wrist, feeling his throat tighten and tears spring into his eyes. 

Jeon Jungkook.

Jimin tore his eyes away to look at Jungkook who exposed his own wrist, and suddenly he felt sick. His wrist felt like it was burning, and his head was spinning. Jimin felt Yoongi shake his shoulder lightly, and he could see Namjoon's joy filled face. Hoseok was more concerned about Jimin, his eyes narrowed at him. Jimin pulled his sleeve up when Yoongi asked him what was wrong, only showing him his secret. Yoongi's eyes went wide, and he glanced between the two boys wrists, before finally looking at Taehyung's.

Jungkook was Taehyungs soulmate. Not Jimin.

"Jiminie! I found my soulmate...now you just have to find yours!" Taehyung was suddenly in front of him, his eyes no longer worried, but bright and filled with this happiness hat Jimin had never seen before. Jungkook's smile was more shy, sheepish almost. Jimin looked up into his best friends eyes, and felt a few tears spill down his cheeks. "I already did." Jimin whispered, his voice cracking in the middle he shoved himself off the chair.

"I'm going home. Hallo birthday Taehyung. Congratulations." Jimin spoke softly, and Taehyung gripped his arm tightly, confusion filling his voice as he asked what was wrong. "You..you said you were staying the night? What's wrong?" Jimin's jaw clenched. "I don't feel well..I think I ate too much cake." Jimin replied and Yoongi quickly butted in, lightly removing Taehyung's hand. 

"He'll see you tomorrow Taehyung. I'll take him home." Yoongi murmured, watching Jimin exit the house, his shoulders slumped and his usual energy drained. Yoongi left the couples, following Jimin out into the night, closing the door behind him. Jimin was bent over, his hands on his knees as he sobbed, flinching when he felt Yoongi's hand rubbing his back.

"I know it hurts Jimin...it's gonna be okay." Yoongi whispered, and Jimin let out a choked laugh. "Was this some sort of fluke? Did I not deserve a soulmate?" Jimin whispered, and Yoongi shook his head. "At least you had a chance Jimin." Yoongi showed the small boy his bare wrists, and he took his face In his hands. "Be happy for Taehyung. I know it's hard, and i know you are hurting and heartbroken or whatever. Go out into the world. Find someone." 

Jimin's jaw clenched, and he shoved Yoongi away. "Just leave me alone Yoongi. Just...tell them all to leave me alone." Jimin didn't want to have any reminders of Taehyung in his life. He already had enough, a more permanent version. "Tell Taehyung I'll meet up again with him one day...one day when I'm not losing my mind over him." Jimin whispered, making Yoongi's eyes narrow.

"You're really going to leave?" Yoongi whispered, and Jimin nodded. "I don't know where I'll go..but..I can't stay here where I'll see them."

___________

The group of five boys sat in the airport, watching the plane land through the window. Taehyung's heart was pounding at the thought of seeing his best friend again after four years. The best friend who had disappeared after his birthday. They watched the passengers exit the plane slowly. Jungkook was the first to stand up, holding up half the sign, while Taehyung held up the other half. 

They watched the many different people pass by them, and Yoongi frowned when they couldn't spot the boy even in the nearly empty airport. As Jungkook went to put the sign down, Taehyung shrieked, pointing out the now black haired boy. He had lost his chubby cheeks, and grown a couple extra inches since they'd last saw him. "Who's that beside him?" Namjoon's whispered to Hoseok, who shrugged. 

The twenty-two year old was walking with a tall male beside him, their arms exposed thanks to the matching t-shirts the two were wearing. The mystery boy's hair was a soft pink, and he had plump lips that rivalled Jimin's. They looked good together, despite the height difference. Taehyung's heart sank when he saw his own name written on Jimin's wrist, and looked to the other boys wrist, seeing Jimin's name written on it.

"Jimin! It's been too long." Hoseok grinned, and pulled him into a hug once the two reached the group. "I missed you too Hobi.” Jimin hummed, before sending Taehyung a sad smile as they broke away from the hug.

“Where the hell have you been Jimin? Do you know how worried I was?” Taehyung Said, and Jimin nodded. “Yoongi suggested I go out into the world and find someone. I mean, my soulmate was someone else’s soulmate, I needed time to...heal.” Jimin’s voice was hesitant, and he saw Taehyung’s eyes flicker to his wrist once again. 

“I’m sorry.” Jungkook’s voice was small and Jimin shook his head with a laugh. “Me and Taehyung weren’t meant to be anything more than friends. You two look great together...besides, I met Seokjin thanks to it.” Jimin pointed to the boy beside him who smiled and waved.

“We’ve been together for two years now.” Jimin whispered, and watched Taehyung’s eyes water.

“I found happiness in the saddest of times, and I found my true soulmate.”